2006 Tunnel Travels

In Rockcastle County, a northbound train passes through Tunnel 15 and crosses the bridge between Tunnel 14 and Tunnel 15.

The same train exits Tunnel 14 and crosses another bridge.

These are the northern portals of the Hatfield Tunnels in Pike County, just across the Tug Fork from Matewan, WV. The NS tracks run the WV side of the river, except that they cut off what would be about a five-six mile loop by crossing the river, going through the tunnels in KY, and then crossing the river again. For the golfers, there is an interesting little course just to the left of these portals that plays both sides of the river, including tee shots that go across it, if you don’t mind using a swinging bridge to cross the river.

A caboose on a string of empty coal hoppers near Delorme, WV.

The seldom seen western portal of the Pool Point Tunnel at Elkhorn City.

The abandoned tunnel Toler (Pike County) is fenced off, but still has tracks leading to it.

Midas Tunnel in Floyd County with snow flurries.

The middle tunnel at Hi Hat in Floyd County still has several gondolas in it, albeit damaged after significant roof falls.

These two puppies were nursing in the middle of the CSX double-tracks near Richardson in Lawrence County. The mother moved to the left before I could get a good picture.

The long abandoned tunnel above Peach Orchard is above an area that has been mined, so there isn’t any ROW evidence.

A 1912 post card of the Torrent Tunnel Lexington & Eastern days.

The Torrent Tunnel today.

The long tunnel at Soldier on the Rowan-Carter County line was by-passed by a huge cut in the late 1930s.

Yellow Rock Tunnel western portal in Lee County

Heading south at Langford Crossing just below the abandoned L&N Tunnel 13 in Rockcastle County.

Northbound exiting the 258 foot Tunnel 7 (former L&N Lebanon Branch numbering) in northern Laurel County. The abandoned companion tunnel is visible on the left.

The abandoned Tunnel 8 a half mile further south.

The top of the abandoned Tunnel 8.

Almost two miles south is Tunnel 9 at MP 150.

The abandoned Spurlington Tunnel on the old L&N Greensburg Branch.

Just north of Walton, the NS tracks cross over the CSX tracks (CNO&TP over the L&N Short Line).

Not a train picture, but a cool horse picture that I took in Woodford County while checking out the old ROW near Millville

Link for CNO&TP Rathole pix

Link to Other Railroad Pix

Link for More Railroad pix

Comments to butch@uky.edu