boxfrenzy
25-05-2009, 08:59 PM
290 feet below the ground, a tunnel is cut through the rock. It's a long tunnel, at 2 miles, 243 yards long, and is still used every day by the trains that travel between Leeds and Thirsk, Yorkshire. It's called the Bramhope tunnel, and is a few miles outside Leeds. It's particularly identifiable by its northern portal.
A first view through the trees.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3415/3554284306_8608d463b8.jpg
The turrets were once lived in by employees of the railway.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3299/3553478665_95885d4769.jpg
Most of the towers have been bricked up. However a part is still accessible.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3650/3554284520_115e6e7e8b.jpg
In the first year of construction, 1845, five men were killed. By the completion of the tunnel in 1849 23 men are reported to have been killed. It is likely that this number could be higher.
The northern portal.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3416/3553478373_135886b615.jpg
Could this bearded fellow be William Rhodes,a local gentleman whos land the tunnel goes through? One theory is to appease him, the structure was built like a folly, and his head was carved above the 25 metre portal.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3363/3554284932_2e6cd2216b.jpg
Nowadays, tunnels are dug with vertical boring machines. The Jubilee Line extension, (at the time the largest engineering project in Europe) in London was dug by two of these named Sharon and Tracy using laser guided technology. Here at Bramhope three sighting towers were planned, although only two were built. Only one survives today, bricked up. In this field a shanty town grew up, at its peak housing 2300+ men and 400 horses.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3376/3553479483_42c59b426a.jpg
Twenty shafts were sunk into the rock which men were lowered by bucket to work in the tunnel by torchlight on a number of faces at the same time. Only four survive today, as ventilation shafts. Three of the four are open. As they are boring I have designed a postcard of them. Perhaps you could send it to someone who you don't like?* (Thanks to Chris at work for his photoshop help)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3629/3554304908_8c982a1fb6.jpg
Above the tunnel, is evidence of the spoil from the tunnel. This part has sunken into the ground. Could it possibly a forgotten construction shaft?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3634/3553479939_fb574c5d81.jpg
The often overlooked southern portal, in classical styling. Mercury, the Roman messenger of the Gods is carved on the keystone.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3298/3554287180_1bd0e30cd9.jpg
In Otley is the navvies monument to the men who lost their life in the construction due to rockfall, flooding, subsidence and accidental death.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2459/3554286290_8334896b58.jpg
A sobering inscription to the unfortunate men.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3553478921_1aeb28bb1f.jpg
Two trains ( the front one is an 8B mixed traffic locomotive, in black for British Railways, cagoule wearers) steam north during the 1950's. Hats off to a man on Flickr who has great pictures of these sorts of things.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3325/3564226774_66b71e9d79.jpg
*Please don't send me the postcard.
A first view through the trees.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3415/3554284306_8608d463b8.jpg
The turrets were once lived in by employees of the railway.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3299/3553478665_95885d4769.jpg
Most of the towers have been bricked up. However a part is still accessible.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3650/3554284520_115e6e7e8b.jpg
In the first year of construction, 1845, five men were killed. By the completion of the tunnel in 1849 23 men are reported to have been killed. It is likely that this number could be higher.
The northern portal.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3416/3553478373_135886b615.jpg
Could this bearded fellow be William Rhodes,a local gentleman whos land the tunnel goes through? One theory is to appease him, the structure was built like a folly, and his head was carved above the 25 metre portal.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3363/3554284932_2e6cd2216b.jpg
Nowadays, tunnels are dug with vertical boring machines. The Jubilee Line extension, (at the time the largest engineering project in Europe) in London was dug by two of these named Sharon and Tracy using laser guided technology. Here at Bramhope three sighting towers were planned, although only two were built. Only one survives today, bricked up. In this field a shanty town grew up, at its peak housing 2300+ men and 400 horses.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3376/3553479483_42c59b426a.jpg
Twenty shafts were sunk into the rock which men were lowered by bucket to work in the tunnel by torchlight on a number of faces at the same time. Only four survive today, as ventilation shafts. Three of the four are open. As they are boring I have designed a postcard of them. Perhaps you could send it to someone who you don't like?* (Thanks to Chris at work for his photoshop help)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3629/3554304908_8c982a1fb6.jpg
Above the tunnel, is evidence of the spoil from the tunnel. This part has sunken into the ground. Could it possibly a forgotten construction shaft?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3634/3553479939_fb574c5d81.jpg
The often overlooked southern portal, in classical styling. Mercury, the Roman messenger of the Gods is carved on the keystone.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3298/3554287180_1bd0e30cd9.jpg
In Otley is the navvies monument to the men who lost their life in the construction due to rockfall, flooding, subsidence and accidental death.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2459/3554286290_8334896b58.jpg
A sobering inscription to the unfortunate men.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3553478921_1aeb28bb1f.jpg
Two trains ( the front one is an 8B mixed traffic locomotive, in black for British Railways, cagoule wearers) steam north during the 1950's. Hats off to a man on Flickr who has great pictures of these sorts of things.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3325/3564226774_66b71e9d79.jpg
*Please don't send me the postcard.