Kilsby and Harecastle - why tunnels?

[Taunton]

Surely the ultimate enforced tunnelling is going to be HS2 through open countryside, so the Nimbys don't see it.

 

[Philip]

Speaking of ventilation shafts...does the live railway tunnel at Standedge have any ventilation shafts over it? From what I've read the canal tunnel has open shafts above it and the railway has side-links to it, but doesn't seem clear if any shafts are directly over the railway tunnel.

Also does the Sutton tunnel between Runcorn and Frodsham have ventilation shafts?

 

[John Webb]

Speaking of ventilation shafts...does the live railway tunnel at Standedge have any ventilation shafts over it? From what I've read the canal tunnel has open shafts above it and the railway has side-links to it, but doesn't seem clear if any shafts are directly over the railway tunnel.....

From OS maps and from photos on the Geograph website, including ones taken inside the canal tunnel, it appears that the remaining ventilation shafts are all for the railway tunnels. I did have a booklet somewhere about the construction of the tunnels but can't find it at the moment, alas!

 

[SargeNpton]

Catesby tunnel on the old Great Central route through Northamptonshire is another example of a tunnel only there to hide trains from the landowner. Now being converted into a wind tunnel for the automotive industry.