The Centennial Tunnel is an abandoned railway tunnel in Aringay, La Union, Philippines. The tunnel is 500 meters (1,600 ft) long and 7.5 meters (25 ft) wide.
![]() The tunnel in May 2020 | |
Overview | |
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Other name(s) | Salapac Tunnel |
Location | Aringay, La Union |
Coordinates | 16°23′48″N 120°22′21″E / 16.3966°N 120.3724°E |
Status | Abandoned |
Start | 1913 |
Operation | |
Opened | N/A |
Traffic | Train |
Character | Passenger |
Technical | |
Length | 500 meters (1,600 ft) |
Width | 7.5 m (25 ft) |
Background
editThe Centennial Tunnel was meant to be part of a passenger railway line which would connect Aringay to Baguio. The railway line's construction began in 1911 by British firm Manila Railway Co. (MRC) Ltd. The Aringay station was completed in 1912. Construction of the tunnel itself in 1913 would begin. However World War I forced MRC to abandoned the project.
During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines of World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army used the tunnel as a headquarters.[1] The tunnel later became a popular site for treasure hunters who believe that the structure houses the supposed Yamashita's gold.[1]
The tunnel was given the name "Centennial Tunnel" in 2013.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b Sotelo, Yolanda (November 26, 2014). "The saga of Aringay rail line". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ "Centennial Tunnel". Aringay, La Union Municipal Government. Retrieved July 7, 2022.