It's hard to catch a train going through the tunnel in light. I remember going there years ago when trains were running through every couple hours or so. Now most of them run at night. Thats really cool that they open it up once a year and that they brought that locomotive.
I went for five years straight and I was also there the year they brought the Virginian heritage unit. Btw, you might remember me from the museum in Jonesboro, tn. Keep doing what you do bro, I wish nothing but good fanning upon you.
Back in the good ol' NS Steam Excursion days in the 1990's, I rode a excursion sponsored by Watauga Valley Chapter NRHS over that line out of Kingsport, Via St Paul, Norton, Big Stone Gap and through Natural Tunnel on the trip behind the Southern 2-8-2 4501. NS ran it over the CSX trackage rights on the old Clinchfield, CV District of N&W, Interstate and Southern. Probably the best excursion I ever rode of many.
I remember the "old days" (early/mid 1980s) when the tunnel was open to park visitors every day. Back then you first walked through the small man-made tunnel, blasted out of a nearby ridge, then through Natural Tunnel. I was scared half to death walking through the man-made tunnel, because it didn't look like there was enough room for a human + train in it. Of course, Natural Tunnel itself has plenty of room.
I remember well a few days around 1970 when I had to make lateral force measurments on the rails in what was then a 19 degree curve. I can tell you that when a train went through it got awful crowded. I noticed a few people stepping on the rails near the beginning. That is a NO NO. Actually the west entrance was enlarged when the track was put through here around 1890 and then it was adjusted further for clearance improvements. It is a scenic treasure. I was last there in 2003 and may not make it back, now that I am 85, and my wife can think of a lot of trips that don't involve a railroad.
Cool Shot Micah You are about five miles from my house we go there a few times to explore this tunnel it goes through to Gate City VA Weber City VA on to Frisco Yard and also this is where the line hauled 96 to 120 Coal Cars headed for the class 1 steepest mountain railroad grade in North Carolina the mighty Saluda Grade on this line Locomotives 2839, 2716, and 4501 travelled on this line to Knoxville This tunnel has a lot of history of trains comes by through the tunnel of Scott County VA and this tunnel is the only railroad tunnel travels in the Tri-Cities Region of Southwest Virginia
Nice video Micah.. I was planning on coming to natural tunnel on railroad day but it just didn't seem the same with the Hobo coming with me..We had planned on coming this year but it just wasn't meant to be I guess. Keep up the good work and sorry to hear about your losing your equipment.. 👍🏻👍🏻
@@larryjayne9451 Shoestring sure is missed! I’ve got a video in the near future that I’m dedicating to him, so keep your eyes out for that one. Always great to hear from you Larry!!
AWESOME! Thanks for the work filming these mighty trains👍🔥🙏💪❤️🇺🇸 That Tunnel is so cool. How busy is that line through the tunnel? Just a few trains a day, week ??? Where is that located if driving from Cincinnati?
It is a national treasure, and you can look it up on the register. Call it a cosmic coincidence, but the dimensions and alignment of the tunnel fit remarkably well with the design specifications for a tunnel at this location with minimal work to polish it off for operations. How did that happen!
It's hard to catch a train going through the tunnel in light. I remember going there years ago when trains were running through every couple hours or so. Now most of them run at night. Thats really cool that they open it up once a year and that they brought that locomotive.
nowadays theres only 2 NS coal trains per day with a chance of a CSX
I went for five years straight and I was also there the year they brought the Virginian heritage unit. Btw, you might remember me from the museum in Jonesboro, tn. Keep doing what you do bro, I wish nothing but good fanning upon you.
@@OwenWidner Oh yes! So good to hear from you my friend, was thinking about you the other day! Thanks for the feedback!!
Back in the good ol' NS Steam Excursion days in the 1990's, I rode a excursion sponsored by Watauga Valley Chapter NRHS over that line out of Kingsport, Via St Paul, Norton, Big Stone Gap and through Natural Tunnel on the trip behind the Southern 2-8-2 4501. NS ran it over the CSX trackage rights on the old Clinchfield, CV District of N&W, Interstate and Southern. Probably the best excursion I ever rode of many.
Awesome video
great video ❤❤😍😍
Thanks for the revealing look at a scenic treasure
That is awesome to see
How cool is that?! Thanks Micah!
you got a new subscriber
I remember the "old days" (early/mid 1980s) when the tunnel was open to park visitors every day. Back then you first walked through the small man-made tunnel, blasted out of a nearby ridge, then through Natural Tunnel. I was scared half to death walking through the man-made tunnel, because it didn't look like there was enough room for a human + train in it. Of course, Natural Tunnel itself has plenty of room.
Muy buen video Excelente estimado amigo Like 👍🏻 un saludo 👋🏻 😊
In Norfolk Southern the tunnel is a great of the weekend.
Very cool.
Yo, it’s like a cave.😲
Cool Norfolk Southern in Kentucky.
I usually don't go to these because everytime i went NS never left anything for peoplw to see, i don't go and they put a Dash 9 on display
I remember well a few days around 1970 when I had to make lateral force measurments on the rails in what was then a 19 degree curve. I can tell you that when a train went through it got awful crowded. I noticed a few people stepping on the rails near the beginning. That is a NO NO. Actually the west entrance was enlarged when the track was put through here around 1890 and then it was adjusted further for clearance improvements. It is a scenic treasure. I was last there in 2003 and may not make it back, now that I am 85, and my wife can think of a lot of trips that don't involve a railroad.
Cool Shot Micah
You are about five miles from my house
we go there a few times to explore this tunnel it goes through to Gate City VA
Weber City VA on to Frisco Yard and also this is where the line hauled 96 to 120 Coal Cars headed for the class 1 steepest mountain railroad grade in North Carolina the mighty Saluda Grade on this line
Locomotives 2839, 2716, and 4501 travelled on this line to Knoxville
This tunnel has a lot of history of trains comes by through the tunnel of Scott County VA and this tunnel is the only railroad tunnel travels in the Tri-Cities Region of Southwest Virginia
Nice video Micah.. I was planning on coming to natural tunnel on railroad day but it just didn't seem the same with the Hobo coming with me..We had planned on coming this year but it just wasn't meant to be I guess. Keep up the good work and sorry to hear about your losing your equipment.. 👍🏻👍🏻
@@larryjayne9451 Shoestring sure is missed! I’ve got a video in the near future that I’m dedicating to him, so keep your eyes out for that one. Always great to hear from you Larry!!
@@railfanmicahturner yeah buddy.. You keep up the good work and keep the faith Bud 🙏
I’ll bet the noise is deafening when a train goes through there.
Dash 9 is good because they are almost fading away
Especially on Csx! They should have been rebuilt!
-9 soon to be rebuilt
AWESOME! Thanks for the work filming these mighty trains👍🔥🙏💪❤️🇺🇸 That Tunnel is so cool. How busy is that line through the tunnel? Just a few trains a day, week ??? Where is that located if driving from Cincinnati?
It is a national treasure, and you can look it up on the register. Call it a cosmic coincidence, but the dimensions and alignment of the tunnel fit remarkably well with the design specifications for a tunnel at this location with minimal work to polish it off for operations. How did that happen!
Does this line even average one train a day now days?
@@ERICMANN71 Usually has anywhere from 2-4 trains a day. If it’s busy then I would say between 5-7, that’s counting both NS and CSX
I know they do nighttime photography. I was there couple years ago I just missed it. Do you know if they do that more often?
Do the dash 9 on display run or can be active? Or does it just sit there? Just curious!
@@IsupportVehicles999 It’s an active unit on the NS system and displayed for a short window before going back into local service