Howard Tunnel, Northern Central Railway
Why it's listed
Howard Tunnel is a railroad tunnel on the Northern Central Railway, seven miles south of York in York County, Pennsylvania. The railroad's route required the tunnel to be cut through more than 300 feet of solid rock. Although it was functional, the tunnel was not completed until 1840, two years after the line began operation. In 1868 it was reworked when a second set of tracks was added to the line. Because the original bore was wide enough for the new track, the work concentrated on renovating the arched entrances. The entrances are built of rough-faced, coursed ashlar stone topped by rusticated coping. Limestone date stones above the arches read 1840 at the south end and 1868 at the north. The interior is lined with brick. A pedestrian niche on the west wall at the midpoint gave people caught inside a place of refuge when a train passed. The tunnel is regarded as being in good condition and as retaining its historic integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the tunnel is significant for its engineering, being a rock-cut passage required by the railroad's chosen route. It also gains significance from its 1868 reworking, when a second set of tracks was added and the arched entrances were renovated.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 95000541, listed May 19, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Northern Central RR tracks near S. Br., Codorus Cr., North Codorus Township, New Salem |
|---|---|
| County | York County |
| Listed | May 19, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000541 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1840-1942 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Howard Tunnel is in good condition and has retained its historic integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.89113, -76.75022 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 95000541.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15226129
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.