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- Jan 6, 2013
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1. The History
Depending on the reports you read Spinkhill Tunnel is either 497 or 501 yards long! It was originally opened by the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway (later the LNER) on 21st September 1898. It was the only tunnel on its Beighton Branch which ran north westwards from Langwith Junction to Beighton Junction. See below for a track map:
Spinkhill2 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Trains from the south approached through a vertically-sided rock cutting into the south portal built predominantly of brick but featuring stone copings and oversail. The tunnel then curves to the west and then straightens. The rails then emerge out of the north portal which is more substantial than the south one. As with most tunnels the construction was not accident free. On 14th January 1896, a labourer was moving a wagon in the tunnel when he lost control of it due to defective brakes, resulting in his shoulder being crushed. However this was not a fatal accident fortunately.
The tunnel officially opened on 21th September 1898 and was absorbed into the Great Central’s empire nine years later. The Beighton Branch lost its local passenger traffic at the outbreak of the Second world War. It remained open for excursions, diversions and coal transport. Archive picture below:
Spinkhill1 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The line through the tunnel was finally closed on 9th January 1967. The track was lifted although the tracks to the north remained in use until 1984 for wagon storage and shunting at Westthorpe Colliery, Killamarsh.
The tunnel is now pretty much stripped. Towards the north end are two brackets on the west sidewall which might have held a gong, providing an audible indication of Spinkhill’s Home signal. The tunnel is generally dry except for the the northern entrance. Overall the tunnel is in good condition structurally, save cracks that have appeared in one of the buttresses at the north portal.
The tunnel is privately owned and, over the winter, is used for cattle storage. In the last three years a series of large concrete blocks have been placed at the north entrance of the tunnel in an attempt to keep people from entering the tunnel.
2. The Explore
After a fail at Millmoor Football ground in Rotherham (demo team and huts now on site) myself and two non-members reverted to Plan B and piled down the M1 to Spinkhill Tunnel. When we parked up and made our way down the bank and along the muddy track-bed the tunnel soon came into view through the undergrowth. Much to our surprise there was a series of large concrete blocks blocking the north portal. None of the pictures I saw on-line document this. The last picture I could find was from February 2015 and the entrance was open. It must have been some effort getting these huge Lego concrete blocks down there. For some bizarre reason on the top fourth layer, instead for putting blocks all the way across they left two spaces (see picture below). This, fortunately for us, meant we were able to scale the wall and drop down on the other side in the tunnel. We then immediately faced a water hazard which we negotiated with a strategically placed log. The tunnel itself is in good nick and we had a good hour or so down here. The far end has a wire fence 20 metres into the tunnel to keep livestock penned in at the southern end but a hole in it meant we could slip out and have a look at the southern portal. Overall a nice little wander.
3. The Pictures
Road bridge near Spinkhill over the branch line:
img5634 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Old railway post:
img5635 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The entrance appears out of the mist:
img5636 by HughieDW, on Flickr
More former trackside debris:
img5639 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Central drainage channel near the north portal:
img5641 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Obligatory “knob” graffiti:
img5644 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img5645 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And in we go:
img5650bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
img5651 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Looking down towards the south entrance the curvature of the tunnel can clearly be seen:
img5659 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Iron-bearing mud seeping through bleed holes in the tunnel:
img5664 by HughieDW, on Flickr
One of the many refuges in the tunnel:
img5667 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Southern end of the tunnel in sight:
img5672 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img5673 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And out we pop:
img5685 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Full-frontal of the southern portal:
img5697 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img5698bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
img5701 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img5704 by HughieDW, on Flickr
This shot looks like a Cure album cover…
img5709bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
And back to the northern portal again:
img5711 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img5713 by HughieDW, on Flickr
One last look at the northern portal:
img5718 by HughieDW, on Flickr
…and back on the road to nowhere:
img5720 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Depending on the reports you read Spinkhill Tunnel is either 497 or 501 yards long! It was originally opened by the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway (later the LNER) on 21st September 1898. It was the only tunnel on its Beighton Branch which ran north westwards from Langwith Junction to Beighton Junction. See below for a track map:
Spinkhill2 by HughieDW, on FlickrTrains from the south approached through a vertically-sided rock cutting into the south portal built predominantly of brick but featuring stone copings and oversail. The tunnel then curves to the west and then straightens. The rails then emerge out of the north portal which is more substantial than the south one. As with most tunnels the construction was not accident free. On 14th January 1896, a labourer was moving a wagon in the tunnel when he lost control of it due to defective brakes, resulting in his shoulder being crushed. However this was not a fatal accident fortunately.
The tunnel officially opened on 21th September 1898 and was absorbed into the Great Central’s empire nine years later. The Beighton Branch lost its local passenger traffic at the outbreak of the Second world War. It remained open for excursions, diversions and coal transport. Archive picture below:
Spinkhill1 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe line through the tunnel was finally closed on 9th January 1967. The track was lifted although the tracks to the north remained in use until 1984 for wagon storage and shunting at Westthorpe Colliery, Killamarsh.
The tunnel is now pretty much stripped. Towards the north end are two brackets on the west sidewall which might have held a gong, providing an audible indication of Spinkhill’s Home signal. The tunnel is generally dry except for the the northern entrance. Overall the tunnel is in good condition structurally, save cracks that have appeared in one of the buttresses at the north portal.
The tunnel is privately owned and, over the winter, is used for cattle storage. In the last three years a series of large concrete blocks have been placed at the north entrance of the tunnel in an attempt to keep people from entering the tunnel.
2. The Explore
After a fail at Millmoor Football ground in Rotherham (demo team and huts now on site) myself and two non-members reverted to Plan B and piled down the M1 to Spinkhill Tunnel. When we parked up and made our way down the bank and along the muddy track-bed the tunnel soon came into view through the undergrowth. Much to our surprise there was a series of large concrete blocks blocking the north portal. None of the pictures I saw on-line document this. The last picture I could find was from February 2015 and the entrance was open. It must have been some effort getting these huge Lego concrete blocks down there. For some bizarre reason on the top fourth layer, instead for putting blocks all the way across they left two spaces (see picture below). This, fortunately for us, meant we were able to scale the wall and drop down on the other side in the tunnel. We then immediately faced a water hazard which we negotiated with a strategically placed log. The tunnel itself is in good nick and we had a good hour or so down here. The far end has a wire fence 20 metres into the tunnel to keep livestock penned in at the southern end but a hole in it meant we could slip out and have a look at the southern portal. Overall a nice little wander.
3. The Pictures
Road bridge near Spinkhill over the branch line:
img5634 by HughieDW, on FlickrOld railway post:
img5635 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe entrance appears out of the mist:
img5636 by HughieDW, on FlickrMore former trackside debris:
img5639 by HughieDW, on FlickrCentral drainage channel near the north portal:
img5641 by HughieDW, on FlickrObligatory “knob” graffiti:
img5644 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg5645 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd in we go:
img5650bw by HughieDW, on Flickrimg5651 by HughieDW, on FlickrLooking down towards the south entrance the curvature of the tunnel can clearly be seen:
img5659 by HughieDW, on FlickrIron-bearing mud seeping through bleed holes in the tunnel:
img5664 by HughieDW, on FlickrOne of the many refuges in the tunnel:
img5667 by HughieDW, on FlickrSouthern end of the tunnel in sight:
img5672 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg5673 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd out we pop:
img5685 by HughieDW, on FlickrFull-frontal of the southern portal:
img5697 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg5698bw by HughieDW, on Flickrimg5701 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg5704 by HughieDW, on FlickrThis shot looks like a Cure album cover…
img5709bw by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd back to the northern portal again:
img5711 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg5713 by HughieDW, on FlickrOne last look at the northern portal:
img5718 by HughieDW, on Flickr…and back on the road to nowhere:
img5720 by HughieDW, on Flickr
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lovely lit tunnels!
