Welcome to ST.N
Guest
. Please
login
or
register
.
April 17, 2024, 03:37:57 pm
"The twisties, not the boulevard, separate the riders from the squids."
Home
Forums
Photo Gallery
Login
Register
Shop @ MG.C
Shop @ ST.N
Contact
Sport-Touring.Net
»
Global Positioning
»
U.S. Region 6
» Topic:
PA Abandoned Turnpike (Sideling Hill Tunnel)
Pages: [
1
]
Go Down
Print
Topic: PA Abandoned Turnpike (Sideling Hill Tunnel) (Read 10957 times)
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
JamminJere
Contributor Rex
Reputation 53
Offline
Motorcycles: 2008 Kawasaki Concours14 #5361
GPS: Southeast Pennsylvania
Miles Typed: 1246
My Photo Gallery
Commando Spelunker
PA Abandoned Turnpike (Sideling Hill Tunnel)
«
on:
August 08, 2010, 09:20:10 am »
I was going to post this in Ride Reports, but decided to keep it short and figured it wouldn't really interest people in other Regions..
Yesterday I headed out for a ride with my wife Leisa, my local riding buddy and friend, Jeets, and my good friend from Delaware, Kirk, and his girlfriend, Jill. We really didn't have a destination as we headed west from Pottstown, PA. As we were riding I remembered this post from last winter.
https://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,47898.0.html
We took all 2 lane highways west except to cross the Susquehanna at Duncannon.. 895 to Pine Grove, 443 to the River, Crossed at Duncannon, 274 west to 75 south. 641 to Shade Gap, 522 to Orbisonia, 994 to Three Springs, 655 to Waterfall, 913 to Wells Valley Rd, 915 up the hill to Oregon Rd (gravel). We parked the bikes and hiked in to the Abandoned Turnpike and the Sideling Hill Tunnel.
Western Portal, the Tunnel is 6,782 ft long and was the longest tunnel on the PA Turnpike.. and is now part of the Pike2Bike trail.. no motor vehicles allowed.
You can access the ventilation tunnel running the full length above the main tunnel.. There are metal staircases leading up to the control room and the room that holds the two large ducted fans that pulled the exhaust fumes from the tunnel.. My pics of the Ducted fans didn't turn out ... Jeets?
Part of the control room... graffitti is plentiful.
Ventilation tunnel is at least 8ft high in the center over both lanes below.. I've never heard an echo quite like the one you get when you yell long tones up in here... eerie..
One of our little bug eating friends... this one wasn't feeling to well...
A couple hundred yards into the main tunnel.. You can see light from both ends once you get in a way when your eyes adjust. We had flashlights to aid in our exploring.
The exploration team.. Leisa, Jeets, Kirk and Jill
We didn't get back out to the bikes until 5pm and because it was so nice we decided not to ruin it by slabbing it home.. We pretty much back-tracked our route with the exception of omitting 895 because it was getting dark and I didn't want to risk a deer strike so we hit I78 to Hamburg and then home down 662.
Our Trusty Steeds
A great restaurant and ice cream parlor in Blain, PA on 274
We didn't really have enough time to explore the Abandoned Turnpike the way we wanted to... but then there is always another trip..
JJ
«
Last Edit: August 09, 2010, 04:44:59 pm by JamminJere
»
Logged
There really isn't much difference between "the masses" and "them asses"
Sport-Touring
Advertisement
Sponsored Links
Remove Advertisements
glepore
Reputation 3
Offline
Motorcycles: Ducati 749s, BMW K1200RS
GPS: Pennsburg Pa
Miles Typed: 129
My Photo Gallery
Re: PA Abandoned Turnpike (Sideling Hill Tunnel)
«
Reply #1 on:
August 08, 2010, 10:05:39 am »
Cool. Glad yo finally did this. Curious if Ganassi is still using one of the tunnels for coast down aero tests.
Logged
May you build a ladder to the stars and climb on every rung
And may you stay forever young
JamminJere
Contributor Rex
Reputation 53
Offline
Motorcycles: 2008 Kawasaki Concours14 #5361
GPS: Southeast Pennsylvania
Miles Typed: 1246
My Photo Gallery
Commando Spelunker
Re: PA Abandoned Turnpike (Sideling Hill Tunnel)
«
Reply #2 on:
August 08, 2010, 12:11:53 pm »
Greg,
That was or is at Laurel Hill Tunnel, much farther west than the piece of TP we were at yesterday... If we would have headed west from where we were towards Breezewood, the other abandoned Tunnel is Rays Hill.. and since Sideling Hill has alot of history with accidental explosions while it was first being engineered as a railroad tunnel in the 1880's( but never opened) with at least 9 deaths .. I wanted the spook factor, so we went there..
Good to see you posting up!
JJ
«
Last Edit: August 08, 2010, 12:20:16 pm by JamminJere
»
Logged
There really isn't much difference between "the masses" and "them asses"
Advertisement
Jeets
Reputation 69
Offline
Motorcycles: Connie
GPS: Pottstown, PA
Miles Typed: 509
My Photo Gallery
Re: PA Abandoned Turnpike (Sideling Hill Tunnel)
«
Reply #3 on:
August 08, 2010, 03:26:55 pm »
Jer,
Excellent write up!
I am finished my outside tasks, showered, and sitting downstairs watching the boob tube.
Greg,
Good to see you posting. I am hoping and praying your condition continues to improve.
Logged
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm13/jeets_photos/BurgerRun2009_128-1.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm13/jeets_photos/estnlogo_small.jpg
" Peace" is that brief, glorious moment
ZZR Rob
Reputation 11
Offline
Years Contributed: '10
Years Supported: '11
Motorcycles: 02 Concours
GPS: Sharpsburg, MD
Miles Typed: 773
My Photo Gallery
Re: PA Abandoned Turnpike (Sideling Hill Tunnel)
«
Reply #4 on:
August 08, 2010, 07:26:12 pm »
Thanks for the story and pics Jer.
Rob
Logged
DosEquis00
Reputation 220
Offline
Motorcycles: 00 Blackbird, 08 C14
GPS: SEPA
Miles Typed: 2966
My Photo Gallery
Re: PA Abandoned Turnpike (Sideling Hill Tunnel)
«
Reply #5 on:
August 08, 2010, 08:27:30 pm »
Nice write up Jer as I remember reading about the abandoned turnpike years ago. I will have to try that route as it sounds like a good one. I think Jeets has become Mr. Region 6 as he is everywhere lately.
Logged
st2sam
Reputation 133
Offline
Years Contributed: '10
Motorcycles: 2014 Honda Valkyrie
GPS: N.E. PA. aboard a flying Hippo.
Miles Typed: 1671
My Photo Gallery
Certified sport-TOURING wacko.......
Re: PA Abandoned Turnpike (Sideling Hill Tunnel)
«
Reply #6 on:
August 08, 2010, 09:19:04 pm »
WHOA, neat pics Jer.. Thanks for sharing your ride.
I went to the Hagerstown race over the weekend and rode a few of the same roads your group traveled. (443, 274, 75, 641,.) Stopped at the Duncannon Hotel for lunch on the way home today, didn't realize how many nice roads and scenic country views are in that area..
(
IMHO
Pennsylvania has it's fare share of great motorcycle roads...
)
Logged
Change is good, but only for a while..
Honda makes the best "sport-TOURING" motorcycle, until I buy something else.......
Mastros2
Reputation 68
Offline
Years Contributed: '09, 10
Years Supported: '11
Motorcycles: Triumph Street Triple R
GPS: Central NJ
Miles Typed: 4146
My Photo Gallery
My daddy loves cookies
Re: PA Abandoned Turnpike (Sideling Hill Tunnel)
«
Reply #7 on:
August 08, 2010, 09:39:47 pm »
Quote from: st2sam on August 08, 2010, 09:19:04 pm
(
IMHO
Pennsylvania has it's fare share of great motorcycle roads...
)
I agree. Thanks for the share! It's on my short "To ride to..." list.
Logged
mastros2.wordpress.com
kendenton
You ain't a beauty, but hey you're alright
Reputation 65
Offline
Years Contributed: '07, '08, '10
Years Supported: '11
Motorcycles: '15 Aprilia Caponord, '06 Ducati Multistrada 620
Miles Typed: 3476
My Photo Gallery
Re: PA Abandoned Turnpike (Sideling Hill Tunnel)
«
Reply #8 on:
August 08, 2010, 09:44:38 pm »
Wish I could say the same about the roads here in NJ
Logged
I miss my sig picture.
Joey Stalin
sick of pictures of gas stations
Reputation 15
Offline
GPS: nOvA
Miles Typed: 2125
My Photo Gallery
Re: PA Abandoned Turnpike (Sideling Hill Tunnel)
«
Reply #9 on:
August 08, 2010, 10:08:27 pm »
Always wanted to check out the abandoned Turnpike tunnels, but since they're either private property (Laurel Hill) or no longer abandoned (bike trail), some of the attraction is gone for me. Some day I may ride up to check out the Sideling Hill tunnel, though.
Logged
Joseph "Joey" Stalin
BMW R1100RT-P
Kawasaki KLR650
Jeets
Reputation 69
Offline
Motorcycles: Connie
GPS: Pottstown, PA
Miles Typed: 509
My Photo Gallery
Re: PA Abandoned Turnpike (Sideling Hill Tunnel)
«
Reply #10 on:
August 08, 2010, 10:50:55 pm »
Has a Connie, will ride!
Quote from: DosEquis00 on August 08, 2010, 08:27:30 pm
Nice write up Jer as I remember reading about the abandoned turnpike years ago. I will have to try that route as it sounds like a good one. I think Jeets has become Mr. Region 6 as he is everywhere lately.
«
Last Edit: August 08, 2010, 11:05:20 pm by Jeets
»
Logged
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm13/jeets_photos/BurgerRun2009_128-1.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm13/jeets_photos/estnlogo_small.jpg
" Peace" is that brief, glorious moment
Rincewind
Reputation 123
Offline
Years Contributed: '08, '09, '10
Years Supported: '11
Miles Typed: 13727
My Photo Gallery
Re: PA Abandoned Turnpike (Sideling Hill Tunnel)
«
Reply #11 on:
August 09, 2010, 08:37:17 am »
Quote from: JamminJere on August 08, 2010, 12:11:53 pm
Greg,
That was or is at Laurel Hill Tunnel, much farther west than the piece of TP we were at yesterday... If we would have headed west from where we were towards Breezewood, the other abandoned Tunnel is Rays Hill.. and since Sideling Hill has alot of history with accidental explosions while it was first being engineered as a railroad tunnel in the 1880's( but never opened) with at least 9 deaths .. I wanted the spook factor, so we went there..
Good to see you posting up!
JJ
So was it haunted or what??
Nice trip report, JJ! Sounded like a great day.
Logged
scottzilla
Reputation -56
Offline
Years Contributed: '10
Years Supported: '11
Motorcycles: CBR1100XX, 33hp oversized dirt bike, 08 Tuono
GPS: NY
Miles Typed: 8809
My Photo Gallery
Re: PA Abandoned Turnpike (Sideling Hill Tunnel)
«
Reply #12 on:
August 09, 2010, 08:49:20 am »
cool. I like old abandoned stuff.
Logged
They're finding dead bodies where I ride.
The Wrath of Con Pt. 4 "One thing is for sure however, I will never publicly promote or let it be known that I am a member of STN again".
PTrider
Reputation 0
Offline
Motorcycles: 2008 Concours 14 (street), 2006 GSXR 1000 (track)
Miles Typed: 2
My Photo Gallery
Re: PA Abandoned Turnpike (Sideling Hill Tunnel)
«
Reply #13 on:
August 10, 2010, 08:33:50 pm »
Jerry,
It was a great ride.
We had a blast. Hope to do it again soon.
Kirk
Logged
JamminJere
Contributor Rex
Reputation 53
Offline
Motorcycles: 2008 Kawasaki Concours14 #5361
GPS: Southeast Pennsylvania
Miles Typed: 1246
My Photo Gallery
Commando Spelunker
Re: PA Abandoned Turnpike (Sideling Hill Tunnel)
«
Reply #14 on:
August 10, 2010, 08:36:59 pm »
Kirk,
Glad you two had a good time... and Welcome to ST.N!
JJ
Logged
There really isn't much difference between "the masses" and "them asses"
Jeets
Reputation 69
Offline
Motorcycles: Connie
GPS: Pottstown, PA
Miles Typed: 509
My Photo Gallery
Re: PA Abandoned Turnpike (Sideling Hill Tunnel)
«
Reply #15 on:
August 11, 2010, 06:20:18 pm »
A few more pics...
Logged
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm13/jeets_photos/BurgerRun2009_128-1.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm13/jeets_photos/estnlogo_small.jpg
" Peace" is that brief, glorious moment
Pages: [
1
]
Go Up
Print
Sport-Touring.Net
»
Global Positioning
»
U.S. Region 6
» Topic:
PA Abandoned Turnpike (Sideling Hill Tunnel)
Jump to:
Please select a destination:
-----------------------------
The Open Road
-----------------------------
=> General Sport-Touring Discussion
-----------------------------
The Club House
-----------------------------
=> Pit Row
-----------------------------
The Open Road
-----------------------------
=> Beginner's Garage
=> Motorcycle Polls
-----------------------------
The Marketplace
-----------------------------
=> Bike Tech
-----------------------------
The Tech Zone
-----------------------------
=> Mods & Maintenance
=> Gadgets
=> Gear and Apparel
-----------------------------
The Open Road
-----------------------------
=> Ride Reports
-----------------------------
The Club House
-----------------------------
=> Iron Butt
===> Aprilia
===> BMW
===> Buell
===> Ducati
===> Honda
-----------------------------
Global Positioning
-----------------------------
=> U.S. Region 1
-----------------------------
The Club House
-----------------------------
===> Kawasaki
===> Moto Guzzi
===> Suzuki
===> Triumph
===> Yamaha
-----------------------------
Global Positioning
-----------------------------
=> U.S. Region 2
=> U.S. Region 3
=> U.S. Region 4
=> U.S. Region 5
=> U.S. Region 6
-----------------------------
The Lounge
-----------------------------
=> Off Topic Discussion
-----------------------------
Global Positioning
-----------------------------
=> Canada
=> Europe & U.K.
=> Australia & New Zealand
-----------------------------
The Club House
-----------------------------
===> KTM
===> Harley-Davidson
-----------------------------
The Marketplace
-----------------------------
=> Vendor, Group Buy, Member Offers
=> Bikes Only
=> Non-bike Items
-----------------------------
The Club House
-----------------------------
===> Other
-----------------------------
Administration
-----------------------------
=> Announcements & Rules
-----------------------------
The Open Road
-----------------------------
=> ST.N Rallies/Meets
-----------------------------
The Club House
-----------------------------
=> Dirt Lovers
===> Off Road Ride Reports
-----------------------------
The Open Road
-----------------------------
===> STN National
===> WCRM
===> ESTN
===> Borscht Burn
===> SNOB
-----------------------------
The Lounge
-----------------------------
=> EOE: Experts On Everything
-----------------------------
The Club House
-----------------------------
=> Manufacturer Row
-----------------------------
Sport-Touring.net Vendor Deals
-----------------------------
=> MOTORCYCLEiD
Loading...
Copyright © 2001 - 2013 Sport-Touring.Net.
All rights reserved.
Terms of Use
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Your Privacy Choices
Manage Consent
SimplePortal 2.3.1 © 2008-2009, SimplePortal