Line West Subdivision Status Abandoned Traffic Train Opened 1906 Owner Western Maryland Railway | Location Oldtown, Maryland Closed 1975 Highest elevation 106 m Length 562 m | |
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System Western Maryland Railway Similar Stickpile Tunnel, Indigo Tunnel, Western Maryland Rail Trail, Brush Tunnel, Fort Frederick State Park | ||
West portal of western maryland railway kessler tunnel and 5th river crossing
Kessler Tunnel is an abandoned railroad tunnel in Allegany County, Maryland, located about 8.5 miles (13.7 km) east-northeast of Oldtown. It was built by the Western Maryland Railway (WM) in 1906. It was constructed with concrete arch portals and the roof has wood planking. The tunnel was named for landowner John Kessler.
Contents
- West portal of western maryland railway kessler tunnel and 5th river crossing
- Kessler tunnel
- References
The tunnel was part of a major WM project to extend its rail system from Hagerstown west to Cumberland. The difficult route followed the Potomac River valley and involved construction of four additional tunnels and 23 bridges. The new rail line opened for traffic in 1906. Trains ran through the tunnel until 1975 and the rail line was abandoned that same year by the Chessie System, which had taken over the WM and combined the WM's operations with those of the B&O.
The National Park Service acquired the tunnel and adjacent portions of the WM right of way in 1980. The site is part of Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park.