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Eaton, West Virginia facts for kids

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Eaton
Eaton is located in West Virginia
Eaton
Eaton
Location in West Virginia
Eaton is located in the United States
Eaton
Eaton
Location in the United States
Country United States
State West Virginia
County Wood
Elevation
791 ft (241 m)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
GNIS ID 1554362

Eaton is a ghost town in Wood County, West Virginia, United States. It sat along the path of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Passenger service along the line (not picking up at Eaton) stopped completely in the fall of 1981. Eaton's long abandoned train station burned in the mid 1980s. All rail service on the line was discontinued in 1988. The railroad tracks were removed in the 1990s and turned into part of the North Bend Rail Trail.

The town was named for a tunnel builder named Eaton.

Tunnel accident

In the early 1960s work began on the tunnels, widening and raising the roofs. Eatons tunnel (#21), which was originally built in 1867, collapsed on June 6, 1963 burying 2 workers. One was rescued safely. The other was never recovered. The old tunnel was deemed unsafe to continue and was sealed off. A new tunnel was dug parallel to the old. There is no marker commemorating the still buried worker. The tunnel has become a place visited by ghost hunters.

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