Blue Ridge Tunnel, railway tunnel in Virginia - Crozet's tunnel
The Blue Ridge Tunnel is a railroad tunnel in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Waynesboro, Virginia, running beneath Rockfish Gap. The long underground passage has brick and stone walls and is now part of a walking and biking trail that extends about 3.7 miles.
The tunnel was built from 1850 to 1858 and was the longest railroad tunnel in North America at that time. Claudius Crozet, a French engineer, designed the route to allow trains to cross the mountains safely, but the hard rock significantly slowed construction.
The tunnel carries the name of the Blue Ridge Mountains it passes beneath, and today represents the local community's pride in their railroad heritage. Visitors can see the old brick walls and stone surfaces that speak to the craftsmanship of that era and honor the workers who built this place.
Visitors should bring flashlights or headlamps because the tunnel is dark and has no electric lighting. Comfortable walking shoes are important, as the ground inside is wet and uneven with puddles in places.
About 800 Irish immigrants and 40 enslaved African Americans built the tunnel under dangerous conditions using black powder and hand tools. This story of human effort is felt in the place itself as you touch the old bricks and imagine the hard work.
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