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View Full Version : Gildersome Tunnel, Leeds, 25/01/2009



jb28
26-01-2009, 12:12 PM
Visited by myself and Moodster020 on Sunday.

There's a full set on my Flickr here: http://flickr.com/photos/71661293@N00/sets/72157613002979764/

Gildersome tunnel is one of the longer ones at 2331 yards. It ran from Batley to Gildersome and once formed one of the main lines into Leeds.

The cutting at the other end has since been landscaped, and the last hundred yards or so was filled in when the M62 was built resulting in the tunnel becoming a dead end.

We spent about four hours in total getting blathered in the foul orange silt that seeps into the tunnel all along its length.

Despite how awful it sounds, it was actually a lot of fun.

Btw, this is my first report here, so be gentle :D

Gildersome Tunnel Portal

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3386/3228446862_0725d5a7e7.jpg

The entrance is heavily flooded with thick gloopy silt, and littered with debris.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3506/3228447700_716bfb6324.jpg

Looking back towards the entrance it became clear that the tunnel didn't get any drier as we got past the initial flooding.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3317/3227600663_85be3a8fb2.jpg

This side refuge was a major source of the water pouring down the tunnel. It was the only part that particularly smelled badly, probably due to rotting wood, or badgers, or something.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3370/3228453792_dac1e8cf28.jpg

This is the remains of the air vent nearest the Gildersome end. Also there is Moodster020 with his uber-torch.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3458/3228452270_c68dee214c.jpg

This 50 foot section of wall was covered in deposits of some substance.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/3228450926_0f9975b413.jpg

A dim pool of light from above.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3260/3227596225_7d02fa2a40.jpg

The last few yards are easy enough due to a natural pavement formed by the remains of the track bed.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3091/3227595695_cae52329dc.jpg

The tunnel used to emerge near to where the Showcase Cinema is. It was blocked and filled in because of concerns that the M62 may cause it to collapse.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/3227594925_f83b1654d5.jpg

More here: http://flickr.com/photos/71661293@N00/sets/72157613002979764/

boxfrenzy
26-01-2009, 12:22 PM
Excellent report mate. Looks horrid but exciting down there. There is something amazing to think that behind that wall is millions of tonnes of landfill. Well done one the report, you don't see many from this place. I love the open airshaft picture. Seems like the cutting is less flooded nowadays.

sqwasher
26-01-2009, 01:50 PM
Nice report & you've got some great pics jb28! Well done for getting out & in there! :thumb

BB
26-01-2009, 02:06 PM
Cool stuff. good to see you are getting out there :thumb

KingElvis
26-01-2009, 04:23 PM
Very nice mate, keep reports like that one coming :thumb

Moodster020
27-01-2009, 12:06 AM
I'll add my bits over the coming week, bit busy atm

Was great fun!, although hard-going

Whole thing reminded me of the river of slime tunnel in Ghostbusters 2 :eek:
http://bdat.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/ghostbustersii_8000.jpg

Muse
27-01-2009, 12:08 AM
Great first report. I love photos of this place, that orangey glow comes out so well in photos.

jb28
27-01-2009, 12:18 AM
Thanks for all the nice comments guys, but many thanks also to Moodster020 for coming over and providing the excellent lighting in the form of an adapted motorcycle headlamp, it was ace. :)

coops
27-01-2009, 10:37 AM
Well done guys a great report deff gonna check this place out this year.

jb28
28-01-2009, 09:29 PM
Based on info from secretleeds, verified on google maps. here are the locations of the air shafts:

First shaft:
http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=53.754907,-1.617474&z=20

Second shaft:
http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=53.752268,-1.622474&z=20

Third shaft (open):
http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=53.749992,-1.626797&z=20

Fourth shaft (under the gazebo):
http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=53.748533,-1.629576&z=20

I'm going to try and get a photo of each of them from the surface.

scally
29-01-2009, 06:42 PM
some reall good photos guys :) looks stupidly wet but all goos fun!

freebird
30-01-2009, 02:49 AM
Nice report and pics...don't think its an explore for me though :lol:

:eek: Not me either! Not unless it ever dries out a bit anyway. :eek: Well done guys. :thumb

Moodster020
31-01-2009, 01:46 AM
My bits

Vent No1
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj33/moodster020/S1050902.jpg

Vent No2
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj33/moodster020/S1050895.jpg

Toxic Waste
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj33/moodster020/S1050885.jpg

Vent 3 (open)
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj33/moodster020/S1050873.jpg

Vent 4 & the retaining Wall 1 mile in:
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj33/moodster020/S1050863.jpg

Hell Is for Heroes
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj33/moodster020/S1050862.jpg




Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12470438@N07/sets/72157613169463700/

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEBHOV-Huvk&feature=channel_page

boxfrenzy
31-01-2009, 09:35 AM
Nice pictures Moodster020. Looks like a lot of water is coming in through the first couple of vents.

sqwasher
31-01-2009, 12:29 PM
Good pics Moodster, how much water is coming down vent 1!? :ohmy
Well done for getting in there.

KingElvis
31-01-2009, 01:54 PM
This is top work, well done.

Moodster020
31-01-2009, 10:39 PM
Good pics Moodster, how much water is coming down vent 1!? :ohmy
Well done for getting in there.

Alot of it was seeping in through Vent 2, was the force of a domestic shower in the space below it. The 3 capped shafts & the refuge & spring is were the water comes in, almost a river at the start!

Was some weird machinery noises going off too i noticed- caught them on the video as i entered the doorway.

jb28
01-02-2009, 09:36 PM
Was some weird machinery noises going off too i noticed- caught them on the video as i entered the doorway.

Yeah, it was surprisingly noisy. Awesome echo - hard to hear each other over it - and some strange bangs and rumbles from the distance.