The Tunnel that was a film star!
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- Опубликовано: 28 авг 2024
- Old Warden Tunnel near Bedford was part of the Midland Railway and connected Bedford to Hitchin where passengers could transfer on to London. The line closed to passengers before the infamous Beeching Cuts although he later weilded the axe over the line when it was only carrying goods.
The Tunnel became famous for having a starring role in the film 'Those magnificent men in their flying machines' the portals at both ends are clearly seen and the films star Terry Thomas can be seen on top of the train as it exits the Bedford end!
Although the victim of grafitti this is a lovely old tunnel and i hope you enjoy seeing it as much as i enjoyed filming it!
Really interesting old railway tunnel thanks for sharing with us
Thank you for watching and I am glad you enjoyed it. Plenty more coming up👍
About 30 years ago I had to fly a Cessna 152 from Coventry to Little Staughton and back to collect some engine spares from Norvic. I was going around the edge of the Cardington restricted area (doesn't exist any more) and talking to RAE Bedford (doesn't exist any more either) on the radio. Spotting the tunnel a mile or so away, I dived down and flew along the track bed, about 30 feet up, into the cutting and straight at the tunnel. I was going absolutely flat out, full throttle, and pulled up just before the tunnel and zoomed over the hill. The radar controller at Bedford got terribly agitated as I suddenly disappeared from his screen but thoroughly enjoyed the subsequent explanation that I'd been 'doing a Sir Percy'!
Fantastic! I bet that was absolutely incredible! Thank you for watching and for the story I will be telling people about that! 👍
I love that when you watch Terry Thomas stuck on top of the train in his aircraft you can see the cooling towers of wyboston power station in the background.!
Thanks for watching. I have decided to watch that film again I haven't seen it for years! I will look out for that 👍
That was Goldington. Demolished early 80s.
Hi there nice to see you back and hope your all well lovely tunnel shame it's a but wet and muddy so straight thanks for sharing take care xx
Thanks for watching as always and it's good to be back.! Yes it was lovely but too much graffiti but where it is I suppose that can't be avoided. Thanks again 👍
Outstanding work and congratulations on 1k subscribers
Thank you and thanks for watching. It's been an uphill task at times but got there eventually.
Cracking video mate
Thank you buddy and thanks for your support 👍
That's a great old tunnel Middy. I can't even think how they cemented all those bricks up the sides and into the ceiling. Many thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching. Incredible structure and like all these old tunnels the workmanship is incredible.
Ooh how fab it's a film star! Also congratulations on 1k well deserved for such great adventures! 🎉😄🎉
Thank you and thanks for your continued support! Great place to visit and that link to stardom made it extra special! Thanks again and there's plenty more adventures on the way 👍
These types of tunnels tend to stay in good internal condition because they were built in relatively shallow ground.
Thanks for watching. Yes really dry and like you say not too deep underground.
Great video pal
Thanks mate glad you enjoyed it. That is some tunnel!!
@@MiddyExplores it’s a beauty and the colours on the roof are amazing gotta be one off the best tunnels I’ve been in
There is so much removed from below track level that the shape of the invert is very profound.
Thanks for watching. Yes it was very obvious at the Hitchin end where it was flooded.
I have been in there. Also, used to work with a guy who was a carriage & wagon fitter at Bedford depot and was onboard (union stipulation) the trains when they were doing the filming work.
Thanks for watching. That's great stuff and what a great memory. Times seemed so much more simple back then.
Nice one middy thanks for sharing the video shame about the graphety and the vandalism mindless idiots !! Thanks again
Thanks for watching. The graffiti is one thing but hammering at the inside of a tunnel whole you are in it takes some believing!
Good to see you are still making the videos! I remember the film but didn't know where it was filmed. Old Warden airfield is home to some lovely old aircraft most of which still get airborne occasionally and is well worth a visit on their open days. I assume that the tunnel is part of the Midland Railway route to London before they built their own terminus at St. Pancras. They ran into Kings Cross via Great Northern metals for some years. It looks a very well built tunnel despite the drainage having given up the ghost and died. Hardly surprising when the drains have had no attention for nearly 60 years! Remarkable condition after being abandoned for so long. Great video!
Thanks as always for watching and your kind comments. Had a short unplanned break but I am back now! It was part of that route and sadly underused towards the end. Another link that would be useful today. The drainage is no. Existent at the hitchin end but much drier at the other.
We don't seem to have many tunnels like this near to where we live. Other than over in Waterfoot, there is very little. But a great video all the same 👍
Thank you and thanks for watching. Tbf I am now having to travel further afield as I have done all the tunnels in Leicestershire! Thanks for your support
Great video! What a marvellous old tunnel. I do totally agree with you - why do these idiots cover everything in the awful graffiti? It is NOT art, it is NOT pretty, it's just vandalism. Banning spray cans of paint might just help.
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Thanks for watching and glad you agree. It's just an eyesore. Although I have just seen that Leicester city council have been promoting it ! Unbelievable. The beautiful old brickwork and features are sometimes completely ruined by this rubbish.
Great video, I went to see Dunton Basset tunnel but I was stopped by rain. Another great tunnel explore. Quite a long tunnel. Why on earth would you hack away at a tunnel wall, I thought graffiti was bad enough!
Thanks as always for watching. A longer tunnel than I initially thought and worth a visit. Why on earth anyone would think it's a good idea to hammer at the wall of a 150 year old structure is beyond me and shows a real lack of intelligence.
I think that may well be the darkest tunnel you've been in!!!! The Bedford entrance has quite a drop once you climb through the hole, so you made the best decision by coming in from the other end. History like that needs to be preserved, but sadly I don't think it's being looked after despite being in a nature reserve.
Thanks for watching and your support. It's sad that the tunnel isn't cared for and is accessible from both ends as someone has broke the bar off at the nature reserve end , hence the new graffiti etc. A lovely tunnel though and yes very dark but nothing is as dark as Sherwood Rise! No natural light at all. Thanks again 👍
Great vid I would love to go there with my jet wash and clean all that graphite off that beautiful tunnel what a waste o spray cans pointless
Thanks for watching. Totally agree I hate the stuff plastered everywhere.
I am wondering if these damaged areas are tunnel wall inspection sites where cracks were being investigated? OR, perhaps really offensive graffiti were removed or some dodgy writing? OR some flying insect/bird attacking the masonry because it contains nutrient of some sort or for nest building? May of course just be the facing of the bricks failing over time? I just can't get my head around the idea that vandals would have done that.
Somebody must know. This at one time was considered for reopening as part of the East West link, so the beautiful and massive viaduct that used to cross Shefford was demolished to (in my opinion) to skuttle that plan. Now of course if that route had been re-opened there would with the addition of another single track north curve at Hitchin make the route complete.
Department of transport vandalism did not stop with Beeching and British Rail in the early 80's did it !!!!!!!!