Visiting the historic Staple Bend Tunnel Trail near Johnstown
Interested in doing outdoor activities along a historic trail near Johnstown? You may be interested in the Staple Bend Tunnel Trail, located in Mineral Point about four miles from Johnstown. This trail belongs to the Allegheny Portage Rail Road Historic Site as well as part of the Trans Allegheny Trails. It is a segment of the Pittsburgh to Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway and it is a part of the Path of the Flood Trail.
At the trail head there is a paved parking area and bathrooms. There are also so informational signs that help explain some of the history of the area. From here it is a two mile walk to the Tunnel.
When you arrive at the Staple Bend Tunnel you are on the East side of the Tunnel. Construction began in November 1831 and was completed in late Spring of 1833. This tunnel has the distinction of being the first railroad tunnel in the United States and the third of its kind. The other two tunnels were for canals. To complete this tunnel approximately 14,900 cubic yards had to be removed by using black powder blasting.
One might ask why hire men to work 12 hours a day six days a week for years to blast through a mountain? Early in the 1800’s it took 23 days via Conestoga Wagons to get supplies and people from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. This severely hampered economic progress.
In 1826 the PA legislature authorized the building of a canal system to transport people and goods. In order for them to get over the Allegheny Mountains, it was decided to build 10 inclined planes. Five ascending and five descending. The Allegheny Portage Rail Road was working in conjunction with the canal system and the inclined planes. In order for the Allegheny Portage Rail Road to get to Johnstown and complete their 36 mile track from the Hollidaysburg Canal Basin to the Johnstown Basin, they had to go through this mountainous area known as Staple Bend.
When engineers came upon a large rock outcropping, they made a bold decision: to go through the mountain. No train tunnel had been built in America thus far. In order for the rail road to get through the 901 feet of mountain teams of three men would spend up to three hours drilling a three foot deep hole about one inch in diameter.
They would dig nine or ten holes and then place one pound of explosive powder wrapped in paper into each hole. They would tamp the explosive into place and puncture it. Next they would add a fuse. The explosions were usually set for meal times. This allowed for the men to eat while the dust settled. After this, the men would clean up the debris of dirt and rocks.
Although the drilled holes were three feet, or thirty-six inches, only eighteen inches would be blasted. The tunnel would grow about eighteen inches a day. Men worked from both sides of the tunnel. The teams of men met in the middle on December 21, 1832. Many cheers, toasts and celebrations were held.
It took several more months to complete the full excavation. On each end about 100 feet were lined with cut stone for safety. Once the excavation was complete, a decorative sandstone edifice was added to the entrances for travelers and the general public. The original exterior can still be seen on the west side entrance of the tunnel. It is considered a Roman Revival style. It has a low relief lintel and is supported on each side by Doric Pilasters. The east side’s exterior was removed in 1907 and has been left plain.
Once construction of the Staple Bend Tunnel was competed the Allegheny Portage Rail Road was able to officially open in March of 1834. It was then possible to travel from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh in four days. This allowed for much faster transportation of raw materials to the East and manufactured goods to the West. The economy began to boom.
The Allegheny Portage Rail Road operated a little over twenty years from 1834 to 1857. The completion of the Horseshoe Curve in 1854 by the Pennsylvania Rail Road began the end of the Allegheny Portage Rail Road.
Once the Allegheny Portage Rail Road ended, the tunnel fell out of use by the rail way. Instead, it became a popular route for carriages until the Flood of 1889. For more information on the Great Flood visit last weeks post here.
After the flood damage, it became a less desirable driving spot. Although its popularity waned, local residents continued to visit the historic tunnel until the 1940’s. Eventually the Manufacturer’s Water Company closed the tunnel to the public in the 1940’s and added water lines and a water vault. The water vault can still be seen on the west side entrance of the tunnel. The water lines were used by Bethlehem Steel.
In 2001 the tunnel became part of the the Allegheny Portage Rail Road National Historic Site. The National Park Service added rock bolts, some shoring posts and a few other reinforcements to increase safety of the tunnel. The Allegheny Portage Rail Road National Historic Site is a wonderful National Park. Their site can be found here.
The Staple Bend Tunnel is a fascinating and historic trail near Johnstown that is definitely worth a visit. One can walk, run or bike this trail throughout most of the year. With snow in the winter, you could even cross country ski. When it comes to passing through the tunnel, I may suggest a flashlight or the flashlight app on your phone.
You can find the Staple Bend Tunnel at 1189 Beech Hill Rd, Johnstown, PA 15904. I hope that you enjoy your outdoor activities along this historic trail.
