Pittsburgh & Steubenville Extension Railroad Tunnel

Panhandle Tunnel
Overview
LocationPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Coordinates40°26′28″N 79°59′48″W / 40.44111°N 79.99657°W / 40.44111; -79.99657
Statusin use
SystemPittsburgh Light Rail
Operation
Work begun1863
Constructedbrick and cut stone
Opened1865
OwnerPort Authority of Allegheny County
Technical
Length1,440 feet (440 m)
No. of tracks2 (1865–1965)
1 (1967–)
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) (1865–1980)
5 ft 2+1⁄2 in (1,588 mm) (1985–Current)
Electrified1985
Highest elevation740 feet (230 m)
Tunnel clearance18.5 feet (5.6 m)
Route map
Legend
Allegheny River Tunnel
 Gateway
Wood Street
Penn Station
occasional use
Bus rapid transit Amtrak
Steel Plaza
This diagram:

The Pittsburgh & Steubenville Extension Railroad Tunnel, also known as the Panhandle Tunnel, was originally built for the Pittsburgh and Steubenville Extension Railroad in Pittsburgh. It officially opened for rail traffic in 1865.

History

The tunnel has been modified many times since it was first constructed. In the years after the construction the southern end was lengthened by 79.4 feet (24.2 m) to accommodate the overpass of Forbes Avenue. This new tunnel had a height of 19.5 feet (5.9 m), lower than the main tunnel. The southern end was again extended around 1900 to add a sidewalk to the road. This 19 feet (5.8 m) extension lowered the height of the tunnel to the current 18.5 feet (5.6 m).[1]

Light Rail

The tunnel and the adjacent Panhandle Bridge were purchased by the Port Authority from Conrail for $8.15 million in 1980.[2] The tunnel is now utilized by the Pittsburgh Light Rail System for some of its right-of-way and the Steel Plaza Station.[citation needed]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pittsburgh & Steubenville Extension Railroad Tunnel.
  1. ^ "Historic American Engineering Record – Pittsburgh & Steubenville Extension Railroad Tunnel". Library of Congress. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  2. ^ Ken Fisher (September 24, 1980). "Conrail turning tunnel, Panhandle Bridge over to PAT". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 12, 2011.