Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 78, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1917 — LONGEST RAILWAY TUNNEL IN AMERICA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

LONGEST RAILWAY TUNNEL IN AMERICA

- The Connaught tunnel, driven through the Selkirk mountains in British Columbia, was opened for traffic on December 9, and is the longest railway tunnel on the North American continent. It is exactly 26,400 feet, or five miles, long, and carries a double-track line. It shortens the rail route by 43 reduces the elevation of the track through the mountain pass by 552 feet, eliminates 4% miles of snowsheds, and cuts out curves to the extent of seven complete circles. The cost was $5,500,000, including a ventilating system. Work was started on the main bore January 15, 1914, from both ends. The headings met and passage through the tunnel was effected December 19, 1915, making a new North American record for rapid work of this character. The tunnel passes under Mount Macdonald, which towers to a height of 6,000 feet above the new railway grade.—Popular Mechanics Magazine.

Left:—Approach to the West Portal of the New Connaught Tunnel In British Columbia. The Ventilating System Is Installed Here. Center: Interior of the Great Nozzle Through Which Air Is Blown Into the Tunnel to Clear Out Gases and Smoke. Right: Eastern Entrance of the Tunnel, Showing Gases Being Blown Out by the Ventilating Engine and Fan Located at the Other Portal.