Oakamoor Railway Tunnel, a hidden gem in Staffordshire's stunning Churnet Valley.
Constructed in the 19th century it was part of the North Staffordshire Railways Leek to Uttoxeter branch line which ran via Alton ferrying materials from the bustling quarries that littered the area.
Closed to rail traffic in the 1960's due to the Beeching cuts, the 497-meter-long tunnel has since been reclaimed by nature and history.
The tunnel now acts it acts as a bat hibernaculum and is looked after by Staffordshire County Council.
The southern portal lies within the grounds of a Grade II listed former crossing keeper's home, which now acts as a poplar holiday cottage.
see @Tunnel Gricer report for an in depth history here.
After speaking to Mr Gricer i decided on avoided the northern portal with it being a trek to the nearest un suspicious place to park and there being the river Churnet in the way.
Heading to the northern portal i avoided running straight through the front garden and remained un seen, as i entered though i heard the distinctive sound of a door open and as i turned around a white dog of unknown breed (it was a smallish fluffy thing) was let out to do its morning business.
I stayed sandwiched in between heras fencing as the dastardly pooch began to sniff and get closer by the second.
It didn't help that this was a solo mooch but after curling one out (the dog not me) the door opened again and white fluff made his retreat.
Seem to be around 13 years late to this one missing the sidings and trains left in situ but a tunnel is a tunnel and these railway tunnels never seem to bore given how similar they are.
Constructed in the 19th century it was part of the North Staffordshire Railways Leek to Uttoxeter branch line which ran via Alton ferrying materials from the bustling quarries that littered the area.
Closed to rail traffic in the 1960's due to the Beeching cuts, the 497-meter-long tunnel has since been reclaimed by nature and history.
The tunnel now acts it acts as a bat hibernaculum and is looked after by Staffordshire County Council.
The southern portal lies within the grounds of a Grade II listed former crossing keeper's home, which now acts as a poplar holiday cottage.
see @Tunnel Gricer report for an in depth history here.
After speaking to Mr Gricer i decided on avoided the northern portal with it being a trek to the nearest un suspicious place to park and there being the river Churnet in the way.
Heading to the northern portal i avoided running straight through the front garden and remained un seen, as i entered though i heard the distinctive sound of a door open and as i turned around a white dog of unknown breed (it was a smallish fluffy thing) was let out to do its morning business.
I stayed sandwiched in between heras fencing as the dastardly pooch began to sniff and get closer by the second.
It didn't help that this was a solo mooch but after curling one out (the dog not me) the door opened again and white fluff made his retreat.
Seem to be around 13 years late to this one missing the sidings and trains left in situ but a tunnel is a tunnel and these railway tunnels never seem to bore given how similar they are.
There are multiple refuge points as the tunnel takes a gradual bend and unfortunately no air shafts along its route probably due to its short length.
exited via the southern portal after an hour or so and received a very unhappy look from a person inside when walking round to take some external shots of the cottage, presume they saw me exit so decided to call it a day. All in all a good morning wander around another lovely Staffordshire railway tunnel.
