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| Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site posted Anniversary Hike for the opening of the Allegheny Portage Railroad! Join a park ranger for a hike to the Staple Bend Tunnel on Sunday, March 16 at 2:00 p.m. for the 191st anniversary of the railroad's opening. The hike is approximately 4.5 miles in length. Please call the Visitor Center at 814-886-6150 to sign up and for meeting location details. Plan for uncertain weather due to the time of year. Please prepare for snow, ice, mud, rocks, rain, and roots. The hike takes place rain or shine. The Allegheny Portage Railroad opened on March 18, 1834. Participants will learn about Staple Bend Tunnel construction and how the Allegheny Portage Railroad moved people and goods over the Allegheny Mountains. (es) Image: Staple Bend Tunnel. Scott Reynolds: Is this a section of rail that served the area prior to the horseshoe? Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site: Scott Reynolds Hi Scott! Yes, the Allegheny Portage Railroad was 36 miles over the Allegheny Mountains from Hollidaysburg to Johnstown. The Portage used 10 inclined planes and 11 levels. The Staple Bend Tunnel was only about 4 miles from Johnstown at the top of Inclined Plane No. 1. Pictured is the western end of the tunnel. From the parking lot to the eastern end, walkers and bikers are walking along what was known as the Long Level! (es) |
Metrotrails posted two photos with the comment:
Then and Now Series: Historic 1880s view of the Staple Bend Tunnel on the Allegheny Portage Railroad from John Fritz Collection, National Canal Museum of Easton PA, compared to the tunnel on our January 2019 hike.Clearly, some reconstruction has taken place, which included a widening of the Roman Revival facade. Based on topography, the historic photo is likely the west portal, although it is believed the east portal once had a similar facade.Completed in 1834, it is believed to be the oldest railroad tunnel in America. Part of the Main Line of Public Works, a series of canals and rails connecting Philadelphia and Pittsburg, the route shortened travel time from twenty some odd days to only four.Today, this section of the historic Portage can be followed between Franklin, just east of Johnstown, and Mineral Point PA.
Michelle Craig: No widening. Count the stone (bricks). Looks like they just added fill dirt and raised the ground through the tunnel. I count 27 stones from the keystone in the old pic and only 25 in the new.
Pete Bailis: Looks like the original photo has some major vignetting making it seem narrower also the people are most likely close to the camera and not standing in the portal. It looks like the original facade that has just been cleaned nicely. All the stones seem to match in both photos like Michelle Craig mentions below. Tunnels do silt up after time and this one has had 185 years to do just that. GREAT photo comparison.
Metrotrails: It was filled a bit at the base for draining.
Metrotrails shared
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| Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site posted A big thank you to the wonderful group that joined us for our Heritage Hike to the Staple Bend Tunnel to celebrate the 191st anniversary of the Allegheny Portage Railroad a few days ago! (es) Image: A group of hikers in front of the Staple Bend Tunnel. |
The Pennsy crossed the peninsula at a lower elevation and was able to use a cut instead of a tunnel.
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| 1907/07 Johnstown Quad @ 62,500 |
Not only did the Pennsy cut through the peninsula, but so did the river. And it looks like a mining operation has removed a lot of land.
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| Satellite |
Since this cut is upstream of Johnstown, PA, was the it formed by the Johnstown Flood or by a mining operation? Since the flood was in 1889, this river cut is man made.
The tunnel was the first railroad tunnel the US. It was the third tunnel, but the first two were canal tunnels. It is 901' (275m).
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