Logo Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA, GA
Remains of Estelle Mining Co. RR Tunnels
All Text & Images:
Copyright (2014)

Estelle Iron Mines

In the early 1900s, 225 folks were employed here, and the community of Estelle had 150 homes,
along with schools, a church, commercial buildings, etc.   Little remains now but foundations and
ore loading bins from the mine works and 6-7 narrow gauge railroad tunnels through the mountain
ridges, some of which are now collapsed.   Six of those tunnels are partially documented on this page.
The Estelle Mining Company ceased operations in 1924.


Northeast Tunnel:
This is the longest tunnel, and the closest (just over 1/2 mile) to the Estelle village and
mine processing facilities.   I only photographed the western end of this tunnel.


Tunnel_entrance
View back from the interior toward the south opening.


Tunnel_collapse
Partial tunnel collapse - dome above, fallen debris below.


Tunnel
Beyond the collapse area...


Beyond_collapse
I didn't have my underground lighting with me, so didn't go any further...



A year later, after visiting The Pocket, I decided to explore the other tunnels.   These are about 2 miles from the Estelle village and the above tunnel.   I traveled from SW to NE, so I numbered the tunnels in that order.   Due to the route I walked, I think I missed the most south-westerly tunnel, which is blocked on one end.
The lighting was absolutely horrible for historic photography in the woods.


Tunnel 1:
This was originally a long tunnel but now has several collapsed sections.   As mentioned above, I may have missed the actual first tunnel, because I thought the collapsed sections were all part of the same tunnel.


Tunnel_1
Tunnel 1a
Due to the collapses, there are a few short sections of tunnel here



Tunnel_1
View from one of Tunnel 1a's openings


Tunnel_1
Collapsed / caved-in section of Tunnel 1


Tunnel_1
Collapsed / caved-in section, view back the other way


Tunnel_1
One of the Tunnel 1b entrances


Tunnel_1
Short (uncollapsed) section of Tunnel 1b


rear-pano
Tunnel 1b



Continuing northeast, I came to Tunnel 2:

Tunnel_2_approach
Tunnel 2 approach


Tunnel_2
Tunnel 2 - western opening


Tunnel_2
Tunnel 2 - view back towards the western entrance


Tunnel_2
From middle of Tunnel 2 - view to eastern entrance


Tunnel_2
Approaching eastern portal of Tunnel 2


Tunnel_2
View out eastern portal of Tunnel 2


Tunnel_2
Tunnel 2 - eastern portal


Tunnel_2
Leaving eastern portal of Tunnel 2



Tunnel 3:

Tunnel_3_entrance
Tunnel 3's west portal


Tunnel_3_entrance
View of west portal from inside Tunnel 3


Tunnel_3
Tunnel 3


Tunnel_3
Tunnel 3 - I think the red bands are layers of iron ore.



Tunnel 4:

Tunnel_4_portal
Tunnel 4 - west portal


Tunnel_4
Tunnel 4 from the west end
This tunnel and the next are the shortest tunnels.



Tunnel_4
Tunnel 4



Tunnel 5:

Tunnel_5_west_portal
Tunnel 5 - partially slumped west portal


Tunnel_5
Tunnel 5


Go to the Estelle Mining Processing Operations.



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