Norfolk Southern train #174 exits the 22 northbound. One can really observe here the intense grade the trains meet coming out of this tunnel as the train seemingly crawls on its hands and knees to attack the grade it will battle from here to Andy Cooper road. the friendly engineer gives a few blasts on the horn. Note the curvature in the tunnel.
New tunnel #22 built in 1962 as a co-op project between the city of Cincinnati (owner) and Southern Railway (lessor) to bypass old tunnels 22, 23 and 24. The old tunnels are only 15ft wide by 20ft tall, due to increasing rail car sizes, this was not enough. The Emory River Bridge between new tunnel 22 and 24 was also a part of the project. The tunnel is difficult to get to. It requires hiking down the mountain and onto the abandoned (IMPORTANT NOTE) former railroad grade through ABANDONED tunnel 22 and beside the Emory River after wading across on foot. One will follow the old grade until you meet the new grade. Railroad property begins 25 feet from the track edge. Trespassing within the bore is strictly prohibited, dangerous and against federal law.
Facts
Overview
Tunnels through mountain on Railroad, approximately 40 - 50 trains per 24 hour period
Built in 1963 as part of the tunnel bypass program which replaced tunnels 22, 23 and 24 with new 22 and new 24 and built the Emory River Bridge between the two new tunnels. It was placed in service Nov. 12, 1962.