NorthWest Exploration Forum  
FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read
Go Back   NorthWest Exploration Forum > Site Reports > Underground
Reload this Page Lydgate Tunnel - April 2011.
Underground Sewers, Culverts, Caves, Mines & Air raid shelters etc.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Lydgate Tunnel - April 2011.
(#1)
Old
Ojay's Avatar
Ojay is Offline
admin
 
Posts: 639
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Manchester
Post Lydgate Tunnel - April 2011. - 24-04-2011, 12:14


Lydgate Tunnel



Starting life as the 'Delph Donkey' railway, the nickname given to a 'push-pull' LNWR (London North Western Railway) branch line which opened in 1849 to connect Oldham, Greenfield and Delph to the main Huddersfield to Manchester line

The later line to Greenfield Junction from Mumps and the stations at Lees, Grotton and Grasscroft opened on 5th July 1856. The line was the brainwave of James Lees of Delph, a mill owner, who pressured LNWR for it's construction

The Lydgate tunnel lies between Grotton and Grasscroft. When it was constructed it was the longest railway tunnel in the Oldham at 1335 yards

The average cost of the tunnel, which had to be constructed through rock was £26 per linear yard

The tunnel has a span of 25'0" feet and a Southerly curve towards its Western end. It was masonry lined throughout but later repair work has been undertaken in brick

Six shafts are thought to have been driven during construction - two were filled whilst the other four, two either side of the hill, were retained for ventilation purposes

These have depths of 140, 210, 220 and 135 feet; all are now capped

As a result of dwindling passengers, the last passenger train ran on 30th April 1955, while goods continued to be shunted until 4th November 1963

The eventual closure to the line was due to a recurring financial loss each year, most of the railway workers either took redundancy or were shifted to Mumps

Finally on 13th April 1964, the line closed and it's tracks were lifted

As for the donkey ? Well the rumour goes that the carriages were pulled by a donkey in the opening years, however, there is no firm evidence that supports it

There was speculation in 1986, that Oldham Council were considering the re-instatement of the line, but the costs wouldn't have been justified

In 2008, Lydgate's owners, British Railways Board (Residuary), carried out a five month programme of repairs. However, contrary to local press reports, these were not prompted by the tunnel's imminent collapse

Today, the Saddleworth Historical Society occasionally feature the 'Delph Donkey' in it's newsletters as a pleasant nature walk, and some memorabilia can even be viewed in the Saddleworth Museum


I finally got around to seeing this place along with one of The_Collective guys...

















....Take pictures and leave ONLY

Last edited by Ojay; 02-05-2011 at 20:44.
Reply With Quote
(#2)
Old
Snake Oil's Avatar
Snake Oil is Offline
Donuts-я-Us
 
Posts: 512
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Atherton
Default 24-04-2011, 15:13

nice photos, I like the grainy b&w pics it gives the place a real 'old time' look
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.6
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
vBulletin Skin developed by: vBStyles.com
© 2008-2015. Photographs and text are copyright and the property of the poster unless otherwise stated, and should not be used without express written permission.
Any opinions stated by users of this forum are NOT those of the site owners, each poster takes FULL responsibility for their own posts.