xinbox2
Johnson tunnel, AZ
Abandoned in 1962 with the completion of the Crookton Line Change, this 400 foot curved bore is part of the original A&P alignment somewhere circa 1882-ish. In 1897, the ATSF acquired the A&P assets and operated the route under the ATSF subsidiary Santa Fe Pacific railroad. A year later tragedy struck the route when wooden timbers supporting the tunnel caught fire - at least two men perished fighting the blaze. This prompted a reconstruction of the tunnel incorporating steel boilerplate replacing the original wooden shoring in the ceiling. During WWII the tunnel was considered of such military importance that guards were posted to prevent sabotage, and two wooden guard shacks were added at each portal. In 1943, Jack Delano photographed some of the wartime action here as requested by the Office of War Information.
More information can be found in David Myricks "Railroads of Arizona" Vol. 4.
Johnson tunnel, AZ
Abandoned in 1962 with the completion of the Crookton Line Change, this 400 foot curved bore is part of the original A&P alignment somewhere circa 1882-ish. In 1897, the ATSF acquired the A&P assets and operated the route under the ATSF subsidiary Santa Fe Pacific railroad. A year later tragedy struck the route when wooden timbers supporting the tunnel caught fire - at least two men perished fighting the blaze. This prompted a reconstruction of the tunnel incorporating steel boilerplate replacing the original wooden shoring in the ceiling. During WWII the tunnel was considered of such military importance that guards were posted to prevent sabotage, and two wooden guard shacks were added at each portal. In 1943, Jack Delano photographed some of the wartime action here as requested by the Office of War Information.
More information can be found in David Myricks "Railroads of Arizona" Vol. 4.