Report - Norton Tunnel, Leicestershire Sept 2012

Punk · Oct 2, 2012

East Norton Tunnel(Also known as Hallaton Tunnel) is, like my previous two tunnels, is on the Great Northern Line and the London North Western Railway on the Market Harborough to Bottesford Stretch. South of East Norton and North of Hallaton, heading north from Hallaton on the line, when it was open, the 13 arch East Norton Viaduct followed East Norton Station. Unfortunately it was demolished in 2001 for safety reasons. Hallaton/East Norton Tunnel was opened in 15th December 1879 and closed to all traffic in 7th December 1952 but there was a special service running in 1953. The Tunnel is on a lane that heads east of Moor Lane/Hill between East Norton(North) and Hallaton(South) in Leicestershire. Once on the unnamed lane heading east you'll notice the distinctive line of trees when a railway used to be to your right, there in a gate into the 'spinney', but it is overgrown. When we got the we saw a rucksack on the ground and heard voices towards the tunnel. When we got to the portal we heard the voices coming from where we saw the bag and assumed it was other urban explorers. The tunnel is in better condition then the other tunnels I've been to in the past, but there is farming equipment stored in the north end of the tunnel. It is around 144 yards(131.6m) in length and southbound trains leaving the tunnel began the long descent into the Welland valley. This descent was once, around 1960, the scene of a runaway freight train which could have caused a serious accident had it not been for an alert signalman at the Welham Junction box who managed to stop a Northampton to Peterborough express on a collision course.