Tunnel in the Bluffs of the Mississippi River near La Crosse | Painting | Wisconsin Historical Society

Painting

Tunnel in the Bluffs of the Mississippi River near La Crosse

Tunnel in the Bluffs of the Mississippi River near La Crosse | Painting | Wisconsin Historical Society
Hölzlhuber traveled on American railways frequently and marveled that they wouldn't have been accepted as usable in Europe. This sketch of the tunnel on the Mississippi-Minnesota Railway shows its wooden plank construction, which looked "more like a mine than like a tunnel made for the railroad." The fence at the entrance kept cattle from  wandering in out of the heat.  On approach, the engineer stopped, climbed down to open the gate, closed it again after passing, then jumped on the last car and ran through the train in time to open and close the gate at the exit. On all the railways he traveled between New York and the Midwest, only one had a railroad watchman, a situation not acceptable by European standards.

Taken from Hölzlhuber's description of the scene, translated by Vera Kroner.
DESCRIPTION
Hölzlhuber traveled on American railways frequently and marveled that they wouldn't have been accepted as usable in Europe. This sketch of the tunnel on the Mississippi-Minnesota Railway shows its wooden plank construction, which looked "more like a mine than like a tunnel made for the railroad." The fence at the entrance kept cattle from wandering in out of the heat. On approach, the engineer stopped, climbed down to open the gate, closed it again after passing, then jumped on the last car and ran through the train in time to open and close the gate at the exit. On all the railways he traveled between New York and the Midwest, only one had a railroad watchman, a situation not acceptable by European standards. Taken from Hölzlhuber's description of the scene, translated by Vera Kroner.
RECORD DETAILS
Image ID:28157
Creation Date:circa 1858
Creator Name:Hölzlhuber, Franz, 1826-1898
City:
County:
State:Wisconsin
Collection Name:Franz Hölzlhuber sketches and associated materials, 1856-1860, 1959
Genre:Painting
Original Format Type:paintings
Original Format Number:PH 3131.35
Original Dimensions:8 x 5.5 inches
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This image is one of forty-two watercolor drawings from a sketchbook by Holzlhuber, documenting his trip to the U.S., especially to Wisconsin and Canada in 1856-1860.
SUBJECTS
Mountains
Railroad tracks
Railroad tunnels
Railroads
Plants

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Reference Details
Location:Wisconsin Historical Society Archives, 4th Floor, Madison, Wisconsin

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