(By Tsem Rinpoche)
A tunnel is a passage, usually through the mountains or somewhere underground, with access from one end to the other. Some tunnels created by nature just lead to nowhere or end in caves. Many people understandably find tunnels to be inherently unsettling and claustrophobic. After all, a long, dark passage with just one way in and one way out is not the most welcoming of places. But could the feeling stem from our collective consciousness? Perhaps we associate tunnels with the journey we have taken before our birth and will take upon death. Going through the dark tunnel allows an opportunity to reflect on our past deeds before reaching the light and our destination point for rebirth.
Tunnels, except for the entrance and exit points, never see the light of day. These dark and damp conditions create fertile ground for the imagination. These conditions can also be potent magnets for supernatural occurrences. Therefore, it is of no surprise that tunnels all over the world have long been associated with inexplicable phenomena. Let us take you on a journey to some of the most notorious tunnels in North America and Europe.
The Blue Ghost Tunnel
The Blue Ghost Tunnel of Thorold, Ontario is officially known as the Meritton Tunnel or the Grand Trunk Railway. The tunnel was designed as a passageway for vehicles below the third Welland Canal, which connected Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. Construction on the structure began in 1875 and was completed the following year. It is 665 feet (202.7 metres) long, 16 feet (4.88 metres) wide and 18 feet (5.49 metres) high.
Three people died during the construction, including a 14-year-old boy who was crushed by large stones. These deaths were only the beginning, more macabre tragedies were to follow.
On January 3, 1903, misinformation and poor visibility resulted in a collision between two large trains, each travelling at full speed. The firemen (who tend to the fire of a steam engine) on both trains died prolonged, gruesome deaths. The first fireman, Mr. Charles Horning, was crushed between the machinery but conscious and in agony. The second, Abraham Desult, was thrown into the boiler and suffered horrific burns.
The history of the Welland Canal also contributes to the ghastly aura around the tunnel. The area was originally a graveyard which had to be relocated to make way for the construction. Many family members of the deceased either could not afford the relocation costs, were not contactable, or had themselves passed away; the records showed that less than a third of the bodies were actually moved. The rest of the bodies were simply left there and submerged.
On August 1, 1928, a crane collapse resulted in the deaths of 10 men and serious injuries to another 22. Exactly two years later to the day, another engineering accident killed 8 men and injured 20 more. Both these incidents happened at Lock 6 of the canal. In total, over one hundred people lost their lives during the canal’s construction.
The tunnel got its new name from an explorer who reported seeing a blue mist moving inside. Others have reported hearing people talking, or even the sound of crying. Accidents, suicide, sabotage, and foul play have been linked to the Blue Ghost Tunnel’s dark and spooky history. Today, the Blue Ghost Tunnel, the most haunted in Canada, has been declared unsafe and is not open to visitors. However, this had not stopped the curious or daring from exploring it.
The Belchen Tunnel
The Belchen Tunnel is a 10,430 feet (3,180 metres) long motorway tunnel in Switzerland. This tunnel, which opened in 1966, is part of the A2 road that connects Eptingen of Basel to Hägendorf of Solothurn. A recent renovation completed in 2003 implemented safety features such as a new ventilation system and escape paths.
It was in 1980 that the first ghostly male hitchhiker was reported. He disappeared from the car he hitched the ride on, even though it was travelling at high speed. Then on 6 January 1981, the tabloid Blick published stories of sightings in and around the Belchen Tunnel, which other news media picked up, creating many phone enquiries to the police of Basel. Most reported sightings of a pale and frail old lady dressed in white, waiting at the shoulder of the road and requesting a ride to the other side of the tunnel. Those who stopped, assisted her into their cars, and spoke to her, found that she had disappeared half way through the tunnel. The travellers would ask if she was alright, due to her paleness. Then she would reply that she was not alright, and that something terrible was about to happen.
One such incident took place on September 23,1983 when two women lawyers saw the lady next to the tunnel and allowed her into their car. They said that she looked very pale, seemingly distressed, and wanted to go as fast as possible to the other side of the tunnel. When they asked her why, she said that something very dreadful was about to happen. When the ladies turned to look at her in the back seat, she had disappeared. She is now popularly known as the White Lady or “Weisse Frau”.
Currently an additional tube is being constructed under a joint-venture by three companies and is expected to be completed in year 2021. Herrenkencht manufactured the Single Shield TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) specifically for the additional tube and it is the currently the biggest of its kind at 45.6 feet (13.92 metres) diameter, 807.2 feet (75 metres) length and massive 2000 tonnes of weight. Upon completion of the new tube, the older two tubes will be refurbished, one after the other.
The Nada Tunnel
Nada Tunnel is located on Kentucky Route 77 in Powell County, Kentucky, USA. It is a historical limestone tunnel built in 1910-1911. It was built 900 feet (270 metres) long, 12 feet (3.7 metres) wide, and 13 feet (4 metres) high using dynamite, steam machinery, and hand tools. Built originally as a railway tunnel to transport lumber from the forest of Red River Valley to the sawmill in nearby Clay City, the rails have since been removed to make way for a single lane road traffic. The unlit tunnel is very narrow and dark, so it is not advisable for those travelling on foot or bicycle to pass through.
There have been two deaths associated with Nada Tunnel. The first death was a victim of a dynamite explosion during the construction of the tunnel. The second was that of a rock climber who fell to his death nearby. There have been reports of ghostly sightings of green orbs seen at night near the entrance of the tunnel. Some have heard moaning sounds coming from the limestone walls. Most believe that the dead had not left.
The Paw Paw Tunnel
The Paw Paw Tunnel, named after the Paw Paw trees that grow along the nearby ridges, is a canal tunnel built to shorten the travel distance along the River Potomac. It is 3,118 feet (950 metres) long and a part of the 184 mile long Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Allegheny County, Maryland, USA. Although it is known as a great engineering marvel, the construction of Paw Paw Tunnel exceeded the planned 2 years due to difficult conditions. Only 12 feet (3.7 metres) of tunnel could be built per day of construction. At the time, the working conditions were poor. Salaries were low and sometimes non-existent, due to the construction company’s struggling financial difficulties. The workers also suffered from diseases such as cholera. On many occasions, tension between opposing ethnic groups of migrant workers would result in bloody riots. As such, the construction started in 1836 was finally only completed in 1850. It was used primarily to transport coal from the Allegheny Mountains using canal boat tugged by a horse or mule. The whole construction cost $600,000 and almost put the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company into bankruptcy. After the closure of the company in 1924, the Paw Paw Tunnel became part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, and is maintained for public use. The Paw Paw Tunnel is one of the greatest engineering achievements of its day.
In the late 1890s, a canalier found the lock house at lock 64 2/3 burnt. When he went inside, he found the lock keeper with his skull crushed. The lock keeper had been a very friendly person and would often show his collection of rare coins to the canaliers who visit. He was murdered for those coins, and strangely enough, was avenged by them. Friends of the lock keeper who worked at a bar recognised the rare coins the robber used to pay for his drinks. The murderer was detained, and the coins served as evidence in his trial. He was sentenced to death, although he maintained his innocence until just before his execution, where he admitted his guilt.
The Paw Paw Tunnel naturally instills fear in the people traveling through the spooky, cold and dark passage. Given the bloody history of the race riots between rivalling construction workers and the murder of the lock keeper, the conditions seem ripe for paranormal activity. There are rumours of the murdered lock keeper roaming the tunnel. Paranormal investigators had reported sightings of the Paw Paw Tunnel as having strange shadows, orbs, weird noises, and even a headless apparition! This tunnel is definitely spooky and the gloomy history only adds to this feeling.
Satan’s Hollow or Hell’s Gate 666
Satan’s Hollow, located in the heavily wooded area of Blue Ash, Ohio, is actually a network of storm drainage tunnels. Although it is on private property, it does not deter devil worshippers from congregating in the Tunnels for their satanic rituals and dark activities. It is also known as Hell’s Gate 666: “the number of the beast” from the Bible. It was rumoured that a group of satanists managed to open the gate to hell while conducting their rituals in the ‘altar room’. It was also rumoured that a “shadow man” roams the tunnels, a demon assigned by the devil to guard the gate to his domain. Many claimed to have heard screams coming from the tunnels at night, and some have seen inexplicable things.
Many paranormal investigation teams have ventured into the tunnels in search of the truth behind the rumours. Some came away with evidence of the supernatural; some heard the voice of the devil himself. One paranormal team squeezed through the tight and narrow tunnels to finally find a spacious room with many strange ritualistic markings on the walls. They claimed to have heard footsteps approaching this room with its one entranceway, splashing through the water on the ground. The atmosphere changed around them. Using their “spirit box”, a device used to catch voices that normal ears aren’t able to hear, the voice, claiming himself to be the devil, intelligently answered twenty of the investigators’ questions. The team was also told of a man named Jack who was sacrificed in the tunnels and now roams its corridors. Due to the extremely dark nature of the answers, the team did not dare investigate further and left the tunnels. One thing is for sure, all who went into the tunnel came out afraid, except, of course, those who went in seeking to make the pact with the devil.
Satan’s Hollow – The Tunnel To Hell
Video by paranormal investigators who “spoke” with the entity who claimed himself to be the devil
The local enforcement officials are often called by the property owners to remove those who trespassed, but people still find a way to sate their curiosity. The officials constantly refute the claims of satanic rituals or sacrifices of any kind. They maintain that the eerie sounds are just echoes from people’s movements. True or not, this tunnel continues to draw thrill seekers, much to the ire of the owners. So, venture at your own risk. The law may get you, or worse, the devil himself.
Shanghai Tunnels
Famously known as the Shanghai Tunnels, the actual name is the Old Portland Underground. Situated in Portland, Oregon, USA, the tunnels were mainly interconnecting underground passageways from the Old Chinatown area to the main business district. Situated under many hotels and taverns, the tunnels connect to the waterfront of the Willamette River. They were originally meant for easy access from docked ships that were delivering goods to their customers. This delivery system helped to prevent congestions on the streets from deliveries made by trucks or vans.
During the 19th century, the newspapers frequently documented organised criminals taking advantage of the tunnels and secret underground passages.
Rumours of men and women kidnapped into slavery or prostitution abounded. The term “Shanghaied”, forcing someone into labour for the understaffed ships bound for the Orient, inspired the locals to call them the Shanghai Tunnels. The victims were drugged or intoxicated, thrown through the trap doors, otherwise known as deathtraps, to the floor below, lined with mattresses to soften the fall. They were then dragged to small holding cells within the tunnels and left there until buyers were found for them. During the Great Prohibition when alcohol was banned, the bars went underground, creating conditions conducive to Shanghaiing activities. According to researchers, about one thousand five hundred people were shanghaied annually through these tunnels. Those sold were never heard from again. Some were rumoured to have been eaten when the ships ran out of supplies.
With so many dark activities in these tunnels, it is not surprising that other worldly activities have been reported. Now there are tours held throughout the tunnels; guides regale the visitors of tales of the past and warned them of the resident ghosts. One such ghost is a lady dressed in white named Nina who fell to her death down an elevator shaft. Another is of a young nine-year-old boy named Joshua who earned his wage emptying chamber pots. Some have reported hearing rough whispers of a male telling them to “get out”, and at other times, “stay”. There have been photographs of orbs taken in and around the tunnels, as well as ghostly apparitions.
Haunted Portland – Shanghai Tunnels (Americ’as Most Haunted)
A tour Old Town Pizza where paranormal the ghost of Nina had been reported to have made her rounds and going into the basement tunnels
Dunham Recreation Facility
Dunham Recreational Facility, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, was originally a tuberculosis hospital from 1897 to 1973, where patients checked in but never left. Set on 115 acres with 14 buildings, it was America’s first municipal tuberculosis hospital and catered to 600 patients with 15 doctors, 150 nurses, 250 employees and 12 technicians at its peak. Known also as the “great white plague”, tuberculosis had killed more Americans than cancer or heart disease during the 19th century. This hospital became known as a place to die, as most of their patients only sought treatment at advanced stages of their illness.
The tunnels located under the hospital were built as a way to transport the dead to the incinerator located near the laundry and boiler area. This was to avoid an audience during the transfer of the bodies and to keep patients’ morale up. The bodies, mattresses, clothes, and anything else that might have been contaminated while they underwent treatment were all incinerated together. Over the years, thousands and thousands of patients ended up in the incinerator. Staff and guests of the present recreational centre claim paranormal experiences.
Kenny Riddell, a former mechanic who worked at the Dunham Recreational Facility, was fascinated with the history of his workplace. He uncovered old photos, newspaper archives, and even blueprints of the buildings. Some parts of the tunnels had been sealed off, and staff were afraid to enter because they felt unseen presences watching their every move. Even worse, the staff have felt cold spots, unexplained noises, doors closing, and sometimes caught sight of movements out of the corner of their eyes. During his exploration, Riddell took some photos with strange orbs or anomalies, including a figure of light in pitch black surroundings using a camera with clean lens. Riddell later found an old photo of the Dunham Hospital nurses which the figure of light seemed to resemble.
Conclusion
With our cities becoming more congested, we can only build upwards or downwards. As such, many underground tunnels are dug to cater to our transportation needs, like those dug for underground trains or motorways. Many tunnels built in the past have been abandoned; they outlived their purpose and became rundown. Although venturing into an abandoned tunnel in the middle of nowhere is not a prospect that appeals to everyone, there are those who seek the experience with a sense of adventure and fascination for the other worldly.
If you are one of the latter and wish to prove the existence of the paranormal, then you should be prepared mentally and physically to counter any negative spirits you may encounter. Always keep in mind to be respectful of the entities that reside there, as it is you who are intruding into their space. Don’t give them cause to harm you, and we would advise you to leave immediately if you feel uncomfortable at anytime. A ghost was once a person like us, and it is due to its karma that it is suffering in such state of formlessness, which may be for a very long time.
Should you or anyone that you know receive harm, as in spirit disturbance or even possession, we will strongly recommend the practice of enlightened Dorje Shugden by reciting his mantra as many times as you can. His mantra is highly effective and the results swift, as he has very close affinity with us in these times. Dorje Shugden is the emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri, and when the mantra is recited, the ghosts will be able to see Dorje Shugden to receive the blessings and be pacified.
Mantra of Dorje Shugden:
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SOHA
The mantra is the form of Dorje Shugden in sound. By reciting his mantra, you will be protected from any form of harm by malevolent entities, and receive immediate help to your problems or obstacles. So be sure to shield yourself with the knowledge of the Dorje Shugden mantra before you go hunting for paranormal activities. Dorje Shugden practice is extremely efficacious even for our daily activities, such as enhancing our wisdom or intelligence, protection in our travels to and from work, school, or on holidays, and promotes our spirituality. Recite his mantra daily and you may just feel his swift care immediately.
Sources
- Mortimer, Abraham, Nightmares Fear Factor, Niagara Falls Canada: Haunted Niagara: Blue Ghost Tunnel (Part 2), 20 March 2018, https://www.nightmaresfearfactory.com/blog/haunted-niagara-blue-ghost-tunnel-part-2, (accessed: 23 February 2019)
- Hamilton Paranormal, Blue Ghost Tunnel, St. Catharines, Ontario, History Page, http://hamiltonparanormal.com/tunnel.html (accessed: 23 February 2019)
- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Belchen Tunnel, 4 August 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belchen_Tunnel (accessed: 1 March 2019)
- Dangerous Roads, the world’s most spectacular roads, Belchen Tunnel, https://www.dangerousroads.org/europe/switzerland/4378-belchen-tunnel.html (accessed: 1 March 2019)
- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Nada Tunnel, 11 February 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nada_Tunnel (accessed: 1 March 2019)
- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Paw Paw Tunnel, 5 July 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paw_Paw_Tunnel (accessed: 2 March 2019)
- Swancer, Brent, Mysterious Universe, Bizarre Stories of Mysterious Portals to Hell, 23 November 2016, https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2016/11/bizarre-stories-of-mysterious-portals-to-hell/ (accessed: 7 March 2019)
- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Shanghai Tunnels, 7 December 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_tunnels (accessed: 8 March 2019)
- Mellema, Valerie, Legends of America, Portland Underground: Shanghai Tunnels, March 2008, https://www.legendsofamerica.com/or-shanghai/ (accessed: 8 March 2019)
- strange+photography=strangography, Orbs, Ghosts, Fog and Other Mysterious Photographs, 26 April 2007, https://strangography.wordpress.com/2007/04/26/strange-photography-strangography-ghosts-orbs-anything-else-mysterious/ (accessed: 9 March 2019)
- Brady, George & Cathy, Hamilton Paranormal, 17 January 2003, http://hamiltonparanormal.com/tunnel26.html (accessed: 25 February 2019)
- Bekaert Maccaferri Underground Solutions, In Bechen Tunnel, 21 June 2017, https://www.facebook.com/bekaertmaccaferri/photos/a.424076621050451/691851917606252/?type=3&theater (accessed: 1 March 2019)
- Wikimedia Commons, Nada Tunnel from inside, 10 February 2012, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nada_Tunnel_from_inside.JPG (accessed: 1 March 2019)
- Dangerous Roads, the world’s most spectacular roads, Nada Tunnel, https://www.dangerousroads.org/europe/switzerland/4378-belchen-tunnel.html (accessed: 1 March 2019)
- Jamie, Maryland, This Haunted Tunnel In Maryland Is Not For The Faint Of Heart, September 04, 2016, https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/maryland/haunted-tunnel-md/ (accessed: 3 March 2019)
- Koystinen, Ksu, Paw Paw Tunnel, 18 August 2018, http://www.ksukoystinen.com/stories/2016/8/17/paw-paw-tunnel (accessed: 7 March 2019)
- “Believe” A Paranormal Experience, Satan’s Hollow – The Tunnel To Hell, 22 October 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=aLoE0n5iu3g, (accessed: 7 March 2019)
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For more interesting information:
- Dorje Shugden – The Protector of Our Time
- Spooky Haunted Hotel Experiences
- Ghosts in the Pub
- Which Dorje Shugden Style Is Your Favourite?
- 700 Meet A Buddha (七百人幸睹佛现)
- The Incredible Legend of Hoichi the Earless Minstrel
- 10 Creepy Mysteries You Haven’t Heard Of
- 10 Paranormal Pictures!
- Helping ghosts and others through mantras
- REAL FOOTAGE OF GHOSTS!!
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Tunnels are echoey, dark and often damp are where the perfect places for ghostly encounters. That’s why so many tunnels are said to be haunted. They’re more than a little creepy as they are mostly abandoned railway tunnel with histories as former dwellings, burial grounds and so forth.
Interesting to know all about those most haunted rather creepy tunnels across the globe. Wow ….it never come across me that there so many of them . Reading through these post and seeing those creepy pictures tells all some still continue to echo today. The legend behind this haunting of each tunnel really will scare people away yet many tunnel still carries trains today. Many reports said that strange lights, ghostly appearances and, most often, groans of agony.
Thank you Rinpoche for this interesting read.
It is quite common to hear sightings of ghosts in tunnels. Tunnels are usually damp and the sunlight can’t reach inside. There is no air circulation, therefore the negative energy can remain in tunnels for a long time. When we drive through tunnels and feel uncomfortable, we can recite some mantras to calm our minds and protect ourselves. Dorje Shugden mantra will be a good one to learn up for protection like this:
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SOHA
To me the word “tunnel” sounded spooky and eerie. During my schooling days, I have heard of an underground tunnel starting from my school lead to a church which is opposites. An old schoolmate told me that, her grandparents used this passage as a hiding place during Japanese war. Unsure of any criminal activities involved before that but the passage was sealed after the war.
We may hear news of accidents, new tunnels being haunted or seeing image roaming around or near the tunnel. Such incidents might cause by entities that been offended during construction or wandering spirits that looking for “replacement”.
Therefore, it is very important we show respect and compassion to them. Thus, we should be grateful and showing respect to the environment and taking good care of it instead of destroy and damage. Hence, we can appease these beings and bless them by performing puja too.
Tunnels can be claustrophobic, scary or mysterious, depending on who the person is. For those with the ability to see the unseen, tunnels can be really scary as tunnels are well known to claim lives during its construction. One of the reasons why there are accidents during the construction is because the act of construction is disturbing and damaging the abode of beings that have already resided there. These beings could be Nagas or land deities. When humans violate the environment, Nagas are known to show their displeasure by manifesting accidents or sicknesses. Hence why it is always a good idea to have these beings appeased before construction of such infrastructure. A good way is to perform a Naga Puja or land blessing puja. These pujas does not mean we are worshipping them but as a sign of respect that we seek their blessings. After all, humans are actually the ones disturbing their homes and peaceful surroundings. Who wouldn’t be angry when outsiders come into our homes uninvited and damaging it, right?
More about Naga Puja: https://www.vajrasecrets.com/naga-puja
More about land blessing puja: https://www.vajrasecrets.com/trusol-consecration-puja-fund
Thank you for sharing this interesting article. I have seen videos on YouTube about The Gateway To Hell and hearing strange sounds that are not heard when the YouTubers were recording and only heard during editing. Unseen beings like dark and eerie places away from daylight such as the above,caves, old abandon buildings and etc. Both the Known and the Unknown are feared. It’s based on the way you see these kind of things. Thank you with folded hands_/\_
There is something common of most of the underground tunnels; i.e. dark due to lack of sunlight and damp conditions, which create a thick atmosphere and a fertile ground for all things that need a shelter from sunlight. It is no wonder that tunnels are home to spirits and unusual beings. Uncannily, tunnels bear resemblance to the state of bardo in Tibetan Buddhism. Bardo is the intermediate, transitional, or liminal passage between death and rebirth; it is the time (or state) where non of our worldly accumulated possession matters but only our karma, Our good karma will offer the opportunity to liberation and our bad karma will open doors to less desirable rebirth, like the hell realm, hungry ghost realm or the animal realm. Thank you for this article.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
They are once human as well.
They suffering are tremondous.
Understanding dharma is very important.
May all the spirits in the tunnel able to take rebirth and be dharma and be release from suffering.
May Dorje Shudgen able to guide them.??????
Entering tunnels especially those that is lengthy and often dark, we naturally feel the fear arise. For myself, its the fear of being trap if something were to happen inside. I have heard of a few hauntings but luckily have not experienced any and hope not to in the future. There are quite a number of haunted tunnels in the island of Taiwan that I had watched shows on and now learning more of the Western ones makes me realise that experiences are the same no matter where we are. Where there are bloodshed from intentional or otherwise, the spirits may be trapped by their pain, anger and attachment. May all who are trapped learn to let go and to take rebirth in the better realms with opportunity to meet with the Dharma.
Tunnels are itself quite spooky due to extreme low lighting and damp conditions, it is not supressed that some of the tunnel is haunted. Reading those scary ,creepy stories of haunted tunnels opened my knowledge of some amazing tunnels in the world. Because of the way the tunnels are constructed, they echo in such a way that there maybe some unreported death during the construction. Those spirits are trapped , in long run they are not happy, so much so the place will be haunted.
Thank you Rinpoche for this interesting scary stories of tunnels that were haunted.