Sandsend Tunnel - Aug 2011

[Do66o79]

I know its been done on many occasions but this was our first time in the old girl (that sounds so wrong )...visited with TK421 on a Sunny Sunday Morning...after getting shoved over an 8ft wall (thanks for the leg up, shoulder barge and arse shoving TK) We were into the Abyss...i was surprised at how good condition this tunnel is in..although in places it is apparent that the tunnel is getting "squeezed" by the surrounding area and chunks are falling away..the acoustics are amazing and i was like a child when i realised i could see my own breath via my torch

Be prepared for every kind of condition...in some places its dry as a bone and in others you find yourself ploughing through mud and 8 inch deep puddles - i also managed to cover myself in soot so looked well dodgy walking back to the car!

i will apologise for some of the pics - im self taught at this type of pic taking and it was certainly a challenge - my language was a bit blue

on with the history dravvle....

Sandsend Tunnel was a tunnel on the Whitby, Redcar and Middlesbrough Union Railway. The rail line that runs through it was originally intended to travel along the top of the cliffs, however some of the cliff fell into the sea whilst construction was suspended so the NER constructed two tunnels - the Sandsend tunnel and the Kettleness tunnel.

The Sandsend Tunnel is the longer of two tunnels being 1,652 yards in length, 100 yards short of a full mile. It is predominantly straight but the last 300 yards incorporate a curve to the north.

There are a total of 5 Air Shafts 2 of which have service galleries leading off to the cliffs which were used to dump spoil while carving out the tunnels. The southern half of the tunnel is considerably damp with the tunnel being flooded to about 6 inches on the southern 300 yards.

Heres the pics..


THE IMPENDING WALL...ARSE SHOVING MAYBE NECESSARY

Sandsend Tunnel 2011 by Dobbo79, on Flickr

INTO THE ABYSS

Sandsend Tunnel 2011 by Dobbo79, on Flickr

THE WALL "BOWING"

Sandsend Tunnel 2011 by Dobbo79, on Flickr

REFUGE

Sandsend Tunnel 2011 by Dobbo79, on Flickr

THE FAMOUS ORANGE CARPET

Sandsend Tunnel 2011 by Dobbo79, on Flickr

BRICKWORK

Sandsend Tunnel 2011 by Dobbo79, on Flickr


CALCIUM FORMING

DSCF3242A by Dobbo79, on Flickr

THE FAMOUS "SANDSEND TUNNEL WATCHMAN"

DSCF3253A by Dobbo79, on Flickr

EERIE..

Sandsend Tunnel 2011 by Dobbo79, on Flickr

Thanks for looking - Im sure TK421 will be along shortly with his amazing pics

[TK421]

Hahahahaha, I shoved Dobbo's arse and lived to tell the tale!

A few from me:









Only got half way through so a return visit is in order me thinks!!

cheers

[coops]

Great works guys love a good tunnel