Re: Alpine Tunnel Glass

Posted by South Park on Sep 30, 2017; 5:05am
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/Alpine-Tunnel-Glass-tp9540p9571.html

  You could be onto something.  The early year facts, as I know them,
is that the telegraph was operational (over the top) in 1880, nearly two
years before the tunnel opened.  Photos from the period when the line
was operational and statements from pioneers like Uncle Bob support
the line being kept operational over the top until abandonment in 1910.

  This leads me the think one of two things might have put that line THROUGH
the tunnel ....

1.  It was a construction-related wire, and not kept operational once it was
no longer needed, or

2.  It was a temporary line through the bore, perhaps built during winter,
when the line was down up on the mountain.

  Of course, it could be from a time when the tunnel was being reopened
after being closed for a while ???

  The insulator style dates to 1878 and later.  If Hallinan's piece has an
address of 55 Fulton St. on it, it was mf'd. no later than 1882.  If the
address is 45 Cliff St., it dates to the 1882-1890 period.  Western Union
adopted the CD 145 style as their "standard" in 1884, and the 126 style
quickly dropped off the popularity list for most buyers and production
dropped.  The style was kept in the catalogue into the teens and was
still finding buyers.

  I should go have a closer look at the photo in Klinger's book to see if
I can rule in or out what vintage the Hallinan piece is.  Does anyone have
contact with John to get a hands-on look at it ?