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Memorial to honor workers killed in 1867 fire at Hoosac Tunnel
Hoosac Tunnel is a fascinating and spooky place. I recall the story about the Central Shaft fire, where a naphtha lighting system failed and started the fire on wooden scaffolding near the top of the shaft. Men were killed by falling drill rods and material, at the bottom of the shaft they were digging.
Like other Massachusetts projects the commonwealth gets involved in, it went way over budget and took too long. Before the Big Dig, there was the Great Bore.
Technological advances in tunneling were put to work here, such as the Burleigh drill (from Fitchburg), same as the one that John Henry competed with. Nitroglycerine was a new technology used here too.
Ironically, it wasn’t hard rock that made it so difficult–it was “demoralized rock”.
A while back, “Trains” did an excellent historical article about the tunnel!!! Very informative.
But, where’s the anti-Amtrak idiotic nonsense criticism from the Goose??
I thought the east portal was at Hoosac Tunnel (where the HT&W connected and electrification to Sprague’s began).
Good thing it’s not in Bar Harbour, ME, they just disrepect memorials and send them away to other towns.
The East Portal is in Florida Ma. It was called Hoosac Tunnel village long ago. The HT&W was across the Deerfield River in Rowe aprox. a 1/4 mile away. The electric zone started at the begining of Soapstone siding a couple of miles east and ended at North Adams Little Hoosac tunnel near Sprague Capacitor Co.
I was at the dedication and it was very well done with speakers and live music.
For more information of the tunnel, please see my site, “Hoosac Tunnel Then and Now” www.jkrails.net
Thanks, Jerry Kelley