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Report - - Optimus Prime, Manchester, April 2019 | UK Draining Forum | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Optimus Prime, Manchester, April 2019

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tarkovsky

SWC
Regular User
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Optimus Prime is a large culverted section of the River Irk, running beneath Victoria Station and joining the River Irwell.

This was the second stop on an excellent evening of drain tourism with @tallginge and @Esoteric Eric. I don’t mind admitting that I initially lost my nerve for a bit when faced with the initial climb in here, having gone a bit wobbly in the previous location. Turns out was just hungry... And I was soon reassured after some quick demonstration of how it should be done by @tallginge - leading to some minor, weary intervention from the unfortunately timed local constabulary, who seemed to be knocking off for the night...

Cop1: what’s your mate doing in the river?
Eric: he’s lost his football, occifer
Cop1: well it’s dangerous, is it really worth it?
Eric: its an expensive football!
Cop2: (sighing) can you tell your mate to get out?
Me: Ginge, they’re asking you to get out...

A quick sandwich stop later and, my wits (and blood sugar levels) recovered, we were all good, returning to make our way in... which was actually easier than my hungry brain had made it look. I managed to stay totally dry too, in spite of wearing thigh waders...

After the first hurdle of the wall, the second obstacle is the slippery weir.

Here we are, finally inside...

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Looking back to the weir...

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It was really misty inside and I was a bit frustrated that my pics weren’t as sharp as they could have been. The sheer size of the place ate up the light, with the spray from the fast flow of the river making matters even more tricky.

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We couldn’t work out what these things were that looked like strip lights from a distance, and cameras from closer up. Any ideas?

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As is now standard, we lost @tallginge down a sidepipe for a bit.

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Meanwhile, @Esoteric Eric found a new friend...

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It was great to finally see the cattle-bridge-that’s-not-a-cattle-bridge (see this discussion for full details: https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/victorias-so-called-cattle-bridge.110161/ )

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Further on is this old bridge...

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My photos beyond here were a wobblefest and not worth sharing. It got a bit deep and the end section filled with more rubbish, so here’s a few more from the walk back...

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Loved every minute, such a grand spot that I didn’t even mind that I lost my lenser out of my pocket on the way back up the weir (the second torch loss in two weeks - argh!). Eric also took a dunking, but all good!

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TheVicar

Loyal to the Drain
Regular User
Lovely pics these, they've come out very well! :thumb

I'm totally with you on the hunger (sugar levels) issue. I can only do proper exploring on a full stomach, preferably a good meal at the local 'spoons. Failing that a nice Nando's extra hot double burger with chips or a KFC Zinger Tower meal with full fat coke.

Those strip things were not on the ceiling a few years back when I went down here but I suspect they are something to do with the work which has gone on at the station in the last couple of years.
 

tallginge

more tall than ginger tho.....
Regular User
A thoroughly enjoyable trip to manchester lads :thumb Was pleased you went to the co-op as well. Yeah them coppers - reckon they were a bit disgruntled that they saw me seeing them coming yet still chose to hop the wall right in front of them :D Could spend ages rummaging about down there, all sorts must have been washed down it over the years. Your pics came out well - it doesn't half eat the lumens that place. It was way bigger and better than i remembered it. You climbed up and down the weir with style and grace - whatcha on about? Eric saw me nearly fall back off the bloody thing just before i took this. And your waderz - can spot 'em a mile off :cool:

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tarkovsky

SWC
Regular User
I can only do proper exploring on a full stomach.

Yeah I think I’d subconsciously under-eaten in anticipation of the earlier drain that required a slim profile! ;-) Normal levels of greed will be maintained in future! Lesson learnt.
 

pastybarm

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
The things that look like light strips on the roof? Do remember someone suggesting in a post on youtube that they were for bats that hibernate in there, but I don't know for certain, someone else must know or at least have some ideas as to what they could be for? Interesting report.
 

tarkovsky

SWC
Regular User
The things that look like light strips on the roof? Do remember someone suggesting in a post on youtube that they were for bats that hibernate in there, but I don't know for certain, someone else must know or at least have some ideas as to what they could be for? Interesting report.

Thanks. And yeah I think you might be right, bat boxes is probs the most likely explanation for these things. The circular bits that look like camera lenses could just be the holes for the batz to get in and out.

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tarkovsky

SWC
Regular User
I tied some rope on that waterfall re: exit then dropped in,
but on exiting I realised it was 1 yard too short. opps :banghead

nice work lads

Cheers Stranton. I’ll defo be taking some long rope next time, when I inevitably end up going back...
 

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