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Steve J Rush's Collection
 
2/22/2025
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Viewing Album:  35 mph at Tunnel City
 
By:Steve J Rush
Dates:3/6/2010 - 3/6/2010
Album Info:The history of that which was later to become known as "the Milwaukee Road", starts even before 1875 when "Tunnel #1" was made thru the high ridge of the sandstone hills in this part of West Central Wisconsin. It could be said that this natural barrier running north and south, is the eastern edge of that which I call "the Great River Valley". It is located not only 37 miles east of La Crosse, but also only three miles west of Tomah, which is the french form of the name Thomas! This ridge is the highest point on the Milwaukee's route between Chicago and Butte, Montana. And it was the shortest of the three Twin Cities routes to the west coast! When running eastward from Rockland to Tunnel City, the railroad rises 308 ft in 19.4 miles! About 35 years later in 1910, the CNW came to Tunnel City on their way west to Winona and southern Minnesota. Their tunnel lasted only 63 years until 1973 when it collapsed as a train was passing through it! Fortunately, no one was hurt as the engine and the caboose were on opposite sides of the tunnel when the roof came crashing down! There was another tunnel, and it was the original Milwaukee tunnel from before 1875. It was in service for 13 years until the much better 1875 tunnel was completed. It also later collapsed and it is said by some, that the men, horses and wagons are still up there inside the mountain, as there was no way to get them out. Or so it has been reported! That was the end of the Milwaukee's projects at Tunnel City as the work crews transferred to the nearby CNW tunnel or very soon quickly left for that which became three other tunnels on the CNW line between Sparta and Elroy.
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Amtk 8
Title:  Amtk 8
Description:  eastbound "Empire Builder" just coming out of the tunnel at mp 243.8
Photo Date:  3/6/2010  Upload Date: 3/16/2010 3:53:23 AM
Location:  Tunnel City, WI
Author:  Beth Rush
Categories:  Winter,Passenger,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  227   Comments: 1
Amtk 8
Title:  Amtk 8
Description:  eastbound "Empire Builder" just coming out of the tunnel at mp 243.8
Photo Date:  3/6/2010  Upload Date: 3/16/2010 3:55:13 AM
Location:  Tunnel City, WI
Author:  Beth Rush
Categories:  Winter,Passenger,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  155   Comments: 0
Amtk 8
Title:  Amtk 8
Description:  Just out of the tunnel west of Tomah, engine crew says hello!
Photo Date:  3/6/2010  Upload Date: 3/22/2010 2:39:20 PM
Location:  Tunnel City, WI
Author:  Beth Rush
Categories:  Winter,Passenger,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  166   Comments: 0
just around the curve
Title:  just around the curve
Description:  westbound ctc home signals
Photo Date:  3/6/2010  Upload Date: 3/16/2010 4:01:59 AM
Location:  Tunnel City, WI
Author:  Beth Rush
Categories:  Winter,Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  244   Comments: 0
the east portal
Title:  the east portal
Description:  looking west passed the signals and thru the tunnel
Photo Date:  3/6/2010  Upload Date: 3/16/2010 4:04:45 AM
Location:  Tunnel City, WI
Author:  Beth Rush
Categories:  Tunnel,Winter,Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  337   Comments: 2
the east portal
Title:  the east portal
Description:  looking west at 1,063 ft above sea level, the highest point on the Milwaukee between Chicago and Butte, Montana
Photo Date:  3/6/2010  Upload Date: 3/16/2010 4:16:19 AM
Location:  Tunnel City, WI
Author:  Beth Rush
Categories:  Tunnel,Winter,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  277   Comments: 0
looking west
Title:  looking west
Description:  just to the left is the original tunnel that was before this
Photo Date:  3/6/2010  Upload Date: 3/16/2010 4:23:31 AM
Location:  Tunnel City, WI
Author:  Beth Rush
Categories:  Tunnel,Winter
Locomotives: 
Views:  340   Comments: 1
looking east
Title:  looking east
Description:  coming out of the tunnel and still climbing up grade, you can see the ctc home signal where the CNW heads for Wyeville and the Omaha main
Photo Date:  3/6/2010  Upload Date: 3/16/2010 4:28:55 AM
Location:  Tunnel City, WI
Author:  Beth Rush
Categories:  Scenic,Winter,Signal,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  223   Comments: 0
a lot more traffic on the "old Milwaukee" Soo/ CP main
Title:  a lot more traffic on the "old Milwaukee" Soo/ CP main
Description:  out of the tunnel, almost to the top of the hill
Photo Date:  3/6/2010  Upload Date: 3/16/2010 4:34:11 AM
Location:  Tunnel City, WI
Author:  BethRush
Categories:  Scenic,Winter,Signal,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  260   Comments: 0
East Portal Tunnel City
Title:  East Portal Tunnel City
Description:  Edited and Filtered
Photo Date:  3/25/2010  Upload Date: 3/25/2010 1:36:20 AM
Location:  Tunnel City, WI
Author:  Steven Rush
Categories:  Winter
Locomotives: 
Views:  338   Comments: 0

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