Old rail tunnel - Chequerbent - April 2011
 

I don't know much info on this tunnel, but it runs underneath the (i think) old Bolton - Leigh line. Kenni can do a better description later in the thread, he knows a bit more about it than I do :)

Unfortunately it was locked at both ends so we were unable to get inside (booo!) but managed to sneak a few crafty shots through the gaps. Inside is what looks like three huge water main pipes, a bit of dumped general crap, and a comfy looking armchair :D

The night was not all lost, because we also found a really good looking stone culverted stream, its only tiny maybe 2-3' high and the same wide but it looks amazing. We're going back to that one when its a bit drier!

Tunnel pics......

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...20tunnel/1.jpg

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...20tunnel/2.jpg

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...20tunnel/3.jpg

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...20tunnel/4.jpg

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...20tunnel/5.jpg

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...20tunnel/6.jpg

And our little bonus, the entrance to the culvert....

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...20tunnel/7.jpg

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...20tunnel/8.jpg

please excuse the shakiness of some of those pics, I really need a tripod! :blush

It was a good mooch, shame the tunnel was locked. The tunnel, im sure those who are local will know exactly where it is. It indeed formed part of the Bolton to Leigh Railway opened by William Hulton in the 1800's - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolton_and_Leigh_Railway - the railway line or what remains of it (just some nice stone work) runs over the tunnel and I believe the innerds of the tunnel was used to supply the nearby collieries. The history is very very rare on this occasion and may require a trip to the local history archives. The brickwork both inside and out is fantastic but it is now used for water main pipes (now owned by UU). On our way back we thought it was a wasted journey but we stumbled across the newly discovered stone culvert (I was jumping with joy!!!!), it runs underneath the old railway line, i have tried to find some history on it but with no such luck, its never been discovered before until now :) we will be going back when its a bit drier because I want to see where it goes. P.s It was full of bloody spiders :) anybody fancy it let us know (it looks brilliant), ive got naming rights but not yet named it........ - I took a couple of pics of the tunnel but apologies for the quality as I was excited lol
(By no means are the two tunnels linked as they are in totally seperate areas)

http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCF0680.jpg

http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCF0682.jpg

http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCF0683.jpg

http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCF0684.jpg

http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCF0689.jpg

get in that culvert it doesnt look that wet

Aye, straight down that. 3ft high? you may want to invest in kneepads, or Co-Codamol shares, lol... stooping is faster then crawling, but hurts.

This pic is superb, that reflection is amazing.

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...20tunnel/8.jpg


The tunnel with the pipes in doesnt look that big till you have the shot with the chair in it.....those pipes are huge :thumbs

You can sort of get a perspective from the first couple of pictures, note the metal ladder at each end! :D

Is that a reflection of the top of the tunnel in water? If so its the sharpest I've ever seen!

It certainly is :p

that reflection is stunning, its more like a mirror image than a normal reflection, top stuff!

Good pictures, was the old wooden steps gone. If they are still there you can get in on that side, the railings where loose and you could just about squeeze over the top of them.

That culvert looks interesting, is it close to that railway bridge?


Oh ive just noticed theres a pipe missing there used to be four pipes down there.