Part of early NY railroad tunnel unearthed in Schenectady

A wall of one of the nation's first railroad tunnels has been excavated in Schenectady.

Workers using a backhoe uncovered part of the tunnel's western wall on Wednesday under the direction of City Historian Don Rittner.

The 1,500-foot-long tunnel was built in 1832. Horses pulled trains through the tunnel because they were considered too much of a fire hazard to travel through city streets.

The tunnel was filled in six years after opening.

The tunnel wall was found 7 feet below ground. Rittner believes the original tracks are still in the tunnel, but he says more digging will be put off until required permits and equipment are in place.

Rittner says he hopes to eventually uncover a section of the tunnel and leave it on display.
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Information from: The Daily Gazette,
http://www.dailygazette.com/
   
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