This started out as a documentation of the 54 tunnels on the Clinchfield Railroad between Elkhorn City KY and Marion NC. Later on, as my Tunnel Diaries navigator and Lord of the Topos, Lee Stone, found other tunnels and interesting places to visit, the blog expanded. As of October, 2013, we’ve pretty much run out of tunnels within reasonable driving range, so I’m including features like the dated concrete road overpasses the railroad constructed and anything else more or less related to the railroad industry in this area. I’ve also been updating the black-and-white pictures with color versions. These pictures are my own and should you wish to use them for your own purposes, please obtain my permission. Thank you.
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Blogging the Railroad Tunnels 
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hi was looking at your tunnel pics around dante area…do u have a pic of tunnel at wakenva where train went over a small creek. my uncle Vernon Martin lived other side about 1959-60. you had to go through tunnel to get to his house. thanks linda
do u have pic of tunnel at wakenva va down road past trammel va going away from dante area. creek went though it. my uncle Vernon martin lived on other side 1959-60. u had to walk through tunnel to get to his house. thanks linda
Yes, ma’am, I do. It’s Martin tunnel. The picture is here.
Thank you for looking at The Tunnel Diaries.
Interested in what you know about a spur tunnel near Dante, North portal is I believe at 37° 2’20.70″N 82°11’7.56″W and South portal is at 37° 0’50.51″N 82°11’46.68″W
That’s the newer Sandy Ridge Tunnel (there are two with the same name in the area), completed in 1958 and out of service a decade or so later, when the need for that spur went away. It’s shown on this page: https://thetunneldiaries.com/2012/04/
That is fascinating – thanks for the history.
And thank you for taking time to look it over!
I just ran across your site and I cant wait to see the tunnels you have found! I am running out of places to find old tunnels so this is wonderful! thank you so much,Wizzy
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I do agree with all the ideas you have introduced for your post. They are really convincing and can certainly work. Still, the posts are very brief for newbies. May you please extend them a bit from subsequent time? Thank you for the post. gdadeekbfcbc
Anything in particular you’d like me to expand upon?
Great pics! I actually live in Sun, Va… wondering what the long tunnel at the old Dante ballpark, going up towards Trammel Gap is called & if you have a pic of it? Thanks so much!
Great pics! I actually live in Sun, Va… wondering what the long tunnel at the old Dante ballpark, going up towards Trammel Gap is called & if you have a pic of it? Thanks so much!
It’s Sandy Ridge Tunnel, the longest on the old CC&O line. I’ve got the Trammel portal posted here
https://thetunneldiaries.com/2011/11/04/20-sandy-ridge-tunnel/
I’ve also got Sun posted on my http://www.unclebobstravels.com site.
Your research and travels ( rail tunnel spelunking) are intriquing. Thanks for sharing. I plan to explore a few this Oct. dan
Thank you. Enjoy your exploring!
Bob send me and email. I think I can answer a lot of your questions and give you a couple more possible adventures on the CRR.
Did you hear about the tunnel fire at Robinson’s Creek (5 miles from Vergie) last summer?
J
I had a question about an old tunnel that someone asked me about, and they are going on by what there grandparent told them. It was a tunnel located in the Tom’ Creek area of Coeburn, Va and he thinks it was called Denny Tunnel. Do you have any info on this or do you know anything about this particular tunnel.. Thanks Travis
From Coeburn heading southeast to St. Paul on the old Norfolk & Western line (built around 1907 or so), you’ll find these tunnels: Little Tom, Holbrook, Little Bull and Big Bull. In St. Paul, there is Cragan (or Craigan) tunnel. I don’t know Denny Tunnel, but, if you find some source of information on this one, please pass it along to me. I need to document it. Thank you!
Hi Bob, Thanks for the wonderful website. My son and I love to explore old tunnels (especially the Rathole in TN). Anyway, how did you access the Oakman Tunnel(s) here in TN? Is that TVA land above them and along Elm Springs Road? Or is there another way? Thanks!
Thank you for the compliment. Yes, to access the Oakman tunnels, you do have to park where Elm Springs Road crosses the tracks and walk in from there. Since we had absolutely no desire to cross over the lake on that trestle (too dangerous), we went around to the Lone Mountain Boat Dock area and hiked down to Sycamore Tunnel (36.377813, -83.562397) from there. Great views all around, too (it was summer).