Near Guernsey in Platte County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)
Guernsey Tunnel No. 2
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 9, 2016
1. Guernsey Tunnel No. 2 Marker
(Guernsey Gazette, December 3, 1915)
Tunnel No. 2 on the Guernsey-Wendover Cutoff was located directly beneath this highway bridge. Over 1,900 feet long, it was the second of three on the nine-mile Cutoff constructed by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in 1914-1915. The new Cutoff would allow trains to haul twice the tonnage, so the tunnels were constructed as quickly as possible. This tunnel was completed in a record three months.
The Burlington’s Tunnel No. 2 was a single-bore, timber-lined tunnel, 1,928 feet long. It was one of the three tunnels within a five-mile stretch of the Cutoff required to maintain an even grade along the steep, rocky canyon cut by the North Platte River.
Crook and Young were the contractors for Tunnels No. 1 and 2. They employed a large crew of men, who lived in temporary camps near the tunnels. The contractors used drilling and blasting methods to bore through both tunnels. The drills were run by three, large air compressors powered by steam boilers. A pipeline from the North Platte River supplied water to the boilers.
All three tunnels were completed by the end of 1915. Tunnel No. 1, about 1.4 miles to the southeast, is 3,333 feet long and took eight months to complete.
this page online
The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company continues to run freight through Tunnels 1 and 3, hauling low sulfur coal from the Powder River Basin.
Erected 1998 by Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars.
Location. 42° 18.03′ N, 104° 47.38′ W. Marker is near Guernsey, Wyoming, in Platte County. Marker is at the intersection of Skyline Driver and Newell Drive, on the right when traveling west on Skyline Driver. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Guernsey WY 82214, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Guernsey-Wendover Cutoff (within shouting distance of this marker); Civilian Conservation Corps (approx. 0.2 miles away); Brimmer Point (approx. 1.1 miles away); Guernsey State Park Museum (approx. 1.4 miles away); "Million Dollar Biffy" (approx. 1.4 miles
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 9, 2016
2. Guernsey Tunnel No. 2 Marker
More about this marker. This marker is located at the northwest corner of the overpass.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 9, 2016
3. The section of Burlington Northern track daylighted by the removal of Tunnel No. 2
Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 680 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 5, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
