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Christina Fisher

Getting A Feel For Life Underground
April 23, 2008

I recently visited Christiansburg, Virginia, for a story opportunity with Norfolk Southern Railroad. Norfolk Southern is in the process of modifying 28 tunnels on a route between Hampton Roads, Virginia, and Chicago in order to accommodate double-stacked railcars. (You’ll read more about this in an upcoming issue of Construction.)

            In this case, the tunnel I visited, which was originally constructed between 1911 and 1919, was having the cap of its concrete liner removed – along with installing rock bolt reinforcements and shotcrete to the exposed rock – to make way for these double-stacked cars. This particular tunnel is the longest on the route at 0.6 miles, and to observe the equipment in the tunnel and see the work in progress, I had to enter the tunnel and walk back and forth along its length. Carved through a small mountain, there was about 180 feet of dirt and rock over my head and almost total darkness. Only what light seeped through the entrances of the tunnel or was provided by the equipment allowed any visibility, although I had a flashlight as well.

            What immediately struck me was the “brass board” at the entrance to the tunnel. This board, which has the names of the employees listed on it, is used to tell others who is inside the tunnel. When someone enters the tunnel, he puts a brass tag by his name. Therefore, if anything happens while he’s inside, others will know who and how many to look for. I, of course, was a visitor. I kept thinking that if anything happened, like a tunnel collapse, that all that would alert people to my whereabouts would be “Visitor” on a brass board.

            While it’s hardly comparable, the experience did give me a tiny idea of how those men and women who work below the earth – in mines, tunnels and trenches – must feel. For a brief second I did stop and wonder if anyone would find me should the unthinkable happen. It really did cause me to pause and feel some admiration for these people who mine our earth for the aggregate and minerals we need or dig through mountains or deep into the ground to lay a road or place a utility pipe. We owe them the strictest safety standards and the most up-to-date safety equipment and training available – just like every other construction worker on any job site anywhere.

            The other thing that amazed me was the fact that this tunnel, which was constructed nearly a century ago by dynamite, hand tools, mules and carts, is still as strong and intact as the day it was finished. Today? I need only say two words – Big Dig.

Posted by Christina Fisher on April 23, 2008 | Comments (0)