It’s been a while since I have done a railway tunnel. So when Mookster posted this we went and had a look whilst in the area. Visited it with Man Gone Wrong and V50jake who we dragged along with us. We made the trek down the hill to it and found our way quickly inside the north portal end. It was really wet inside, and even though I had boots on I had to throw my socks away when we got back to the car. Luckily I had brought spare ones. Out of the few railway tunnels I have done this is up there with my favourite one which was Haddon. The calcite build up is quite something else, the further in we got it got a bit drier. Then when you get to the southern portal it gets very deep in water.
The railway which was part of three schemes to construct the Banbury and Cheltenham Direct Railway between 1855 and 1887. The final section of the route was started in 1875 and this would include the Chipping Norton tunnel. Lots of financial and contractor problems delayed the opening of the tunnel. It was eventually built at a length of 715 yards after having to change length several times. The tunnel has a slight bend at the southern end. The line had+a short life of 75 years and shut in December 1962.
The railway which was part of three schemes to construct the Banbury and Cheltenham Direct Railway between 1855 and 1887. The final section of the route was started in 1875 and this would include the Chipping Norton tunnel. Lots of financial and contractor problems delayed the opening of the tunnel. It was eventually built at a length of 715 yards after having to change length several times. The tunnel has a slight bend at the southern end. The line had+a short life of 75 years and shut in December 1962.
