Hidden History: East Side Railroad Tunnel

[@richiejohnson]

Back in 1972 I took LSD for the 1st time . I was with the RISD hockey team and we took a VW bus to the entrance of the tunnel and walked through the tunnel to the Seekonk river. We had gotten off by the time we got to the east entrance and we climbed up the railroad bridge. On the way back, we saw in the distance a light coming at us which we thought was probably a train, so we jumped to the side of the tunnel that had no tracks. Now remember we were tripping hard. As the light came toward us it became apparent that the light was traveling not on the tracks but on the open side where we were walking. So we didn't know what was happening and whether we should jump on to the tracks even though it might be a train coming at us. Well what it turned out to be was a bunch of guys in a truck, dumping on old mattress in the tunnel which they did and then turned the truck around and drove out the other way but it was an adventure. The RISD hockey team played a game that night after coming down.

[@FreddySneakers]

great job! I have fond memories of drinking beer in that tunnel in the early 80s.

[@gk10002000]

during the blizzard of 78, actually 5 days after, I walked through the bus tunnel from Providence to the East side under college hill. For decades had always taken the bus over to East Providence it was cool to finally walk through it

[@nonenoneonenonenone]

Very well written. Good job.

[@raybarr182]

Love this Doc. i watched it at least a dozen times! Hope you get the time and funding to do more about our awesome city.

[@amb3cog]

Amazing bit of Prov history. I just moved here from Newport, and am a huge history buff. So needless to say I love your video. Thank you very much. :)

[@thegmdoctor]

Great job and historical photos! The tunnel allowed The Hartford, New Haven, and New York rail line to access Barrington [heading south] upon exiting the tunnel on the east side. Also, the rails accross the river [heading north] lead to the NorthEast corridor in Attleboro. The lines have been dormant since the collaspe of the Penn Central System in 1970 or 71'.

[@jennifersexton-riley86]

I was teargassed at that party.

[@nonspicymemes395]

what was that like? could you give your experience at that party? i’m looking to go there this summer for the first time

[@jennifersexton-riley86]

It was 1993, so I don't know what I can tell you. Providence is a great city. I love it.

[@johnhiram1207]

In the late 60s I used to party in the tunnel. The walk thru from one end to the other was very creepy and full of lots of junk and often camps of hobos and drunks. Sad to see it is being ignored

[@PoetryETrain]

Thank you, This has been Added to our playlists here and on facebook...

[@StuffthatsGone]

I was taking note how much I liked the voice over!

[@jeffdavis13]

Great job. I was brought up in Providence but know very little about it except that passenger trains and some freight passed through the tunnel up until (about) the time that the city shut down Union Station and rerouted the tracks cutting off any access from the line into Providence. The rail route actually served what was known as the East Bay line, running from Providence to stations in Barrington, Warren and Bristol. After the link to Providence was cut off the Providence and Worcester railroad continued to use a portion of the line from the East Providence container port to Pawtucket carrying freight. Eventually the railroad donated the line to the state of Rhode Island and the right of way from East Providence to Bristol became the actual route of the East Bay Bike Trail.

[@jeffdavis13]

Great job

[@kikalaloka]

great job!

[@farmerdave7965]

If you didn't get an A for this project, I will be having a talk with your teacher ... and it won't be pretty !

[@rocketdude1979]

@Checkitpro it's not that simple. To get to Newport from Providence via the former route of the RR, a significant amount of right of way would need to be rebuilt (through Warren and Bristol, into Mass across the Taunton River,to Fall River (no bridge any more) then turn south to pick up the old RR R.O.W, to Newport via Tiverton. The RR drawbridge to Apiquidick Island was removed recently, so between needing a new RR through 2 states + 2 major new bridges it probably won't happen. :(

[@MoonwolfeConsulting]

Since the railroad bridge at Fall River is long demolished, the only option to cross the river is at the Weir section in Taunton.

[@jasonpatrick6266]

i live in that tunnel today. my name is Hermit.

[@derekedmondson9909]

Where is Quahog? I’m lookin for Spooner Street.

[@gk10002000]

speaking of bridges, I used to go over the old red bridge before they built the george washington bridge.

[@tobeyhr4011]

Some say that the feasting troll king lives in the tunnel to this day.

[@classicalman114]

My father used to play chicken with trains in/around this tunnel when he was a boy, no joke.

[@BGH10000]

That would be a tight place to party

[@WhatTheFuckRandomURL]

I went back to the tunnel and finally opened it today! Go check it out I opened the side on gano and Amy street! Hurry before they close it!

[@nonenoneonenonenone]

vandal

[@johnviera6908]

I WALKED THROUGH THE TUNNEL IN 1970

[@candievermeulen3112]

Dark history cool

[@joestone9302]

still open

[@sirac37]

I was there 98

[@drakewauters2109]

Ghosts of Club Baby Head.

[@401Rob]

really ? Its an old tunnel. nothing more. personally, I think the trains stopped running on those tracks earlier than 1981. I was in that tunnel hundreds of times in the late 70S and thru the 80s and never remember a train running on the track. I also remember on the track, on the Gano st. side one of those things two people would have to manually pump up and down to make move. my fiends and I spent countless summers playing down there.

[@dizzyv867]

I was down there one night nd i was walking the tracks and dropped my 40 oz into a flooded area so i had to dive into the water to save it. Then i lit a fire nd sat around it in the freezing cold while i didnt at all dry off.

[@DO-WORK_401]

The audio sounded like crap.....but it was a very good video otherwise. I know that tunnel very well. Had some fucked up times in there!

[@ShadoVTwin]

Should get someone that doesn't talk like a valley girl from California to tell the story...LOL

[@WhatTheFuckRandomURL]

I went back to the tunnel and finally opened it today! Go check it out I opened the side on gano and Amy street! Hurry before they close it!

[@yassararafatbitch]

U think it's still open?

[@WhatTheFuckRandomURL]

***** it IS open! Check it out for yourself!