Comments on: "Wall up a dozen lawyers at one end and put a good fee at the other."

"Wall up a dozen lawyers at one end and put a good fee at the other."

billypilgrim — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:21:18 -0800

Into the black. At nearly five miles, it's the longest transportation tunnel east of the Rockies. Built in 1874, its construction took 200 lives, nearly bankrupted the state of Massachusetts, and served as a crucible for modern engineering. Journey into the Hoosac Tunnel, urban exploration destination and the most haunted place in New England.

By: gottabefunky

gottabefunky — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:36:54 -0800

Holy crap, great (and awful) story. The first thing to things to fall on them were more than 300 newly sharpened drill bits, followed by the hoist mechanism and burning sections of the structure. With the collapse of the structure, the air-pumps ceased working...it was not until a full year later that the shaft was fully emptied and bodies were recovered. It was discovered that not all the men had been crushed by the falling debris, some had managed to build a raft but died from asphyxiation from the fumes.

By: patrick rhett

patrick rhett — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:48:55 -0800

The first link I looked at was a Flickr set that said: Photos from both portals of the Hoosac Tunnel, in Florida and North Adams, MA. It is late, and I was momentarily dumbfounded.

By: Rhomboid

Rhomboid — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:57:31 -0800

It's funny reading about the early primitive tunneling methods compared to how it's done today.

By: Xoebe

Xoebe — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:00:15 -0800

These stories make me think of the MTA subway tunnel fiascos in Los Angeles. Not so bad, by comparison.

By: dhartung

dhartung — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:05:20 -0800

The first thing to things to fall on them were more than 300 newly sharpened drill bits, followed by the hoist mechanism and burning sections of the structure. Très There Will Be Blood.

By: barnacles

barnacles — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:15:13 -0800

I like this bit towards the end of the account of the trip walking through the tunnel (and back):

The tunnel is a gritty, dirty, cold and muddy place, and physically taxing. Freight trains blast through on regular basis. Electric cables lie in pools of water. There is no lunch anywhere.

By: !Jim

!Jim — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:21:23 -0800

Sweet.

By: Harald74

Harald74 — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:58:20 -0800

An abandoned and decaying railway track goes out almost 100 km from where I live. Maybe I'll make a weekend expedition out of it come spring. Interesting post!

By: dirtdirt

dirtdirt — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:43:42 -0800

I've been to the East entrance of the tunnel many times, and gone as far into it to just barely be able to see the light, which is really not that far. Couple hundred yards, maybe. I'm easily freaked out. It is literally one of my favorite places in the world. I recommend going on a brutally hot and sultry August in the mid-afternoon. There's a short walk along the tracks from the place where people park, and as you make your way along you start to smell something. Earthy, but not earth. Mushroomy? You even start to get a few hints of coolness in the breeze, and about the time you see the tunnel entrance you also see a thin fog oozing along the tracks. It's probably 20 degrees cooler near the entrance. Also, there is a lovely little waterfall a very short (10 minutes?) hike up the mountain right over the tunnel, and some interesting ruins along the way.

By: intermod

intermod — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 09:17:34 -0800

I sure am glad I'm not one of those nut-jobs from IRONFIST. Not at all sure, but I believe this is the central shaft building, pictured at the bottom of the first link in the FPP.

By: billypilgrim

billypilgrim — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 10:45:38 -0800

Not at all sure, but I believe this is the central shaft building, pictured at the bottom of the first link in the FPP. It sure does look like it. Nice Google Maps-fu.

By: Jumpin Jack Flash

Jumpin Jack Flash — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 11:08:58 -0800

Welcome to HoosacTunnel.net. This website strives to be the most robust source of Hoosac Tunnel information on the Internet. I have been collecting data and photographs, as well as going on adventures for the last 5 years. Now I am making my archive available to all. On this website you will find old pictures, new pictures, historical information, and maps! Use the content, especially the maps carefully and remember that the information placed here is on the web for informational and education purposes only! Trespassing on Guilford's property is illegal (don't get caught!), and potentially dangerous (the tunnel is train friendly not people friendly!). I will not hold information from anyone, and I will not discourage exploration! However I cannot be held responsible for any ill fate you may meet while quenching your appetite for adventure around or in the tunnel!

By: buzzman

buzzman — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:46:52 -0800

Spooky. Nothing like the NE for real ghosts.

By: pants

pants — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:06:08 -0800

This is a great post! I was just at the Western Gateway Heritage Museum in North Adams last weekend (I was up to go to Mass MOCA - the railway museum is just 5 minutes away, if you're visiting). They have a nice presentation of the history of the tunnel's engineering, funding, and challenges, although not much mention of hauntings. I'd definitely recommend that anyone who's in that neck of the woods stop by and check out their exhibits.

By: Camofrog

Camofrog — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 18:30:26 -0800

1) Ain't no such thing as ghosts. 2) I walked fifty feet into that thing last summer and it's spooky as hell. It breathes out at you like some tunnel through Mordor.

By: Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese

Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 19:08:47 -0800

Great post. I'd read about the construction of the tunnel not long ago and had been meaning to look it up. Will have to go hike up there some time and check it out.

By: notmtwain

notmtwain — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 12:46:17 -0800

Route 2 known as the Mohawk Trail coming from the east down into North Adams, one gets to the famous hairpin turn.

By: Eideteker

Eideteker — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 11:02:29 -0800

Thanks! I wound up there on a motorcycle trip last fall. I had no idea that it was so storied a location.