Chetoogeta Mountain Tunnel facts for kids
The Chetoogeta Mountain Tunnel refers to two different railroad tunnels that go through Chetoogeta Mountain in Tunnel Hill, Georgia, United States. These tunnels are important parts of Georgia's history and transportation. 34°50′19″N 85°02′00″W / 34.838689°N 85.033281°W
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The Historic Western & Atlantic Railroad Tunnel
The first tunnel is known as the Western and Atlantic Railroad Tunnel at Tunnel Hill. It was finished on May 7, 1850. This tunnel was part of building the Western & Atlantic Railroad (W & A), which was Georgia's first state-owned railroad.
This tunnel was the very first major railroad tunnel in the Southern United States. It is 1,447 feet long, which is about 0.274 miles; 441 meters. The tunnel was updated between 1998 and 2000. Today, it is open to the public as a privately owned historic site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 because of its importance.
The Modern CSX Railroad Tunnel
The second tunnel was built much later, from 1926 to 1928. This tunnel is a bit longer than the first one, measuring 1,557 feet, or about 0.295 miles; 475 meters.
This newer tunnel is still used today by CSX Transportation. They lease it from the Georgia Department of Transportation. Like the entire W & A railroad line, this tunnel is a very important route for trains traveling between Atlanta and Chattanooga.
How Tunnel Hill Got Its Name
The nearby town of Tunnel Hill, Georgia was originally called Tunnelsville. It was created and named because of the first tunnel. The town served as a company town where materials for building the tunnel were stored, and workers lived there during its construction.
Important Events During the Civil War
Two major historical events happened near these tunnels during the American Civil War.
The Great Locomotive Chase
The first event took place on April 12, 1862. It was a daring mission known as the Great Locomotive Chase, or Andrews' Raid. A civilian scout named James J. Andrews led 22 volunteer Union soldiers. These soldiers were from Ohio regiments: the 2nd, 21st, and 33rd Ohio Infantry.
Their mission was very risky. They went deep into Confederate territory and stole a train called the General. Another train, the Texas, and Confederate forces chased them. Andrews and his group managed to get north of this location. However, they ran out of water and steam for the locomotive and had to leave the train. Many of the men, including Andrews, were captured and faced serious consequences in Atlanta.
Skirmish at Tunnel Hill
The second event was a smaller fight on May 6 and 7, 1864. This was a skirmish between Union and Confederate forces. Union troops were moving through the area, trying to take control of the rail lines as they advanced toward Atlanta. Confederate soldiers were positioned there to slow down the Union advance.
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