Connaught Tunnel

Template:Short description Template:For Template:Infobox tunnel Template:Location map The Connaught Tunnel is in southeastern British Columbia, on the Revelstoke–Donald segment. The Template:Convert tunnel carries the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) main line under Mount Macdonald in the Selkirk Mountains. The tunnel, opened by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) in 1916, replaced the previous routing over Rogers Pass.

History

Summit route deficiencies

Traffic restrictions imposed by a single track comprising Template:Convert of 2.2 percent gradients,Template:Sfn emerging competition,Template:Sfn and snow-related costs,Template:Sfn were negative factors. The 1910 Rogers Pass avalanche, and other avalanches on the pass, influenced but did not unduly pressure CP to consider alternatives;Template:Sfn however, snow clearing and maintaining snow sheds was an ongoing burden.Template:Sfn

Rarely assigning more than one pusher locomotive per train, trains over 1,016 tons had to be cut.Template:Sfn Higher capacity locomotives had helped,Template:Sfn but the next leap forward would not occur until the Selkirk locomotives emerged in 1929.Template:Sfn In 1912, the average of eight trains (peaking at 11) per day in each direction was forecast to double over the next four years. The program to double-track much of the route through the mountains could create a bottleneck at Rogers Pass. Following the 1906–1908 recession, by 1912, passenger and freight volumes surpassed records. Whereas passenger train length could increase, freight could not, because of weight capacity limits.Template:Sfn Furthermore, the former had priority, causing siding waits for the latter.Template:Sfn

The opening of the Grand Trunk Pacific (GTP) posed a threat to CP's grain and Asian trade.Template:Sfn Using a single locomotive, GTP could haul 2,041 tons from Edmonton to Prince Rupert, via Yellowhead Pass, four times the weight CP could haul across the mountains on its main line.Template:Sfn The opening of the Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) via the Yellowhead to Vancouver, the premier destination, prompted greater alarm.Template:Sfn The opening of the Panama Canal, which bypassed all North American rail routes, offered some compensation in that grain traffic destined for Europe could travel westward by rail.Template:Sfn

Prior significant improvements in the mountains

In 1902, the Template:Convert Ottertail Diversion, west from Field, eliminated the need for pushers.Template:Sfn In 1887, after a Template:Convert tunnel collapsed near Palliser, the temporary realignment around a bluff of the Kicking Horse River existed until the Template:Convert Palliser Tunnel (1906).Template:Sfn In 1909, the Spiral Tunnels replaced the Big Hill.Template:Sfn

Alternatives

Routes

The three basic options within the Selkirks were to use the Big Bend, double-track the summit, or dig a tunnel. The Big Bend route was not a viable contender.Template:Sfn Estimates indicated that a tunnel would be cheaper than snow sheds and operational costs for double-tracking the summit.Template:Sfn

Tunnels

Three schemes were considered. In 1912, Thomas Kilpatrick, superintendent of the Mountain Subdivision, suggested a Template:Convert tunnel, which would have shortened the line by Template:Convert, reducing the pusher gradient by Template:Convert on the east slope and Template:Convert on the west one. This alignment would have eliminated the bridges at Mountain, Surprise, and Stoney creeks, but was rejected owing to perceived construction deadlines, and a route beneath the headwaters of the Illecillewaet River, vulnerable to leakage.Template:Sfn The deadlineTemplate:Sfn and routeTemplate:Sfn fears proved suspect.

F.F. Busteed, general superintendent of the Pacific Division, proposed a Template:Convert tunnel, which would have shortened the line by Template:Convert, reducing the pusher gradient by Template:Convert on the east slope and Template:Convert on the west one.Template:Sfn John G. Sullivan, chief engineer,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> recommended a Template:Convert tunnel, similar to, but more expensive than, the Busteed one.Template:Sfn All proposals eliminated the Loops on the west slope of the pass route.Template:Sfn

Proposal and tender

The stated advantages were three-fold. Primarily, the tunnel lowered the grade; secondly, it shortened the distance; and thirdly, it bypassed an avalanche-prone zone.<ref name=3Nov13>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The specified alignment would lower the track summit from Template:Convert to Template:Convert, shorten the line by Template:Convert, reduce the pusher gradient by Template:Convert on the east slope and Template:Convert on the west one, and eliminate the Stoney, Surprise, and Mountain creek bridges. The tunnel grade would be 0.95% westward.Template:Sfn At the west portal, the route required a diversion of the Illecillewaet River for about Template:Convert.Template:Sfn Let out to tender in April 1913, the bids received were unacceptably high. It was immediately retendered as a cost-plus contract, with bonus and penalty clauses. After negotiations with the lowest bidder, the contract was awarded to Foley, Welch and Stewart (FW&S) in July 1913.Template:Sfn

Construction

The Rogers Pass article shows the summit route details. Only the crest and eastern slope of the tunnel route is underground.

The primary construction camp was near the western portal, a secondary one was near the eastern portal, and a minor one was at Bear Creek.<ref name="3Nov13" /> The western portal one, housing 300, was approached either from Loop Spur or the government road from Glacier House. The eastern portal one, housing 200, had only rail access. Both comprised a police post, small hospital, general store, offices, apartments, bunkhouses, kitchen, dining hall, and lounge, with electric lighting and plumbing for water and sanitation.

Operating three shifts daily, a pioneer tunnel advanced from each end, from which cross cuts were made to the main tunnel so work could carry on at a number of headings simultaneously. Compressed air equipment, blasting, steam shovels, and narrow-gauge cars were used. At Template:Convert high and Template:Convert wide, the tunnel would accommodate double tracks.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The western side involved penetrating thick mud, extremely hard rock, and finally softer rock.<ref name=TTT>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The highest point of the Selkirks track was just inside the western portal. Three steam shovels were based on the west side and one on the east.<ref name="3Nov13" /> Death and injury were not uncommon.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}
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{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Mirroring the advance across the pass in the 1880s, concern for the health and safety of workers was not a priority.<ref name="TTT" /> Beating world monthly tunneling records, the pioneer headings met in December 1915, and the main bores in July 1916.Template:Sfn

The unacceptably high cost projection scrapped the electrification plan. Instead, ventilation fans were installed.Template:Sfn East of the tunnel, the plan for double-tracking to Six-Mile Creek was amended to a level Template:Convert single track connecting with the existing line at Stoney Creek.Template:Sfn This reduced the pusher gradient on the east slope by Template:Convert, Template:Convert less than specified.Template:Sfn However, it retained the substantial investment in the bridges at Mountain, Surprise, and Stoney creeks.<ref name=okthepk201111>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The tunnel was completed 11 months ahead of schedule and below budget.Template:Sfn One calculation of costs listed tunneling $4.91M, tunnel track $0.16M, approaches $0.86M, and ventilation $0.11M, totaling $6.04M,Template:Sfn less the salvage value of the abandoned line $1.67M.Template:Sfn Extending the concrete lining during 1919–1925 added a further $2.60M.Template:Sfn The $8.64M total is in line with a different calculation of $8.45M.<ref >{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In all, the route was shortened by Template:Convert.Template:Sfn

Repairs, modifications, and emergencies

File:Connaught Tunnel.jpg

Connaught Tunnel

In 1919, 30 drums of gasoline and kerosene, used by the concrete mixers engaged in the lining operation, ignited. A tunnel watchman, who rushed some distance to the nearest telephone to alert Connaught station at the eastern portal, did not survive. His warning saved the westbound transcontinental, then at the station, from proceeding into the tunnel. Nine workers escaped on a handcar from the east portal, and one watchman staggered from the west portal.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

To deal with crumbling rock in the roof, the concrete tunnel lining was extended from Template:Convert to Template:Convert. Prior to the 1925 completion of the project,Template:Sfn falling rock killed or injured several workers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}
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In 1928, a locomotive boiler explosion killed three crew members near Glacier.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1929, two train crew died when their locomotive fell into the ravine when a girder collapsed on the Surprise Creek Bridge.Template:Sfn

The 1931 flood sent 2,000 replacement ties through the tunnel and filled the west portal cutting to a Template:Convert depth<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with Template:Convert of mud and debris, which took five days to dig out.<ref name="TTT" />

Approved in 1958, the following year a single track down the center (replacing the double tracks) provided sufficient clearance for tri-deck automobile carriers.Template:Sfn

In 1972 and 1976, the tunnel fans and housing sustained extensive damage on catching fire.<ref name="okthepk201111" />

In 1977, soon after departing the Glacier siding (Mile 85.9), a westbound loaded 109-car coal train lost control, and broadcast a warning that they were travelling too fast to make the curves at Illecillewaet. On hearing the radio message, a 60-car eastbound freight accelerated to safely reach Illecillewaet siding (Mile 98.1), before three crew members stepped clear of their train. The runaway's three lead locomotives, 45 cars, a remote control locomotive, and the following 22 cars, were destroyed on derailing at Mile 94.4. The impact shifted a bridge from its footings and damaged a snow shed. The crew sustained minor injuries. The line remained closed for a week.<ref name=okthepk201206>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1985, a nearby rock slide derailed one of the four locomotives hauling a coal train.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The tunnel was deepened to clearances matched with the Mount Macdonald Tunnel in 1993 to accommodate double-stack container cars with future electrification.<ref name="okthepk201111" /> This first 24/7 work project undertaken by CP was a significant engineering challenge.

In 1997, eight cars of a train derailed in the vicinity.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2015, six cars of a westbound freight derailed on Stoney Creek Bridge. The train had diverted to the eastbound route because the Mount Macdonald Tunnel was being vented. The incident occurred when the train lost momentum on the steeper grade and stopped with the cars on the bridge. However, restarting on the curve caused the heavier cars at the front and rear of the train to lift the lighter middle cars from the track.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Operation

The first commercial train was December 1916, which traveled via Loop Spur, since the pass line remained in use until a few days later.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The most northern part of the Loops between the two hillsides, which had been a long trestle,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> but likely infilled around 1906, needed to be breached by the new line.

Automatic block signalling came in the 1920s.Template:Sfn To improve visibility on the 1929 introduction of the Selkirk locomotives, trains switched to the left-hand track before entering the tunnel.Template:Sfn In 1950, multiple aspect signalling was installed. In 1954, diesel locomotives became standard.Template:Sfn

Pusher units cut into westbound freight trains at Beavermouth, before disconnecting at Stoney Creek. On occasions, when pushers worked through to Glacier, crew were required to wear respirators, owing to the tunnel fumes. The tunnel blocked radio communication. The 1974 realignment west of Beavermouth moved the connection point to Rogers. After the 1988 opening of the Mount Macdonald Tunnel, westbound traffic primarily used that lower gradient route, with Connaught handling eastbound.<ref name="okthepk201206" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During the pusher station's existence, six engineers, six maintenance workers, and nine locomotives were based at Rogers. Five-engine units were used on heavy trains carrying grain, coal, and potash. Four-engine units were used on other freights.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Notability

When opened, the tunnel ranked eighth in length:

1. Simplon Tunnel (1906) Template:Convert
2. Gotthard Tunnel (1882) Template:Convert
3. Lötschberg Tunnel (1913) Template:Convert
4. Fréjus Rail Tunnel (Mont Cenis) (1871) Template:Convert, extended (1881) Template:Convert
5. Arlberg Railway Tunnel (1884) Template:Convert
6. Ricken Tunnel (1910) Template:Convert
7. Tauern Railway Tunnel (1909) Template:Convert
8. Connaught Tunnel (1916) Template:Convert

However, it took the title from the Hoosac Tunnel (1875) Template:Convert as the longest railway tunnel in North AmericaTemplate:Sfn until displaced by the Moffat Tunnel (1928) Template:Convert in 1928.

Officially opened in July 1916 by the Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, the governor general, the Selkirk Tunnel<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> was renamed the Connaught Tunnel weeks later.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2001, the tunnel was inducted into the North America Railway Hall of Fame.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

When partway through the project, rock drillers J. A. McIlwee and Sons encountered an unexpected predominance of crumbly slate, FW&S dismissed the subcontractor, rather than negotiate a contract variance. After several appeals, including a hearing of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, the courts awarded McIlwee about $576,000 for breach of contract. At the time, this was the largest single judgement obtained in a BC court.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}
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W.J. Hackman (1928–1953)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> was the first child born in the tunnel. The birth occurred on the westbound CP No. 2. Passenger train.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The next birth appears to have occurred in 1939.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• The Kicking Horse Pass Spiral Tunnels (which in 1909 eliminated the dangerous Big Hill), Field Hill, Rogers Pass, and the Mount Macdonald Tunnel and its associated grade reductions are other significant features in the mountain history of the CPR.
• Royal eponyms in Canada

References

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