The Abandoned Pheonixville Railroad Tunnel

Рет қаралды 21,072

5 жыл бұрын

Пікірлер: 98

@LeonardFShanerJR 5 жыл бұрын

Ok, Wondering Woodsman. Let me introduce my self, my name is Leonard Shaner. I am one of the historians in this area of Chester, Montgomery, Berks and Schuylkill Counties. The reason the Fairview Tunnel collapsed is because of an 18 wheeler was parked above. Now the rail you saw poking down from the top was placed there by the PRR to help support the roof from collapsing. It fell through when the tunnel collapsed in the early 1990s. You and I should go out exploring together I know this area pretty well. Don't forget to check out my videos too.

@roncooper8666 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for taking us on another adventure. The brickwork in that tunnel is impressive. Especially considering it was done over 130 years ago. We take so many things for granted without giving pause to consider how they got there in the first place. It's hard to imagine how much work went into constructing a tunnel like that. Burrowing thru the earth and then lining it with bricks...truly amazing! Thanks, again!

@jonbryn4 5 жыл бұрын

130 years ago is almost during living memory, in 1883, life wasnt much different,lol

@DesignsbyDonBrown 5 жыл бұрын

@@jonbryn4 www.vda.de/en/topics/innovation-and-technology/timeline/timeline-innovations.html

@ButThatsShacksTrain 2 жыл бұрын

@@jonbryn4 life wasn't much different?

@chamilton9182 4 жыл бұрын

Very cool indeed!! Thank you for taking us to historical places we'd otherwise not be able to visit. Great job. I'm grateful for you going through the trouble to film this for us. Love it!!!

@hiworldstephensonultranate290 Жыл бұрын

Gee ur really in d thick of things tr i once walked thru a rail tunnel n over lovely ol Bridge with a group goodness in d 90s tks bringing memories bk Brian

@rosemarykasper4001 5 жыл бұрын

Enjoyed the trek to and through the rail tunnel! Thanks for sharing!

@angiewatson6023 5 жыл бұрын

Another great installment from the Wandering Woodsman! Love the collapsed part. Just so you'll know, I'm on vacation down on Saint Simon's Island off the southeastern coast of Georgia, and this was a welcome break from such. As always, great job WW! Oh yeah, Mark Cooper says hello!

@cristelarodriguez2707 4 жыл бұрын

Is so excited walking with you thru the tunnel , the exploring was so cool indeed, the scenario in the walk going back with the trees was beautiful... thought the climate inside was cold but was the other way around, you say it was steamy hot ... thank you , I had a good walk with you . Be safe , Adios.

@steamgent4592 5 жыл бұрын

This is the PRR or Pennsylvania Railroads Phoenix tunnel on their Schuylkill Secondary from Philadelphia to Reading to Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania. I used to walk this tunnel alot in the late 1980's to early 90's. It was in beautiful condition in those days and the rails were still in. Not just in the tunnel. There is another tunnel from this line up in Pottsville. One end is sealed the other is open. Just like Pulpit Rock tunnel. Another tunnel you haven't explored is alongside rte 11 before Nicholson viaduct north of Clark's summit from the old Lackawanna mainline. Another to check out is east of Catawissa also a former Reading tunnel.

@greenlawnfarm5827 4 жыл бұрын

You have to be careful cause my friend said he saw 2 bears in there.

@sandraplonka5225 5 жыл бұрын

Wonderful adventure, thank you.

@577buttfan 4 жыл бұрын

Always creeps me out and builds Adrenalin when i walk up to a massive dark hole and hear the water running. Nice out and back Cliff!!!!

@greenlawnfarm5827 4 жыл бұрын

Theres bears in there that live in it.

@lincolnmaniac 5 жыл бұрын

never knew that was there. thank you for sharing!

@sandracatalfamo8926 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for another adventure. I have some family in Phoenixville, so I actually know where this town is.. But had no idea about the tunnel. thanks for sharing.

@karenpacker8862 4 жыл бұрын

Loved the tunnel and the scencery looking out.

@nickroy2921 5 жыл бұрын

So cool you found this! I've been looking forever!

@greenlawnfarm5827 4 жыл бұрын

You have to be careful cause my friend said theres bears that live in it.

@dv9238 5 жыл бұрын

Another very good video :) Like !

@RandomVideoCircus 5 жыл бұрын

Hey my Dude!! I was here last year and made a video!! This place was really neat!! Like I said, you and I are gonna run into each other sometime exploring. Great Video!!!

@magic6405 4 жыл бұрын

I checked this out yesterday. Thanks wandering woodsman.

@kateclark7250 3 жыл бұрын

Amazing place! Thanks for the adventure!! P.S. like your helmet! Cool!

@Brianrockrailfan 3 жыл бұрын

Great video 👍

@oldenweery7510 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for a cool RR tunnel exploration. It IS cool that they left the track intact with the rails still spiked in place, though I don't understand why they didn't "harvest" the rails. Steel weight is figured by the yard and figuring it might be 100#/yd, that would be almost 27 tons of recyclable steel. I Googled it and this tunnel was originally called the Fairview Tunnel, possibly because it runs parallel to Fairview Street. Those niches are called "Refuges" and are there to shelter anyone caught inside when a train unexpectedly comes through. They used to put refuges on railroad trestles, too, platforms at specified distances apart, for the same reason, and if it's a timber trestle, there would probably be red-painted water barrels on the platforms for fire control (file that under "Lotsa Luck, Guys!"). Pretty kewl, Cliff!

@ericzerkle5214 2 жыл бұрын

Probably not worth the bother after the collapse...

@janecharlton6780 4 жыл бұрын

Very cool railway tunnel . Thanks .

@Lalunabreeze 5 жыл бұрын

Hey, cool. You got your boots w you. Smart. 4:22 beautiful. Great tunnel.

@brendakrieger7000 4 жыл бұрын

Love railroad stuff❤🚂

@danmathers141 3 жыл бұрын

I'm always amazed no rocks fall at the time you're going through. I'm glad, of course.

@TickledFunnyBone 4 жыл бұрын

Very cool that the rail and that tunnel still exist. I can see a few things i would want to check out there that you didnt.

@daveyjoweaver5183 5 жыл бұрын

So interesting. Can you imagine the smoke and steam inside this tunnel in the old days. I wonder what speeds they traveled? Thanks much ans hope to see you in Litizt. DaveyJO

@nickmad887 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Cliff its like walking with you.

@greg33770 5 жыл бұрын

tracks still inside....cool....i always try to imagine what it was like back then.

@deansimons3194 3 жыл бұрын

You really have brass BAIIS. THANKS great one

@RusticVentures 5 жыл бұрын

That is super cool! 1884, wow!

@AbandonedExplorationUrbex1979 5 жыл бұрын

It's interesting to see old train tunnels! 🚂

@katiefyock9607 3 жыл бұрын

Reminds me of Flinderation Tunnel in Salem, West Virginia. There's a graveyard over the tunnel and some of the caskets are starting to come through the roof of the tunnel. A loong time ago two men were working in the tunnel and a train came. One man was able to scramble into one of the cubby holes on the side of the tunnel. The other man was cut in half by the train and of course died.

@577buttfan 4 жыл бұрын

That collapse looks like most of the other ones,just all the man made tunnel liner came down with a couple rocks,looks like solid bed rock up there!!

@jimmytheyoutubewatcher8002 4 жыл бұрын

Chances are youre right about the "nooks". Where i live, the train stations have them at the platforms, but theyre horizontal so you can roll into it. Theyre for workmen or people who find themselves stuck on the tracks.

@fdation 5 жыл бұрын

The water in there gets deep especially after rain.I almost had to abandon my old 3 wheeler and hike out of it years back.

@crushhardtack2870 5 жыл бұрын

Cool old tunnel.

@jeffgentle6497 4 жыл бұрын

Cool video...I think the cut always might have been some sort of ventilation shaft. I can see why you and Jay from JP Videos are tight. You do some cool content! Thanks for sharing!🚂🚃🚃🚃

@paulschumann9746 5 жыл бұрын

Been there in the winter when it was very cold. There were still spots that didn’t freeze.

@Landaux 5 жыл бұрын

A lot of times you can see dates engraved on the side of the rails to give you an idea of when the rails were placed I hope you checked out the next time you go in there😎👍

@SueGirling68 5 жыл бұрын

Hi, with the old railway tunnels they did put those cutaways in there along the sides for people to stand in if a train came through. I think it may be a good idea to let someone know that the ceiling in there has collapsed in places, because you don't want it turning into a sink hole and someone getting hurt. A brilliant adventure, thank you. x

@thewanderingwoodsman7227 5 жыл бұрын

They know about it. There is a road above the tunnel that goes over that spot. They now have a weight limit on that road.

@SueGirling68 5 жыл бұрын

@@thewanderingwoodsman7227 cool, at least they can keep an eye on the area to make sure it remains safe.

@jonbryn4 5 жыл бұрын

Looks like they over blasted thru, and the plans called for a smaller scale, doomed from the beginning, nice vid

@jeffreydove821 5 жыл бұрын

Wow! A landmark that isn't covered in spray paint. That's a miracle in itself.

@Tom-cy5em 5 жыл бұрын

Good video cool old tunnel I wonder how long it is , thanks for taking us along be careful out there that tunnel looked pretty scratchie.

@thewanderingwoodsman7227 5 жыл бұрын

About 800 feet

@lindajewell472 4 жыл бұрын

You ever come to Mi on a visit the Mackinaw city?

@coldblue9mm 5 жыл бұрын

I see you broke out the caving helmet! Yeah buddy! Light that tunnel up!

@bbo40 3 жыл бұрын

Closed that tunnel off in the 90s because they were afraid it was going to collapse on its own and take the road that is on top of it with it. Been back there a few times in the late 80's ; I used to work right off the trail down by the Cromby power plant

@tomgorney8868 4 жыл бұрын

GREAT VIDEO,was there vents in the roof to exhaust the smoke?

@jonathanrinda7171 5 жыл бұрын

I have walked the Schuylkill River Trail many times in this area. He's starts at Mowere RD Trailhead and walks West toward Spring City. The abandoned tracks here is connected to the main Norfolk Southern freight train line which was once used to be Reading Railroad passenger train. My station would be Royersford if I had Service but is instead just Norfolk Southern running the line. This abandoned track ran to Devault. It's better know as Great Valley. It connects to the main line where trains run from Philadelphia to Reading and even further on West to Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. The abandoned track shown in this video end just past Phoenixville Pike and PA 29 intersection heading away from Phoenixville. I think I remembered in 90's I saw oil cars sitting in Great Valley. So must of just became inactive around 2000 if not before.

@ButThatsShacksTrain 2 жыл бұрын

This tunnel did belong to the PRR, however it was the Schuylkill Division mainline, starting at near Fairmont Park in Philadelphia, and running all the way to Wilkes-Barre. It was NOT part of the Reading railroad, it was constructed as direct competition to the Reading. The two rail lines all but parallel each other, and is several areas, such as Pottstown, were within hundreds of feet of each other. Also, the line going into Devault was a branch of the mainline, not the main itself. When Conrail was formed in 1976, combining the Reading and the Penn Central ( former PRR) this line was deemed redundant and soon placed out of service. The line into Devault was still active, now using a connection onto the former Reading at Perkiomen Junction near Oaks, until early 2000's. The "oil cars" you speak of were actually tank cars of corn sweetener, the last active customer on the Devault branch. When that customer moved, the Devault branch was abandoned.

@emeraldsoundproductions 4 жыл бұрын

Was in this tunnel in 2017 doing some geocaching. The collapse was from heavy commercial trucks on Filmore Street. They had to put a weight Limit on that street due to the collapse.

@porkturtle8321 2 жыл бұрын

Watch the video- he talks about this.

@stevieb.1473 4 жыл бұрын

I see the gouges in the railroad ties at around 9:36. I'm wondering if a train derailed in the tunnel or did the RR cut the ties for drainage..

@hiworldstephensonultranate290 Жыл бұрын

Well doneW. W. gt to see rail s still tr if only those who worked hard onthis cud talk!!

@kathyb799 5 жыл бұрын

Curious about it being called Fairview . Does it come out somewhere in Fairview village?

@debhouckscraftycottage9288 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks.Another one about 15 minutes from me - Phoenixville. Wonder why so much water is dripping on a sunny day. Had it rained the day before? TFS

@edwardmounsey9208 3 жыл бұрын

I’m curious to know why they pulled the tracks outside the tunnel but not inside? Nice video, thanks for posting.

@jeffreyswilsonsr5200 4 жыл бұрын

were did you get you boots? and style you ordered???

@jeffryheintz9405 3 жыл бұрын

We call them Swampers or Muck Boots in Northern Wisconsin.

@jonathanturcan5819 5 жыл бұрын

Look at 7:51 look at that face in the whole next to the white rock. You can see it's face it's eye it's even showing you it's teeth alitle bit.. they blocked half the whole with the bricks leaving the other half open to be able to look through to see out in case something or someone is coming.

@garnetbarton3313 4 жыл бұрын

Glad to see you didn't decide to shimmy up that rail and crawl around up there. lol It is a cool tunnel. Makes me mad to see trash and tires thrown out and spoiling the beauty of the landscape.

@OutdoorsWithShawn 5 жыл бұрын

I wonder why they left that section of tracks?

@paulschumann9746 5 жыл бұрын

There is a geocache there as well

@danmathers141 4 жыл бұрын

How big were the engines in those days?

@R.C.1161 5 жыл бұрын

If your going to walk threw that kind of stuff, a stout stick may be a worthy investment. Tetanus update comes in a close 2nd.

@cheerbearsue 5 жыл бұрын

That’s a really cool really neat place but for some reason your camera quality is lower than usual. Is there anyway that you can fix that? I can’t see all of the details in the vines, leaves, rocks and the water like I can in your other videos. Your videos are really cool and this is not criticism but just a friendly note from a fan. 😃

@thewanderingwoodsman7227 5 жыл бұрын

Sorry, not sure what happened..

@jebrc 5 жыл бұрын

thats my hometown

@rolandlively8818 2 жыл бұрын

That's next to lock 60!

@lindamccaughey8800 5 жыл бұрын

I am also pleased there is no graffiti. Thanks for taking me along I loved it. Tho I feel it’s rather dangerous

@exploringwithgriz2079 5 жыл бұрын

I will fill you in on a lol unknown fact about this tunnel... A freind of mine lives down the road from here he's got a 6x6 that we drove up the trails to the tunnel and he explained to me that the cave in actually had taken place on the grounds of an old stoneless cemetery and they had a comapny come in to remove the bones and they re filled the hole with concrete but as from your new video I see that the patch job had now also fell in too...

@thewanderingwoodsman7227 5 жыл бұрын

That might be a different tunnel. There is no cemetery above this one. Although I have heard this story before..

@exploringwithgriz2079 5 жыл бұрын

I'm sorry man, I thought this was the same place... Ill have to ask Mr. Steve where he had taken us...