HOOSAC TUNNEL FACTS


First Proposed (for canal) ============ 1819
Chartered, ============================ 1848
Commenced, ============================ 1851
Headings met, ================ Nov, 27, 1873
Completed, ============================ 1875
Total Length, feet, ================= 25,081
East End to Central Shaft, feet, ==== 12,837
Central Shaft to West Shaft, feet,==== 9,694
West Shaft to West End, feet, ======== 2,500
Depth central Shaft, feet ============ 1,028
Depth West Shaft, feet, ===============  318
Size Central Shaft, feet, ============ 15x27
Size West shaft, feet, =============== 10x14
Height Eastern Summit, feet, ========= 1,429
Height Western Summit, feet, ========= 1,718
Grade per mile, =================== 26 -- 40
Error in line at point of meeting,== 9/16 In.
Rock: Mica Slate with Quartz Nodules
Water pumped from C.S., gal. per min. == 214
Rock excavated, tons, ============ 1,900,000
Height, feet, =========================== 20
Width, feet, ============================ 34
Water discharged East End, gal. per min. 100
Water discharged West End, gal. per min. 600
Men employed, =================== 800 to 900
Miles from Boston, ===================== 136
First Train through, ========== Feb. 9, 1875
First Freight, =============== April 5, 1875
First Passenger, ============= Oct. 13, 1875
Above Tide at East Portal, feet, ======= 766
Total Length of brick arching, feet, = 7,573
Number of bricks used in arching, 20,000,000
Cost, ========================== $14,000,000
Lives Lost, ============================ 195
Contractors, F. & W. Shanley, Montreal.
Chief Civil Engineer, Benjamin D. Frost.
Explosive, Tri-nitro Glycerine.
One pound of Glycerine equals 13 pounds of powder.