THE GREAT APENNINE TUNNEL

Engineering Marvels of the Bologna-Florence "Direttissima" Route

BEFORE entering into the details of the construction of the Great Apennine Tunnel itself, this page will deal briefly with the re line on which it is situated. This railway is known as the Bologna-Florence "Direttissima."

The expression "direttissima" has no counterpart in English. It means "the most direct" and, when applied to a railway, indicate which has the maximum possible number of straight stretches, curves of very large radius, absence of level crossings and the m possible gradients. A "direttissima" is built without fear of natural obstacles through which it has to pass.

One is reminded of Tsar Alexander II of Russia, who, on granting the concession for the railway from St. Petersburg (Leningrad Moscow, prescribed the route by taking a ruler and drawing a straight line on the map between the two capitals of his empire. T "Direttissima" Bologna-Florence is the second line of this kind which Italy has completed during the last few years. The other "Direttissima" is that from Rome to Naples.

Italy's peculiar geographical features have a great influence on the construction and working of her railways. With the exception northern parts, the country is a narrow strip averaging about ninety miles in width and extending for 600 miles in length. The A mountain-range traverses it in a longitudinal direction. The construction of railways has accordingly developed mainly along th coast lines ; the trunk line from Bologna via Florence to Rome being the only line of importance which runs in the centre of tha strip.

It must be remembered that whereas the northern parts of Italy are highly industrialized, the centre and south of the country are agricultural. These latter provide the northern provinces with agricultural and dairy produce, and maintain at the same time a va such products to all European countries.

All this traffic moves towards the industrial districts of Lombardy and Piedmont, and across the frontiers at Chiasso, Brenner an and is carried over a system of lines which include the Florence-Bologna via Pistoia (the Porretta) line and the line via Faenza-F and via Sarzana-Parma. All these lines have steep gradients, narrow curves, and the stations possess little accommodation. They many years ago when railway engineering was still in its infancy, and when the traffic carried was but a small percentage of wh day. The mountainous character of these lines makes it in many instances almost impossible to double the tracks or to enlarge th

THE NORTHERN PORTAL of the Great Apennine Tunnel, on the Bologna-Florence route. The tunnel measures 11 miles 879 yards, and i the second longest in the world.

This difficulty of reconstruction applied particularly to the Porretta line from Bologna to Florence via Pistoia. The line was buil years 1856-62 by the famous railway constructor Protsche, and for many years it was considered to be one of the finest example railway engineering in Europe. In those days Italy was still divided into a number of independent territories, kingdoms, and duc Florence was the capital of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

The route of the Porretta line was chosen not only for technical reasons but also for strategical considerations. The length of thi almost eighty-two miles. Bologna lies at an altitude of 148 ft., and the highest point of the line is reached at the station of Pracc altitude of 2,021 ft. above sea level. The distance from Bologna to Pracchia is forty-six miles. On the southern slope the line de rapidly towards Pistoia which lies at a distance of fifteen and a half miles from Bologna, at an altitude of 206 ft. The difference being 1,815 ft., the average gradient is 1 in 45 and reaches on certain stretches, even in tunnels, as much as 1 in 35. Many curve radius of less than 330 yards, and the whole line from Pracchia to Pistoia is an almost uninterrupted sequence of tunnels. The tim between Bologna and Florence was two and three-quarter hours by steam-driven express trains, and even with electric traction i and a quarter hours to complete the short journey. Freight trains were limited to 480 tons, so that not more than 180,000 trucks handled annually.

The inadequate capacity of this line was realized soon after its opening, and when Italy had been united in 1870, the ever-increa called for better means of communication between the north and the south. Various proposals were suggested for the doubling o and the enlargement of the stations, but the consequent expenses would have been so great that they did not warrant the executi these projects, which, generally, offered only a makeshift solution. A commission was appointed to report on various projects s the construction of a new line. In 1908 Parliament approved the construction of the "Direttissima," voting at the same time the n credits of 6,000,000 sterling.

The project of the "Direttissima" Bologna-Florence line included the construction of a tunnel eleven and a half miles long throu Apennines. This part of the project necessitated long and exhaustive investigations and studies covering a period of two years. D surveys several alterations in the route were made, and consequently the approach to the entrances of the tunnel had to be chang

UNDER CONSTRUCTION. A fine masonry viaduct at Vado by which the "Direttissima" line crosses the River Setta. Each arch has a span of over 80 ft. There are forty bridges and thirty-one tunnels on this line.

One of the results of the survey was to show that the original estimate of 6,000,000 would not be sufficient. A second provisio for 7,000,000 was made. The provisional project was approved in 1911, and the elaboration of the definite project in all its det taken in hand. Work on the line began in 1913. This was on the section between Bologna and Pianoro. The new route extended Bologna to Prato, a station on the old line eight and three-quarter miles from Florence, where the new line joins the Porretta line distance between Bologna and Prato is just under fifty-two miles, and the line is laid with a double track. The highest point is at of 1,058 ft. The maximum gradients in the open are 1 in 85, and in tunnels 1 in 125, with the exception of the Great Tunnel, wh gradients are 1 in 500 and 1 in 175. The curves have a radius of 880 yards on the Bologna and of 660 yards on the Florence side distance from Bologna to Florence is sixty and a quarter miles, whereas via the Porretta line it is over eighty-one miles. The dif about twenty-one miles, but the value of the new route, from the working point of view. is enhanced out of all proportion to this of distance, by reason of the considerable lessening of the gradients. The journey from Bologna to Florence now takes sixty-six while freight trains of 950 tons weight can be hauled over the new line with the same tractive effort as was required for 480 ton old line.

THIS VIADUCT over the Quercia River has nine arches of 65-1/2 ft. span and two of 39 ft. span.

The "Direttissima" branches off the Bologna-Ancona line immediately on leaving Bologna. It turns southwards, crosses the rive by a masonry bridge of seven arches of 46 ft. span, and continues on the right bank as far as Pianoro. Shortly after this station th crosses the Savena by a bridge of six arches (five spans of 50 ft. each and one of 20 ft.) and enters the Monte Adone Tunnel, wh length of 7,694 yards.

Having left this tunnel, the line enters the Setta Valley near the station of Vado and, having passed through another tunnel, nego valley by means of an imposing viaduct-bridge of fourteen arches, of which seven are of 65 ft. 7 in. span and seven of 82 ft. spa continues on the left bank of the Setta as far as the station of Grizzana. A large number of tunnels and viaducts was necessary o There is a viaduct over the Scopa with twelve arches of 50 ft. span ; another over the Casone with fourteen arches of 40 ft. span across the Quercia with eleven arches.

All these viaducts, as well as the others on the line, are masonry constructions, for which Italians have always been famous. Bey station of Grizzana the line crosses the Farnetola Valley by a viaduct of twelve arches, of which eleven are 66 ft. and one of 40 Here the Pian di Setta Tunnel begins, which has a length of 3,334 yards. On emerging from the tunnel the Brasinone river is cro viaduct of three arches of 83 ft. span and two of 66 ft., and after a short tunnel the Setta is crossed by a skew bridge with three a ft. and three of 40 ft. The line continues on the right bank of the Setta, crosses the river again over an oblique bridge of five arch span, and enters the Great Apennine Tunnel. From this it emerges near the junction of the rivers Fiumenta and Bisenzio, crossin and continuing on its left bank as far as the station of Vernio. After having crossed the Bisenzio twice the new line reaches the s

Vaiano and finally joins the old one at Prato.

BUILDING THE BRIDGE over the River Setta involved the use of a special service bridge, which is shown to the right.

The double track is laid with rails of 59 ft. 1 in., each length weighing 102.1 lb. per yard, and there are thirty sleepers to every l rail. The total quantity of ballasting amounted to 655,000 cubic yards.

The new line is electrified on the direct current overhead system at 3,000 volts. The contact wires are fed by five transformer st the line, where the high-tension current is stepped down to the required voltage. The high-tension current is supplied at 60,000 v the hydro-electric power plant which the State Railway Administration has built on the Apennine mountains near Pracchia. For of storing up the necessary volume of water a vast reservoir has been built by the construction of a dam 300 ft. high, and the pla the finest examples of hydro-electric plants in Europe. The "Direttissima" is also connected with the powerful transformer statio BolognaSan Viola, where high-tension current at 120,000 volts is received from hydro-electric plants in the Alps. It will be appreciated that considerable engineering feats were involved in these subsidiary operations.

The Monte Adone Tunnel has a length of 7,694 yards. The track runs straight with the exception of a length of 650 yards, which wide curve with a radius of 2,200 yards. The tunnel was driven from both ends, and as no particular difficulties were encountere completed within five and a half years.

IN THE HEART OF THE TUNNEL is a station that enables fast trains to overtake slow traffic. The picture shows the station under construction. At this point the diameter of the arch is 56 ft.

The Pian di Setta Tunnel has a length of 3,334 yards. It runs straight for about 1,820 yards, and then on a curve with a wide radi Difficult conditions of soil were encountered and heavy emanations of methane gas (marsh gas) had to be overcome. Progress w and thirty yards a day was the maximum. Work was begun in 1921 from the northern side, and in 1925 from the south. Advance met in 1928.

The "Direttissima" joins the old line, as previously mentioned, at Prato. The impossibility of enlarging the existing station neces transfer of the station 700 yards farther south. A magnificent new station building was erected, and a large modem station was l

The following figures give an idea of the magnitude of the construction of the "Direttissima," the total cost of which amounted 12,200,000 sterling. Embankments represent a volume of 192-1/2 million cubic feet; seventy-five and a half million cubic feet were excavated , the excavated material from the tunnels amounted to 101-1/4 million cubic feet, the masonry work in the tunn four million cubic feet. The consumption of electric current required for the plants and installations was 101,340,000 kilowatt h

The line contains forty bridges, the total length of which is two and three-quarter miles ; thirty-one tunnels with a total length of two and a half miles, thirty-one and a half miles of embankments, and nearly seven miles of cuttings.

But the most outstanding feature of the "Direttissima" is the Great Apennine Tunnel, the length of which is 20242.21 yardsel half miles. Although it is 1,546 yards shorter than the Simplon Tunnel, the longest in the world, the Apennine Tunnel may be co the greatest example of tunnel construction in existence, for it is built for a double track, whereas the Simplon has single-track t

MODERN RAILWAY ARCHITECTURE. A "direttissima" line must be laid straight regardless of cost, and this involves much bridging an tunnelling. The Carmeto Tunnel on the Bologna-Florence route is a typical example of the fine engineering feats on this line.

Seldomif everhas the construction of a railway tunnel been fraught with so many serious difficulties. All the elements seem combine to prevent the completion of the tunnel ; treacherous soil, water in endless quantities, explosions of poisonous gas, and of fireone after the other, often combined. It was a struggle between Titans, on the one hand the elements, on the otherman conquered.

A monument erected on the square outside the station of Bologna bears ninety-seven names and the inscription "E TENEBRIS On April 21, 1934, the King of Italy unveiled the monument in commemoration of the opening of the "Direttissima." The ninety names are those of the men who sacrificed their lives on this battlefield of progress.

The magnitude of the tunnel construction necessitated a vast amount of preliminary work. The nature of the soil through which was to be bored had first to be investigated. Seven shafts were sunk at intervals to below the tunnel line, some of them to a dept

ft. By doing this it was possible to ascertain the nature of the ground and its composition.

The geological formation of the Apennines differs from that of the Alps. The Alps, where so many famous tunnels have been co are of solid rock, and the boring did not present any particular difficulties. The Apennine mountains on the route of the "Direttis consist mostly of clay and sand schists. A worse soil for tunnel construction could not be found. It was clear from these surveys construction would be very slow if it were undertaken in the usual way from both ends. It was, therefore, decided to create two points of attack by sinking, about midway at C di Landino, two inclined shafts to the level of the tunnel. The two shafts were s distance of 400 ft. from one another at an inclination of twenty-seven degrees. Their length is 1,683 and 1,605 ft. respectively, a section is 170 sq. ft. They were connected at the bottom by a wide gallery in which the necessary machinery and pumping insta were erected.

THE PROBLEM OF VENTILATION in a tunnel eleven and half miles long is a vital one. Ventilation plants were installe at the two entrances to the Great Apennine Tunnel, and at the shafts. As the heading advanced, auxiliary ventilating machinery was installed within the tunnel.

In each of the shafts a cable railway was built for the conveyance of men and the transport of material. The trucks had a seating for thirty men, and the trolleys were built for loads of 2.2 cubic yards. During the later stages of the construction a more powerf plant was installed ; this was capable of hauling two trolleys each of 1.9 cubic yards. The hauling machinery was driven by thre motors of 720 revolutions per minute, each of the three pulleys being operated independently by one motor. The hauling ropes h diameter of 1-3/4 in. The cable railway worked on the "jig-back" system with one ascending and one descending car, which lea terminals simultaneously and pass each other midway. To allow for this the shafts were widened in the centre. At the sides of th staircase was built for emergencies. The shafts were lined partly with bricks and partly with concrete. The construction of the sh required the excavation of 41,000 cubic yards.

143,000,000 CUBIC FEET of air was driven into the tunnel each day. The auxiliary ventilating plants drew air from the main ducts and forced it through pipes of decreasing diamete to the workings. The fresh air was driven through one side o the tunnel, the used air escaping through the other.

Before the construction of the Great Tunnel could proceed the problem of transporting all the machinery, material and plant had solved. Both entrances of the tunnel were a long way from any village, and farther still from any railway station. The existing ro ordinary country roads, unsuitable for heavy lorry traffic. Furthermore, there existed the possibility of snowstorms or torrential rendering the roads impassable. The solution was found in the construction of two service railways. One line of seventeen miles from Sasso, a station on the Porretta line, to the northern entrance of the tunnel. The second line of thirteen and a half miles was Prato via the Bisenzio Valley to the southern entrance of the tunnel. The lines had a gauge of 3 ft. 1-3/8 in. The laying of these l for a number of constructional works, some of which are of considerable importance. The rolling stock for the service lines consisted of fourteen steam locomotives and 216 trucks, by which two and a half million material were transported. The cost of the two lines, including rolling-stock, amounted to 480,000.

The two service lines provided transport facilities only to the two entrances of the tunnel, and in order to bring the entrance to th shafts at C di Landino within easy reach, an aerial ropeway was built from the northern tunnel entrance. The length of this rope over five miles, and the difference in level between the two terminal stations 865 ft. The system of the aerial ropeway adopted w two carrying and one traction rope. The carriers had a capacity of 8 cwt., and the hourly capacity of the line was twenty-seven a tons. The total quantity of material transported by this ropeway was 75,000 tons. The boring of the tunnel started at the north po 1920, and at the south portal a few months earlier.

A COMPRESSED AIR LOCOMOTIVE used for the transport of men and material in the tunnel. The locomotive took in the compressed ai from pipe-lines, laid along the tunnel. Two types of locomotives were employed. one of 40 h.p., and one of 80 h.p.

At both entrances of the tunnel, and at C di Landino, the State Railway Administration built villages to house the thousands of engineers and their families. The villages were completely equipped ; there were churches, schools, hospitals, maternity homes, kindergarten and cinemas. An aqueduct ensured the supply of fresh water, and electric light was supplied during the first few ye oil-driven power plant. Later, a line was constructed to convey the current from Prato to C di Landino and to the two entrances required voltage was obtained in the transformer stations.

The arrangements for the power supply were on a vast scale. Power was generated by eleven Diesel engines varying from 120 t Their total capacity was 2,540 h.p., of which 600 h.p. were installed at the southern, and 720 h.p. at the northern entrance. Ther 1,220 h.p. at the inclined shafts. Electric current was supplied over a 30,000 volts line from Prato, which had a length of twenty half miles. C di Landino was connected with Bologna by a 30,000 volts line, and during the latter stages of the construction a s nineteen miles long, was built from Prato to C di Landino to carry 2,000 kilowatts. The transformer stations had a total capacit kilo volt amperes.

IN THE HALL OF MACHINERY, situated at the north entrance of the tunnel, a compressor plant supplied the compressed air for the locomotives and for the pneumatic hammers and drills.

In view of the great length of the tunnel careful provisions were made to ensure the supply of fresh air to the farthest working p ventilation plants were installed at the two portals and at the two shafts. As the headings proceeded, an auxiliary ventilating pla installed within the tunnel. Fresh air was supplied at 850 cub. ft. per second. The average daily rate of fresh air driven into the tu powerful ventilators was fifty-eight million cubic feet from the north entrance, fifty million from the shafts and thirty-five milli south.

On account of such large volumes of air it was necessary to divide the completed and lined sections of the tunnel by a temporar bulkhead running longitudinally. Two ducts were formed, the fresh air being driven through one side, the used air escaping thro other. The ventilating plant at either of the portals consisted of two Sulzer fans, each of 850 cub. ft. capacity and driven by 145motors ; at each of the shafts two Cerpelli fans of 650 cub. ft. each were installed. The auxiliary plant at either heading consiste fans of 210 cub. ft. driven by 45-55 h.p. motors. These auxiliary fans drew the air from the main ducts and drove it through met decreasing diameters to the working faces.

STEMMING A FLOOD. This picture shows a wall of cemen pierced by large pipes to disperse the water. A mixture of cement, wood-shavings and metal scrap was injected through the thin pipes.

For the transport of men and material inside the tunnel a narrow-gauge railway was laid, over which ran compressed-air locomo types of locomotives were in use, a smaller one of 40 h.p. for the advance headings and a larger one of 80 h.p. for the completed the tunnel. The air was compressed in the machinery hall and was delivered through steel pipes laid within the tunnel. At certain cocks were fitted in the pipeline from which the locomotives drew their supply. The compressor plant also provided the compre required for driving the pneumatic hammers and drills.

The presence of gas and the danger of explosions and fire continually worried the engineers in charge. Gas emanations were en during almost the whole time of the construction. The gas consisted of ninety-seven per cent of methane which, on account of it specific weight, rose to the highest points and accumulated behind timbering. Methane is poisonous and, when mixed with air i proportion, becomes highly explosive on contact with an open flame or when a detonator is fired. All possible precautionary me were taken. Specially constructed safety and gas-detecting lamps were employed. These changed colour in accordance with the gas present, and indicated by the length of the flame the proportions of the components in the gas. Trained men were employed the upper parts of the headings. When gas was found, it was set on fire by distance-controlled fuses. Salvage crews had been tra anticipation of any serious outbreak, while a permanent supply of water was ensured by the laying of a special pipeline. The wa kept under a high pressure, and along the tunnel a number of pumps were installed and connected with the pipeline.

The irruptions of gas were serious at times. Gas issued at the rate of 4-1/2 cub. ft. per second at a high pressure. Fresh air had to at the rate of 1,350 cub. ft. per second to the danger spots to dilute the gas and render it harmless. The measures proved efficien were only four explosions which caused any serious interruption of work.

WATER WAS THE MOST STUBBORN ENEMY of the workers, and at one period the men worked waist-deep in the floods. A large canal was dug along the floor of the tunnel fo draining purposes, but the floods often gained the upper hand

Outbreaks of fire were more serious. One, at about three miles from the north portal, stopped work in the affected zone for seve This outbreak occurred during blasting, when an onrush of gas occurred and the timbering took fire. Despite all efforts the fire c extinguished. On the next day another heavy explosion occurred at the same spot. The ventilation bulkhead was destroyed for o ft., as well as the cabin of the ventilation engineer. The upper and lower headings, which intercommunicated, were filled with h smoke, for, owing to the collapse of the bulkhead, the whole ventilation system had been damaged.

An heroic crew drove up on a compressed air locomotive to the burning timbering. The men flooded the area and checked the f then was it possible to ascertain that the lower heading had collapsed through the burning of the timbering. The temperature had 212 degrees. The temporary bulkhead was rebuilt, and also the ventilating cabin. Meanwhile, in the part of the upper heading w continued unabated, three powerful hydrants protected the scaffolding which was erected to replace the wooden timbering with shores. Three fine-mesh wire nettings were put up at a distance of 3-1/2 ft. from one another. But the fire continued furiously fo half months.

Matters became worse through emanations of gas in the lower heading, they issued from a gas-filled cavern below the tunnel. T lower heading became filled with gas and hindered all efforts to extinguish the fire. It was decided to flood the heading to a dep at the back of a wall which was put up across the heading. In order not to protract the stoppage of work in the northern part of th by-pass tunnel was constructed at 50 ft. distance from the tunnel, over a length of about 700 ft. This by-pass was bored at a shor in front of the cross wall, and it joined the track of the tunnel beyond the flooded section so that work could proceed. Over 330 completed beyond the flooded area during this time. Five months after the outbreak the flames had disappeared, and it took ano months to repair the damage.

THE SOURCE OF POWER. Contact wires in the tunnel's internal station. The overhead, direct-current system gives power at 3,000 volts.

Fire and gas were not the only obstacles. Water was also a most stubborn enemy ; it was present everywhere, seeping through th through the sides, breaking through from underground caverns, spouting from the drill holes, bursting forth in the form of casca rate of seventy-five gallons per second, and flooding the headings by torrential downpours.

The original surveys had revealed that water would be met with in limited quantities, and at first this was so. Three reciprocal p been installed, but with the progress of work more and more water appeared, and the original pumping plant had to be increased twenty-seven electric pumps with a total capacity of 215 gallons per second were at work. During the period from May 1925 to 1930, 4,735 million gallons of water (corresponding to an average of 3,366,000 gallons a day) were pumped from the tunnel, a that would be sufficient to fill an artificial lake of 1-1/4 miles in length, 3/4 mile wide and 33 ft. deep.

The most violent incursion occurred at a point 6,320 yards from the southern portal, when the waters broke through in the form cascade at the rate of 66 gallons per second. The canal built in the centre of the tunnel to collect the waters was insufficient ; the heading was flooded and work interrupted. To stop the flow of the water a brick wall, 10 ft. thick, was built and nine steel pipes diameter were let in to drain off the water. Simultaneously seven pipes of smaller diameter, 15 to 30 ft. long, were driven throug and first a cement mixture and then a mixture of cement, wood and metal scrap was forced through under pressure. But this me had previously proved successful at other points, failed this time. The wall was again demolished and where art and science had indomitable will power of the men working waist deep in the floods succeeded.

Despite all precautions water continued to trickle through over almost the whole length of the tunnel. In the Apennine Tunnel, w line is electrified, even a small amount of water upon the overhead contact lines might cause serious trouble, and a dangerous si would arise if the accumulated water were to freeze and icicles form, To waterproof the crown of the tunnel was a matter of vita

importance. This was done over a width of 22 ft. along the whole tunnel. A mixture of cement and sand, under pressure, was in number of holes. The face was then roughened, cleaned with steel brushes, and washed by jets of water under pressure. All join bricks or masonry were cleaned of the adhering mortar by pneumatic tools. The waterproofing mixture was then applied in two thickness of 1 in. To ensure perfect execution, this work was done by hand instead of using cement guns.

A STRIKING COMPARISON. This diagram shows the comparative heights of the old and new routes, the old route being indicated by the full black line. The introduction of the new route reduced the distance between Bologna and Florence from 81-7/8 miles to 60-1/4 miles.

The method of driving the tunnel was as follows : First a bottom heading, 13 ft. 1-1/2 in. by 10 ft. 6 in., was driven over a given and the narrow gauge railway laid in it. Next, a top heading, 8 ft. 2-3/8 in. by 6 ft. 6-3/4 in., was driven corresponding to the lin crown. Between these two headings a horizontal division, about 7 ft. thick, remained, which represented the floor of the upper h Vertical shafts bored through this division provided communication between upper and lower headings for the purpose of remo excavated material from the upper heading. The spoil was shot through these shafts directly into the trucks in the bottom headin heading was afterwards widened and extended as far down as the springing of the arch. The centring was then set in to keep the position, and the arch excavated to its full dimensions. When the arch was in position the horizontal division between the two h removed and the bottom heading excavated to its full dimensions. During this work the arch was supported by timbering. On co the side walls the inverted arch was set in.

Although the geological survey had made it clear that the soil was of the most difficult kind for tunnel construction, the difficul were encountered on certain sections were never expected. The swelling clay soil had given trouble on the northern side, but he timbering, sometimes steel centring, the reduction in length of the working sections and the method of completing the lining ov difficulties.

At a point about one and a half miles from the north portal, however, a serious situation arose. The pressure of the swelling clay greater than any timbering could withstand. The strongest pieces of 25 in. diameter were shattered to splinters, the strongest ste was bent and gave way. Stronger timbering, steel constructionscombinations of bothwere tried. Repeatedly they crumbled

seemingly infinite power. But man conquered again. A new method of tunnel driving, which will no doubt be adopted in future circumstances, was created. The so-called "Italian" method consisted of driving the bottom of a circular section with a diameter and lining the circumference with rings composed of staunch wooden wedges like keys. The resistance of this cylinder-like stru powerful enough even in this instance. When deformations occurred in the lining they were easily repaired by driving wedges in cracks of the lining. Advance headings met in the northern part in November 1929 and in the southern part in December 1929.

A feature of the tunnel is the large passing station constructed about mid-way between the bottom of the inclined shafts. Its purp permit fast trains to overtake slow traffic. The station consists of a vast hall which is 505 ft. long and 29-1/2 ft. high ; the diame arch is 56 ft. At either end of this station sidings were built in independent tunnels which join again with the main tunnel. The le these sidings is 1,470 ft.

The section of the tunnel varies according to the nature of the ground. The radius of the crown extends from 14 ft. 6 in. to 14 ft. the height between crown and the inverted arch from 24 ft. 3 in. to 26 ft. Also the thickness of the lining varies. At the crown it 9-1/2 in. to 3 ft. 3-1/2 in. and at the inverted arches from 1 ft. 3-3/4 in. to 2 ft. 7-3/4 in. In the passing station the lining of the cr

The magnitude of the tunnel construction may be judged from the following figures : The excavated material amounted to 69 m feet, the masonry work (linings) to 16 million cubic feet. The consumption of electric current was 110 million kilowatt hours, 9 dynamite were used for blasting, an average of 8-1/2 million cubic feet of compressed air was used for traction purposes and fo drills and pneumatic hammers ; the average number of men working inside the tunnel was 1,300, and the average number work in the yards was 550. The cost of the tunnel was 5,100,000, or 252 per yard.

THE "ITALIAN" METHOD, used while boring through particularly difficult sections of the Apennine Tunnel, consisted of lining the circumference with rings of strong wooden key-shaped wedges.