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Report - - Horspath Railway Tunnel - September 2022 | Underground Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Horspath Railway Tunnel - September 2022

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Tunnel Gricer

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Horspath Tunnel - 520yds.


The railway from Princes Risborough to Oxford was authorized in 1861 and construction of the broad gauge line was started by the Wycombe Railway immediately. In 1867 the Wycombe Railway was absorbed into the Great Western Railway and three years later work started on converting the whole line to standard gauge, necessitating the closure of the whole line for just over a week.

Horspath Tunnel which carried the railway line through Shotover Hill (520 yards) is single track with a double curve in it, the centre being out of sight of both entrances, the abandoned tunnel subsequently proved a popular venue for illegal raves in the 1980s / 1990s, as well as a popular roost for bats in 2002/ 2003 the tunnel was taken over by Oxfordshire County Council and formally turned into a bat hibernaculum, or winter hibernating refuge. Five species of bats, Daubenton’s, Brown Long-Eared, Natterer’s, Brandt’s, and Whiskered, are said to use the tunnel. What I found interesting about this particular tunnel there’s lots of rumors surrounding it’s poor condition inside which many believe brought about the lines closure and also prevents access to monitor the bats of which live inside the tunnel which brought an abrupt end to the project started back in 2002, upon initial inspection the tunnel is in great condition no obvious signs of decay, spalling or potential collapses also worth mentioning not a single bat was to be seen inside.. a large collection of bat boxes decorate the inside walls and refuges all minus any form of habitants, theres a nice array of colours from calcite deposits, the roof mostly covered in soot from times gone by. Both portals have access hatches built into a otherwise well fortified barricade of breeze blocks and steel bars. The tunnel is mostly of brick construction although some sections of stone masonry are evident there’s also a couple sections of lining which are at different depths / gauges which can be seen in the images. The eastern portal is hidden in dense woodland just off a trail a short walk from the nearest road in contrast the western portal resides in a wildlife conservation area looked after by keen locals I would guess this to be the end that is chosen for any access arrangements to the tunnel. A very easy, enjoyable explore was a huge relief to actually gain access through a gap in the steel bars having driven some considerable miles I did tie this one which two other tunnels as I do with most my adventures.

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Above: The Eastern Portal.
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Below: The Western Portal.
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Thanks for looking.
Explored September 2022.​
 

Down and beyond

The true source of englands wealth is coal
Regular User
Invested in some new batteries for the old torch! Although I suspect the torch itself is getting abit worn out started to flicker occasionally..
Nice work mate it has light the tunnel up to a very high standard ! They are some crisp photos I must say
 

mookster

grumpy sod
Regular User
Nice one, as an Oxford local I've known about this tunnel for a long time but the whole bat habitat dealy put me off trying it tbh.
 

Tunnel Gricer

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Nice one, as an Oxford local I've known about this tunnel for a long time but the whole bat habitat dealy put me off trying it tbh.
Thanks mookster, I spent a good few hours inside the tunnel and unfortunately didn’t see any signs of bat habitants despite all the references to them being in the tunnel… perhaps they were all on vacation I don’t know..
 

Tunnel Gricer

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Cracking photos mate. 20mins up the road and I never knew this 1 existed!. Will have to take a look at some point.
Thanks mate, It’s a steady one this bit of a climb to get in but once in its plain sailing, (Eastern portal is the access point for reference) I parked up the Littleworth Village end then walked back towards the tunnel through Littleworth Nature Reserve was easy to navigate having looked at NLS maps prior.
 

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