Gallitzin Tunnels facts for kids
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| Conrail 6169 leads a westbound train through the west portal of the Gallitzin Tunnel in 1993. At right, the west portal of the Allegheny Tunnel. | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Location | Gallitzin, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 40°28′53″N 78°33′01″W / 40.48139°N 78.55028°W |
| Status | Gallitzin Tunnel out of service 1995; Allegheny Tunnel (two tracks) and New Portage Tunnel (one track) in service |
| Operation | |
| Closed | Gallitzin Tunnel 1995, New Portage Tunnel 1857-1890 |
| Owner | Norfolk Southern Railway |
| Operator | Norfolk Southern Railway |
| Technical | |
| Track length | Gallitzin Tunnel 3,612 feet, Allegheny Tunnel 3,612 feet, New Portage Tunnel 1,620 feet |
| No. of tracks | Gallitzin Tunnel 0 (1 track 1904-1995), Allegheny Tunnel 2 (1 track 1904-1995), New Portage Tunnel 1 (2 tracks 1898-1971) |
| Gauge | 4 feet, 8 and one-half inches (56.5 inches) |
| Highest elevation | Gallitzin and Allegheny Tunnels 2,167 feet (at west tunnel portals), New Portage Tunnel 2,198 feet (at AR tower west of west tunnel portal) |
The Gallitzin Tunnels are three railway tunnels located next to each other in Gallitzin, Pennsylvania. They cut through the Allegheny Mountains in western Pennsylvania. These tunnels were built a long time ago, in 1854, 1855, and 1902. The Pennsylvania Railroad created them as part of a big railway line that crossed the state. This line also includes the famous Horseshoe Curve nearby.
Over the years, the tunnels have been owned by different railway companies. These include Penn Central Transportation Company, Conrail, and now the Norfolk Southern Railway. Today, Norfolk Southern freight trains and Amtrak Pennsylvanian passenger trains use the tunnels. However, the tunnel named Gallitzin Tunnel is no longer in use.
Contents
History of the Gallitzin Tunnels
Building the Tunnels
The first tunnel was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad. It was constructed between 1851 and 1854. This tunnel is the middle one of the three. It was first called Summit Tunnel. Today, it is known as the Allegheny Tunnel. It is about 1,100 meters (3,600 feet) long. Its elevation is about 660 meters (2,165 feet) above mean sea level.
The second tunnel was built by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This happened between 1852 and 1855. It was part of the New Portage Railroad. This tunnel is the southernmost of the three. In 1857, the Pennsylvania Railroad bought the New Portage Railroad. They then used the name "Allegheny" for their own "Summit" tunnel. The Pennsylvania Railroad stopped using the New Portage Tunnel soon after. But in the 1890s, it was made wider for two tracks. It then became the main route for trains traveling east.
The third tunnel, called the Gallitzin Tunnel, was started in 1902. It opened for use in 1904. It is located right next to the Allegheny Tunnel, on its north side.
What Happened Later
In the early 1990s, Conrail made the Allegheny and New Portage Tunnels bigger. They used money from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for this project. The goal was to allow double-stack container trains to pass through. These trains carry two shipping containers stacked on top of each other.
The work was done on one tunnel at a time. First, the Portage Tunnel was enlarged. It opened for eastbound trains in 1993. Then, the Allegheny Tunnel was made wider. It was changed from its original size to fit two tracks. These tracks could be used for double-stack trains going in either direction. This work finished in September 1995. After that, the Gallitzin Tunnel was no longer used because it was not made bigger.
Today, Amtrak's Pennsylvanian passenger trains travel through the tunnels that are still in service.
Gallitzin Tunnels Park & Museum
Near the Gallitzin Tunnel, which is now closed, there is a special place. It is called the Gallitzin Tunnels Park & Museum. At the park, you can see a restored 1942 Pennsylvania caboose. A caboose is the last car on a freight train. You can look inside it.
The museum building is across the street. It has many interesting exhibits. These exhibits teach about the area's railroad history. They also show the industrial, social, and religious heritage of the region. There is a gift shop where you can buy souvenirs. The museum also has a theater. The building also holds local government offices, a police station, a library, and a room for old records.
See also
- List of tunnels documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in Pennsylvania
