railroad tunnel located miles kilometers west elizabeth illinois tunnel completed minnesota predecessor tunnel located main line miles kilometers west chicago isolated hilly area extreme north western illinois years merged chicago largely redundant area including abandoned longest railroad tunnel illinois feet longer active tunnels located illinois central line longest tunnel near abbot illinois feet long history newly constructed minnesota northern illinois utilized rights iowa illinois construction line isolated wilderness commence engineers quickly realized tunnel need constructed order traverse rugged landscape company tunnel named laborers worked hand digging unstable months starting spring work dangerous worker thirty year old finnish immigrant named killed complete total cost tunnel exceeded expectations tunnel proved constant predecessors immediately railroad engineers realized unstable nature tunnel bored ground water isolated location tunnel meant repairs frequent costly tunnel originally wooden beams opened rail traffic january eventually proved inadequate replaced brick reinforced concrete constant deterioration supports meant large scale reconstruction tunnel needed bore shaft sunk tunnel failed provide fresh air crews steam engines complain intense heat smoke poor air circulation solutions failed work railroad forced install huge fan powered horsepower diesel motor staffed operators day night tunnel constructed abandoned acquisition diesel locomotives world war contingent assigned protect tunnel operating tunnel mention millions dollars spent open forced railroad management consider schemes rid burden year announced intentions merge sought engineering proposals bore daylight tunnel completely rebuild improve cash plans proved far expensive end merger chicago sealed fate great western main line northern illinois closely paralleled line densely populated commercially active areas steep grades line obvious financial burden played role decision completely abandon great western area operated train tunnel pulled tracks following year abandonment placed chain link fences bore tunnel attempt turn right way including rail trail failed ownership land reverted nearby property owners present day exists isolated area deteriorated condition nature reclaimed right way fan house unused 1940s severely damaged elements demolished early eastern bore located private property completely sealed earth western half purchased satellite area installed new steel gate replace chain link fence covering western bore developing area nature trails improvements tunnel currently limits general public dangerous place visit present danger collapse bite
Winston Tunnel