Gildersome Tunnel, Leeds, 25/01/2009

[jb28]

Visited by myself and Moodster020 on Sunday.

There's a full set on my Flickr here: http://flickr.com/photos/71661293@N0...7613002979764/

Gildersome tunnel is one of the longer ones at 2331 yards. It ran from Batley to Gildersome and once formed one of the main lines into Leeds.

The cutting at the other end has since been landscaped, and the last hundred yards or so was filled in when the M62 was built resulting in the tunnel becoming a dead end.

We spent about four hours in total getting blathered in the foul orange silt that seeps into the tunnel all along its length.

Despite how awful it sounds, it was actually a lot of fun.

Btw, this is my first report here, so be gentle

Gildersome Tunnel Portal



The entrance is heavily flooded with thick gloopy silt, and littered with debris.



Looking back towards the entrance it became clear that the tunnel didn't get any drier as we got past the initial flooding.



This side refuge was a major source of the water pouring down the tunnel. It was the only part that particularly smelled badly, probably due to rotting wood, or badgers, or something.



This is the remains of the air vent nearest the Gildersome end. Also there is Moodster020 with his uber-torch.



This 50 foot section of wall was covered in deposits of some substance.



A dim pool of light from above.



The last few yards are easy enough due to a natural pavement formed by the remains of the track bed.



The tunnel used to emerge near to where the Showcase Cinema is. It was blocked and filled in because of concerns that the M62 may cause it to collapse.



More here: http://flickr.com/photos/71661293@N0...7613002979764/

[boxfrenzy]

Excellent report mate. Looks horrid but exciting down there. There is something amazing to think that behind that wall is millions of tonnes of landfill. Well done one the report, you don't see many from this place. I love the open airshaft picture. Seems like the cutting is less flooded nowadays.

[sqwasher]

Nice report & you've got some great pics jb28! Well done for getting out & in there!

[BB]

Cool stuff. good to see you are getting out there

[KingElvis]

Very nice mate, keep reports like that one coming

[Moodster020]

I'll add my bits over the coming week, bit busy atm

Was great fun!, although hard-going

Whole thing reminded me of the river of slime tunnel in Ghostbusters 2

[Muse]

Great first report. I love photos of this place, that orangey glow comes out so well in photos.

[jb28]

Thanks for all the nice comments guys, but many thanks also to Moodster020 for coming over and providing the excellent lighting in the form of an adapted motorcycle headlamp, it was ace.

[coops]

Well done guys a great report deff gonna check this place out this year.

[jb28]

Based on info from secretleeds, verified on google maps. here are the locations of the air shafts:

First shaft:
http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=53.754907,-1.617474&z=20

Second shaft:
http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=53.752268,-1.622474&z=20

Third shaft (open):
http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=53.749992,-1.626797&z=20

Fourth shaft (under the gazebo):
http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=53.748533,-1.629576&z=20

I'm going to try and get a photo of each of them from the surface.