real time web analytics
Report - - Wapping tunnel, Liverpool, August 2015 | Underground Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Wapping tunnel, Liverpool, August 2015

Hide this ad by donating or subscribing !

stranton

subterranean explorer
Regular User
Alot of changes since I last visited in December 2012,
the walkway leading too the tunnel, now resembles a jungle.
The 2 feet of water beneath Grenville street air shaft, now 4 foot of water.
Managing the full tunnel this time wellingtons verses waders? I rest my case.
This is definitley my favourite tunnel, We spent 5 - 6 hrs in here
even though once you reach the exit at Kings Dock street its a long return through the tunnel too Edge Hill.
Thanks too reflux for lighting on some of the shots.

Wapping tunnel by stranton, visited with @ACID- REFLUX .

The Wapping tunnel is 2112 yds long,
running from Edge Hill (east) to Wapping Dock (west) runs beneath south Liverpool.
The east portal lies along a steep cutting with heavy vegetation,
theres 3 air shafts consisting of imposing brick towers & 2 demolished / capped
theres refuges on both sides of the tunnel criss crossing one another
the west portal lies in a retaining wall.
The tunnel opened in 1829, closed on 15th May 1972.
The tunnel lies on a 1 in 48 gradient, from east to west.
A steam engine was installed to haul wagons via rope from the docks too Edge Hill,
gravity was used in the opposite direction.
The tunnel exits in a 40 yrd cutting, between Jamaica street & Frederick street
then re enters as 3 short tunnels.
The middle of which continues too Kings Dock street, while the 2 side tunnels are filled with debris.

east portal
1_zpsebtrbu4g.jpg


2_zpsm1i9g8fc.jpg


3_zps5bwjblxy.jpg


4_zpspg4pqkzf.jpg


Smithdown lane air shaft
5_zpsdcgjmmqn.jpg


6_zpsmvgapjed.jpg


7_zps0xk3pa2u.jpg


8_zps9y8pugiz.jpg


Blackburne place air shaft
9_zpsdtvxps5x.jpg


10_zpsy1rxj1pd.jpg


11_zpsjne5k7em.jpg


MerseyRail crosses the wapping tunnel at 45%, on this concrete bridge
also in an identical brick arch tunnel.
12_zps5qfyq6gt.jpg


13_zpsvdjxfq6a.jpg


because of the steep gradient & the tunnel being part filled with debris,
theres 100yds of water each side of Grenville street south air shaft been 2 too 4 feet deep in parts.

Grenville Street south air shaft
14_zpsqoze3wei.jpg


15_zpsgdb7r2ge.jpg


16_zps0vbcycvp.jpg


17_zps8z3asumy.jpg


18_zpspj489uja.jpg


19_zpsqbbtyhgg.jpg


20_zpso8nttxzj.jpg


21_zpsibaandeg.jpg


22_zps2ijdvcoe.jpg


cutting & 3 tunnels
23_zpsnma2vjkv.jpg


24_zpscvdprecg.jpg


middle tunnel
25_zpsjxed9n7x.jpg


26_zpsfvlxbti2.jpg


west portal
27_zpsr087gjzc.jpg


Gong, (2 of these one at each side of the tunnel towards Edge Hill and Wapping dock).
152 chains, ( 1 chain is 66 feet or 22 yards).
28_zpsercssd9z.jpg
29_zps40wl2cbi.jpg


seldom used head shunt
30_zpsrwp2icaa.jpg


thanks
stranton will return with processor
 
Last edited:

coolboyslim

Mr Reality Hacker
28DL Full Member
Good stuff m8ty While you was doing this i was catching the sun waiting on you lol. Worth it though good stuff.
 

ACID- REFLUX

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Come out okay that mate :thumb

I can see which shots i lit up anyway ;)

Question.............If it"s up to 7FT deep how did you manage to walk through it ? :confused:

And thanks for the exercise of carrying waders a mile plus then chucking the things away later :banghead;)
 

Xan_Asmodi

Cave Monster
28DL Full Member
Nice one. Myself and @MaybeNot1330 got stuck at the Kings Dock end by the water and the Jamaica street junction is a bugger to shoot in the dark; too much sodium.
 

skgogosfan

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Thanks for posting - those are all lovely shots! I love all the colours down there that are unexpected and the shots of the flooded section are especially atmospheric,though not much fun to cross. I wonder what the gongs were for?

What had me also curious was wondering how the tunnel could have been used with the Merseyrail tunnel blocking the top half of it. It turns out the original 1870s tunnel* to Central ran above this tunnel,but the track and tunnel were lowered into it in the 1970s [after closure in 1972] as part of the construction of the Link since the new Merseyrail line was now underground and no longer a surface terminus.

What's also interesting is that Wapping's story may not be over. Part of the plans for the so-called "Knowledge Quarter" involve re-instating the railway from Edge Hill to a new link with the Merseyrail line at this cross-over point,with a new station around Smithdown Lane. Time will tell if anything happens...

*in an amusing reverse,at Dingle this line becomes a tunnel which runs underneath the Overhead Railway tunnel!

Dave.
 
Top