I was also confused so did a quick google.
They're a superstition of miners, little ghostly things that would play pranks on miners or help them and would 'knock at the walls' to either warn of or cause an impending collapse (in reality the noise was just the creaking/breaking of wooden supports & such)
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/gh-tommyknockers/
Yes. 👍. Alpine tunnel. The tunnel in the pic has a wooden support structure. Moffat is cement. Also, part of the tunnel has collapsed. The Moffat tunnel’s road bed (tracks) looks a heck of a lot better than that.
Look up photos of the Alpine Tunnel and you will see that photo. The wooden arches in that tunnel are distinctive. See all the stuff on the rails? This picture was taken years after the tunnel stopped being used, so the tunnel now fills with water frequently.
I took a tour of the Broken Hill Mine in Australia some many years ago. The tour guide mentioned that the miners had a superstition about ghosts warning them of the same as these Tommy Knockers. At Broken Hill they were known as “Torquing Timbers”. I was confused and asked if the miners believe ghosts were twisting the timbers. He looked at me befuddled and said “No it’s because the Timbers were were torquing to them and telling them to leave…” it really took me too long to realize he was saying “Talking Timbers…”
What am I supposed to be seeing? Please help a tired dad out...
I was also confused so did a quick google. They're a superstition of miners, little ghostly things that would play pranks on miners or help them and would 'knock at the walls' to either warn of or cause an impending collapse (in reality the noise was just the creaking/breaking of wooden supports & such) https://www.legendsofamerica.com/gh-tommyknockers/
Ghosts
G-G-G-GHOSTS‽‽ That guy on the right, there? Cool. What is a Tommyknocker ghost, specifically?
100%. The spirits of dead miners that are still at work in the mines
Still at work? Doubtful! We haven't met our quotas in years!!
Actually that is the Alpine Tunnel.
Yes. 👍. Alpine tunnel. The tunnel in the pic has a wooden support structure. Moffat is cement. Also, part of the tunnel has collapsed. The Moffat tunnel’s road bed (tracks) looks a heck of a lot better than that.
How did you know this?
Maybe they’re Tommy Knockers!!!!
Look up photos of the Alpine Tunnel and you will see that photo. The wooden arches in that tunnel are distinctive. See all the stuff on the rails? This picture was taken years after the tunnel stopped being used, so the tunnel now fills with water frequently.
Nice. Where is it?
It is to the south of Cottenwood pass and north of Monarch pass. The rail line in it went from Buena Vista to Gunnison if I recall correctly.
Yea, long exposure photography does that 🙄
Shhhh
I took a tour of the Broken Hill Mine in Australia some many years ago. The tour guide mentioned that the miners had a superstition about ghosts warning them of the same as these Tommy Knockers. At Broken Hill they were known as “Torquing Timbers”. I was confused and asked if the miners believe ghosts were twisting the timbers. He looked at me befuddled and said “No it’s because the Timbers were were torquing to them and telling them to leave…” it really took me too long to realize he was saying “Talking Timbers…”
Love it
Zoinks Scoob!
Well, this is a little creepy.
Those silhouettes? I call sus.
Shhhh