The Longest Tunnel In Washington Has A Truly Fascinating Backstory
By Jessica Wick|Published July 12, 2018
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Jessica Wick
Author
Jessica Wick is a writer and travel enthusiast who loves exploring new places, meeting new people and, of course, beautiful Big Sky Country and every part of Washington State.
We wait all year for hot summer days in Washington. That being said, they can get pretty intense, making us wish we could temporarily retreat to a cool, dark place… like a tunnel, perhaps.
Did you know Washington is home to the longest tunnel in the United States? The Cascade Tunnel not only holds that title, it also happens to hold a special place in our state’s history. And while it’s used to transport cargo and passengers, not as a break from the heat, it’s still pretty fun to travel through.
The Cascade Tunnel actually refers to two tunnels, the original and the replacement.
The current tunnel sits at Stevens Pass in the Cascade Range, connecting Berne in Chelan County on its east with Scenic Hot Springs in King County on its west.
Construction of the original tunnel was completed in 1900. It was designed to eliminate persistent problems with a series of switchbacks laid over Stevens Pass.
Winters were brutal, and sometimes avalanches would delay trains for days at a time. To keep things moving, equipment was protected with massive (and expensive snow sheds).
The old tunnel did educe expenses and delays, but unfortunately, it also trapped the noxious smoke from the steam engines and endangered the crew. In 1903, a train stalled in the tunnel stalled inside the tunnel and the engine crew lost consciousness while trying to get things moving.
Fortunately, an alert fireman was able to coast the train out of the tunnel and save the 103 passengers onboard. But it was the first of many disasters in the area, including the worst avalanche in our state's history in 1910. The new Cascade Tunnel, pictured here, was finished in 1929.
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Construction of the new tunnel took two years and cost $14 million, but it became a much safer and cost effective option.
The Empire Builder travels from Washington to Chicago, passing through Montana, where you'll head through America's second longest tunnel, the Flathead Tunnel.
Having the longest railroad tunnel in the country isn’t exactly something that comes up in casual conversation. Here are some other little known facts about Washington.
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