The train route which provides my daily commute passes through a number of tunnels. Many are not tunnels in the strict sense of the term. These are sections of track laid in a groove cut through rock with a “roof” covering, giving it a tunnel look and feel. Why are these covered you ask?! No idea, but maybe “because they could” is a good answer! Any body know?
Back to the topic. Two tunnels we travel trough are really long, so I went looking for info and found this:
Back to the topic. Two tunnels we travel trough are really long, so I went looking for info and found this:
The 4th longest railway tunnel in New Zealand (and the longest double-track tunnel in New Zealand) is the 4324 m long Tawa No.2 tunnel between Wellington and Tawa. It was opened in 1935 for goods trains on one line and in 1937 for all traffic.
The longest?
The longest railway tunnel in New Zealand, and indeed the longest in the southern hemisphere, is the 8879 m long Kaimai tunnel at Apata on the East Coast Main Trunk Line. This tunnel was opened in November 1980 replacing the longer Karangahake Gorge route. Note, however, that some hydro tunnels are much longer than this.
The second longest railway tunnel in New Zealand is the 8798 m long Rimutaka tunnel between Wellington and the Wairarapa. This tunnel replaced the Rimutaka incline in 1955.
The third longest railway tunnel in New Zealand (and the longest railway tunnel in the South Island) is the 8566 m long Otira tunnel through the Southern Alps between Arthurs Pass and Otira. This tunnel is on a continuous 1 in 33 grade and was opened in 1923.
Information courtesy of Return to Peter McGavin's train page.
Grandpa! Next post will have a count of tunnels through which we pass. While I will not be able to provide total distance, I can provide total time spent in tunnels….. then again, I never did tell you how many windows there were in any of my schools, so this too may not come to pass….. (hee hee)