This is a CSX Clevinger Branch Coal Run subdivision (read about it here) tunnel near Clevinger Branch Road (3227), about 3 miles NE of Coal Run Village in Pike County KY. Coordinates (at center) are 37.5519, -82.5239. It’s about 1,500′ long on an active line.
Inside the tunnel, the ties are concrete:
The ballast is covering the center of the ties. I’ve seen flat (and cracked) concrete ties at the Indian Ridge tunnel in Johnson City, but none like these. Interesting.
You can read about this sturdy, 1894 Pencoyd Bridge & Construction Co. (PA) trestle over the Levisa Branch in Kentucky right here. It once carried two tracks, maybe when it was over the Ohio River. The website I noted above says that this bridge is closed to all traffic, but check the rails…they’ve been used recently. The actual maker plate is on the right support. It’s been broken, but it’s still readable.
This tunnel at Robinson Creek KY (37.38180, -82.54229) was in the news in April, 2014, when two arsonists set the thing on fire. The fire burned for weeks and the ceiling of the tunnel collapsed. The arsonists were discovered and now face federal charges.
The tunnel is 700′ long and dates back 100 years. It’s on an active CSX line that serves two coal mines.
Here’s what it looks like inside:
I’m told it took major work to get the tunnel back in operation.
Blogging the Railroad Tunnels 