In a lot of states, railroad tunnels were carved into mountains and hills to allow trains to pass through while the tracks were otherwise still being laid. Being a prairie state, Nebraska isn’t known for having much need for such tunnels. There’s exactly one tunnel that has ever been built in the entire Cornhusker State: the Belmont Tunnel in Dawes County. Most people have no idea it exists, and the ones who do are almost always locals. This is the story of the most unique tunnel in Nebraska.
It’s much more interesting than you’d probably assume, though.
Andrew Filer/Wikimedia The tunnel is near the idyllic near-ghost town of Belmont in northwestern Nebraska.
The town actually owes its very existence to the tunnel itself.
Irene North Workers settled in a temporary encampment for the sole purpose of digging this tunnel through a canyon wall for the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad companies. Eventually, the encampment had enough residents to merit naming, and the name that was settled upon was Belmont.
This picture shows a decaying wall along the path to the tunnel.
Irene North At the time of its construction in 1888-1889, the Belmont Tunnel was thought to be an incredible feat of engineering. It was considered important enough that, during World War I, guards stood close by to prevent the tunnel from being vandalized or otherwise sabotaged.
Here, you can just barely make out the number “1920” above the tunnel’s entrance.
Irene North This was put in place after a freight train took out a portion of the tunnel in 1917. It was repaired and renovated from 1919 to 1920. The operation was not without its tragedies: one worker died in a cave-in during the tunnel’s renovation.
At its peak population, the town of Belmont was only home to about 80 people.
Irene North That was nearly 100 years ago. Since then, the town has steadily shrunken. The post office was closed in 1956. The railroad stopped passenger service to and from Belmont in 1969, forcing the closure of Belmont’s depot. That was the final nail in the town’s coffin. Freight trains continued to roll through the tunnel until 1982.
Tracks once ran through this tunnel; now it’s just crushed rock, silica, and dirt.
Irene North Inside the tunnel, some (objectively very tame) graffiti shows that this place hasn’t been totally forgotten by everyone. BNSF Railroad still uses the tunnel today, and the road on the side is used as a service road for vehicles.
The tracks have been re-routed; now, they take a slightly different path - one that’s right next to the tunnel.
Irene North These trains no longer haul passengers; there is only freight riding the rails.
The tunnel is in good condition for its age, which is well over 120 years.
Irene North It’s still safe to walk through, though the path to the tunnel from the road can be a bit treacherous at time.
Irene North Looking south from the southern entrance of the tunnel, remains of the once-sturdy retaining walls can be seen on either side.
The train runs adjacent to the tunnel now, which makes you wonder: if tracks that don’t need a tunnel could be laid nearby, why was the tunnel necessary in the first place?
Irene North
Maybe advances in railroad technology have made it easier to lay alternate tracks next to the tunnel, or perhaps the tunnel was built as a visual treat for weary travelers who were tired of seeing nothing but Nebraska prairie.
Andrew Filer/Wikimedia
The tunnel is near the idyllic near-ghost town of Belmont in northwestern Nebraska.
Irene North
Workers settled in a temporary encampment for the sole purpose of digging this tunnel through a canyon wall for the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad companies. Eventually, the encampment had enough residents to merit naming, and the name that was settled upon was Belmont.
At the time of its construction in 1888-1889, the Belmont Tunnel was thought to be an incredible feat of engineering. It was considered important enough that, during World War I, guards stood close by to prevent the tunnel from being vandalized or otherwise sabotaged.
This was put in place after a freight train took out a portion of the tunnel in 1917. It was repaired and renovated from 1919 to 1920. The operation was not without its tragedies: one worker died in a cave-in during the tunnel’s renovation.
That was nearly 100 years ago. Since then, the town has steadily shrunken. The post office was closed in 1956. The railroad stopped passenger service to and from Belmont in 1969, forcing the closure of Belmont’s depot. That was the final nail in the town’s coffin. Freight trains continued to roll through the tunnel until 1982.
Inside the tunnel, some (objectively very tame) graffiti shows that this place hasn’t been totally forgotten by everyone. BNSF Railroad still uses the tunnel today, and the road on the side is used as a service road for vehicles.
These trains no longer haul passengers; there is only freight riding the rails.
It’s still safe to walk through, though the path to the tunnel from the road can be a bit treacherous at time.
Looking south from the southern entrance of the tunnel, remains of the once-sturdy retaining walls can be seen on either side.
This little-known tunnel is a one-of-a-kind feature of the Nebraska landscape. If you plan to go visit the Belmont Tunnel, be aware that it may be on private property. Always get permission from landowners before you visit sites like this!
Craving more Nebraska ghost towns? Check out this article!
Have you ever visited the Belmont Tunnel? Tell us about it in the comments!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Belmont, NE, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Unique Tunnel in Nebraska March 05, 2021 Tori Jane Are there any railroad tunnels in Nebraska? Well, there’s one - the locally infamous Belmont Tunnel, in Dawes County. It’s a 698-foot-long stretch of railway tunnel built and most used in the late 1880s. In 1982, the railway was re-routed, and the original Belmont Tunnel is still used today as a service road. It’s earned quite a reputation locally, though oftentimes, people from other parts of Nebraska have no idea it’s even a thing! What are some abandoned places in Nebraska? Nebraska is full of abandoned things, including homesteads, hospitals, and so much more. They’re all in varied states of decay, as illustrated by this article. Some are restaurants that once served warm meals but now sit alone in a state of disarray. Some are farmhouses, large and small, which once upon a time were probably family homes. What happened to them, and why did they leave? Maybe we don’t really want (or need) to know… Where are some historic places in Nebraska? Nebraska is sometimes mistakenly referred to as a “flyover” state, meaning it’s so boring and uninteresting that most people simply fly over it while en route to more interesting destinations. Nebraska is home to lots of intriguing history, and people interested in it would be hard-pressed to find a town that doesn’t boast some kind of interesting backstory. Historic places are peppered all over the state, from Chimney Rock Historic Site in Bayard to Neligh Mill State Historic Site in, well, Neligh, to McCook, Lincoln, and more.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Unique Tunnel in Nebraska
March 05, 2021
Tori Jane
Are there any railroad tunnels in Nebraska? Well, there’s one - the locally infamous Belmont Tunnel, in Dawes County. It’s a 698-foot-long stretch of railway tunnel built and most used in the late 1880s. In 1982, the railway was re-routed, and the original Belmont Tunnel is still used today as a service road. It’s earned quite a reputation locally, though oftentimes, people from other parts of Nebraska have no idea it’s even a thing! What are some abandoned places in Nebraska? Nebraska is full of abandoned things, including homesteads, hospitals, and so much more. They’re all in varied states of decay, as illustrated by this article. Some are restaurants that once served warm meals but now sit alone in a state of disarray. Some are farmhouses, large and small, which once upon a time were probably family homes. What happened to them, and why did they leave? Maybe we don’t really want (or need) to know… Where are some historic places in Nebraska? Nebraska is sometimes mistakenly referred to as a “flyover” state, meaning it’s so boring and uninteresting that most people simply fly over it while en route to more interesting destinations. Nebraska is home to lots of intriguing history, and people interested in it would be hard-pressed to find a town that doesn’t boast some kind of interesting backstory. Historic places are peppered all over the state, from Chimney Rock Historic Site in Bayard to Neligh Mill State Historic Site in, well, Neligh, to McCook, Lincoln, and more.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Well, there’s one - the locally infamous Belmont Tunnel, in Dawes County. It’s a 698-foot-long stretch of railway tunnel built and most used in the late 1880s. In 1982, the railway was re-routed, and the original Belmont Tunnel is still used today as a service road. It’s earned quite a reputation locally, though oftentimes, people from other parts of Nebraska have no idea it’s even a thing!
What are some abandoned places in Nebraska?
Nebraska is full of abandoned things, including homesteads, hospitals, and so much more. They’re all in varied states of decay, as illustrated by this article. Some are restaurants that once served warm meals but now sit alone in a state of disarray. Some are farmhouses, large and small, which once upon a time were probably family homes. What happened to them, and why did they leave? Maybe we don’t really want (or need) to know…
Where are some historic places in Nebraska?
Nebraska is sometimes mistakenly referred to as a “flyover” state, meaning it’s so boring and uninteresting that most people simply fly over it while en route to more interesting destinations. Nebraska is home to lots of intriguing history, and people interested in it would be hard-pressed to find a town that doesn’t boast some kind of interesting backstory. Historic places are peppered all over the state, from Chimney Rock Historic Site in Bayard to Neligh Mill State Historic Site in, well, Neligh, to McCook, Lincoln, and more.
