Underneath Milton Keynes, there lies a lot of concrete piping that forms the storm drains to cope with what comes from above. Generally there isn’t much history on these two, but like with most drains, they’re hidden unless you know.
Ever since @Punk introduced me to the draining scene with Flo Selecta, I’ve been hooked. So, packing my carbide lamp, we headed to somewhere away from my usual Birmingham patch.
Visited with @Punk, @Lord Oort, @Evolve and my Mrs and using Punks’ expert knowledge, we found the manhole covers easily.
Plunger
After a climb down one ladder, a circle room is entered and then after another drop down a ladder you’re in. You’re immediately greeted by a concrete facade. After a short walk one way, you’re into a stooped section that is rather slippy to say the least, and holding a carbide lamp, questionable.
From the circular to the rectangular:
And looking down towards the outfall:
Eventually you reach the outfall that drops into a lake. The sun shon on the water above creating the green aura:
Heading back down the stoop you then re-enter the circular pipe and this is how it remains for a while. Occasionally there’s a cut in leading up a ladder to another manhole. Along the sides of the main pipe, there’s another that runs in the top corner that sports stalactites and various formations.
As you walk, you hear a waterfall from the darkness and as you draw nearer, you reach the first of two drop vortexes.
Anyone for a shower? Classic quote from Punk here, “shit, that’s deeper than I remember”
Moving on further down the pipe, you reach the second, and the bigger of the two vortexes.
After a climb up two further ladders you reach where the water drops from, and with a little help from above for some lighting, a final shot to finish Plunger.
We headed back through and after a short drive, arrived at Transistor.
Transistor
Down another manhole and we were greeted with a stoop each way.
After a dreaded stoop we entered a circular concrete pipe similar to Plunger and after 100 metres or so, we were in a small intersection.
I always find these areas so photogenic despite being concrete and they always make for a great photo opportunity. As I sat down to skin up, I left my carbide in the flow and everyone took opportunity to grab a photo.
Obligatory silhouette shots:
After a chill out and with time getting on, we started to head back out. On the way back, I paused for a second to grab a shot looking up towards another manhole entrance.
Coming back to the original manhole we entered via, we debated going on further down the other stooped section in the opposite direction. After walking two of these sections of about 50 metres each, we regretted our decision and Evolve volunteered to go and check if there were anymore intersections or it continued to stoop. With torch signals we confirmed it wasn’t worth it, and after one final shot using the torch light at the other end, we headed out to end a successful draining day.
Always go in drains, you’ll love them.
Ever since @Punk introduced me to the draining scene with Flo Selecta, I’ve been hooked. So, packing my carbide lamp, we headed to somewhere away from my usual Birmingham patch.
Visited with @Punk, @Lord Oort, @Evolve and my Mrs and using Punks’ expert knowledge, we found the manhole covers easily.
Plunger
After a climb down one ladder, a circle room is entered and then after another drop down a ladder you’re in. You’re immediately greeted by a concrete facade. After a short walk one way, you’re into a stooped section that is rather slippy to say the least, and holding a carbide lamp, questionable.
From the circular to the rectangular:
And looking down towards the outfall:
Eventually you reach the outfall that drops into a lake. The sun shon on the water above creating the green aura:
Heading back down the stoop you then re-enter the circular pipe and this is how it remains for a while. Occasionally there’s a cut in leading up a ladder to another manhole. Along the sides of the main pipe, there’s another that runs in the top corner that sports stalactites and various formations.
As you walk, you hear a waterfall from the darkness and as you draw nearer, you reach the first of two drop vortexes.
Anyone for a shower? Classic quote from Punk here, “shit, that’s deeper than I remember”
Moving on further down the pipe, you reach the second, and the bigger of the two vortexes.
After a climb up two further ladders you reach where the water drops from, and with a little help from above for some lighting, a final shot to finish Plunger.
We headed back through and after a short drive, arrived at Transistor.
Transistor
Down another manhole and we were greeted with a stoop each way.
After a dreaded stoop we entered a circular concrete pipe similar to Plunger and after 100 metres or so, we were in a small intersection.
I always find these areas so photogenic despite being concrete and they always make for a great photo opportunity. As I sat down to skin up, I left my carbide in the flow and everyone took opportunity to grab a photo.
Obligatory silhouette shots:
After a chill out and with time getting on, we started to head back out. On the way back, I paused for a second to grab a shot looking up towards another manhole entrance.
Coming back to the original manhole we entered via, we debated going on further down the other stooped section in the opposite direction. After walking two of these sections of about 50 metres each, we regretted our decision and Evolve volunteered to go and check if there were anymore intersections or it continued to stoop. With torch signals we confirmed it wasn’t worth it, and after one final shot using the torch light at the other end, we headed out to end a successful draining day.
Always go in drains, you’ll love them.
