First time exploring in the UK since 2016... it's good to be back after being in Asia for approaching 6 years. How time flies.
Killing several birds with the proverbial stone, I found myself back in the UK for just over two weeks and have since returned to Taiwan. As I did in my previous reports, I have decided to merge the three sites into one so as to save time writing reports one by one. I didn't have any plans to do any real epic sites, rather my desire was to scratch some itches that have been bugging me in recent years. Side missions, if one were to use a video game analogy. Likewise, at least in the case of Chipping Norton and Watlington, they've always been around and although they progressively decay, nobody has any initiative to demolish them so they won't be going anywhere. No rush to see them, but if one feels the urge to go then off I go. As for Moreton, that's always been around but it's quite incredible to see how the props on the incident ground change over the years. I was looking at videos on YouTube and Google Maps and noticed some unidentified aircraft which had appeared recently, and so I contacted CookieRaider to go out there and see what they were.
Chipping Norton Railway tunnel
Closed since 1962, I've known about this for many years. I did actually go to Chipping Norton in 2013 to look at this tunnel, check out the War Memorial Hospital and look at the-then recently closed school at Penhurst, but this was a failed trip. The hospital was locked up tight along with Penhurst, and although it's so close to the road, the south portal of the tunnel was so deeply hidden in a cutting that I never found it. Likewise, the northern portal was impossible to find without the aid of Google Maps on a phone, so it was a wasted trip. I assumed it was locked anyway so I left it for years.
Fast forward to 2022, and here we are. With the help of coordinates posted online and a dog walker, we found the south portal. Instantly we see the signs which of all things, said Danger: Risk of drowning. An exaggeration for sure, but since the road bridge had been infilled after closure, this means rainwater has pooled and flooded the southern entrance. It's simply too flooded to get anywhere close to it without boots.
Though I nearly did Yelverton in Devon in 2010, I can't understand why I've never done a disused railway tunnel in the UK. I walked the entire length of the disused Old Mountain Line (舊山線鐵路) in Taiwan including its five or so tunnels, but all are made of reinforced concrete with little architectural appeal. I suppose it's more of a niche appeal like Victorian drains, but being inside one develops a real appreciation for the magnificent brickwork and unique decay that forms over time. Also of note is the sense of atmosphere you get inside the tunnels; the sound of rushing water, the damp but freezing cold air clinging to your skin, it's an experience that cannot be captured on any medium.
Taken at the southern end of the portal, this is as close as you can get to the entrance without being too deep in the water.
Moving back towards the northern portal, the varying states of decay on the walls are pretty fascinating to observe.
Wishful thinking, but I like to imagine that the black stains on the roof are from the lingering soot of steam trains which flew through here over 60 years ago.
A stunning contrast in decay; immaculate brickwork on the left, and a wall painted with calcite formations on the right.
Killing several birds with the proverbial stone, I found myself back in the UK for just over two weeks and have since returned to Taiwan. As I did in my previous reports, I have decided to merge the three sites into one so as to save time writing reports one by one. I didn't have any plans to do any real epic sites, rather my desire was to scratch some itches that have been bugging me in recent years. Side missions, if one were to use a video game analogy. Likewise, at least in the case of Chipping Norton and Watlington, they've always been around and although they progressively decay, nobody has any initiative to demolish them so they won't be going anywhere. No rush to see them, but if one feels the urge to go then off I go. As for Moreton, that's always been around but it's quite incredible to see how the props on the incident ground change over the years. I was looking at videos on YouTube and Google Maps and noticed some unidentified aircraft which had appeared recently, and so I contacted CookieRaider to go out there and see what they were.
Chipping Norton Railway tunnel
Closed since 1962, I've known about this for many years. I did actually go to Chipping Norton in 2013 to look at this tunnel, check out the War Memorial Hospital and look at the-then recently closed school at Penhurst, but this was a failed trip. The hospital was locked up tight along with Penhurst, and although it's so close to the road, the south portal of the tunnel was so deeply hidden in a cutting that I never found it. Likewise, the northern portal was impossible to find without the aid of Google Maps on a phone, so it was a wasted trip. I assumed it was locked anyway so I left it for years.
Fast forward to 2022, and here we are. With the help of coordinates posted online and a dog walker, we found the south portal. Instantly we see the signs which of all things, said Danger: Risk of drowning. An exaggeration for sure, but since the road bridge had been infilled after closure, this means rainwater has pooled and flooded the southern entrance. It's simply too flooded to get anywhere close to it without boots.
Though I nearly did Yelverton in Devon in 2010, I can't understand why I've never done a disused railway tunnel in the UK. I walked the entire length of the disused Old Mountain Line (舊山線鐵路) in Taiwan including its five or so tunnels, but all are made of reinforced concrete with little architectural appeal. I suppose it's more of a niche appeal like Victorian drains, but being inside one develops a real appreciation for the magnificent brickwork and unique decay that forms over time. Also of note is the sense of atmosphere you get inside the tunnels; the sound of rushing water, the damp but freezing cold air clinging to your skin, it's an experience that cannot be captured on any medium.
Taken at the southern end of the portal, this is as close as you can get to the entrance without being too deep in the water.
Moving back towards the northern portal, the varying states of decay on the walls are pretty fascinating to observe.
Wishful thinking, but I like to imagine that the black stains on the roof are from the lingering soot of steam trains which flew through here over 60 years ago.
A stunning contrast in decay; immaculate brickwork on the left, and a wall painted with calcite formations on the right.
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