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NS - Allegheny Tunnel

Blair County, Pennsylvania, and Cambria County, Pennsylvania

Photos 

West Portal

Photo taken by Jodi Christman on 7/22/2011

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BH Photo #208562

Map 

Description 

It is an example of a mid-19th century railroad tunnel featuring ashlar masonry portals and a brick arch lining. Upon completion it was the longest railroad tunnel in America, allowing railcars to pass for the first time from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh without the use of inclined planes. As an integral part of the development of the Pennsylvania Railroad, it is associated with significant development in the transportation history of America. Herman Haupt made significant contributions to the fields of railroad, tunnel and bridge engineering.

-- Historic American Engineering Record

Facts 

Overview
Tunnel under Allegheny Mountains on Norfolk Southern Railway (formerly PRR)
Location
Gallitzin, Blair County, Pennsylvania, and Cambria County, Pennsylvania
Status
Open to traffic
History
Constructed 1851-854, Reconstructed in 1941, Adapted for COFC trains in 1994-1995
Builders
- Edward Miller (Co-Chief Engineer)
- Herman Haupt of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Co-Chief Engineer)
- John Rutter & Son (Contractors)
- Thomas Reilly (Engineer)
- Thomas Seabrook (Principle Asst. Engineer)
Railroads
- Norfolk Southern Railway (NS)
- Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)
Design
It is an example of a mid-19th century railroad tunnel featuring ashlar masonry portals and a brick arch lining.
Dimensions
Total length: 3,605.0 ft. (0.7 mi.)
Deck width: 21.6 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 19.4 ft.
Also called
NS - Summit Tunnel
NS - Gallitzin Tunnel
Approximate latitude, longitude
+40.48154, -78.55074   (decimal degrees)
40°28'54" N, 78°33'03" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
17/707601/4484087 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Cresson
Elevation
2167 ft. above sea level
Inventory number
BH 49338 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

19th Century (6,606)
Blair County, Pennsylvania (49)
Built 1854 (32)
Built during 1850s (361)
Cambria County, Pennsylvania (64)
Edward Miller (3)
Gallitzin, Pennsylvania (4)
Herman Haupt (2)
John Rutter & Son (1)
Norfolk Southern Railway (1,507)
 Open (37,872)
Owned by railroad (10,782)
Pennsylvania (4,703)
Pennsylvania Railroad (548)
Railroad (14,138)
Thomas Reilly (1)
Thomas Seabrook (1)
Total length over 2500 feet (794)
Tunnel (1,065)

Update Log 

  • October 7, 2014: HAER photos posted by Dave King
  • June 25, 2013: Updated by Luke Harden: Added categories "Norfolk Southern Railway", "Pennsylvania Railroad"
  • June 25, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Removed category "Ballasted Deck"
  • November 20, 2012: Updated by Daniel Hopkins: Added category "Railroad"
  • August 14, 2011: Added by Jodi Christman

Sources 

  • Jodi Christman - masterofchaos [at] outlook [dot] com
  • HAER PA-515 - Pennsylvania Railroad, Allegheny Tunnel, Beneath Allegheny Mountain, east of Railroad Street, Gallitzin, Cambria County, PA

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