Union Tunnel (Baltimore)
Encyclopedia
The Union Tunnel is a railroad tunnel on Amtrak
's Northeast Corridor
in Baltimore, Maryland that connects Pennsylvania Station
to the Pennsylvania Railroad
's original mainline to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
and points north.
The Union Tunnel was originally constructed as part of The Union Railroad and served as the northern and eastern approach to Baltimore Union Station (now called Pennsylvania Station). In all, the Union Railroad was 9.62 miles (15.5 km) in length, extending from the northern terminus of the Baltimore and Potomac Rail Road
to the southern terminus of the Northern Central Railway
. The junction with the Baltimore and Potomac Rail Road lies between Pennsylvania Station and the northern portal of the Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel
. The Union Railroad joined the Northern Central at Bayview Junction, Maryland 39.29677°N 76.5533°W on the northeast side of Baltimore.
Although chartered as early as 1866, active steps to finance construction of the railroad and tunnel came only in the autumn of 1870, and actual construction begun May 1, 1871, and on July 24, 1873, the first train passed through the tunnel.
The original tunnel began at Bond Street, and passed under the bed of Hoffman street to Greenmount Avenue
, crossing under Dallas, Caroline, Spring and Eden streets, Central and Harford avenues, Ensor, Valley and McKim streets. Its length is 3410 feet (1,039.4 m). The total cost of the road and tunnel was some $3,000,000.
As soon as the Union Railroad was completed, the Northern Central Railway obtained the right to use it, and in February, 1882, the Northern Central purchased the Union Railroad stock from the Canton Company, and assumed control March 1 of the same year.
Additional work was done on the tunnels between 1928 and 1935 to prepare for the electrification
of the Pennsylvania Railroad's mainline.
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's Northeast Corridor
Northeast Corridor
The Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
in Baltimore, Maryland that connects Pennsylvania Station
Pennsylvania Station (Baltimore)
Pennsylvania Station is the main train station in Baltimore, Maryland. Designed by New York architect Kenneth MacKenzie Murchison , it was constructed in 1911 in the Beaux-Arts style of architecture for the Pennsylvania Railroad. It is located at 1515 N...
to the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
's original mainline to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
and points north.
The Union Tunnel was originally constructed as part of The Union Railroad and served as the northern and eastern approach to Baltimore Union Station (now called Pennsylvania Station). In all, the Union Railroad was 9.62 miles (15.5 km) in length, extending from the northern terminus of the Baltimore and Potomac Rail Road
Baltimore and Potomac Rail Road
The Baltimore and Potomac Railroad operated from Baltimore, Maryland, southwest to Washington, DC, from 1872 to 1902. The company was controlled by the Pennsylvania Railroad. It was the second railroad company to provide railroad service from Washington to the northeastern states, and became a...
to the southern terminus of the Northern Central Railway
Northern Central Railway
The Northern Central Railway was a Class I Railroad connecting Baltimore, Maryland with Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Completed in 1858, the line came under the control of the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1861, when the PRR acquired a controlling interest in the Northern Central's stock to compete with the...
. The junction with the Baltimore and Potomac Rail Road lies between Pennsylvania Station and the northern portal of the Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel
Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel
The Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel is a double track, masonry arch railroad tunnel beneath Baltimore, Maryland. It now serves Northeast Corridor rail service operated by Amtrak and MARC Train passenger railroads with an average of 135 trains per weekday traversing the tunnel.Whether considered a...
. The Union Railroad joined the Northern Central at Bayview Junction, Maryland 39.29677°N 76.5533°W on the northeast side of Baltimore.
Although chartered as early as 1866, active steps to finance construction of the railroad and tunnel came only in the autumn of 1870, and actual construction begun May 1, 1871, and on July 24, 1873, the first train passed through the tunnel.
The original tunnel began at Bond Street, and passed under the bed of Hoffman street to Greenmount Avenue
Maryland Route 45
Maryland Route 45 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as York Road, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 1 in Baltimore north to the Pennsylvania state line in Maryland Line, where the highway continues as SR 3001...
, crossing under Dallas, Caroline, Spring and Eden streets, Central and Harford avenues, Ensor, Valley and McKim streets. Its length is 3410 feet (1,039.4 m). The total cost of the road and tunnel was some $3,000,000.
As soon as the Union Railroad was completed, the Northern Central Railway obtained the right to use it, and in February, 1882, the Northern Central purchased the Union Railroad stock from the Canton Company, and assumed control March 1 of the same year.
Additional work was done on the tunnels between 1928 and 1935 to prepare for the electrification
Railroad electrification in the United States
Railroad electrification in the United States comprised many different systems in many different geographical areas, few of which were connected. Despite this, there were a small number of common reasons for electrification....
of the Pennsylvania Railroad's mainline.