Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Hidden in Johnson Canyon near Williams, Arizona, Johnson Tunnel and the site of Welch Station tell the story of the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad's push west. We explore the tunnel, railroad history, and an 1881 construction accident uncovered through contemporary newspaper accounts.
⛽ Help fuel the Cactus Atlas by buying us a cup of coffee (or in Slim's case, a cup of gasoline!): buymeacoffee.com/cactusatlas
Johnson Tunnel in northern Arizona sits along one of the most important and demanding corridors of early western railroad expansion — the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad line that would later become part of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway system.
In this episode of Cactus Atlas, we explore Johnson Tunnel and the nearby Welch Station area near Williams, Arizona, tracing the physical remains of the railroad as it pushed through Johnson Canyon. This route represents the extreme engineering effort required to carve a transcontinental rail line through rugged terrain in the late 19th century.
While researching this location, contemporary 1881 newspaper accounts revealed a tragic construction incident that occurred during the tunnel’s excavation. Known in period reporting as “Simms’ Tunnel,” the site of Johnson Tunnel was the location of a premature black powder blast. The explosion killed seven workers and seriously injured three others, marking one of the early recorded construction disasters along this railroad corridor.
Today, the tunnel and surrounding landscape remain quiet, but the historical record reveals a far more violent and costly story behind its construction.
This video combines on-site exploration with historical research to reconstruct the forgotten events tied to this section of the ATSF railroad line in northern Arizona.
Cactus Atlas explores abandoned places, railroad history, campgrounds, and forgotten infrastructure across the American West.
SIDETRACK ADVENTURES - youtu.be/_aoqSwyZpJA
VIDEO FILMED: 04/15/2026
▬▬ L O C A T I O N I N F O ▬▬
⚪ WELCH STATION: trains.com/ctr/railroad-stories/welch-santa-fes-arizona-outpost
⚪ JOHNSON TUNNEL - legendsofamerica.com/jh-johnsoncanyon
⚪ Directions to JOHNSON TUNNEL Parking - maps.app.goo.gl/RyCdrDewVgGajPKMA
▬▬ T I M E S T A M P S ▬▬
00:00 WELCH STATION
08:19 THE ROAD
11:34 THE HIKE
21:21 THE TUNNEL
23:53 THE HISTORY
▬▬ L I N K S ▬▬
⚪ Gear we use - amazon.com/shop/thecactusatlas
⚪ onX Offroad App - alnk.to/gKQ0FLG
⚪ See where we've been - google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1r2ZDO125o_NU7fUt0GPYfZeMKhHqYX3D&usp=sharing
⚪ Music from Epidemic Sound - epidemicsound.com/referral/6sihr2
(As an Amazon Associate and onX Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases.)
_____________________________________________________________
✅ Find us on Instagram, Bluesky, Threads, & Facebook - @cactusatlas.
✅ Check out our website - cactusatlas.com
Welcome to the Cactus Atlas! We are Glenn and Amy and invite you to join us as we visit all sorts of locations across the American West. We tour both natural and man-made attractions.
Our base of operations is in the Phoenix, AZ area. We do a lot of hiking, day trips, and campground reviews and hope that we will be a great resource if you are planning a trip to the American West. We also hope to delight you with our exciting adventures!
Hidden in Johnson Canyon near Williams, Arizona, Johnson Tunnel and the site of Welch Station tell the story of the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad's push west. We explore the tunnel, railroad history, and an 1881 construction accident uncovered through contemporary newspaper accounts.
⛽ Help fuel the Cactus Atlas by buying us a cup of coffee (or in Slim's case, a cup of gasoline!): buymeacoffee.com/cactusatlas
Johnson Tunnel in northern Arizona sits along one of the most important and demanding corridors of early western railroad expansion — the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad line that would later become part of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway system.
In this episode of Cactus Atlas, we explore Johnson Tunnel and the nearby Welch Station area near Williams, Arizona, tracing the physical remains of the railroad as it pushed through Johnson Canyon. This route represents the extreme engineering effort required to carve a transcontinental rail line through rugged terrain in the late 19th century.
While researching this location, contemporary 1881 newspaper accounts revealed a tragic construction incident that occurred during the tunnel’s excavation. Known in period reporting as “Simms’ Tunnel,” the site of Johnson Tunnel was the location of a premature black powder blast. The explosion killed seven workers and seriously injured three others, marking one of the early recorded construction disasters along this railroad corridor.
Today, the tunnel and surrounding landscape remain quiet, but the historical record reveals a far more violent and costly story behind its construction.
This video combines on-site exploration with historical research to reconstruct the forgotten events tied to this section of the ATSF railroad line in northern Arizona.
Cactus Atlas explores abandoned places, railroad history, campgrounds, and forgotten infrastructure across the American West.
SIDETRACK ADVENTURES - youtu.be/_aoqSwyZpJA
VIDEO FILMED: 04/15/2026
▬▬ L O C A T I O N I N F O ▬▬
⚪ WELCH STATION: trains.com/ctr/railroad-stories/welch-santa-fes-arizona-outpost
⚪ JOHNSON TUNNEL - legendsofamerica.com/jh-johnsoncanyon
⚪ Directions to JOHNSON TUNNEL Parking - maps.app.goo.gl/RyCdrDewVgGajPKMA
▬▬ T I M E S T A M P S ▬▬
00:00 WELCH STATION
08:19 THE ROAD
11:34 THE HIKE
21:21 THE TUNNEL
23:53 THE HISTORY
▬▬ L I N K S ▬▬
⚪ Gear we use - amazon.com/shop/thecactusatlas
⚪ onX Offroad App - alnk.to/gKQ0FLG
⚪ See where we've been - google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1r2ZDO125o_NU7fUt0GPYfZeMKhHqYX3D&usp=sharing
⚪ Music from Epidemic Sound - epidemicsound.com/referral/6sihr2
(As an Amazon Associate and onX Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases.)
_____________________________________________________________
✅ Find us on Instagram, Bluesky, Threads, & Facebook - @cactusatlas.
✅ Check out our website - cactusatlas.com
Welcome to the Cactus Atlas! We are Glenn and Amy and invite you to join us as we visit all sorts of locations across the American West. We tour both natural and man-made attractions.
Our base of operations is in the Phoenix, AZ area. We do a lot of hiking, day trips, and campground reviews and hope that we will be a great resource if you are planning a trip to the American West. We also hope to delight you with our exciting adventures!
