Catesby tunnel, Northamptonshire, Jul13

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The Wombat

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King Mongoose and the Wombat bring you… the holy grail of for tunnel explorers, the collosal 2997 yards long Catesby tunnel in Northamptonshire! Turned out to be a day you just couldn’t make up, so read on.

I’ve wanted to see this for ages. With 5 airshafts, and at nearly 3 Kilometers long, this is the fifth longest derelict railway tunnel in the UK, so needed some time to explore. We weren’t even a quarter of the way down when we heard someone shouting at us (in French!?) from the portal. So we made our way back, fearing the worst. Turns out it was 2 other guys who had come to visit the tunnel and shouted down the tunnel not expecting a reply, and were astonished to see some torches coming towards them! They asked if they could join us, and they turned out to be sound, so all 4 of us trekked back in to the tunnel. The 5 airshafts are worth seeing, and I was surprised after all the dry weather we’ve had, that there was still waterfalls cascading down the insides of the shafts. Water vapour in the tunnel reduced visibility somewhat.

Its amazing the things you find in tunnels; King Mongoose found: A camera flash, a lens cover, and a mobile phone, with a music selection KM approved of! (he will try and get in touch with the owner of the mobile). Then on the way back, we got stuck down a country lane briefly, as someone had let a whole heard of cows out the field onto the road, and some of them had fallen in the ditch!

I told you it was an interesting day.

I’ll be brief with the history as its been covered before: Built in 1897, and closed in 1966 was on the great central railway from London to Sheffield. It was built not because of gradient, but because the rich owner of the Catesby estate didn’t want a railway blighting is landscape.

27 feet wide x 25 feet high, Ventilation is provided by five shafts. Four of these are 10 feet in diameter but the northernmost - 1,250 yards from the entrance - is 15 feet wide to provide greater air flow. Plans to use it as part of HS2 have now been shelved.

Explore with King Mongoose. Oh,… and 2 blokes we found at the portal.



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north portal
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from north portal
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airshaft
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south portal
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catchpit
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Includes the blokes we met at the portal
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an atmospheric shot of the airshaft
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half way, is that all?
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workmens lunchtime refuge
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south portal
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thanks for looking!
comments welcomed
 
Excellent report Wombat, this really is a massive tunnel. There's so mighty fine shots too, how did you manage to light it so well?
 
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Only using my phone and pics not loading at the mo but glad you gained access there is loads of bits round that part of northants from really nice old bridges, stations. There was a water tower but i think the farmer pulled it down you could spend days there i got lost as there is so many old lines next hols think i would do a camping trip to hunt down the many railway porn.
Cheers bud when i get to my computer will have a gander at ya pics
 
All the goodies you found were mine! Rammestein, Perfect Circle & Tool. I was in here about 3 - 5.30 when stupidly on the way out I forgot where I was and went head first into a culvert pit. Hence the phone by the exit & flash in the parking bay. Having cut my left forefinger and severed a tendon it wouldn't stop bleeding & having no skin on my right knee didn't help - so I exited in a hurry. Amazingly the camera is fine so no real damage done!
After A&E I went back as it got dark thinking this place so remote NO-ONE would have been there...
Wasn't sure the phone would have survived it's dunking but it seems it has!
Anyway instead of a multiple post on the same subject I'll add some pics here


falls by Infraredd, on Flickr


mist ring by Infraredd, on Flickr


pit by Infraredd, on Flickr


shotgun1 by Infraredd, on Flickr


shotgun3 by Infraredd, on Flickr


1st pit by Infraredd, on Flickr


1st skylight by Infraredd, on Flickr
 
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Nice shots both The Wombat and Infraredd. I hope the injuries are sorted quickly.
Here's some of my shots
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Thanks to everyone for your kind comments, Much appreciated! :)

Alex - hope you like my shots.

Excellent report Wombat, this really is a massive tunnel. There's so mighty fine shots too, how did you manage to light it so well?

Thanks Black Shuck. As you know I've wanted to do this one for ages. :)
I've got a powerful bright, but slightly unreliable arsenal of torches, and coupled with a low ISO, tripod, and long exposure I've managed to catch some shots I'm quite pleased with. there was a bit of moisture in the air in there, even after this dry spell, so later shots had a bit of moisture on the lens.
 
Thanks to everyone for your kind comments, Much appreciated! :)

Alex - hope you like my shots.



Thanks Black Shuck. As you know I've wanted to do this one for ages. :)
I've got a powerful bright, but slightly unreliable arsenal of torches, and coupled with a low ISO, tripod, and long exposure I've managed to catch some shots I'm quite pleased with. there was a bit of moisture in the air in there, even after this dry spell, so later shots had a bit of moisture on the lens.

That's why we like tunnels!
 
All the goodies you found were mine! Rammestein, Perfect Circle & Tool. I was in here about 3 - 5.30 when stupidly on the way out I forgot where I was and went head first into a culvert pit. Hence the phone by the exit & flash in the parking bay. Having cut my left forefinger and severed a tendon it wouldn't stop bleeding & having no skin on my right knee didn't help - so I exited in a hurry. Amazingly the camera is fine so no real damage done!
After A&E I went back as it got dark thinking this place so remote NO-ONE would have been there...
Wasn't sure the phone would have survived it's dunking but it seems it has!
Anyway instead of a multiple post on the same subject I'll add some pics here

Great shots mate.
It was obviously a busy day for Catesby, they may start charging admission!

Really sorry to hear about your day, those pits are deep.
I've PMd you about the bits, and I believe King Mongoose has been in touch as well.
 
Did you do the bridge over the River Leam?- I tried to get to it but they were doing clay pigeon shooting & the closer I got the louder the bangs and when I started stepping on the bits of clay pigeon i decided to abort & seeif I could access the tunnel......
 
Did you do the bridge over the River Leam?- I tried to get to it but they were doing clay pigeon shooting & the closer I got the louder the bangs and when I started stepping on the bits of clay pigeon i decided to abort & seeif I could access the tunnel......

Is that the viaduct just to the north of the tunnel? Wanted to see it but ran out of bloody time. Return trip in order!
 
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