1. The History
Great Northern and Midland railways securied Parliamentary approval for a new railway line from Newark to Melton Mowbray in 1872. The following year, a further section was authorised, extending the route south-wards to meet the Rugby-Luffenham line. The result was GN and L&NW came together to construct a 34-mile north-south Joint Line between Welham and Bottesford. The line finally became operational on 15th December 1879.
Two tunnels had to be completed to make the new link a reality. At 834 yards in length, the longer of the two tunnels was the one located just south of Long Clawson Station, officially named Hose tunnel. Benton & Woodiwiss were contracted to build the tunnel. Tragically on the evening of Saturday 14th October 1876 three men lost their lives while working on the tunnel’s construction. They were at one of the construction shafts at the northern end of the tunnel. The eight-man gang were working at the Bottesford face of the heading blasting through the hard clay at a rate of approximately one yard per day. Blasting operations usually took place twice during each of the two daily shifts. At 9.30, by the light of three candles, Samuel Longman attempted to charge a hole with gunpowder. He managed to strike his container against some projecting earth, scattered the gunpowder on the floor. It was ignited by one of the candles causing the 8lbs of gunpowder to explode. He and his two co-workers died. Tragedy struck again on 26th June 1878 when a young brakes-man was killed when he was run over by a wagon, 200 yards into the tunnel.
Once regular passenger services were introduced along the route, they were never well patronized. They ceased in December 1953 but goods traffic continued until the section was closed in September 1964.
2. The Explore
Relaxed mooch this one. Just up the road from Lion Brick Works in Scalford, so really should have taken this place in when I explored the works last time I was over this way. Parking up on Landyke Road, I approached the tunnel from the south. Access was easy but the turf was a bit on the sodden side! Again pushed for time, I didn’t walk the full length of the tunnel and hence missed out on seeing the impressive north entrance of the tunnel. The tunnel itself is in good nick and very clean and dry on the inside. Definitely worth an hour of my time on a relatively mild February afternoon.
3. The Pictures
My quarry comes into sight:
img8909 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Nature’s Heras Fence!
img8910 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8911 by HughieDW, on Flickr
In we go:
img8915 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8953 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Light at the end of the proverbial…
img8925 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Refuge hole;
img8917 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8921 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8924 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Leaching through the tunnel wall…
img8928 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Those infamous stored chicken shacks:
img8929 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8930 by HughieDW, on Flickr
An exposed underground spring;
img8937 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The 650-yard mark:
img8939 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Another refuge:
img8947 by HughieDW, on Flickr
No sun in the tunnel but The Sun:
img8948 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8950 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Great Northern and Midland railways securied Parliamentary approval for a new railway line from Newark to Melton Mowbray in 1872. The following year, a further section was authorised, extending the route south-wards to meet the Rugby-Luffenham line. The result was GN and L&NW came together to construct a 34-mile north-south Joint Line between Welham and Bottesford. The line finally became operational on 15th December 1879.
Two tunnels had to be completed to make the new link a reality. At 834 yards in length, the longer of the two tunnels was the one located just south of Long Clawson Station, officially named Hose tunnel. Benton & Woodiwiss were contracted to build the tunnel. Tragically on the evening of Saturday 14th October 1876 three men lost their lives while working on the tunnel’s construction. They were at one of the construction shafts at the northern end of the tunnel. The eight-man gang were working at the Bottesford face of the heading blasting through the hard clay at a rate of approximately one yard per day. Blasting operations usually took place twice during each of the two daily shifts. At 9.30, by the light of three candles, Samuel Longman attempted to charge a hole with gunpowder. He managed to strike his container against some projecting earth, scattered the gunpowder on the floor. It was ignited by one of the candles causing the 8lbs of gunpowder to explode. He and his two co-workers died. Tragedy struck again on 26th June 1878 when a young brakes-man was killed when he was run over by a wagon, 200 yards into the tunnel.
Once regular passenger services were introduced along the route, they were never well patronized. They ceased in December 1953 but goods traffic continued until the section was closed in September 1964.
2. The Explore
Relaxed mooch this one. Just up the road from Lion Brick Works in Scalford, so really should have taken this place in when I explored the works last time I was over this way. Parking up on Landyke Road, I approached the tunnel from the south. Access was easy but the turf was a bit on the sodden side! Again pushed for time, I didn’t walk the full length of the tunnel and hence missed out on seeing the impressive north entrance of the tunnel. The tunnel itself is in good nick and very clean and dry on the inside. Definitely worth an hour of my time on a relatively mild February afternoon.
3. The Pictures
My quarry comes into sight:
Nature’s Heras Fence!
In we go:
Light at the end of the proverbial…
Refuge hole;
Leaching through the tunnel wall…
Those infamous stored chicken shacks:
An exposed underground spring;
The 650-yard mark:
Another refuge:
No sun in the tunnel but The Sun:
