1907 2200' (671m) Tourist/Southern Railroad Burton Tunnel, second longest in Indiana

East Portal: (Satellite)

West Portal: (Satellite)

Tourist trains that run from the French Lick Depot go through this tunnel.

"Built in 1907 the 2,200 foot Burton Tunnel is the second longest tunnel in Indiana, the longest being the Duncan Tunnel which is an additional 2,489 feet long for a total length of 4,689 feet. The tunnel hosted the Southern Railway which ran the branch line from French Lick to Huntingburg Indiana. The tunnel was dug out from both ends and joined in the middle, while you ride our train if you look for it you can see how the angle didn’t quite meet up evenly, and there is a corner on either side of the tunnel walls toward the middle." [FrenchLickTrain]

2 of 6 photos posted by Roger Baker with the comment: "33 years ago today we took off on another Southern Indiana adventure down to French Lick for a train ride thru the 2nd longest tunnel in Indiana. 🚂😎"

a
The Burton Tunnel is the second longest in Indiana at 2,200 feet long.

b
33 years ago it only cost $13 for the 2 of us to make the round trip.

Southern Railroad donated the track between Dubois and West Baden to the Indiana Railway Museum. The French Lick Scenic Railway operates a tourist line out of the former Monon+Southern Depot, and the Dubois County Railroad (DCRR) operates freight trains. This tunnel is a highlight of the tourist trains.

Between the two railroads, they own the former-Southern branch from Huntingburg to French Lick. DCRR interchanges with NS in Huntingburg. DCRR also runs the Spirit of Jasper tourist train from Jasper to Huntingburg.

The portal photo above is of the south portal because the track is curved.

1951/51 Hillham Quad @ 24,000

This would be the north portal because the track is straight.

Alcophile Flickr
Burton Tunnel

With a cloud of blue haze from a pair of Macintosh & Seymour designed, Alco-built 539T prime movers, a photo freight emerges from 2200' of darkness that is Burton Tunnel.

The French Lick Scenic Railway, and its freight operation, the Dubois County Railroad, provided two of their three Alco's for their first ever photo charter. It was a great day with several friends riding and photographing the former Southern Railway branch between French Lick and Dubois, Indiana.

For those locomotive fans, the leader is an S-2 that once operated on the Michigan Southern railway and was presumably built for the Philadelphia, Bethlehem & New England. The trailing RS1 is former Indiana coal hauler Algers, Winslow & Western #4, that was originally Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic #4. It's a stablemate to the RS1 in Duluth. Both are painted in AW&W colors.

This is the only photo I found that explicitly labeled which portal we were looking at. This is when I noticed the tracks coming out of the south portal are curved.

TripAdvisor
Photo: South portal to Burton Tunnel, constructed in 1907.

Carolina Coastal Railway/NS/Southern Bridge to Nowhere over I-85 near Blacksburg, SC

(Archived Bridge Hunter; Bridge Hunter; Satellite)

The spur to the Reeves - Blacksburg Quarry is out-of-service instead of abandoned. Even though the railroad is not being used, SCDOT had to build a replacement bridge when I-85 was widened.

Street View, Sep 2023

The was the predecessor bridge.

2015 photo by Royce and Bobette Haley via BridgeHunter

The quarry has retained its track, but the railroad has removed its track.

Satellite

It is hard to follow the RoW from the bridge to the NS mainline. But if you zoom out, you can trace it.

Satellite

The fork at Mountain St. is because this industrial spur is a remnant of the Southern branch between Kingville SC to Marion NC. The route kept going south after it crossed US-29. See "Damaged Trestle" for more information about the route that went south from here.

The quarry produces granite aggregate.

The material being mined at our Blacksburg Quarry has a Los Angeles (LA) abrasion test in the low 30’s, signifying a long-term durability and soundness of this material meeting or exceeding the needs of our customers. With the convenient location of our quarry, we serve customer needs in both North Carolina and South Carolina. In addition to the North Carolina and South Carolina Departments of Transportation (DOT), we are also approved for use with the Tennessee and Georgia DOTs.

At the core of Reeves’s operations for the Blacksburg Quarry are several initiatives for protecting natural resources and wildlife. From extensive geologic testing, we know that we have sufficient reserves that will enable us to be an operating facility for decades to come. We are proud to support our local economy as a supplier and employer.

[reevescc]

Dave Kuntz Drone Photos posted four photos with the comment: "Trestle to Nowhere:  This railroad bridge over I-85 in Blacksburg SC has never seen a train, nor is it likely to.  Compared to the 1800s bridges I usually drone, It is shockingly modern, having been built this decade for $3.7 million by SCDOT to preserve NS's ROW when the interstate was expanded below.  Look carefully and you can see tracks on a far older wooden trestle before the bridge in the top photo, which will be the topic of my next post."

Christopher Love shared

Damaged/Southern Trestle over Kings Creek near Kings Creek, SC

(no Bridge Hunter; Historic Bridges returns 503; Satellite)

A lady called Johnna posted

Years ago, I used to try to walk over this trestle to get over my fear of heights. I never thought I would see it looking the way it does now. This is a drone shot of an old railroad trestle over Kings Creek, South Carolina.  I believe somebody told me this was a Norfolk Southern track. It’s served a mineral plant. Dimensions: Approximately 200 yards (600+ feet) long or 1,215 feet long and 96-100 feet high and disused since 1990.

If I am incorrect on any of that information, please chime in the comments and let me know. 💪

Jon Tischuk: Still owned by Norfolk Southern, was leased to Carolina Coastal Railway to finish switching operations prior to the mineral plant closing down. Was last used in 2013

Randall Hampton shared

Old Southern Railway

Jeff Trull: Part of the SB line that ran between Kingville SC to Marion NC. Very few miles of this line exist anymore.

A section from Rock Hill to Catawba to Bowater. From Bowater to Kershaw SC is owned by the Lancaster and Chester shortline railroad. A little section outside of Kingville and not sure if any is used north of Blacksburg anymore.

James Nobbe: There is a little still left in and on both sides of Blacksburg SC. It falls under CLNA’s flag but is looooong out of service. Goes to the quarry north of 85 north of town. This is the location of infamous new bridge without tracks. When I-85 was widened a few years back, the old railroad bridge over interstate had to be demolished. Since line is not abandoned, just long term out of service, SCDOT had to build a new railroad bridge over road. So today there is a big new bridge over 85 but has no tracks on it. Bridge over line on US 29 in town is or was recently rebuilt. Even though line is completely covered in kudzu and trees, SCDOT still had to go through all the steps with CLNA far property access same as if it was an in service railroad. Line just disappears along SC 5 a few miles south of town.

I presume this is the "mineral plant" that was referred to above.

Street View, May 2008

The trestle looked intact in 2021.

Google Earth, Oct 2021

It looks like it was damaged by 2024.

Google Earth, Apr 2024

And once it was damaged, it got worse.

Google Earth, Feb 2025

Google Earth, Mar 2025

87mw Norwood Dam on Pee Dee River creating Lake Tillery near Mt. Gilead, NC

(Satellite)

The railroad bridge in the foreground was for the original Norfolk Southern, which became part of Southern, which became part of today's Norfolk Southern. But it is now Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway (ACRY).

Street View, May 2023

This view shows that the river was running high in 2023.

Street View, Dec 2021

LakeTillery
"2800' (853m) long and 86' (26m) high"

Sep 29, 2018: StanlyJournal, Michael Lanier for the Stanly County Journal
Hurricane Florence floods Stanly County

safe_image for Aberdeen Carolina & Western E9A
Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway Company poses its passenger train being led by E9A, No. 103, on the Duke Energy Hydro Dam over the Pee Dee River west of Mt. Gilead, N.C., on Thursday, May 25th, 2023. Fred Pajak
Randall Hampton: This is one of the best RR bridges in NC, especially when the floodgates are open and the whitewater comes up high on the bridge.

 

Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway posted
Spring is just around the curve.
Randall Hampton shared
Former NS bridge on the old main line from Norfolk to Charlotte, where it crosses the Pee Dee River near Norwood.

Trains

Satellite

2:47 video @ 2:05
Lake Tillery, Pee Dee River aerial footage, Norwood NC 4K

3:25 video @ 2:10
Hydro Dam / Norwood, NC / Hurricane Florence

 

@ 2:35

Note that just four gates can spill enough water to flood part of a field.

@ 1:21

This is after Hurricane Debby passed over the area.

0:13 video

Opening flood gates to 100% at Pee Dee. 14.8 feet right now and rising

Video sent in by viewer

Greg Sikes: Wayne Murdock it's hydro dam on 731. [So it is this one.]

Steve Tedder: Can you explain what you mean by 100 percent ? The floodgates (or tainter [Parker] gates as they are sometimes referred as) have never all been opened at the same time. The closest that has ever happened was when 17 of the 18 were open in , I think 1945. My Dad always told us all 18 were opened but that was corrected to 17 by an employee of Duke Energy. Each gate can be raised to a height of 20’

John Henderson: doesn’t know. It’s a fear post for likes. And believe me it’s working. We have poor souls in the southern part of South Carolina wondering where the dam is. SMH

[I presume 100% is what they can release before they trip another stage of downriver flooding.]

Kurt Lindbloom: That river was nearly dried up a few weeks ago… no more drought.

They received 10-12 inches of rain in 2 days there from TS Debbie. I used to live in that area. Matthews NC .

[Some comments discuss why weren't the gates opened earlier to make room for the tropical storm's rain.]

NS/Southern over CSX/Piedmont & Northern over Middle Tyger River at Lyman, SC

(no Bridge Hunter; no Historic Bridges; Satellite)

Piedmont & Northern became part of Seaboard Coast Line (SCL) in 1969. That was two years after SCL was formed by merging Seaboard Air Line (SAL) and Atlantic Coast Line (ACL).

Larry Curtis Hines posted
Norfolk Southern on top. CSX underneath and Middle Tyger River underneath. Only place I know of in this area of South Carolina. Duncan/Lyman SC.

Matt Yukish: Then CSX tunnels under NS in Spartanburg right near the Amtrak Station

To find the satellite location, I first followed the railroad routes on this map to see where they intersected. And this map was my source for the historical railroad names.

1957/59 Greer Quad @ 62,500

1905 Artemus-Jellico/Southern/Cumberland Railroad Bridge over Cumberland River at Artemus, KY

(B&T; Satellite)

Street View, Sep 2024

Street View, Sep 2024

Street View, Sep 2024

Bridges & Tunnels posted three photos with the comment:

A railroad built with ambition, abandoned in struggle.

Chartered in 1902, the Cumberland Railroad once served Knox County’s coal mines but struggled financially, leading to its abandonment by 1953. Today, little remains except for a repurposed bridge, still in use after 120 years, standing as a quiet relic of Kentucky’s rail history.

📸 Read on in "Remnants of a Bygone Era in Kentucky: Discovering the Cumberland Railroad in Kentucky": https://bridgestunnels.com/.../remnants-of-a-bygone-era.../

📸 More photos + history of the railroad: https://abandonedonline.net/loc.../artemus-jellico-railroad/

Tim Shanahan shared

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3

Map via AbandonedOnline
In 1902, the Cumberland Coal Co. reorganized itself as the Cumberland Railroad Co. because "under Kentucky law, railroads could more easily obtain rights-of-way than coal companies." By 1905, the railroad was built. However, it soon had financial difficulties, and Southern bought the stock because the L&N showed little interest. (Thus the labels rrLaN and rrSou because Southern owned it, but L&N was its connection to the outside world. Southern had plans to extend the line, but they never came to fruition.) "A hard-surfaced road running parallel to the railroad line was completed in 1939." Consequently, passenger service was discontinued in 1941. In 1952, the last coal mine closed and the railroad was abandoned.
The bridge had a 210' (64m) truss and an 89' (17m) approach trestle.

1897 Trail/Southern Bridge over Etawah River in Rome, GA

(Satellite)

Jeff Mooneyhan posted three photos with the comment: "Old rail bridge in Rome, Georgia over the Etowah River, built in 1897. Next to the bridge are old pylons from a bridge built in 1845."

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2

3

This closeup helps confirm that it was a pin-connected truss.

Merry, Oct 2018

1967/71 Rome North and 1968/1970 Rome South Quads @ 24,000

NS/Southern #4 or Temple or Marengo Tunnel

(Bridge Hunter; Satellite)

West Portal

William Wheelock posted
A westbound exits tunnel #4, (Temple tunnel) on the Louisville to St. Louis line. This tunnel is located between English and Milltown, Indiana. March 1988.
Benjamin Schlechter: Southern style! [I believe he means long hood forward.]

East Portal

Dec 2008 Photo by Nathan Borton via BridgeHunter

1907 NS/Southern Tunnel under Lookout Mountain at Chattanooga, TN

West Portal: (Satellite)

East Portal: (Satellite)

I used geographic directions because I don't know the timecard directions for Southern. East/west directions are probably correct for CSX.

Dale Proctor posted two photos with the comment: "Southern Railway tunnel under Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga Tenn., 1990."

Wayne Lamkin: It’s hard to imagine that it was double track at one time.

Randall Hampton: Wayne Lamkin I sure am glad that they went to single track there instead of notching that beautiful arch on both sides.

Randall Hampton: Isn't this a trackage rights situation? NS and CSX?

Jimmy Swearengin: Randall Hampton CSX goes around the base of the mountain here. They meet in Wauhatchie, sharing trackage as far west as Stevenson, AL.

Dale Proctor: Randall Hampton I’m pretty sure NS and CSX share the tracks from Stevenson Ala. to Wauhatchie. From Wauhatchie through the tunnel and into Chattanooga is all NS trackage. Southern Railway built that tunnel in 1907.

Wayne Jenkins: I think it's a reciprocal arrangement. CSX gets to use NS's bridge at Decatur, AL, and NS gets to use the CSX bridge @ Bridgeport, AL.

Dennis DeBruler: In terms of labeling the portals, was Southern a north/south or an east/west railroad in terms of timecard directions? [I got a couple of likes, but no answers.]

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Bryan Stover commented on Dale's post

Dale Proctor commented on Jimmy's comment
Here’s the CSX trackage, sandwiched between I-24 and the edge of Lookout Mountain.

Dennis DeBruler commented on Jimmy's comment
This shows the L&N tracks wedged between the mountain and the river and the dotted lines of the Southern tunnel. I included Cravens Yards because of the roundhouse and because it shows that I-24 is built on landfill.