Fredericksburg and Northern Railway

After the disappointment of the SA&AP building a connector line only as far as Kerrville, businessmen in Fredericksburg began to formulate a plan to raise capital to build a line connecting with the SA&AP.

While building the line, a 920 foot (280m) long tunnel was chosen over switchbacks to accommodate a rapid elevation change and difficult terrain.

The F&N line continued to operate until World War II, but failed to turn enough profit to pay off the original debt incurred in 1917 for its purchase.

[4] On July 25, 1942, the United States War Department approved the application of owner Dr. O. H. Judkins to cease operations of the railway.

The tunnel is now home for up to three million Mexican free-tailed bats and 3,000 cave myotis from May through October.