Chetoogeta Mountain Tunnel

The northwest faces of the historic Western and Atlantic Railroad Tunnel (right) and modern CSX (left) railroad tunnels
Brick-lined interior of the W&A tunnel, now preserved as a walking trail, looking southeast

The Chetoogeta Mountain Tunnel (34°50′19″N 85°02′00″W / 34.838689°N 85.033281°W / 34.838689; -85.033281Coordinates: 34°50′19″N 85°02′00″W / 34.838689°N 85.033281°W / 34.838689; -85.033281) refers to two different railroad tunnels passing through Chetoogeta Mountain in northwestern Georgia, USA.

The first tunnel, known as the Western and Atlantic Railroad Tunnel at Tunnel Hill, was completed on May 7, 1850, as part of the construction of the Western & Atlantic Railroad (W & A), the first state road in Georgia. It was the first major railroad tunnel in the South and is 1,447 feet[1]/≈0.27 mi or 441 meters in length. It was renovated in 1998-2000 and is now open to the public as a privately owned historic site.[2]

The second tunnel was built from 1926 to 1928 and is 1,557 feet[3]/≈0.3 mi or 475 meters long. It is still in use by CSX Transportation, under lease from the Georgia Department of Transportation.[1] It, like the entire W & A subdivision, is a major route between Atlanta and Chattanooga.

The nearby town of Tunnel Hill, Georgia (originally Tunnelsville) was created and named for the first tunnel, and was the supply base for its construction materials and worker housing.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Georgia Railway article-Chetoogeta Mountain Tunnel. Georgia's Railroad History & Heritage(railga.com), Retrieved 29 March 2011
  2. 1 2 Western & Atlantic Railroad Tunnel. Tunnel Hill Heritage Center, Retrieved 29 March 2011
  3. ↑ Tunnel Hill, Georgia, roadsidegeorgia.com. Retrieved 29 March 2011

External links


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