Strange Tunnel at Edge Hill - Liverpool

[Urban-Savage]

Travelling out of Lime St this week - to Wigan - at Edge Hill - Opposite Platform 1 is a newlay truncated freight line and some digging work directly in front of where the track has temp been removed

It is clear that directly under this is a fairly large tunnel running almost directly under the track itself

I’m guessing its a sewer or an old one - as it is that size - but anyone got and idea / can confirm what it is - it was poking my interest given the history of tunnels in that area - rail and the Williamson ones as well that cover / extend all over the local area - most of which are unknown and undiscovered

Cheers

 

[londonmidland]

From Google Street view - the direction the camera is pointing in is towards Liverpool Lime Street, from platform 1 at Edge Hill station -

 

[Llanigraham]

The OP says he was travelling AWAY from Lime St, so shoudn't the photo be in the other direction?

 

[londonmidland]

The OP says he was travelling AWAY from Lime St, so shoudn't the photo be in the other direction?

Depends if the OP was sitting in the direction of travel or opposite.

 

[John Luxton]

Travelling out of Lime St this week - to Wigan - at Edge Hill - Opposite Platform 1 is a newlay truncated freight line and some digging work directly in front of where the track has temp been removed

It is clear that directly under this is a fairly large tunnel running almost directly under the track itself

I’m guessing its a sewer or an old one - as it is that size - but anyone got and idea / can confirm what it is - it was poking my interest given the history of tunnels in that area - rail and the Williamson ones as well that cover / extend all over the local area - most of which are unknown and undiscovered

Cheers

Could it have something to do with the former cable haulage systems used in the early days of Lime Street Station and the Victoria/Waterloo tunnel into which the truncated freight line runs?

 

[Urban-Savage]

It was heading out to Wavertree Tech Park

 

[edwin_m]

Could it have something to do with the former cable haulage systems used in the early days of Lime Street Station and the Victoria/Waterloo tunnel into which the truncated freight line runs?

Didn't they make a cable tunnel so the original steam engines at the Moorish Arch could be used to haul trains on the new incline from Lime Street?

 

[Geeves]

I've seen it too and was interested. As the op says if the train is stopped on P1 its outside the window on the left under what would've been the run around the sidings where the GBRF stone terminal is. It's a damn big hole with a big brick arch or the top of a tunnel poking out. It's only about 3 or 4 feet to the lines above.

Very odd! I'd love to have to a look down the hole

 

[Skie]

It’s most likely the remnants of a turn table. One of the old maps (OS 1:509/1:528 Towns, 1840s-1890s) shows a turntable in that general location opposite the Manchester end of platform 1.

 

[John Luxton]

Didn't they make a cable tunnel so the original steam engines at the Moorish Arch could be used to haul trains on the new incline from Lime Street?

Yes I think they did. I was in a small group that was given a conducted tour of the Moorish Arch / Edge Hill Engine Station site in August last year and something like this was mentioned - but I am not sure if it was a cable tunnel or a tunnel for steam pipes to power another engine.

 

[Trackman]

Could it have something to do with the former cable haulage systems used in the early days of Lime Street Station and the Victoria/Waterloo tunnel into which the truncated freight line runs?

I think you are onto something here. Been reading about the Lime St>Edge hill cable thingy (think it was quoted as rope) oddly enough today, and it was underground, I need to read more about this.

 

[bangor-toad]

Hi,
I've been distracting myself reading about the history of this area. It's fascinating...

Have a look at this website: Jan Ford's World
It has archive pictures of the construction of Edge Hill cutting.
Of relevance to this thread are images 12 to 20. These show the cutting being excavated cutting down into the original tunnel. If I've understood the location and orientation correctly, these tunnels would lead exactly to what the OP describes.

Caption: Plate 17: This picture clearly shows the exposed original double-track tunnel lining (supported by curved timbers) and the remaining rock the right, with the 4-track retaining walls and bridges complete

Cheers,
Mr Toad.

 

[Bevan Price]

That photo was the line leading to Liverpool Riverside nd Waterloo Dock (goods).

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Liverpool_RJD_42_-_Garston_and_Liverpool.png

 

[Elecman]

Was this what the OP saw? This is one off the winding rope pits for the original rope hauled system at Edge Hill

 

[8A Rail]

The tunnel in question is Victoria Tunnel, leading to Waterloo Tunnel. It was double track and used for trains to and from Liverpool Riverside Station until closure in February 1971. Currently about 100 yds of track is in the tunnel which is used for shunt purposes for either the biomass or stone trains that use the nearby sidings. (So there is no mis-understanding, this is referring to the image in the second post)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Dec 2023 ==

Was this what the OP saw? This is one off the winding rope pits for the original rope hauled system at Edge Hill

Fascinating images and nice to see them too. The rope haulage was to and from Liverpool Lime Street Station after it opened in 1836. I have images of one of the original winding wheels and supports when they were found in 1980's under platform four at Lime St Station during its renovation at that time. I believe they are now at NRM, out of sight?

Interestingly, is this the reason why work has stopped at that location due to the historic nature of the find, to seek guidance before proceeding with the planned work? Also could I have permission to repost the images on the L&M Trust Facebook page as they would be interested to see them?