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Alpine Tunnel
;) The Alpine Tunnel was constructed by the Denver South Park and Pacific Railroad in 1882 to provide a train route from South Park to points west. In 1910 the tunnel collapsed, and several men died. In the time since then, the entrances have collapsed as well. The tunnel required some 400 men to complete in eighteen months. The tunnel is 1771 feet long. Because the west tunnel entrance and the west tunnel complex are in the alpine at about 11,600 feet, most of the buildings and other structures have been completely destroyed by the ravages of high-altitude weather. At the west entrance, a new turntable was built, and the telegraph house was renovated. The above photo shows the road leading to the west entrance to tunnel; the tunnel is at the far left. Click anywhere on the photo to see a close-up of the last section of the road. |