The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-24

PETTIBONE TUNNEL, on THE BALTIMORE AND
ONO RAlLRoAD.-The ceremony Of the opening of
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which was cele
brated last week with signal success, would have
been necessarily postponed for some time, in conse
quence Of the unfinished state Of the Pettbone tun
mel, but for an ingenious and bold eXpedicnt, by
which the tunnel for the present dispensed with
and the train of five hundred visters, and thirteen
locomotives of the heaviest class made TO traverse
the summit Of the mountain not yet fully perforated
This was done by means OF temporary zigzag track,
cut in the face OF the motinain and furnished with
rails, by means of which, sections of road called VS.
divergng from each other BY switches in reversed
direction, and thus mounting above each other at an
inclination OF $50 feet to mile. Over these Sections
the locomotives, each drawing two long passenger
cars with its complement of passengers assembled at
pace Of fifteen miles an hour and descended safely
in the same manner on the other side, stopping at
the end Of each station to reverse the motion. The
transit OF tue mountain was accomplished in the out
ward trip by torchlight and it is thus described by
a correspondent Of the Baltimore Americ0n:-
At the foot OF this mountain the mouth OF the TIM
mel was discerncd, with the lamps of the miners
garing within Our entire train consisted OF twenty
six cars; and thirteen of Ross Wnans' most powerful
locomotives were in waiting, putting aud painting like
war horses, ready TO take across the summit of the
rugged mountain before us. After some delay,
during which darkness closed in upon us two cars
were harnessed to each OF the iron horses, and all be-
ing in readiness, the ascent was commenced, the
first locomotive turning out OF the first Y, it is
called, before the second one il started, and 40
until the whole side of The mountain was dotted with
those fiery monsters which in the darkness, present
ed scene that perhaps never before witnessed
in the world, and probably may never be again. The
ascent Of the mountain is by lacking to and fro on
its side up to its summit. and then down in similar
manner on the other side, the track being laid in
deep and broad cuts on the side Of the maintain.
These tracks run closely parallel with each other
but at different elevations that at times the trains
were near together that the passengers could call
up down to each other, and be distinctly heard as
they passed.
On reaching the summit, those in the seventh Of
the thirteen trains, had a full view Of the six
locomotives following after then on the one side and
the six descending on the other each beching
forth fire and smoke, whilst the miners going TO
heir work in the shafts, and at either end OF
the tunnel, bearing hundreds OF lamps and moving
to and fro in the distance at the base Of the noun
tain gave the finishing attraction to this grand spec
taclc. The western slope Of the mountain is more
PERCEPTIONS and difficult than the eastern and it was
truly grand sight ~ look up and see, frank above
rank, the various trains lacking like ships on the
oceans wave down the terIaced mountain side The
grand spectacle produced by dramatic genius will
never more prove any attraction TO the five hundred
guests Of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad; they will
hereafter note them ~ be mere childs play IN com.
parison TO The Crossing Of poitiboncs Tunnel"