Here's Tunnel #1 on the OR&N Company tracks in 1902, from A.J. Fletcher's album. Water level looks very high. Those tracks look very new. Nice fishwheel!
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Tags: 1900s Columbia_River fish_wheel Fletcher railroad tunnel
Where is tunnel #1? By Corbett?
L.E. on 22nd March 2018 @ 7:46am
This tunnel #1 is at Corbett and although abandoned it can still be entered for about 200' from the east end. It was replaced by the adjacent tunnel #1 that is still used. When the RR was constructed from the east the tunnel numbers were from the east, #1 across from Lyle, @2 at Memaloose and @3 at Corbett with the numbers later reversed.
Kenn on 22nd March 2018 @ 10:31am
Fascinating.
Kyle on 22nd March 2018 @ 11:49am
Dumb question (maybe): why is there so much dirt (fill?) around and over the ties between the rails? Was it standard practice back in the day to backfill like this?
kmb on 22nd March 2018 @ 3:04pm
blast is placed around the ties to hold them in place...in this case the ballast appears to be run of the mill gravel. railroads today take a lot of concern for their ballast as besides holding the ties in place it provides drainage giving the ties longer life. while many think that coal dust is still blowing off coal cars in the gorge, the railroads have learned that coal dust is BAD for their ballast as it inhibits drainage, thus applying a binder on the top of loads to keep the coal in place. the coal cars coming through the gorge have had this spay applied twice at two different locations. no dumb questions. this sure is a great photo!
Arlen Sheldrake on 22nd March 2018 @ 11:06pm
No tie plates or creepers, wonder when tie plates were first used, by who and where ~
Kenn on 23rd March 2018 @ 7:22am