
Steep Rock Tunnel

by Dave King
Title
Steep Rock Tunnel
Artist
Dave King
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Steep Rock Railroad Tunnel
Washington, CT
I have photographed the railroad tunnel at Steep Rock in Washington, CT many times but was seldom happy with the results. I realized what was necessary was to include a person in the photo to give it scale. I got lucky with the light coming down through the canopy of trees providing a focal point for the photo. I used a timer on my camera so that I could run into the shot (about 100 feet from where the camera was positioned). I love the way this image evokes a quiet and mysterious atmosphere.
The railroad tunnel was constructed from 1871 to 1872 as part of the Shepaug Valley Railroad. A crew of coal miners from Pennsylvania built the 235-foot curved tunnel by hand using picks, dynamite and nitroglycerin to blast through Steep Rock Ridge. It took them only nine months to complete, a remarkably quick project in those days. The railroad ceased operation in 1948. Today, hikers enjoy the cool, damp air within the darkness of these chiseled bedrock walls as a refreshing respite on a warm summer day.
Uploaded
March 15th, 2024
Embed
Share
Comments
There are no comments for Steep Rock Tunnel. Click here to post the first comment.