Full Version: Abandoned Johnson Canyon Railway tunnel near Williams, AZ
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I was out scouting around a couple of weekends ago and came across the old Johnson Canyon Railway tunnel.
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Normally, it would be about a two mile hike but since I was on two wheels instead of four, I rode right up to it. I would have ridden through it but due to recent rains, the entrance was covered in several inches of mud.

Western portal
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Interior shot with sunlight reflecting off the mud inside the western portal
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Eastern portal
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The line back out...
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Late in the day near Williams
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Long shadows
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But good sunsets
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They had trouble with the steam engines catching the interior timbers on fire and so they eventually lined it with steel.

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Closer detail
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That's some great stuff,,got any more pics from that trip?
That is the old main line between Williams and Ash Fork. The AT&SF bypassed that line in 1960.
That's cool. I couldn't walk, nor ride to get there so unless someone is willing to carry me, this is the only way I'll get to see this. Icon_lol I appreciate you posting these. Where is this in relation to Williams? Just curious.
Spooky ! ...not sure I'd go very far into that tunnel Eek

T
ezdays Wrote:That's cool. I couldn't walk, nor ride to get there so unless someone is willing to carry me, this is the only way I'll get to see this. Icon_lol I appreciate you posting these. Where is this in relation to Williams? Just curious.
The tunnel is approximately 10 miles west of Williams via I-40 and then about 2-3 miles north on dirt roads... and then of course the 2 mile hike back east up the canyon to the tunnel. Exact coordinates according to Bing are 35.246381, -112.333179 . I don't know how to get there from the interstate as I came in from the backside (northside). I really wanted to see the old townsite located just above but I was not willing to climb the escarpment in full motorcycle riding gear and was unsure how to get there via road so I saved it for another day. The article also says there are old pieces of train still there in the bottom of the canyon and I'd like to see that as well but again... another day. If you do an internet search on Johnson Canyon RR tunnel, quite a few historic pictures pop up.

e-paw Wrote:That's some great stuff,,got any more pics from that trip?
I do but no more that are rail related... more motorcycle related. Still, if you'd like to check them out, the ride report can be found here... <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=830791">http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=830791</a><!-- m -->

teejay Wrote:Spooky ! ...not sure I'd go very far into that tunnel Eek
T
Nah, not to worry. The tunnel was only 328 feet long... okay, it was a little spooky near the middle!
Thanks Tom, I'll look it up on the map, it's the only way I'll get to see it unless someone has invented an anti-aging pill, since right now my bad knee won't allow me to walk around the block. Nope