Morlais Rail Tunnel, Pant, Methyr Tydfil - July 2023
Seems done to death on here but a fairly pleasant little explore, with the open vent shafts and burnt cars making for some nice points of interest. Another explore with
@YaHBo!Moh and another.
A Brief History
Morlais Tunnel first came into service in June 1879, for the use of passenger trains operated by London and North Western serving Methyr Tydfil. Two tracks ran through the tunnel at a length of 1,037 yards, with the deepest point lying 80 feet below ground. Three ventilation shafts punctuate the top of the tunnel, the listed surface buildings of which can all be seen walking down the road past the still-operational Brecon Moutain Railway. Closure for the tunnel came in January 1958, and both portals were ultimately bricked over. 6 now burnt-out cars reside in the tunnel.
Train exiting Morlais Tunnel heading towards Methyr Station, date unknown.
The Explore
Parking near the town, a brief ramble through the woodlands took us to the upper ledge of one of the portals. After a brief scramble down the side, access became immediately obvious - there had clearly been an effort to brick over the entrance an install a steel security door, which seemed to be serving its purpose as it still remained locked (and likely corroded shut) within its door frame. The door frame, however, was now freestanding in a fairly neat hole that had been carved out of the surrounding brickwork. Within the entrance a flooded section presented itself, however this was easily passed with somewhat dry feet by the means of stepping stones which had been laid out by previous visitors.
The tunnel entrance, set around a still-surviving steel door barricaded with a comically ineffective boulder.
The tunnel itself was about as expected - nearly a mile of brickwork and alcoves into natural rock, with rather beautiful puddles of light under the ventilation shafts. Some areas featured mild precipitation from the roof of the tunnel, and it was interesting to note that the water seemed to have channeled out a rather substantial underground stream in some of the wetter areas.
One of the less corroded cars.
Venturing into the darkness.
Excuse the tucked socks - nobody likes wet trousers.
Coming to the end of the tunnel we were faced with a rancid looking pool which seemed to be used as some sort of local dumping ground. Although an attempt was made to cross on the various detritus that littered the water, it transpired that nobody really wanted to take the risk of slipping off and getting soaked, so we headed back to our initial entry point.
