The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1868-10-08

HdaySburg aud y JohnStown Was completed
about 1886. Upon this length was one
fine viaduct built of stone, and with one
semi-c;rcular arch of so feet The rail
level was 20 feet above the water, and it
was constructed at u cost of eI1.OO
The mountain summit was reached by
five inclined planes and intermediate lev
els, similar number having been con-
structed for the descent on the western
side. The length of the first plane on the
eastern side was 1,60S it., with Il rise of
$50 #, and succeeded by level, part of
which lay through tunnel 900 ft. lone
blasted out of the limestone rock The
second plane was reached by "A level of Ii
miles in length, on which was the stone
viaduct before alluded to; this plane was
1 ,760 f. long, with a rise of about / in
13. The third plane had length of
l ,48O it., with grade of nearly in IL
The fourth plane was 2,196 it. in length.
rising 199 feet. The fifth plane was
1929 it., with rise of 200 #. in its
length. From Johnstown westward. the
traffic was conducted by canals This line
was called the Portage Railroad.
But with the growth of western cities,
the development of their trade, and the
natural resources, a far more rapid means
of communication with the coast was nee
essary, and this the Pennsylvania Central
railroad company set themselves to supply.
On the 1st of September, 1913, sixty
one miles of line were constructed from
Harrisburg, the capital town of the State
westward and new line was constructed
from Lancaster to the former place. COM
mencing by junction at Lancaster with
the original Philadelphia and Columbia
road, which was extended beyond its
original terminus, along the east bank of
the Susquehanna, until 1t Joined the Ian
caster and Harrisburg Railway, as loop
line, at Middletown. The delay incurred
in surmounting the Allegheny summit by
means of the inclined planes formed an
impedlment to the development OF the
line, which it was found necessary to over
come by crossing the mountain by a more
favorable route and at a lower level the
highest gradient being laid through tun-
mel Of considerable length TO this end
the new line was located, In 1919. from
Altoona at the foot, to the summit of the
} mountain, distance of twelve miles and
t a quarter, with u maximum gradient OF
: 81 feet 6 inches 90 the mile On the
western sac, the rullng inclination Is 90
f feet to the mile. This new line is in the
, immediate vicinity of the o.d Portage
Railroad, which it crosses five times by
bridges, and once upon a level The end
of 1S51 found the Pennsylvania Railroad
! in operation as far as Hollidaysburg, where
) 1t worked over the inclined planes of the
then existing Portage road and several of
the westward sections to Pittsburg were
were completed, forming separate links of
/, connection between that place and Phil
: adelphia. On the western side of the AL
leghany ascent, the construction of the
a new line was so far advanced that the use
: of two Of the stationary engine-worked
e inclined planes were dispensed with, and
Il the whole of the grading of the mountain
e division was in hand The summit tun-
e mel was commenced at each end, and at
i four shafts. This part Of the work was
i completed in 1853, and the through line
5 opened for traffic on the 18th Of Februa-
5 ry, 1854 This tunnel was the most for
: midable work upon the line; It's length is
:, 1910 feet; its width, 24 feet and the
r height, % feet.
3, The level Of rails are two hundred and
a ten feet below the summit of the noun
; tain OF the four shafts one was thirteen
e feet in diameter, and the other three ten
? feet wide. The deepest was one hundred
: and ninety-six feet, and the remainder one
r hundred and ninety-four, one hundred
/ and ffty-four, and one hundred and fifty
i feet respectively The rocks were found
h to be the nearly horizontal strata of the
f coal measures, the tunnel in great part "
s ing along a bed of fire clay, which, though
d easily excavated, gave great subsequent
: trouble in properly securing the sides and
It roof the whole of which are lined with
It brick. During the progress of the works
q great difficulty was encountered from the
large quantities of water met with, which
1t rendered ncesSant pumping necessary
II At the middle shaft a fifty horse power
5 engine was stationed duricg the whole
II progress of the work. The tunnel was
l. completed 10 two years at a cost of $50
p 600. The unreliable nature Of the mate
: rial exposed, on opening out the eastern
d end Of the tunnel, rendered it necessary
L. to increase the gradient upon tina
1 side OF ;he mountain from 81 feet PEI
le mile TO ! IN 80. on straight lines, and il
D. 50 on she curves OF minimum radius Thi
- arrangement reduced The length ofthc tun
~ mel to 1910 feet, and the maximum gra
al dent to 81 miles in length, commencing
Se about ] J miles west of \ ltoona AID extend
$ ing to the east side of the tunnel mouth
IN overcoming in that distance rise of 99t
is feet, equal 10 an average gradient Of / il
OF 81, 70 or 81 Clio per mile. The maxi
a mum gradient on the western side OF ,h
is Alleghanies is continued through the iun
I'd mel. as it was considered possible rh.I .
ch may prove convenient to work that asceu
of with stationary engine instead of auxill
ng ary locomotives.
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