Railroad Tunnel #22 Collapses, Train Wreck, Abandoned, West Virginia

www.HistoryInYourOwnBackyard.com
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Tunnel 22, built in 1857, also known as Rodemer’s Tunnel is 338 feet long and one of the 3 tunnels that were bypassed in 1963.
Since the bypass in 1963, the tunnel has suffered a collapsed wall which I explore in this video.
Also, Dan Robie with the West Virginia and North Carolina Rails website states that on June 30th, 1950 at 3:25PM a westbound mail train entered the east portal of the tunnel at 48 mile per hour which exceeded the 45 mile per hour limit for this section of the line. The east portal is the side that you just saw me enter. I was unable to enter the west portal due to the amount of vegetation in the area. Anyway, there were 2 locomotives and 16 cars of various types including coach, baggage and refrigerated express cars that day in 1950.
Upon entering the tunnel, the engineer of the lead locomotive heard a sound indicative of a broken rail and the train began to derail before the brakes could be applied. Both locomotives derailed to the right moving along the north wall of the tunnel and derailed to the right after exiting the west portal. Both locomotives sustained considerable damage as did the first three cars. The north wall of the tunnel was heavily damaged and the track inside destroyed. The engineer in the second locomotive was killed and the engineer and fireman in the lead locomotive sustained injuries. All equipment was determined to be in good order at the time of the accident. The Interstate Commerce Commission conclusion was the derailment was attributable solely to a broken rail.
GPS Location: 39º11'54.3"N 81º20'10.9"W

[@indy6781]

Nice seeing it not all painted up.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Exactly!!!!

[@GabrielV.-wk4xy]

If that was in Colorado, then it would probably be a tourist attraction where you might have to be a lot of money just to see

[@slidersgliders5516]

To far away from free food so you don't see painting on walls . Only in the town's that feed the homeless people

[@snydedon9636]

@@historyinyourownbackyard2363I have enjoyed railroading and railroad history since I was a kid, especially the steam era. Thanks for this video and the history of the tunnel. Merry Christmas and happy new year.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you liked the video. Merry Christmas!

[@jackwalsh1468]

Satolli, a very enjoyable episode. I so like you unabridged cantankerous sentiment, choice words and age. Never loose that spirit in finding historic venues. Cheers, Mate.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

LOL! Yeah, this episode was a little different. :)

[@campermike8879]

I have found and explored many old railroad tunnels Active and abandoned. It was my thing for years. Then lack of friends to go explore these places (never go alone) and health issues have grounded me for several years now. Loved finding and exploring old tunnels

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

It's definitely a thrill, isn't it?

[@chipperawesomestuff306]

Love this. Check out the 1929 R.R. tunnel in St.Albans WV. It's under the Kanawha Terrace overpass. It's awesome!!! About 13 years ago I went on an excursion from my parents back yard & to my amazement there it was!!!! abandoned, unblemished by nothing but time, the stone & rocks surrounding the opening were all in place, it was a hot summer, as I walked into the darkness of the entrance, I could feel the coolness of the breeze, the faint fragrance of mosses growing around the walls. It had been years since the trains had passed through this tunnel yet it was still in pristine shape. As a child we could hear the train whistle blow as it was passing through the tunnel, we would wait patiently for it to emerge just to see the hugeness & hear the louder blast from the horn as it presented bigger than life to us kids. The excitement of this was always overwhelming to our small eyes. To this day when I hear the distant sound of a train it brings back those memories of childhood freedom.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

You're lucky to have such a magical experience as a child. I'll look up the tunnel and check it out. Thanks!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

I can't find the tunnel. Can you give me a GPS Coordinate?

[@jim_livermore]

@@historyinyourownbackyard2363 The southern end seems close to 38.37352 -81.82740

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Thanks!!!

[@tammyjantzen9004]

Awesome! Love your sense of humor! Good your cat is being fed. Ha! Thank you. Much appreciated!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you like the video!

[@dgrombach1]

That’s the north bend rail trail.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Yes it is!

[@FurthermoreJack]

Love the release of Spring vids in Winter , so you can relax during the holidays

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Exactly!

[@isaacnone7685]

There's also another collapsed tunnel next to Eaton tunnel. There's is a little hole you have to crawl down into. Once inside it eventually turns to a lake of water. I've never been in the water but have been inside the hole many of times. I don't ever remember seeing the tunnel you are in. It looks familiar but we was able to walk all the way through and there was no collapse. I wonder if that's a more recent collapse and the one I explained is the actual collapsed tunnel you was looking for?

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

I know about that tunnel and have seen the hole but didn't crawl down inside. I don't even know if I would fit. It's a tight squeeze. Here's a video I did earlier about that tunnel. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mInYeqRtZZyEjs0

[@jeffs5093]

Another great video, and yes, we do appreciate your efforts

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Thanks Jeff! :)

[@kskssxoxskskss2189]

So beautiful.

[@musclecarmitch908]

Awesome tunnel! Thanks for sharing it and its history with us!👍

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

You are most welcome.

[@buffplums]

Fascinating. I wonder if you had entered the far portal that you might have seen evidence on the tunnel wall as the engines and lead carriages must have scraped the side wall of the tunnel ? I’m from the U.K. z and we have a fair amount of disused tunnels over here and it’s great to compare your tunnels in the US with ours. Thanks for sharing really enjoyed hearing the history too.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

That's what I wanted to see if there was still any evidence of damage on the North wall but it was just too difficult trying to get back in there during the summer. Maybe this Winter I'll take a drive back over and see if I can get back in on the other side. Do you ever explore any of your unused tunnels over there?

[@buffplums]

Hi that will be a good thing to do. Sadly no, I have a terrible phobia of dark spaces I’m ok with other people but I did try to go into a tunnel many years back but could only go so far …. I have this fear of haunted places well even if it’s not haunted I just feel like it is. My Dad used to tell me loads of ghost stories when I was a boy and maybe that’s why. @@historyinyourownbackyard2363

[@larkhigginbotham5374]

I live about 30 miles from this tunnel. The North Bend rail trail is a nice trail.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

You're lucky! That is a really nice trail

[@larkhigginbotham5374]

@@historyinyourownbackyard2363 You need to do an episode on Marble King and Wissmach Glass Co. In Paden City.

[@KorbinX]

Love your videos! Thank you for keeping our history alive ^-^

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you like the project!

[@nathanduckeorth806]

Don't look much like a collapse,,kinda looks like it was sealed up!!! Very good presentation though❤

[@barrygrant2907]

I agree, blocked with dumped ruble.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

It's definitely a collapse of the south wall. If you look closely at time stamp 4:27 you'll see where the hole in the wall is located. Also, although I didn't include this in the video, if you go the the webpage at the link below and scroll half way down the page you'll see a photo taken by Alan Nichols about 10 years ago where the amount of dirt and rock that came through the wall at that time is about 50% less than when this was filmed in 2022. Here's the link: www.wvncrails.org/parkersburg-to-clarksburg-waist-of-the-bo-main-part-i.html

[@jeffharper7579]

Thanks👍 for the video. My opinion is that I wish/think they should have a plaque honoring the men that lost their lives at this tunnel.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

I agree.

[@GritandGrindMoney]

I grew up just outside of Parkersburg in a small town called ellensboro wv. I have been in most of these tunnels using what is now called the rails to trails .

[@kevincampbell7276]

You did a great job on the video we appreciate you showing us the inside and working hard to do so

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Thanks! Glad you like the video Kevin.

[@aaronschulte3207]

❤Stay safe Sir

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Always!!!

[@robertpsarudakis3474]

That's just an awesome find. So many abandoned rail lines in the country that are hidden in plane site. Most people don't even know what it used to look like over 100 years ago! Thanks! Oh I'd be scared.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

You're welcome!

[@henrymuenich6296]

Thank you for sharing this with us 🙏.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

You are most welcome.

[@7viewerlogic670]

Great video!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Thanks! Glad you like it.

[@Myferrets18]

Loved this! I wouldn't go in there. Make sure someone knows where you are when you do this kind of stuff..

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

You're right! I agree.

[@rustylocomotive9203]

Great video, and right up my alley! Before we retired and moved to Florida in 2019, we lived in central West Virginia. I spent a good deal of time hunting for the tunnels of the old Coal & Coke Railway. I got all except Delta and Little Otter. I had my poor Prius in places it was never meant to go! Sago and Goodwin were the most difficult, but Sago was worth it because the brickwork is magnificent.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Where about is Sago located?

[@rustylocomotive9203]

@@historyinyourownbackyard2363 Upshur County, West Virginia. Hard to get to now, with the vegetation. I got there with a friend in 2017, and I had knee problems at the time. It was very challenging.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Yeah, the west end is hidden by vegetation now, at least in the summer. If I would have gone down there in the middle of winter, I think I would have had a better chance of entering the west portal.

[@robertlyman9789]

Looks back filled, not collapsed

[@CaptainMorgan68OU1]

One in Wyoming county WV as well at rd bailey lake unless it's changed you can walk through it pretty cool stuff

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Would you happen to have a GPS Coordinate?

[@JSAC66]

We fear old tunnels, bears love them. 😳

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

I can understand that.

[@danielsexton467]

Love your channel

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you like the project.

[@JohnDavies-cn3ro]

Interesting little film - I wonder if some of the brick repairs along the walls relate to wreck damage? My late grandfather was a permanent way lengthman (gandy dancer or section hand) on a British railway, and always said all railwaymen fear accidents in tunnels more than any other mishap - there is nowhere to go to by way of escape. Over here, incidentally, we call those little 'cutouts' refuges - which, as you say, is exactly what they were / are.

[@JackieLitviak]

VERY INTERESTING. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you liked the video.

[@allenadams2469]

Thanks for sharing

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

You're welcome!

[@tonyeagle4182]

😅I got caught in one of these tunnels at night when trains were still running on the line..... very scary It was near Bear Run ??? I believe ..

[@Jordan-w3t]

There a tunnel located up arnett in braxton county the railway recently shut down I believe its one of the oldest in the state

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Could you give me a GPS Coordinate of where it's located?

[@deanross4090]

Any idea what those protruding stones were? (One on each side).

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Great question! I've asked several people and no one knows!

[@robwar2288]

What is the name of the Walking Trail now?

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

It's called the North Bend Rail-Trail.

[@robwar2288]

Thanks!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

You're welcome.

[@evanstauffer4470]

The correct term is "railroad tunnel", not "train tunnel".

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

So how did you like the video?

[@cowboykody6775]

Yer 65yo? What you gonna do when you git old?

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

When I get too old to "explore", I've got over 250 videos that need to be edited and released on similar sites like this across the Midwest. That will keep me busy for about 5 years. :)

[@frankanddanasnyder3272]

The bricks are repairs....

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

But what about the bricks running the length of the top of the tunnel?

[@Fossilsunleashed]

im just trying to find out where all the stone came from ?reclaimed from

[@Fossilsunleashed]

cause we dont do that today cant do that today

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Good question.

[@Hogger280]

I don't think that is a collapse - the ceiling is intact. I think that fill was hauled in there to discourage hikers.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

It's definitely a collapse of the south wall. If you look closely at time stamp 4:27 you'll see where the hole in the wall is located. Also, although I didn't include this in the video, if you go the the webpage at the link below and scroll half way down the page you'll see a photo taken by Alan Nichols about 10 years ago where the amount of dirt and rock that came through the wall at that time is about 50% less than when this was filmed in 2022. It's been getting worse with time. Here's the link: www.wvncrails.org/parkersburg-to-clarksburg-waist-of-the-bo-main-part-i.html

[@williamh.jarvis6795]

​@@historyinyourownbackyard2363 Such an occurrence happened in the famed 4.75 mile long Hoosac Tunnel in NW MA, happened around three years ago, some 300 feet from iits West Portal supposedly caused by an overhead brook passing over it. I watched one's KZbin video of a cab ride going through it east to west. He replied back pointing out exactly where the collapse was occurring.

[@wr513]

4:06 🤣😂

[@joeanderson9852]

👍👍

[@robertlyman9789]

Surprised not full of tweekers and homeless

[@Bob-eh2do]

Just pull away.

[@bobadkins9876]

Check out the Moonville tunnel

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Good idea.

[@johnswigler6512]

🧢🇺🇸

[@macksrbest1884]

Keep climbing old man 😊

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Thanks buddy! :)

[@reverseuniverse2559]

I don’t stop where I am could get mobbed by a family of 7ft kangacaveroos 🦘 🥊