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Coordinates: 39°33′29″N 78°26′31″W / 39.558°N 78.442°W / 39.558; -78.442
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{{Short description|Abandoned railroad tunnel in Allegany County, Maryland, US}}
{{Infobox tunnel
{{Infobox tunnel
|name = Kessler Tunnel
|name = Kessler Tunnel
|image = East portal of Tunnel No. 1402, Kessler Tunnel, looking southwest, with Tunnel Hill Road at right. - Western Maryland Railway, Cumberland Extension, Pearre to North Branch, from WM milepost 125 to 160, Pearre, Washington County, MD.jpg
⚫
|image =
|caption =
|caption = East portal of the Kessler Tunnel.
|line = West Subdivision
|line = West Subdivision
|location = [[Oldtown, Maryland]]
|location = [[Oldtown, Maryland]]
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|stations =
|stations =
|startwork =
|startwork =
|open = 1906
|opened = 1906
|close = 1975
|closed = 1975
|owner = [[Western Maryland Railway|WM]]
|owner = [[Western Maryland Railway|WM]]
|operator =
|operator =
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|tracklength =
|tracklength =
|notrack = Single
|notrack = Single
|gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|al=on|allk=on}}
|gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
|el =
|el =
|speed =
|speed =
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|height =
|height =
|grade = 0.5%
|grade = 0.5%
⚫
|extra =
{{Location map | USA Maryland
|label = Kessler Tunnel
|label_size =
|alt =
|position = bottom
|background =
|lat = 39.558
|long = -78.442
|mark =
|marksize =
|border = none
|float =
|width =
|caption = <!-- blank -->
}}
}}
}}
'''Kessler Tunnel''' is an abandoned [[rail transport|railroad]] [[tunnel]] in [[Allegany County, Maryland]], located about {{convert|8.5|mi|km}} east-northeast of [[Oldtown, Maryland|Oldtown]]. It was built by the [[Western Maryland Railway]] (WM) in 1906.<ref name="Railway Age 1906">{{cite journal |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date=1906-02-09 |title=Western Maryland Line Open |journal=The Railway Age |volume=41 |issue=6 |page=224 |publisher=Railway Age Co. |location=Chicago |doi= |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=0Z9MAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA224&ots=bYkh7AibSY&dq=%22kessler%20tunnel%22&pg=PA224#v=onepage&q=%22kessler%20tunnel%22&f=false |accessdate= }}</ref> It was constructed with [[concrete]] arch portals and the roof has wood planking. The tunnel was named for landowner John Kessler.<ref name="NPS NRHP">National Park Service. Washington, D.C. (1981-07-23). [http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/81000078.pdf "Western Maryland Railway Right-of-Way, Milepost 126 to Milepost 160 (Abandoned)."] National Register of Historic Places Inventory--Nomination Form.</ref>
'''Kessler Tunnel''' is an abandoned [[rail transport|railroad]] [[tunnel]] in [[Allegany County, Maryland]], located about {{convert|8.5|mi|km}} east-northeast of [[Oldtown, Maryland|Oldtown]]. It was built by the [[Western Maryland Railway]] (WM) in 1906.<ref name="Railway Age 1906">{{cite journal |date=1906-02-09 |title=Western Maryland Line Open |journal=The Railway Age |volume=41 |issue=6 |page=224 |publisher=Railway Age Co. |location=Chicago |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=0Z9MAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22kessler+tunnel%22&pg=PA224 }}</ref> It was constructed with [[concrete]] arch portals and the roof has wood planking. The tunnel was named for landowner John Kessler.<ref name="NPS NRHP">National Park Service. Washington, D.C. (1981-07-23). {{NRHP url|id=81000078|title="Western Maryland Railway Right-of-Way, Milepost 126 to Milepost 160 (Abandoned)."}} National Register of Historic Places Inventory--Nomination Form.</ref>


The tunnel was part of a major WM project to extend its rail system from [[Hagerstown, Maryland|Hagerstown]] west to [[Cumberland, Maryland|Cumberland]]. The difficult route followed the [[Potomac River]] valley and involved construction of four additional tunnels and 23 bridges. The new rail line opened for traffic in 1906.<ref name="Cook">{{cite book|last=Cook|first=Roger|coauthors=Zimmermann, Karl|title=The Western Maryland Railway: Fireballs and Black Diamonds|publisher=Garrigues House|location=Laurys Station, PA |year=1992 |edition=2nd |page=44|isbn=0-9620844-4-1}}</ref>{{rp|44}} Trains ran through the tunnel until 1975 and the rail line was abandoned that same year by the Chessie System, which had taken over the WM and combined the WM's operations with those of the B&O.<ref name="Cook" />{{rp|283}}
The tunnel was part of a major WM project to extend its rail system from [[Hagerstown, Maryland|Hagerstown]] west to [[Cumberland, Maryland|Cumberland]]. The difficult route followed the [[Potomac River]] valley and involved construction of four additional tunnels and 23 bridges. The new rail line opened for traffic in 1906.<ref name="Cook">{{Cook-Western Maryland}}</ref>{{rp|44}} Trains ran through the tunnel until 1975 and the rail line was abandoned that same year by the Chessie System, which had taken over the WM and combined the WM's operations with those of the B&O.<ref name="Cook" />{{rp|283}}


The [[National Park Service]] acquired the tunnel and adjacent portions of the WM [[Right of way (transportation)|right of way]] in 1980. The site is part of [[Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park]].<ref name="NPS NRHP" />
The [[National Park Service]] acquired the tunnel and adjacent portions of the WM [[Right of way (transportation)|right of way]] in 1980. The site is part of [[Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park]].<ref name="NPS NRHP" />
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* [http://www.wmwestsub.com/kesslertunnel.htm Kessler Tunnel photos] - WMWestSub.com
* [http://www.wmwestsub.com/kesslertunnel.htm Kessler Tunnel photos] - WMWestSub.com


[[Category:Buildings and structures in Allegany County, Maryland]]
[[Category:Tunnels in Allegany County, Maryland]]
[[Category:Railroad tunnels in Maryland]]
[[Category:Railroad tunnels in Maryland]]
[[Category:Western Maryland Railway Tunnels]]
[[Category:Western Maryland Railway tunnels]]
[[Category:Tunnels completed in 1906]]
[[Category:Tunnels completed in 1906]]
[[Category:1906 establishments in Maryland]]



{{Maryland-geo-stub}}
{{Maryland-struct-stub}}
{{Maryland-transport-stub}}
{{US-tunnel-stub}}

Latest revision as of 18:15, 3 August 2023

Kessler Tunnel
East portal of the Kessler Tunnel.
Overview
LineWest Subdivision
LocationOldtown, Maryland
Coordinates39°33′29″N 78°26′31″W / 39.558°N 78.442°W / 39.558; -78.442
StatusAbandoned
SystemWestern Maryland Railway
Operation
Opened1906
Closed1975
OwnerWM
TrafficTrain
CharacterFreight and Passenger
Technical
Length1,843.3 ft (561.8 m)
No. of tracksSingle
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Highest elevation349.3 ft (106.5 m)
Grade0.5%
Kessler Tunnel is located in Maryland
Kessler Tunnel
Kessler Tunnel

Kessler Tunnel is an abandoned railroad tunnel in Allegany County, Maryland, located about 8.5 miles (13.7 km) east-northeast of Oldtown. It was built by the Western Maryland Railway (WM) in 1906.[1] It was constructed with concrete arch portals and the roof has wood planking. The tunnel was named for landowner John Kessler.[2]

The tunnel was part of a major WM project to extend its rail system from Hagerstown west to Cumberland. The difficult route followed the Potomac River valley and involved construction of four additional tunnels and 23 bridges. The new rail line opened for traffic in 1906.[3]: 44  Trains ran through the tunnel until 1975 and the rail line was abandoned that same year by the Chessie System, which had taken over the WM and combined the WM's operations with those of the B&O.[3]: 283 

The National Park Service acquired the tunnel and adjacent portions of the WM right of way in 1980. The site is part of Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park.[2]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Western Maryland Line Open". The Railway Age. 41 (6). Chicago: Railway Age Co.: 224 1906-02-09.
  2. ^ a b National Park Service. Washington, D.C. (1981-07-23). "Western Maryland Railway Right-of-Way, Milepost 126 to Milepost 160 (Abandoned)." National Register of Historic Places Inventory--Nomination Form.
  3. ^ a b Cook, Roger; Zimmermann, Karl (1992). The Western Maryland Railway: Fireballs and Black Diamonds (2nd ed.). Laurys Station, PA: Garrigues House. ISBN 0-9620844-4-1. OCLC 26302871.
[edit]


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