Indah Safytri Reel posted three photos with the comment: "One of the more intriguing tunnels left standing along the old Parkersburg Branch of the B&O Railroad is Number 2, located near Salem, West Virginia. Built between 1853 and 1854, the tunnel, known as Flinderation or Brandy Gap is 1086 feet long. Number 2 has a bit of a dark history beginning with an accident that claimed the lives of two railroad workers. Shortly after opening an unsuspecting engineer entered the tunnel, with a speeding locomotive, when he spotted the two workers who unfortunately couldn't get out of the way. Unable to stop in time both were overtaken and horribly dismembered. During the Civil War, in the early 1860s, Salem was occupied by both the Northern and Southern armies with the railroad being one of the prime targets to interrupt troop movements. Naturally, Tunnel 2 was in the middle of the rift. After the war, in the later 1860s, the tunnel was rebuilt, it's timbers being replaced with a brick and stone lining. It has been reported that Tunnel 2 has been the center of much KKK activity that took place over a great number of years. Today, the old tunnel sits pretty much in silence, waiting for the passenger and freight trains that will never return. Still, not including the visitors who explore its impressive length, as part of the North Bend Rail Trail, there is continued activity within the confines. For there is an old cemetery overtop and when it rains, the waters trickle through he graves and seep into the tunnel, forever running down its walls and dripping from the ceiling."
Dick Spatafore: Track was upgraded in 1979 and 1980, including the tunnels only to be abandoned in 1985. The " Branch " was the fastest track on the Monongah division in those days and it was sad when it was taken up after 1985. The Gateway 88 and the CISL were earmarked trains going to and from Chicago and St. Louis. Hi-Railed this tunnel many times.
Phillip Cottrille: Dick Spatafore never knew there was any “upgrades” in 79-80; the entire line was upgraded in 1963 when the tunnels were reconfigured to accompany the taller-longer trailer jets and several of the tunnels were “daylighted” due to stability concerns.
Did I miss something?
Kevin Davis: The through line to St. Louis was abandoned by CSX in 1985. Nowadays, eastbound trains from St. Louis are routed north at Cincinnati to Deshler, then east over the Chicago line by way of Willard, Pittsburgh, Connellsville, over Sandpatch summit, Cumberland, then on east on the Cumberland Subdivision, the Metropolitan Subdivision (the Met Sub), and on to Baltimore or Washington.
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| Mike Tewkesbury posted this and the three photos above. Tunnel Number Two, called Flinderation or Brandy Gap Tunnel, outside Salem, West Virginia, once belonging to the B&O Railroad, as part of the Parkersburg Branch. The 1086 foot tunnel was lowered in 1963, during the Clearance Project, which added three feet to its height. Built from timber in 1853-54 it was reconstructed in the late 1860s using sandstone and brick. The entire 72-mile line from Parkersburg to Clarksburg WV was abandoned in 1985. Tunnel Two is reputed to be the most haunted tunnel along this line. Not long after it opened, an uninformed engineer caught two workers inside, derailing the engine, and tying up the track for some time. It was declared that the engineer was exceeding the speed limit at the time of the accident. Ghostly lights and voices have been heard in and around the tunnel ever since. There is also an old cemetery built over top which adds to the lore. It has been claimed that the rain seeps through the graves and drips down inside of the tunnel. Today the Flinderation Tunnel is part of the North Bend Rail Trail. |
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| Geoffrey Steele commented on Mike's post North Bend Rail Trail runs from Parkersburg but ends at Wolf Summit in Harrison County. My family own the land above this tunnel and we’ve experienced some unexplainable things in it. It is also on the WV Tourism list of Haunted Places but I love it for its history and architecture. |
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| 1961/63 Salem Quad @ 24,000 |
Are freight rates based on air miles or travelled miles? On the original B&O, they were about the same for traffic from St. Louis. According to Kevin's comment, on the CSX air vs. travelled are now very different.
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| Rumsey via Dennis DeBruler |
CSX has quit running on the B&O line to St. Louis in Illinois. They use just the former-Pennsy line through Vandalia in Illinois. So this map is not accurate.
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| U.S. Department of Transportation |
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