Railway Tunnels You Can Walk Through

[Mutant Lemming]

Many years ago I recall a group of us contemplating walking through the Woodhead Tunnel (after the tracks were taken up but before they fenced off the ends). We decided against it, and before anyone reminds me that it would still have probably been trespass, I was wondering what tunnels you can legitimately walk through ?

I know of this one but am sure there are more -

http://www.britishwalks.org/walks/2001/137.php

 

[Wyvern]

Ashbourne Tunnel in Derbyshire - part of a Sustrans cycle track. They even have sound effects of a train coming though.

The tunnels between Bakewell and Millers Dale, the Monsal Trial.

There's also a short tunnel I believe on the Cromford and High Peak

 

[TomJ93]

I know somebody who did Kilsby when the railways were on strike many moons ago!

 

[David Dunning]

NYMR tunnel at Grosmont. North Yorkshire . The footpath to the engine sheds runs thru the original rail tunnel built when the line was horse drawn.

 

[Ploughman]

Aberglasyn tunnels on the Welsh Highland until somebody relaid track and reopened the railway.

 

[SussexMan]

Heathfield on the old Cuckoo Line.


http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=heathfield&hl=en&ll=50.969632,0.249744&spn=0.000007,0.010568&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=14.097003,43.286133&vpsrc=6&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=50.969632,0.249744&panoid=P1hN_exTrERXI4rPEaMwSA&cbp=12,331.09,,0,-5.21

 

[exile]

Colinton Tunnel, Edinburgh.

 

[Trog]

I know somebody who did Kilsby when the railways were on strike many moons ago!

I've done that one both ways on my own at night, whilst checking something for work. Its a bit creepy in there all on your own, with just the sound of running water.

 

[John Webb]

There's a short tunnel (also open to vehicles) on the line of the former Leek and Manifold railway - see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/55883 and others.

 

[Yew]

Somewhere in the peak district (white peak area) there is a railway bridge that goes into a tunnel, Im not sure if the tunnel is still open.


Just done a quick wikipedia, It appears Headstone tunnel is open, However It just wasnt on my route

 

[185]

Thurgoland is a good one near Penistone, as is Ashbourne, both National Cycleway routes.

Loads of new ones opened recently on the Monsal Dale trail near Buxton

 

[Liam]

Glenfarg tunnels.

 

[Old Timer]

I've done that one both ways on my own at night, whilst checking something for work. Its a bit creepy in there all on your own, with just the sound of running water.

Ampthill Fast lines and the old Belsize (passenger lines now Slow or Moorgate) tunnels always had an "atmosphere" when I worked down there.

 

[blue87]

The tunnels on the Monsal trail have recently been opened to walk through complete with lighting.
Kelmarsh and another I can't remember the name of on the Old Northampton - Market Harborough line.

 

[jopsuk]

In Edinburgh, there's a very old tunnel that's now a foot, cycle etc way.

 

[Philip Elliott]

Kelmarsh and another I can't remember the name of on the Old Northampton - Market Harborough line

Great Oxendon is the one you're thinking of

 

[John Webb]

Tunnels on the Monsal trail (the former Midland Railway line through the Peak District) and referred to by several previous posters include:
Chee Tor Tunnels 1 & 2 - see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2496135 and http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2496135.
Litton Tunnel (can't find a recent picture!)
Cressbrook Tunnel - see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2422402
Headstone Tunnel - see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2553426

 

[Trog]

Ampthill Fast lines and the old Belsize (passenger lines now Slow or Moorgate) tunnels always had an "atmosphere" when I worked down there.

Thats easily solved don't eat beans before going to work.

 

[John Webb]

Another former railway tunnel that can be walked through. It used to link the North Kent line West of Woolwich Dockyard station with the Dockyard, running under Woolwich Church Street. It fell out of use when the dockyard closed. As the dockyard was redeveloped for small businesses and housing, the tunnel was converted into a pedestrian underpass, and bears little resemblance to the tunnel it once was.

 

[table38]

There is one under Brinnington Road on the old CLC route from Stockport Tiviot Dale to Romiley line, now part of a cycleway.

It's not very long but is on a curve so was very dark in the middle until the council put lights in and spoiled it!

 

[dalmahoyhill]

In Edinburgh, there's a very old tunnel that's now a foot, cycle etc way.

innocent railway you mean, a old tram way under the flanks of arthurs seat

 

[PaulLothian]

In Edinburgh, there's a very old tunnel that's now a foot, cycle etc way.

The line drops steeply from the old St Leonards station/goods yard site through the tunnel - I used to easily exceed 30 mph downhill on my bike if there was a clear run (and managed 5 mph on the return!)

 

[bnm]

Staple Hill Tunnel on the Bristol & Bath Railway Path, part of the National Cycle Network.

Shaugh Tunnel, Dartmoor, on the former South Devon & Tavistock Railway, now also part of the National Cycle Network.

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

Tregarth Tunnel ( 279 yds) on the old Bangor - Bethesda branch, to be opened up for a cycle track. I walked through it a couple of months back before work had started.

 

[tripleseis]

Usk Tunnel - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usk_(GWR)_railway_station#Usk_Tunnel

 

[The Snap]

Ampthill Fast lines and the old Belsize (passenger lines now Slow or Moorgate) tunnels always had an "atmosphere" when I worked down there.

I walked through Central Tunnel (between the old Oldham Werneth and Oldham Mumps stations) recently; very eerie indeed! Enough to give me goosebumps...especially when the generator powering the lights stopped working when I got to the middle of the tunnel on the bend

 

[ainsworth74]

This website might be of interest to those reading this thread. Loads of pictures of lots of different tunnels and a few background stories as well, I once wasted a large portion of Sunday afternoon reading that site. It also has pages on bridges/viaducts and stations as well if your interested in that.

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

This[/URL] website might be of interest....

It really does look interesting, and it includes Tregarth tunnel which is just down the road....the comments state that it has been used as 'an occasional party venue' - one of my daughters admitted to going to a couple of parties there after I mentioned I had just walked through it, must have been great!

Think I easily spend a wet afternoon reading through this....

 

[TheBigD]

It's over 10 years since I lived near it but you used to be able to do Toft tunnel on the old M&GN near Bourne.

 

[43106]

Colinton Tunnel, Edinburgh.

Yes, I've walked through this tunnel on a Friday night in the late 1970's - don't know why. Probably had something to do with the 7 pints I had at the Colinton Dell Inn!!!

There is also a tunnel in Caernarvon that was part of ther original West Highand Railway that has been converted for traffic use. You MAY be able to walk through it, but I'm not sure