Sidedraught Induction, Manchester
January 2015 - Explored with Ojay, ViralEye, Nickindroy and Squirrell911
This was the final section of culvert on my to do list before ticking off Gore Brook as 'all done'. After a comedy entry under the grille that guards the infall the RCP soon gives way to a brick arch with a central channel providing a dry path on each side of the water. As the floor levels out the drain splits into two smaller arches at what looks like Gortons underground branch of Toys R Us. Taking the right hand side leads us to a manhole chamber off to the side and several very wet leaky shafts in the roof of the arch before the two tunnels rejoin back into a single large arch section.
Soon we arrive at the best bit, a massive two level CSO chamber beyond a short RCP off to the side. On the top level built above the main sewer are two rusty control wheels for the massive iron penstocks below for controlling the flow of Manchesters finest fresh soup. Ojay and Squirrell kindly clambered down to open the rag infested hatch so the more unfit among us (yes, me!) could get down below into the river of shit.
Back into the main culvert again bring us to the final section towards the outfall, the floor littered with big holes that many people before us have taken a tumble down, thankfully nobody fell in this time.
A few construction photos from 1914...
...and this is how it looks 101 years later......
January 2015 - Explored with Ojay, ViralEye, Nickindroy and Squirrell911
This was the final section of culvert on my to do list before ticking off Gore Brook as 'all done'. After a comedy entry under the grille that guards the infall the RCP soon gives way to a brick arch with a central channel providing a dry path on each side of the water. As the floor levels out the drain splits into two smaller arches at what looks like Gortons underground branch of Toys R Us. Taking the right hand side leads us to a manhole chamber off to the side and several very wet leaky shafts in the roof of the arch before the two tunnels rejoin back into a single large arch section.
Soon we arrive at the best bit, a massive two level CSO chamber beyond a short RCP off to the side. On the top level built above the main sewer are two rusty control wheels for the massive iron penstocks below for controlling the flow of Manchesters finest fresh soup. Ojay and Squirrell kindly clambered down to open the rag infested hatch so the more unfit among us (yes, me!) could get down below into the river of shit.
Back into the main culvert again bring us to the final section towards the outfall, the floor littered with big holes that many people before us have taken a tumble down, thankfully nobody fell in this time.
A few construction photos from 1914...
...and this is how it looks 101 years later......