Tunnel No. 6 (Coast Line)
Railway tunnel in Santa Margarita, California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
| Tunnel Number 6 | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of Tunnel Number 6 | |
| Overview | |
| Other name | Summit Tunnel |
| Line | UP Coast Subdivision[1] |
| Location | Santa Margarita, California |
| Coordinates | 35°21′06″N 120°38′06″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 |
| Max 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.
