FlanaryRon-CSX8176E-NaturalTunnel-3-7-87-DeNoiseAI-severe-noise
When I photographed this eastbound CSX unit train emerging from "Little Tunnel," immediately east (or south, by actual direction) of Natural Tunnel on March 7, 1987, the only way to get to the bottom from the park entrance up top was a switchback path. I usually drove in at the old Natural Tunnel quarry and made my way along a maintenance road beside the old Glenita siding. There was a place to leave my vehicle and walk in from there along the track. No doubt that's what I did in this case.
You might notice the sign on the right beside the portal. It advised visitors to NOT walk in the middle of the track and always be vigilant for trains in either direction at any time. Otherwise, you could walk through the tunnel itself but be "careful." It was quite dangerous, particularly if you were just a casual visitor.
It was not wise to be inside Natural Tunnel when a train was passing. The 18-degree reverse curve and steep grade was a recipe for a derailment. While it's been a long time since one occurred, westbound empty hoppers could easily "stringline" on the left-hand curve if the engineer wasn't very careful with his throttle settings. If you were standing beside the train, you would be "squished like a little ol' bug," as one of my friends used to say. A runaway coal train on the downgrade could have filled the entire cavern with coal and twisted wreckage. Again, there was no escape if you were inside at that time.
Today's chairlift and viewing platform was a compromise between the Commonwealth of Virginia (Department of Conservation and Recreation) and NS. It allowed access to the bottom, but controlled pedestrian routes to stay off the track and stay out of the tunnel itself. Of course, if you visit at a time the chairlift isn't running, you can always do what I did. Park rangers will not be happy if you're inside the tunnel on the track, however. They do have police power to arrest and fine you, I might add.
FlanaryRon-CSX8176E-NaturalTunnel-3-7-87-DeNoiseAI-severe-noise
When I photographed this eastbound CSX unit train emerging from "Little Tunnel," immediately east (or south, by actual direction) of Natural Tunnel on March 7, 1987, the only way to get to the bottom from the park entrance up top was a switchback path. I usually drove in at the old Natural Tunnel quarry and made my way along a maintenance road beside the old Glenita siding. There was a place to leave my vehicle and walk in from there along the track. No doubt that's what I did in this case.
You might notice the sign on the right beside the portal. It advised visitors to NOT walk in the middle of the track and always be vigilant for trains in either direction at any time. Otherwise, you could walk through the tunnel itself but be "careful." It was quite dangerous, particularly if you were just a casual visitor.
It was not wise to be inside Natural Tunnel when a train was passing. The 18-degree reverse curve and steep grade was a recipe for a derailment. While it's been a long time since one occurred, westbound empty hoppers could easily "stringline" on the left-hand curve if the engineer wasn't very careful with his throttle settings. If you were standing beside the train, you would be "squished like a little ol' bug," as one of my friends used to say. A runaway coal train on the downgrade could have filled the entire cavern with coal and twisted wreckage. Again, there was no escape if you were inside at that time.
Today's chairlift and viewing platform was a compromise between the Commonwealth of Virginia (Department of Conservation and Recreation) and NS. It allowed access to the bottom, but controlled pedestrian routes to stay off the track and stay out of the tunnel itself. Of course, if you visit at a time the chairlift isn't running, you can always do what I did. Park rangers will not be happy if you're inside the tunnel on the track, however. They do have police power to arrest and fine you, I might add.