Thurland Street Railway Tunnel
The History:
Former Great Central Railway trains travelled through a tunnel of 392 yards in length, officially named Victoria Street but also known as Weekday Cross or Thurland Street, the latter being passed beneath for a distance of 100 yards before shops, warehouses and offices were encountered.
Its construction entailed costly and difficult work, the buildings overhead having to be carefully supported whilst tunnelling operations continued.
At the north end, the Thurland Street portion was progressed using cut-and-cover methods, although its dimensions were identical to those of the bored section, 27 feet wide but an arch spanning 29 feet, with the springings being set back on ledges 1 foot from the face of the rock.
The rise of the arch was 8 feet 6 inches whilst the crown was 20 feet above rail level. Driven though bunter sandstone, sidewalls were deemed unnecessary except for short lengths at both ends.
Excavations for the cut-and-cover section were taken down to arch springing level where the centring was fixed and brickwork turned, built in lime mortar.
The arch was 1 foot 10 inches thick at the crown and 2 feet 3 inches at the haunches.
Work on the bored tunnel began by means of a heading driven at springing level which was afterwards enlarged to the required width and height to accommodate the brickwork, 3 feet thick in places.
The foundations of several buildings were cut through and had to be supported on timbers until the arch was turned.
Afterwards they were carefully underpinned with brickwork in cement.
Although the Great Central’s freight service ended in 1968, the tunnel continued to be used as a headshunt by trains serving the plasterboard works at Rushcliffe and army depot at Ruddington.
This arrangement ended when the Loughborough curve opened in 1974, creating a connection between the Midland and Great Central main lines.
The tunnel officially closed on 8th April 1974.
Today, the site of Nottingham's Victoria Station is occupied by a soulless multi-storey car park.
The tunnel currently accommodates steam heating pipes from the city’s Cattle Market waste incinerator to flats above the shopping centre.
The southern approach cutting is now occupied by the Centre for Contemporary Art Nottingham, preventing access to the portal.
Inside the tunnel is dry and benign.
A few items of railway furniture remain fixed to the sidewalls, including signal brackets and wooden cable supports.
There is also a partly0infilled bothy used by the route’s former trackworkers.
In 2018, Nottingham City Council granted access for three tours of the tunnel with around 25 guests. Since then the council revoked that access with the Council stating that the tunnel is “simply not safe”.
More than 3,000 people have since signed a petition calling for the tours to be reinstated.
The Explore:
Access isn't the most straight forward but with thorough research it isn't too hard either.. But it requires a little bravery.. I think we call it that
Within about 10 minutes, which I tell you being in the middle of a busy town centre on a Friday night woth people passing constantly felt like a lifetime.. Anyhow we were in with no trouble.
Time to get down, navigated the portal fence and we were in.
Very straight forward repetitive dry tunnel in brilliant condition.
Enjoy the pictures
Thinking this was a kinda of gong that the trains would trigger as they drove over.
The Southern Portal - Underneath the art gallery.
Cable carrier.
Heating pipes run down the full length of the tunnel.
Picture from the of the stairs.
Some of the heating equipment.
Northern Portal.
This is the end with the access doors from the Victoria centre car park.
The yellow sandstone can be seen on the walls, partially covered by soot.
A clean (ish) refuge.
Looking towards the southern portal.
Unsure what that was if I'm completely honest, anyone know?
Again?
Looking Northern.
To my surprise an even cleaner refuge.
What would that have held? Could it have been to do with the cables?
Northern Portal.
Looks like old lighting.
This is just outside the Southern Portal.
On the left is the original retaining wall.
And at the end of the passage is the contemporary art building.
Hope you enjoyed, I'll try not to leave it so long untill the next post, I have way too many backlogged!.
The History:
Former Great Central Railway trains travelled through a tunnel of 392 yards in length, officially named Victoria Street but also known as Weekday Cross or Thurland Street, the latter being passed beneath for a distance of 100 yards before shops, warehouses and offices were encountered.
Its construction entailed costly and difficult work, the buildings overhead having to be carefully supported whilst tunnelling operations continued.
At the north end, the Thurland Street portion was progressed using cut-and-cover methods, although its dimensions were identical to those of the bored section, 27 feet wide but an arch spanning 29 feet, with the springings being set back on ledges 1 foot from the face of the rock.
The rise of the arch was 8 feet 6 inches whilst the crown was 20 feet above rail level. Driven though bunter sandstone, sidewalls were deemed unnecessary except for short lengths at both ends.
Excavations for the cut-and-cover section were taken down to arch springing level where the centring was fixed and brickwork turned, built in lime mortar.
The arch was 1 foot 10 inches thick at the crown and 2 feet 3 inches at the haunches.
Work on the bored tunnel began by means of a heading driven at springing level which was afterwards enlarged to the required width and height to accommodate the brickwork, 3 feet thick in places.
The foundations of several buildings were cut through and had to be supported on timbers until the arch was turned.
Afterwards they were carefully underpinned with brickwork in cement.
Although the Great Central’s freight service ended in 1968, the tunnel continued to be used as a headshunt by trains serving the plasterboard works at Rushcliffe and army depot at Ruddington.
This arrangement ended when the Loughborough curve opened in 1974, creating a connection between the Midland and Great Central main lines.
The tunnel officially closed on 8th April 1974.
Today, the site of Nottingham's Victoria Station is occupied by a soulless multi-storey car park.
The tunnel currently accommodates steam heating pipes from the city’s Cattle Market waste incinerator to flats above the shopping centre.
The southern approach cutting is now occupied by the Centre for Contemporary Art Nottingham, preventing access to the portal.
Inside the tunnel is dry and benign.
A few items of railway furniture remain fixed to the sidewalls, including signal brackets and wooden cable supports.
There is also a partly0infilled bothy used by the route’s former trackworkers.
In 2018, Nottingham City Council granted access for three tours of the tunnel with around 25 guests. Since then the council revoked that access with the Council stating that the tunnel is “simply not safe”.
More than 3,000 people have since signed a petition calling for the tours to be reinstated.
The Explore:
Access isn't the most straight forward but with thorough research it isn't too hard either.. But it requires a little bravery.. I think we call it that
Within about 10 minutes, which I tell you being in the middle of a busy town centre on a Friday night woth people passing constantly felt like a lifetime.. Anyhow we were in with no trouble.
Time to get down, navigated the portal fence and we were in.
Very straight forward repetitive dry tunnel in brilliant condition.
Enjoy the pictures
Thinking this was a kinda of gong that the trains would trigger as they drove over.
The Southern Portal - Underneath the art gallery.
Cable carrier.
Heating pipes run down the full length of the tunnel.
Picture from the of the stairs.
Some of the heating equipment.
Northern Portal.
This is the end with the access doors from the Victoria centre car park.
The yellow sandstone can be seen on the walls, partially covered by soot.
A clean (ish) refuge.
Looking towards the southern portal.
Unsure what that was if I'm completely honest, anyone know?
Again?
Looking Northern.
To my surprise an even cleaner refuge.
What would that have held? Could it have been to do with the cables?
Northern Portal.
Looks like old lighting.
This is just outside the Southern Portal.
On the left is the original retaining wall.
And at the end of the passage is the contemporary art building.
Hope you enjoyed, I'll try not to leave it so long untill the next post, I have way too many backlogged!
.
