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Why was the Mont Cenis Tunnel important in the history of black-powder blasting?

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coal miner loading a drill hole with an explosive — explosive A coal miner loading a drill hole with a water gel explosive called Tovex.

The Mont Cenis Tunnel is historically significant in the context of black powder blasting because it represents the largest construction project to utilize the explosive up to that time.1

Constructed between 1857 and 1871, the tunnel serves as a major benchmark in the history of explosives and tunneling. While the project relied heavily on black powder for its initial excavation, it also marked a pivotal era of transition in engineering techniques. During this period, the project's engineer, Germain Sommeiller, introduced pioneering advancements such as rail-mounted drill carriages and hydraulic ram air compressors to improve efficiency.23

Ultimately, the Mont Cenis Tunnel stands as a testament to the scale of work achievable with black powder before the widespread adoption of more powerful alternatives like nitroglycerin and dynamite, which began to replace black powder in large-scale construction projects shortly thereafter, notably during the concurrent development of the Hoosac Tunnel.13