Dassiedeur Tunnel

About Dassiedeur Tunnel

The Dassiedeur Tunnel is an abandoned railway tunnel built in 1879 by contractor Mr W. Forrest and completed in 1880 between the towns of Cradock and Cookhouse in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Constructed with stone-cut masonry, the structure measures 271 metres in length and features small safety alcoves built into its walls to shield track workers from passing traffic. Due to a steep 40-to-1 track incline leading up to the site, an additional steam locomotive was permanently stationed nearby to assist trains with climbing and braking. The tunnel was decommissioned and its steel tracks were removed after the last train passed through in 1957, following the construction of a newer, flatter bypass route. Located on a gravel farm road on the western bank of the Great Fish River near the N10 national road, the tunnel features a sandy floor that remains accessible to vehicles, though a high-clearance 4x4 is recommended due to the rough terrain and the risk of post-rain washouts.