Church Hill Tunnel October 1925

[NW Mailing List]

Harry and all:

The Church Hill Tunnel collapse of October 1925 has been well
documented over the years by Richmond from time to time as well as the
C&O HS with several nice articles in their monthly magazine.

The basic story goes like this: It was built in 1873 or so with a lot
of trouble due to the soil problems but survived in regular use until
it was put on standby in 1901 when the new line was built. It stayed
that way, technically available but seldom used except apparently for
one period around 1912 or so. By 1915 it was completely downgraded and
while not abandoned was apparently never used until with an increase
of traffic in the mid-1920's, the C&O decided to reopen it.

Their idea was to enlarge it by lowering the grade, but their plan was
flawed and the flaw would rear its head on I think it was October 2nd,
1925 but I am going from memory on the date but the month and year I
am pretty sure of. In trying to lower the track level, they removed
the under-pinning of the roof and on that fateful day, with dozens
(maybe even hundreds?) of people digging away, a work train from the
east end, led by C&O #231 I think, a 4-4-0 came in with a dozen or so
flatcars trailing, to haul out whatever muck had been dug up.

When the work train got within 100 yards or so of the west entrance,
this is the entrance easily and still quite visible in Shockoe Bottom
even today, the roof collapsed, some 100-200 yards of it killing a
number of people instantly. That west entrance was closed off
immediately for escape and the survivors got out by scrambling the
nearly 3/4 of a mile to the east entrance, from where the work train
had just come.

Over the next 9 days, further settlements occurred (read this as
collapses) in the tunnel, and finally 3 shafts were dug from above.
One of those shafts finally reached to near the locomotive and the
rescuers were able to remove the body of engineer who was pinned in
the cab by escaping steam and everything else. The fireman had escaped
but died a day later from being scalded.

It was never known or admited how many actually were killed but the
C&O finally gave in to the inevitable, that the tunnel was not worth
repairing. The engine could have been removed, but the cost there too
was in excess of what it would have been worth to salvage back then.

It was well known then by knowledgeable authorities on the matter,
exactly where the engine is located underground. Afterwards, the C&O
pumped/stuffed sand into the tunnel as much and as far in as they
could from the east end, but obviously there were sections they
couldn't and wouldn't get close enough to complete the job.

Over the years, along the line of the tunnel, there have been periodic
cave ins, reminding people what lies beneath their feet under Church
Hill. The east end continued as part of a switching yard for Southern
until about 20 years ago and then the track connection was removed.
About 10 years ago, someone found that a hole had been broken in the
tunnel seal at the east/Chimborazo end and a couple of knowledgeable
cavers went in, telling virtually no one including the RR until their
excursion was complete. They took photos and estimated they got 200
yards or so in before they reached an unstable area of collapse and
returned from where they came. The sand had settled over the years and
there were places they could stand upright and others where they could
only crawl. This was covered in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. After
their escapade they then told the CSX authorities who quickly
re-sealed the hole and put a fence in to keep the curious and foolish
away from harm.

Water seeps from the seal at the Shockoe end and is clearly visible
even today. This end is not more than a few blocks from Main Street
station.

A few years ago, some adventurous souls decided to drill into the
tunnel from above in hopes of finding the engine in pristine condition
and then clear away the rubble and rescue this artifact. It turned
out, not surprisingly that all they found was mud and water and then
the city found they hadn't obtained the necessary permits to perform
these deeds, so the adventure stopped.

This tale of the lost engine is well-known and unlike so many others
is not a fairy tale. There are so many "Flying Dutchmen" of the rails
from tales of long-gone hoggers and gandy-dancers and the like to fill
a number of volumes ... and they have. However this one is one of the
true ones.

You want to rescue the engine? Get about $5 million and the necessary
permits to essentially daylight the first 100-150 yards of said tunnel
and you too can have an artifact -- or whatever rust is left of it
after its 84-year entombment underground, buried for seeming all-time.

Where are the N&W's "Flying Dutchmen" stories but I am sure there are a few?

Bob Cohen


There IS a C&O 4-4-0 buried in a tunnel near Main Street Station,
 Richmond. The incident happened around 1926. Tunnel was
 being maintained when the marl collapsed burying engine AND
 crew. Harry Bundy