Clayton Tunnel, Bradford, West Yorks. Oct '09

[Moodster020]

Visited on the way back from a morning's mooch in Mayfield station in Manchester Early Oct '09. Had originally intended to have a look-see in Queensbury tunnel, having recce'd it few weeks previous & found it was accessible, to be greeted by this:



Schpoilsports...



Anyhoo, i took a detour as commiserations to the nextdoor & little-looked at Clayton tunnel. Not to be confused with the live Clayton tunnel down south, oh no, this one is very much dis-used & almost buried infact.


Resident footbridge:

After a clamber down on a 1in1 gradient trying my best not to slip down on my ass, this is the view that awaits you. Very 1870's GNR gothicy feel to the portal, although the interior is mostly brick-lined..


Inside the door, i set about on the walk in, unleashing the man-portable football stadium floodlight to navigate the way.


Couple of sections of track remain, upturned by the track lifting gang & left since 1963



The tunnel has 2 airshafts, this being the first. all the rubble on the floor is from when it was knocked in & capped


Peering up, there's a hole in the roof.



The 2nd airshaft was apparantly the scene of an accident during construction when two workmen who were being lowered down in a cage died, their graves are in the Clayton graveyard. Supposedly haunted too..



Just beyond the 2nd airshaft is the site of a roof collapse, were a sizeable mound of rubble has fallen in, exposing the gubbins of the local geology.




There's 2 sections that have had some support ribbing made from old rail lengths put in place., Also some Stalactites are currently in the making.



The light at this end of the tunnel has been turned off it would appear,

around 20 or so yards further on & the North-East portal would be viewable. Someone's Bungalow sits right on top of were the Portal is, I'm around 70ft below there living room here! Apparantley, there are some subsidence trouble so i read online.


The view of the other end from as far as you can go



Thanks for looking!

More at Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1247043...7622701334081/

And a Vid on Youtube here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC8V6Dwby8E

[boxfrenzy]

That's great mate, and one I'd like to visit. Very nicely lit too I love the airshaft pictures. What a shame Queensbury is "currently" off the radar. Luckily it's location means that no doubt it will be open again. I want to know how much is full of water now.
Here is the Clayton Tunnel grave stone.

[Rochester]

That's great mate, and one I'd like to visit. Very nicely lit too I love the airshaft pictures. What a shame Queensbury is "currently" off the radar. Luckily it's location means that no doubt it will be open again. I want to know how much is full of water now.
Here is the Clayton Tunnel grave stone.

Excellent mate, which church yard is it in?

Liverpool Mercury, Wednesday, November 11, 1874