ASW Contest #8: On Location at the Old Pine Mountain Rail Tunnel
I wasn't able to find much information on the history of this old tunnel. From what I could gather it was finished in 1947, and sealed off in 1958. That doesn't seen like a very long life for such a huge endeavor. The tunnel was made by the Chesapeake & Ohio railroad company to exploit the huge coal deposits near Pound Virginia. According to my measurement on Google Earth the tunnel is approximately .68 miles long.
The Pine Mountain Tunnel connects Virginia and Kentucky. We came in from the Virginia side by way of the Red Fox Trail. The trail starts at the top of the mountain in Pound Gap on the state line. We were surprised to find a large marsh had formed in the old rail bed in front of the tunnel. I'm talking pure swamp. I'm just glad I had on old shoes, because it was impossible to get around without getting wet.
That haze is actually dust wafting out of the tunnel. I'm pretty sure there was a collapse in the last few days, and the dust just hasn't settled yet.
I didn't go in any farther than this. I didn't have a light, and the kids were giving my wife a hard time. They were dying to get into the mud and water. I've seen videos on YouTube of people exploring the tunnel. I might be dumb enough to go in one day, I haven't decided yet.
Here is the proof I was there, as required by the contest. It was hard to get a picture of the writing, but you can make it out. I hope you enjoyed these pictures. I had a good time checking out this old hole in the hill. Well worth the trip back in wet, muddy shoes.
If you go in make sure you trail some string behind you so you know your way out :-)
Nice pics.
People claim there something living in there than watches from the shadows, and follows you around.