It took me three years of research and mapping, but I finally located a forgotten railroad tunnel from the 1800's in SE Ohio.  My friend and I made the long and treacherous hike down the isolated, very steep ridge to find it in person.

Apr 7, 2021 8:06 PM

DiscarnateOhio

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Me at my tunnel!

Our car parked several hundred feet directly over the tunnel.  We hiked/climbed down the right side of the ridge here.  Over that little rise it drops very steeply.  The drop on the left side was even steeper and impossible for us to manage.

Omg, it's open!  I thought we'd find it filled-in or even collapsed remnant of a tunnel, but it's still open!

It's clear no one has been there in a very long time. No trash, no graffiti, nothing - it's pristine.

It's flooded with 3-4 feet of water from a natural spring pouring out from above and just to the right of it, with another 3-4 feet of sediment and debris under that. A little disappointed we couldn't get to the other side, but not too much because WOW.

Looking out from the tunnel towards the track bed.

I'm not going to tell the location, it's not very safe. But after all that time and effort to locate it, I HAD to see it for myself! I really found it!

Edit: Didn't expect Most Viral. I thought a handful of nerds like me might be interested. Cheers!

Very neat! Thank you for sharing your excitement with us!

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

That is very cool, thank you for sharing your adventure.

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

You super sleuth! It sounds like you had fun researching it and you WON!!

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I did! It was a lot of fun, I love historical research and the payoff was awesome.

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Really nice not seeing modern hieroglyphics

5 years ago | Likes 18 Dislikes 0

Yeah, that was nice.

5 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 0

That. Is. Awesome. UPVOTE!!

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Awesome discovery! Did you find it by comparing old maps to modern ones? That seems like something from a movie.

5 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Yes.

5 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

And google maps terrain view was very helpful.

5 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

You are now legally obligated to become Batman and make that tunnel the batcave.

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

#5 I love this photo you took

5 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

Thanks!

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Time to drain it, clean it, and convert it to a camper.

5 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

OP and her camera:

5 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 3

Have you been in contact with any local historians in the area? Have others been trying to find it?

5 years ago | Likes 24 Dislikes 0

I haven't, I was convinced it was there somewhere and it was a challenge to myself to find it on my own.

5 years ago | Likes 29 Dislikes 0

I'm sure I'm not the only one who knows of it, but it's not common knowledge.

5 years ago | Likes 27 Dislikes 0

Tbh, I didn't want anyone to know I was looking for it. They might have said it's off-limits and try to stop me or something.

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

"Do first, ask forgiveness later" or something like that.

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Hocking hills?

4 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I used to search for those when I lived in Cincinnati. Lots of stuff like that in the area. Good find and be safe!

5 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Next time bring a kayak.

5 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 0

"Next time"... I probably won't ever go back to it, it was so hard to get to.

5 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

Well done! Great to see your hard work paid off. And thanks for staying safe!

5 years ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 1

v

5 years ago | Likes 25 Dislikes 0

I saw train and southern Ohio and I instantly thought of Moonville

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Great work @op! I grew up there and always tried to find them. EXCELLENT work!!!

5 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 0

Thanks!

5 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Congrats! And good call not sharing location. Some knucklehead would abuse that info for sure.

5 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 4

SE Ohio

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Yup. Never share the location where you dump the bodies...

5 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

5 years ago | Likes 18 Dislikes 1

Is this from a colorized version of The General?

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Why and how did you know to look for it in the first place?

5 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Nice find , great place to dump any undesirables.

5 years ago | Likes 152 Dislikes 8

And deplorables

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

v

5 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 1

It's ok we can just call them Republicans now

5 years ago | Likes 140 Dislikes 6

You need to bury them beneath iron. They hate the touch of iron. I hope the railway lines contain enough and are still there.

5 years ago | Likes 39 Dislikes 0

Well I did just hear they're expanding Amtrak

5 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

?1

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

5 years ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 0

If you spot a red ballon or paper boat... RUN!

5 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

...is it haunted?

5 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Not yet.....

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Yeah, by Thomas

5 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

5 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

No haunted vibes, but you never know!

5 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

I disagree @op. Looks like the face of a baby ghost pushing through the right knee of your pants in the first picture. Be careful!

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I saw that, too!

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

At least he’s a classy ghost, looks like he’s wearing a bow tie!

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I know lol!

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Do you want a zombie Casey Jones? Because this is how we get a zombie Casey Jones. I hope it was worth it, OP! (Cool find)

5 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

Definitely worth it, regardless!

5 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

#3 looks like some kind of traffic has gone down there (?) Tire ruts/marks

5 years ago | Likes 18 Dislikes 0

That's the old track bed. The tracks were removed long ago but the depressions are still there.

5 years ago | Likes 25 Dislikes 0

Follow the track beds till you find something else

5 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

ah, hard to get depth perception in the picture -- looks like a ramp down to the tunnel and track bed, and not the bed itself.

5 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

Now build a hideout and start making meth. There's fuck else to do in Ohio.

5 years ago | Likes 791 Dislikes 27

The floor is blue meth.

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I feel like searching for abandoned rail tunnels is anecdotal evidence of your assertion.

5 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

nice....

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Go visit Chappelle!

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

5 years ago | Likes 128 Dislikes 5

There's nothing wrong with Ohio
Except the snow and the rain.

5 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 5

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I have worked in 3 of the buildings in this picture. This is like 90% of 'downtown' columbus.

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

2. Find old abandoned railroad tunnel.

5 years ago | Likes 36 Dislikes 0

3. Meth lab said tunnel

5 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 1

4. use money from making/selling meth to buy a ticket and leave Ohio.

5 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

Step 5. ??????????????

5 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

good advice, as ohio is has to five of 50 of the least livable cities in us

5 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Take a canoe in, @op

5 years ago | Likes 1561 Dislikes 4

Soak it in wood.

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

5 years ago | Likes 55 Dislikes 1

This is so perfect

5 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Waders..

5 years ago | Likes 21 Dislikes 0

If her numbers are right, that might not work. 3-4 feet of water on top of 3-4 feet of seditment. Even if wrong by 50% it's too deep.

5 years ago | Likes 16 Dislikes 0

Stilts?

5 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Jet pack boots

5 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 1

Pool floaty!

5 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

so pretty @op

5 years ago | Likes 18 Dislikes 1

Use a bread crumb trail. Not on the ground something that floats in the air like Red balloons to find your way out

5 years ago | Likes 18 Dislikes 2

You can literally see the other side of the tunnel. They just can't get over there because of the water inside and too steep outside

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Who invited the buzzkill? I bet you’re fun at parties?

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Cheap plastic sit on top ocean kayak, bet you can find on on craigslist. You could just sled it down the hill

5 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

@SeeThroughCanoe

5 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 1

"Take a Kayak !" -Celine Dion

5 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

My very first thought. Water looks surprisingly clean.

5 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

I was going to say “kayak”!

5 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

Looks pretty isolated I def would have stripped down and wadded. Not like it’s Australia or something.

5 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

#ohio

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Drone would be safer!

5 years ago | Likes 172 Dislikes 3

A drone would be more dangerous and expensive once I crash it into the water.

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Less risk of getting ghosts in your bones

5 years ago | Likes 66 Dislikes 0

Better do cocaine about it, just in case

5 years ago | Likes 22 Dislikes 0

But not nearly as much fun.

5 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Yep, that colour of water is brimming with all kinds of bacteria/parasite.

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

never know if those little critters had taco bell for lunch and made things a bit uninhabitable further in

5 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

As some one who has flowen a drone into an abandoned railway tunnel. Very not safe. First 10m fine, then all hell breaks loose.

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

kayak

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

A boat, with a little camp stove, & a hammock with super warm bedding. Solar panels to charge your phone & power lights at each end. ->

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

And bring a rake, to clear the bottom, so you can swim laps in the morning. I reckon I could be comfortable here.

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You have dreamt about all this before haven’t you?

5 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

If we could get one down there, I would!

5 years ago | Likes 460 Dislikes 1

Take a paddle board. Lighter and has good clearance

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Snorkel and flippers!

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Inflatable kayak

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Take a bodyboard

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You can often rent inflatable paddle boards.

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Every horror movie says don’t do it! v

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Reminds me of this tunnel I kayaked https://youtu.be/ibQvCRS6OZo

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Oh I saw dog adventurer! Favourite part! ......

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Maybe you could rope around a tree and lower it down with you

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Not tied around. Literally running around it

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Could use a blow up canoe, easier to carry

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

If you feel you really have to go in there. Borrow or buy a gas monitor that detects low O2, hydrogen sulphide, and Methane.

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Fold-up kayaks are a thing. A bit expensive, though.

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I'd there a way to backpack in? Longer but easier route?

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Looks like there’s a ton of brush in the area, so you’d probably have to cut a route in if you wanted. Not really worth the effort.

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

This.

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Shes obviously an observer not an adventurer. Takes all kinds to make discoveries.

5 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

Hit the nail on the head. I'm old and not a big fan of nature, generally. I HAD to go see this, though, after all the time I spent on it.

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

@seethroughcanoe maybe can help lol

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

A drone would do! The footage would be fantastic and the risk much lower.

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Ropes. Loop it once around a sturdy tree trunk and let gravity do the work. When done, turn it over and tie it up down there.

5 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Careful in there @OP, you might get spirited away

5 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

RC boat and a GoPro. Safety first, nobody gets stuck in a tunnel.

5 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Take a paddleboard. There’s folks in Hawaii that hike them into flooded lava tube caves and it’s pretty surreal.

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Get a used Rope and pully ($50). Just be very aware of tunnel cave ins!

5 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

That tunnel wall looks sturdy

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

It’s not the walls... it’s the base where the ground meets the wall that you wanna worry about

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

This is how you end up backwards in time 33 years I'm pretty sure.

5 years ago | Likes 189 Dislikes 1

Go back and time and spread Covid88

5 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

maybe you'll end up 33 years in the future ;D

5 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Was hoping there’d be a Dark comment like this!

5 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Nope, this is how

5 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

The weeping angels gave me nightmares for days after watching their first appearance. There's something about them

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Sign me the fuck up. 1988. In time to see Die Hard, Roger Rabbit, Beetlejuice, Child's Play and Killer Clowns from Outer Space in theatres.

5 years ago | Likes 16 Dislikes 2

And be the richest person in the world from stocks

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

yea and possibly build up enough clout to destroy the piece of shit trump and others

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

The beginning is the end, and the end is the beginning.

5 years ago | Likes 30 Dislikes 0

Just like the human centipede, right?

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Best Netflix show of all time.

5 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Are we talking about the series Dark? I’m (still) at the start of 3rd season and have to admit, that it’s not the easies series to follow.

5 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 0

.

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I agree. It a slow burn to begin with but the story is really interesting. I'm also on season 3 and am excited to see where it goes.

5 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

I had to start writing down a family tree to really understand how it all fit together. I really enjoyed it though. End gets a little weird»

5 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

« but, let's be honest, the whole show is a lot weird. Still thought it ended alright.

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I kept family charts on Wikipedia with me while watching the show. Just make sure you are looking at the right season. They keep changing

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

They explain everything in the last episode.

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

What was so special about this tunnel that you had to find it?genuinely curious.

5 years ago | Likes 464 Dislikes 1

Sorry. Just kidding around

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

Because tunnels are cool.

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Looks super creepy. You first.

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Without giving too much away: Theres another tunnel in the county that people go to, but they call it by a name that didn't...

5 years ago | Likes 491 Dislikes 2

Honestly, as an UrbEx fan, this is still giving away too much. There are people that will actively seek this tunnel just to vandalize 1/2

5 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

it for the first time. People suck. 2/2

5 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

What's the name?

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

TONY!

5 years ago | Likes 17 Dislikes 0

FUCK YOU TONY!!

5 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 0

What's your name?

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Fuck You Ezekial!!

5 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Not to give too much away?... What are you hiding??!! None of this post makes any sense! A missing train tunnel? What???

5 years ago | Likes 34 Dislikes 7

Instagrammers will decend and destroy the place in 6months

5 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Bodies. The answer is always bodies

5 years ago | Likes 31 Dislikes 0

There’s gold in ‘em tunnels !

5 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

It makes sense if you UrbEx and hate seeing a shit-ton of graffiti on abandoned places. This is why we keep secrets.

5 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

Hiding a Nazi gold train in an offshoot that is sealed off in the tunnel....... Oh wait, that is another tunnel.

5 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Yeah she's hiding tons of gold for sure.

5 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Shhhh!

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

OP already said it wasn't a safe place to go to, and some of the pictures show that. Nature isn't always safe.

5 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 3

Also people might think that water is clean just because it's clear and be less cautious about it.

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

that's not nature. Man made and subject to erosion, etc.

5 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

The trees, hillside, dirt, and water there are all nature.

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I'm not asking for coordinates.

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

make sense to me based on its location. It did make sense to this other area, though...

5 years ago | Likes 475 Dislikes 2

You referring to moonville tunnel in southern ohio? Haha That was the go to spot during my college years at Hocking!

5 years ago | Likes 25 Dislikes 1

I used to swim at Moonville before the trestle was removed. It it has been cleaned up and there are always people there now.

5 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Moonville is about 80 miles from this one. I hope to go see Moonville Tunnel sometime soon.

5 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

We would always go at night and get the crap scared off of us from thinking all the hauntings were true, but the tunnel is real cool!

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

so I was convinced there had to have been another tunnel that people now confused with the known one.

5 years ago | Likes 465 Dislikes 1

I'm happy for you that the clever sleuthing worked out. I would have guessed human stupidity led to a wrong name lol, not 2 tunnels.

5 years ago | Likes 22 Dislikes 0

Moonville? I know that one. If you like southern OH abandoned cemeteries a guy named Eli Allen has put dozens of them on 1/

5 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

Google Maps.

5 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 1

Moonville is about 80 miles from this one. Haven't been there yet but we might go this year.

5 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

So I started hunting for it.

5 years ago | Likes 464 Dislikes 3

.

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

That's actually pretty cool. Please tell me you have a map at home with red string and pins all over it. That's all this story needs now

5 years ago | Likes 155 Dislikes 0

Nice job

5 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

Doot for later

5 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 2

IngskA ollowsha?

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

You I like. That’s bad ass

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

So no joke, reach out to the OSU Center for Folklore Studies. The archive would love this story(and would keep the location under wraps)1/2

5 years ago | Likes 116 Dislikes 0

Basically, she lives in Ohio and there's fucking NOTHING to do. So railroad hunting becomes viable.

5 years ago | Likes 484 Dislikes 12

Yeah so that’s the start to a novel if I’ve ever heard one

5 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

This is awesome! Did you tell the county historical society? Might be a good way to preserve the knowledge

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

This is the interesting part. Well done you.

5 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Jinkies. What a mystery

5 years ago | Likes 39 Dislikes 0

Aah , are you looking for the gold from that derailed train that crashed into the river and the gold was never recovered .

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Yo hit me up if your boyfriend ever bores you. I’m into mapping, underwater drones, caves, bbqs, hitting on attached women etc

5 years ago | Likes 16 Dislikes 5

That's fucking awesome on a level i can't really define... But good work. Document it to hell and back and then inform the tunnel museum...

5 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0