Hermosa Tunnels on the UP

[Rik3801T]

Can anyone please enlighten me on why the Hermosa Tunnels exist? When you look at the tunnels, they are quite close to the surface above, unlike most tunnels which are far from any surface! (except perhaps when they are being day-lighted). It has always puzzled me as to why that part of the UP wasn't just conceived as a cut???

Any answers will be appreciated, coz this one's got me!

 

[big_b]

The only reason I could find was to avoid snow drifts in a cutting

Dave

 

[cascaderailroad]

Hermosa Tunnel lies on Union Pacific's mainline linking the Midwest with the West Coast. Approximately 100 freight trains run through the tunnel every day, carrying a wide variety of cargo.

The original line over Sherman Hill was completed in 1869, reaching a summit of 8247'.

This tunnel was constructed in 1901, resulting in a lower summit of 8013'

The single line through the tunnel was not enough to handle the traffic, so the bore was twinned during 1918.

 

[oknotsen]

Here is where Cascade copied that text from:
http://wikimapia.org/9704593/Hermosa-Tunnel