Pittsburgh & Steubenville Extension Railroad Tunnel
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 40°26′28″N 79°59′48″W / 40.44111°N 79.99657°W |
| Status | in use |
| System | Pittsburgh Light Rail |
| Operation | |
| Work begun | 1863 |
| Constructed | brick and cut stone |
| Opened | 1865 |
| Owner | Port Authority of Allegheny County |
| Technical | |
| Length | 1,440 feet (440 m) |
| No. of tracks | 2 (1865–1965) 1 (1967–) |
| Track gauge |
4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) (1865–1980) 5 ft 2 1⁄2 in (1,588 mm) (1985–Current) |
| Electrified | 1985 |
| Highest elevation | 740 feet (230 m) |
| Tunnel clearance | 18.5 feet (5.6 m) |
The Pittsburgh & Steubenville Extension Railroad Tunnel, also known as the Panhandle Tunnel was originally built for the Pittsburgh and Steubenville Extension Railroad in Pittsburgh. It officially opened for rail traffic in 1865.
The tunnel has been modified many times since it was first constructed. In the years after the construction the southern end was lengthened by 79.4 feet (24.2 m) to accommodate the overpass of Forbes Avenue. This new tunnel had a height of 19.5 feet (5.9 m), lower than the main tunnel. The southern end was again extended around 1900 to add a sidewalk to the road. This 19 feet (5.8 m) extension lowered the height of the tunnel to the current 18.5 feet (5.6 m).
The tunnel and the adjacent Panhandle Bridge were purchased by the Port Authority from Penn Central Corporation for $8.15 million in 1980. The tunnel is now part of the Pittsburgh Light Rail System, as the Steel Plaza Station.
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