~Hi all,
Finally got here after a failed attempt earlier in the week. Apologies again to Black Shuck, sorry dude!
a bit of history on the Louth to Bardney line -
The first section of the line from Bardney to South Willingham was opened on 9th November1874. The completion of the tunnel, at South Willingham, enabled a three mile extension to be opened to Donington-on Bain on 27th September1875. The final eight miles, including the construction of Withcall Tunnel, opened to goods traffic on 26th June 1876, and opened to passengers on 1st December the same year. An initial service of five trains each way was soon reduced to four within a month. In 1887 the service of four trains a day from Louth to Lincoln, calling at all stations took one hour and twenty minutes for the journey.
The tunnel is still all good, as i'm sure you're all aware!
Now i've heard tell of how difficult it is to get to, as it is VERY steep there, and it can be a bugger to walk to.
Well i have to admit, we cheated. With the use of a friend's 4x4 and some 'green laning', we just drove up to it. Admittedly it did require the 4x4 to get up some of the hills!
Once inside the first thing to hit you is how cold it is! we went from 25+ degrees outside to easily 16-18 degrees through the tunnel. On leaving one of my mates commented it was like stepping iff a plane in a foriegn country as the warm air hit us.
It was also quite wet down there, i assume due to the heavy rain we've had recently.
Anyhoo, the pics:
Arrival, thank god for off roaders!
The West portal
Looking out
First look down the leviathon
Some Stalegtites
Lots of calcification around
One of the distance markers
Someone left an old wooden ladder hung on the wall!
Out again!
All in all a great trip, fantastic explore, but need to take more torches next time!!!
D
Finally got here after a failed attempt earlier in the week. Apologies again to Black Shuck, sorry dude!
a bit of history on the Louth to Bardney line -
The first section of the line from Bardney to South Willingham was opened on 9th November1874. The completion of the tunnel, at South Willingham, enabled a three mile extension to be opened to Donington-on Bain on 27th September1875. The final eight miles, including the construction of Withcall Tunnel, opened to goods traffic on 26th June 1876, and opened to passengers on 1st December the same year. An initial service of five trains each way was soon reduced to four within a month. In 1887 the service of four trains a day from Louth to Lincoln, calling at all stations took one hour and twenty minutes for the journey.
The tunnel is still all good, as i'm sure you're all aware!
Now i've heard tell of how difficult it is to get to, as it is VERY steep there, and it can be a bugger to walk to.
Well i have to admit, we cheated. With the use of a friend's 4x4 and some 'green laning', we just drove up to it. Admittedly it did require the 4x4 to get up some of the hills!
Once inside the first thing to hit you is how cold it is! we went from 25+ degrees outside to easily 16-18 degrees through the tunnel. On leaving one of my mates commented it was like stepping iff a plane in a foriegn country as the warm air hit us.
It was also quite wet down there, i assume due to the heavy rain we've had recently.
Anyhoo, the pics:
Arrival, thank god for off roaders!
The West portal
Looking out
First look down the leviathon
Some Stalegtites
Lots of calcification around
One of the distance markers
Someone left an old wooden ladder hung on the wall!
Out again!
All in all a great trip, fantastic explore, but need to take more torches next time!!!
D
