Jenson Tunnel facts for kids
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Location | Le Flore County, Oklahoma |
| Coordinates | 35°13′3.3″N 94°26′34.4″W / 35.217583°N 94.442889°W |
| Status | Active |
| Operation | |
| Work begun | 1885 |
| Technical | |
| Length | 1180 |
| Gauge | Standard |
| Lowest elevation | 600 feet |
| Tunnel clearance | 20.0 feet |
| Width | 14.0 feet |
The Jenson Railroad Tunnel is a special place in Oklahoma. It is the first and only railroad tunnel ever built in the state. Workers built this tunnel through Backbone Mountain between 1885 and 1886. It was made for the Fort Smith & Southern Railway (FSSR).
This tunnel has been used continuously since it opened. When it was first built, the tunnel was in the Choctaw Nation. This area was then known as Indian Territory. In 1907, Oklahoma became a state. Since then, the tunnel has been part of Le Flore County, Oklahoma. Today, the Kansas City Southern Railroad (KCS) mainly uses it. Sometimes, people call it the KCS - Jenson Tunnel.
Tunnel History
The Jenson Tunnel is located on private land. It is northeast of a town called Rock Island. This tunnel is the only known railroad tunnel in Oklahoma. The Frisco Railway built it in 1885 and 1886. It was created by digging through Backbone Mountain. This mountain is now in Le Flore County, Oklahoma.
Some people have said that the tunnel was first built just inside the Arkansas-Indian Territory border. However, the border was later moved. This change placed the entire tunnel inside what is now Oklahoma.
Tunnel Details
The Jenson Tunnel is about 1,180 feet (360 meters) long. It has only one track for trains. The track area is 14 feet (4.3 meters) wide. Trains have 20 feet (6.1 meters) of space above the track. The tunnel is about 600 feet (183 meters) above sea level.
The inside of the tunnel is made up of different sections. About 624 feet (190 meters) of the tunnel has no lining or arch. The ends of the tunnel, about 324 feet (99 meters) on each side, are different. These parts are lined with stone and have a brick arch. The remaining 118 feet (36 meters) of the tunnel uses timber posts and arches.
National Recognition
The Jenson Tunnel is an important historical site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on May 13, 1976. This listing helps protect and recognize important historical places. Its reference number is 76001567.
