Hello everyone. While in Tunkhannock I learned that the Lehigh Valley railroad had constructed a tunnel in the tiny community of Vosburg PA. This tunnel was started in February 1883 and was completed in June of 1886. The tunnel was constructed to eliminate nearly 4 miles of road that followed a large curve in the Susquehanna river. This area is known as the neck. There is a state park in this area named Vosburg Neck and some of it actually sits on the original grade of the railbed!
The tunnel is 3,902 feet long and 28 feet wide. The stone used for the tunnels construction was quarried in Union Springs NY. Conrail constructed a steel beam cage in the middle to help support. This was done in the 1980's. 4,516,300 bricks were used to arch the ceiling. The tunnels final cost was the lives of 6 men and $750,000. Today this tunnel is still actively used by the Blue Mountain Reading and Northern railroad to service Proctor and Gamble on the west side of the tunnel. At first I thought the tiny bridge was also Lehigh Valley but am now thinking Conrail or later due to the amount of flooding that has taken place here. If you have time youtube search Vosburg tunnel flooding. You will be amazed!
Thank you very much for watching and have a great day! 11/25/23