Gomersal Tunnel - 819yards
Built in 1899 and opened to rail traffic on the 1st October 1900 Gomersal Tunnel is 819 yards in length built using engineering blue bricks with stone portals it was on the former section of route between Farnley Junction and Cleckheaton Spen part of the “Leeds New Line” first cut by the The Heaton Lodge and Wortley Railway later being dissolved into the London & North Western Railway after nationalistion it became known as the “Spen Line” , above the tunnel lies a public house called the “Mutton Pub” which was purchased by LNWR during construction as it was feared it may collapse or fall into the tunnel workings due to its close proximity! As the story goes even today when the draymen use the barrel delivery chutes echos can be heard within the tunnel and so it’s told the vibrations are felt in the cottage next door, passenger services finally ceased in the late 1950s with a full closure in stages, Farnley Junction to Cleckheaton Spen was deemed surplus to requirements in 1965 although the section to Liversedge Spen was maintain until 1966, after the new spur was commissioned on the L&Y line at Heckmondwike it brought the unfortunate closure on the 11th January and so with it the closure of Gomersal Tunnel and Gildersome Tunnel also part of the same route. Gomersal Tunnel is of an “S” shape construction with a single air shaft towards the middle, water courses have been altered to allow drainage into the western portal resulting in some deep standing water during rainy seasons. The brick staircase at the western portal was built when Railtrack & Kirkless Council planned to infilled the tunnels western end which would’ve allowed for annual inspections however this was abandoned in 1997 before completion and any spoil was then removed again leaving the staircase to stand dormant, as time goes by the ground slowly erodes underneath which in a few years should see the structure fail. Inside Gomersal its really good condition nothing major to report, the eastern end is well surrounded by houses high up above the stone walled cutting most if not all gardens overlook the portal, access has been created off a cul-de-sac which is a lot easier in terms of access for inspections then the western end.
Thanks for looking, See you all on the next one!
Built in 1899 and opened to rail traffic on the 1st October 1900 Gomersal Tunnel is 819 yards in length built using engineering blue bricks with stone portals it was on the former section of route between Farnley Junction and Cleckheaton Spen part of the “Leeds New Line” first cut by the The Heaton Lodge and Wortley Railway later being dissolved into the London & North Western Railway after nationalistion it became known as the “Spen Line” , above the tunnel lies a public house called the “Mutton Pub” which was purchased by LNWR during construction as it was feared it may collapse or fall into the tunnel workings due to its close proximity! As the story goes even today when the draymen use the barrel delivery chutes echos can be heard within the tunnel and so it’s told the vibrations are felt in the cottage next door, passenger services finally ceased in the late 1950s with a full closure in stages, Farnley Junction to Cleckheaton Spen was deemed surplus to requirements in 1965 although the section to Liversedge Spen was maintain until 1966, after the new spur was commissioned on the L&Y line at Heckmondwike it brought the unfortunate closure on the 11th January and so with it the closure of Gomersal Tunnel and Gildersome Tunnel also part of the same route. Gomersal Tunnel is of an “S” shape construction with a single air shaft towards the middle, water courses have been altered to allow drainage into the western portal resulting in some deep standing water during rainy seasons. The brick staircase at the western portal was built when Railtrack & Kirkless Council planned to infilled the tunnels western end which would’ve allowed for annual inspections however this was abandoned in 1997 before completion and any spoil was then removed again leaving the staircase to stand dormant, as time goes by the ground slowly erodes underneath which in a few years should see the structure fail. Inside Gomersal its really good condition nothing major to report, the eastern end is well surrounded by houses high up above the stone walled cutting most if not all gardens overlook the portal, access has been created off a cul-de-sac which is a lot easier in terms of access for inspections then the western end.
Thanks for looking, See you all on the next one!
I enjoy what I do, I’m thinking of becoming the “Tunnel Oracle”
haha.
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