What do you do when you have the first sunny day promised after many days of dreary cold weather? You find an interesting place to explore on field trip Friday! The Nemo area in the Obed National and Wild Scenic River lays claim to gorgeous rugged scenery but also to a remarkable truss bridge and 3 railroad tunnels, one of which is inactive and passable with a high clearance vehicle. We set out today with five grandchildren, a guest and our daughter to hike a portion of the Cumberland Trail.
We headed out of the parking area intending to hike to the overlook above the confluence of the Obed and Emory Rivers. If we were fortunate, we might spot a train passing beneath us passing through one of the tunnels.
Yes, it was quite a climb, doing switch-backs and then wooden stairs.
But the effort was worth our trouble! Towering rock formations above us and breathtaking views below us!
We didn't know exactly what this construction was, but it afforded photo opportunities.
J was impressed with the size of a magnolia leaf!
High above the river, the trail passed beneath deep overhangs and above steep drop-offs.
Char wanted to pose for a shot!
Just look at the size of the rock bluff!
Our destination was about 1.3 miles from the parking area.
We are standing at the edge of a steep drop-off. One misstep and you would fall 60-80 feet to the railroad tracks below.
Immediately below us is the entrance to one of the active railroad tunnels.
But what an amazing view of this vast wilderness! We could see where the Obed River empties into the Emory River.
We marveled at the engineering feat that blasted tons of rock from the mountain.
One last pose before we head back to the parking area and the bridge!
Far down below us, we caught a glimpse of the concrete embankment at the tunnel's entrance.
I see a resemblance to an Indian bent tree trail marker! Of course, this tree is too young to serve the purpose. Native Americans often marked trails by bending young saplings into right angles.
Along the trail we passed a gated "cave" or "mine" with this interesting identification. Since two parallel railroad tunnels are immediately beneath us, this could have been a passage to access the older tunnel. Nowadays, most caves and abandoned mines are barred to prevent the bat habitat from being disturbed.
The sun warmed us as we ate lunch prior to our next excursion: the Nemo Bridge!
The truss bridge built in 1929 replaced the one destroyed in the flood of 1906.
This 480-foot bridge is now for foot traffic only.
Just a few hundred feet to the south is the concrete bridge which replaced this one in 1999.
The bridge allows hikers to continue on the Cumberland Trail and access other trailheads.
Information on a metal plate on a crossbeam reads: Built 1929 by Atlantic Bridge Company Greensboro NC for Morgan County Tennessee.
Apparently a pastime is to see how many tossed rocks can be collected on the steel girder edges of the new Nemo bridge!
Tree swings beckon daring swimmers to risk a plunge into the cold water. The kids began making plans to return in mid-summer to visit this natural sandy beach and tree swings. With such a lovely spot, who needs Florida beaches?!
The rapids were quite showy today but we've been at the river at near flood stage when the entire rocky and sandy shores were covered with water.
A couple of large boulders displayed an interesting pattern.
The kids decided that they want to return to the sandy beach in the summer and swing out over the river on the ropes hanging from some of the limbs.
Our next destination was the Nemo Tunnel. Our timing was perfect! We arrived just at the moment a fast moving train roared like a beast from the tunnel.
Powerful Norfolk-Southern engines pulled a long string of cars.
Trains moving through the gorge travel fast!
We expected to see coal cars, but tanker cars, freight cars and vehicle transport cars flashed before us.
Bringing up the rear was not the expected caboose or signal lamp but another powerful diesel engine.
Needless to say, we did not enter the tunnel!
However, to the left of the active railroad tunnel is the disused parallel tunnel. Jeeps and four-wheel drive vehicles freely pass through the abandoned tunnel.
The tracks and cross ties have been removed, but the tunnel has deep puddles of water that can reach above the hubcaps of vehicles passing through.
Listen! Do you hear that deep rumbling? Do you feel the ground vibrating? Is it T-rex coming for us?! No! It's just another train passing through the new tunnel 600 feet to our right. So we won't be the next meal for the predator T-rex like in the movie Jurassic Park.
Tunnel 24 must wait another day for us to explore! Twenty-four was completed around 1878-80. It was hand bored with men using dynamite to blast their way through the mountain. It is lined with layers and layers of bricks covered with concrete. Imagine laying bricks on the arched tunnel without electricity to provide light!
Wartburg, the county seat of Morgan County, has a striking bell tower on its courthouse!
I understand the clock is accurate twice a day!
Blue skies were a welcome sight as we ended our day of adventures!
We have decided that Morgan County has many interesting places to explore! I foresee plenty of opportunities for field trip Friday destinations!
Linda failed to mention that we actually saw four freight trains travel through the gorge while we were in the area, two while we were at or returning from the overlook, and two while we were at the far end of the active tunnel. The rumble you could hear near the exit from the tunnel resulted in speeding trains emerging about 15 to 20 seconds later. Quite an experience!
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