Cowan Tunnel facts for kids
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| View from north end into tunnel interior. The old Mountain Goat rail bed bridge is in the foreground. | |
| Overview | |
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| Coordinates | 35°09′08″N 85°58′31″W / 35.15222°N 85.97528°W |
| Status | Open |
| Start | 35°09′15.3828″N 85°58′42.2004″W / 35.154273000°N 85.978389000°W |
| End | 35°09′2.4336″N 85°58′21.2268″W / 35.150676000°N 85.972563000°W |
| Operation | |
| Owner | CSX Railroad |
| Technical | |
| Construction | 1849–1853 |
| Length | 2,200 ft (670 m) |
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Cumberland Mountain Tunnel
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| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Nearest city | Cowan, Tennessee |
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| Area | 42 acres (17 ha) |
| Built | 1849 |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001270 |
| Added to NRHP | August 22, 1977 |
The Cowan Tunnel, also called the Cumberland Mountain Tunnel, is a long railroad tunnel located near Cowan, Tennessee. It was a huge building project for its time. This tunnel helped connect different parts of the United States by rail.
Today, the tunnel is still used by trains. It is owned by CSX Railroad. In 1977, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
Building the Cowan Tunnel
Work on the Cowan Tunnel started in 1849. It took several years to build. The tunnel itself was finished in 1852. The train tracks inside were completed in 1853. The tunnel is about 2,200 ft (670 m) long.
Many different people helped build this tunnel. African American workers, Irish immigrants, and local people all worked together. Swiss engineers also helped design and guide the construction.
Air and Safety Features
Building such a long tunnel was a big challenge. To help with air flow and make it easier to work, three special shafts were dug. These shafts were like giant holes going down from the surface to the tunnel. Each shaft was about 170 ft (52 m) deep.
These shafts had several important jobs. They helped bring fresh air into the tunnel. They also let out smoke and steam from the trains. Plus, they gave workers more places to dig from, speeding up the construction.
The Tunnel During the Civil War
The Cowan Tunnel was very important during the American Civil War. It was a key link for moving supplies and troops by train. Both sides in the war wanted to control it.
Even though there was fighting around it, the tunnel was never destroyed. Its importance was clear to everyone. Today, the tunnel continues to be used by many freight trains.
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Tunnel interior from the north with the Mountain Goat rail bridge in the foreground.
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Tunnel entrance from the south looking north.
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Southern tunnel vent exterior.
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Southern tunnel vent interior.
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Middle tunnel vent exterior.
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Middle tunnel vent interior.
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Northern tunnel vent exterior.
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Northern tunnel vent interior.
