Backbone Rock

Photos

Backboneridge

Photo taken by Bob Lawrence in December 2008

BH Photo #219410

Map

Maps and Databases

Street View

Description

Cut to allow a railroad to carry timber from Shady Valley TN to Damascus VA. Used by the Park Service after that, then the rails were taken up and the bed became a highway.

Facts

Overview: Tunnel under Backbone Rock on TN 133 between Damascus VA and Shady Valley TN, Tennessee
Location: Johnson County, Tennessee
Status: Open to traffic
History: Cut in 1901, taken over by Park Service.
Railroad: - Empire Mining Co.
Design: Tunnel
Dimensions: Total length: 20.0 ft.
Approximate latitude, longitude: +36.59419, -81.81514 (decimal degrees)
36°35'39" N, 81°48'54" W (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates: 17/427087/4050165 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:: Laurel Bloomery
Average daily traffic (as of 1998): 520
Inventory numbers: TN 46SR1330013 (Tennessee bridge number)
BH 47494 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Inspection report (as of January 1999): View more at BridgeReports.com

Update Log

May 13, 2015: New photos from Calvin Sneed
August 15, 2013: Updated by Luke Harden: Added categories "Railroad", "Natural Landform", "Rail-to-road"
November 4, 2011: Updated by Bob Lawrence: added more information
January 2, 2011: Added by J.P.

Sources

J.P. - wildcatjon2000 [at] gmail [dot] com
Bob Lawrence
Luke
Calvin Sneed - us43137415 [at] yahoo [dot] com