1901 CSX/B&O Mt. Airy Tunnel near Mt. Airy, MD

West Portal: (Satellite)

East Portal: (Bridge Hunter; Satellite)

This was the original B&O Old Main Line route over Parr's ridge, but it used incline planes. They were an operational nightmare so when more powerful locomotives were developed, a route through Mt. Airy was built by 1939. But that route had enough sharp curves and steep grades that a tunnel was built on the original route. [B&O Mt. Airy Depot]

The decision to build the tunnel through the Ridge was made in 1895. [MountAiryMD]

Ted Grumbine posted

“On The Fly” | Diesel exhaust fills the air as a three-unit helper set, led by CSR/B&O SD40-2 7613, cuts off “on the fly” at the east portal of Mt. Airy Tunnel after assisting an eastbound coal drag over (or, more correctly, through) Parr’s Ridge on March 9, 1986.

CSR/B&O 903900 (class C26-A) caboose was built as B&O C-3900 in 05/1975 by International Car Co; it was renumbered to 903900 in 07/1982.

At 2758 feet [841m], Mt. Airy is the longest of the 9 tunnels on the 58 mile stretch between Point of Rocks and Relay on B&O’s Old Main Line.

◦ B&O 7613 (EMD SD40-2)

◦ B&O (ID unknown)

◦ B&O OML Sub, mp 39.9

◦ Mt. Airy, MD

◦ 39.361343, -77.160347

◦ Su, 03/09/1986

Ted Grumbine shared

Mount Airy Rails to Trails posted
A rare glimpse of the eastern portal of the Mount Airy tunnel. The town engineering staff was fortunate to gain permission from CSX to pass through the tunnel for an inspection.

Larry Valett commented on the above post
Here is an early photo of the tunnel being built. Photo c.1902

OldMainLine, Dec 2013
Mt. Airy Tunnel, East

At about a half mile in length, Mt. Airy Tunnel is, by far, the longest on the OML. It is almost twice as long as the Ilchester Tunnel, second longest on the route. The tunnel is essentially in the shadow of Interstate 70, but you'd never know it because the tracks reside deep in a cut made into the ridge. The other portal is not visible because the tunnel curves slightly (to the right, in this view).

The tunnel dates to 1901 when the Mt. Airy Cutoff was constructed to bypass the old, steep and winding Mt. Airy Loop route around the north side of the town.

OldMainLine, Jul 2000
Mt. Airy Tunnel, West
Here's Mt. Airy Tunnel's west portal; the tunnel was opened in 1901. If you visit this area during the summer, take note that the brush is loaded with deer ticks, carriers of Lyme disease.

The red line shows the 1901 tunnel and the blue line approximates the 1839 route past the depot.

Satellite plus Paint via Dennis DeBruler