Just uploaded my "documentary" on Moonville, Ohio and wanted to share it here. For those not familiar with Moonville, it was a mining town on the former Marietta and Cincinnati, which went into the B&O (and then Chessie System and CSX). The town was abandoned in 1947 (buildings were torn down in the 1960s), and CSX abandoned the route in 1986, pulling the tracks and bridges in 1988.
The video looks at the history, the ghostly legends, and my experiences on my three trips down there. Enjoy!
watch?v=KCR4RM9FwMQ
Kevin
http://chatanuga.org/RailPage.html
http://chatanuga.org/WLMR.html
The tunnel is brick-lined and in good shape. Granted, some of the bricks from the tunnel faces spelling out MOONVILLE are missing either from vandalizm or age.
The road is passable. It's narrow and dirt/stone. In some spots, there are drop offs along the road with no guardrails. That portion is in the Zaleski State Forest, so it's basically as it was when Moonville was in existence.
I am hoping to do more trips to Moonville as well as EMF tests while down there. It's a really neat area to see some beautiful scenery, discover some of Ohio's and railroading's history, and do some ghost hunting.
As far as why there were seven EMF spikes in each burst that I got, I honestly don't know. There is no electicity out there, so I shouldn't have been picking up anything. Plus, whatever was causing the spikes was moving all around me in different directions. I did get a new video camera this past Christmas, so hopefully if it happens again I'll have a camera with me to catch it as it happens.
The issues with the flashlight, lantern, and camera were a bit of a surprise for me. Both the lantern and flashlight that I had on at the tunnel seemed like they weren't lit at full power, but when I got them home that night, they worked normally. The flashlight I'd used came in a set with a cordless drill. There were two identical batteries. I'd charged both before going to Moonville. I didn't think to try the second battery (or my second flashlight) when I was down there since the temperatures that evening were dropping fast, and I was nervous about losing light and not being able to find my way back across the river to get back to the Jeep. That weekend, I was working on some shelves for on the front of my model railroad layout in the basement. I was using the battery that I'd used at the tunnel, and it started to run down after a while. I figured I'd switch to the battery I hadn't used at the tunnel since it was fully charged. I put it on the drill, and it ran for about 2 seconds before wearing down to where it couldn't turn the drill.
A friend of mine at work who's been to Moonville several times has had similar issues with batteries for cameras and lights failing at the tunnel and working normally afterwards. On one trip, he said something happened to his camera where a dark shadow covered one half of every picture taken at the tunnel. Before and after visiting the tunnel, the camera worked normally.
Interesting video. From your narration I get the impression more people died at Moonville than ever lived there.
https://archive.org/stream/CoalAndIronOfSouthernOhio/Coal%20and%20iron%20of%20southern%20Ohio#page/n3/mode/2up
Moonville is not on this book’s map, but is mentioned in the text.
https://archive.org/details/ReportOnTheEconomicalGeologyOfSouthernOhioTraversedByTheMariettaCincinnatiRailro
"There are, above the proper position of the Nelsonville coal, two other seams as seen in the hills on the east branch of Raccoon. One of these seams is worked at Mineral City and at several points west. The coal at Mineral City, King's Switch, Moonville and Hope Furnace stations is of good quality, and justly esteemed as a grate coal, although the seam is not very thick. Like all coal seams directly under sandstone, the thickness of this coal is variable, the upper surface being quite undulating. Hence it is difficult to give a measurement of the seam which will be accepted by those interested in the lands and mines as a fair average. The Mineral City seam varies from twenty-two inches to five feet. The latter thickness is, however, quite exceptional. On the Zaleski estates the coal is mined near the Hope Furnace station, and at a location north of the railroad and between Hope Furnace and Zaleski stations. To the latter mines a branch railroad has been extended. The coal near Hope Furnace station is now being profitably mined by the Zaleski Company. I have seen no analysis of the coal, but from its external appearance I think I cannot be mistaken in calling it a superior quality of coal for the parlor grate. At the other mines on the Zaleski lands two seams are worked. These are about sixty feet apart in vertical distance. The lower seam is three feet and a half thick, and the upper four and a half feet. The upper is the one principally mined at this time. The general quality of the Zaleski coals, of both seams, is excellent, and the coal is highly esteemed in Cincinnati for domestic uses. From the comparatively free burning character it is preferred for cooking stoves. It possesses the important elements of a parlor grate coal, and, properly tried, cannot fail to be popular."
Very interesting Kevin. A question...
That grave in the cemetery with the flag, I'm assuming a veteran's buried there. Does the stone say who it is and what war the man fought in? As an old Marine I'm curious, also gratified that someone still remembers and cares.
Also, a bit of contructive critisizim, if you don't mind. It's a GOOD 47 minute video, with a bit of editing it'll be a GREAT 30 minute video.
Old show business addage: Always leave 'em wanting more!
Thanks for posting!
Thank you so much! I trace railroads using the Path tool on Google Earth a lot in my free time and one of the systems that I have completed is the B&O. Often I simply speed through an area, and it is very nice to take a deeper look at a line. Thanks a lot for sharing, and excellent video.
Firelock76 That grave in the cemetery with the flag, I'm assuming a veteran's buried there. Does the stone say who it is and what war the man fought in? As an old Marine I'm curious, also gratified that someone still remembers and cares.
Wellington Coe. Here's a pic from my first visit in 2012.
Civil War! The 30th Ohio Infantry served from 1861 to 1865, and without taking too much of everyone's time they fought at Second Bull Run and Antietam, and were in Sherman's "March To The Sea."
And this fella was there. How nice someone remembers.
"Rally 'round the flag boys, rally once again..."
Private Coe was discharged for wounds in 1862.
https://archive.org/details/historyofthirtie00brin
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=30446397
Interesting. At least he made it home.
Yeah, and he got to ride the troop train.
Sure beats walkin'! As we used to say in the Marines, "Don't walk if you can ride!"
And I'm sure the train ride was a great adventure for all concerned.
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