The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-09-03
.rLRoap NOTES.

SRAILRoAD NoTEs.
We are indebted TO the gentlemanly edi-
tor of the S. p r. r. Traasit, who has kind
| ly permitted us to clip from his monthly
publication.
| One of the heaviest cuts ON the South
Pennsylvania is near Donegal. Westmore-
land county. 1t viii be 20 feet deep and
l 800 feet long.
We understand that the original idea OF
trestling Healthy Run. at Fairview, abont
, four miles west of New Baltimore, this
county, has been abandoned, and instead
of trestle 200 feet long and los feet high1
they will make solid fill the entire dis
tance.
At the Quemahoning Tunnel. about FIVE
miles northwest of Somerset, there is at least
another months work on the approach cuts
before the portals will be reached The ma
terial SO far is hard-pan, with very little
rock on the west end. There has been con-
siderable water met with on both sides.
Collins Brothers have made very rapid
progress on their contract, which extends
ten miles west of the Summit. two and a
half miles north of Somerset. In the past
four months they hvve completed seven
cuts, averaging about fifteen feet in depth,
and six to seven hundred feet long. They
haye finished little over five miles
At Sideling Hill tunnel, the longest on
the line, in Fulton county, the headings at
both ends are fairly in, but not much more,
and are timbered continuously. The same
is the case at Rays Hill tunnel. in Bedford
county. where, however. they are in some
distance. The timbering here is done with
great care, as it is intended to be permanent.
The Big Cut" as it is called, ninety
five feet deep, and twelve hundred feet long
three miles east of Allegheny Mountain
Tunnel, in Somerset county, is, railroad
men say, progressing very rapidly, but to
the average man most wonderfully slow.
The seventy-fve-foot fill lengthens at the
rate of fifteen feet per month. This, when
completed, will be the deepest cut in the
country.
making steady progress. The headings are
now over 500 feet in. Lately seventy
three feet were driven in one week. To ac-
complieh this a total force of oyer 250 men
per day were kept busily at work, assisted
by steam derricks, compressors, and a small
locomotive. The tunnel is lighted by cleo
tric light, and men work day and night.
Great difficulty has been experienced from
the beginning at the west end, and timber
ing has been almost continuous, as the
heading progresses through all sorts of un-
desirable materials, coal, fire-ciay, slate,
shale, water, etc. A very hard rock, closely
approximating granite, has. however, stead
lily been rising from the bottom, and gives
promise of better prospect. At the east
end the material is hard sandstone, and
work goes ON smoothly.
Excavation for the foundations of Ties.
p. K. Il. arch over the S. Il C. L. r. at the
Summit, two and a halt miles north of SOM
erset has been going on steadily for the past
six weeks, but with some difficulty, as the
material has TO be taken out so as not to dis
turb the sides of the cut, which are to form
the backing of the arch walls when laid.
The material encountered is mostly sand
stone, in layers from one to ten inches deep,
and cut obliquely by assures, some of which
are the result of the violent shaking up it
received when the Somerset and Cambria
cut was blown out. solid base tor laying
stone was reached on the East side about a
week ago, az depth of two and a half feet
below the Somerset and Cambria grade, and
masons are now engaged in placing the
huge blocks of stone in position, which are
from the cars on sideing recent
ly laid by Contractor James. and extending
under the entire arch that is to be, by
horsepower derrick. On the west side
they will have to go much deeper TO find a
solid base. The stene are brought from two
about midway between Kantners
and Roberts stations, on the Somerset and
Cambria Railroad. The arch is to be q feet
span. and win be about 20 feet long. Two
hundred feet away, ON the easG side of the
arch, the big 67.foot fill is rapidly approach
ing completion, and no wonder. when an
average Of 115 car loads of material 90 whiz-l 4
zing daily down Messrs. Shields and Doy
WINS gravity railway.