Railroad History

  • Chetoogeta Tunnel Timeline
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  • Chetoogeta Tunnel Timeline

April 12, 1862

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  • Chetoogeta Tunnel Timeline

April, 1992

The Tunnel Hill Historical Foundation intercedes as the entrance to the tunnel is nearly covered by railraod debris. The old tunnel is deeded to the City of Tunnel Hill Read More
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  • Chetoogeta Tunnel Timeline

December 17, 1928

A new, larger parallel tunnel is completed and train traffic is re-routed to what is today's CSX Railroad main line. The old tunnel ends its 78 years of service.. Read More
  • Chetoogeta Tunnel Timeline

December 21, 1936

The Georgia Legislature passes a bill to build a railroad to connect the Port of Agusta tothe Tennessee River valley. This is the first railraod across the Appalachian Mountains and open trade from the Atlantic Ocean to the upper midwest Read More
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  • Chetoogeta Tunnel Timeline

Early 1900's

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  • Chetoogeta Tunnel Timeline

Fall of 1998

Whitfield County Board of Commissioners recieves a Transportation Enhancement Activities Grant and hires ARCADIS Geraghty & Miller (ARCADIS) to engineer the rehibilitaition, presrvation and conservation of the structure to a tourist attraction. Read More
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  • Chetoogeta Tunnel Timeline

July 15, 1848

John D Gray Company begins construction of the last link of the railroad, a 1,477 foot-long tunnel through Chetoogeta Mountain Read More
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  • Chetoogeta Tunnel Timeline

May 7, 1864

Union General William T Sherman captures the tunnel at the onset of his Atlanta Campaign. He spends several days headquartered in the nearby Clisby Austin House Read More
  • Chetoogeta Tunnel Timeline

May 9, 1850

The first train of the Western & Atlantic Railroad passes through the tunnel. The railroad is complete, and a new town called Atlanta, "formerly Terminus", begins to grow as a major transportation hub. Read More
  • Chetoogeta Tunnel Timeline

May 9, 2000

Open to the public for the 150-year anniversary of the first passage through the Tunnel. Read More
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  • Chetoogeta Tunnel Timeline

October 31, 1849

The first heading is driven through to a sixteenth of an inch variance. Chief Engineer William L Mitchell leads a procession of workers, clergymen, musicians, ladies and gentlemen on the first passage. The celebration continues through the night Read More
  • Chetoogeta Tunnel Timeline

October 31, 1999

150 years after the first heading, Edwin Brady Construction Company begins the delicate job of structural rehibilitation. ARCADIS and the Georgia State Historic Preservation Division closely monitor and approve every procedure Read More
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  • Chetoogeta Tunnel Timeline

Present Day

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  • Chetoogeta Tunnel Timeline

The next 70 years

The abandoned tunnel becomes well known as a shelter during the Great Depression. Later the tunnel sees another invasion, this time groundwater and kudzu. Combined with years of neglect, nature nearly destroys the historic structure. Read More