Tunnel #1: (
Satellite, I used a road map because the trees hide Laurel Fork in the satellite image.)
Tunnel #2: (
Satellite, I based the locations on the topo map below.)
Pocahontas was a company town for the adjacent mine, and the tunnels are on the 4.5-mile branch that N&W built to serve the coal mines.
The tunnels were built in 1883 and Tunnel #2 was reinforced with concrete in 1915. [
AbandonedOnline (This web page has a map of the three tunnels.)]
Museum/Pocahontas Coal Mine
"The Southwest Virginia Improvement Company opened Pocahontas Mine No. 1, the first to exploit the rich seams of the Pocahontas Coalfield, in 1882. An extension of the Norfolk and Western Railway soon followed, bringing industrial development to Southwest Virginia and linking it to Norfolk. The mine brought a mix of ethnic groups from neighboring states and Europe to the area, including African Americans, Hungarians, Italians, Russians, Germans, and Welsh. Miners produced about 1,000 tons of coal a day by 1883 In 1938, a closed section of the mine opened as the nation’s first Exhibition Coal Mine, which educated visitors about the industry. Mining operations ceased in 1955." [
hmdb]
Tunnel #1, 201' (61m)
 |
reddit
sgernabcaga comment:
The Pocahontas Branch, located near Pocahontas, Virginia, is a defunct 4.5-mile coal-hauling rail line that spans approximately 4½ miles. The branch includes the Pocahontas No. 1 and No. 2 Tunnel (the third and fourth tunnels before part of the branch line became the main line), which were constructed in 1883. One of the last coal preparation plants on the line closed in 1974. While plans were to utilize the abandoned line for tourist train purposes, it never materialized. "The Pocahontas Branch served only four coal operations, split evenly between the Pocahontas Fuel Company and Pocahontas Big Vein Coal Company. 2 Pocahontas Fuel operated its original No. 1 mine in Pocahontas until October 13, 1955. 1 2 During its reign of 73 years, it produced more than 44 million tons of coal. The preparation plant in Boissevain operated until the early 1970s, while another facility in Pocahontas was open until 1974. The rail line was mothballed afterward, preserved in the event another mine would be developed in the vicinity." |
Tunnel #2, 366' (111.6m)
Tunnel #3, 90' (24.4m)
This source says the tunnel was only 37' (11.3m) long. There were 22 bridges on the N&W branch along the Laurel Creek.
Mark Petrishen
posted six photos with the comment: "Pocahontas Tunnel #3. Pocahontas, Va. 80 feet long. Former N&W R.R. This is across from the old high school behind the tennis/basketball court. Most people don't not know about this one."
 |
| 1 |
 |
| 2 |
 |
| 3 |
 |
| 4 |
 |
| 5 |
 |
| 6 |
All Tunnels
 |
| 1968 Anawalt and 1962 Bramwell Quads @ 24,000 |
I looked for a Google Earth image that had less tree leaves. The red line on the right is #1, and the line near the center bottom is #2.
 |
| Google Earth, Dec 2003 plus Paint |
.jpg)
