grande man
Bonafied Grande Nut
For those folks out there (like me) who spend more time thinking about what was historically here in the way of railroads than what is currently here, this thread may be of interest.
The mighty L&N was once king of railroads in the industrial region of central Alabama. Under the direction of visionary Milton H. Smith, the L&N once controlled much of the region's freight traffic, from raw materials to finished products. In 1890, an L&N subsidiary, the Alabama Mineral RR was formed. This road was the sister road to the L&N's important Birmingham Mineral RR. Acquisitions of the Anniston & Atlantic RR and Anniston & Cincinnati RR, along with new construction, formed most of a loop around central Alabama and allowed L&N access to important ore and coal mining along the line and production facilities at Gadsden with easy connections to Birmingham.
It was May 1905 before the loop was fully completed. This required new construction between the coal mining town of Altoona and the city of Attalla, a distance of 15+ miles. Part of that construction required a 1900 foot tunnel thru Blount Mountain at a place called Tumlin Gap. That is the focus of this thread. Abandoned railroad tunnels hold a mystery that calls me. For several years I have intended to go visit the abandoned Tumlin Gap Tunnel. Yesterday was the day. Maybe someone here will enjoy the images...
Interior Shot
http://ericmcferrin.smugmug.com/Ind...story/10342161_84PdU#1355210089_xK7QJCf-XL-LB
East Portal
http://ericmcferrin.smugmug.com/Ind...ory-3/17163927_HRj34h#1355670700_jF2n9gb-O-LB
Unlined Central Interior. Note large rockfall. This is a dangerous area (hint: I didn't go under it
)
http://ericmcferrin.smugmug.com/Ind...ory-3/17163927_HRj34h#1355678166_8GDmfV4-O-LB
The mighty L&N was once king of railroads in the industrial region of central Alabama. Under the direction of visionary Milton H. Smith, the L&N once controlled much of the region's freight traffic, from raw materials to finished products. In 1890, an L&N subsidiary, the Alabama Mineral RR was formed. This road was the sister road to the L&N's important Birmingham Mineral RR. Acquisitions of the Anniston & Atlantic RR and Anniston & Cincinnati RR, along with new construction, formed most of a loop around central Alabama and allowed L&N access to important ore and coal mining along the line and production facilities at Gadsden with easy connections to Birmingham.
It was May 1905 before the loop was fully completed. This required new construction between the coal mining town of Altoona and the city of Attalla, a distance of 15+ miles. Part of that construction required a 1900 foot tunnel thru Blount Mountain at a place called Tumlin Gap. That is the focus of this thread. Abandoned railroad tunnels hold a mystery that calls me. For several years I have intended to go visit the abandoned Tumlin Gap Tunnel. Yesterday was the day. Maybe someone here will enjoy the images...
Interior Shot
http://ericmcferrin.smugmug.com/Ind...story/10342161_84PdU#1355210089_xK7QJCf-XL-LB
East Portal
http://ericmcferrin.smugmug.com/Ind...ory-3/17163927_HRj34h#1355670700_jF2n9gb-O-LB
Unlined Central Interior. Note large rockfall. This is a dangerous area (hint: I didn't go under it
)http://ericmcferrin.smugmug.com/Ind...ory-3/17163927_HRj34h#1355678166_8GDmfV4-O-LB
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