The longest Tunnel in the Tunnel District is Tunnel 17, which is 1,752 feet long, or roughly 1/3 of a mile long. The tunnel allows the tracks to leave South Draw, and connect with the open valley at Crescent, near Gross Reservoir. The westbound Zephyr is approach a clear (green) intermediate signal just east of Tunnel 17 on the approach to Crescent.
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Posted By Terry Ten Eyck On Tuesday, July 8, 2025 At 10:29:37 PM (PT)
Kevin captured a great perspective of No. 5 approaching the EP of T-17 (original #18, - by 1907 it was renumbered to T-17). This 1,730’ long bore was called the Polock Tunnel in 1903, (named after Henry Constantine Kabitsky, landowner of 160 acres – Tract 126). The first third of this train has entered the 8th longest tangent (3,015.8’) between Leyden and Winter Park. This long straight away extends through and 523’ beyond the WP of T-17 (original #18). The locomotives are just returning to Boulder County on the 22,539 cubic yard embankment over the Quartz Creek (today’s South Draw) western tributary. This fill contains material from the boring of Polock Tunnel. The rear half of the train is still in Jefferson County.
