Catesby tunnel, Northamptonshire, Jul13

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.
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?

Very nice to see this again after so long.

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

Good report mate, What a cracker this one is!

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

Nice shots both The Wombat and Infraredd. I hope the injuries are sorted quickly.
Here's some of my shots

Great photos from all of you.

All great shots,well done, Who would have thought a hole in the ground could be so interesting !

Tizzme said:

All great shots,well done, Who would have thought a hole in the ground could be so interesting !

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A disused tunnel, is a lot lot more than just a hole the in ground Tizzme!.

Thanks to everyone for your kind comments, Much appreciated!

Alex - hope you like my shots.

Black Shuck said:

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?

Click to expand...

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.

The Wombat said:

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.

Click to expand...

That's why we like tunnels!

Infraredd said:

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

Click to expand...

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......

Whoa, just Awesome, awesome shots! You should be really proud of those!
Great write up too

Infraredd said:

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......

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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!

UrbanX said:

Whoa, just Awesome, awesome shots! You should be really proud of those!
Great write up too

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Thankyou, much appreciated!

Great pics . They inspire me to get out there right now Hmmm where should i go ???

exsplorer said:

Great pics . They inspire me to get out there right now Hmmm where should i go ???

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Thanks mate.
There are some derelict tunnels in your area - look forward to your reports!

Great shots guys. Liking the long shadows image especially.