Exploring the Historic Brockville Railway Tunnel
The Brockville Railway Tunnel is a FREE destination in Ontario to visit.
Back in the 1850s, someone had a brilliant idea to construct a tunnel in Brockville. Rail was the new thing, allowing freedom of travel and much easier transportation of goods. The St. Lawrence River is accessible from Brockville, the Great Lakes, and even the rest of the world. Brockville could become an international port of call, and having a rail line service could make millions!
Actually, it didn’t. The poor rich guy that financed it lost it all on the construction of this rail tunnel, but that is another story.
What remains today is an amazing tourist attraction. The best part is that it is entirely free and pretty cool – literally!
The most common entrance is from the south, where the tunnel opens toward the St. Lawrence River. Entering it from this location, the tunnel looks like a mid-teenth-century rail tunnel. Then it changes into an elongated cave. There is a constant drip of water overhead, and because of this seepage, formations start to develop. Throughout the year, the tunnel maintains a consistent temperature, so this is a cool location to visit in the summer heat.
While inside the tunnel, there is a light display to entertain. During Christmas and Halloween, the lights are themed for these events. Signage is throughout, explaining where you are and what you are seeing. In the summer months, there is an option to ride a miniature train and have a guided tour.
Brockville is home to many exciting places and events to see, but my favourite is this tunnel. There is no experience like that that I have yet seen. Plus, the price is right, too.
Brockville Railway Tunnel is listed on a free custom Google Map which also shows all the other places that I have travelled too. There may be interesting places to visit that you close to your home.
