Entering the PA Turnpike at the Carlisle interchange. This was the original western terminus of the Turnpike, although the interchange has since been completely rebuilt.
The PA Turnpike has several long stretches of very straight roads. For a roadway to have more vertical deviation than horizontal is extremely rare in Pennsylvania.
The inside of the Blue Mountain tunnel (westbound). In the 1960s, the tiles and angled lights were added. Astute passengers riding through the tunnel can see the covered-up holes for the original in-ceiling recessed lights.
The tunnel on the right (westbound) is the original; note the curved facade, the “stepped” entrance, and the change in texture immediately above the right wall of the garage. The tunnel on the left was bored and finished in the 1960s; the original was bored in the 1880s, converted for vehicular use in the 1930s, and refinished in the 1960s.
Detail on the current approach. For comparison to the older tunnels, see my other “Abandoned Turnpike” album.
As the Turnpike winds its way through central Pennsylvania, cities and skylines give way to fields and mountains.
As you near the abandoned segment, the current Turnpike gets uncharacteristically twisty and hilly. It's as if the road is trying to shake you away from discovering its 50-year-old secret.
The eastern entrance to the abandoned segment, facing westbound. Breezewood and Route 30 are directly behind me. The cut above is where the current Turnpike blasts through above Sideling Hill. The concrete barriers exist to keep vehicular traffic away. The weight of anything bigger than a mountain bike would do serious damage to the 50-year-old untouched pavement beneath.
Standing on the westbound side, looking east. That's four lanes of snow with a fifth lane of grassy median.
What was once travelled by tens of thousands of vehicles monthly is now only frequented by deer, coyote, and the occasional intrepid explorer.
There's a deer in this photo. Can you find her? She was probably aware of my presence long before I noticed her.
As I approached Rays Hill, flurries began to fall.
The flurries quickly turned into a full-on snowfall as I approached the long-forgotten tunnel.
Another shot of the tunnel. The snow really started coming down. It didn't stop until I returned to my car and drove away.
A family of dogs appeared from nowhere and kept me company.
The two puppies were much more trusting than the mother, who maintained a safe distance in the background.
The pups were torn between exploring the fresh snow and playing with this strange new visitor.
All things considered, I was happy to have the company. Bears, coyotes, and deer were afoot. Note the snow-covered snoot.
Door to the former garage area.
About an inch of day-old snow dusts the surround hillside.
Hulking 80-year-old machines sit in the long-abandoned ventilation room above the tunnel. See my other Abandoned Turnpike album for machinery pics.
The snow continued to fall, further deadening the already-dampened distant rumble of traffic on the current Turnpike (a few thousand feet away, above and to the right of frame).
Though not spectacular by any means, this picture perhaps best captures the isolation and peacefulness of the abandoned turnpike. Sadly, by now, my newfound friends had departed, presumably bored by the fact that I wasn't interested in digging in the snow with them.
