Construction of this tunnel began in March 1877 for the Columbus and Gallipolis Railway. The company ran out of funds before it was completed and were forced to sale. The Ohio and West Virginia Railway purchased the unfinished line on August 26, 1878. Work through this rugged area was expensive and slow, which delayed the completion. By July 1879, only 200 feet of the tunnel had been blasted away. Around that time, the Columbus and Hocking Valley Railway purchased the line. This tunnel was finally completed under their management. In August 1881, the Columbus, Hocking Valley and Toledo Railway took control of the line. In February 1899, the company was reorganized as the Hocking Valley Railway. Finally, in 1910, the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad purchased the line.

This section of the line was primarily used to transport coal. The tracks were abandoned after the local coal mines were exhausted. This 896 foot long tunnel was named after the Campbell Family. Harrison Campbell owned nearly 500 acres of land in this area.