Woods Creek Railroad Culvert Tunnel, Lexington, Virginia copy print photos, 1930

Containers:

Box 12, Folder 33

Biographical / historical:

The Woods Creek railroad culvert tunnel is a prominent historical feature along the Woods Creek Trail in Lexington, Virginia. This massive stone arch masonry culvert was constructed in the late 19th century to carry the old Valley Railroad line directly over Woods Creek. Today, the active pedestrian trail routes hikers directly underneath this historic structure. It is located at the north end of the Woods Creek Trail behind the Washington and Lee University udergraduate campus buildings. It was built to support 200 ton steam locomotives passing over the creek bed, which has been made into a public, child friendly walking trail. The culvert stands as a testament to Lexington's early rail infrastructure. Decades ago, the railroad tracks sat much higher on a heavy dirt fill above the stone masonry. When Washington and Lee University developed East Denny Circle, a large portion of that dirt fill was cleared away, highlighting the impressive masonry of the stone arch.

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