The Hoosac Tunnel (also called Hoosic or Hoosick Tunnel) is a 4. 75-mile-long (7. 64 km) railroad tunnel in western Massachusetts which passes through the Hoosac Range, an extension of Vermont's Green Mountains. A tunnel is an underground passageway The definition of what constitutes a tunnel is not universally agreed upon The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. The Hoosac Range is part of both the Berkshires of western Massachusetts and the southern Green Mountains of Vermont; it is part of the greater Vermont ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The Green Mountains are a Mountain range in the US state of Vermont.
The tunnel's east portal is in Florida, Massachusetts (); its west portal is in North Adams, Massachusetts (). Florida is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. North Adams is a city in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. Work began in 1851 and was finally completed in 1875. 1851 ( MDCCCLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year Year 1875 ( MDCCCLXXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
At the time of completion, it was the second longest tunnel in the world (after the 8. 5-mile-long (13. 7 km) Mont Cenis Tunnel through the French Alps). See also Fréjus Road Tunnel. The Fréjus Rail Tunnel (also called Mont Cenis Tunnel) is a railroad tunnel of 13 The French Alps are those parts of the Alps mountain range which lie in France. It was the longest tunnel in North America until the completion of the Moffat Tunnel in 1928, and remains the longest transportation tunnel east of the Rocky Mountains. The Moffat Tunnel is a railroad/ water tunnel that cuts through the Continental Divide in north-central Colorado. Year 1928 ( MCMXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Mountain peaks of the Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies, are a Mountain range in western North America.
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Tunnel history
| Hoosac Tunnel | |
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| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
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| Location: | From North Adams, Massachusetts on the W to the Deerfield River on the E |
| Added to NRHP: | November 2, 1973 |
| NRHP Reference#: | 73000294 |
The tunnel project was originally proposed in 1819 as a canal to connect Boston to Upstate New York via the Deerfield River on the east of the Hoosac Range and the Hoosic River on the west. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP is the United States government's official list of districts sites buildings structures and objects deemed worthy of North Adams is a city in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. Deerfield River is a river that runs for from southern Vermont through northwestern Massachusetts to the Connecticut River. The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP is the United States government's official list of districts sites buildings structures and objects deemed worthy of Events 1570 - A Tidal wave in the North Sea devastates the coast from Holland to Jutland, killing more than 1000 Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Year 1819 ( MDCCCXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar in the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year Canals are artificial channels for water There are two types of canals water conveyance canals which are used for the conveyance and delivery of water and Waterways Upstate New York is the region of New York State north of the core of the New York metropolitan area. Deerfield River is a river that runs for from southern Vermont through northwestern Massachusetts to the Connecticut River. The Hoosac Range is part of both the Berkshires of western Massachusetts and the southern Green Mountains of Vermont; it is part of the greater The Hoosic River, also known as the Hoosac the Hoosick (primarily in New York and the Hoosuck (mostly archaic is a tributary of the Hudson River That project was shelved, and later reborn as part of the new Troy and Greenfield Railroad. The Troy and Greenfield Railroad, chartered in 1848 ran from Greenfield Massachusetts, to the Vermont state line The tunnel took over 20 years to complete, and cost $21,000,000 by the time of completion. The project was nicknamed 'The Great Bore' by critics of the day, including future Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., who said he'd like to "wall up a dozen lawyers at one end of the tunnel and put a good fee at the other. The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States and leads the federal judiciary. Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr ( March 8, 1841 &ndash March 6, 1935) was an American Jurist who served on the Supreme "
The most important proponent of the northern route and the Hoosac Tunnel was Alvah Crocker, a self-made paper mill owner from Fitchburg, MA. Userpolbot from http//bioguidecongressgov/scripts/biodisplaypl?index=C000916 The Science Channel documentary Driven to Invent: Killer Tunnel called Crocker "The Father of Modern Tunneling" for his influence in advancing the use of geologists, explosives, pneumatic tools and boring technology, and said, "He laid down the rules for tunnel construction even to the present day. " In 1841, Crocker formed the Fitchburg Railroad (chartered 1842, opened 1845) between Boston and Fitchburg. In 1844 Crocker incorporated the existing Vermont & Massachusetts Railroad, which ran from Fitchburg west to Greenfield, as well as northward (from Millers Falls) to Brattleboro, Vermont. In 1848 Crocker secured from the legislature a charter for the Troy & Greenfield Railroad (T & G), with provisions for a tunnel through Hoosac Mountain.
The first chief engineer of the tunnel project was A. F. Edwards. In 1854 the state of Massachusetts provided $2,000,000 in credit to Edward Wellman Serrell and Company, which began work in 1855. Year 1854 ( MDCCCLIV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Year 1855 ( MDCCCLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year In 1856 Herman Haupt took over as chief engineer. Year 1856 ( MDCCCLVI) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Herman Haupt ( March 26, 1817 &ndash December 14, 1905) was an American Civil engineer and Railroad construction
The Western Railroad led by Chester Chapin, which ran a southern route through Springfield and Pittsfield, opposed the Hoosac Tunnel and its northern route through the state. This article is about the former Boston and Albany Railroad in Massachusetts and New York. Userpolbot from http//bioguidecongressgov/scripts/biodisplaypl?index=C000305 Springfield is a City in and the County seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. They successfully lobbied to block state funding of the tunnel in 1861, which bankrupted Haupt and temporarily stopped the project. Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Haupt had excavated 4,250 feet (1,295 m), or about a fifth of the distance, at that point. He left in 1861 and became a Union Army railroad engineer and general in the American Civil War. Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Union Army was the army that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South
In 1862 the Troy and Greenfield Railroad defaulted on its loan from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which foreclosed on the mortgage and took control of the railroad, including the tunnel project. Year 1862 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Monday The Troy and Greenfield Railroad, chartered in 1848 ran from Greenfield Massachusetts, to the Vermont state line The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. The state sent engineer Charles Storrow to Europe to study modern tunneling techniques, including the use of nitroglycerine and compressed air. Nitroglycerin ( NG) ( US spelling also known as nitroglycerine, ( UK Spelling trinitroglycerin, trinitroglycerine In 1863 the state, with Alvah Crocker now superintendent of railroads, restarted the project and made Thomas Doane the chief engineer. Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
In 1868 the state congress appropriated 5 million dollars for the completion of the project. Year 1868 ( MDCCCLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Canadian engineer William Shanly (sometimes spelled Shanley) and his brother Francis took over the project from the state, and remained through the completion of tunnel boring. The final chief engineer was Bernard N. Farren, who took over on November 19, 1874 and completed the final work, including enlarging sections of the tunnel, reinforcing weak areas with arching, completing drainage systems and completing the east tunnel facade. Events 1095 - The Council of Clermont, called by Pope Urban II to discuss sending the First Crusade to the Holy Land Year 1874 ( MDCCCLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
The first train passed through the tunnel on February 9, 1875. Events 474 - Zeno crowned as co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire. Year 1875 ( MDCCCLXXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Regular service via the tunnel between Boston, MA and Troy, NY began in 1876. Troy is a City in New York, US, and the County seat of Rensselaer County. Year 1876 ( MDCCCLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year The tunnel and Troy and Greenfield Railroad were bought by the Fitchburg Railroad in 1877. The Fitchburg Railroad is a former Railroad company which built a railroad line across northern Massachusetts, USA, leading to and through the Hoosac Year 1877 ( MDCCCLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Boston and Maine Railroad bought the Fitchburg Railroad in 1900. The Boston and Maine Railroad, also known by the abbreviation B&M, was the dominant Railroad of the northern New England region of the United Year 1900 ( MCM) was an exceptional Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar
The last regularly-scheduled passenger train passed through the tunnel in 1958. Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Today the tunnel is part of the Guilford Rail System and is used to transport freight. Pan Am Railways (PAR known as Guilford Rail System (GRS before March 2006 is a Class 2 railroad covering northern New England from Mattawamkeag
Connections to the west
The Troy and Boston Railroad and its Southern Vermont Railroad and Troy and Greenfield Railroad opened in 1859 from Troy, New York, on the New York Central Railroad and Hudson River Railroad, east to North Adams at the west portal of the tunnel. Year 1910 ( MCMX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting The Troy and Boston Railroad was chartered November 22 1849, completed Troy New York to the Vermont state line (35 Miles in 1852 The Boston and Maine Railroad, also known by the abbreviation B&M, was the dominant Railroad of the northern New England region of the United The Troy and Greenfield Railroad, chartered in 1848 ran from Greenfield Massachusetts, to the Vermont state line Year 1859 ( MDCCCLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Troy is a City in New York, US, and the County seat of Rensselaer County. The New York Central Railroad, known simply as the New York Central in its publicity was a Railroad operating in the Northeastern United States. The New York Central Railroad, known simply as the New York Central in its publicity was a Railroad operating in the Northeastern United States. North Adams is a city in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States.
The 1863 state buyout of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad opened the way for competition through the tunnel. Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Troy and Greenfield Railroad, chartered in 1848 ran from Greenfield Massachusetts, to the Vermont state line The Boston, Hoosac Tunnel and Western Railway was organized in 1877 to build from near the Massachusetts/Vermont border, where state ownership ended, parallel to the Troy and Boston Railroad to near Johnsonville, New York and then west via Schenectady to Rotterdam Junction on what became the New York, West Shore and Buffalo Railway in 1880. Year 1877 ( MDCCCLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Vermont ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The Troy and Boston Railroad was chartered November 22 1849, completed Troy New York to the Vermont state line (35 Miles in 1852 Johnsonville is a village located in the northern part of Pittstown New York. Schenectady (skəˈnɛktədi Θkahnéhtati in Tuscarora) is a City in Schenectady County, New York, United States Rotterdam is a Town in Schenectady County, New York, United States. This article is about the line of the New York Central Railroad system Year 1880 ( MDCCCLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The line was being planned as a part of the Delaware and Hudson Company's system, and as part of the Erie Railway system via the Delaware and Hudson Company's Albany and Susquehanna Railroad. "D&H" redirects here for the firearm magazine manufacturing company see D&H Industries The Delaware and Hudson Railway ( D&H) is an The Erie Railroad was a Railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and "D&H" redirects here for the firearm magazine manufacturing company see D&H Industries The Delaware and Hudson Railway ( D&H) is an The Albany and Susquehanna Railroad was a railroad running from Albany to Binghamton operating 1851 to 1870 History Construction began on April 19, 1851 East of Greenfield, the east end of state ownership, the BHT&W would have built its own line to terminal facilities at Winthrop. Greenfield is a city in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. Winthrop is a Town in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States.
Due to the competition between the two companies, various challenges were made. In late 1878 the T&B attempted to evict the BHT&W from the roadbed of the abandoned Albany Northern Railroad between Hart's Falls and Eagle Bridge. Year 1878 ( MDCCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The BHT&W lost that in court, but continued to use the right-of-way. A right-of-way is a strip of land that is granted – through an Easement or other mechanism – for Transportation purposes such as for a Rail line or The case lasted until late 1881, when it was overturned. Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common In May 1879 a frog war was feared at Hoosick Junction, where the BHT&W was to cross the T&B's Troy and Bennington Railroad. Year 1879 ( MDCCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common frog war, US usage occurs when a Railroad company attempts to cross the tracks of another and this results in hostilities with the courts usually getting involved In July of that year Cornelius Vanderbilt, who owned the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad, acquired a controlling interest in the T&B, threatening to build a branch to Saratoga Springs unless the BHT&W/D&H alliance was ended. Cornelius Vanderbilt ( May 27 1794 &ndash January 4 1877) also known by the Sobriquets The Commodore or The New York Central Railroad, known simply as the New York Central in its publicity was a Railroad operating in the Northeastern United States. Saratoga Springs is a City in Saratoga County, New York, USA. In November an appeals court ruled that the application to cross the Troy and Bennington was improperly made to the Troy and Boston, and the T&B claimed that the improvements including a stone bridge were forfeit. Court of Appeal, Court of Appeals, and Appellate Division redirect here for a list of specific courts using those titles see Court of Appeal
The first train ran over the full BHT&W to Mechanicville, New York on December 6, 1879, and revenue service began December 20, with general offices at North Adams. Mechanicville is a City in Saratoga County, New York, United States. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 1879 ( MDCCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 69 - Vespasian, formerly a general under Nero, enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor. North Adams is a city in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. In 1881 the BHT&W was being planned as part of a larger system west to Oswego and Buffalo. Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Oswego is a City in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 18096 at the 2000 census. Buffalo (ˈbʌfəloʊ is the second largest city in New York State. That line was not built, but the BHT&W opened an extension west to Rotterdam Junction on the New York, West Shore and Buffalo Railway. Rotterdam is a Town in Schenectady County, New York, United States. This article is about the line of the New York Central Railroad system The New York Central and Hudson River Railroad took over the NYWS&B in 1886, and in 1887 the Fitchburg Railroad bought both the T&B and the BHT&W, as well at the Troy and Greenfield Railroad including the tunnel, ending the rivalry. The New York Central Railroad, known simply as the New York Central in its publicity was a Railroad operating in the Northeastern United States. Year 1886 ( MDCCCLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1887 ( MDCCCLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Fitchburg Railroad is a former Railroad company which built a railroad line across northern Massachusetts, USA, leading to and through the Hoosac The Troy and Greenfield Railroad, chartered in 1848 ran from Greenfield Massachusetts, to the Vermont state line
Tunnel deaths
193 lives were lost during construction, leading to the nickname "The Bloody Pit. " Many were lost due to the unstable nature of nitroglycerine. Nitroglycerin ( NG) ( US spelling also known as nitroglycerine, ( UK Spelling trinitroglycerin, trinitroglycerine
One of the bloodiest accidents occurred while digging the tunnel's 1,028-foot (313 m) vertical exhaust shaft, called 'Central Shaft. ' On October 17, 1867, a lighted candle in the hoist building ignited naphtha fumes which had leaked from a 'Gasometer' lamp, triggering an explosion. Events 539 BC - King Cyrus The Great of Persia marches into the city of Babylon, releasing the Jews from almost Year 1867 ( MDCCCLXVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting A hoist is a device used for lifting or lowering a load by means of a drum or lift-wheel around which rope or chain wraps Naphtha normally refers to a number of different flammable liquid mixtures of hydrocarbons i The hoist caught fire and collapsed into the shaft. Four men near the top of the shaft escaped, but thirteen men working 538 feet (164 m) below were trapped. The pumps were also destroyed, and the shaft began to fill with water. A worker named Mallory was lowered into the shaft by rope the next day; he was overcome by fumes and reported no survivors. As a result of the large number of deaths, the bore is regarded as one of the most haunted places in New England.
Construction technology
The tunnel construction project required excavation of 2 million tons (1,800,000 metric tons) of rock. On March 16, 1853, "Wilson's Patented Stone-Cutting Machine" (a tunnel boring machine) was used; it failed after excavating 10 feet (3 m) of rock. Events 597 BC - Babylonians capture Jerusalem, replace Jehoiachin with Zedekiah as king Year 1853 ( MDCCCLIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common A tunnel boring machine ( TBM) is a machine used to excavate Tunnels with a circular cross section through a variety of soil and rock strata. Tunnel builders resorted to hand digging, and later used the Burleigh Rock Drill, one of the first pneumatic drills. A pneumatic drill or jackhammer is a portable percussive Drill powered by Compressed air. Construction also featured the first large-scale commercial use of nitroglycerine and electric blasting caps. Nitroglycerin ( NG) ( US spelling also known as nitroglycerine, ( UK Spelling trinitroglycerin, trinitroglycerine A blasting cap is a small Explosive device generally used to detonate a larger more powerful Explosive such as Dynamite.
Digging the Central Shaft also allowed workers to open 2 additional faces to excavate: once the shaft was complete in 1870 workers dug outwards from the center to meet the tunnels being dug from the east and west portals. Year 1870 ( MDCCCLXX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Engineers built a 1,000-foot (305 m) elevator to hoist the excavated rock from the Central Shaft. An elevator or lift is a Transport device used to move people or goods vertically from one floor to another
One of the many engineering challenges posed by the project was lining up the four tunnels that were being dug: the east and west portal tunnels, and the two tunnels dug outward from the central shaft. Engineers cleared a path through the forest over the mountain, and strung a straight line from the east to west portals, through "sighting posts" on the east and west peaks of Hoosac Mountain. Repeated surveys verified the line ran true between the posts, and steel bolts were installed at fixed intervals along the line. Surveying is the technique and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional space Position of points and the distances and angles between
On December 12, 1872 workers opened the east portal tunnel to the Central Shaft-dug tunnel, which were aligned within nine sixteenths of an inch (1. Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian Year 1872 ( MDCCCLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year 4 cm), a tremendous engineering achievement at that time. On November 27, 1873 the remainder of the tunnel was opened to the west portal tunnel. Events 1095 - Pope Urban II declares the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont Year 1873 ( MDCCCLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
Lewis Cuyler of the Hoosac Tunnel Museum Society described the project as the 'fountain-head of modern tunnel technology. '
The American Society of Civil Engineers made the tunnel a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1975. The following is a partial list of historic civil engineering landmarks as designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers since it began the program in 1964 Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Notes
Hoosac is an Algonquian word meaning 'place of stones. The Algonquian (also Algonkian, and pronounced both and) languages are a subfamily of Native American languages that includes most of the languages in the Algic '
External links
- Western Gateway Heritage State Park
- HoosacTunnel.net Historical pictures and statistics
- Hoosac Tunnel Historical Notes
- A Gazetteer of the State of Massachusetts
- Railroad Extra - Hoosac Tunnel
- Hoosac Tunnel: Abode of the Damned? - Exploration of the tunnel
- Driven to Invent: Killer Tunnel
Literary References
- The Story of the Hoosac Tunnel. (March 1882). The Atlantic monthly,. Volume 49, Issue 293
- The Hoosac Tunnel Tragedy (November 16, 1867). The Defiance Democrat (Ohio), p. 1.
- Hampson, Rick (August 24, 1980). Tunnel a Wonder of the 19th Century. Chicago Daily Herald. p. 42.
- Fighting for Eastern Traffic, New York Times January 2, 1879 page 5
- Railroad Rioting Feared, New York Times May 25, 1879 page 1
- The Hoosac Tunnel Route, New York Times July 5, 1879 page 1
- Railroad Methods, New York Times November 26, 1879 page 1
- Railroad Management, New York Times December 7, 1879 page 1
- First Train Over the Boston, Hoosac Tunnel and Western, New York Times December 21, 1879 page 2
- A Great Railroad Project, New York Times April 11, 1881 page 1
- Boston, Hoosac Tunnel and Western Victory, New York Times October 5, 1881 page 2
- A Pinprick of Light, The Troy and Greenfield Railroad and its Hoosac Tunnel, by Carl R. Byron. The New England Press, Shelburne, Vt. 1975. ISBN 1-881535-17-7
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