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All the United States Massachusetts North Adams Hoosac Tunnel

Hoosac Tunnel

The railroad tunnel nicknamed the "Bloody Pit" for taking the lives of hundreds during its construction.

North Adams, Massachusetts

Added By
J.W. Ocker
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The Florida, MA, mouth of the Hoosac Tunnel.   J.W. Ocker
  JWeagsphotos / Atlas Obscura User
East Portal in early October  
  Lodrak / Atlas Obscura User
East portal   Anna Minster / Atlas Obscura User
  JWeagsphotos / Atlas Obscura User
  mpholtje / Atlas Obscura User
Deep into the tunnel   CrescentKittie / Atlas Obscura User
  Lodrak / Atlas Obscura User
  jmexplorations18 / Atlas Obscura User
Railroad Tracks outside of the East Portal- Hoosac Tunnel   jmexplorations18 / Atlas Obscura User
Out of the darkness- West Portal of the Hoosac Tunnel   jmexplorations18 / Atlas Obscura User
The beautiful empty stream-bed at the start of one possible path to the tunnel; through a graveyard, past this old dam or mill, and then up a hill following an eroded trail.   Amanda / Atlas Obscura User
Run-off water from the melting snow which lined the tracks, filled with algae, old metal, and tannin from the forest vegetation.   Amanda / Atlas Obscura User
Icicles hanging off the side of the deep cut made into the earth to allow for the railroad tracks.   Amanda / Atlas Obscura User
The railroad tracks - taken just outside the North Adams tunnel entrance.   Amanda / Atlas Obscura User
  JWeagsphotos / Atlas Obscura User
A low quality photo of the inside of the tunnel at the North Adams end.   Amanda / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The Hoosac Tunnel is a railway that burrows almost five miles through the Hoosac Mountain Range in western Massachusetts from the towns of North Adams on its west side, to Florida, Massachusetts to the east. Construction began on this large project in 1851 and finished in 1875. Over those 24 years, around 200 men died, giving it the nickname, “The Bloody Pit.”

One of the most chilling incidents was the central shaft accident. The tunnel has a 1,000-foot vertical chimney for exhaust to escape, and on October 17, 1867, fumes ignited, causing an explosion that destroyed a hoist used to lower men, equipment, and supplies. The accident rained equipment, supplies, and flaming hoist parts down onto 13 men who were working at the bottom of the 583-foot-deep unfinished chimney. The pumps were also destroyed, flooding the shaft.

The miners on the surface of the mountain, after various rescue attempts, believed nobody survived the accident. Months later, when they made it back to finish excavating the shaft, they grimly discovered that some had actually lived for a time, making a makeshift raft to deal with flooding.

Despite the death toll and other various setbacks, the tunnel was eventually completed and was used by both passenger and freight trains. Today, a few freight trains still use it.

Of the two portals of the Hoosac Tunnel, the east is easiest to see. At the intersection of Whitcomb Hill Road and River Road in Florida, take River Road northwest about half a mile until it crosses over a set of tracks. The tunnel entrance can be seen to the left. The tunnel's west portal is located in North Adams. Off Church Street, which parallels the railroad tracks, close to where it intersects West Shaft Road, is a path through the woods. The west entrance is a third of a mile down it.

There was a museum dedicated to the Hoosac Tunnel at Western Gateway Heritage State Park on Furnace St in North Adams, but this is closed.

Adapted with Permission from The New England Grimpendium by J.W. Ocker.

Related Tags

Tunnels Memento Mori Architectural Oddities Subterranean Sites Trains Architecture

Know Before You Go

The East tunnel entrance (East Portal) at the intersection of Whitcomb Hill Road and River Road in Florida, take River Road northwest about half a mile until it crosses over a set of tracks. The East Portal can be seen to the left. The tunnel's West Portal is located in North Adams. Off Church Street, which parallels the railroad tracks, close to where it intersects West Shaft Road, is a path through the woods. The West entrance is a third of a mile down it. The Central Shaft and the ventilation fans are located about 1.3 miles from Rt-2, turn South onto Shaft Road, follow to Central Shaft Road in Florida, the fans are on the East side. Across the street from the central shaft building in a small grassy area is a memorial to the victims of the devastating shaft fire which occurred during tunnel construction.

Note: This is an active railroad with trains traveling at reduced speed in the tunnel, these trains maybe hard to hear as they round the curves, so be safe and stay off the tracks.

Community Contributors

Added By

JWOcker

Edited By

Amanda, dondoughty, Molly McBride Jacobson, mpholtje...

  • Amanda
  • dondoughty
  • Molly McBride Jacobson
  • mpholtje
  • Gamma Draconis
  • Lodrak
  • jmexplorations18
  • Anna Minster
  • JWeagsphotos
  • CrescentKittie
  • ctweathergeek

Published

May 28, 2012

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Sources
  • The New England Grimpendium: http://www.amazon.com/New-England-Grimpendium-J-Ocker/dp/0881509191/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279457058&sr=8-1
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoosac_Tunnel
  • http://www.hoosactunnel.net/index.php
  • https://www.american-rails.com/hoosac.html
  • http://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/hoosac-tunnel-disaster/
  • www.lorepodcast.com Episode 2: "The Bloody Pit" by Aaron Mahnke
Hoosac Tunnel
North Adams, Massachusetts, 01247
United States
42.675351, -73.091272
Visit Website

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