Report - Glenfarg rail tunnels, Perthshire

[DaveFM]

Glenfarg rail tunnels consist of two tunnels just over 500 yards long each on the old southbound (to Edinburgh) line from Glenfarg. Closed in 1970, the southern tunnel is all concrete lined while the north tunnel is a mix of concrete walls and mostly brick roof. All traces of track and sleepers are gone and the tunnels are largely very dry (especially the south tunnel, the floor is dust in most places) with just a few drips here and there, no mud whatsoever though there are muddy areas just outside the tunnels. The south tunnel seemed brighter - wasn't in proper darkness even halfway through, I don't know if there is any real difference or whether the fading afternoon light made the north tunnel seem darker, it was pitch darkness deep inside. No air shafts in either tunnel but both have many arched refuges at intervals, built of stone with the bedrock visible inside, the tunnels were draughty and quite cold at this time of year. I thought this would be a fairly brief explore but was surprised to see I'd been several hours in the tunnels, time tends to fly underground also the walk between the tunnels is longer than I'd expected. Looks like a landslip must have occurred to the north of the south tunnel ( the line is engineered into a hillside with ground dropping away steeply to the west), the old trackbed suddenly dips down steeply (by rail standards) and then rises back to the level, this couldn't have been present when trains were running as the effect would have felt like a rollercoaster to people on the train.

Concrete lined south tunnel

North tunnel with concrete wall/brick roof

Access point off the B996 Glenfarg Road.

South tunnel, looking northeast.

End of the north tunnel, there's a degree of graffiti in these tunnels but its not excessive.

Looking north from outside the north portal of south tunnel, a small viaduct was built to carry a farm track across the cutting.

 

[MrDevla]

It looks like the car which was at one of the portals has now been removed. I went a few years back and there wasn’t a great deal left of it. Otherwise it’s a nice walk in a pretty part of the world and thanks for sharing.

 

[jezzyboo]

nice to see tunnels in such good condition

 

[DaveFM]

It looks like the car which was at one of the portals has now been removed. I went a few years back and there wasn’t a great deal left of it. Otherwise it’s a nice walk in a pretty part of the world and thanks for sharing.

Thanks, the car is still there but in a severely degraded state from pictures of it a few years ago, just collapsed heap of rust now.

 

[DaveFM]

nice to see tunnels in such good condition

Its quite a remote and not very easy place to access, also the tunnels are completely out of sight from the road, you would not likely just stumble across them.

 

[Alan Mckeeve]

Glenfarg rail tunnels consist of two tunnels just over 500 yards long each on the old southbound (to Edinburgh) line from Glenfarg. Closed in 1970, the southern tunnel is all concrete lined while the north tunnel is a mix of concrete walls and mostly brick roof. All traces of track and sleepers are gone and the tunnels are largely very dry (especially the south tunnel, the floor is dust in most places) with just a few drips here and there, no mud whatsoever though there are muddy areas just outside the tunnels. The south tunnel seemed brighter - wasn't in proper darkness even halfway through, I don't know if there is any real difference or whether the fading afternoon light made the north tunnel seem darker, it was pitch darkness deep inside. No air shafts in either tunnel but both have many arched refuges at intervals, built of stone with the bedrock visible inside, the tunnels were draughty and quite cold at this time of year. I thought this would be a fairly brief explore but was surprised to see I'd been several hours in the tunnels, time tends to fly underground also the walk between the tunnels is longer than I'd expected. Looks like a landslip must have occurred to the north of the south tunnel ( the line is engineered into a hillside with ground dropping away steeply to the west), the old trackbed suddenly dips down steeply (by rail standards) and then rises back to the level, this couldn't have been present when trains were running as the effect would have felt like a rollercoaster to people on the train.

Concrete lined south tunnel

North tunnel with concrete wall/brick roof

Access point off the B996 Glenfarg Road.

South tunnel, looking northeast.

End of the north tunnel, there's a degree of graffiti in these tunnels but its not excessive.

Looking north from outside the north portal of south tunnel, a small viaduct was built to carry a farm track across the cutting.

The cars were an Astra and a Cavalier, they were burned out a long time ago. I have driven through the tunnels but that was about thirty years ago. The road at the north end was open and lots of cars would be parked on the track over the viaduct, it used to be a rest and meeting place for a lot of traveling salesmen. I think it was closed because of the car burning problems.