Manton Tunnel on the Oakham-Kettering via Corby line

[Welshy1717]

i am still noticing little features on the Midlands Mainline, that catch my eye...... even though i lived around here all my life.

The diverted section on the MML at Kettering, which swings up towards Leicester via Oakley - Melton Mowbray. where it tunnels under a whole village of Manton.

Divert section of MML Village of Manton

North Tunnel Entrance South Tunnel Entrance

 

[DelW]

Looking at a large scale map (thanks to the NLS website), Manton is on the crest of an east - west ridge, and is actually at a slight low point on that ridge. The ground level in the village is at about 400' AOD, while a bench mark on a railway underbridge just north of the tunnel is at 281.5'. South of the tunnel, the cut/fill line is also at around 280' or so. Without the tunnel, a cutting around 120' deep would have been needed. Presumably once a tunnel had been decided on, there's no particular reason to divert the alignment clear of the village.

 

[Magdalia]

Manton Tunnel was first constructed as part of the Leicester-Peterborough route. The village had a station at the south end of the tunnel which became a junction when the line from Kettering was constructed.

The track through Manton Tunnel is on a gradient of 1 in 141 going up from south to north. Just beyond the north portal the line passes close to the western end of Rutland Water.

 

[ArkUTD]

The Tunnel is 794 yards long, built back in 1890's when the line was first built. I do believe 5 people died building it due to a tunnel collapse (not sure the cause of it). The tunnel base is actually on bedrock so can not go any lower, which they found out when upgrading the line back in the 2010's if I remember correctly.

Lovely little Signalbox there too. Enjoy visiting it

 

[edwin_m]

If they'd used the same route with no tunnel, they would have had to demolish most of the village to make the cutting.

 

[Mugby]

There was a serious problem with Manton Tunnel about 25 years ago, it was said to be 'imploding'. I understand that meant the floor was pushing upwards in the six foot, creating an ^ effect.
I seem to remember it was closed for quite some time whilst the problem was rectified.