"The first tunnel was built near present Mile Post 317 under White Rock Mountain at Caldwell, W. Va. The line makes a sweeping curve to the west around this hill through the 462-foot White Rock Tunnel. The tunnel was built through sandstone and soft shale on a compound curve ranging from less than two degrees to almost six degrees. At the time, the west portal was largely inaccessible and work progressed from the east portal only. Work was begun in 1871 and completed the next year. It had a descending westbound grade of .57%. The tunnel received no arch or lining before it was turned into the present-day cut at Tunnel Hill during the 1890s installation of double-track."

• Early topographical maps of 1887 and 1891 shows the tunnel at Caldwell precisely where the "Caldwell Cut" is now.

• A book titled "Route and Resorts of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Illustrated - 1878 ...way R. Howard Gen. Pass. & Ticket Agent, J.C. Dame Southern Agent". This book is a collective assortment of advertising for resorts across Virginia and West Virginia from the C&O Railway. On page 19 it states the following under the heading of "Caldwell Station". Although this small article does not have any mention of White Rock Tunnel it does mention "The railroad line tunnels the steep mountain locally known as the White Rock...)(Full desciption found here).