The Moffat Tunnel is a railroad and water tunnel that cuts through the Continental
Divide with a west portal at the base of the Winter Park ski resort. The tunnel is 6.2 miles long, 18 feet wide and 24 feet high. It was the brainchild of
David Moffat as early as 1902. However, he died before sufficient funds could be raised to build the tunnel. Those funds were not
procured until the spring of 1922.
A pioneer tunnel was bored parallel with the main tunnel to facilitate the work. It was eight feet high and wide. Finally, in February 1926 the
pioneer tunnel was officially 'holed through' by a blast of dynamite being set off my President Coolidge upon pressing a key in
Washington DC. The railroad tunnel was 'holed' through on July 7, 1927 with the first train passing through the tunnel in
February 1928.
|
