Report - Trubshaws Tramway Tunnel, Cauldon - Sept 2014

[paulpowers]

Well this one ended up hurting

The tramway tunnel is quite short and although the end I went in by was boggy and down a steep embankment it was relatively easy access.

Once inside there are sections of knee deep mud near the portal, there is a really dodgy looking bit of re-enforcement in the middle and waist deep mud and water at the end.

The real fun came when I was walking across the field and decided to duck under what looked like a white ribbon, the zip on my bag hooked the ribbon and next thing I knew I was on the floor face down being electrocuted, it came in pulses and between the forth and fifth jolt I managed to get the bag from off my shoulders and was clear.

I lay on the ground for a few minutes getting my breath back and realized I was going to have to get the bag off the fence so ended up using a stick to hook the bag while standing on the ribbon.

At least now I know why the cows keep clear of the fences.

Designed by local engineer James Trubshaw, the tramway consists of a series of self-acting inclines leading all the way from Froghall Wharf to the quarries. The horse-drawn flat sections of Rennie's plateway were dispensed with. Where necessary, substantial embankments and cuttings were constructed to keep the incline more-or-less constant and the final section, leading to the quarries, included a tunnel.



The technology used this time was that of a modern-style railway but using a three-rail system, in which the centre rail was shared by the up and down lines. Trains of climbing and descending wagons were linked by a continuous cable which ran on a series of rollers and guides along the centre of the tracks. At the top of each incline the cable passed through a braking system which controlled the trains' speed.
In the middle of each incline, the centre rail divided into a conventional double track layout, so that the trains could pass.

 

[Punk]

Looks a nice tunnel Hope you feel better after your shocking experience

 

[The Wombat]

It looks a skanky tunnel!
Sounds like you went through some missery to bring us this report
good work

 

[maffu]

was up this way yesterday had no idea a tram way was there will have to go for a poke about

 

[Els]

How we suffer for our art