Train passing through tight tunnel hits wall. Scary tunnel
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Published 2016-12-13
My brother recorded this video passing through Cumberland Gap train tunnel while he was working for Norfolk Southern. You can hear the train hit the wall. This tunnel is very dangerous as it is old and prone to rock falls. If the train is too slow it will get overtaken by the smoke and you will suffocate, too fast and the train will derail and you are trapped inside and could possibly die from the heat and smoke. It really is a scary tunnel. Please Subscribe, it really means a lot.
Brief History:
This is the last tunnel on the line coming out of Knoxville. The Knoxville Cumberland Gap Louisville railroad company blasted out this tunnel in 1888-1889, with a grade going up to the more or less center of the tunnel on both sides, so the cross-section of the mountain would reveal a tunnel that looks like an inverted “V”. Smoke had a tendency to collect at the top and make breathing difficult for crews and passengers. Then, to add to the woes, the tunnel collapsed on July 4, 1894, and again in 1896. Engineers didn’t like to go into the tunnel, so they’d push a string into the tunnel and have another locomotive pull it out from the other portal. Passengers had to take a wagon ride through the gap. This wasn’t a good situation. When L&N gained control of the tunnel (KCGL had gone bust in 1892), they did a complete refurb ending in 1897, which is the date on this portal (this is mostly from “History of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad” by Maury Klein). It’s also the date that “Dracula” by Bram Stoker, was published. When the tunnel was begun, the Buffalo Soldiers were active in the West, just 7 years after the gunfight at OK Corral.
All Comments (21)
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Can you imagine digging that out a hundred yrs ago with oil lamps.
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plot twist. This is a colonoscopy. The train sounds were added in.
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Who else got this in their recommended?
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Back in about September of 1996 my brother Warren, along with our friend Zeb Huntleigh and I had been hiking the Gap and started through this tunnel, making our way through about 3/4 and heard the train coming through the other end. Needless to say we were scared shitless and started picking up the pace real quick like. Warren and I had just reached the opening end and shot out like double time, having just made it to safety on the side of the tracks and looked back to see Zeb clinging to the front of the big engine hanging on for life. Tossing his backpack and jumping off the slow mover unhurt and very relieved to be ok, we couldn't help but just sit down and laugh the rest of the afternoon. Very damned scary I tell you.
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Now I understand why the loco's exit doors are on the front and rear of the cab, and not on the sides !
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I don't care what anyone says that tunnel is scary af.
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I've watched this video twice and still have not heard anything that sound like an impact.
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Mca0824, Thank you so much for posting this! That was scary, courageous and fascinating all at once. Takes a lot of bravery to do that whether for work or fun. My hat is off to anyone who could do this.
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Worst place to see another train light in front of you.
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That's not a tunnel, it's a cave, and it also explains the lack of graffiti, no place to hide when a train comes. YUP.
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Considering all the unknowns, and still driving that train through that long eerie tunnel out of the twilight zone... ball's of steal! Great video!
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Toot toot said Thomas this is a tight one
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another coat of paint and he would had been stuck. This looks like something out of an old mine.
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Must be the tunnel that leads straight to hell.
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Found myself holding my breath. This is one scary tunnel to have to go through.
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That tunnel is so scary, why does it even exist! They need to remake it!
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That is a very weird tunnel. It starts with brickwork, and then suddenly changes into this weird concrete spiked wall design, and then finally, it turns into a cave! It goes through the designs again at odd points.
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When she tells you it's her first time. And it actually is.
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Couldn't even imagine the hardships digging that tunnel. I wonder how many lives were lost in the process.
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It is very scary tunnel.just imagine, if the train stopped by any engine failure, then....... I am leaving it to ur imagination.
