Calendar of Events

The first engineered tunnel to be dug under navigable water is thought to be crossing the river Thames in London, 1843. This presentation will give an overview of early underwater tunnel construction in America in the late 19th century, and Bethlehem Steel’s interest in the subject. The history of the Iron Foundry building in the Bethlehem Plant will be reviewed along with historical photographs. The foundry building was one of the first in the early iron works in Bethlehem, PA, and is still standing, adjacent to the National Museum of Industrial History. Details of the production of the steel and iron castings by the plant’s Manufacturing Division for the 3rd tube of the Lincoln Tunnel in the 1950’s will be presented. This will include specific information on sand molding procedures and metal specifications, as well as finishing processes, including machining, for the over 28,000 cast segments and keys required for the Lincoln’s 3rd tube. The Lincoln tunnel, with original superstructure, is still being used by over 50,000 vehicles every day. An actual tunnel segment is planned for display at the museum as an example of the tunnel segment castings.