Looking for a train tunnel

[gsxrmike]

Some of the Ole farts in my area, (I am 50) talk about a abandon train tunnel some where around Del Rio area give or take 500 miles (this is Texas)
Does anyone on this site know where the tunnel is???????
Thanks
Mike

[Gilk51]

There is one near Fredericksburg - I forget the name but you might check the points of interest around F-burg...

(edit) I also seem to remember that Texas has 5 such RR tunnels ...

[Big Bandit]

Here is what Gilk was tlkin about,

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/wma/find_a_wma/list/?id=17

It is the only railroad tunnel that I know about.

[focus frenzy]

I have been to the one near Fredricksburg, very interesting, especialy when the bats are at home.

I seem to remember hearing about one out west but can't remember where.

[sherob]

http://www.delrionewsherald.com/story.lasso?ewcd=e9e9fce2adf060f4

[Cagiva 549]

The two tunnels along in the Pecos river area are under water now I think , In 05 Lake Amistaid was low enough that they could be accessed by boat , the land side is all private . The lake level was back up high enough that they are probly flooded now . There is a tunnel in the Cap Rock area that is accessable on the rails to trails hike and bike trail . And the bat cave tunnel between Comfort and Fredricksberg . You can walk down a trail and look thru it but you cannot walk in it , its full of bat poop and stinks . Go east from Comfort on FM473 , go straight when 473 splits east and look for the signs on top of the hill about 5 miles . SEYA

[Eulogite]

I've made the 60-mile canoe trip from Pandale to High Bridge many times, but I've never gone past the takeout onto the Rio. Too happy to make High Bridge after paddlin' off the lake. That south wind can be a killer. I love the El Despoblado. I'm doing the Devil's in three weeks. I'll post a few snaps.

[dfwscotty]

That's the one I was thinking about. I have been by it while it was hidden but a friend that was with me had pics of it half submerged. Geez, that was many manyyyy years ago when I lived way out west in the stix. I can't recall if it was on the Pecos or after you joined up with the Rio Grande.

[hardybaker]

Mike if you like trains and tunnels, you ought to take the Copper Canyon train in Mexico. It is relatively cheap and the sights are SUPER fantastic. Oh yea, the train does a 360 degree turn, all inside one mountain, I highly recommend it. It's also called the Chepe railroad. ( I have the hat ) In fact, maybe we could ride to...........and..... Hardy

[gsxrmike]

Thanks everyone for the replies, I'll keep looking.
I call it adventure touring
Mike

[Cagiva 549]

There is one called the Chispa tunnel but I have no other info , I did notice an old Chispa road on some maps of the no mans land between US 90 and the Rio Grande river near Valintine , If I ever get to spend any time riding out there I might try to look for it . SEYA

The Pecos river tunnels were built when the first tracks were layed across the southern route from Texas to the Pacific , I think the Chispa tunnel may have been part of that . The Pecos tunnels were abandoned when SP built the High bridge across the Peacos . The Fredricksberg tunnel was built in the early 1910's when the San Antoino , Fredricksberg and Northern Railway connected Fredricksberg to the outside world . It was abandoned in the early 1940's when it became cheaper to ship by truck . The Cap Rock tunnel was part of the Sante Fe Railway that was abanboned in the 80,s after the Texas and Pacific merger . Thats what Adventure riding is all about , finding really nice places that are only accessably by large amounts of skill and adventure . If you are ever in Colorado near Gunisson check out the Alpine tunnel , around 40 miles north east of there . SEYA

[XR650Rocketman]

I've never heard of the "chispa tunnel" but I know it's not visible from chispa road. We've explored that area many times and there is evidence of an old rail bed near US90.

[XR650Rocketman]

I've never heard of the "chispa tunnel" but I know it's not visible from chispa road. We've explored that area many times and there is evidence of an old rail bed near US90.

Further investigation shows a tunnel somewhere near Chispa Station that was abandoned in the 1940's.....We'll' be out there the first weekend in March, we'll try and locate this tunnel....

[fratermus]

Some of the Ole farts in my area, (I am 50) talk about a abandon train tunnel some where around Del Rio area give or take 500 miles (this is Texas)
Does anyone on this site know where the tunnel is???????


This site on the gps coords of abandoned train tunnels (http://www.waymarking.com/cat/details.aspx?f=1&guid=0c3b81a4-9ff2-4674-9c6d-79e4f400ec31) might or might not help.

[Cagiva 549]

Good site , Thanks more destinations to check out . SEYA

[skinny]

Further investigation shows a tunnel somewhere near Chispa Station that was abandoned in the 1940's.....We'll' be out there the first weekend in March, we'll try and locate this tunnel....


I found it on the Garmin topo...look for San Carlos mine...

[XR650Rocketman]

Will do skinny.....Thanks....

[SpringerMan]

Tunnel info here.

http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/RR/eqr6.html

Says there were six railroad tunnels in Texas. You'll have to dig deeper than I did to find out more.

[XR650Rocketman]

This site on the gps coords of abandoned train tunnels (http://www.waymarking.com/cat/details.aspx?f=1&guid=0c3b81a4-9ff2-4674-9c6d-79e4f400ec31) might or might not help.

Interesting site....When we find the Chispa Tunnel we'll post it there!!!!

[XR650Rocketman]

Interesting site....When we find the Chispa Tunnel we'll post it there!!!!

Well, quite a disapointment!!!!

The "Chispa" tunnel has been located and I've seen photos of it....But....It's now on private property and not accessable to us.....

Darn!!!!!

[Cagiva 549]

OK I dug out my book on Texas train tunnels , There were six
The first were the Rio Grande tunnels near the Pecos , the first was 3 miles east of the Pecos below the painted cave , number 2 was a few miles north of the Pecos . Probly both under water and only accessable by swimming . Built by the Galveston , Harrisburg and San Antoinio RR .
The Chispa Tunnel was next , Built by Rio Grande Northern RR , between Chispa and San Carlos to haul coal witch didn't pan out , it was abandoned in 1897 when the Sheriff sold there assets . The line was origanally planned to run from Van Horn to the Rio Grande river in Presidio County . Only 26 miles were compleated .
The fourth tunnel was the San Antonio and Fredricksburg , abandoned in 1941 , now the Old Tunnel Wildlife Management bat colony .
The Fort Worth and Denver South Plains RR built the last 2 tunnels in 1928 near Quitaque . Those tunnels became part of the CapRock Canyons State Park Trailways System in 1993 . The remaning 750 ft tunnel is 4.5 miles from the Monk's Crossing access point . The other tunnel had to be dug out to remove the remains of a train wreck . Too bad we cant take our bikes on the hike and bike trail . SEYA

Information from a book called Texas Trains , A good history of railroading in Texas .