I managed to take a little time out of the recent family holiday to check out this tunnel... By total coincidence it was located 3 minutes walk from our holiday cottage which to this day my wife thinks I did on purpose!
History
The St Lawrence tunnel was on the Ventnor West Branch line, and opened in 1897. It operated until the line was closed in 1952. Since its closure the tunnel was used as a mushroom farm for a number of years and since then, the northern part was used as a storage site. It now sits abandoned.
The explore
This was my first solo underground experience (I couldn't convince the wife and baby to come!). I started at the northern portal which I was surrounded by a large amount of junk (including a toilet) as well as being enclosed with the remnants of a poly tunnel (which I assume was related to the mushroom farm). Entering the tunnel, it was surprisingly dry, there was just an awful lot of stuff scattered around. Every few meters on the wall were telephones and light bulbs (again relating back to the mushroom farm). I had a minor freak out about half way down the tunnel when everything was silent apart from the rustling of the poly tunnel giving me a real sense that I wasn't alone. I pressed on, and eventually I saw some light poking around the corner which brought with it a mix of relief and sadness. It was a really great tunnel, but next time I shall insist the wife comes too!
Hope you enjoy the pics.
The southern dumping zone (portal)
Just stepping into the entrance
One of the mysterious phones/light bulbs
This excited me a lot! It was a bag of mushroom compost.
Approaching the southern portal
Southern portal exterior
Thanks for reading
Arbo
History
The St Lawrence tunnel was on the Ventnor West Branch line, and opened in 1897. It operated until the line was closed in 1952. Since its closure the tunnel was used as a mushroom farm for a number of years and since then, the northern part was used as a storage site. It now sits abandoned.
The explore
This was my first solo underground experience (I couldn't convince the wife and baby to come!). I started at the northern portal which I was surrounded by a large amount of junk (including a toilet) as well as being enclosed with the remnants of a poly tunnel (which I assume was related to the mushroom farm). Entering the tunnel, it was surprisingly dry, there was just an awful lot of stuff scattered around. Every few meters on the wall were telephones and light bulbs (again relating back to the mushroom farm). I had a minor freak out about half way down the tunnel when everything was silent apart from the rustling of the poly tunnel giving me a real sense that I wasn't alone. I pressed on, and eventually I saw some light poking around the corner which brought with it a mix of relief and sadness. It was a really great tunnel, but next time I shall insist the wife comes too!
Hope you enjoy the pics.
The southern dumping zone (portal)
Just stepping into the entrance
One of the mysterious phones/light bulbs
This excited me a lot! It was a bag of mushroom compost.
Approaching the southern portal
Southern portal exterior
Thanks for reading
Arbo
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and if it"s a badly sooted up one something better.
