27:
508:
337:
495:, 575,000 kilograms (1,268,000 lb) of explosives and 70 tonnes (77 short tons) of steel had been used. The construction consumed 20 million kilowatt hours, while 600,000 cubic metres (21,000,000 cu ft) of debris were extracted from the tunnel and the investment was estimated at 300 million
568:
who found the mountain passes snowbound during part of the winter. The southern entrance was walled up and sections of the structure collapsed in 1999 and 2005, making it impassable for vehicles due to ceiling debris. Travel through the tunnel on foot is extremely dangerous, as there are ceiling-high
447:
In 1961, the construction of the
Santander–Mediterranean railway line was indefinitely halted with only 39 kilometres (24 mi) left to build. Although the construction of the Engaña Tunnel had been finished two years before, rails were never laid. The construction works were stopped as a result
332:
In 1961, the construction of the railway line was suspended as a result of restrictions on public investment in Spain, and the tunnel was never completed. It was later used by residents of the area and truck drivers as an alternate road, but became impassable by vehicles after the collapse of some
503:
in the structure led to widespread deterioration of the infrastructure, which later caused the collapse of some sections. The quality of the material used decreased as the tunnel construction rate was increased from half a meter per day in the early 1950s to three meters per day during the last
426:. The construction of the tunnel was resumed in 1951 with another contractor, "Portolés y Cía" and the construction lasted until 26 April 1959, when the teams from the two entrances met. The tunnel was officially inaugurated on 9 May 1959, although the construction had not yet been completed.
390:. Although only 63 kilometres (39 mi) remained separating the railway from Santander, the hilly and rough terrain required the construction of several tunnels and viaducts. Several options were proposed and it was eventually decided to build a railway line with 32 tunnels between
479:, Juanjo Olaizola and Francisco de los Cobos Arteaga dismissed this theory, while they also argued that the line was doomed "almost from its inception" because, among other reasons, the railway was not the "most logical and economical" solution to connect the Mediterranean Sea with the
486:
The tunnel has a length of 6,976 metres (22,887 ft), with a slight curve in the first 300 metres (980 ft) of the southern entrance, while the rest is completely straight. In 1959, the contracted company stated that 100,000 cubic metres (3,500,000 cu ft) of
540:. After the remaining sections of the Santander–Mediterranean line were closed and any possibility of using the tunnel for a railway was ruled out, there were requests by residents of the area to adapt the structure for use as a road tunnel. In 2001, the
504:
years. By 1964, a report described the deterioration of the tunnel caused by the harsh climate of the region and the lack of maintenance, with suggestions to wall up the tunnels in order to prevent the formation of ice inside.
548:
to build a road, but technicians advised against it, considering that the tunnel was too long for a road, would have to be widened to accommodate two lanes, and would have an estimated cost of 40–50 million
429:
As least 16 workers had died during the construction from 1951 to 1959, and no figure is known for the construction during the first years. A large number of the workers eventually died from
1057:
632:
1223:
925:
670:
1280:
541:
375:
1016:
483:
and there had been rapid development of road transport network. They deemed that the project could have only been undertaken by a "complex web of corruption".
1270:
762:
1275:
1265:
128:
422:. They constructed the first 500 metres (1,600 ft), but in 1945, most of the prisoners left as they benefited from a pardon decree approved by
1065:
182:
640:
898:
1220:
1088:
468:
933:
1250:
1255:
855:
419:
322:
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463:
in 1961, and the other issued by the World Bank in 1962. It was also claimed that the construction may have been stopped by the
1260:
449:
959:
414:
awarded the contract to complete construction of the tunnel to "Ferrocarriles y
Construcciones ABC". The company employed
75:
1173:
68:
602:
1028:
986:
802:
374:. The project dates back to the 19th century, but the work on the line started in 1925 during the dictatorship of
434:
418:
from labor camps at each mouth of the tunnel, with a work force of 560 prisoners by 1943, many of whom were
456:
in May 1959. Two further reports advised the suspension of construction of new railway lines, one issued by the
321:. The construction lasted for over seventeen years, from 1941 to 1959, employing hundreds of workers, including
607:
731:
578:
537:
391:
387:
172:
32:
386:
already existing. By the end of 1930, construction had been completed on the section between
Calatayud and
1200:
329:, with a length of 6,976 metres (22,887 ft), but was never completed as the rails were never laid.
325:
prisoners during the first years. At the time of its construction, it was the longest railway tunnel in
1195:
26:
586:
472:
359:
302:
1190:
704:
310:
521:
290:
176:
57:
1141:
765:[Work begins on the greenway rail trail of the Santander-Mediterranean in La Bureba].
545:
407:
371:
318:
294:
423:
271:
707:[The longest railway tunnel in Spain, closed since it was completed 27 years ago].
1227:
529:
411:
763:"Comienzan las obras de la vía verde del Ferrocarril Santander-Mediterráneo en La Bureba"
867:
525:
496:
355:
306:
279:
705:"El túnel ferroviario más largo de España, cerrado desde que se terminó, hace 27 años"
1244:
989:[It is not advisable to continue the railway works Santander-Mediterranean].
480:
367:
314:
340:
The abandoned railway station of Yera is at the northern mouth of the Engaña Tunnel.
1019:[Rail and Territory: The case of section 7 of the Santander-Mediterranean]
736:
565:
507:
395:
1185:
561:
457:
438:
415:
118:
36:
1017:"Ferrocarril y Territorio: El caso de la sección 7º del Santander-Mediterráneo"
987:"No es aconsejable continuar las obras del ferrocarril Santander-Mediterráneo"
582:
453:
198:
184:
144:
130:
90:
77:
574:
533:
464:
448:
of restrictions on public investment in Spain after the introduction of the
430:
379:
336:
298:
122:
53:
573:, some sections remaining flooded, and concerns about the risk of further
488:
383:
363:
1025:
Instituto
Universitario de Urbanística de la Universidad de Valladolid
511:
Some sections of the tunnel remain flooded due to lack of maintenance.
828:
590:
570:
557:
532:, which included most of the Santander–Mediterranean railway between
492:
441:
282:
1060:[The vain promise to finish the Santander-Mediterranean].
1027:(in Spanish). Fundación de Ferrocarriles Españoles. Archived from
506:
500:
460:
335:
326:
286:
61:
550:
1146:
Fundación
Cultural Eusebio Gómez García y Justina Berdía López
305:. The tunnel was part of the proposed Santander–Mediterranean
524:
decided to close all of the
Spanish railway lines with a
477:
The
Santander-Mediterranean Railway: a history of failure
354:
The Engaña Tunnel is part of the
Santander–Mediterranean
16:
Unfinished railway tunnel in Spain's
Cantabrian Mountains
928:[The tunnel was the official victim number 17].
556:
For years the tunnel was used by residents of the area,
805:[The black hole between Cantabria and Burgos].
577:. The six kilometers between the southern entrance and
1212:
633:"Los grandes datos del túnel de La Engaña (1941-1961)"
1058:"La vana promesa de acabar el Santander-Mediterráneo"
962:[Linked by the tunnel half a century later].
831:[Railway line Santander to Mediterranean].
585:, as part of a proposed 106-kilometre (66 mi)
491:, 20,000 cubic metres (710,000 cu ft) of
471:, who wanted to avoid competition from the port of
256:
248:
240:
235:
227:
222:
168:
114:
106:
67:
49:
44:
833:ADBAYSE (Advanced Business Actions & Services)
452:in 1959, following an unfavorable report from the
31:The northern mouth of the Engaña Tunnel, in the
635:[The great facts of the Engaña Tunnel].
1144:[The Santander-Mediterranean railway].
796:
794:
792:
790:
788:
786:
784:
664:
662:
660:
658:
358:, a proposed railway line between the ports of
734:[The longest and most cursed tunnel].
673:[Underground crossing of the Engaña].
1213:Website about Santander–Mediterranean railway
1091:[The railway that lost its bearing].
829:"Línea ferroviaria Santander al Mediterráneo"
698:
696:
626:
624:
622:
8:
1221:Photo Gallery - Crossing of La Engaña tunnel
19:
1051:
1049:
926:"El túnel fue la víctima oficial número 17"
854:Olaizola Elordi, Juanjo (5 February 2012).
803:"El agujero negro entre Cantabria y Burgos"
892:
890:
888:
757:
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18:
1010:
1008:
960:"Unidos por el túnel medio siglo después"
953:
951:
450:Plan Nacional de Estabilización Económica
333:parts of the structure in 1999 and 2005.
406:In 1941, two years after the end of the
1142:"El ferrocarril Santander-Mediterráneo"
1118:[The longest tunnel in Spain].
618:
542:Ministry of Public Works and Transport
1281:Buildings and structures in Cantabria
7:
1089:"El ferrocarril que perdió el Norte"
671:"Travesía bajo tierra por La Engaña"
1271:Unfinished buildings and structures
858:[Forced labor and railway]
1276:Buildings and structures in Burgos
801:Cobo, Teresa (25 September 2011).
14:
1114:Medina Gomez, José (9 May 1959).
1056:Cobo, Teresa (10 February 2012).
985:Fuente, Felipe (6 October 1970).
958:Cobo, Teresa (13 November 2011).
901:[A fate for the Engaña].
897:Serrador, Montse (3 March 2003).
924:Cobo, Teresa (5 February 2012).
703:Gil, Ángeles (5 November 1987).
631:Cobo, Teresa (9 November 2011).
25:
856:"Trabajo forzado y ferrocarril"
730:Largo, Gontzal (12 July 2008).
669:Cobo, Teresa (9 January 2012).
398:, including the Engaña Tunnel.
1116:"El túnel más largo de España"
732:"El túnel más largo y maldito"
499:. The reported lack of proper
1:
1266:Transport in Castile and León
244:6,976 m (22,887 ft)
1064:(in Spanish). Archived from
932:(in Spanish). Archived from
866:(in Spanish). Archived from
677:(in Spanish). Archived from
639:(in Spanish). Archived from
1201:GPX (secondary coordinates)
1087:I.L.H. (24 December 2011).
899:"Un destino para La Engaña"
603:List of never used railways
378:, with the railway between
1297:
260:632 m (2,073 ft)
252:748 m (2,454 ft)
1251:Cancelled railway tunnels
1196:GPX (primary coordinates)
1171:Map all coordinates using
769:(in Spanish). 5 July 2011
528:below 23 percent of
435:occupational lung disease
24:
1256:Railway tunnels in Spain
1179:Download coordinates as:
608:List of tunnels in Spain
581:have been turned into a
562:recreational off-roaders
437:caused by inhalation of
309:line, an attempt by the
1015:Santos y Ganges, Luis.
835:(in Spanish). issuu.com
589:between the tunnel and
475:. In an article titled
278:) is a never-completed
173:Merindad de Valdeporres
1261:Transport in Cantabria
512:
376:Miguel Primo de Rivera
341:
275:
1191:GPX (all coordinates)
510:
339:
303:Cantabrian Mountains
199:43.05306°N 3.73444°W
145:43.11556°N 3.74222°W
91:43.11556°N 3.74222°W
1068:on 12 February 2012
936:on 16 February 2012
501:steel reinforcement
194: /
140: /
87: /
21:
1232:El Diario Montañes
1226:2012-01-19 at the
1062:El Diario Montañes
964:El Diario Montañes
930:El Diario Montañes
864:El Diario Montañes
807:El Diario Montañes
681:on 16 January 2012
675:El Diario Montañes
643:on 19 January 2012
637:El Diario Montañes
522:Spanish government
513:
342:
311:Spanish government
276:Túnel de la Engaña
204:43.05306; -3.73444
150:43.11556; -3.74222
96:43.11556; -3.74222
546:feasibility study
408:Spanish Civil War
372:Mediterranean Sea
319:Mediterranean Sea
289:, connecting the
264:
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249:Highest elevation
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1093:Diario de Burgos
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257:Lowest elevation
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1228:Wayback Machine
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544:commissioned a
530:operating costs
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412:Francoist Spain
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366:to connect the
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313:to connect the
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566:truck drivers
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531:
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520:In 1985, the
515:
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481:Bay of Biscay
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315:Bay of Biscay
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268:Engaña Tunnel
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20:Engaña Tunnel
1236:(in Spanish)
1231:
1216:(in Spanish)
1178:
1177:
1170:
1150:. Retrieved
1148:(in Spanish)
1145:
1136:
1124:. Retrieved
1122:(in Spanish)
1119:
1109:
1097:. Retrieved
1095:(in Spanish)
1092:
1082:
1070:. Retrieved
1066:the original
1061:
1036:. Retrieved
1029:the original
1024:
995:. Retrieved
993:(in Spanish)
990:
980:
968:. Retrieved
966:(in Spanish)
963:
938:. Retrieved
934:the original
929:
919:
907:. Retrieved
905:(in Spanish)
902:
875:. Retrieved
868:the original
863:
849:
837:. Retrieved
832:
823:
811:. Retrieved
809:(in Spanish)
806:
771:. Retrieved
767:desnivel.com
766:
742:. Retrieved
740:(in Spanish)
737:Diario Vasco
735:
725:
713:. Retrieved
711:(in Spanish)
708:
683:. Retrieved
679:the original
674:
645:. Retrieved
641:the original
636:
555:
519:
485:
476:
446:
433:, a form of
428:
405:
402:Construction
353:
331:
301:through the
267:
265:
33:municipality
1152:27 February
1126:27 February
1099:27 February
1072:27 February
1038:27 February
997:27 February
970:27 February
940:27 February
909:27 February
877:27 February
839:27 February
813:27 February
773:27 February
744:28 February
715:27 February
685:27 February
647:27 February
458:state-owned
439:crystalline
420:Republicans
416:penal labor
228:Constructed
202: /
148: /
119:Vega de Pas
94: /
69:Coordinates
37:Vega de Pas
1245:Categories
1120:Diario ABC
903:Diario ABC
614:References
583:rail trail
579:Santelices
575:landslides
454:World Bank
392:Santelices
350:Background
323:Republican
208: (
186:43°03′11″N
154: (
132:43°06′56″N
79:43°06′56″N
569:piles of
534:Calatayud
516:Aftermath
473:Santander
465:oligarchy
431:silicosis
380:Calatayud
370:with the
360:Santander
317:with the
299:Cantabria
291:provinces
236:Technical
223:Operation
189:3°44′04″W
135:3°44′32″W
123:Cantabria
110:Abandoned
82:3°44′32″W
54:Cantabria
1234:, 2012.
1224:Archived
597:See also
587:greenway
489:concrete
50:Location
45:Overview
709:El País
558:herders
538:Dosante
497:pesetas
467:of the
388:Dosante
384:Sagunto
364:Sagunto
356:railway
345:History
307:railway
280:railway
272:Spanish
231:1941–59
39:(2015).
591:Burgos
571:debris
493:cement
444:dust.
442:silica
410:, the
295:Burgos
283:tunnel
241:Length
177:Burgos
107:Status
58:Burgos
1032:(PDF)
1021:(PDF)
871:(PDF)
860:(PDF)
551:Euros
461:RENFE
327:Spain
287:Spain
115:Start
62:Spain
1154:2012
1128:2012
1101:2012
1074:2012
1040:2012
999:2012
972:2012
942:2012
911:2012
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