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.
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![Crozet's Blue Ridge Tunnel](/sites/default/files/styles/landmark_node_/public/landmarks/images/Crozet%27s_Blue_Ridge_Tunnel.jpg?itok=sf4Xi5mX)
YearAdded:
Image Credit: Public Domain (National Park Service)Image Caption: Crozet's Blue Ridge TunnelEra_date_from: 1858
1976
Innovations
![Crozet's Blue Ridge Tunnel](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/landmarks/images/Crozet%27s_Blue_Ridge_Tunnel.jpg?itok=QDx21Gcr)
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…