Questions about Hoosac Tunnel

Here are some questions:(wow that was a stupid and boring introduction)
1. Is the Hoosac Tunnel really haunted?
2. What is so special about the Hoosac Tunnel?
3. Do trains still regularly run through the tunnel?
4. Why is the tunnel called the Hoosac Tunnel?

1. Sorry, I'm not up on the paranormal.
2. Longest tunnel in the world when opened, still the longest rail tunnel in the East.
3. Yes, several a day.
4. "Hoosac" is a native American name that has been applied to a number of things in the area, including the mountain that the tunnel runs under.

There is a wealth of useful and fascinating information on the internet regarding The Tunnel. Go to Google and type in "hoosac tunnel" and you'll get lots of reading material.

check out my website for some answers:

http://www.hoosactunnel.net

as for the more direct answers:

1) depends on if you believe in ghosts. I have been in and around it plenty of times. I have never seen any ghosts, but the tunnel itself feels very eerie.
2)First commerical use of nitro in the US. It never was the longest tunnel in the world, but it was the longest in the western hemisphere until 1916 when the moffat tunnel surpassed it. (The one tunnel that was longer was the 8.5 mile long mount Cenis tunnel finished in 1871 in Switzerland). It was an engineering masterpiece, 9/16 inch misalignment over 4 74/100 a mile. It also nearly bankrupted the state, sever years after construction was finished half the state budget went to paying it off.
3)Yes it is still active. There is almost always one that goes through in the afternoon on weekdays, then there are others randomly throughout the day.
4) Hoosac Mountain, which was local indian name. Generally in Algonquian it means "place of rocks", but others seem to believe it to mean "forbidden".

Besides all the facts, figures, and lists above, go there and find out for yourself. It is one of the most fascinating, beautiful, spellbinding, remote, accessable, neatest, mystifying, satisfying, places I have ever been. And I have gone out of my way several times just to experience it. The west portal in North Adams is great, but the "real Hoosic" is the east portal!