Clinch Mountain tunnel, in Scott County VA, at 36.637520, -82.735412 (center top of tunnel), is 4,135′ long. The date on the lintel is 1909.  If you have hawk-keen eyes, you might just be able to see the tiny speck of white near the bottom of the tunnel opening…that’s the other end.  It’s unfaced and just across Highway 23 from the Vulcan quarry in Speers Ferry, over a girder plate trestle.  The next picture is back on the Kermit side of the tunnel, just off to the right.  These are the ruins of a factory that was extant here in the early years of the last century.  It mined sand from up on the Clinch Mountain, processed it, and shipped it Pittsburgh Glass.  Odd to find that here…maybe it was super duper sand, or something.   Remnants of the rail siding are still visible (not in the picture)(sidings aren’t particularly interesting).

As of October, 2013, the ruins of the factory are still much the same, but heavily overgrown.  And, just as the last time, as I was taking this picture series (I’m just posting one), a CSX mixed-unit train came rolling through, generating enough wind in the cut to nearly take my cap off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s the north portal of Clinch Mountain tunnel: