TUNNEL

The electrification of the Providence, Warren & Bristol line in 1900 increased the feasibility of operating passenger trains from the east side of Narragansett Bay directly into the new Union Station through a long tunnel under College Hill. A tunnel also offered a way to relieve the traffic problems caused by the bottleneck through Pawtucket and Central Falls and would improve freight service on the east side of the bay. Although the bottleneck was eliminated in 1916 by relocating the route through Pawtucket and Central Falls, the tunnel provided Providence commuters a fast method of reaching a section of Rhode Island that had been relatively isolated.

An enabling act was passed by the Legislature in April 1904, work commenced on April 19, 1906, tunnel headings met April 6, 1908 and the tunnel opened to travel on November 15, 1908. The definitive account of the project can be found in the May 1909 issue of the Journal of the Association of Engineering Societies authored by Edwin P. Dawley, who proposed the tunnel in 1894 and supervised its construction.

The railroad tunnel built by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad should not be confused with the shorter trolley tunnel that roughly paralleled the railroad tunnel.

The tunnel connection to the Providence, Warren & Bristol line included the track in the diagram that ran from the Union Station through the new 5,065 foot tunnel, then over the new Seekonk River bridge and ended with the two wye legs at the Water Street tower. The previous terminal of the PW&B line is shown at Fox Point.

The West Portal at Benefit Street January 15, 1907

Bridging North Main Street January 15, 1907. The viaduct crossed the Moshassuck River, went through the roof of Tefft's Providence & Worcester freight house, and crossed two principal streets. to reach the west portal.

A construction engine at the West Portal. McCabe & Bihler were contractors for the tunnel proper.

Meeting Of The Steam Shovels ---- April 1908

The view of the Canal Street bridge shows the tunnel route passing through the roof of the Providence & Worcester freight house. The New Haven ALCO HH-660 is switching cars at the mail and express tracks at the east end of the station. Photo by Mike Usenia

WAR MEMORIAL

Another view of how the viaduct cut through the freight house roof.

The viaduct at North Main Street. The short electric car was built specifically for the PW&B line while the long electric car was a regular coach converted for use on the electric line.

At the West Portal the tracks enter the tunnel by an 8-degree curve of 600 feet passing under Benefit Street. The remainder of the tunnel was straight.

Car 3708 was a 40 foot Baggage-Smoker built by Brill in 1901 for the Providence, Warren & Bristol line.

It was of the type that can be seen in tunnel service in the preceeding postcard views.

ALCO DL-109 0728 EMERGES FROM THE TUNNEL WITH A RAILFAN EXCURSION MAY 20, 1956

The trip originated in Boston giving riders a rare opportunity to travel through the nearly mile long tunnel.

Photographed from the end of the mail and express tracks at the east end of Union Station.

PHOTO BY EDWARD J. OZOG

New Haven 0610 is switching the mail and express tracks at the station about 1953 and will not enter the tunnel.

The 1,000 h.p., S-2 type switcher was built by ALCO in 1944

PHOTO BY LEO KING