N&W 1904

[NW Mailing List]

FOUR BIG TUNNELS NOW UNDER WAY

Improvements Between Davy and Welch will Cost a Million Dollars

        Great progress is being made on the Norfolk and Western tunnels between Welch and Davy.  The firm of E. M. Nettleton and Company, of Covington, Va., has a contract for two tunnels and one large cut.  The 800 foot tunnel above Hemphill has been cut through, but it will have to be cut 16 feet deeper.  The entire length of the tunnel is almost a solid rock.  When completed the tunnel will shorten the road at that point a mile and a half.  Below Hemphill, and directly opposite the 800 foot tunnel is another one 1150 feet long.  The work on the latter is progressing nicely, but at this time it has not been cut the full length.  Work has been commenced on the large cut between Hemphill and Welch.  There are about 100 men now employed on the two tunnels.
        The firm of J. R. Serpell & Company, of Louisville, Ky., have a contract for two tunnels of 600 feet each between Davy and Hemphill.  Work on both of these tunnels is being rapidly pushed.  According to best estimates it will require 18 months to complete the work on the four tunnels.
        The contractors began operations on the tunnels October 1, 1903.
        All of these tunnels are of sufficient width for a double track railway.
        The railway line between Welch and Davy will be shortened four miles when the tunnels are completed, or just one half of the present distance.
        The estimated cost of this work is about a million dollars.

        -- Bluefield Daily Telegraph
            May 29, 1904

Gordon Hamilton
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