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The longest main-line railroad tunnel in the [[United States]] is actually the Moffat Tunnel, 6.2 miles long and at a maximum elevation of 9,239 feet. It was completed in 1927 at a cost of 18 million US dollars.

The longest main-line railroad tunnel in the [[United States]] is actually the Moffat Tunnel, 6.2 miles long and at a maximum elevation of 9,239 feet. It was completed in 1927 at a cost of 18 million US dollars.

That a somewhat longer railroad tunnel could have been built through the Divide more than ten years earlier than that is conceivable. David Moffat, for whom the tunnel is named, tried to raise money to build the tunnel as early as 1902, though he never lived to see it built.<ref name=moffat>"Entry for Moffat Tunnel," Denver and Rio Grande Guide, n.d. Accessed May 1, 2009. <http://ghostdepot.com/rg/mainline/moffat%20route/moffat%20tunnel.htm></ref><ref name=moffatpic>Map showing location of Moffat Tunnel, Center for Land Use Interpretation, n.d. Accessed May 1, 2009. <http://ludb.clui.org/ex/i/CO3162/></ref>

That a somewhat longer railroad tunnel could have been built through the Divide at about that time is conceivable. David Moffat, for whom the tunnel is named, tried to raise money to build the tunnel as early as 1902, though he never lived to see it built.<ref name=moffat>"Entry for Moffat Tunnel," Denver and Rio Grande Guide, n.d. Accessed May 1, 2009. <http://ghostdepot.com/rg/mainline/moffat%20route/moffat%20tunnel.htm></ref><ref name=moffatpic>Map showing location of Moffat Tunnel, Center for Land Use Interpretation, n.d. Accessed May 1, 2009. <http://ludb.clui.org/ex/i/CO3162/></ref>

The Alpine Tunnel, a 1771-foot narrow-gauge tunnel through the Sawatch Mountains (elevation 11,523 feet), was completed in 1882.<ref name=legends>"The Alpine Tunnel: An Engineering Marvel," ''Legends of America'', n.d. Accessed May 1, 2009. <http://www.legendsofamerica.com/co-alpinetunnel.html></ref><ref name=colorado>"The Alpine Tunnel," ''The Colorado Guy'', n.d. Accessed May 1, 2009. <http://www.coloradoguy.com/alpine-tunnel.htm></ref> While the Alpine Tunnel did support the passage of coal-burning steam locomotives, an eight-mile tunnel would not have been been safe for any locomotive other than a Diesel-electric.

The Alpine Tunnel, a 1771-foot narrow-gauge tunnel through the Sawatch Mountains (elevation 11,523 feet), was completed in 1882.<ref name=legends>"The Alpine Tunnel: An Engineering Marvel," ''Legends of America'', n.d. Accessed May 1, 2009. <http://www.legendsofamerica.com/co-alpinetunnel.html></ref><ref name=colorado>"The Alpine Tunnel," ''The Colorado Guy'', n.d. Accessed May 1, 2009. <http://www.coloradoguy.com/alpine-tunnel.htm></ref> While the Alpine Tunnel did support the passage of coal-burning steam locomotives, an eight-mile tunnel would not have been been safe for any locomotive other than a Diesel-electric.