Kessler Tunnel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kessler Tunnel
East portal of Tunnel No. 1402, Kessler Tunnel, looking southwest, with Tunnel Hill Road at right. - Western Maryland Railway, Cumberland Extension, Pearre to North Branch, from WM milepost 125 to 160, Pearre, Washington County, MD.jpg
East portal of the Kessler Tunnel.
Overview
LineWest Subdivision
LocationOldtown, Maryland
Coordinates39°33′29″N 78°26′31″W / 39.558°N 78.442°W / 39.558; -78.442Coordinates: 39°33′29″N 78°26′31″W / 39.558°N 78.442°W / 39.558; -78.442
StatusAbandoned
SystemWestern Maryland Railway
Operation
Opened1906
Closed1975
OwnerWM
TrafficTrain
CharacterFreight and Passenger
Technical
Length1,843.3 ft (561.8 m)
No. of tracksSingle
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Highest elevation349.3 ft (106.5 m)
Grade0.5%
Kessler Tunnel is located in Maryland
Kessler Tunnel
Kessler Tunnel

Kessler Tunnel is an abandoned railroad tunnel in Allegany County, Maryland, located about 8.5 miles (13.7 km) east-northeast of Oldtown. It was built by the Western Maryland Railway (WM) in 1906.[1] It was constructed with concrete arch portals and the roof has wood planking. The tunnel was named for landowner John Kessler.[2]

The tunnel was part of a major WM project to extend its rail system from Hagerstown west to Cumberland. The difficult route followed the Potomac River valley and involved construction of four additional tunnels and 23 bridges. The new rail line opened for traffic in 1906.[3]: 44  Trains ran through the tunnel until 1975 and the rail line was abandoned that same year by the Chessie System, which had taken over the WM and combined the WM's operations with those of the B&O.[3]: 283 

The National Park Service acquired the tunnel and adjacent portions of the WM right of way in 1980. The site is part of Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park.[2]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Western Maryland Line Open". The Railway Age. Chicago: Railway Age Co. 41 (6): 224. 1906-02-09.
  2. ^ a b National Park Service. Washington, D.C. (1981-07-23). "Western Maryland Railway Right-of-Way, Milepost 126 to Milepost 160 (Abandoned)." National Register of Historic Places Inventory--Nomination Form.
  3. ^ a b Cook, Roger; Zimmermann, Karl (1992). The Western Maryland Railway: Fireballs and Black Diamonds (2nd ed.). Laurys Station, PA: Garrigues House. p. 44. ISBN 0-9620844-4-1.

External links[]


Stub icon 1 Stub icon 2

This article about a building or structure in Maryland is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

  • v
  • t
Stub icon

This article about transportation in Maryland is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

  • v
  • t
Stub icon

This United States tunnel–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

  • v
  • t
Retrieved from ""