The Vale Tunnel is a railway tunnel south of Raytown, near Kansas City, Missouri. It was built by the
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (CRI&P RW, sometimes called ''Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway'') was an American Class I railroad. It was also known as the Rock Island Line, or, in its final years, The Rock.
At the end ...
railroad in 1903-04, and was the final tunnel of four to be built on the entire Rock Island railroad, all of which were in Missouri. The tunnel is part of the
Kansas City to St. Louis, Missouri line, and travels beneath Bannister Road. In 1980, the Rock Island was liquidated in court and the tunnel and line across Missouri was eventually sold to the
St. Louis Southwestern Railway (AKA Cotton Belt).
The tunnel is 441 feet long.
There have been several owners of the line since 1980, after the Rock Island went bankrupt. Most of the line remains intact as does the tunnel, except for a few places where it has been cut for road improvements.
In 2016, the line was bought by Jackson County, Missouri. The line was converted into the Rock Island Rail Trail. The first phase was completed in June 2019, and was 6.4 miles. The second phase was opened in July 2021 with an additional 7 miles, for a total length of 13.5 miles. Vale Tunnel has received lighting and is one of the center pieces of the trail.
External links
* http://bridgehunter.com/mo/jackson/vale-tunnel/
Transportation buildings and structures in Kansas City, Missouri
Railway tunnels in Missouri
Tunnels completed in 1905
1905 establishments in Missouri