Pennsylvania Railroad Hudson River tunnel construction photographs 1971.594
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Audiovisual Collections PO Box 3630 Wilmington, Delaware 19807 [email protected] URL: http://www.hagley.org/library Pennsylvania Railroad Hudson River tunnel construction photographs 1971.594
Table of Contents
Summary Information ...... 3 Historical Note ...... 3 Scope and Contents ...... 4 Administrative Information ...... 4 Related Materials ...... 5 Controlled Access Headings ...... 5 Collection Inventory ...... 5
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Summary Information
Repository: Audiovisual Collections Creator: Americanist, The (Pottstown, Pa.) Title: Pennsylvania Railroad Hudson River tunnel construction photographs ID: 1971.594 Date [inclusive]: 1902-1909 Physical Description: 1 Linear Foot Physical Description: 1 album: Containing 64 photographic prints: b&w ; 7.25 x 9.5 in. Language of the English . Material: Abstract: The Pennsylvania Railroad Company was the largest railroad in the United States in terms of corporate assets and traffic in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. This small collection of photographs covers the planning, surveying, and building of the Pennsylvania Railroad tunnels under the Hudson River, connecting New Jersey and New York in the early twentieth century.
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Historical Note
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company was the largest railroad in the United States in terms of corporate assets and traffic in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. It was chartered in 1846 to complete an all-rail road across the state, a goal that was accomplished in 1854. In 1857, the company purchased the state's old "Main Line" of canals and railroads and brought the entire line from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh under one management.
Between 1855 and 1874, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company underwent rapid expansion and emerged as one of the two largest railroad systems in the area east of the Mississippi and north of the Ohio. Through stock purchase or lease, it reached Baltimore in 1861, Chicago and Indianapolis in 1869, St. Louis in 1870, Jersey City opposite New York in 1871, and Washington in 1872. Purchase of the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad in 1881 brought complete control of the important New York-Washington corridor.
By the end of the nineteenth century, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company was actively exploring the possibilities of extending their line into New York City. At that time, passengers coming to the city from
- Page 3- Pennsylvania Railroad Hudson River tunnel construction photographs 1971.594 the west had to leave the train with their baggage and take a ferryboat to Manhattan. In order to overcome this disadvantage, the company announced plans for a scheme of tunnels under the Hudson River into a New York station, and from there a connection to the Long Island Railroad. Construction began in 1902 and the tunnels were completed in 1909.
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Scope and Contents
This collection of photographs show the planning, surveying, and building of the Pennsylvania Railroad tunnels under the Hudson River. Subjects include surveyors triangulating the route of the tunnels, laborers working in the tunnels, and various tools, gauges, and devices. Some views show the area around New Jersey before construction.
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Administrative Information
Publication Statement Audiovisual Collections
PO Box 3630 Wilmington, Delaware 19807 [email protected] URL: http://www.hagley.org/library
Access Restrictions No restrictions on access; this collection is open for research.
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Related Materials
Related Materials Pennsylvania Railroad photographs (Accession 1988.231), Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library.
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Controlled Access Headings
• Railroads. • Tunnels • Railroads -- Buildings and structures • Railroad engineering • Pennsylvania Railroad
Collection Inventory
Title/Description Instances Alignment bar (third and last type) plumb bob and light box , 1908 volume 1 item 26 December 19 Scope and Contents
T46. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Section Gy. West.
Alignment plugs used on North River Tunnels volume 1 item 27 Scope and Contents
T47. Pennsylvania Railroad.
Alignment scale, back-sight, plumb-bob and illuminating box volume 1 item 20
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Scope and Contents
T40. Pennsylvania Raiload Tunnels. North River Division, Sections Gy and Gj.
Back-sight set up over monuments by means transit , 1908 August volume 1 item 21 21 Scope and Contents
T41. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Sections Gy and Gj.
Base line measuring corps, 1902 July 14 volume 1 item 10 Scope and Contents
T29. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division.
Bristol gauge at station 231-90 for recording the height of water in volume 1 item 52 the North River, 1909 January 23 Scope and Contents
T72. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Section Gj (North Tunnel Weehawken). The pipe passes through the cast iron lining and silt of the river bed and its upper end is in the water of the river.
Bristol gauge at station 231-78 to record variations in water level in volume 1 item 54 river , 1909 February 25 Scope and Contents
T74. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Sections Gy West and Gj (State Line North Tunnel). This is a new gauge more openly scaled than the previous one and is arranged just below bench level.
Bristol recording gauge, 1909 August 9 volume 1 item 58 Scope and Contents
T78. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Sections Gy West and Gj (State Line North Tunnel). Showing tidal variations of elevation of surface of water of Hudson River. The water pressure is conveyed to the gauge by means of a pipe passing through the iron lining and silt into the river water. As arranged after conerete lining is in place (see photo T74).
Checking corps taking radial measurements on tunnel lining , 1908 volume 1 item 22 August 20
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Scope and Contents
T42. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Sections Gy and Gj.
Cross pipe between tunnels at station 231-78 for survey purposes, volume 1 item 53 1909 January 25 Scope and Contents
T73. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Sections Gy West and Gj (South Tunnel). Casting which contains stuffing box in place, with cover removed.
Cross pipes between tunnels for survey purposes, 1908 December 7 volume 1 item 48 Scope and Contents
T68. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Section Gy West (North Tunnel Manhattan). View showing flange in place into which stuffing box casing is screwed. See Drawing No. K 1098.
Cross pipes between tunnels for survey purposes, 1908 December 7 volume 1 item 49 Scope and Contents
T69. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Section Gj. North Tunnel Weehawken. View showing tunnel segment machined to take flange into which stuffing box casing is screwed. See Drawing No. K 1098.
Cross pipes between tunnels for survey purposes, 1908 December volume 1 item 50 12 Scope and Contents
T70. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Section G4. South Tunnel Weehawken. Machine used for facing the segments to afford a seating for the flanges into which the stuffing box cases are screwed. See Drawing No. K. 1089.
Destruction by fire of triangulation point number 3, 1909 November volume 1 item 63 16 Scope and Contents
T83. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. West River Division, Manhattan Shaft. On cornice of Gledhill Building, 541 West 34th Street.
Details of apparatus used in plumbing volume 1 item 35
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Scope and Contents
T55.
Edson gauge, 1909 August 9 volume 1 item 59 Scope and Contents
T79. Pennsylvania Roailroad Tunnels. North River Division, Sections Gy West and Gj (North Tunnel). Recording variations of vertical diameter of tunnel lining at station 231-70, after concrete lining is in place. The gauge is attached to the top of the tunnel and its pointer actuated by a bar attached to the invert. (See Photo T71).
Edson gauge for recording variations of vertical diameter of cast volume 1 item 51 iron lining at station 231-78, 1908 December 18 Scope and Contents
T71. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels, North River Division, Section Gy West. North Tunnel Manhattan. The gauge is rigidly attached to the top of the tunnel while its pointer is actuated by a bar rigidly attached to the invert.
Erie Railroad yards volume 1 item 4 Scope and Contents
T22. Tower, triangulation.
First alignment plug adopted for use in tunnels volume 1 item 34 Scope and Contents
T54.
Front view of Edson recording gauge, 1908 January 15 volume 1 item 60 Scope and Contents
T80. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Sections Gy West and Gj. Adapted to record changes in elevation of tunnel, the gauge being attached to the invert and the pointer attached to a rod passing through the tunnel into the rock below.
Gledhill wall paper factory, 1909 November 26 volume 1 item 64 Scope and Contents
T84. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Manhattan Shaft. 541 West 34th Street, on which Triangulation Station Number 3 was situated, after fire.
Group of instruments used in surveys above and below ground, 1905 volume 1 item 19 December 19
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Scope and Contents
T39. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division. Balance wheel for base line measurements; 12 lb. Lead Weight; Movable base line sta.; 50 ft. K. & E. Tape; 100 ft. K. & E. Tape; 8 oz. Measuring bob; Thermometer; 32 oz. Sight bob,; Electric-light box for illuminating sights; Flat Target sight rods; Octagonal iron sight rod; New York leveling rod; Philadelphia leveling rod; Buff & Buff Level; Buff & Buff Transit; Horizontal adjust. plate; High trivet for instruments; Low trivet for instruments; Mining lamps; Brass Tubes & Pump for texting compressed air for C02.
Instruments in position for locking through emergency lock , 1908 volume 1 item 23 December 13 Scope and Contents
T43. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Section Gj.
Method of offsetting south monuments from north monuments volume 1 item 36 Scope and Contents
T56. Manhattan Tunnels.
Method of setting vernier scale for precise line points in roof of volume 1 item 38 tunnel Scope and Contents
T58.
Method of taking invert levels and horizontal diameters, 1908 volume 1 item 25 December 13 Scope and Contents
T45. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Section Gj.
Path of tunnels from New Jersey side, 1902 October 15 volume 1 item 2 Scope and Contents
T20. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division.
Path of tunnels from New Jersey side volume 1 item 3 Scope and Contents
T21. Distant view showing large frame building with flag pole in foreground. Area of Erie Railroad Yards.
Path of tunnels from New York side, 1902 September 17 volume 1 item 1
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Scope and Contents
T19. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division.
Permanent bench mark at station 209, 1908 January 17 volume 1 item 62 Scope and Contents
T82. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Section Gy West. South tunnel, showing rod passing through tunnel invert, and which is embedded in the rock below. Also showing Edson Gauge recording vertical movement of tunnel invert.
Permanent bench mark at station 231-78, 1908 September 29 volume 1 item 45 Scope and Contents
T65. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Sections Gy West and Gj. State Line. North Tunnel. General view of top of rod and stuffing box with cover removed.
Permanent bench mark at station 243-86, 1908 September 29 volume 1 item 44 Scope and Contents
T64. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels, North River Division, Section Gj. South Tunnel. General view of top of rod and stuffing box with cover removed.
Permanent bench mark rod at station 230-90, 1909 July 19 volume 1 item 57 Scope and Contents
T77. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Section Gy West. South tunnel. Arranged after permanent concrete lining is in place; with holder for vernier to show changes of elevation, and Recording Edson Gauge attached to show tidal fluctuations of elevation.
Precise line transit table alignment bar, 1908 December 13 volume 1 item 24 Scope and Contents
T44. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Section Gj. Transit in use on precise line work.
Precise measurement through subaqueous tunnels , 1908 February volume 1 item 42 13
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Scope and Contents
T62, Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Section Gy West. For the purpose of accurately determining stationing.
Proposed method of checking alignment and elevation , 1906 June volume 1 item 37 14 Scope and Contents
T57. Pennsylvania/New Jersey & New York Regional Railroad Company and Pennsylvania/New York & Long Island Railroad Company. Pennsylvania Tunnels - North River Division. Before junction of tunnels.
Railroad yard area volume 1 item 8 Scope and Contents
T26. Tower base in foreground. Railroad bridge with iron superstructure in background.
Report on triangulation volume 1 item 39 Scope and Contents
T59. Permanent Monuments set from alignment borings, Manhattan Tunnels.
Report on triangulation volume 1 item 40 Scope and Contents
T60. Details of tide gauges.
River tunnels , 1907 January 16 volume 1 item 28 Scope and Contents
T48. Pennslyvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division. Method of checking lines and levels through 6 inch pipe between North Manhattan and South Weehawken Tunnels, previous to meeting of South Shields. Alignment Corps at work in South Weehawken Tunnel.
River tunnels , 1907 January 17 volume 1 item 29 Scope and Contents
T49. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division. Method of checking lines and levels through 6-inch pipe between North Manhattan and South Weehawken Tunnels, previous to meeting of North Shields. Alignment Corps at work in North Manhattan Tunnel.
Roof of building with sign "I. T. William" volume 1 item 6
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Scope and Contents
T24.
Roof of building with sign "I. T. William" volume 1 item 7 Scope and Contents
T25. Appears to be same roof as T24.
Rural area on New Jersey side of Hudson River volume 1 item 18 Scope and Contents
T38.
Second method of precise measurement through subaqueous volume 1 item 43 tunnels , 1908 April 7 Scope and Contents
T63. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels, North River Division, Section Gj. For the purpose of accurately determining stationing.
Shaft area volume 1 item 31 Scope and Contents
T51.
Side view of Edson recording gauge, 1908 January 15 volume 1 item 61 Scope and Contents
T81. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Section Gy West and Gj. Adapted to record changes in elevation of tunnel, the gauge being attached to the invert and the pointer attached to a rod passing through the tunnel into the rock below.
Survey equipment, 1902 July 14 volume 1 item 11 Scope and Contents
T31. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. Survey Equipment. Uniform tension wheel and tape support.
Surveyor volume 1 item 9 Scope and Contents
T27. Surveyor with transit on eleveted ground above river-- visible in far background.
Surveyor and group volume 1 item 15
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Scope and Contents
T34. Transit. View probably printed in reverse as number T34 is in reverse.
Surveyors taking measurements volume 1 item 14 Scope and Contents
T33.
Surveyor with transit volume 1 item 16 Scope and Contents
T35.
Surveyors working in excavation area volume 1 item 32 Scope and Contents
T52.
Surveyors working in field volume 1 item 17 Scope and Contents
T37.
Top of permanent bench mark with temporary cover and Edson volume 1 item 47 gauge attached, 1908 December 5 Scope and Contents
T67. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Section Gy West (South Tunnel Manhattan).
Triangulation Tower, New Jersey side, 1902 September 5 volume 1 item 5 Scope and Contents
T23. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division.
Triangulation Tower, New Jersey side volume 1 item 13 Scope and Contents
T32.
Transit in position for running survey line under vernier bar in volume 1 item 55 permanent alignment pocket, 1909 June 23
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Scope and Contents
T75. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Section Gy West (North Tunnel).
Transit in position for running lines under alignment bar and on volume 1 item 56 modified form of table Scope and Contents
T76. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Section Gy West (South Tunnel). This position of alignment bar in overhead conductor pocket was used before the permanent points...
Tunnel measurements volume 1 item 41 Scope and Contents
T61. View probably printed in reverse as number T61 is in reverse.
Two workers checking measurements volume 1 item 30 Scope and Contents
T50.
Type of alignment bar used to carry on surveys of tube tunnels volume 1 item 46 Scope and Contents
T66. Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnels. North River Division, Sections Gy West and Gj. During process of placing concrete lining.
Type of light boxes used in alignment work in tunnels volume 1 item 33 Scope and Contents
T53.
Uniform tension wheel volume 1 item 12 Scope and Contents
T30.
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