Skip to main content

Waynesboro

Crozet's Blue Ridge Tunnel
Society: ASCEMain Category: CivilSub Category: Roads & Rails, Transportation, TunnelsEra: 1850-1859DateCreated: 1858Blue Ridge RailroadWaynesboroState: VAZip: 22980Country: USAWebsite: http://www.asce.org/People-and-Projects/Projects/Landmarks/Crozet-s-Blue-Ridge-Tunnel/Creator: Crozet, Claudius

One of four single-track tunnels built by the Blue Ridge Railroad, the 4,273-foot Crozet Tunnel was constructed at a time when hand drills, pickaxes, and black powder amounted to state-of-the-art tunneling technology. At the time of its completion, it was the longest railroad tunnel in the world. Envisioned and built by Claudius Crozet, a French-born educator and civil engineer, the tunnel remains a testament to his belief in advancing rail transportation even when faced with numerous difficulties. 

YearAdded:
1976
Image Credit: Public Domain (National Park Service)Image Caption: Crozet's Blue Ridge TunnelEra_date_from: 1858
Subscribe to Waynesboro

Innovations

Crozet's Blue Ridge Tunnel

One of four single-track tunnels built by the Blue Ridge Railroad, the 4,273-foot Crozet Tunnel was constructed at a time when hand drills, pickaxes, and black powder amounted to state-of-the-art tunneling technology. At the time of its completion, it was the longest railroad tunnel in the…

Read More

We hope you enjoyed this essay.

Please support America's only magazine of the history of engineering and innovation, and the volunteers that sustain it with a donation to Invention & Technology.

Donate

Stay informed - subscribe to our newsletter.
The subscriber's email address.