richboxfrenzy
Single track
This tunnel had been built 160 years ago in 1850, taking two years. Dudley is built on a hill, its ruined castle still holds a commanding place above the town from within the fantastic 1930's Art Deco styled Dudley Zoo. Most people in the area are aware of the Dudley Canal tunnel, not far from here where the barges were legged through off the roof by the canal men. The railways spelled the demise for the canal, and yet the same construction problems faced the railways as had the canals. Sometimes there was no choice other than tunnel through.
Some tunnels are good to photograph, others are pretty dull. This one, without doubt is one of my favorites. Calcites and iron ore leach through the bricks and the long exposures make the light change down here. The green of the overgrown cutting is magnified and reflected on wet walls.
The last passenger train steamed through this tunnel in 1964, heading to Wolverhampton from Stourbridge. Once Dudley Station closed, the line remained in operation as a goods line until it closed to all trains on 19 March 1993, after 143 years in use. The twin track remains intact for much of the tunnel.
Four months after the line officially closed, on the 2nd of July, 1993, a cable laying train passed through the tunnel. This was the last traffic to pass through here.
Within the next decade, Network rail intend to have goods trains passing through, but at the moment it remains dark, and dripping and disused.
Single track
This tunnel had been built 160 years ago in 1850, taking two years. Dudley is built on a hill, its ruined castle still holds a commanding place above the town from within the fantastic 1930's Art Deco styled Dudley Zoo. Most people in the area are aware of the Dudley Canal tunnel, not far from here where the barges were legged through off the roof by the canal men. The railways spelled the demise for the canal, and yet the same construction problems faced the railways as had the canals. Sometimes there was no choice other than tunnel through.
Some tunnels are good to photograph, others are pretty dull. This one, without doubt is one of my favorites. Calcites and iron ore leach through the bricks and the long exposures make the light change down here. The green of the overgrown cutting is magnified and reflected on wet walls.
The last passenger train steamed through this tunnel in 1964, heading to Wolverhampton from Stourbridge. Once Dudley Station closed, the line remained in operation as a goods line until it closed to all trains on 19 March 1993, after 143 years in use. The twin track remains intact for much of the tunnel.
Four months after the line officially closed, on the 2nd of July, 1993, a cable laying train passed through the tunnel. This was the last traffic to pass through here.
Within the next decade, Network rail intend to have goods trains passing through, but at the moment it remains dark, and dripping and disused.