Philip
On Moderation
Are there any rail tunnels in the UK which are long and don't have any ventilation shafts that people know about? Or any that are fairly short but have a large number of them?
Combe Down on the S&D 1 in 50 climb out of Bath was a mile long, no shafts, single track, and very tight. Conditions on the second steam loco of a double-header, especially by Saturday afternoon in summer when the Bournemouth holiday trains were pretty continuous, were apparently appalling - the crew used set the regulator, to hold wet handkerchiefs over their faces for the duration. It's still in use, but nowadays as a (lit) bicycle path under the hill.
Didn't last all that long before subsequently being closed despite shorter working hours and a higher rate of pay....woodhead had a signalbox within the tunnel too which no doubt the conditions would have been horrendous when steam trains were passing through
In 1929 the driver and fireman of a north bound goods train passed out (although on the down gradient), with the result that it crashed by derailing on the curve into Bath. Both men died.Combe Down on the S&D 1 in 50 climb out of Bath was a mile long, no shafts, single track, and very tight. Conditions on the second steam loco of a double-header.... were apparently appalling
Nor the LU tube tunnels. OTOH, the cut and cover tunnels, made when the Met and District trains were still steam hauled, had very frequent "vent shafts". The stations were generally open to the sky, and also where the lines went under what were previously people's back gardens etc, to save the cost of covering. I suppose the land owners got compensation.The new Woodhead had no ventilation shafts as they were not needed!
I guess long tunnels under water, such as the Channel and Severn tunnels, don’t have ventilation shafts
According to NLS maps, there were at least four ventilation shafts for the old Woodhead tunnels and they are still visible on the moors in the aerial imagery.this was pretty much the case with both of the old woodhead bores and the old Standedge bores. both were single bore tunnels with no ventilation shafts and no cross passages although Standedge has the central cathedral and one of the bores has some cross pasages to the newer double track tunnel and the canal tunnel. Not sure on Standedge but woodhead had a signalbox within the tunnel too which no doubt the conditions would have been horrendous when steam trains were passing through
Standedge has numerous cross-passages between all four bores, if I'm not mistaken, and a number of shafts too. Similarly for Woodhead - there were a number (24 or 26?) cross-passages and a few shafts. The (fairly rubbish, sorry!) photos below are of one of the shafts between the original Woodhead bores. It was, by all accounts, a pretty horrendous place despite those shafts.this was pretty much the case with both of the old woodhead bores and the old Standedge bores. both were single bore tunnels with no ventilation shafts and no cross passages although Standedge has the central cathedral and one of the bores has some cross pasages to the newer double track tunnel and the canal tunnel. Not sure on Standedge but woodhead had a signalbox within the tunnel too which no doubt the conditions would have been horrendous when steam trains were passing through
Not Crayonista at all. There were plans to join the S&D up with the GW south of Bath, then build a short connecting line across the fields west of Bath to regain the MR route.In a moment of crayonista euphoria I once designed a replacement joint double track tunnel shared by the S&D and the GWR from Bath, turning due south to Midford/Limpley Stoke, eliminating both the Midford single track tunnel and bottleneck on the S&D, and the roundabout route of the GWR following the river, which at one point has Bath to Westbury trains running due north and taking several extra miles.
Glasgow Subway?
Summit Tunnel and Kilsby both have quite a few looking at the aerial view, given their length.
Kilsby is famous for the size of its vent shafts, the full double track width and more. You are practically in the open for a moment as you pass under, or rather through, them. The shafts were refurbished a few years ago.Summit Tunnel and Kilsby both have quite a few looking at the aerial view,
The deep level London Underground lines do have ventilation shafts, they help remove some of the heat from the system. This article includes other tunnels such as road tunnels and sewers, but the comments mention other tube ventilation shaftsIn 1929 the driver and fireman of a north bound goods train passed out (although on the down gradient), with the result that it crashed by derailing on the curve into Bath. Both men died.
https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=1999
Nor the LU tube tunnels. OTOH, the cut and cover tunnels, made when the Met and District trains were still steam hauled, had very frequent "vent shafts". The stations were generally open to the sky, and also where the lines went under what were previously people's back gardens etc, to save the cost of covering. I suppose the land owners got compensation.
Standedge has numerous cross-passages between all four bores, if I'm not mistaken, and a number of shafts too. Similarly for Woodhead - there were a number (24 or 26?) cross-passages and a few shafts. The (fairly rubbish, sorry!) photos below are of one of the shafts between the original Woodhead bores. It was, by all accounts, a pretty horrendous place despite those shafts.
View attachment 94664View attachment 94663
Lunchtime in the former signal box (actually the next cross-passage along, but, to the best of my knowledge, similar in proportions)...
View attachment 94662
Only 1 shaft has been refurbishedKilsby is famous for the size of its vent shafts, the full double track width and more. You are practically in the open for a moment as you pass under, or rather through, them. The shafts were refurbished a few years ago.
the Victoria Line, for example, definitely has ventilation shaftsIn 1929 the driver and fireman of a north bound goods train passed out (although on the down gradient), with the result that it crashed by derailing on the curve into Bath. Both men died.
https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=1999
Nor the LU tube tunnels. OTOH, the cut and cover tunnels, made when the Met and District trains were still steam hauled, had very frequent "vent shafts". The stations were generally open to the sky, and also where the lines went under what were previously people's back gardens etc, to save the cost of covering. I suppose the land owners got compensation.
Ventnor tunnel had two ventilation shafts. You can still see both, and the spoil heaps left over from the construction.Ventnor tunnel was three-quarters of a mile, with no shafts. I remember smoke pouring out at the station end.
It‘s still there, and carries the town‘s water supply. I wonder whether anyone’s worked out if the new Class 483’s would get through it.
Thanks for the correction, and apologies for getting it wrong - I thought I knew the downs pretty well. I’ll be up there looking for them!Ventnor tunnel had two ventilation shafts. You can still see both, and the spoil heaps left over from the construction.