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Experiences

Most People Have No Idea This Unique Tunnel In Oklahoma Exists

Jenson Railroad Tunnel in Oklahoma, built in the 1880s, is the state's only railroad tunnel and is still in use today.

Published Jul 1, 2016

Written by 

Ashley Wehrli

Jenson Railroad Tunnel, located in LeFlore County, is the first and only railroad tunnel in Oklahoma. It was built through Backbone Mountain during the mid 1880s in Indian Territory by the Fort Smith & Southern Railway. It is still in operation today, primarily used by the Kansas City Southern Railroad. The tunnel is 1,180 ft. long and has a single track running through it. The tunnel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 13, 1976.

Here is a look at the tunnel system running right through the mountain from Google Earth.

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Google Earth

The rocks from which the tunnel was constructed are hand-cut and hand-stacked.

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TravelOk/Facebook

The inside of the tunnel has little niches about every 10 feet.

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Nathan Lowther Photography/Facebook

The deck width is 14 ft. and the clearance above the deck is 20 ft. The tunnel has many different lengths of lining and arching.

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Dixie and Justin Mace/Facebook

Looking at the north entrance to Jenson Tunnel.

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Valis55/Wikipedia

The stone markers above the north and south portals show a date of 1886.

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Kenneth G Williamson/Flickr

KCS-Ft Smith, 'Dodger' exiting Jenson Tunnel.

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Kenneth G Williamson/Flickr

The tunnel is located on private property - owned by the KCS railroad. Please remember to use caution, as the tunnel is still in operation for trains today.

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