It’s Railroad History- The Hoosac Tunnel Electric Motors

In the early nineteenth century, there was a need to construct a direct rail route westward from Massachusetts to the canal system in New York state.  There was not an efficient way to move goods and materials westward.  After much discussion and political discourse, the apparent solution would be to bore a tunnel through the Hoosac range in Western Massachusetts to provide direct rail service west.
Surveys were completed and the plan was to tunnel through Hoosac mountain near Florida, Massachusetts.  Construction commenced about 1820, and consisted of two bores being drilled, one east and one west, to meet at the center.  It was of utmost importance that the surveys were accurate in order for the two bores to meet.
The tunnel was not level but sloped downward in each direction from the center in order for water to drain from the bore.  A vertical central shaft was bored to allow for ventilation.  Work was slow, tedious and dangerous and began with hand drilling and blasting through the granite with black powder.  As the years progressed, nitroglycerine was used, along with its inherent dangers.  Eventually, compressed air drills made the boring much more efficient.  Although some of the figures are disputed, it is estimated that about 195 workers were killed during construction, although actual records can only account for about 75.
The initial bore was completed in 1873, and the first train completed its journey through the 4.75 mile tunnel in 1875.

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Tunnel traffic increased at a rapid rate with approximately 50 trains per day passing through Hoosac.  The ventilation shaft at the center of the tunnel could not properly clear the smoke from the steam engines and made for hazardous conditions for the crews and passengers riding through the tunnel.  Even the installation of an exhaust fan in the central shaft was not sufficient to clear the smoke.

​Around 1910, the Boston and Maine RR was acquired by the New Haven RR, and with their knowledge of electric locomotives, overhead catenary was erected through the tunnel and electric motors were purchased.  Steam trains would stop at either entrance, bank their fires, and the electric motors would pull the consist through.  This practice continued from 1911 until 1946, with the introduction of diesel engines.
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Below are two videos, one showing the electric motors pulling trains through the tunnel, and another which is the last of 5 videos on the building of the Hoosac tunnel.  The full series is listed in the CVCTube/History Section! 

​I hope you find this enjoyable and informative.