Really interesting thank you, I can’t help but think there is no greater way to disrespect the toil that the lads endured digging that tunnel out than that column of rubbish that had been tossed down the vent shaft.👍🏴
That white stuff is called flow stone, if you touch it, it's actually hard with a slight grippy texture and its just years and years of calcite minerals build up, in caves that are millions of years old they can build huge pillars of it!
In the late 1950's My dad would take us from Somersby Road, across the aeroplane fields, to play alongside the rail tracks at where Weaverthorpe Road now stands. As a 7yr old in 1960, he took me to Victoria Station and we rode through the tunnel to Daybrook shortly before the line closed. Later I spent many days climbing over the coal wagons that were left in the cutting on the Woodthorpe side.
@@zerogravitas4172 We lived on Pateley Road and everyone I remember called the undeveloped fields between Somersby Road and the Railway Line that name. Its origins I do not know.
You wouldn't have travelled through this tunnel from Vic Station to Daybrook; this line went from Daybrook through the tunnel to Gedling colliery and, I think, onwards to the line between Burton Joyce and Netherfield (memory not so good on this...)
I live not far from this tunnel and you showed my friend house in an old photo from the end that you can’t access. Knowing how far this tunnel runs and what is above, a collapse is going to be devastating. I guess this may be the last we will see of this tunnel. Brilliant filming as usual. Thank you
This is an amazing watch for me, as a young kid in mid late 60s i remember going through the tunnel with my mates, a standard sunday adventure back then, no torch between us, just the light from either end as a guide. I've been back fairly recently a few times, it really is in quite a state and no doubt soon gone for good. Having the place lit up is so revealing. brilliant, well done for creating and sharing.
Glad you made it back, great vid👍 Never thought I'd get to see fossilised sleepers and chairs!!! That buffer just lying there I found somehow spooky. Unusual to see the arch supports but even better close up. Shame to see that gross rubbish pile, just chuck your rubbish down the nearest hole, not a thought for the hours of blood, sweat & tears given by the builders of this tunnel😠
Morning Bob 🙂 That dates back to the 70s apparently looking at some of the trash at the bottom. Glad you enjoyed it. We certainly won't be going back 👍
Nice, enabled me to visit a section of the old Nottingham Network I had not visited, my visits and those many children who explored the old railways of Notiingham would have included the old suburban railway, for Gedling was then a working colliery, the white substance is like flow spar and most likely to be from Calcite/quartz/Gypsum/ Alabaster deposits found in the clay, Nottingham was famed for Alabaster carvings. The infill beyond the air shafts appeared to have cobble stone and Victorian house bricks among it , such debris may have been from demolished rail structures, for the site to the West of the Tunnel was developed whilst Gedling Colliery was still working, but perhaps included debris from the former Sherwood and Daybrook stations, platforms and stock yards etc. It was common practice to fill in such space with materials from demolition projects, which would also be around the time of St Ann's demolition, of the 1960's and early 1970's, a journey possible along the former rail route. I recall the tunnel from the Wells Road to Woodthorpe Park ie Sherwood Station being filled or capped in such a manner.
@@TrekkingExploration Thank you, Trekking and Towpaths our collective memories and contributions often position small detail, which could be lost over time, not unlike the ornate Pissoir once standing opposite to the canal towpath near Meadow lane on London Road or the important function of the Tinkers Leen in the canal network between London Road and Canal Street Nottingham, such architecture and archaeology should be recorded and if possible preserved, well done for your contributions, leaving behind only footprints and taking only pictures.
Always wanted to look inside this tunnel, I do wonder about some people's mental health, throwing rubblsh down a ventilation shaft, no care in the world. This tunnel is in a terrible condition, but i personally think, if it was relined and rock repinned, then it could be brought back into use, possibly for the tram network.
it never will....the western portal is in the middle of a housing estate (woodthorpe/whitby crescent) it would be a nightmare and cost many £ millions to lay a track across main roads, a school, a park....another estate, to get to this tunnel....
@@TrekkingExploration I can say I didnt no this was here till I started using openrailmaps it's a shame the great North rail cart be great again . Fantastic video stay safe out there 🤠
Great video. Water ingress and the ravages of time really have taken their tole on that tunnel. When you see the amount of water in there you can only imagine the state of all the disused coal mines.
Also there’s the Tunnel under Mansfield Road which did come out at the old Notts Victoria Station. The Station Portal is boarded up, but think there is still access to the tunnel, maybe via the council or something
An interesting video. Actually saw the inside before with Adventureme a couple of weeks ago. This tunnel used as a garbage bin is disgusting. Thanks for the tour Ant. Cheers Ant! 🏴🙂👍🇺🇸
Well if people can throw the contents of their car ashtray out of the window , people will do anything. As I get older I can’t help getting upset how easy it is to keep things clean with little effort but others feel out of sight out of mind. Great comment BTW and yes a very interesting video.
The pepper pots are on land owned by a local scout group. As a kid I remember the one at the top of the hill had a metal hatch added to the side of it. The leaders used to unlock the hatch and throw rubbish down it. I think there was also a makeshift urinals built on the side of it that used to drain into that pepper pot.
Me and my pal walked the tunnel last week, kept going even after the filled in bit, eventually got to the point where nothing is supporting the bricks, but we gave up after having to crawl through to get to the other section
Amazing video. We found you after seeing Paul Whitewick's video. My husband worked at this colliery (briefly) in the late 70's. Your filming and photography - as well as the accompanying music was such a pleasure to watch. Thank you.
From the looks of this tunnel it's safer that it is sealed up. Have you been back since to check on it? Also, I've discovered that Nottingham has a *H U G E* amount of railway and colliery infrastructure that has been abandoned, including it seems, so many more GCR tunnels and alignment that I'd be interested in seeing you explore. 🤯
Hey there Great Video, Me and my dad took the dogs down there back in 2012, it wasn’t fenced off when we went down though. Along Jessops Lane in Gedling you can get onto, or could get on the line that takes you up to it. The actul Rail and sleepers where taken up in summer 2012. It joins up to netherfield station.
Hello 🙂 I tried to walk the trackbed towards netherfield sadly the day I went I could not get anywhere near it. I've heard a few people mention there are plans to convert it to a footpath. Thanks for watching 🙂
Ant I hope you tell people where you are going before you do an explore. Note to any explorers , please tell people where you are going. If the roof had collapsed how would anyone know you were there unless you prior tell someone where you are going. No phone signal in that tunnel. Great video and so enjoyable. Thus ends my safety message.😊
never did this one but i have walked through both carrington tunnels in about 73 with some mates.....no torches either!! Mapperley one was scary as it bends
Hiya again Anthony, Just found your lastest video on RUclips and yet again what a brilliant video. That place looked really unsafe sorry to say, you were both lucky not to hurt yourselves, it's such a shame that you weren't able to get right up to the end of the tunnel or get to see the third air vent. 😢 And on the subject of air vent number 2 how can people be so uncaring by dumping rubbish down there like that, I hate people who litter, but on the plus side it was lovely to find an old buffer of a guards van, fancy that being there for so long, if I'd of been there, I'd of tried to bring it back home with me if it wasn't heavy 😁😁 and even some old sleepers too, with the chairs still intacted too, a lovely find. It's good to know that the drainage system in the tunnel is working well too, and all that white stuff on the walls, was like being in an artic wilderness. Anyway thanks again for posting the video and I'll look forward to seeing your next one soon hopefully. All the best from. Devon. Mike.
Morning Mike glad you enjoyed it and thank you for messaging 🙂 i It is such a shame when you think of all the man hours that went into designing and building. Imagine how many bricks? At least there is a recent record of it now. We did a tunnel in Leicestershire a few weeks ago, much better condition. See you soon 🙂
Another cracking video. I live very close to where the 40 Bridges was, on the Nottingham Victoria / Pinxton branch of The GNR. You should have many more subscribers. Excellent channel.
I love tunnel explores. It's a shame you couldn't get any farther. I'm surprised that they in-filled it for nearly half the length of the tunnel. That must have been quite a job.
WOW! That was amazing. So interesting! It looked so rotten I am very grateful you risked your safety to show us this awesome video and document this fantastic structure! Really really good! 😁👍👍👍👍👊😎
The western portal is near the arrow pub if you walk past the arrow pub towards arnovale field there’s a scout building across the road the western portal is there bricked up
Hi Keith that's great information. I used to go to the Arrow years ago. We were discussing last week if the third shaft still existed. Thanks for watching 🙂
Trekking & Towpaths if you go on google maps you can see the line of trees where the western portal is, if you follow the line of the tunnel through the houses you will see a clump of trees behind the flats ( what used to be mapperley squash club) on mapperley top I believe it’s there if my memory serves me right from when I was a kid
Great video.....is this the same tunnel that i would have seen back in the sixties coming out near Arnold hill academy? i have a vague recollection of it.
@@TrekkingExploration Hi i looked on google maps and using the distance tool i think the arnold end of the tunnel is approx near no 99 Whitby Cres..you can see what looks like the old railway bed that runs left to Thackerys lane and continues to Daybrook. I cant go look for myself as we now are living in Australia. i was just wondering if you had ever found the other end of the tunnel?
That was fantastic thanks. Believe that white stuff is water damaged calcite. Such a shame to see all that damage but it was so beautiful. Thanks so much for taking me along
Been myself here. But your video much better I remember also Chase Farm near the top where pepperpots are and remember the old Gedling pit as a kid. Last time I went was in winter in snow. Tred carefully, slippery them ways. Great memories down there from 1980s. Near where you found drainage holes there was once stood I believe something like a hut on side of train tracks 🛤 Apparently it's caved in since you went..such a shame they leave these places to rot away. The milk looking dust inside refuges are calcium yes or maybe decay from weather Good light you had what we failed. I'm following you on Facebook too. And we should do a collaboration one day soon. Anyways great video Safe Journeys Pedro Aka LOST PILGRIM
Hi in your video you asked about the cutting near the tunnel. It was the empty waggon sidings for the colliery. I know because I was one of the loco drivers/ shunters in those sidings . BR would push a line of emptys up the siding there were several tracks,.
Hi Jonathan. Thanks watching and for the kind comment 🙂 It's one place I never ever thought I'd get the opportunity to see inside. Best visit of the year for me so far 😊
A very interesting and slight;y weird vid this one. Now here`s a first - I think this tunnel is so bad it should be plugged just like at the far end. Never thought I`d say that.
Me and my m8 did this 30 odd years ago but back then the tunnel was filled nearly to the top from vickie center to gedling but with a few spaces along the way, it was tight and quite scary at times as we didnt have lights and after god knows how long we emerged black as coal miners lol.
Superb look inside 😮 I need to go on the maps now looking for the 3 Pepperpots. I think one of them is next to the new Gedling access road and they have it fenced off and shown in their own fly over drone footage. Brilliant.
east to west.....pepper pot 1....in a field next to the new road, colliery way....pepper pot 2 at the scout hut,corner of mapperley plains road/Arnold lane....pepper pot 3....(the trickiest to find) go down Gedling road 50 yards,left turn - it is behind some flats ,up a driveway....
went halfway through this tunnel (to the earth blockage) in the mid 70's and 80's....always unnaturally COLD in there, even a hot summer day....WHOEVER at the scout hut (second pepper pot) is responsible for the 'crap stack' should be made to remove it with a spoon.... they even cut a hatch into the pepper pot so they could dump stuff down it....disgusting....
I was working in this area yesterday, loads of development there now doubt you could get to the tunnel, from Arnold Ln A6211 one of the pepperpots are well exposed while passing
Trekking & Towpaths apologies my phone did an auto correct without me noticing 🤦🏼♂️ The whole are is now fenced off, a large housing estate is being developed there
surprised how Badley decade the tunnel is now ,as kids we often walked right through before it was boarded up then filled with earth, i lived on the farm there for over 20 years so it was kind of in my back garden ,the old farmer was responsible for dumping all the rubbish down the vent shaft shame the hole area is now being developed
Hello Frank. I've still found nothing else on him except on the music site i get these from. Odd isn't it. I'll have to include more of his in the future. Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed it 🙂
@@TrekkingExploration Thank You Once Again I always Enjoy Your Videos ...There Done In A Very Natural Way ...And I amSure Your Audience Will Grow Keep The Great Work Its Appreciated ...Frank
Hi, interesting video, thank you. Do make sure you stay safe exploring places though, not just things falling on you but the mold in such places can lead to severe lung problems and you can pick up diseases from wildlife, i.e., rats (leptospirosis). A hard hat, gloves and a mask might be useful when going into places like old tunnels. The white stuff you saw on the walls looks like mineral deposits, in this case salts and Calcium. The geology around the tunnel is the Mercia Mudstone (the red-brown rock you saw at the back of one of the refuges), which contains layers of Gypsum and Calcium Carbonate. As the water slowly percolates through it, traces of the dissolved minerals are carried with the water and get deposited on the surface of things when exposed to atmosphere/air. It is the same process that form stalagmites and stalactites. The high content of Gypsum and Carbonate layers in this rock would explain the high amounts of mineral deposition. On a side note, the same geology is present underneath Burton-upon-Trent and the groundwater there, with the dissolved salts and minerals in it, makes for rather good beer, hence why the brewing industry built up at Burton. I noticed someone commented that the white stuff could be pollution, which I don't think it is in itself, however, acidic rainwater (as a result of air pollution) will increase the rate of the calcium minerals being dissolved from the rock and therefore could increase the amount of minerals in the water. Interestingly, within the Mercia Mudstone in this area, there are also very hard carbonate layers known as Skerries, these layers are very difficult for nature to weather (in comparison to say the Sherwood Sandstone that lies beneath much of Nottingham) and they result in the high ground of Mapperley Top and surrounding areas. A quick look at a geological map shows that the tunnel passes through a ridge of high ground, which Plains Road runs along, caused by a Skerry band. As a further note, the Mercia Mudstone is a relatively low permeability material, it will be saturated with water that is passing through it at a very slow rate, hence if you build a tunnel in it, there will be a lot of water within the rock that will ingress into the tunnel. Hence why you found it to be very wet in there. Furthermore, the significant amount of water along with the minerals and salts within the water will accelerate rust on iron, which would explain why the supports were very corroded (even for ~150 years). The efflorescence on the bricks (the white powdery patches) is another indication of the very damp conditions.
I got as far as the buffer and then I heard a voice in the tunnel, look up the tunnel to see who was there my torch has a range of 190m but I couldn’t see anyone
Mate I'll say it straight off, that was absolutely fascinating, a superb video. That white stuff reminds me of the canal video from a few months back that had all that white gunge in the water, is the tunnel in close proximity to the canal? I wouldn't fancy living in the houses above the tunnel knowing that all that white stuff was below ground, it looked like something from a horror film. Talking of which, that pile of rubbish is incredible, I half expected it to come to life!!! Did you say that the top of the shaft comes up into someone's garden? Blimey, they'd be in for a shock if they had a look down the shaft!!!! Great effort pal.
It's quite something isn't it? I've had a couple of suggestions it's Calcite. We still need to come and don't that tunnel you're way, Bennicliff or something? Near RAF Stenigot.
@@TrekkingExploration Benniworth, not a bad effort though!!! I've been up there to have a scout around, it seems easily accessible so should be a good explore.
Hey 😊 Some of it I learn over the years of living in the area and some from you could say doing a little study of the location before and after 😊 Thank you for watching 🙂
I went down there for the first time last Sunday. Didn't go more than about 5 ft in as I had no torch. But I don't recognise where that cutting was right at the end, with the sleeper pile. Has that been buried under the new oadworks?
What memories! I remember walking here from Ramsey Drive, when I was five, with my brother, 7,and sister 8. My brother walked to where you got to, but he remembered being able to see the other entrance. I had nightmares about this tunnel for a decade after. Do you know when the other portal was filled in? I am not sure if we entered from Ernehale School end? Great video, thank you!
I've been meaning much further along that 1meter tall passage at the top of the soil mound, the friends I was with at the time wanted to turn back.. So sadly we did.. Later finding out the only reason it hadn't been fully deconstructed and filled in is because of a rare species of bat living in there.
Drove by today and the first shaft is now fully exposed and it looks like the whole site has been built up to that level ready for building. Couldn't see much else other than that as I was at the wheel but doesn't look like the tunnel has been saved sadly :(
I keep wondering this but its really hard to find a concrete explanation, from videos like this and a lot of photos from across the decades I am confident in saying in *some* cases that there is a double arch vaulting behind the final layer of bricks. The same X pattern of two intersecting arches you see in stone Church ceilings with a double intersecting barrel vault, with bricks or stone blocks and a ring or Reuleaux triangle in place of a keystone and the shaft rests on the vaulting. The inner layer is usually just a lining with many courses of bricks, usually at least 3 but sometimes more. I get this impression from tunnels in extreme disrepair and the bricks coming down and from other tunnels where the vaulting structure was left exposed in the lining courses. This probably doesnt cover every example, it might be uncommon and I might be wrong but its the best I got. I dont think you could pin the shaft lining like that, its a lot of weight and the rock is bound to have some instabilities over the many hundreds of feet these shafts sink vertically.
There maybe a chance the tunnel will not be filled in. even though the traffic was stopped years ago the tunnel was kept open due to it being the home for a colony of bats living in there (bats are a protected speices which can not be disturbed). so if the bats are still there the tunnel will remain untoched.
What a shame its going to disappear, history! Why couldn't they make good of it, so traffic could pass, rather than take down trees, etc and conjest mapperly top even more.
fenced off....but people smash the locks/bars in the fence....can only get halfway....(500yards?) went as far as we could go,in the 1970's....West portal up to 3rd pepper pot was filled in, in the 60's because of subsidence....it part collapsed in 1925....there are 2 main roads and a housing estate on top of it....
Really interesting thank you, I can’t help but think there is no greater way to disrespect the toil that the lads endured digging that tunnel out than that column of rubbish that had been tossed down the vent shaft.👍🏴
Very true. Decades of mess down there
That white stuff is called flow stone, if you touch it, it's actually hard with a slight grippy texture and its just years and years of calcite minerals build up, in caves that are millions of years old they can build huge pillars of it!
In the late 1950's My dad would take us from Somersby Road, across the aeroplane fields, to play alongside the rail tracks at where Weaverthorpe Road now stands. As a 7yr old in 1960, he took me to Victoria Station and we rode through the tunnel to Daybrook shortly before the line closed. Later I spent many days climbing over the coal wagons that were left in the cutting on the Woodthorpe side.
Thanks for this memory. But, what were the aeroplane fields?
@@zerogravitas4172 We lived on Pateley Road and everyone I remember called the undeveloped fields between Somersby Road and the Railway Line that name. Its origins I do not know.
I would have loved to have seen all this, especially Victoria Station. Also getting the oppertunity to ride through there too :)
You wouldn't have travelled through this tunnel from Vic Station to Daybrook; this line went from Daybrook through the tunnel to Gedling colliery and, I think, onwards to the line between Burton Joyce and Netherfield (memory not so good on this...)
God....the aeroplane field....!
I haven't heard that name for 40 years....
I live not far from this tunnel and you showed my friend house in an old photo from the end that you can’t access. Knowing how far this tunnel runs and what is above, a collapse is going to be devastating. I guess this may be the last we will see of this tunnel. Brilliant filming as usual. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it. I never ever expected to get in, ever. It was worth it. Thanks for the kind comment
It’s still going strong😂
Been down it. Lovely. I’m still amazed to this day the drains working
I'm surprised we can still get in. Going beyond the rubbish stack was interesting 🙂
Thanks for watching 🙂
This is an amazing watch for me, as a young kid in mid late 60s i remember going through the tunnel with my mates, a standard sunday adventure back then, no torch between us, just the light from either end as a guide. I've been back fairly recently a few times, it really is in quite a state and no doubt soon gone for good. Having the place lit up is so revealing. brilliant, well done for creating and sharing.
Morning Raymond thanks very much for the kind comment. Really appreciate it 🙂👍
How do you find this tunnel?
Nice interesting video. It's unbelievable that so much garbage was thrown down the ventilation shaft
Glad you made it back, great vid👍 Never thought I'd get to see fossilised sleepers and chairs!!! That buffer just lying there I found somehow spooky. Unusual to see the arch supports but even better close up. Shame to see that gross rubbish pile, just chuck your rubbish down the nearest hole, not a thought for the hours of blood, sweat & tears given by the builders of this tunnel😠
Morning Bob 🙂 That dates back to the 70s apparently looking at some of the trash at the bottom. Glad you enjoyed it. We certainly won't be going back 👍
Nice, enabled me to visit a section of the old Nottingham Network I had not visited, my visits and those many children who explored the old railways of Notiingham would have included the old suburban railway, for Gedling was then a working colliery, the white substance is like flow spar and most likely to be from Calcite/quartz/Gypsum/ Alabaster deposits found in the clay, Nottingham was famed for Alabaster carvings. The infill beyond the air shafts appeared to have cobble stone and Victorian house bricks among it , such debris may have been from demolished rail structures, for the site to the West of the Tunnel was developed whilst Gedling Colliery was still working, but perhaps included debris from the former Sherwood and Daybrook stations, platforms and stock yards etc. It was common practice to fill in such space with materials from demolition projects, which would also be around the time of St Ann's demolition, of the 1960's and early 1970's, a journey possible along the former rail route. I recall the tunnel from the Wells Road to Woodthorpe Park ie Sherwood Station being filled or capped in such a manner.
That's a fantastic write up, amazing comment thanks for taking the time. Really interesting 😀 It certainly explains a lot
@@TrekkingExploration Thank you, Trekking and Towpaths our collective memories and contributions often position small detail, which could be lost over time, not unlike the ornate Pissoir once standing opposite to the canal towpath near Meadow lane on London Road or the important function of the Tinkers Leen in the canal network between London Road and Canal Street Nottingham, such architecture and archaeology should be recorded and if possible preserved, well done for your contributions, leaving behind only footprints and taking only pictures.
Always wanted to look inside this tunnel, I do wonder about some people's mental health, throwing rubblsh down a ventilation shaft, no care in the world. This tunnel is in a terrible condition, but i personally think, if it was relined and rock repinned, then it could be brought back into use, possibly for the tram network.
That would be a wonderful new life for it 😊
it never will....the western portal is in the middle of a housing estate (woodthorpe/whitby crescent) it would be a nightmare and cost many
£ millions to lay a track across main roads, a school, a park....another estate, to get to this tunnel....
All that beautiful craftsmanship left to rot 😢
Thanks for going through all that discomfort and danger to bring us those amazing shots. The flytip stalagmite is just amazing.
I doubt most people even know what is under their feet. Fascinating find and stay safe
Especially that spectacular pile of whatever lol. Thanks for watching, it was indeed an experience 🙂😀
@@TrekkingExploration I can say I didnt no this was here till I started using openrailmaps it's a shame the great North rail cart be great again . Fantastic video stay safe out there 🤠
@@jamespearce1991 thanks so much for watching 🙂
Great video. Water ingress and the ravages of time really have taken their tole on that tunnel. When you see the amount of water in there you can only imagine the state of all the disused coal mines.
Thats a really good point about the mines, wow to just get a camera down into one must be another world down there
Also there’s the Tunnel under Mansfield Road which did come out at the old Notts Victoria Station.
The Station Portal is boarded up, but think there is still access to the tunnel, maybe via the council or something
An interesting video. Actually saw the inside before with Adventureme a couple of weeks ago. This tunnel used as a garbage bin is disgusting. Thanks for the tour Ant. Cheers Ant! 🏴🙂👍🇺🇸
Well if people can throw the contents of their car ashtray out of the window , people will do anything. As I get older I can’t help getting upset how easy it is to keep things clean with little effort but others feel out of sight out of mind. Great comment BTW and yes a very interesting video.
The pepper pots are on land owned by a local scout group. As a kid I remember the one at the top of the hill had a metal hatch added to the side of it. The leaders used to unlock the hatch and throw rubbish down it. I think there was also a makeshift urinals built on the side of it that used to drain into that pepper pot.
I'm glad i didn't look up with my mouth open lol
The fences are back up but someone broke their way in, also the tunnel is preserved so it won’t be filed in
It doesn't take long for someone to rip them down does it? Thanks for watching 🙂
Fence was same yesterday 🤷♀️
Me and my pal walked the tunnel last week, kept going even after the filled in bit, eventually got to the point where nothing is supporting the bricks, but we gave up after having to crawl through to get to the other section
The unsupported bricks bit sounds a bit scary...
Isnt there a wall of dirt behind the trash?
@@amylancaster7239 yes almost to the roof
Amazing video. We found you after seeing Paul Whitewick's video. My husband worked at this colliery (briefly) in the late 70's. Your filming and photography - as well as the accompanying music was such a pleasure to watch. Thank you.
The west portal is still there saw it yesterday 👍
From the looks of this tunnel it's safer that it is sealed up. Have you been back since to check on it? Also, I've discovered that Nottingham has a *H U G E* amount of railway and colliery infrastructure that has been abandoned, including it seems, so many more GCR tunnels and alignment that I'd be interested in seeing you explore. 🤯
Amazing place! And, the musical accompaniment is spot on. Great stuff!
Hey there Great Video, Me and my dad took the dogs down there back in 2012, it wasn’t fenced off when we went down though.
Along Jessops Lane in Gedling you can get onto, or could get on the line that takes you up to it. The actul Rail and sleepers where taken up in summer 2012. It joins up to netherfield station.
Hello 🙂 I tried to walk the trackbed towards netherfield sadly the day I went I could not get anywhere near it. I've heard a few people mention there are plans to convert it to a footpath. Thanks for watching 🙂
Great video and thanks for recording this soon to be lost piece of history.
Thanks Mr Middy. We still need to do one together 😉
Ant I hope you tell people where you are going before you do an explore. Note to any explorers , please tell people where you are going. If the roof had collapsed how would anyone know you were there unless you prior tell someone where you are going. No phone signal in that tunnel. Great video and so enjoyable. Thus ends my safety message.😊
Ant i think the build up of water creates stalactites they do form in alot of disused tunnels 😇
never did this one but i have walked through both carrington tunnels in about 73 with some mates.....no torches either!! Mapperley one was scary as it bends
Mansfield Road Tunnel would be quite a treat. Unlikely I'll ever get the opportunity though. Thank you for watching 🙂
Hiya again Anthony,
Just found your lastest video on RUclips and yet again what a brilliant video.
That place looked really unsafe sorry to say, you were both lucky not to hurt yourselves, it's such a shame that you weren't able to get right up to the end of the tunnel or get to see the third air vent. 😢
And on the subject of air vent number 2 how can people be so uncaring by dumping rubbish down there like that, I hate people who litter, but on the plus side it was lovely to find an old buffer of a guards van, fancy that being there for so long, if I'd of been there, I'd of tried to bring it back home with me if it wasn't heavy 😁😁 and even some old sleepers too, with the chairs still intacted too, a lovely find.
It's good to know that the drainage system in the tunnel is working well too, and all that white stuff on the walls, was like being in an artic wilderness.
Anyway thanks again for posting the video and I'll look forward to seeing your next one soon hopefully.
All the best from.
Devon. Mike.
Morning Mike glad you enjoyed it and thank you for messaging 🙂 i
It is such a shame when you think of all the man hours that went into designing and building. Imagine how many bricks? At least there is a recent record of it now. We did a tunnel in Leicestershire a few weeks ago, much better condition. See you soon 🙂
Another cracking video. I live very close to where the 40 Bridges was, on the Nottingham Victoria / Pinxton branch of The GNR. You should have many more subscribers. Excellent channel.
Sadly i never got to see 40 bridges. Thankyou for this very kind comment :)
8:24 what children see before they're born haha, great video mate!
I love tunnel explores. It's a shame you couldn't get any farther. I'm surprised that they in-filled it for nearly half the length of the tunnel. That must have been quite a job.
Morning Thomas. Glad you enjoyed it. I wonder what was demolished to fill it too? We have another long tunnel coming soon 🙂👍
thanks for another awesome explore, i doubt i will bother trying to go there if it is being built on.
I never ever thought I'd get to see inside. Just by chance. Glad you like it ❤️
The road goes over the top of the tunnel and along side the entrance, the tunnel won’t be closed because it’s a bat breeding area
WOW! That was amazing. So interesting! It looked so rotten I am very grateful you risked your safety to show us this awesome video and document this fantastic structure! Really really good! 😁👍👍👍👍👊😎
Cheers Ant 👍It was a total one off and you won't get me in there again 🤔Definitely worth having the hard hat and steel toecaps 🙂
The scout hut threw no end of rubbish down there. There is even a caravan in there
A caravan 😮
The western portal is near the arrow pub if you walk past the arrow pub towards arnovale field there’s a scout building across the road the western portal is there bricked up
Hi Keith that's great information. I used to go to the Arrow years ago. We were discussing last week if the third shaft still existed. Thanks for watching 🙂
Trekking & Towpaths if you go on google maps you can see the line of trees where the western portal is, if you follow the line of the tunnel through the houses you will see a clump of trees behind the flats ( what used to be mapperley squash club) on mapperley top I believe it’s there if my memory serves me right from when I was a kid
Great video. Excellent stills too. Brave to go in there but well worth it. Thanks for letting us see it before it is gone forever.
Glad you enjoyed it. It was an opportunity not to miss. An absolute one off 😀 Thanks so much for watching and the kind comment 😀
Great video.....is this the same tunnel that i would have seen back in the sixties coming out near Arnold hill academy? i have a vague recollection of it.
Looking at it I feel you are correct 😀
@@TrekkingExploration Hi i looked on google maps and using the distance tool i think the arnold end of the tunnel is approx near no 99 Whitby Cres..you can see what looks like the old railway bed that runs left to Thackerys lane and continues to Daybrook. I cant go look for myself as we now are living in Australia. i was just wondering if you had ever found the other end of the tunnel?
It is the same tunnel. I went to ACH school (and now live in Oz!)
Great video Ant,I have been through Mapperley more times than I can remember I didn’t even know it was there thanks for doing the video.
Thanks Darren 🙂 Makes you wonder what else is Just laying there waiting to be found 🤔
That was fantastic thanks. Believe that white stuff is water damaged calcite. Such a shame to see all that damage but it was so beautiful. Thanks so much for taking me along
Morning 🙂 Or Evening? 😉 Thanks for watching and commenting. Back to the canals i think next week. Hope you're OK 🙂
Look forward to that. All good thanks so much
Been myself here. But your video much better I remember also Chase Farm near the top where pepperpots are and remember the old Gedling pit as a kid. Last time I went was in winter in snow. Tred carefully, slippery them ways. Great memories down there from 1980s.
Near where you found drainage holes there was once stood I believe something like a hut on side of train tracks 🛤
Apparently it's caved in since you went..such a shame they leave these places to rot away.
The milk looking dust inside refuges are calcium yes or maybe decay from weather
Good light you had what we failed.
I'm following you on Facebook too. And we should do a collaboration one day soon.
Anyways great video
Safe Journeys
Pedro
Aka LOST PILGRIM
Hi in your video you asked about the cutting near the tunnel. It was the empty waggon sidings for the colliery. I know because I was one of the loco drivers/ shunters in those sidings . BR would push a line of emptys up the siding there were several tracks,.
brilliant video and photos very creepy,well done boys.
Hi Jonathan. Thanks watching and for the kind comment 🙂 It's one place I never ever thought I'd get the opportunity to see inside. Best visit of the year for me so far 😊
A very interesting and slight;y weird vid this one. Now here`s a first - I think this tunnel is so bad it should be plugged just like at the far end. Never thought I`d say that.
That stack of rubbish is quite a crazy thing isn't it? I can't see it being open for long
Me and my m8 did this 30 odd years ago but back then the tunnel was filled nearly to the top from vickie center to gedling but with a few spaces along the way, it was tight and quite scary at times as we didnt have lights and after god knows how long we emerged black as coal miners lol.
We had 5 lights i think it was, so would be OK if any failed but its got to be scary stuff if you had just one light or none. Thanks for watching 🙂
Thanks for the video, brought back some memories, was a fireman at Colwick loco
Thank you for watching and I'm pleased you enjoyed seeing it again. I never thought I'd get the opportunity, so pleased I did 😀
Superb look inside 😮 I need to go on the maps now looking for the 3 Pepperpots. I think one of them is next to the new Gedling access road and they have it fenced off and shown in their own fly over drone footage. Brilliant.
east to west.....pepper pot 1....in a field next to the new road, colliery way....pepper pot 2 at the scout hut,corner of mapperley plains road/Arnold lane....pepper pot 3....(the trickiest to find) go down Gedling road 50 yards,left turn - it is behind some flats ,up a driveway....
@@volpeverde6441 ah thx 🙂 I knew of the Scout Hut one too but no way did I realise where #3 was.
went halfway through this tunnel (to the earth blockage) in the mid 70's and 80's....always unnaturally COLD in there, even a hot summer day....WHOEVER at the scout hut (second pepper pot) is responsible for the 'crap stack' should be made to remove it with a spoon....
they even cut a hatch into the pepper pot so they could dump stuff down it....disgusting....
This is my favourite video of the tunnel
I loved it in there probably my favourite to date 👍
What a fantastic video. Really enjoyed watching the video. Many thanks from chris 👍
Hey Chris thanks for the kind comment and also for following 😀👍
Another good one, that buffer wants saving.
It's crazy to think it's been down there since falling off, from a brake Van apparently
@@TrekkingExploration it's a weird fascination we have but justified. Thanks for the effort mate.
Brilliant, enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching glad you enjoyed it 😀
I was working in this area yesterday, loads of development there now doubt you could get to the tunnel, from Arnold Ln A6211 one of the pepperpots are well exposed while passing
I'll probably go back when it's all complete. Show people what it's like then 😀
Trekking & Towpaths apologies my phone did an auto correct without me noticing 🤦🏼♂️ The whole are is now fenced off, a large housing estate is being developed there
Bloody hell I'm glad I got there when I did
Trekking & Towpaths that’s mapperley and spink hill off my to do list now 👎
@@matdriver1 you sure its fully fenced off ?
surprised how Badley decade the tunnel is now ,as kids we often walked right through before it was boarded up then filled with earth, i lived on the farm there for over 20 years so it was kind of in my back garden ,the old farmer was responsible for dumping all the rubbish down the vent shaft shame the hole area is now being developed
Oh wow was it the old Chase Farm? I think that was it's name
Really interesting film, some cracking photos at the end.
Thanks Richard :) I never thought i'd get to see it. I'll not be going back lol
Got many a fishy finger in there, happy memories.
Great Video ..Plus Thanks For The Music Listing ...After Our Last Chat ...Frank......
Hello Frank. I've still found nothing else on him except on the music site i get these from. Odd isn't it. I'll have to include more of his in the future. Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed it 🙂
@@TrekkingExploration Thank You Once Again I always Enjoy Your Videos ...There Done In A Very Natural Way ...And I amSure Your Audience Will Grow Keep The Great Work Its Appreciated ...Frank
The white stuff is lime
Hi, interesting video, thank you. Do make sure you stay safe exploring places though, not just things falling on you but the mold in such places can lead to severe lung problems and you can pick up diseases from wildlife, i.e., rats (leptospirosis). A hard hat, gloves and a mask might be useful when going into places like old tunnels.
The white stuff you saw on the walls looks like mineral deposits, in this case salts and Calcium. The geology around the tunnel is the Mercia Mudstone (the red-brown rock you saw at the back of one of the refuges), which contains layers of Gypsum and Calcium Carbonate. As the water slowly percolates through it, traces of the dissolved minerals are carried with the water and get deposited on the surface of things when exposed to atmosphere/air. It is the same process that form stalagmites and stalactites. The high content of Gypsum and Carbonate layers in this rock would explain the high amounts of mineral deposition. On a side note, the same geology is present underneath Burton-upon-Trent and the groundwater there, with the dissolved salts and minerals in it, makes for rather good beer, hence why the brewing industry built up at Burton.
I noticed someone commented that the white stuff could be pollution, which I don't think it is in itself, however, acidic rainwater (as a result of air pollution) will increase the rate of the calcium minerals being dissolved from the rock and therefore could increase the amount of minerals in the water.
Interestingly, within the Mercia Mudstone in this area, there are also very hard carbonate layers known as Skerries, these layers are very difficult for nature to weather (in comparison to say the Sherwood Sandstone that lies beneath much of Nottingham) and they result in the high ground of Mapperley Top and surrounding areas. A quick look at a geological map shows that the tunnel passes through a ridge of high ground, which Plains Road runs along, caused by a Skerry band.
As a further note, the Mercia Mudstone is a relatively low permeability material, it will be saturated with water that is passing through it at a very slow rate, hence if you build a tunnel in it, there will be a lot of water within the rock that will ingress into the tunnel. Hence why you found it to be very wet in there. Furthermore, the significant amount of water along with the minerals and salts within the water will accelerate rust on iron, which would explain why the supports were very corroded (even for ~150 years). The efflorescence on the bricks (the white powdery patches) is another indication of the very damp conditions.
I got as far as the buffer and then I heard a voice in the tunnel, look up the tunnel to see who was there my torch has a range of 190m but I couldn’t see anyone
I'd have probably legged it 😂
Trekking & Towpaths I did
Trekking & Towpaths when I upload my video I’ll put a link to this video because this video is how I found out what to look for
@@iDrinkYourMilkshake awe thanks very much I'll be sure to check it out too
@@TrekkingExploration its uploaded now ive put a card at the end and a link in the description
Mate I'll say it straight off, that was absolutely fascinating, a superb video. That white stuff reminds me of the canal video from a few months back that had all that white gunge in the water, is the tunnel in close proximity to the canal? I wouldn't fancy living in the houses above the tunnel knowing that all that white stuff was below ground, it looked like something from a horror film. Talking of which, that pile of rubbish is incredible, I half expected it to come to life!!! Did you say that the top of the shaft comes up into someone's garden? Blimey, they'd be in for a shock if they had a look down the shaft!!!! Great effort pal.
It's quite something isn't it? I've had a couple of suggestions it's Calcite. We still need to come and don't that tunnel you're way, Bennicliff or something? Near RAF Stenigot.
@@TrekkingExploration Benniworth, not a bad effort though!!! I've been up there to have a scout around, it seems easily accessible so should be a good explore.
Ha ha ha that's it. I knew it involves Benni 😂
Wot a great tunnel some thing going to lose for ever
Hello Steve, quite something isn't it? Pleased you enjoyed it 🙂
Morning, i think you may find the white milky substance running down the walls and floating in the water is possibly due to chemical polutuion.
Yeah it probably is. Kinda scary really
did this tunnel few years ago
It's up there with the best 👍
Same ;)
Very interesting thank you.
How a where do you find the information for this railway history its 👍 good
Hey 😊 Some of it I learn over the years of living in the area and some from you could say doing a little study of the location before and after 😊
Thank you for watching 🙂
I went down there for the first time last Sunday. Didn't go more than about 5 ft in as I had no torch. But I don't recognise where that cutting was right at the end, with the sleeper pile. Has that been buried under the new oadworks?
Lovely video Ant xx
Thanks Helen. I've a new version of this coming up very soon x
What memories! I remember walking here from Ramsey Drive, when I was five, with my brother, 7,and sister 8. My brother walked to where you got to, but he remembered being able to see the other entrance. I had nightmares about this tunnel for a decade after.
Do you know when the other portal was filled in? I am not sure if we entered from Ernehale School end?
Great video, thank you!
Now I know I’m not the only one having nightmares
There is something about this one that stands out from others i have been to.... it draws you back again and again. Glad you enjoyed it :)
Amazing explore shame it can’t be saved
Glad you enjoyed it. I never thought I'd get inside ever 🙂
It's now no longer possible to gain access to Mapperely tunnel its been boarded completely up top to bottom .
I've been meaning much further along that 1meter tall passage at the top of the soil mound, the friends I was with at the time wanted to turn back.. So sadly we did.. Later finding out the only reason it hadn't been fully deconstructed and filled in is because of a rare species of bat living in there.
It's tempting to carry on, to see if it goes all the way and maybe find the third shaft?
some new houses are built on top, the residents probably don’t even know under the floors is a air vent into a tunnel
I kept on saying: Get out quick!
The walk out was a bit like that 😬 Thanks for watching 🙂
thanks for that - top notch
Thank you for watching 🙂
I've lived here 54 years & I still don't know where it is. 😭
Drove by today and the first shaft is now fully exposed and it looks like the whole site has been built up to that level ready for building. Couldn't see much else other than that as I was at the wheel but doesn't look like the tunnel has been saved sadly :(
I think i'd ike to return soon, probably on a Sunday when there is little activity, see how it is now
Been down today the tunnel is still alive
What holds up the vent shaft brick work are they pinned into the ground on the way down. Good video.
I keep wondering this but its really hard to find a concrete explanation, from videos like this and a lot of photos from across the decades I am confident in saying in *some* cases that there is a double arch vaulting behind the final layer of bricks. The same X pattern of two intersecting arches you see in stone Church ceilings with a double intersecting barrel vault, with bricks or stone blocks and a ring or Reuleaux triangle
in place of a keystone and the shaft rests on the vaulting. The inner layer is usually just a lining with many courses of bricks, usually at least 3 but sometimes more. I get this impression from tunnels in extreme disrepair and the bricks coming down and from other tunnels where the vaulting structure was left exposed in the lining courses.
This probably doesnt cover every example, it might be uncommon and I might be wrong but its the best I got. I dont think you could pin the shaft lining like that, its a lot of weight and the rock is bound to have some instabilities over the many hundreds of feet these shafts sink vertically.
Thats a sketchy tunnel..
What would I do if I had a bottomless pit in my yard?
It's one i'll never go back too. I'm surprised all the shafts didn't get the same treatment
is the tunnel thats in coppice rec ?
There maybe a chance the tunnel will not be filled in. even though the traffic was stopped years ago the tunnel was kept open due to it being the home for a colony of bats living in there (bats are a protected speices which can not be disturbed). so if the bats are still there the tunnel will remain untoched.
Morning 🙂 That would be great if they do for the little fellas. Even putting up one of those steel sheets with the little bat holes in 😀
Hello mate what that Vinny Hardy with you taking the photos
Haven't read all the comments, too many is there access from the other end?
no access....arch is blocked....in the middle of an housing estate....
I’ve made it to the end it kinder scary and cold but I made it
Great effort 👍 I've been as far as the infilled third shaft in my recent upload. Thanks for watching.
What a shame its going to disappear, history! Why couldn't they make good of it, so traffic could pass, rather than take down trees, etc and conjest mapperly top even more.
It's going to be interesting to see what happens with it. I was back there last week. Looks so sorry 😟
Really enjoy your videos. Have learnt so much about some areas. Thanks.
Really pleased and thank you also 😊
have you found out what the milky stuff is
A couple of suggestions it's Calcite. I've never seen it before 👍
Can it still be entered?
A friend of mine went in December i last went in October
fenced off....but people smash the locks/bars in the fence....can only get halfway....(500yards?) went as far as we could go,in the 1970's....West portal up to 3rd pepper pot was filled in, in the 60's because of subsidence....it part collapsed in 1925....there are 2 main roads and a housing estate on top of it....
Put that rubbish heap into tate modern and make a millon pounds!
Yes somebody would buy it 🤣
Thanks for watching