Today I decided to pay darkies tunnel a visit with two non 28D members. I don’t have any pictures of the end as sadly my phone battery got too low, but I thought what I had was still worthy of a report.
Darkies tunnel (otherwise know as devonport and ford) is two disused railway tunnels that made up the London and South Western Railway line. The tunnels were built in the late 1800's. The line was used to continue out from the Northern end of Ford tunnel, across Ford viaduct (which was destroyed in the 1980’s) through to Western Mill and St Budeaux before heading along the Tamar to Lydford via Tavistock. As competing railway companies merged, the line closed in the 1960’s, and the newer Great Western Railway route was adopted. The only things left within the tunnel now is a single sewer pipe (hence the raised bank) and a few piles of litter which boneidle yobs have left there.
So now for a bit about the explore. When I got here today I was surprised to see that they’ve actually made access a lot harder than what it use to be. There is now a row of fences, the first one being the newer one which is large and made of steel. Then the second one which was quite small and presented no problems just climbing over. Thankfully, like most other places in Plymouth the attempt at stopping acces was very much half-assed as there is a path down a bank on the other side of the road which can take you past the first fence.
Darkies tunnels is an interesting place and good for a stroll but my god it stunk like shit. ( I guess that’s to be expected when there’s a sewer pipe there though).
First of a few external shots (can see the steel fence)
The path down the bank taking us past the first fence.
The next fence.
And we’re in! Shot looking out the tunnel
Looking down the tunnel.
Some dodgy items. Things like this are every where at the beginning of the tunnel but after the first 15 metres ish they dissapear.
There’s quite a few of these things there. I can’t remember what they’re called though.
Shot looking down the tunnel.
And that’s about all the photos I’ve got. After this point my phone battery became too low but there are plenty of other things further down to see.
This is only my second report so I’m still learning the best way to write them, so any tips would be appreciated.
Thanks for reading
Darkies tunnel (otherwise know as devonport and ford) is two disused railway tunnels that made up the London and South Western Railway line. The tunnels were built in the late 1800's. The line was used to continue out from the Northern end of Ford tunnel, across Ford viaduct (which was destroyed in the 1980’s) through to Western Mill and St Budeaux before heading along the Tamar to Lydford via Tavistock. As competing railway companies merged, the line closed in the 1960’s, and the newer Great Western Railway route was adopted. The only things left within the tunnel now is a single sewer pipe (hence the raised bank) and a few piles of litter which boneidle yobs have left there.
So now for a bit about the explore. When I got here today I was surprised to see that they’ve actually made access a lot harder than what it use to be. There is now a row of fences, the first one being the newer one which is large and made of steel. Then the second one which was quite small and presented no problems just climbing over. Thankfully, like most other places in Plymouth the attempt at stopping acces was very much half-assed as there is a path down a bank on the other side of the road which can take you past the first fence.
Darkies tunnels is an interesting place and good for a stroll but my god it stunk like shit. ( I guess that’s to be expected when there’s a sewer pipe there though).
First of a few external shots (can see the steel fence)
The path down the bank taking us past the first fence.
The next fence.
And we’re in! Shot looking out the tunnel
Looking down the tunnel.
Some dodgy items. Things like this are every where at the beginning of the tunnel but after the first 15 metres ish they dissapear.
There’s quite a few of these things there. I can’t remember what they’re called though.
Shot looking down the tunnel.
And that’s about all the photos I’ve got. After this point my phone battery became too low but there are plenty of other things further down to see.
This is only my second report so I’m still learning the best way to write them, so any tips would be appreciated.
Thanks for reading
