The Hempfied Tunnel and Viaduct was built monetarily on behalf of the citizens of Wheeling and Ohio County. Their effort raised $454,000 in private and government donations that went towards the construction of a tunnel and a five arch stone viaduct that crosses over Wheeling Creek. The Hempfield Tunnel is no longer in use by the railroad, but is instead used as a walking trial. At one time, at least seven different railroads companies passed through the city of Wheeling. Even while in use, though, the tunnel was said to have been haunted.
Before work could begin on the tunnel, a section of graveyard above the tunnel needed to be relocated. It is rumored that some of the graves were "robbed," and some were not removed at all. The Wheeling Intelligencer reported in July of 1869 that ghost sightings were "confirmed." Late, in 1874 a New York Journalist claimed to have seen a spirit of some sort in the tunnel. Haunts, spirits, apparition's, spooks, phantoms -- all the like, enjoy hanging from the roof of the tunnel, and some have been reported as "floating above the tracks."
Before work could begin on the tunnel, a section of graveyard above the tunnel needed to be relocated. It is rumored that some of the graves were "robbed," and some were not removed at all. The Wheeling Intelligencer reported in July of 1869 that ghost sightings were "confirmed." Late, in 1874 a New York Journalist claimed to have seen a spirit of some sort in the tunnel. Haunts, spirits, apparition's, spooks, phantoms -- all the like, enjoy hanging from the roof of the tunnel, and some have been reported as "floating above the tracks."
Upon exiting the western side of the tunnel pedestrians, dogs, joggers, and cyclist pass over a five arch stone viaduct. The viaduct was engineered by Charles Ellet Jr. - the same man responsible for designing the Wheeling Suspension Bridge. Today it stands as monument to stone arch viaduct engineering and the railroad industry.
