1-151-890 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

Construction of the St Gotthard Tunnel beneath the Alps, 1880. The tunnel was built to link Italy and Switzerland by rail. Workmen from the two ends of the 9 1/4 mile-long tunnel broke through the last piece of rock and met to complete the tunnel on 29 February 1880 and the first works train passed through tunnel on 2 March 1880. This view of the Swiss end of the tunnel during construction shows workmen man-handling wagons used to remove debris.