The east portal is normally inundated by the Conemaugh Dam Reservoir.
1907 West Portal: (Satellite)
1907 East Portal: (Satellite)
Both tunnels now have concrete plugs. The 1907 east portal is inundated only when the dam is above normal pool level.
The 1864 tunnel was signal tracked. When Pennsy added a second track, they also relocated the track to higher ground to remove some of the curvature of the track.
The 1864 alignment:
 |
| 1900/58 Latrobe Quad @ 62,500 |
The 1907 alignment is the OLD RAILROAD GRADE on this map. This map also shows how the 1952 alignment was built even further up the hills to avoid being inundated by the Conemaugh Dam Reservoir. Also, it shows that the tunnels are named after the peninsula that they bored through.
 |
| 1964/66 Blairsville Quad @ 24,000 |
I've seen photos of two different portals, but I've also seen the same portal identified as 1864 and 1907. So beware, some sources are wrong. I'm using these two photos that have a sign and a portal to definitively document that the partially gated portal is 1864 while the fully gated tunnel is 1907.
 |
| Jftravels, Jun 2025 |
Note also that the 1907 portal is double tracked.
 |
| joe billy, Oct 2025 |
A readable version of the 1907 sign.
 |
| Jftravels, Jun 2025 |
Linda has other views that show that the pile we see in the tunnel goes all the way up to the ceiling. She says that her previous video is of the 1907 tunnel. Unfortunately, I have not been able to figure out how to access previous or subsequent Facebook Reels.
 |
| Facebook Reel |
These two HAER photos must have been taken before the large gate was installed in the west portal of the 1907 tunnel.
"DESCRIPTION: The second of two tunnels cutting through Bow: Bend of the Conemaugh River, the
Bow Ridge Tunnel measures approximately 630* in length, cut through the predominantly shale ridge.
The west portal is 30' in height, 42' in width, and has a single span semicircular arch opening." [HAER_data]
 |
| HAER PA,65-NEWAL.V,1- 1. GENERAL VIEW OF WEST PORTAL OF TUNNEL, SHOWING KEYSTONE AND PLAQUE ABOVE ARCH - Pennsylvania Railroad, Bow Ridge Tunnel, Through Bow Ridge, 0.3 mile South of Conemaugh Dam, New Alexandria, Westmoreland County, PA Photos from Survey HAER PA-269 |
 |
| HAER PA,65-NEWAL.V,1- 2. GENERAL VIEW OF EAST PORTAL OF TUNNEL |
I presume this is the eastern portal of the 1864 tunnel that was taken when the dam's reservoir was low.
 |
| Malinda Dunmire, Aug 2025 |
There used to be a canal tunnel between the two Pennsy tunnels.
 |
| Jftravels, Dec 2023 |
No comments:
Post a Comment