[3] Construction on the tunnel began in 1888, before the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad had even reached the Belmont area.

The workers being promised $1.50 to $1.74 per day, but on arriving in Belmont learned they would be earning $0.15 an hour.

The tunnel was dug mostly through compacted sand with some thin strata of hard rock in between, making light blasting necessary.

[3][4] Cut locally from north and east of the site, timbers were used to support the tunnel.

[2] Plans later developed circa 1980 to remove the tunnel and put in a larger, double-track line.