Rockfish Gap – Afton Mountain

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Rockfish Gap and Afton Mountain

The Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Railway used the historic Rockfish Gap to cross the Appalachian Mountains, a feat accomplished through the construction of two tunnels. An “air gap” is a low point in a mountain ridge that is not carved by a river, providing a less strenuous passage for the railroad than navigating over the surrounding mountain peaks. Rockfish Gap has an elevation of approximately 1,903 feet, making it a pivotal location for rail and vehicular traffic, including Interstate 64.

The original Blue Ridge Tunnel (1850–1940s)

  • Engineering Marvel: The C&O’s predecessor, the Blue Ridge Railroad, began construction of the original Blue Ridge Tunnel in 1850 under the direction of French engineer Claudius Crozet. The tunnel, completed in 1858, ran 4,273 feet and was a major engineering accomplishment of its time, becoming the longest railroad tunnel in North America. Its construction was particularly challenging, relying on manual labor, black powder, and brute force to blast through hard greenstone and granite.
  • Legacy: The tunnel provided a crucial passage through the Blue Ridge Mountains, connecting the eastern part of Virginia with the Shenandoah Valley and playing a vital role in the C&O’s westward expansion.

The second tunnel and modernization (1940s)

As locomotives and freight cars grew larger in the 20th century, the original tunnel’s single-track bore became a bottleneck. To modernize its route, the C&O built a new, wider tunnel just north of the original in the late 1940s, a project that is still used today by the railroad’s successor, CSX Transportation (Buckingham Branch).

The Blue Ridge Tunnel rail trail

The original tunnel, abandoned after the second tunnel’s completion, eventually became a candidate for a rails-to-trails project. After extensive planning and restoration efforts, it reopened as a public trail in 2020. The trail, which is popular with hikers and bikers, now allows visitors to walk through the historic tunnel. A constant breeze and year-round temperature of around 50 degrees Fahrenheit make for a unique and memorable adventure. Interpretive signs describe the tunnel’s history and construction, preserving the story of those who built this engineering marvel.

For More Information – Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the history and operation of the Appalachian Railroads. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Appalachian-Railroads.org. Much of the content on the website is verified across multiple sources.

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Appalachian-Railroads.org | Clinchfield.org | Southern-Railroads.org