Good afternoon -
Wonderful day trip this past Saturday to experience the 170 year old Blue
Ridge Crozet Tunnel located just of I-64 West at Exit 99 (Afton/Waynesboro).
As most know, between 1850 and 1858, there was a massive effort to drill 4
tunnels through the Blue Ridge Mountains at Rockfish Gap by the State owned
railroad that was done by hand and with unreliable gunpowder. Was
operational from 1858 to 1944 when replaced by a wider and taller tunnel
just a few hundred yard away. Today, the tunnel has been restored as part
of a walking path by Nelson County that is accessible from either the east
or west side. It takes about 30 minutes to walk the tunnel from one end to
the other. Really cool inside (55 degrees) and damp. Part of walls on west
end on brick lined but about 2/3's is solid granite. At one spot there is a
free flowing spring coming through the wall. There is a cinder track bed
which slopes down to drainage on both sides. No artificial lighting. Bring
your flashlight.
For modelers the entrances are not typical as photographs will show. West
side portal is more traditional except differently shaped with a narrower
capstone area as seen in first three photos while East Side is wider at the
top cut from the rock. In the fourth photo I tried to capture the spring
in the middle of the tunnel. The fifth photo is looking down the hill on
the east side to the C&O tracks.
If you can and are able, I recommend the trip. Wear a coat and a hat, lots
of drips from above.
East side may be easy to access as west side is about a 1 mile trail with 19
degree climb up and down the hills. On the east side you can see the C&O
tracks while on the west side there is a tall embankment. While we were
there we heard and saw about one dozen motorized MOW vehicles heading east
toward Crozet. Had never seen the new MOW equipment before.
Dave Garlock
Attachment:
IMG_1430.jpg
Description: JPEG image
Attachment:
IMG_1431.jpg
Description: JPEG image
Attachment:
IMG_1432.jpg
Description: JPEG image
Attachment:
IMG_1436.jpg
Description: JPEG image
Attachment:
IMG_1437.jpg
Description: JPEG image
Attachment:
IMG_1439.jpg
Description: JPEG image
