| Milepost 27
National - Hendersonville |
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| P&LE SW-1500's 1559-1561-1553
are now stopped at the East Portal of National Tunnel after pulling through
the tunnel with 82 empty stored P&LE box Cars and 1 empty gondola. In this
scene, the locomotives have pulled by the Muse Junction main track switch
far enough to allow a reverse movement to couple into the caboose. Sanded
rail illustrates the locomotives were working pretty hard in pulling the
lengthy and heavy 83 car train off the Muse Branch and up the hill into
National Tunnel. This of course will be the last Montour RR train movements
through National Tunnel. September 9, 1983. Gene P. Schaeffer |
At National Crossing, on the east side of the tunnel I
wanted to photograph the abandoned concrete overpass leading off the main
track to the former National #2 Mine. National #2 Mine was opened in 1916
and closed in 1928. Still visible is this concrete overpass on the west end
near the tunnel. On the east end, at Papp Road overpass, you can still see
the steel seats for the bridge leading off the main track, crossing Papp
Road in the direction of National Tunnel.
If you hike through the woods between these 2 points, you can see where the
loaded yard trackage was located. Looking closely to the ground, lots of
coal are scattered about.
Gene P. Schaeffer |
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| This is the east portal of the National tunnel.
The tunnel is 623' long and curves so that you can not see the west portal
from the east. You can go through the tunnel but it has not been
'refurbished' like the Enlow tunnel. The tunnel is located at MP 26 |
Here is a look from the inside of the tunnel
looking out the east portal. |
Looking into the tunnel from the east portal.
You can see the bend in the tunnel where the outside light is shining on the
walls. |
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I found these two iron rails
sticking out of the ground very near MP 27. There was also a lot of coke on
the ground near these two iron posts. Does anyone know the history here?
At a guess, the 2 steel beams near MP 27... Depending on their precise
location, may be from Nationals Mine located on the main track East of
National Tunnel. - Gene P. Schaeffer |
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| These are pictures of the bridge
that crosses over Papp Rd. From the bridge support you can see that it used
to be larger to carry two sets of tracks. |
Another photo of Papp Rd Bridge. On the left of
the phot is an access road from Papp Rd up to the tracks. I don't know if
this was used as part of the railroad. There is an iron gate restricting
access from Papp Rd currently. |
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Those pictures reminded me of a
story about National tunnel . . . years ago, when steam still ruled the
Montour, my grandfather worked on the track gang out of Southview. During
the colder months, a task they had to perform was to knock down the
gargantuan icicles that formed on that tunnel's ceiling. Turns out
that if this wasn't done, those frozen columns of water would blow out the
windows of
caboose cupolas.
Another kind of interesting task he had to perform was to make sure that the
switch-stand lamps had enough oil in them...
Just another little story from Western Pennsylvania's rich
railroading heritage.
-Chris Walker |
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National Tunnel is one of my
favorite places. Center of the tunnel was on a curve at the crest of a grade
(both ways, I
think). Steam engines couldn't shut off. Talk about smoke and heat! I
remember being awfully glad to get out of that one. Bandanna soaked in water
held over the mouth and holding your breath didn't get you very far
into the tunnel, let alone through it! - Bill Bigler |
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Not only were caboose windows
knocked out, but the locomotives themselves were in harms way. I remember a
report one winters morning as a #4 crew reported Engine 78 took a hit from
ice inside National Tunnel.
Engine 78 was a middle unit inside the 4 unit consist. If I remember
correctly, striking ice hanging down was not the problem, but the vibration
from the locomotives loosened a chunk as the westbound locomotives were
still working hauling the train up over the vertical curve. Down came the
chunk of ice and through the locomotive cab window.
Another danger with ice build up was the threat of a derailment. Ice is
extremely hard and if not removed from inside the gauge, flanges could climb
the rail and onto the ties they go and being part of the tunnel was curved,
this problem could not be ignored - Gene P. Schaeffer |
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Montour
Railroad 
