Report - Event Horizon - Oldham - July 2017

[TheVicar]

Event Horizon (Ashway Gap tunnel)​

It had been nearly a year since I last set foot in a drain but the opportunity to spend a couple of hours in this nice clean culvert eventually presented itself.​

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There was a lot of walking involved to finally get to the infall although this could have been minimised by not going the long way over the hill above the tunnel. However, I would have missed the amazing views of the surrounding countryside and the Manchester skyline had I not gone this way.​

Dovestones Reservoir is a lot newer than it looks in my opinion and was constructed between 1960 and 1966. The tunnel was constructed somewhat earlier (1880) and a plaque at each end bears the name of Fred J Dixon who in 1917 was the Water Engineer for The Ashton-under-Lyne, Stalybridge, and Dukinfield (District) Water Works.
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At over 1000 feet above sea level, it could possibly be the highest altitude tunnel of such substantial dimensions in the UK.
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The Huddersfield Chronicle reported on 5th March 1880 that “The tunnel is three-quarters of a mile in length - 1260 yards and is 10 feet high by 10 feet wide.
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In cutting this tunnel a curious and valuable ‘find’ was made. Near the centre there is a very large stream of water continually pouring forth, and so large is the out-flow that it is sufficient to supply the whole of Ashton. This represents something like £9000 or £10,000 per annum, so that this volume will, in a few years, repay the whole cost of the tunnel, which is about £60,000”.​

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110 years later on in February 1990 a tragedy occurred on a school outing where a young lad fell into the stream which had become a raging torrent due to bad weather. He was then swept down into the tunnel and was not found until the next morning in the pool below the outfall slide.

Apologies for the quality of some of the photos, especially the water cascading from the pipe in the centre of the tunnel. I should have perhaps made sure that the batteries were full in my torch before setting out.
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[Ojay]

nearly a year since I last set foot in a drain​

I remember it well, we need to do something about that soon

Here's a pic of @stepping lightly bossing the Trinicle highline

 

[EOA]

I'd heard stories of the kid who died and couldn't find anything about the stream in the middle when I did my report. The stream that makes it sound as if you're going to die.

Nice report

 

[The Lone Ranger]

Great photos of the water feature in my back garden, making me feel homesick at the moment

The ramp at the end is often used as a Chavtastic water slide in the summer months and have even seen a canoe go down it!

We opted for the other option of climbing up it with ice axes and crampons, it never freezes though.

https://cdn1.28dayslater.co.uk/xf/2017/08/1477220_c83cf9ecce1b1a2751909ab421bf0de1.jpg

 

[Snake Oil]

This definitely wins the "drain in the most picturesque setting" award!

 

[concreteJungle]

Lovely drain, would be nice it had some outlandish feature like a corner though!

 

[TheVicar]

Thanks chaps!
I can see the attraction of that slide to youngsters on a boiling summer's day. There are a number of interesting youtube videos of people going down it.
The beautiful countryside makes for a nice contrast to traipsing through some of Manchester's slums to see drains such as Sidedraught, Supercharger, Processor etc.

 

[tucker]

Nice one! We were here last saturday. Thoroughly enjoyable! Contender for best outfall!

 

[Ojay]

Nice one! We were here last saturday. Thoroughly enjoyable! Contender for best outfall!

You should have said

 

[Adders]

Bet it was nice to get your feet wet after so long!

That definitely has to be the nicest outfall I've seen.

 

[TheVicar]

Bet it was nice to get your feet wet after so long!

That definitely has to be the nicest outfall I've seen.

It certainly was. I hope the next explore comes along a bit sooner!
As for that outfall, I agree that will take some beating. :

 

[tucker]

You should have said

I nearly did ! We did it on a whim to be fair, although half expecting to bump into someone up here. Give us a shout whenever, only the other side of Woodhead!

 

[The Lone Ranger]

I nearly did ! We did it on a whim to be fair, although half expecting to bump into someone up here. Give us a shout whenever, only the other side of Woodhead!

I'm always knocking about my back garden when I'm home, there's a couple of other nice water features up there

 

[GT-0161]

Thanks for posting this is my local area i recently went up indians head into the tunnel that leads over to brushes reservoir i think i cant say as i only got halfway through as my back went . Would love to join in one day with more experienced folk keep it up mate

 

[EOA]

Thanks for posting this is my local area i recently went up indians head into the tunnel that leads over to brushes reservoir i think i cant say as i only got halfway through as my back went . Would love to join in one day with more experienced folk keep it up mate

It is very cramped in the chew siphon. There are lots of lovely drains around here. Check out the locations map, there is a nice safe wander near brushes.