Big Bend Tunnel East

Big Bend Tunnel East is a location which lies on the Red Line in the Cranberry Bog region of Appalachia. It is the eastern entrance to the rest of the Big Bend Tunnel. It is the location of a compound inhabited by the Blue Ridge Caravan Company. Notable inhabitants include Vinny Costa who organizes the caravans through the tunnel, the merchants Eugenie, Carver Timmerman, and Rudy Fernandez, and Blue Ridge guards Kieran Kennedy, Libby Wen, and Aries.

Background
After the war, many survivors took shelter in the tunnels. When the Brotherhood of Steel was established in Appalachia, they set up a base at the eastern entrance to the tunnel. They attempted to assist survivors but were ultimately pushed back by the Scorched, abandoning their camp in summer of 2095. Big Bend Tunnel East was also part of the Fire Breathers' final mission, and the corpse of Sgt. Holstein remains as a testament to their efforts.

The Blue Ridge Caravan Company established an outpost in the location afterward, using the tunnel to send merchant caravans from one side of Appalachia to the other, crossing the Savage Divide.

Layout
Big Bend Tunnel East is located near Watoga in the Cranberry Bog. A rail line runs west to east through the Blue Ridge compound, in which reside several Blue Ridge Caravan ranch hands. On the easternmost side of the compound is a boxcar containing the corpse of Sgt Holstein. Immediately within the compound walls is a pen area containing multiple hay bales and brahmin which can be milked.

The rail line continues west through the compound, passing under a sign for the Blue Ridge Caravan company and through a second wall. Past the wall is an open area, in the northern part of which lies two power armor stations, a tent containing four beds, a locked armory, and a cooking station. Next to the power armor stations is a raised structure that houses an armor workbench, a weapons workbench, as well as Knight Reische's terminal.

Vinny Costa resides in the workshop area and can be spoken to in order to start the event quest Riding Shotgun. The western side of the compound is a cliff face which is located at the eastern entrance of the Big Bend Tunnel.

Notable loot

 * Thom and Molly - Note, on the table next to Knight Reische's terminal.
 * Holstein's code - Note, on the corpse of Sgt. Holstein, in the first train cars just outside the defenses of the Blue Ridge Caravan Company.
 * Dear Uncle K. - Note, underneath a bed inside the large tent.
 * Power armor chassis with T-series armor pieces - At a power armor station in a Brotherhood compound outside the tunnel.
 * T-45 right leg - Between the power armor station and the wooden box with a potential power armor mod plan, on the ground.
 * Potential power armor mod plan - Near the power armor chassis, on (or submerged in) a wooden box to the left.
 * Potential armor mod plan - On the metal shelf facing the armor workbench.

Appearances
Big Bend Tunnel East appears only