The article is:

More than four people were trapped. Early newspaper reports list scores of missing African-American laborers by first initial and last name only.

We had a similar thing happen in the UK in 1979 at Penmanshiel Tunnel. Two workers, one driving an excavator and one driving a dump truck were killed when then tunnel they were doing improvement works in suddenly collapsed trapping the two men inside. Thirteen men escaped, but rescue efforts failed to reach the other two.

Imagine. Being a land developer, knowing the land you want to build on has a history of cave ins and unstable ground, with a train buried beneath it… and still wanting to build on top of it.

I live in Richmond Virginia and never knew about this. Thanks for bringing me on the journey, I’ll have to visit this place.

As both a railfan and a history enthusiast, I found this to be very interesting! Thank you for sharing this story and footage with us.

Wow, never heard about this. I can’t imagine what they went through if they did not die instantly. Waiting to be rescued and then the realization they would not be rescued. Very sad story but thank you so much for sharing.

Correction - 4 men died in the collapse but only 2 are still trapped inside there.

Most graves become obscure as time goes by . This grave is immortal .

There was an excellent article in the July 1980 issue of Rail Classics magazine. This was a Chesapeake & Ohio tunnel that was bypassed. When the collapse happened crews were inside attempting to shore things up with iron rings and to enlarge the tunnel for the larger freight cars of the day. After the collapse shafts were sunk on the hillside above and they did find the coupler between the engine and the first car. Further excavation was deemed too dangerous and the effort was given up. The ground in that area is blue marl and clay. The train is buried about 100 feet in from that western portal. A number of workers made it out alive.

Technically this is a burial site and must be respected accordingly.