Howard Tunnel
Encyclopedia
The Howard Tunnel is located near New Salem, Pennsylvania
. In operation since 1838, it is the second oldest active rail tunnel
in the U.S. Originally constructed by the York and Maryland Line Rail Road, it formed a critical link in the north-south line assembled by the Northern Central Railway
.
It is a 275 feet (83.8 m) long, brick-lined tunnel built between 1836 and 1837 and opened for traffic in 1838. During the Civil War
, the tunnel, then part of the Northern Central Railway
system, was a target of Confederate
cavalry
troops, but was protected by elements of the 20th Pennsylvania state militia
. However, nearby railroad bridges on the NCR down to Hanover Junction
were destroyed by Confederate forces. After the war, the tunnel was rebuilt to accommodate two tracks in 1868.
The line was again damaged during Hurricane Agnes
in 1972 and rebuilt by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1985. Freight traffic failed to materialize and the line again fell dormant by 1996. The Northern Central Railway (no relation to the original owner) leased the line in 1996 and operated the Liberty Limited dinner train from New Freedom
through the tunnel to York
until September 2, 2001 .
York County, Pennsylvania
purchased the tunnel along with its rail corridor in 1990 and has maintained it as part of a historic railroad, thereby preserving its status as an "active" tunnel. The tunnel was listed in the National Register of Historic Places
in 1995. and in August 1999 the county government completed a track-side trail, the Heritage Rail Trail
which lead to the tunnel being refurbished in 1999 and again in 2003.
New Salem, Pennsylvania
New Salem, also known as York New Salem, is a borough located in York County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the borough had a total population of 724.- Geography :New Salem is located at 39°54'9" North, 76°47'35" West ....
. In operation since 1838, it is the second oldest active rail tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
in the U.S. Originally constructed by the York and Maryland Line Rail Road, it formed a critical link in the north-south line assembled by the Northern Central Railway
Northern Central Railway
The Northern Central Railway was a Class I Railroad connecting Baltimore, Maryland with Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Completed in 1858, the line came under the control of the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1861, when the PRR acquired a controlling interest in the Northern Central's stock to compete with the...
.
It is a 275 feet (83.8 m) long, brick-lined tunnel built between 1836 and 1837 and opened for traffic in 1838. During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the tunnel, then part of the Northern Central Railway
Northern Central Railway
The Northern Central Railway was a Class I Railroad connecting Baltimore, Maryland with Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Completed in 1858, the line came under the control of the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1861, when the PRR acquired a controlling interest in the Northern Central's stock to compete with the...
system, was a target of Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
troops, but was protected by elements of the 20th Pennsylvania state militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
. However, nearby railroad bridges on the NCR down to Hanover Junction
Hanover Junction, Pennsylvania
Hanover Junction is a small unincorporated community in south-central York County, Pennsylvania, United States, near the borough of Seven Valleys...
were destroyed by Confederate forces. After the war, the tunnel was rebuilt to accommodate two tracks in 1868.
The line was again damaged during Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes was the first tropical storm and first hurricane of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season. A rare June hurricane, it made landfall on the Florida Panhandle before moving northeastward and ravaging the Mid-Atlantic region as a tropical storm...
in 1972 and rebuilt by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1985. Freight traffic failed to materialize and the line again fell dormant by 1996. The Northern Central Railway (no relation to the original owner) leased the line in 1996 and operated the Liberty Limited dinner train from New Freedom
New Freedom, Pennsylvania
New Freedom is a borough in York County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the borough had a population of 4,464.-Geography:New Freedom is located at ....
through the tunnel to York
York, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
until September 2, 2001 .
York County, Pennsylvania
York County, Pennsylvania
York County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 434,972. It is in the Susquehanna Valley, a large fertile agricultural region in South Central Pennsylvania....
purchased the tunnel along with its rail corridor in 1990 and has maintained it as part of a historic railroad, thereby preserving its status as an "active" tunnel. The tunnel was listed in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1995. and in August 1999 the county government completed a track-side trail, the Heritage Rail Trail
York County Heritage Rail Trail
The York County Heritage Rail Trail is long and runs from York, Pennsylvania, south to the Mason-Dixon line. The trail was built in 1999 by York County Government and connects with the Northern Central Railroad Trail in Maryland, which extends for another to Ashland...
which lead to the tunnel being refurbished in 1999 and again in 2003.
External links
- Howard Tunnel - Waymarking.com
- Heritage Rail Trail History - York County Parks