Moseley Green Tunnel (503 Yards) Severn & Wye Rly.
Opened 1872 - Closed 1951
The Severn & Wye Railway was authorised by an Act of Parliament in 1809 and opened the following year as a horse-drawn tramway. In 1865 five locomotives were purchased and the route was mostly converted to broad gauge during 1868 - 1869 and then to standard gauge in 1872.
During 1872 a Mineral Loop was added to avoid the need for reversals at Cinderford, the section between New Fancy Colliery and Pillowell Siding incorporated a 503 yard single track tunnel at Moseley Green, The tunnel was requisitioned as an ammunition store between April 1942 and December 1943 during which time some brick buildings were built outside the southern portal the following text helps explain “The little 'sheds' in front of the tunnel were built by the Ministry of Supply in 1940 ish as a guard hut and small canteen for the men working there storing ammunition in the tunnel.....this only lasted a few months though because further up the track (on through the tunnel) was one of the biggest above ground ammo dumps in the UK and the blocking of the tunnel to store more ammo was making the operation of the big dump at Acorn Patch a hassle so the tunnel was emptied and brought back into use”.
Moseley Green Tunnel was completely closed to traffic on 13th March 1951. In the Seventies a short section of the tunnel near its centre was strengthened with rail and timber bracing to help it withstand the forces from traffic passing on Parkend road above, this has though been previously fire-damaged so its effectiveness might have been somewhat compromised. Moseley Green sits alongside the Severn and Wye Joint Railway’s Mineral Loop which closed in the 1950s, It is just north of the northern portal of the 503yd Moseley Green Tunnel, in reports elsewhere it’s stated “The tunnel must have been a nightmare for engine drivers, the rising grade of 1in 40 would have placed significant demands on the Pannier 0-6-0s in use in the forest, particularly when pulling a full load of coal or mineral wagons”.
The tunnel is constructed of stone masonry throughout with the lower walls being partially dressed compared to the uniformed upper / roof sections, three ventilation shifts remain two have been capped one near the road remains open, the shaft bases appear an unusual shape not the typical construction you’d expect, the wooden bracing fitted in the 1970s remains partially intact although several of the wooden beams have fallen away leaving the cast iron rings almost free standing, a very heavy smell of oil / soot around this area too, the fire damage mentioned above is also evident. A section of the roof immediately south of the supports is showing some serious decay with substantial voids visible through the stone work quite alarming upon inspection. Mostly dry throughout its length despite the waterlogged quagmire at its north end, the odd splash of iron deposits breaks up the otherwise grey stone walls. On visiting the south portal some recent tree felling has taken place although unsure on the reason why, the portal here is totally sealed however it’s appears individuals have tried chiselling holes in the walls, the only access is via a normally sealed access door at the north portal. Visiting Moseley Green Tunnel now concludes my Forest of Dean adventure with all disused railway tunnels having been visited.
*Worth noting the door has since been padlocked shut.
Visited 2024.
Thanks for looking 😀.
Opened 1872 - Closed 1951
The Severn & Wye Railway was authorised by an Act of Parliament in 1809 and opened the following year as a horse-drawn tramway. In 1865 five locomotives were purchased and the route was mostly converted to broad gauge during 1868 - 1869 and then to standard gauge in 1872.
During 1872 a Mineral Loop was added to avoid the need for reversals at Cinderford, the section between New Fancy Colliery and Pillowell Siding incorporated a 503 yard single track tunnel at Moseley Green, The tunnel was requisitioned as an ammunition store between April 1942 and December 1943 during which time some brick buildings were built outside the southern portal the following text helps explain “The little 'sheds' in front of the tunnel were built by the Ministry of Supply in 1940 ish as a guard hut and small canteen for the men working there storing ammunition in the tunnel.....this only lasted a few months though because further up the track (on through the tunnel) was one of the biggest above ground ammo dumps in the UK and the blocking of the tunnel to store more ammo was making the operation of the big dump at Acorn Patch a hassle so the tunnel was emptied and brought back into use”.
Moseley Green Tunnel was completely closed to traffic on 13th March 1951. In the Seventies a short section of the tunnel near its centre was strengthened with rail and timber bracing to help it withstand the forces from traffic passing on Parkend road above, this has though been previously fire-damaged so its effectiveness might have been somewhat compromised. Moseley Green sits alongside the Severn and Wye Joint Railway’s Mineral Loop which closed in the 1950s, It is just north of the northern portal of the 503yd Moseley Green Tunnel, in reports elsewhere it’s stated “The tunnel must have been a nightmare for engine drivers, the rising grade of 1in 40 would have placed significant demands on the Pannier 0-6-0s in use in the forest, particularly when pulling a full load of coal or mineral wagons”.
The tunnel is constructed of stone masonry throughout with the lower walls being partially dressed compared to the uniformed upper / roof sections, three ventilation shifts remain two have been capped one near the road remains open, the shaft bases appear an unusual shape not the typical construction you’d expect, the wooden bracing fitted in the 1970s remains partially intact although several of the wooden beams have fallen away leaving the cast iron rings almost free standing, a very heavy smell of oil / soot around this area too, the fire damage mentioned above is also evident. A section of the roof immediately south of the supports is showing some serious decay with substantial voids visible through the stone work quite alarming upon inspection. Mostly dry throughout its length despite the waterlogged quagmire at its north end, the odd splash of iron deposits breaks up the otherwise grey stone walls. On visiting the south portal some recent tree felling has taken place although unsure on the reason why, the portal here is totally sealed however it’s appears individuals have tried chiselling holes in the walls, the only access is via a normally sealed access door at the north portal. Visiting Moseley Green Tunnel now concludes my Forest of Dean adventure with all disused railway tunnels having been visited.
*Worth noting the door has since been padlocked shut.
Visited 2024.
Thanks for looking 😀.
(awesome report too bro)
