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  1. #1
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    Default Miley Tunnel 18/08/2013 IMAGE HEAVY

    How do lads and lasses.

    I first got into exploring by taking an interest in Miley Tunnel. Coming from Preston, you often heard stories of Miley Tunnel and it's supposed paranormal inhabitants. This place was used to scare young kids, for teenagers to dare each other to walk through and for adults to throw rubbish over the side into as well.

    It was part of the now defunct Preston to Longridge Railway which also ran a service to Whittingham.

    Apparently, there have been plans to reopen this as a tram link to the M6 at Junction 31a. Perfect for the student types in the university which is situated next to this place and I guess it might cut traffic going into Preston City Centre itself.

    History shamelessly half inched from Wiki:

    The Preston and Longridge Railway (P&LR) was a branch line in Lancashire, England. Originally designed to carry quarried stone in horse-drawn wagons, it became part of an ambitious plan to link the Lancashire coast to the heart of Yorkshire. The plan failed, and the line closed to passengers in 1930 and to goods in 1967.

    Early history

    The Preston and Longridge Railway Company was set up in 1836 to build a tramway from the newly opened Tootle Heights Quarry in Longridge to Preston. The 6½-mile (10½ km) single-track line was opened on 1 May 1840, with crude passenger facilities at Longridge, Grimsargh and Deepdale Street in Preston.

    Wagons were horse-drawn from Preston uphill to Longridge. Wagons ran by gravity in the opposite direction as far as Ribbleton, which was then a village just outside Preston. Horses were used for the final two miles (3 km) to Deepdale. Longridge ashlar sandstone was widely used in the region, for example in the building of Lancaster Town Hall, Bolton Town Hall, Preston railway station and Liverpool Docks.
    Development

    Miley Tunnel

    In 1850, a double-track extension was built connecting to the existing line a few hundred yards east of the Deepdale Street terminus. The line passed via the 862-yard (788 m) Miley Tunnel under the north part of Preston and connected to the Preston and Wyre Joint Railway very close to that line’s original terminus at Maudlands. The extension was initially used for goods only.

    The first work on the Grimsargh to Skipton line was the excavation of a short cutting (which still exists) south of Hurst Green (at 53.827385°N 2.484603°W), but then the project was abandoned. In 1852, the FP&WRR Company collapsed. The Preston and Longridge Railway acquired the engines and rolling stock of the collapsed company in lieu of owed rental fees.

    However, in 1856 a reformed Fleetwood, Preston and West Riding Junction Railway Company purchased the line. The line through Miley Tunnel was opened to passengers, with new stations at each end, at Deepdale Bridge on Deepdale Road and at Maudland Bridge. The original Deepdale Street terminus was closed to passengers but continued to be used for goods.

    By 1866, the plan to extend the line to Yorkshire had been revived. Fearing that the rival Midland Railway would buy the line to gain access to Preston, the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) bought the line instead. From the following year, the line was owned jointly by the L&YR and the London and North Western Railway (LNWR).

    In 1885, Maudland Bridge Station was closed and passenger trains ran on to the adjacent LNWR main line to Preston Station, allowing connections to other railway lines for the first time.

    Whittingham Hospital Branch

    In June 1889, a private branch line was opened northwards from Grimsargh to Whittingham Asylum two miles (3 km) away. As well as supplies, hospital staff and visitors were carried free of charge in converted goods brake vans. Trains (as many as twelve per day) were timed to connect with passenger trains at Grimsargh.

    The locomotives used on the hospital branch were industrial types with the exception of the ex-London, Brighton and South Coast Railway no. 357, Riddlesdown, which was purchased in February 1948 from British Railways for £745.

    The hospital line continued to operate long after the main branch closed to passengers in 1930. The hospital trains were now timed to connect with bus services at Grimsargh. The line eventually closed on 29 June 1957.

    Decline

    By 1930 the popularity of bus travel caused the line to close to passengers. The line to Longridge remained open to goods traffic until November 1967.

    Goods traffic continued to use part of the line as far as the Courtaulds factory at Red Scar, until the last train worked by class 25 diesel, number 25 142 on Friday 8 February 1980. The Gamull Lane bridge over the line at Ribbleton was subsequently removed. All that now remained of the whole line was a Y-shaped link between the West Coast Main Line and coal yards at the site of the original Deepdale Street terminus. This, too, was closed in the 1990s, although the tracks for this section were never taken up.

    Remains

    The track through Miley Tunnel, though rusty and overgrown, still exists.

    The line’s route in Preston between Blackpool Road and Red Scar is now a cycle path and footpath. It is planned to extend the path to Grimsargh.

    In Longridge, a portal to a blocked-off tunnel under Higher Road that led to Tootle Heights Quarry is a Grade II listed building. The station buildings at Longridge and Ribbleton still survive.

    In 2003, the Preston City Link Canal Trust was formed with a plan to reopen part of the Lancaster Canal to a new marina to be constructed in the vicinity of the former Maudland Bridge railway station. One option being considered was to reopen the Longridge line as far as Deepdale or Ribbleton, the line passing by viaduct over the new marina.

    In 2010, light rail manufacturer Trampower UK opened negotiations to use a segment of the former route as a tram demonstrator line. Initially, Trampower UK would use the line from the Miley Tunnel portal to Ribbleton, however their long term ambition is to provide a service on the line from the M6 Junction 31A to Preston city centre.[/I]

    Now you've been bored shit less with the history I'll get to the piccies:

    Me and my Dad explored Miley. It was the first time my Dad had been back down for 40 years. We walked through and got the pics on the way back.

    The Deepdale Entrance:


    Looking back out towards Deepdale:


    Looking in from Deepdale:


    One last look back towards the light:


    Onwards into the darkness:


    Playing about with the remote and some LEDs:


    Train copy FAIL:


    Blue Light Orb:


    Midway Point:


    Orange Light Orb that looks like a friggin' Mandarin:


    Light at the end of the tunnel:


    Back into the light:


    Looking back towards the tunnel:


    Back in to the smaller tunnel:


    Looking back towards to tunnel as we finished:


    All in all it was great to finally get down there and great for my Dad to relive a little bit of his youth.

    Thanks for looking

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Miley Tunnel 18/08/2013 IMAGE HEAVY

    Great stuff mate, some awesome photos there

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to lennymcgra For This Useful Post:

    LewisS (22-08-2013)

  4. #3
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    Default Re: Miley Tunnel 18/08/2013 IMAGE HEAVY

    Yvette Fielding will be on her way now...It looks in decent condition, just needs a good clear up.

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to Rebel For This Useful Post:

    LewisS (22-08-2013)

  6. #4
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    Default Re: Miley Tunnel 18/08/2013 IMAGE HEAVY

    Surprisingly, the local council shifted 10 tonnes of rubbish out of there about 2 months ago.

  7. #5
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    Default Re: Miley Tunnel 18/08/2013 IMAGE HEAVY

    Nice one mate still want to do this nice to see it again
    "God will forgive them. He'll forgive them, and allow them into heaven. I can't live with that."

  8. The Following User Says Thank You to coops For This Useful Post:

    LewisS (30-08-2013)

  9. #6
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    Default Re: Miley Tunnel 18/08/2013 IMAGE HEAVY

    A few of us might be going again soon if you want me to give you a shout?

  10. #7
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    Default Re: Miley Tunnel 18/08/2013 IMAGE HEAVY

    SHOUT!
    I'll come along this time
    The only thing to do with good advice is pass it on. It is never any use to oneself.

  11. #8
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    Default Re: Miley Tunnel 18/08/2013 IMAGE HEAVY

    Defo BB. Will be good to get out on an explore with you and BA again.

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