Rain, More Rain, and Tunnels - GKN Revisit Dec '12

[mookster]

One last explore for me this year, and my mate TBM who is back from university for the Christmas break wanted to see somewhere big so I suggested here, as I absolutely love this place.

A pity we chose possibly one of the rainiest days of the year to go explore a load of tunnels...but that in itself was incredible, water literally pouring in through the various vent holes in the roof in places so the sounds were incredible. Add to this that now all the manhole covers have been removed, the place is even more dangerous as while most were just general drainage holes underneath a couple went right down into the sewer system, floaters and everything bobbing about!

A good explore was had despite the monsoon-like conditions, followed up by a brief fail at the Hockley Palladium afterwards.





























A few more here if anyone is interested http://www.flickr.com/photos/mookie427/sets/72157632377667028/

I also shot a few video clips...don't know how to get the thing to embed

[ame]http://youtu.be/6Lgvh6kw3b8[/ame]

 

[abel101]

Beautiful photos Mookster

 

[perjury saint]

Good that! Like the pic of the water pouring into the tunnel...

 

[UE-OMJ]

In this case the rain certainly helped you, great stuff, brilliant photos

 

[Bones out]

Bang tidy that is.... I gotta do some underground stuff.....

 

[The Cat Crept In]

Now thats what I call a wet vid well done guys.

 

[johno23]

Epic tunnelness
Great video and photos.
Particularly like the old document packages with the dates on them

You deserve a medal for exploring on a day like that

 

[Andymacg]

nice work mate.love the water pouring in shot, and your certainly dedicated to to exploring in weather like that

 

[TeeJF]

I still can't get my head round why that place has such an extemnsive tunnel netowrk. Well captured buddy, light poainting isn't tyhe easiest thing to do!

 

[flyboys90]

Your right about the noise great report thanks for sharing.

 

[MrDan]

I have to say I'd have given that a miss on a day like that.
That parcel dated 1957 is great, any idea what's inside?

 

[PaulPowers]

These are brilliant

 

[mookster]

Thanks everyone

It's a pity you can't see it properly but in the 9th photo there was pretty much a river of water flowing down those stairs!

It was a great way to round off 2012, probably one of my favourite explores I've done, in one of my favourite locations to boot.

 

[Black Shuck]

Ace work Mook!. I bet that was a bastid to light down there, and to focus too!!!... Did it stink at all?.... Looks like loadsa pooh!!!

 

[fluffy5518]

Hey Mookie !! You managed to get back then-and got some crackin' phots too !! I remember exploring the out builings at Fairmile a few years ago during pouring rain and it was an amazing experience !! Being underground listening to the torrent of running water must have been fantastic !! I envy you !! Well done mate - and i always told you that underground splores are the best !!

 

[mookster]

Ace work Mook!. I bet that was a bastid to light down there, and to focus too!!!... Did it stink at all?.... Looks like loadsa pooh!!!

Mostly oil and stuff but the nicked manholes did reveal a couple of open sewer courses, which was quite alarming!

Hey Mookie !! You managed to get back then-and got some crackin' phots too !! I remember exploring the out builings at Fairmile a few years ago during pouring rain and it was an amazing experience !! Being underground listening to the torrent of running water must have been fantastic !! I envy you !! Well done mate - and i always told you that underground splores are the best !!

Haha it was pretty amazing acoustics I have to say, reminded me of the train works I did in Belgium during a simply biblical thunderstorm. Not only was the sound on the roof deafening but the 20 or so supports on the main factory floor all had drainpipes fixed to them going to beneath the floor, all of which were broken off about two feet from the floor...so not only did we have the rain on the roof but as soon as it hammered it down every single drainpipe started pouring water out of it onto the factory floor, the sound was simply incredible!

 

[Derelict-UK]

Great pics again, is it your last visit now? Did you also know that the hospital has now been given the go ahead? so bye bye tunnels!!

I love the flowing water shots, I was once in a tall warehouse and the heavens opened, I haven't stood still in daylight taking pictures of a burst drain pipe so much lol

I have to say I'd have given that a miss on a day like that.
That parcel dated 1957 is great, any idea what's inside?

What I can remember, all the documents down there are old accounts of money taken in.

 

[boxfrenzy]

This place always is good - the rain makes it look fab

 

[mookster]

Great pics again, is it your last visit now? Did you also know that the hospital has now been given the go ahead? so bye bye tunnels!!

Probably, yeah - I've seen pretty much every inch now.

Didn't know the hospital plans had been given the green light, do you know what sort of time frame they are working on?

 

[Derelict-UK]

Probably, yeah - I've seen pretty much every inch now.

Didn't know the hospital plans had been given the green light, do you know what sort of time frame they are working on?

Not sure but I think they want to start it soon...

http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2012/12/04/pfi-relaunched-as-pf2-with-wave-of-projects/

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2012/12/06/370m-joy-for-chiefs-in-sandwell-super-hospital-bid/

http://www.halesowennews.co.uk/news..._for_long_awaited_super_hospital_in_Sandwell/