The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-21

the mountain ranges, this time the
giant Cascades, through the famous
Stampede tunnel, which is nearly two
miles long and 1855 feet above sea 1evel'
the height Of tho summit above being
$3.50 feet and regarded as greater
work of engineering than the famous
Hoosac tunnel, owing to the wildness
of the country and distance from
sources of supplies. a switchback line
seen from the train was successfully
used during the completion of the tun-
mel, whose maximum grade was 300
feet to the mile the trains being hauled
over the mountains by decapods or ten
wheeled engines.
Ey the courtesy of the division SUI
perintendent We betake ourselves 10 the
observation car, and prepare to enjoy
such gllmpses as we could get now
and then, through the dense forest
growth of the wild scenery about, and
L might say, above and below U.s. We
commence slowly to climb the Eastern
slope of the Cascades at Stampede
Pass, and the view is wild and grand
and becomes more and more so as we
ascend. The road-bed is Il triumphant
( achievement in railway engineering.
ana winds alternately across the face
oi rugged slopes, which reach far down
irom rock-crowned and pine-fringed
SUBMITS, beneath overhanging cliffs,
over dizzy gorges, spanned by slender
looking but substantial trestles. Far
down at the feet of the steeps. rlimnees
Of the valley below appear as the giant
sldes or the mountains open and close
! upon the Canyons.
| Mountain Climbing by Rail-
| After awhile We find from the rattle
| ana clanK, the shout and puff and eroan
Oh our weary engine that more motive
power is needed, and soon two monster
creatures, two huge black engines. come
steaming from the round-house and we
Know there Is heavy work ahead. One
OF the monster locomotives is the Cas-
cade, weighing one hundred and seven
| teen tons, and said to be the largest in
| the Union.
! Another start is made and slowly our
long train drays up the curving incline,
led by the team Of iron horses hitched
In tandem. Above us the steep sides
tower, thicllly covered with the forest
primeva!;" below they plunge down in
| w Nil' WIN S1ltIS anu lilllSlCu ines.
Rounding a curve, the black mouth of
the tunnel swings into sight. High
above us rises the mountain and plung-
ing down it's rocky face comes Il beauti-
full cascade. With accelerated speed we
reach the great tunnel under Stampede
Pass. At Martin Station we enter it's
arched doorway hewn out of the solid
rock. The interior is lighted by incan-
descent electric lamps, attached to the
wall on either side at intervals ol a few
feet. Some are near the roof of the tun-
mel; some are on lire with the tram
and some are low down, and for long
distance behind we can see them faint
and red. The effect is weird, peculiar,
! strange, like q long line of indistinct
stars as seen through smoked glass.
And as the train rpshes through we
catch glimpses of the upturned faces OF
the track-walkers, or tunnel crew, by
whom this marvel of engineering skill.
nearly two miles in length-to be exact,
$3.50 feet-is guarded with constant care
day and night
The plunge from daylight into night
as the tunnel hides us from the world,
and then the swift rush out and down
tlle mountain, racing AKA lllSl tllllt ltsell,
as we swiftly descend into the wild and
| weird gorge of Green River, forms an
episode in our journey long to be re-
membered.
Succession Of Tunnels.
Before the valley is reached we enter
i eight successive tunnels. often passing
from one to another over high bridge
or trestle. There are six on the noun
| tain and two on the Green River The
excavation of these was an expensive
and triumphant achievement in rail-
way engineering, being under the direc-
tion of Nelson Bennett. of Tacoma. A
peculiar sensation is noticeable as we
cross the dividing point in the tunnel.
The cars tip slightly, but surely for
| ward. the speed increases and we know
the Cascades are surmounted and we
are descending the forest-clad western
slope downward to Tacoma and Puget
Sound, and even to the wave-wasned
shores of the Pacific Ocean.
j. T.. Richmond.
l