Big Savage Tunnel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
LocationSomerset County, Pennsylvania
Statusrestored, converted to rail trail
SystemWestern Maryland Railway (defunct)
| Big Savage Tunnel | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Interactive map of Big Savage Tunnel | |
| Overview | |
| Location | Somerset County, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 39°44′27″N 78°53′37″W / 39.74083°N 78.89361°W |
| Status | restored, converted to rail trail |
| System | Western Maryland Railway (defunct) |
| Operation | |
| Work begun | 1911 |
| Opened | 1912[1] |
| Closed | 1975 (rail line abandoned),[1] renovated in 2005 and reopened |
| Technical | |
| Length | 3,294.6 feet (1,004.2 m) |
| No. of tracks | Single |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Highest elevation | 2,351 feet (717 m) |
| Grade | 0.55% |
The Big Savage Tunnel is a rail trail tunnel located about 9 miles (14 km) southeast of Meyersdale, Pennsylvania. It, as well as the Pinkerton Tunnel, Borden Tunnel, and Brush Tunnel are part of the Great Allegheny Passage trail.[2] It was originally built for the Connellsville subdivision of the Western Maryland Railway.[3]
The mountain and tunnel are named for John Savage, an early surveyor who narrowly avoided becoming a victim of cannibalism in the area in 1736. While he was surveying the land in the wintertime, the circumstances became dire and he offered himself up as food, but the rest of the survey party declined.[4]
