1907 - Forces Meet in Virginian Railway Tunnel in Alleghanies

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Roanoke Times - July 28, 1907

Forces Meet in Virginian Railway Tunnel in Alleghanies

   Christiansburg, Va., July 27. -- Special. -- As the Virginian 
railroad is so near Christiansburg, much interest has been felt in 
the work on that road, especially as so many of the employees are 
well-known and liked here. Of course when those who were awake heard 
the long, clear whistle, which kept on and on, for some time, on 
Tuesday morning, everybody felt eager to know what it could mean. 
Five o'clock is generally a somewhat silent hour, so the whistle was 
all the more distinct and full. This whistle signaled the meeting of 
the two eastern headings at Alleghany Summit tunnel of the Virginian 
railroad. This meeting occurred 1,545 feet from the east portal, and 
1,220 feet from the shaft, and marks the practical completion of the 
arch or heading.
   The tunnel has been worked both ends and both ways, from a shaft 
near the centre. On February 23, 1906, excavation from the tunnel 
proper was begun at the east end, late in April, 1906, from the 
shaft, and west end. On May 4th, 1907, the west heading came 
together. In both ends of the tunnel now steam shovels are at work 
excavating the lower rectangular portion or bench east and west form 
the shaft. Forces will soon begin to remove the "bench". MacArthur 
Bros. Co. expect to complete the tunnel early in 1908.
   The tunnel is 5,140 feet long and is lined with timber throughout. 
A variety of rock is penetrated by the tunnel, from a hard brown 
shale and sandstone at the west end, to a soft decomposed limestone 
east of the shaft; ledges of hard limestone have been encountered 
also. Throughout nearly the entire course, great inconvenience has 
been caused the forces at work, by the rush of water; five powerful 
pumps have been required to keep the heading faces free enough from 
water, in order to work them. The grade slopes from the west end 
downward to the east, the summit being at the west portal. The tunnel 
is so well graded that when completed it will drain all of the water 
out of its east end. Great care has been taken in the instrumental 
work of aligning and leveling; measuring has been done with much care 
and repeatedly checked, but the result has fully repaid the trouble.
   East of the shaft the variations, as determined by checking, after 
breaking through, where just one-hundredth of a foot in elevation, 
and fourteen-hundredths in measurement. The superintendent in charge 
of construction is Mr. Pat. Ford. The resident engineer is Mr. D.E. Hall.

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- Ron Davis, Roger Link