Colorado School of Mines Graduate School Insights

A fascinating look at tunneling and railroad history

Did you know that until 1910, rail passengers traveling to New York City from points west had to disembark in Jersey City, New Jersey, and take ferries across the Hudson River for the final leg of their journey?

The Rise and Fall of Penn Station,” part of the PBS series American Experience, chronicles the groundbreaking construction of tunnels underneath the Hudson and East rivers and one of the architectural marvels of its time. The documentary, released in February 2014, is available via PBS, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, etc. Here’s a preview:

It’s fascinating now to see the success tunnelers back then achieved with comparatively “primitive” techniques and technology. From both sides of the Hudson River, workers excavated material by hand, carting them away using donkeys, and moved shields inch by inch along the route. When the two tunnels finally met in the middle, they were off by a mere 1/16th of an inch.

Sadly, the original building was demolished in the 1960s, but the project’s legacy endures.

Underground construction and tunneling programs at Colorado School of Mines »

Learn More

Contact us to receive more information about graduate programs at Colorado School of Mines.

Loading...

Students working in Edgar Mine

Underground Construction and Tunnel Engineering

Be on the cutting edge as urbanization brings cities below the surface

Civil engineering student using surveying tool

Civil Engineering

Build a better world with a graduate degree from Mines

Geology field session

Geology & Geological Engineering

Become a leader in the management and study of the Earth and its resources

Students with robots in Edgar Mine

Mining Engineering

The top-ranked mining and mineral program in the world

Related Articles