Flathead Tunnel

The Flathead Tunnel, also known as the Breakfast Tunnel, is a 7-mile-long (11 km) railroad tunnel in the Rocky Mountains of northwest Montana near Trego, approximately 28 miles (45 km) west of Whitefish. Located on the BNSF Kootenai River Subdivision, it is the second-longest railroad tunnel in the United States after the Cascade Tunnel.[1][2]

Flathead Tunnel
Eastbound Empire Builder enters Flathead Tunnel
Overview
LineKootenai River Subdivision (Northern Transcon)
LocationLincoln County, Montana, USA
Coordinates48°33′03″N 114°57′22″W
SystemBNSF
Operation
Work begunMay 12, 1966[1]: 2 
Constructedblasted with cut and cover portals
OpenedNovember 7, 1970
OwnerBNSF
Traffic50 trains daily (as of 2018)
Technical
Length36,955 ft (7.0 mi; 11.3 km)[1]: 2 
No. of tracksSingle
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Highest elevation3,720 ft (1,130 m)
Lowest elevation3,620 ft (1,100 m)

Construction began in 1966 and the tunnel opened on November 7, 1970.[1] It was built by the Great Northern Railroad as part of a new 60-mile (97 km) bypass of part of the existing route that had to be abandoned due to changes caused by the construction of Libby Dam.[1][3]

As of 2018 the tunnel is used by about 50 freight trains each day[2] as well as Amtrak's Empire Builder. Speed through the tunnel is approximately 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). Fans and a door at the east portal are used to ventilate the tunnel and clear it of diesel locomotive exhaust.[2][4]

References
  1. The Flathead Tunnel: A Geologic, Operations, and Ground Support Study, Burlington Northern Railroad, Salish Mountains, Montana (PDF). University of North Texas Library (Report). Spokane Mining Research Center. U.S. Bureau of Mines. 1974. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  2. Franz, Justin (13 February 2018). "BNSF to Improve Flathead Tunnel as Part of Annual Capital Program". Flathead Beacon. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  3. Floyd, Doug (August 25, 1975). "Dam gets Ford's praise, but it's not energy key". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). pp. 1, 3.
  4. "Montana Tunnels". The Great Northern Empire.


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