It appears the B&O used fill to create land upon which to build a
straighter alignment leading to/from Henryton Tunnel. The railroad
employed the same technique at Union Dam Tunnel, and just like at that
location, here the Patapsco's erosive force constantly gnaws away the
fill. In this photo, on a crisp spring day, a CSX track inspector
checks the extent of the undermining.
On December 15, 2006 a freight train derailed near this location; the
event acts as a reminder that you must use caution and be aware of the
risks when exploring any of these areas. You can be severely injured
or even killed if you are anywhere in the vicinity during a derailment.
Such accidents are rare but they DO happen. My recommendation is to
stay away unless you accept the various risks.
Link:
2006 derailment pictures
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