Otisville Tunnel

The Otisville Tunnel is the longest tunnel on New York's Metro-North commuter railroad, at 5,314 feet (1,620 m) in length.[1] Although the track curves at the western opening, underground the tunnel is a straight line, allowing the observer to see all the way through.

Western portal of the Otisville Tunnel

It is currently owned by Metro-North, having been sold by the Norfolk Southern Railway in 2003.

History

The tunnel was built in 1908 by the Erie Railroad at the highest point of the Graham Line. The original Erie main line went over the hill and connected at both ends with the tunnel. Later the "over the hill" tracks were abandoned and all trains ran through the tunnel.

It later operated under the auspices of the merged Erie Lackawanna Railway from 1960 to 1976, and then Conrail from 1976 until it was acquired by Norfolk Southern as part of the breakup of Conrail.

Metro-North took over passenger service in 1983.

Location

It passes underneath the Shawangunk Ridge at Otisville, New York just past Otisville station on the Metro-North Port Jervis Line.

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See also
  • List of tunnels documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in New York (state)

References
  1. "Improvements on the Erie Railroad". Railway and Locomotive Engineering. 24 (8): 327. August 1911. Retrieved 2011-11-04.


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