Marsden Standedge tunnels & canal, Yorkshire-20/06/2011

[jcw1967]

I've been wanting to go through this set of tunnels again since my first visit years ago, so picked a Sunday to make sure the railway workers were off duty. so packed a couple of large torches, tripod & drinks and set of for Marsden. I'm not adding any info about the tunnels as other people have covered it better in other reports.

Went straight along the canal towpath walk, getting strange looks from the serious walkers who were kitted out for the Himalayas, all giving strange looks because of the equipment being carried. hoped i didn't meet any rail workers on route as one look would have shown where i was heading.

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One of many tunnels joining the two disused rail lines, 30 more to go till Diggle.

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had a snack and rest in one of the worker rest alcoves complete with seats and a stove area.

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The first route through to the live tunnel, with floor planks over the canal.

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underground drain room

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A typical side tunnel through to the live line with steps and wooden sleepers over the canal on the higher level. the air flow through these was impressive as a train passed, first the piston flow then the suction as it passed, loud and freaky. Later on in a smaller drain duct the force of the air pushed me over, ended up doing an upside down turtle impression in a pool of orange slime, sweet.

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The canal can just be seen through the side of the steps.

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One of several air ducts with a serious amount of water coming down onto the roof of the canal below with everything covered in orange gloop, looking like a city of gold.

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One tourist Kodak moment later

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smaller drainage duct dropping into the canal, didn't get a pic from the end because it was so damp the camera kept misting up and I managed to blur them all.

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one of the many canal escape routes, with lights and motion sensors, with a telephone link to an emergency centre, and equipment that kept giving off a loud clicking noise, all very surreal.

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Side tunnel cut through stone dropping into the canal.

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While I was looking in this part i could hear voices getting louder, thinking great what do i do now, loads of gear and Blackpool illuminations lighting me up. So turned all the lights off, trying to stuff gear back into the rucksack, thinking is it other people exploring, more likely than Sunday railway workers, so decided to sit it out rather than leaving. Then I noticed it was people in a canal barge heading my way, so slightly relieved just tucked backed into the main tunnel, just as they sailed past.

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Big air vent room, with a drop into it.

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Another air vent with waterfall and a strange roof over the canal, all painted gold.

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Another tourist shot, not that clear after trying to keep still for 30 seconds, slightly worriedly looking at all the stones and debris that had fallen from above.

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this is the only canal shot that was usable.

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Low side room filled with rubble and with a naturally sloping stone roof.

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The Cathedral like joining tunnel about halfway in.

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huge air-vent with wooden supports and a serious amount of water pouring down.

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Supports with the vent grill shown, slightly foggy due to the water raining down, just as a train passed and blew most of it over me and the camera.

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Canal escape route with a roof over and below an air vent.

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looking into the canal.

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Diggle , the halfway mark, now back down the other tunnel.

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cut through tunnel number 1.

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return tunnel shot.

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Obligatory skeleton shot.

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return passed the Cathedral.

Great day out, finished off with a walk back to the car covered in soot after being under ground for over 8 hours. Well worth a visit again.
Thanks for looking

[BadBatz]

Erm.........maybe NOT pointing out how you got in would be a good idea.........that'll be it sealed for us all.

[jcw1967]

Cheers for that,
Edited out as we speak.

[MJS]

Good stuff mate! If only you were 7 days later, you might have seen us in there!!

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the orange box in your pic, I laughed when I saw it the other night. An un-opened box of chicken burgers!?!?!?

[CHRIS_M]

great pics mate, looks really good, would love to go there

[BadBatz]

No worries. I was worried about MY access. i fancy this next week!

[MJS]

Access to this place was posted up back in 2009 on flickr, I wouldn't worry mate!! Plus, if you really want to find a way in, you will!!

[mr beardy]

gunna have to add this to the 'to do list'

[Krypton]

wow ive never been a fan of tunnells but this looks really interesting

[jcw1967]

Cheers MJS,
Well spotted on the burgers, looks like Standedge has been busy recently, I half expected to see other people doing the same thing and wouldn't have minded saying hello.