What Lies Beneath The Streets Of This Virginia City Is Creepy Yet Amazing
Buried in the mountainous terrain of Virginia’s Wise County lies a history of tragic accidents at the site of Big Bull Tunnel. While growing transportation and developing railway lines proved ultimately successful, it seems as if the land itself protested the development. Coincidence or not, the unusual history of Big Bull is fascinating and one worth remembering. Continue reading and learn more about why this spot is so uniquely eerie.
The picturesque Wise County is located in Southwestern Virginia. Its roads wind through tranquil Appalachia, a common and lovely scene for this part of the state.
It's what lies beneath these grounds that has a more unsettling nature. This simple arched passageway known as Big Bull tunnel has an intriguing history. This recent photograph was taken from the railroad right-of-way as a train enters the structure. Over the course of the past 100 years, this has been the site of more than a handful of strange happenings.
Historians believe the tunnel construction of Big Bull began in the 1880s. What should have been a simple building procedure took three years. Setbacks came in the form of an unusual number of landslides and the occasional flooding. What was uncovered underground felt like an endless supply of debris to the workers laboring to clear the space.
Falling rocks were not just an inconvenience; they were the cause of at least three deaths. Add to that the mysterious explosions as well as a number of train collisions when the tunnel was completed in 1892, and you might think some other forces were at play. Most collisions happened between some of the most experienced engineers.
It is no surprise that locals had suspected the tunnel to be haunted for years. In 1905, an inspection was conducted by three of the area's most respected engineers. They directed a train through the tunnel and then halted it right after it had completely emerged. One flagman by the name of John Peery entered the tunnel, only to emerge suddenly after hearing bone chilling noises he identified as neither "human [n]or animal."
The three men re-entered Big Bull and were struck by the supernatural. They claimed to hear a suffering man's pleas to "remove that awful weight from my body." Needless to say the group was horrified. No one could have hidden in that tunnel space without their knowing.
Big Bull tunnel is 1,700 feet long and the fact that it continues to run today adds an element of perseverance to the history. Its narrow passageway is not inviting in the least, and you might imagine that train conductors would need a deep breath before entering.
What is it that the early engineers heard deep within the tunnel walls? Was it the memory of lost men, injured in the process? The very spirit of the Appalachia? Quite possibly, it was nothing at all. All we can be certain of is that this tunnel is haunted by uncertainty.
Whether or not you believe in the ghostly echoes of trapped engineers, it’s hard to deny that this site is amazing. Have you visited Big Bull tunnel before? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below! Additional information about this area can be found in Appalachian Curiosities and vacreeper.com.
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A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Alexandria. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains.
