RAILROAD TUNNELS (BEST VIDEO EVER)

[@RicArmstrong]

I recently drove past the old tunnel at the Point of Rocks on Route 15 coming out of Virginia into Maryland. It's amazing to see how they made those structures 150 years ago. And it's still in use by CSX today.👍

[@jeffcantor3298]

When in college, I hiked through the Schenley tunnel several times. Never realized it was originally double tracked.

[@steelcityrailfan4808]

Awesome video DJ! Caught both CN ore trains this morning

[@tf6168]

Thanks for the videos. The most interesting train videos on KZbin.

[@djstrains]

Glad you think so!

[@tf6168]

@@djstrains Your work with the drone makes it so much more interesting. Wish when I was traveling in your area I had one.

[@LoCoMotiveTimeTravelersDNA]

Love all this local action and information DJ keep up the great work !

[@moregltfirephotography4857]

Nice one DJ! Love the history aspect of railroading

[@peterainsworth8466]

Other things railway tunnels go under: Rivers (London UK), Harbours (Sydney Harbour, Australia), the sea (Euro tunnel between France and UK). Other examples for all of these I'm sure. This weekend they even drove a preserved steam locomotive through the underground rail network in Sydney.

[@CM-ARM]

Very cool information DJ, and I just love the old Baywindow Caboose.

[@djstrains]

Me too!

[@tomeasley5979]

DJ, Thanks for the tour of the tunnels. Very informative. As usual, great video!

[@charlierumsfeld6626]

I strongly agree that "accidents" don't just happen. They are caused. Human error is 100% the cause of "accidents".

[@tf6168]

Out of all the area I have traveled in this country I must say that your area was the most interesting. I love PA for train watching. I would always come home with new ideas.

[@djstrains]

I totally agree!

[@nedmerrill5705]

We got the Hoosac Tunnel in our area - now that's a tunnel!

[@williamh.jarvis6795]

Yes! I have walked through this tunnel twice, once in early 2000, second time in mid 2008. My first walk I encountered a westbound train coming from behind me. Receved plenty of warning! Before you see any headlight you will feel a change in breeze movement, like I did on the back of my neck. I hid in one of the many niches cur into the north face, located every 300 feet apart. Also inside this tunnel are spray painted numbers every 100 feet indicating your location within it. 251 at its easy portal indicates that you will encounter a nice long 25,100 foot walk in order to get to the west portal in North Adams, MA. (My second walk I would encounter no trains that day as I approached its west portal storm door, seeing it down. I managed to crawl under it as the door goes down as far as to the tops of the rails, giving you around a 13 inch gap so to slide yourself under the lowered door, just like crawling under a jacked up motor vehicle when servicing it.)

[@Perfusionist01]

some good info coming

[@charlesfaulkner8653]

I was delighted to see a caboose. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen one. Just found your channel. Subscribed.

[@djstrains]

I have 400 videos organized into PLAYLISTS to help you find what you like easier. Welcome!

[@jeffyoung1349]

Another awesome video, a subject that I never really gave much thought to, can’t wait for episode 2, thank you again

[@jeffyoung1349]

Thank you again for your reply, the amount of time you put into doing what you do for us all plus then taking more time to respond, in my opinion you set a great example of a KZbin host, the ol Siskell and Ebert 5 👍’s up rating. Thanks again and you have a great weekend

[@richardrickett3593]

Good video and great information

[@TrainmasterRR]

Love your videos. They have made me think about operation and purpose for railroad activity on my first permanent layout. (I’ve had several layouts, but none have been built with permanent scenery.) The point you have made about tunnels in other videos has stuck with me. There has to be a good enough reason for the tunnel to exist. There is rarely a mountain right in the middle of a lot of flat land with the sole purpose of blocking the railroad. The terrain usually is so built up in that area that there is no other option, but to bore through it. As luck would have it, I have a retired railroad tunnel that I can study and replicate for my layout. It helps me visualize the reason for its existence. Perhaps later this year I can put together a video on it. Thanks again for the great content.

[@djstrains]

I’m glad to be of help

[@theodoreshasta7846]

Super video on a vital aspect of railroad infrastructure that does not receive sufficient attention. Thank you!

[@kurtbeisner9068]

If I may add to your list….There is a tunnel under the Detroit River between Windsor and Detroit.

[@djstrains]

Cool. we have a subway tunnel under ours, but no railroad for me to address.

[@plasteredandcastered6820]

Check out the Mount Royal train tunnel in Montreal. Passes under a mountain. Currently being converted to an electric light rail transit system. (The Montreal rem).

[@rvnmedic1968]

Great variety and tunnel explanations. That strip steel train at the end is cool. Near where I live (Rome, NY), there's a strip steel company. I worked for the Mohawk, Adirondack and Northern RR out of Utica, NY on the track crew. Had a ride from Utica to Rome, getting onto the CSX Main (old NY Central route) and we set the strip steel car delivery. We had time and the overhead crane operator was taking the covers off the cars with a large remote. He asked me if I wanted to try it and I said sure! I managed to spot the crane over section to be picked and lifted the cover up and placed it nearby. Another thrill on a Short Line RR. Cheers, Bob

[@cp368productions2]

@@KutWrite those "legs" are to stabilize the cover by while lifting it.

[@stevemckeown4120]

Great as usual

[@walterschivo9123]

San Francisco has a couple of tunnels for Cal Train and the Muni street car.

[@mitchmorrow1726]

Awesome video. It's good to see a lot of prototype examples.

[@djstrains]

More to come!

[@richgreene7043]

DJ, nice video. Thanks for sharing. Rich

[@westonoverland]

Awesome Video DJ 🤘🏻

[@djstrains]

Appreciated

[@GTRFTrainCinematography]

Awesome video DJ! Hoping to visit the Union this summer!

[@djstrains]

You should!

[@RWSBaden]

Hi DJ, Another great video. I know the Peacock Tunnel on the old Montour railroad was day lighted because of water problems causing constant maintenance and a fear of collapse. There were a few tunnels on the old P&WV line in Ohio that were eliminated by cuts dug next to the tunnels to also eliminate sharp curves and reduce grades. Probably the most famous rail line that had tunnels day lighted is the CNO&TP aka "The Rat Hole", the ex-Southern Main line between Cincinnati, OH and Chattanooga, TN. that is now operated by Norfolk Southern. Also the PRR was famous for what it called "Fly-overs" and a very common example of a PRR Fly-over is in the town of New Brighton, PA. The Fly-over exist where the Youngstown Secondary splits from the Fort Wayne Main line. And I agree, on a model, when using a tunnel, try to make it look like the railroad had no other choice and had to build a tunnel. Cheers, Rich S.

[@1tombensky]

Great as usual! Interesting that the caboose doors and windows were open. One's I have seen lately have the openings covered and welded shut.

[@djstrains]

Still in active use daily

[@Brian_rock_railfan]

great video

[@vyzl6396]

Nice video

[@djstrains]

Thanks, lots of work

[@gcorriveau6864]

That tunnel under the city is fascinating. My previous experience with train tunnels under cities has mostly been in the context of LRT/local transport. But the idea of a full-fledged freight training roaring along under the pavement seems like science fiction.

[@55tmilam]

Awesome video

[@spencerbass7142]

I love the caboose, what an interesting area.

[@62ejo]

Thxs dj nice video....

[@djstrains]

Thanks, lots of work

[@stewartthompson72]

Interesting as always.

[@djstrains]

Thanks

[@zonegamma8197]

good video can'T wait for the next

[@dewanes3180]

If you are on top of the J&L tunnel can you hear or feel the train going below you?

[@djstrains]

no. But we hit the horn prior to any tunnel and ring bell through it.

[@jasonminier6782]

MP15s and a bay window caboose are the easy way to get a five star ✨ rating from me. Great informative video overall. Keep up the great work!

[@djstrains]

You should have seen me after I filmed it, it was perfect timing and I was actually giddy that I managed to catch it

[@w6zpc]

Check out the tunnel under West Point NY. Trains go under the military academy

[@stevemckeown5660]

nice work

[@thomasboese3793]

Always look at the track chart (if you have one) for the location your going to model. I live in Wisconsin... For the most part low rolling hills and all railroads when built here have a nice gentle saw-tooth profile for their grades. As well as a few named steeper grade hills. However, in the northwestern area of the state, there are several tunnels. Three of them are part of the old CNW route, now the Elroy to Sparta bike trail. The longest of which you must walk your bike due to the length, darkness, and the waterfall in the center of the tunnel. Not far away, the Town of Tunnel City has a short tunnel and witnessed the daily travels of the MILW Hiawathas between the Twin Cities and the Windy City.

[@jarettlazar6114]

I have heard stories of a narrow gauge line that went up Paintertown Valley in Irwin PA the old tunnel portal is still there under the NS main line but not much else remains. Might make a cool video to look into it further.

[@djstrains]

Wow, ok, will see if anyone heard of that. Thanks!

[@gregorynagy8448]

Heh. One Tunnel (Dravosburg) was across the valley from my grade school, and another (Schenley) right next to my High School.

[@bobthomas4514]

Great Video I liked the idea of an open tunnel on a layout. I hate it when cars derail in tunnels and you have to crawl underneath to reach them. Some Years ago a group of model railroaders (N scale by the way) and we visited the Gallitzin Tunnel in Gallitzin, it goes under part of the town as well as wild areas. Afterward we drove to a parking area that looks over the other single track tunnel, you can just see the track that runs through Gallitzin tunnel. I think it's a parking area for the state game lands. After waiting a while for a train to come I and a few others went walking down a game lands access road, Bird Eye Rd. A little ways down the road a footpath branched off to the right and I convinced the others we should check it out, I had know idea where it would take us. We followed the path to a clearing where people had set up campfires and found we were standing on Top of the other end of Gallitzin tunnel. We waited a bit but never saw a train.

[@spencerbass7142]

There are coils of wire in those cars?

[@spencerbass7142]

@@KutWrite Thank you.

[@cp368productions2]

Steel coils. Coil cars are used for coils of wire but in most cases they are empty or hauling coiled steel, especially on a steel mill railroad.

[@spencerbass7142]

@@cp368productions2 Thank you

[@evenblackercrow4476]

Really nicely methodical video presentation. I can tell you're an engineer, haha.

[@georgehasler142]

Nice video there is the Alameda corador that run's from long beach to Los Angeles California that BNSF and UP use its a 19 miles long

[@djstrains]

Geez!!!

[@sparky107107]

so when a tunnel is through town like that, and green space is added to the top, how do the railroads vent those tunnels?

[@djstrains]

I personally know of only one ventilated tunnel. The union RR tunnel at Universal, Pa which I showed near the end has chimney that is practically in someones back yard. All the others just suck. The one in this video at Schenley caused my conductor and I some issues when we had to drop rail at walking speed through it, and we also lost radio communication. Tunnels suck, and it gets smokey real fast.

[@williamh.jarvis6795]

The Hoosac Tunnel is also vented, with fans atop a shaft straight down to the tunnel. (The shaft actually splits at the bottom upon reaching the tunnel's roof inside, so that anything falling down will not hit any train passing below.) The fan system is located on Central Shaft Road, to the south of Route 2 at the top of the Appalachian Mountains.

[@farmerdave7965]

Train tunnel under the runway of the old Stapleton airport in Denver.

[@cp368productions2]

The only tunnels around here are for roads to go under railroads and the collapsed tunnel that was supposed to take the Genesee Valley Canal through the gorge wall but it collapsed on them a few times and it was determined that the shale was just too unstable. Now you can't even see the tunnel without climbing the rocks that fell in front of it. There is the old Rochester Subway and the section of the NFTA Street Cars that goes underground but that doesn't really count.

[@TrainsForever]

In my area there’s really no tunnels anywhere so this was awesome to see and hear about. I’ve never seen one in person before. I’m from Indiana it’s really flat here 🤦‍♂️ it’s boring 😅

[@sparky107107]

I think the best tunnel we have in Ontario is the one from Windsor to Detroit, It goes under the border line that is the River.

[@trainroomgary]

Well told 👍- Under a river - Check out the Detroit Windsor RR Tunnel to Canada. Owned by the CP - RR. There are negotiations between Amtrak & VIA Rail to run passenger trains trough this tunnel to Toronto. This should be done from Ford Motor's, Michigan Central Station. • Cheers from the Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂

[@ThisWorks4Me]

Your videos are great. Why the caboose on the end?

[@djstrains]

Lots of backup moves, need to have someone looking out for signals and obstructions

[@CSXOhioRailFanPlus752]

The PA Turnpike Tunnels are once a part of the a railroad

[@djstrains]

west penn railroad?

[@jimmybraum942]

Southern Pennsylvania rr. If was Never built, but it was graded

[@greyfoxtrains3244]

Great video DJ. There is an old B&O tunnel under Rt51 between Whitehall and Pleasant Hills PA. It still shows on aerial maps. Is that still being used by any railroad?

[@djstrains]

Thats in the video. I ran to try to catch the AVR exiting the tunnel in the woods. (microphone fell off while running, lol).

[@greyfoxtrains3244]

@@djstrains now I need to watch the video again as I missed it. So it’s the AVR that operates it. Cool. Thanks.

[@ivovanzon164]

Does USA railway construction code make a difference between regular tunnel portals and high speed rail portals?

[@djstrains]

only issue is if the line is electric (AMTRAK ACELA), to where catenary line is installed.

[@chrisc2683]

Another interesting video DJ. And of course, another question from me. I noticed in your ending shot, that train had a caboose but did not seem to have an EOTD. Does the caboose need to be manned in such cases?

[@djstrains]

It is manned for making reverse moves, but also if there was no eot.

[@xx5zi]

Really informative video! Does the J&L Tunnel have exhaust fans? It looks pretty long.

[@djstrains]

No, surprisingly

[@xx5zi]

@djstrains Our Cascade Tunnel, just west of Wenatchee on the BNSF, is 7.9 miles, and has its own maintenance crew of 7 or 8 guys I think. I don't know the CFM rating of the exhaust fans, but I know from experience, if you're closer than 50 ft from the east portal doors when they open, the air blast can almost knock you down.

[@waterskippers]

What's the longest a railroad tunnel can be without needing a ventilation shaft? Does it make a difference if the railroad is electrified (catenary or third rail)? Does it make a difference if it's going to carry passengers? Does it make a difference if it's going to haul hazardous materials?

[@djstrains]

That’s 4 separate questions. Most of which I can’t answer since I drive freight trains through them and not the other kind you are inquiring about. But maybe a viewer reading can help answer some

[@ivovanzon164]

Answers from an European point of view 1: that depends on the availability of natural draft. Recent construction code changes require some form of mechanical ventilation except for very short tunnels. The length is most likely calculated by the estimated escape time on foot. 2: technically yes, but most tunnels do have forced ventilation anyway. 3: there are tunnels in the Netherlands which are not certified for passenger traffic, as they don't have enough refuge chambers. 4: hazmat is allowed in tunnels but restricted by law. The most likely parameters in allowing hazmat are ventilation capacity and availability of disaster recovery teams

[@mikehowey4869]

Very interesting,who would think a railroad tunnel under an airport runway!

[@frankmetz867]

How about the tunnel under West Point Military Academy in NY

[@djstrains]

Thats one I never knew

[@fatlarry1184]

Metro North Tunnel...Passenger trains leave underground Grand Central Station and don't exit into daylight until 100th street...55 blocks...over two and a half miles....quadruple track!

[@djstrains]

Wow

[@BlackMan614]

Surprised they couldn't use the Schenley tunnel as part of a "T" extension from union station to oakland? Seems like the infrastructure is there and if it was originally double-track?? I know... what am I thinking, a sensible solution whereas the government would choose the more costly alternative - hence will never get done.

[@djstrains]

Agree

[@gregorynagy8448]

Isn't the Schenley tunnel still used to get the Capitol Limited from the old CSX (B&O) mainline over to Union Station?

[@BlackMan614]

@@KutWrite You're obviously not from Pittsburgh. They built a T extension to Union Station with a tunnel near the Steel Plaza station - which was later abandoned. You can see the track extend past Union Station and dead-end. Typical government waste - not as much on a Federal level - but State/Local level.

[@scruffy4647]

I have a hard time imagining a train running under my house through a tunnel. Would it bounce off your bed. LOL.

[@richardterek3744]

That caboose could stand a new paint job, looking kind of ratty

[@djstrains]

I know! The yellow never held up well.

[@jimmybraum942]

Wouldn't be shocked if the paint is baked off from the heat