Tunnel Number 6, or the Summit Tunnel, is a railway tunnel between Santa Margarita, California and San Luis Obispo, California.[2] It is the longest tunnel along the Union Pacific Railroad Coast Line at 3,610 feet (1.10 km) in length and is wide enough to carry a single track.[3] The tunnel under the Cuesta Pass represents the highest point along the line at 1,323 feet (403 m) above sea level.[4]
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Summit Tunnel |
| Line | UP Coast Subdivision[1] |
| Location | Santa Margarita, California |
| Coordinates | 35°21′06″N 120°38′06″W / 35.3517°N 120.6351°W |
| Crosses | Cuesta Pass |
| Operation | |
| Constructed | 1893–1894 |
| Owner | Union Pacific Railroad |
| Traffic | Freight and passenger trains |
| Technical | |
| Length | 3,610 ft (1,100 m) |
| No. of tracks | 1 |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Highest elevation | 1,323 ft (403 m) |
The tunnel was constructed between 1893 and 1894 by the Southern Pacific Railroad. It was enlarged between 1940 and 1959.[3] One daily passenger train, the Coast Starlight, operates through the tunnel.
References
edit- ^ SMA Rail Consulting (April 2016). "California Passenger Rail Network Schematics" (PDF). California Department of Transportation. p. 6.
- ^ Rice, Walter; Echeverria, Emiliano (2008). Rails of California's Central Coast. Arcadia Publishing. p. 87. ISBN 9780738555911.
- ^ a b Middlecamp, David (October 4, 2013). "Tales from the tunnels, the railroad and the Cuesta Grade". The Tribune. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
- ^ Highest Elevations (PDF) (Map). Union Pacific Railroad. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
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