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manof2worlds
26-03-2010, 09:27 AM
I took a trip to Lincolnshire with my Urbex Buddy Black Shuck for a day's explore that took in the County Hospital and an R.O.C. post. Our intention had been to take on the impressive Withcall Tunnel, just a mile down track from Benniworth, but alas, upon our arrival there after a "ggruelling" cross-country trek, the dreaded metal door with rather large padlocks put paid to that explore going any further. So, undeterred, we made for Benniworth and we were not disappointed. The history below was gleaned from the rather excellent Forgotten Relics of the Past website ( http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk )


The Benniworth Tunnel (also known as the High Street Tunnel) in the county of Lincolnshire was built in 1875 and eventually closed in 1958. It served the Louth and Lincoln Line and is located some 7.5 miles from Louth.
When High Street (aka South Willingham) Tunnel was planned, its length was 255 yards and there were no refuges. The latter was an oversight on the part of a designer which was later rectified with three refuges being cut. The length more than doubled to 557 yards.
The tunnel's construction was difficult and its opening delayed. A goods train first passed through it in September 1875 - three years after work had started. Passenger services began more than a year later when the full 21-mile line was completed.
Landslips were common around South Willingham. In 1939, a major one blocked several yards of line close to the tunnel's eastern entrance. Calamity was averted thanks to an eagle-eyed passer-by who rang the local signalbox to get trains stopped.
Armaments were transported along the line during the Second World War. One important bombing raid on Germany had to be cancelled because the engine bringing the armaments was too big to fit through the bore. It should have been changed at Lincoln.
Passengers services were withdrawn in 1951 but goods continued to be carried until 1st December 1958.
Today the tunnel is a bat hibernaculum and the site is designated as an SSSI.
)

1.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4461684747_5b9cdbdae7.jpg

2.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4462475552_058e758813.jpg

3.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2772/4462486772_e1ae5ffa62.jpg

4.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4461724031_1a8a46c47f.jpg

5.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4461735025_7faa2cf95b.jpg

6.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2774/4461737719_f3a8541ab2.jpg

7.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2755/4461740119_11ab4d4b72.jpg

8.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4461742841_58ba1a594a.jpg

9.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4461748667_9788267b38.jpg

boxfrenzy
26-03-2010, 10:01 AM
Nice shots indeed mate - the second one in particular is really good. Looks like some wonderful colours in here :thumb

magooČ
26-03-2010, 10:36 AM
A nice little tunnel this one and your shots capture it well mate :thumb

ERNIE99_UK
26-03-2010, 11:42 AM
Theres some interesting looking calcite deposits in there!

BB
26-03-2010, 01:15 PM
Really nice set of pics there! The close ups are really cool :thumb
Might want to have a look at the pic sizes, tad big :)

sqwasher
26-03-2010, 01:34 PM
Other than the big pics you've captured it well-specially your 2nd & 3rd pics! Nice one. :D

manof2worlds
26-03-2010, 01:44 PM
Apologies for the pic sizes, I forgot about the preferred sizes here - sorted now though.

And thanks for the cool comments thus far :-)

mo2w

Rochester
26-03-2010, 02:17 PM
Apologies for the pic sizes, I forgot about the preferred sizes here - sorted now though.

And thanks for the cool comments thus far :-)

mo2w

A collection to be proud of...

ceejam
26-03-2010, 05:44 PM
Nice shots indeed mate - the second one in particular is really good. Looks like some wonderful colours in here :thumb

Indeed it is, but pic 3 is a bit worrying with that train coming tho. :w00t
superb post mate :D

coops
27-03-2010, 11:21 PM
Thanks for sharing this mate , i,m gona be at cleethropes every weekend from next week so will deff be going for a look ..is it open at both ends of the tunnel please ?

manof2worlds
30-03-2010, 08:00 PM
Thanks for sharing this mate , i,m gona be at cleethropes every weekend from next week so will deff be going for a look ..is it open at both ends of the tunnel please ?

Hi,
Sorry for the late reply - yes it is open at both ends :-)