Legend has it that it was here, the east portal of the Oak Mountain Tunnel near Leeds, Alabama, where John Henry died in 1887 after racing a steam shovel. Others say it was along the C&O at Big Bend Tunnel in West Virginia, but historical facts have been found to back up the claim of this being the place. The 127 year old tunnel is near the western end of the former Central of Georgia mainline between Columbus, GA, and Birmingham. It is part of today's Norfolk Southern system, on the C of G district of the Alabama Division. The sight of the Central of Georgia heritage unit here reminds us that despite modern technology, most of the national rail system was built over a century ago when manual labor was the norm. Photo by Casey Thomason. For more information about Norfolk Southern, visit www.nscorp.com
