Report - Bunker Storm Drain. Warrington. August 2020.

[Bando Exploration]

Nice one im certainly not into drains but the photos looked epic

 

[Scoobysrt]

I wasn't either until I did one or two and now I'm not so sure and with reports like this I realise I want and need to give them a fair chance but its still a definite no on the poo ones foe me lol.
Edit, if you appreciate victoriana brick work there's fewer and fewer places above ground you'll get to see good stuff.

 

[EOA]

So its just normal exploring rules then?
Civil trespass.
Culvert in question was 53.259814,-1.910338 I thought it was a civil matter if anything but unsure and needing waders I conceded without argument. Next year when it's drier it is going to be a different story though.

Aye, certainly for where you were. It might get a bit different if water companies find out you're going into their drains, but even then, pretty sure they have to take out an injunction against you before you're in serious trouble. Just rock up early enough no one sees you go in. Once you're in, no one will notice you.

 

[Scoobysrt]

Tbh that was my mistake, I went on a Sunday afternoon when I thought it was quiet but I think a passerby grassed on me.

 

[chills]

Tbh that was my mistake, I went on a Sunday afternoon when I thought it was quiet but I think a passerby grassed on me.

On a side note, I’ve always found entering at the infall or outfall you’re less likely to be spotted. Jump in in the middle of a car park, you’ll always encounter the public. Culverts/rivers are never owned by the shopping centre/building. Whatever, it’s just picking up on things and learning.

I’ve just been reviewing my pins and found most locations I have mapped may have to be a full walk through rather than jumping in half way.

 

[Scoobysrt]

Either end is deep and fast, others have done it and I believe mostly by going down the same ladder, I was just too green and unprepared. Ill do it next year, I assure you lol.

 

[EOA]

Either end is deep and fast, others have done it and I believe mostly by going down the same ladder, I was just too green and unprepared. Ill do it next year, I assure you lol.

There are always kayaks for deep and fast waters!

 

[Scoobysrt]

Lol heres when Paul did it https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/buxton-culvert-15-07-11.62704/

 

[EOA]

Lol heres when Paul did it https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/buxton-culvert-15-07-11.62704/

Ah right, think we have a different definition of deep and fast moving

 

[Scoobysrt]

Nowadays it is a lot deeper either end especially the opposite end to the ladder, its around 12ft deep atm but the bit where the ladder is and most of the actual culvert isn't, its only a couple inches deep.
As I say though, I'm a total noob doing such things and of course the stuff you would do I wouldn't even look at lol.
I had a go and got asked to leave was my story ill go again in the new year better educated thanks to you guys
Im so sorry I hijacked the thread.

 

[EOA]

Nowadays it is a lot deeper either end especially the opposite end to the ladder, its around 12ft deep atm but the bit where the ladder is and most of the actual culvert isn't, its only a couple inches deep.
As I say though, I'm a total noob doing such things and of course the stuff you would do I wouldn't even look at lol.
I had a go and got asked to leave was my story ill go again in the new year better educated thanks to you guys
Im so sorry I hijacked the thread.

There’s not much stopping you doing anything that anyone has done before and also doing stuff no one has done before. Everyone starts off somewhere. It’s all good. Looking forward to your report

 

[mingerocket]

Cracking photos

 

[Richie wellock]

A small history:

The Bunker storm drain is located in the Southern area and constructed in the late 80s when Warrington itself was expanded as a town. Built for a ‘one in thirty’ immense storm, it spans some 3 miles, is mainly constructed of large RCP of 5-8 ft. whilst featuring multiple chambers and interesting details, eventually outfalling into the Manchester shipping canal.

The explore:

Visited with @Ferret, @scrappy, @Jonesey and my Mrs on a weekend in August. As we set out early from Ferrets’ gaff, within less than 5 minutes, we stopped with a flat tyre. After a quick tyre change from Scrappy as we stood and watched, we were back on the road.

After arriving, we geared up and after a quick recce on a known lid, we were into the outfall.

The photo above shows on the right hand side where water levels have once been, and as prior mentioned in the history, it’s certainly built for a hell of a storm, hence the name in the community.

As shown from the photo below of the outfall from the outsideshamelessly stolen from Google) this reinforces, excuse the pun, the name.

Heading down the ladder and into an RCP pipe section, we walked along a flat walkway with channel to our left. We were soon greeted with an abundance of wildlife. Frogs sprang about at our feet and eels lay in channel.

After our short stop at the drain safari, we continued on attempting not to crush our newly found friends.

In some parts of the pipe, the calcium build up was thick, coating the walls and floors. I do like a nice bit of calcite formation!

From a wide pathway, it suddenly shrunk dropping into the channel to follow calcite coated pipe.

Ok, enough calcite. I don’t want to bore anyone. Turning another corner, a stretch of condensation covered pipe, each drop hanging from the ceiling like a jewel. Apologies for the singular shot, magical jewels are hard to shoot at the best of times!

After more trudging along the walkway, we finally reached the first chamber.

After a chill out headed into the smaller left hand pipe.

This was dry and led to a griddled infall in a nearby park and small Brook that would feed the drain when it overflowed but was equally as dry after the hot Summer.

Back into the chamber, we then headed into the inviting glow of the right pipe.

After a short while, the pipe turned.

And further on, we reached the first of many huge drop steps used to slow the flow of water heading back towards the chamber and outfall. The steps on the right lead to a manhole cover up to the surface.

And looking from the top down.

Heading on, the pipe reaches another small chamber and intersection off to the left.

The left hand pipe had the remnants of some lids in which had fallen and been washed in. The power of water.

Continuing on the course of the larger pipe, once again it took a turn to the left.

And we hit the second of the steps to slow the flow.

And the third.

At this point we’d already been in there 3 or 4 hours and walked a fair way through the system. Knowing the only options out were to try lids or walk back, we attempted a few lids but they were ceased shut. Equally, popping your head out of a manhole into an active road isn’t wise.

We headed back and with one last shot of the outfall, we climbed the ladder and sealed the bunker.

A small history:

The Bunker storm drain is located in the Southern area and constructed in the late 80s when Warrington itself was expanded as a town. Built for a ‘one in thirty’ immense storm, it spans some 3 miles, is mainly constructed of large RCP of 5-8 ft. whilst featuring multiple chambers and interesting details, eventually outfalling into the Manchester shipping canal.

The explore:

Visited with @Ferret, @scrappy, @Jonesey and my Mrs on a weekend in August. As we set out early from Ferrets’ gaff, within less than 5 minutes, we stopped with a flat tyre. After a quick tyre change from Scrappy as we stood and watched, we were back on the road.

After arriving, we geared up and after a quick recce on a known lid, we were into the outfall.

The photo above shows on the right hand side where water levels have once been, and as prior mentioned in the history, it’s certainly built for a hell of a storm, hence the name in the community.

As shown from the photo below of the outfall from the outsideshamelessly stolen from Google) this reinforces, excuse the pun, the name.

Heading down the ladder and into an RCP pipe section, we walked along a flat walkway with channel to our left. We were soon greeted with an abundance of wildlife. Frogs sprang about at our feet and eels lay in channel.

After our short stop at the drain safari, we continued on attempting not to crush our newly found friends.

In some parts of the pipe, the calcium build up was thick, coating the walls and floors. I do like a nice bit of calcite formation!

From a wide pathway, it suddenly shrunk dropping into the channel to follow calcite coated pipe.

Ok, enough calcite. I don’t want to bore anyone. Turning another corner, a stretch of condensation covered pipe, each drop hanging from the ceiling like a jewel. Apologies for the singular shot, magical jewels are hard to shoot at the best of times!

After more trudging along the walkway, we finally reached the first chamber.

After a chill out headed into the smaller left hand pipe.

This was dry and led to a griddled infall in a nearby park and small Brook that would feed the drain when it overflowed but was equally as dry after the hot Summer.

Back into the chamber, we then headed into the inviting glow of the right pipe.

After a short while, the pipe turned.

And further on, we reached the first of many huge drop steps used to slow the flow of water heading back towards the chamber and outfall. The steps on the right lead to a manhole cover up to the surface.

And looking from the top down.

Heading on, the pipe reaches another small chamber and intersection off to the left.

The left hand pipe had the remnants of some lids in which had fallen and been washed in. The power of water.

Continuing on the course of the larger pipe, once again it took a turn to the left.

And we hit the second of the steps to slow the flow.

And the third.

At this point we’d already been in there 3 or 4 hours and walked a fair way through the system. Knowing the only options out were to try lids or walk back, we attempted a few lids but they were ceased shut. Equally, popping your head out of a manhole into an active road isn’t wise.

We headed back and with one last shot of the outfall, we climbed the ladder and sealed the bunker.

Yeah its a pretty awesome subterranean storm drain explore gone wrong it did. Loved it until the place had a flash flood. Looks pretty dry when you did the photos. Had forgot about the eels frogs and huge moths till I saw your photos of the storm drain.
STORM DRAIN EXPLORE GONE WRONG

 

[chills]

Yeah its a pretty awesome subterranean storm drain explore gone wrong it did. Loved it until the place had a flash flood. Looks pretty dry when you did the photos. Had forgot about the eels frogs and huge moths till I saw your photos of the storm drain.
STORM DRAIN EXPLORE GONE WRONG

Drains are never dry. You clearly didn’t do any research or checks before entering otherwise that wouldn’t of happened. And as a note, hard hats will do fuck all in that situation.