Abandoned L&N Tunnel

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grande man

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
 
Last edited by a moderator:


Thanks to everyone for commenting.

jayl1, the tunnel seemed to be of pretty standard dimensions. They are typically tall and narrow but a wide angle lens (in this case a Sigma 10-20) shot in portrait orientation really tends to bring the shape out.
 


JazzDad said:
Some FANTASTIC art shots!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the kind comment and taking a minute to check out the thread. My love of local industrial history and photography have me trying to meld the two together. I am having fun, and hopefully if the images have a slightly "artsy" look, they'll someday have a broader audience to help folks remember our amazing history.
 
Rico said:
I almost love the history and abandoned lines as much as the "real" thing!
Click to expand...

There is a real allure to abandoned railroad/industrial sites. The thrill of "being there" has kept me coming back to these type places for many years. I always get a kick out of finding something "new". :)
 
That image inside the tunnel with the brick work and water reflection would have made for a killer HDR set.

Nice photos, I too love visiting abandoned facilities, tunnels, bridges, mines etc when I get the chance.
 
i know its a really old thead but iam giving it a try.
as you maybe know i started a big diorama project including the L&N.
So on one side of the diorama i will have a tunnel entrance.

my question is, how can i find a tunnel portal picture that fits the L&N line?
Does someone maybe have some pictures of a tunnel? maybe there is one around nashville or so?

would be epic!
thnx for your help.

cheers
Marco
 
Hey Marco, there are two active L&N (obviously, former) within a few miles of my house on the CSX. One is strictly rough cut, the other has a concrete entrance. The tunnel that is the subject of this thread has a concrete entrance.
 
traiNscale said:
i know its a really old thead but iam giving it a try.
as you maybe know i started a big diorama project including the L&N.
So on one side of the diorama i will have a tunnel entrance.

my question is, how can i find a tunnel portal picture that fits the L&N line?
Does someone maybe have some pictures of a tunnel? maybe there is one around nashville or so?

would be epic!
thnx for your help.

cheers
Marco
Click to expand...
IMG_0101.jpeg

L&N tunnel.
 
oh this one looks great. and i also like the rocks around it.
is there a way to maybe get a shot from a little closer? or would that not be possible because of safety?

@grande man do you maybe have a picture of the one with concrete?
 
Reminds me of my high school photography class and a Black and White project. I...very nervously...worked my way inside the west portal of Tunnel #8 above Eldorado Springs...about 200'...and quickly shot some pics looking back toward the portal...and then hustled back and on out.

This was an active, heavily traveled line, and trains were quiet coming downhill, even under heavy dynamics.

The shots came out well, including the reflections off the pool of collected water outside the track ballast line and downward (this was in Mid-February and just getting up there through relatively deep snow was a challenge too).

---------

There's a (not well known really) movie I like from down under: "The Dish." And at one point in the film, after some personal "growth" and development for one of the charachters (Glen)...he flips around from being overly timid...and embraces a better way of thinking...and doing: "Sometimes you just have to take a risk."

Yep. Sometimes you just have to. Life is a four-letter word. So is "live."
 


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