Wheatley Tunnel - 819yds.
Explored August 2021.
^^^^Above image shows the track alignment (Highlighted “Wheatley Tunnel“ with a blue line)
Constructed in 1890 Wheatley Tunnel is 819 yards in length and was located on the 3 mile spur from Holmfield junction immediately south of Holmfield station to St Pauls Station Via Pellon. Opened by the Halifax High Level Railway Company, The company was taken over jointly by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway& the Great Northern Railway in 1894, The branch opened on the 1st August 1890 between Holmfield & Pellon for goods and the 5th September 1890 between Holmfield & St Pauls for passengers, this branch joined the Queensbury - Halifax line at Holmfield Junction, there were two notable structures on the branch line to St Paul’s, one being Wheatley Viaduct a structure of 10 arches and the 819 yard Wheatley Tunnel, The inaugural passenger service ran on Thursday 4th September 1890 although goods had been carried as far as Pellon (the only intermediate station) since 1st August. Running northbound, it stopped at the tunnel's western entrance to allow Mrs Booth, the Mayoress to unlock the gates with a silver key, There was much rejoicing this was however short-lived as the passenger service linking the higher and lower parts of Halifax lasted only 26 years ending on 1st January 1917, Goods trains continued to shuttle back and forth until 25th June 1960. Now standing dormant the tunnels eastern portal has been infilled with access only possible via a manhole in the nearby school playground! The western entrance resides in a deep cutting dominated by a huge retaining wall on the northern side constructed of stone and a steep woodland embankment to the south, the portal has been sealed using a stone wall and a set of heavy duty steel gates absolutely covered in anti climb paint, inside the tunnel its dark, damp and suffers from years of neglect, refuges are plentiful lining both sides some have been sealed using concrete blocks in attempts to prevent further decay, lots of spalling brickwork although the curve of the crown is simply stunning, there’s a single ventilation shaft 520yds from the west end, the ventilation shaft emerges to the east of Cousin Lane as a square brick tower, Telegraph cables were carried on the south side wall and many of their insulated mounting arms remain in situ, beyond that a familiar orange sludge appears shortly before the infilled eastern portal a well trodden path leads to the inspection shaft entrance, looking up the access chamber the manhole cover was visible however was securely locked, Luckily on my visit the gates at the west end were open which made for easy access, Another tunnel visited from the “Queensbury Lines” only a couple outstanding now. Thanks for looking!
^^^^Above image shows the basic layout of the “Queensbury Lines” and the position of Wheatley Tunnel on the short branch to St Paul’s.
Thanks For Looking,
Sorry it’s taken ages to upload! ( Wheatley was visited by a good friend yesterday and the gates are still open for anyone looking to visit this tunnel) .
Explored August 2021.
^^^^Above image shows the track alignment (Highlighted “Wheatley Tunnel“ with a blue line)
Constructed in 1890 Wheatley Tunnel is 819 yards in length and was located on the 3 mile spur from Holmfield junction immediately south of Holmfield station to St Pauls Station Via Pellon. Opened by the Halifax High Level Railway Company, The company was taken over jointly by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway& the Great Northern Railway in 1894, The branch opened on the 1st August 1890 between Holmfield & Pellon for goods and the 5th September 1890 between Holmfield & St Pauls for passengers, this branch joined the Queensbury - Halifax line at Holmfield Junction, there were two notable structures on the branch line to St Paul’s, one being Wheatley Viaduct a structure of 10 arches and the 819 yard Wheatley Tunnel, The inaugural passenger service ran on Thursday 4th September 1890 although goods had been carried as far as Pellon (the only intermediate station) since 1st August. Running northbound, it stopped at the tunnel's western entrance to allow Mrs Booth, the Mayoress to unlock the gates with a silver key, There was much rejoicing this was however short-lived as the passenger service linking the higher and lower parts of Halifax lasted only 26 years ending on 1st January 1917, Goods trains continued to shuttle back and forth until 25th June 1960. Now standing dormant the tunnels eastern portal has been infilled with access only possible via a manhole in the nearby school playground! The western entrance resides in a deep cutting dominated by a huge retaining wall on the northern side constructed of stone and a steep woodland embankment to the south, the portal has been sealed using a stone wall and a set of heavy duty steel gates absolutely covered in anti climb paint, inside the tunnel its dark, damp and suffers from years of neglect, refuges are plentiful lining both sides some have been sealed using concrete blocks in attempts to prevent further decay, lots of spalling brickwork although the curve of the crown is simply stunning, there’s a single ventilation shaft 520yds from the west end, the ventilation shaft emerges to the east of Cousin Lane as a square brick tower, Telegraph cables were carried on the south side wall and many of their insulated mounting arms remain in situ, beyond that a familiar orange sludge appears shortly before the infilled eastern portal a well trodden path leads to the inspection shaft entrance, looking up the access chamber the manhole cover was visible however was securely locked, Luckily on my visit the gates at the west end were open which made for easy access, Another tunnel visited from the “Queensbury Lines” only a couple outstanding now. Thanks for looking!
^^^^Above image shows the basic layout of the “Queensbury Lines” and the position of Wheatley Tunnel on the short branch to St Paul’s.
Thanks For Looking,
Sorry it’s taken ages to upload! ( Wheatley was visited by a good friend yesterday and the gates are still open for anyone looking to visit this tunnel) .
