Was reading this today, quite an interesting article close to the heart of us mining enthusiasts I think.

There is a lovely Victorian railway tunnel, 1.3 miles long, siting idle that the government wants to spend three million quid sealing up so it could never be reopened or even seen again.

Bit of a monumental act of expensive mindless vandalism if you ask me.

However there is a focus group lobbying to get it turned into a cycle route. That's got to be a much better alternative. Which is why it probably won't happen.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jan/01/new-push-to-make-englands-longest-cycle-tunnel-a-reality?CMP=share_btn_link 

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Sounds like an excellent scheme to me, I've cycled the Monsal trail and it's tunnels and it's a great day out.

Not an area Im likely to visit but fully support the vision. I thought govt were talking of opening old railways seems they want to close it to avoid another opportunity

Mike

It would make a lot more sense - having lived in Bradford, I know what the uphill slog is like between there and Halifax and having a level route for biking between the two would be useful.

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All mine related as the whole area has been extensively mined for coal, clay and fireclay. The tunnel cut through various workings during its construction, and their subsequent collapse is held to be responsible for some of the problems in the tunnel lining.

Two of the construction shafts were abandoned due to water ingress; one is even marked as cutting a drainage adit. So I'd say it's possible that the tunnel has been draining away a fair take of minewater through the extant shafts and the lining.

If it's repaired and grouted to make it watertight then I'd assume there will be some degree of minewater rebound in the old workings. I can add that an adit above the tunnel is dry; one below it is flooded. So I hear :angel:

Some of the above taken from the technical report:

http://www.queensburytunnel.org.uk/reports/QueensburyTunnelReport (October2016).pdf

A section at the end discusses the use of a Beaumont/Appleby drilling machine in the tunnel, as used at Croesor.

1.3 miles of shotcrete to line the tunnel would probably help to secure any shaky bits and help with water ingress; no nasty drips down the neck when cycling through. Brighten the place up too ;)
That plus contractors fees would make a tidy dent in £3 M.
The knock-on effects of doing it would be anyone's guess though.

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Be a shame if that was sealed, one of the ones I always wanted to see years ago when walking old tunnels was my thing

The contractor mentioned in the report, SES,

http://www.queensburytunnel.org.uk/reports/QueensburyTunnelReport (October2016).pdf

is one I have used for many years. They know what they are talking about and are more than capable of doing such a job.

It's just a question of money......

Sky news.
https://news.sky.com/video/campaign-to-open-cycle-tunnel-11196948 

An update today is that the Government has offered a full and final £4m against an estimated £23m to fully restore it and put right the concrete Highways England poured into an air shaft and, some say, deliberately sabotaged the planned restoration. Northern powerhouse in reality??

I have to say, looking at the report, that that looks like a nasty old place, with a fair likelihood of continuing long-term problems from the surrounding water and workings, and best left to its own outcome!

I have to say, looking at the report, that that looks like a nasty old place, with a fair likelihood of continuing long-term problems from the surrounding water and workings, and best left to its own outcome!

£23M??! Agree! Leave it alone 😮

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A much better financial situation than the 'promised' future funding for the Rhondda Tunnel which appears to be be a much easier proposition.

https://www.rhonddatunnelsociety.co.uk/