In the latter 1800s the Cincinnati, New Orleans, and Texas Pacific Railway built a line from Cincinnati down to Chattanooga. This line was named the "Cincinnati Southern Railway", and later became known as the "Rathole Division", because of 27 tunnels that were put through hills along the way. This old RR line became obsolete long ago, after a new one was built. There is plenty of information about all this on other web pages, so I won't repeat all that here. I might add a short overview later. Here is a link to a website that gives some history of this line: http://southern.railfan.net/ties/1963/63-8/daylight.html

I have lived in this region since the mid '90s, and wondered about the tunnels in Pulaski County, but didn't start hunting them until early 2008. For a couple years we lived only three miles from tunnel #5 ("?). I found it first. Soon after, Barb and I went to look for #7, and found that one.

Tunnel #2
Kings Mountain

This is the north end of the Kings Mountain Cut, made in the 1960s I think, to bypass the old tunnel which was too small for the increasing size of trains. The north portal of the old tunnel is over to the right, out of the picture.

This is the north portal of Tunnel #2. Construction on this tunnel was started in December 1873, according to one website I consulted. The link is given above.

This photo of the north portal was made in 2004.

These are recent photos of the north portal. Barb and I first went there in 2004, and it was flooded then. It was flooded again recently. Some of the lining has fallen in at the end. This tunnel is almost 4,000 ft. long, according to one source. That white spot in the black area is the light at the end of the tunnel.

North end. Lots of brickwork. Four layers of brick, and the finish coating.

Looking down into the cut near the north end (left).

This is the south portal, not far from the road bridge over the track, at the community of Kings Mountain, KY.

Tunnel #5?

Before I found #7, I found #5(?), and made several pictures. Most were not good. Here are a few shots.

South portal. It is swampy there in front of this opening, and water is wall to wall inside a little ways. Somebody sawed down some sizable pine trees above the portal, so they would hang down in front. I guess that is to keep out 4-wheelers.

Very late 09: Made this better picture.

North portal. No water here. I walked in and went most of the way.

Looking south, from the north end.

Closer look at the brick lining--north end.

Tunnel #7

Old roadbed. Facing north.

Barb and I went to look for the tunnel, and found it in an unexpected way. We walked a road that goes back to the old RR bed. From that point we walked down into a deep creek hollow where a trestle used to cross it. We went down there and walked along only a short distance, and then happened to notice the south abutment, way up on the other side. We made our way up the slope to the top, and found the continuation of the old roadbed.

These are some trestle supports, below the abutment; closer view.

Barb and I made our way up the slope to the south abutment and found the continuation of the old roadbed. We followed that a short distance and then came to the north end of Tunnel #7. This portal has the date 1892 on the upper right corner, and No. 7 on the left corner. Photo on right is facing out this north end.

I walked inside just a little bit, looking for light at the other end, but saw none. Either the tunnel is curved, or some of it fell in. I want to go back some time and check it out futher. I want to get to #8 also.

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(This added Oct. 13, 08)

I finally went back to look for the south end of #7, last winter (07-08). I went a different way this time, and found the north end of #7 again, then went south and found the south end. I came to it from above the portal and went down near the top. I had to walk along above the cut to find a place to get down on the roadbed, and then walk back to the portal.

Tunnel #7, south portal

Tunnel #7, south portal inside. I walked back a little way, and it seems like I remember seeing light in the distance, so I guess it didn't fall in.

Tunnel #8

Tunnel #8, north portal

Seems like it was only around 200 yards distance from #7 to the north end of #8. I couldn't see #8 from #7, but after walking a little distance I thought I saw it, and got to it before long. This one has deteriorated somewhat. It appears that part of the facing has fallen down on each side. I didn't see any date or number.

This one had some water inside at the time. Some of the brick lining has fallen down. I walked all the way through, which isn't far.

Tunnel #8, south portal

The south end looks better. The number is top center. I didn't see a date.

No 8 is the last one I found. I haven't looked any more. There are more to the south, but farther down. I doubt I'll look for them.

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