The namesake tunnel is about a half mile west of Sykesville. The center of this photo shows how the original route cut through a hillside in order to stay on the north (right) side of the river.

The current route on the left, which dates to 1903, crosses the river back into Howard County, runs through the short tunnel and immediately crosses the river again. This must have been a troublesome section for B&O to have justified the cost of all these structures.

In the distance, from the bridge east of the tunnel, upstream you can see an original, now disused culvert. This one is unique in that it is accompanied by an extensive retaining wall. Perhaps B&O was fighting a losing battle vs. river generated erosion here, and finally gave up and built the tunnel.

The stone cutting is imprecise by B&O standards.

I returned during summer about 20 years later.

My hope the culvert's inlet would be grand was dashed. This is crude construction relative to other original OML box culverts.

It's a snowy river scene when looking back from atop the culvert.

From the other (west) side of the tunnel, snow on the left highlights the original right of way.