Pennsylvania Turnpike

Turnpike history Page 2

Howard Johnsons Menu from 1940
This is from a full service Service Plaza.Most Howard Johnsons only served sandwiches and snacks in the 1940s

( E-Mail ) From Ted in Ohio,
My wife was looking a McDonald's restaurant on the Somerset exit when she found your webpage. She called me in from the kitchen right away and asked me to check out the Turnpike pictures. You see, I am a Turnpike Junkie. In the early very early 1960s, as my parents were driving from Aberdeen, Md., to Youngstown, Ohio, to visit my grandparents, the Turnpike was as much a part of the family as our dog. The trip never really began until we boarded the Turnpike near York, Pa.

In the early 1960s, in the hot summer time, we were headed uphill toward Laurel Hill tunnel when there was a truck accident inside the tunnel. Traffic was backed up for miles. There was no technology in clearing the tunnels in those days, and the wait allowed motorists and families to stop their cars and get out and while away the hour or so. The cars and trucks were backed up for more than a mile down the hill (we were driving westbound). And the heat was unbearable. Pretty soon, my Dad's Chrylser started to overheat, too. We pulled over. But the cars in front of us and behind were overheating, too.
My brother started to cry because he thought we would have to live on the Turnpike. My father, and some of the fathers from the other hot cars grabbed buckets, bottles, Thermoses and climbed down the berm to a nearby stream, where they collected water from the creek and poured it into their radiators. I believe we were stopped by the accident for about 90 minutes. Maybe it was just 25 minutes. In these matters, exact details don't really matter.
Pretty soon, the tow trucks finished their hocus pocus and we were back moving again and the car cooled down. My Dad didn't talk about that experience much. I have never forgotten it. But the Turnpike, at least on that day, proved that you could travel, break down, and get started all on your own. Thanks to Mother Nature's cool water nearby.
I am sorry Laurel Hill is apparently no longer. I never travel beyond Breezewood when I am traveling eastbound any more.
I now live with my wife and kids in Byesville, Ohio, and we travel east a couple of times each year. And I continue to bore and amuse some of them when I point out the salient sights along the Turnpike that have fanscinated me for years.
Thanks for your webpage.
Ted Barnhart

I rode the abandoned pa turnpike from breezewood to hustontown. It is 20 miles of riding on the old route before they rerouted the highway.They rerouted it to bypass the rays hill tunnel and the sideling hill tunnel. Riding on this old road reminds me of the twighlight zone. imagine a nuclear war that wipes out everything and your on your bike looking for society. you will see more deer than people. the tunnels are a trip to say the least. rays hill tunnel is 4,500ft. any bikable. then later you get to sideling hill and unless you have 1 million candlepower forget it. we drove around it a nd biked the rest. after we were done we drove it. sideling was amazing how long it was it must be 6,000ft. you cant see the other end until about 3/4 way through. • Mitchell Dakelman .In Reply to: Re: Pennsylvania Turnpike posted by Sideling Hill Tunnel

: I hope my E mail works as this is the first time I am using it! I have been a fan of the Pennsylvania Turnpike for many years and have collected photos, films and memorabilia pertaining to the road, built in 1940. The rays Hill Tunnel and Sideling Hill Tunnel were respectively, the shortest(about 3500 feet) and the longest(6782 feet). Both were abandoned in 1968 when a new bypass opened. I have been exploring the old road since 1973 and have had several opportunities to ride over this section with Turnpike officials in my car. I have photos of all 7 original Turnpike tunnels during the original construction, beginning in 1939, to what they look like today. All, but Allegheny were part of the old South penn railroad. You can still see some old remnants of the old railroad today. I'll be on the entire east-west Turnpike in a few weeks and will definitely stop at the old tunnels. See you on THE WORLD'S GREATEST HIGHWAY!

I found The"Allegheny Mountain Tunnel"that William Vanderbilt started to complete.It is located at the eastern portal of the"New Allegheny Tunnels"about 90 feet north of the westbound lane and above the new tunnels.Buy the looks of the Vanderbilt tunnel you can tell that it was started after orders were given to single lane the tunnels.I also found that most of the original wood reinforcement caved in,unlike the Quemahoning Tunnel

( E-Mail ) I live in Dillsburg about ten miles south of Camp Hill on Rt.15. I was born in Ligonier and my grandparents lived in Gettysburg. In my younger years my family made the trip back and forth on weekends. I counted the tunnels as we passed thru them. I realized when I was about four that one was missing from the count. About four years later I was short two more! I visit Ligonier now and then and wanted to see them again and show my son what they used to look like. If you've got any more pictures I'd like to see them. Let me know how you make out in your search for the others!

"Some interesting facts about the P.W.and S. Railroad
This Narrow Guage railroad operated from 1906 until 1923. Around 1877 when construction started on the P.W.S. The railroad company would buy beer from the Latrobe Brewery.
A keg of beer and ice was delivered to a point beyond the work objective of the day.
This incentive seemed to help rapid track construction.
Each shipment included an extra keg,for the train crew,to assure delivery.
Although the P.W.S. was mainly a lumbering railraoad,It also included a passenger car.During berry season,it would carry pickers to the best spots.
In 1906 the first train went from Ligioner to Somerset.
It used part of the Vanderbuilt Rail Project,and even the completed the Quemahoming Tunnel for use.
Today this tunnel can be found in its origional condition.
It is located at mile marker 106.3,only the easern portal can be seen,the western portal is buried under the present turnpike.

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Directions to the Old Roadbed
At Breezewood

If you get off at Breezewood you'll be at Route 30 and you'll see the old road which leads to the tunnels. If you want to go to Route 115 take Route 30 east and you'll pass under the old Turnpike and later the new Turnpike. You can also access Sideling Hill Tunnel from taking Oregon Trail Road which comes at the little underpass when you begin to parallel the new Turnpike. Take a left, go under the Turnpike and take a right. You'll go into a forest and eventually see the old Turnpike. You'll pass under the old Turnpike then come to Oregon Camp. If you walk through the camp site you'll eventually come to the approach to Sideling Hill. I wish to advise you that technically this part of the Turnpike is a private road, owned by the Turnpike Commission. I have been told that the State Police patrol this section from time to time due to vandalism at the tunnel sites. Technically you are also trespassing although all of the locals know about it and out there for a hike. I will be doing The History of the Pennsylvania Turnpike on Sept.18, 7:30 PM at the National Canal Museum in Easton. You'll see everything you want to know about the South Penn and the Turnpike. There will be a like of interesting photos and films in my presentation.See you on THE WORLD'S GREATEST HIGHWAY!

The Quemahoning Tunnel is part of the William Vanderbuilt railroad days.It was planned for use buy the Pennsylvania Turnpike but bypassed instead.You can find it buy pulling off at mile number 106.5 and looking on the west side of the road Pennsylvania Turnpike Mitchell Dakelman :
In Reply to: Re: Pennsylvania Turnpike posted by Sideling Hill Tunnel
I have been a fan of the Pennsylvania Turnpike for many years and have collected photos, films and memorablia pertaining to the road, built in 1940. The rays Hill Tunnel and Sideling Hill Tunnel were respectively, the shortest(about 3500 feet) and the longest(6782 feet). Both were abandoned in 1968 when a new bypass opened. I have been exploring the old road since 1973 and have had several opportunities to ride over this section with Turnpike officials in my car. I have photos of all 7 original Turnpike tunnels during the original construction, beginning in 1939, to what they look like today. All, but Allegheny were part of the old South penn railroad. You can still see some old remnants of the old railroad today. I'll be on the entire east-west Turnpike in a few weeks and will definitely stop at the old tunnels. See you on THE WORLD'S GREATES HIGHWAY!

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This message board designed by Joseph Topinka of Irwin,Pa........724-863-8006.................Welcome to the Virtual 1940 Pennsylvania Turnpike..........."Americas FIRST Superhighway!

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Pennsylvania Turnpike by John Walker
Joe, Thank you for responding to my message regarding the Laurel Hill Bypass. I am very interested in the old tunnels of the PA turnpike and also other "ancient" modes (canals and railroads) of transportation. In response to you question as to where I live, I live in Eastlake, Ohio, about 15 miles east of Cleveland. I work for a service company that is based in Homestead, Pa., and, on occasion, I travel the turnpike to work in central or eastern PA. I service projection and sound equipment in Movie theatres.
During the last couple of years, my work has taken me as far east as Reading, during which I travelled through all of the tunnels on the turnpike. I have worked in Somerset, and I routinely travel to Indiana Univ. in Indiana. Last year, I installed some sound equipment at a drive-in theatre in Latrobe, and had some discussions with the theatre personel who told me that they go hunting not too far from the turnpike and know the location of the old Laural Hill tunnel.

Bridge at plainfield, Pa.

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As for myself, I have been aware that I am on the tunnel bypass section of the road, but, when driving by myself, it is difficult to know exactly where the bypass starts. I have looked for it recently, but, with traffic and all of the "crazy" drivers on the road, it's easy to go past and not see the cut off of the old road. I also hope to someday locate the

Quemahoning Tunnel, and the original Allegehny Tunnel

.
The Ray's Hill/Sideling Hill cut offs are pretty obvious, both at Breezwood and at the Eastern end, just east of the plaza. I would like someday to do some hiking and exploring in the area of the old road.

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