I was born in Prestonsburg and my most of
my family live in Johnson County. We have a
tunnel like you described in Powell County at
the Red River Gorge. It used to be a train
tunnel, but now is for vehicles to enter the
Gorge. The only thing is, only one car can go
through at a time, so you have to pull up to the
tunnel, look and see if you can see headlights.
If not, you proceed, if so, you back up and wait
for the car to come on through. I don't know
how many times I have gotten halfway through
the thing and had to back up because
someone who didn't quite understand how it
works and didn't turn their headlights on.
Although, I still don't know how they were able
to see in the tunnel without their headlights
on. OH well.

Carrie"once I get started I can't hardly stop
rambling"Ann

> Back when I lived in Hazard, Ky., there was a
residential area known as "Big Bottom." In
fact my paper route went through there.
Strange name? Not really. Hazard is located
on the North Fork of the Kentucky River in a
mountainous area. The only flat land of any
size is on the flood plain along the river.
These areas are called "bottoms" and they are
choice farmland because the soil is rich and
moist. Just upstream from downtown Hazard,
there was a large area of bottom land. It
somehow became known as "Big Bottom." As
the town grew, houses were built there and
the neighborhood took on the same name.
Some of the homes built there were really nice
houses and it became the "in" place for
well-to-do citizens.
>
> As I mentioned, my paper route went
through there and by the time I threw that last
paper, I was about a mile from town.
However, there was a short cut. Big Bottom
was located on the inside of a bend in the river
so by road or river it was about a mile, but by
railroad track the distance was considerably
less. The problem was that the railroad went
through a curved tunnel. The curve made it
impossible to see all the way through and it
was dark -- really dark -- in there. Each day, I
was faced with the decision of going back
along the road or going through the tunnel.
Usually, the road won, but sometime if I was
in a hurry, I used the tunnel.
>
> It worked like this; I put my ear to the rail and
listened for trains. If nothing was coming, I
would hurry into the tunnel, turning often to
look back at the light. Near the middle, there
was an area where you could see light at both
ends. Then I could see only the light ahead
and I usually broke into a run. The walking
surface was rough and rocky. The rocks were
often wet and slippery and to make it worse, I
was pushing a bicycle. (too rough to ride) At
the end of the tunnel, I continued through the
lumber yard and across the bridge to Main
Street and my father's store. I always swore
I'd never do it again, but I did.
> Howard