Thurgoland Tunnel is actually two tunnels, stood side by side. One is refurbished, as part of the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT) - it’s been concrete lined inside and is even lit through the day.
Of course, this report is about the other tunnel, the neglected twin that stands abandoned at its side, backfilled (badly) at one end, walled off at the other and largely unloved...
History, courtesy the handy info sign a bit further back on the trail...
‘The two railway tunnels of Thurgoland represent two eras of construction. The first, opened in 1845, was hewn from the rock by Victorian engineers and navvies.... the plan to electrify the Railway between Sheffield and Manchester was approved... as early as 1936, in the age of the steam train.... The route closed in 1981’
More here:
The Visit
Recent time stooping about in a tiny mine hasn’t helped my bad back much, so a train tunnel was just the thing I needed - I’m tall, but not train tunnel tall...
Not seen this one online for a while, and wasn’t sure if it was still doable. On arrival it quickly became evident that access is pretty much the same as it’s always been...
Photos in the first section were initially hampered by a low lying fog, which cleared a bit further on, and was pretty much gone by the time I returned to the way I came in... it’s not the most exciting of tunnels, nor very long (just 282m apparently), but its still definitely worth a wander.
Full set here
Of course, this report is about the other tunnel, the neglected twin that stands abandoned at its side, backfilled (badly) at one end, walled off at the other and largely unloved...
History, courtesy the handy info sign a bit further back on the trail...
‘The two railway tunnels of Thurgoland represent two eras of construction. The first, opened in 1845, was hewn from the rock by Victorian engineers and navvies.... the plan to electrify the Railway between Sheffield and Manchester was approved... as early as 1936, in the age of the steam train.... The route closed in 1981’
More here:
The Visit
Recent time stooping about in a tiny mine hasn’t helped my bad back much, so a train tunnel was just the thing I needed - I’m tall, but not train tunnel tall...
Not seen this one online for a while, and wasn’t sure if it was still doable. On arrival it quickly became evident that access is pretty much the same as it’s always been...
Photos in the first section were initially hampered by a low lying fog, which cleared a bit further on, and was pretty much gone by the time I returned to the way I came in... it’s not the most exciting of tunnels, nor very long (just 282m apparently), but its still definitely worth a wander.
Full set here
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