Story: Bridges and tunnels

Building the Lyttelton tunnel

Building the Lyttelton tunnel

Construction workers stand in front of the Lyttelton portal of the rail tunnel in early 1867. Building the 2.6-kilometre tunnel with hand tools and challenging underground conditions was a difficult task. It took over six years of work before the tunnel was formally opened in December 1867.

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: MNZ-1683

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Jock Phillips, 'Bridges and tunnels - Rail tunnels', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/23651/building-the-lyttelton-tunnel (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Jock Phillips, published 11 Mar 2010