Dissapearing tunnel

Places to explore
Post Reply
Phill_d
Posts: 2638
Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

I thought i'd post a feature on Pudsey Greenside tunnel as the east portal & deep cutting at the Leeds end are due to be landfilled & levelled leaving no trace that the railway ever existed.
A fool spends his entire life digging a hole for himself.A wise man knows when it's time to stop!(phill.d 2010)http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/

Phill_d
Posts: 2638
Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

The Pudsey loop was completed by the G.N.R in 1893 where it diverged from the main Leeds-Bradford line. This outlines the importance of Pudsey's manufacturing & woolen industry- so much so that the G.N.R took a staggering 14yrs to move heaven & earth to reach the town. Huge cuttings & the 616yd long tunnel at Greenside where constructed along the steeply graded climb to the town... along with the largest man made embankment in europe, Smalewell embankement still offers a fantastic view across the Leeds-Bradford border 80-100' high in places. There were 2 stations at Pudsey... Lowtown & Greenside. Today there is only a short section of track still visible. The one great feature that still remains is the deep cutting & retaining wall alongside Station street/Carlisle rd-This soon to be filled in.
A fool spends his entire life digging a hole for himself.A wise man knows when it's time to stop!(phill.d 2010)http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/

Phill_d
Posts: 2638
Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

Footbridge just before Smalewell embankment. This end of the cutting will NOT be getting filled in :-)
Attachments
__TFMF_jmkpdf55mb2tcdnqpoj1m22m_0105842f-9e28-4049-96ed-151a185dd356_0_MaintainAspect.jpg
__TFMF_jmkpdf55mb2tcdnqpoj1m22m_0105842f-9e28-4049-96ed-151a185dd356_0_MaintainAspect.jpg (47.37 KiB) Viewed 7041 times
A fool spends his entire life digging a hole for himself.A wise man knows when it's time to stop!(phill.d 2010)http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/

Phill_d
Posts: 2638
Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

As it was before closure
Attachments
__TFMF_jmkpdf55mb2tcdnqpoj1m22m_a6540f30-7d8d-438f-95bc-dc92670f89c9_0_MaintainAspect.jpg
__TFMF_jmkpdf55mb2tcdnqpoj1m22m_a6540f30-7d8d-438f-95bc-dc92670f89c9_0_MaintainAspect.jpg (15.03 KiB) Viewed 7041 times
A fool spends his entire life digging a hole for himself.A wise man knows when it's time to stop!(phill.d 2010)http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/

Phill_d
Posts: 2638
Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

Close up detail of the West portal... The trackbed was a lot drier than my last visit in January...SQUELCH!!!!
Attachments
__TFMF_jmkpdf55mb2tcdnqpoj1m22m_9fe26a75-74cd-4f34-a104-dc39d9e26348_0_MaintainAspect.jpg
__TFMF_jmkpdf55mb2tcdnqpoj1m22m_9fe26a75-74cd-4f34-a104-dc39d9e26348_0_MaintainAspect.jpg (55.7 KiB) Viewed 7041 times
A fool spends his entire life digging a hole for himself.A wise man knows when it's time to stop!(phill.d 2010)http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/

Phill_d
Posts: 2638
Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

Looking towards the doomed Leeds end. The tunnel is difficuilt to photograph as both ends can be seen at all times. Better quality pics are achieved in total darkness believe it or not... You can see they've used stone for the walls & brick for the tighter roof arch. It's quite sobering to think there are only 4 course's of brick above you holding up huge amounts of earth & the world above.
Attachments
__TFMF_jmkpdf55mb2tcdnqpoj1m22m_ecdb7f25-569e-42fa-9a06-d07c1d4affff_0_MaintainAspect.jpg
__TFMF_jmkpdf55mb2tcdnqpoj1m22m_ecdb7f25-569e-42fa-9a06-d07c1d4affff_0_MaintainAspect.jpg (44.93 KiB) Viewed 7041 times
A fool spends his entire life digging a hole for himself.A wise man knows when it's time to stop!(phill.d 2010)http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/

Phill_d
Posts: 2638
Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

There is only one smoke ventilation shaft in the tunnel. capturing these is not an easy task... There's usually a torrent of water pouring down them and actually seeing where your pointing the camera is not easy. The shaft has been capped off so nobody can fall down from the world above.
Attachments
__TFMF_jmkpdf55mb2tcdnqpoj1m22m_f31598dd-1dee-4352-b97a-d7a92982e277_0_MaintainAspect.jpg
__TFMF_jmkpdf55mb2tcdnqpoj1m22m_f31598dd-1dee-4352-b97a-d7a92982e277_0_MaintainAspect.jpg (43.62 KiB) Viewed 7041 times
A fool spends his entire life digging a hole for himself.A wise man knows when it's time to stop!(phill.d 2010)http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/

Phill_d
Posts: 2638
Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

Despite the tunnel been abandoned since 1964 it's in remakably good condition, extremely dry & solid throughout. There are only a few small leaks. Testament to the G.N.R railway builders. You can see the track refuge's or bolt holes in the tunnel walls for any track gangs working in the tunnel to escape oncoming trains.
Attachments
__TFMF_jmkpdf55mb2tcdnqpoj1m22m_ffc6bd2a-1ee5-455c-a5ed-5b8480df364b_0_MaintainAspect.jpg
__TFMF_jmkpdf55mb2tcdnqpoj1m22m_ffc6bd2a-1ee5-455c-a5ed-5b8480df364b_0_MaintainAspect.jpg (43.16 KiB) Viewed 7041 times
A fool spends his entire life digging a hole for himself.A wise man knows when it's time to stop!(phill.d 2010)http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/

Phill_d
Posts: 2638
Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

The other end. A view looking along the cutting towards the Carlisle road overbridge. A partial landslip obscures the view. A sign of things to come when the whole cutting will be infilled :-(
Attachments
__TFMF_jmkpdf55mb2tcdnqpoj1m22m_8c7fa375-d366-44fb-8e43-27726078c301_0_MaintainAspect.jpg
__TFMF_jmkpdf55mb2tcdnqpoj1m22m_8c7fa375-d366-44fb-8e43-27726078c301_0_MaintainAspect.jpg (31.82 KiB) Viewed 7041 times
A fool spends his entire life digging a hole for himself.A wise man knows when it's time to stop!(phill.d 2010)http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/

Phill_d
Posts: 2638
Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

Detailed close up of the doomed east portal.
Attachments
__TFMF_jmkpdf55mb2tcdnqpoj1m22m_9e1d7f4c-ec14-4e17-b81d-1ad61bbed6a2_0_MaintainAspect.jpg
__TFMF_jmkpdf55mb2tcdnqpoj1m22m_9e1d7f4c-ec14-4e17-b81d-1ad61bbed6a2_0_MaintainAspect.jpg (52.25 KiB) Viewed 7041 times
A fool spends his entire life digging a hole for himself.A wise man knows when it's time to stop!(phill.d 2010)http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/

Post Reply