The Pennsylvania Turnpike started life as a railroad built before cars even existed

The vast Pennsylvania Turnpike actually started life as a railroad way back in the 1800s, a very different auto landscape to today.

To get the toll road we know today up and running, construction involved working with an abandoned tunnel system.

Nowadays, the road is used by masses of motorists to get from A to B safely and quickly.

The road paved the way for auto enthusiasts all across the state when it finally opened in 1940.

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The Pennsylvania Turnpike’s railroad history

The famous system was the first of its kind in the US, and the history simply speaks for itself.

“In the late 1700s, Pennsylvanians traveled by horse and carriage over log-surfaced roads and muddy terrain.

“By the 1800s, they could travel across Pennsylvania by railroads and canals,” stated the toll’s official website.

But before what is now known as the Pennsylvania Turnpike came the South Pennsylvania Road, which was actually never completed.

As you can imagine, one of the most challenging parts of the construction of the road was finishing off the tunnels.

“Six out of seven of the tunnels were already partially constructed by the abandoned South Pennsylvania Railroad project had not been ‘holed through’,” continued the site.

But what did the work actually involve?

Well, lots of drilling and getting rid of materials, and of course, bringing the tunnels up to scratch by making the entrances and exits much bigger.

The old tunnels spanned across many mountains and across 23 months, and a whopping 160 miles of pavement were poured to enable the creation of the Turnpike.

It’s a good job that the railroad paved the way for the cars of today

Delving deep into the past of the busy Pennsylvania road shows just how vital the creation of the system was, as it seems that the state of Pennsylvania is full to the brim of car enthusiasts.

From barn finds to modern-day supercar and EV findings, the state’s love of cars is taken very seriously by its residents.

In fact, there’s even a sleepy town that transforms into a Ford lover’s idea of heaven once a year.

Plus, a driver recently stumbled upon a remarkable sight while driving through a quiet part of Pennsylvania that will make supercar fans jealous.

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