Re: Engineering question- Alpine Tunnel

How'd you like them ratholes, eh Earl?

Cheers from Under

Chris
in New Zealand


I learned breath control, and how to close my eyes and duck until it was all over.......

About once a week, halfway through the tunnel, there would be a loud "BANG" on the cab roof as we blasted another rock loose from the tunnel ceiling. When we got 1744 she had wood cab doors that had lived through a bunch of years in New Orleans humidity and at least 2 hurricanes. Early that summer we stomped into the Upper Tunnel wide open, pulling for she was worth- which was the normal deal. I had the doors and windows closed as usual. Looking out through the front door I could see the headlight shining on the tunnel walls as there was a left hand curve through the tunnel going up grade. Suddenly something rather large came down between the front of the engine and the cab, followed by a big "BOOM-CRASH". When we came out into daylight, I saw a wedge-shaped rock about the size of my head had fallen out of the ceiling, hit the front door glass, shattering it, the rock continued down breaking out the bottom panel and frame of the door, leaving a pile of broken glass and rotten wood at my feet. From then on, I closed my eyes, put my head down, and waited for daylight before looking up again.

The new door got fitted with safety glass instead of plate glass....