The story
The Moonville Tunnel sits deep in the woods of Vinton County, Ohio, near Zaleski, the most visible remnant of Moonville, a tiny coal-and-iron railway settlement that grew up in the mid-19th century and faded away by the early 20th, until almost nothing but the brick-and-stone tunnel remained. The isolated rail line through the area saw several fatal accidents over the decades, railway workers and residents struck by trains in the dark cut, and these deaths feed a long tradition of ghost stories, most famously a lantern-carrying figure, often called the 'brakeman' or 'Moonville ghost', said to appear swinging a light along the old grade. The tunnel is now reached on foot along a rail-trail and has no facilities or lighting. Visitors should take care on the uneven, isolated terrain and avoid the site alone after dark. These paranormal accounts should be presented as enduring local legend rather than fact. Trail access points and conditions should be confirmed before publishing.