History
The Bootle Tunnel, a lesser-known former railway tunnel in Liverpool, was constructed as part of the Midland Railway's Langton branch, designed to serve the bustling Liverpool docks. This roughly 484-yard tunnel, often referred to locally as the "Half Miley" tunnel, is actually comprised of two parallel, single-bore tunnels, built using the "cut and cover" method. It runs beneath Marsh Lane and notably passes under the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, with a unique design incorporating a low segmental arch to accommodate the canal's passage. The tunnel also once accommodated a tramway and an access road associated with a nearby gas works. The railway line that utilized the tunnel played a vital role in the area's industrial activity, particularly in facilitating the movement of goods to and from the docks. However, with the decline of rail freight in the latter half of the 20th century, the Langton branch, including the Bootle Tunnel, fell into disuse, with the majority of the line closing in the late 1960s. Today, much of the tunnel's approaches have been infilled, though remnants of the eastern portal remain the western portal has been backfilled with an access shaft in place.
The Explore
Have Been slowly plodding my way through Liverpool's disused railway tunnels in recent months and after failing at Dingle tunnel with an unhappy car wash owner, Bootle was the next one on the list to check out.
I had planned to go and check out the Eastern portal for access originally but @GRONK had an idea of where the western portal lid lay so off we went manhole hunting (no pun intended).
After digging out the wrong one we tried another lid nearby which revealed a modern ladder leading down. No nosey neighbours were around but due to it being a likely dog fouling spot we dropped down covering the open hole with a concoction of my parcel shelf and old baby gate.
Immediately at that base of the inspection shaft there was a running pump which was taking water out of an overflow in the floor to maintain the water level in the tunnel, this would kick in every 10 minutes or so making an uncomfortably loud noise.
Although short, this tunnel was quite photogenic and a bit different to others in the area with it being two tunnels running parallel with each other. Around half way a bridge above cut through both tunnels allowed daylight to beam through. This was used for access purposes for gas workers above.
The tunnel was covered in a mixture of mud,silt water and clay throughout, ranging in depth from a few centimetres to above wellies in places. A handy raised platform to the side about 2ft wide ran the length of both tunnels allowing for easy going.
The eastern portal was the usual dumping ground of old toys,bikes and a holder of old car tyres which I'm sure the garage next door had nothing to do with. After an hour spent plodding around photographing and trying not to slide of the ledge into mud we head back out the shaft and my parcel shelf was returned safely.
Bottom of western portal access shaft
The Bootle Tunnel, a lesser-known former railway tunnel in Liverpool, was constructed as part of the Midland Railway's Langton branch, designed to serve the bustling Liverpool docks. This roughly 484-yard tunnel, often referred to locally as the "Half Miley" tunnel, is actually comprised of two parallel, single-bore tunnels, built using the "cut and cover" method. It runs beneath Marsh Lane and notably passes under the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, with a unique design incorporating a low segmental arch to accommodate the canal's passage. The tunnel also once accommodated a tramway and an access road associated with a nearby gas works. The railway line that utilized the tunnel played a vital role in the area's industrial activity, particularly in facilitating the movement of goods to and from the docks. However, with the decline of rail freight in the latter half of the 20th century, the Langton branch, including the Bootle Tunnel, fell into disuse, with the majority of the line closing in the late 1960s. Today, much of the tunnel's approaches have been infilled, though remnants of the eastern portal remain the western portal has been backfilled with an access shaft in place.
The Explore
Have Been slowly plodding my way through Liverpool's disused railway tunnels in recent months and after failing at Dingle tunnel with an unhappy car wash owner, Bootle was the next one on the list to check out.
I had planned to go and check out the Eastern portal for access originally but @GRONK had an idea of where the western portal lid lay so off we went manhole hunting (no pun intended).
After digging out the wrong one we tried another lid nearby which revealed a modern ladder leading down. No nosey neighbours were around but due to it being a likely dog fouling spot we dropped down covering the open hole with a concoction of my parcel shelf and old baby gate.
Immediately at that base of the inspection shaft there was a running pump which was taking water out of an overflow in the floor to maintain the water level in the tunnel, this would kick in every 10 minutes or so making an uncomfortably loud noise.
Although short, this tunnel was quite photogenic and a bit different to others in the area with it being two tunnels running parallel with each other. Around half way a bridge above cut through both tunnels allowed daylight to beam through. This was used for access purposes for gas workers above.
The tunnel was covered in a mixture of mud,silt water and clay throughout, ranging in depth from a few centimetres to above wellies in places. A handy raised platform to the side about 2ft wide ran the length of both tunnels allowing for easy going.
The eastern portal was the usual dumping ground of old toys,bikes and a holder of old car tyres which I'm sure the garage next door had nothing to do with. After an hour spent plodding around photographing and trying not to slide of the ledge into mud we head back out the shaft and my parcel shelf was returned safely.
Bottom of western portal access shaft
Parallel western portal
Sludge
waders were overkill
Gasworks bridge above, did try and look at this topside afterwards but it involved a big drop or a lot of faff and time ran out for both options
Eastern portal in the distance
A mix match of fence layers and netting keeping folk out
👍
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