First Tunnel Ever Constructed Through the North American Continental Divide

Driving up to see this engineering marvel is a spectacular trip. The road is very narrow and steep in places and you drive along the original rail bed. When I took this photo I was standing on top of the tunnel entrance looking back along the railway bed. In the distance is the 50 foot turntable, currently being restored.

Excavation of the tunnel began in January 1880 and it took 2 years to complete. They thought it'd only take 6 months. Because the granite kept fracturing they had to use over 400,000 board feet of California redwood to support and encase 1427 feet of the 1772 foot long tunnel.

Trains starting using it in June 1882 and stopped in November 1910.

This west portal is completely covered up with talus debris and there is hope to one day re-excavate this entrance to view the tunnel once again. The east portal has completely collapsed since redwood was not used to support it.