The Wapping tunnel was scheduled to be used in the creation of the Merseyrail network in the 1970s. Thatcher came to power stopping the what was not built. A large underground burrowing junction was constructed south of Central station complete with header tunnels to connect onto the Wapping tunnel. They headers are still there ready for the work to be completed. This would have connected the east of the city with the main 3rd rail underground section. The east of the city was served by diesel trains until the work was completed then run by Merseyrail. Merseyrail trains could have run from Liverpool's underground section to Wigan and St.Helens. This disconnect affected the city. The city has been waiting for over 40 years to have the one third of the metro completed. So far zero, while London in the meantime has had, the Overground, DLR, Elizabeth Line, Thameslink, Underground extensions, etc.
I came across your video by accident and all I have to say is well done. I can't believe that such a historic piece of railway engineering is basically landfill and being treated with such disrespect. Your presentation skills as a roving reporter are excellent and put many pros to shame (I am an ex broadcast cameraman). Loved every second and will follow any progress with great interest.
And Mr J Husskison, who managed to get himself run over and killed on the opening day of the line,,,,, Husskison Dock was so named in his memory, if its still there.
Yeah, it should be, especially as it was because of George Stephenson's absolute insistence on building tunnels to the highest possible standard that saved the line through Summit tunnel near Littleborough after nearly a whole train load of petrol set on fire inside it december 1984, and I used to know one of the firemen who dealt with that blaze.
The 1848 tunnel with tracks in it, is still used as a headshunt. The tunnel and the original 1830s Crown St tunnel ran into a large coal depot, which was the site of the original Crown St terminal station. Crown St Park is now on the site.
3:34 This is such an eclectic and integral part of early railway history in the UK. The whole area should be cleared and restored in recognition of to the Liverpool to Manchester Railway. Surely a history and restoration group could be formed.
I'm from Liverpool and have always wanted to go and have a look around here. There's so much history, it's such a shame that it isn't being preserved in the manner it should be. Thank you for an amazing view of what's down there.
That area at the beginning of the video absolutely needs to be protected and preserved. Some many newer buildings are preserved and renovated, yet that area is absolutely historic internationally in the history of rail and it just lies in ruins. It would make an amazing 'museum' and would help bring visitors.
I thought this myself. We have some absolutely amazing history here on our door step and should preserve it. It's a part of our city's history. I hope they do finally turn it into a kind of museum they would get a lot of visitors yearly.
@@liamhennelly3961 The city cares little of its own history. The UN stripped the city of World Heritage Status, as it was desecrating world heritage sites.
@@johnburns4017 The council are not the city, they represent the city they are not the people. The average Scousers doesn't like the council and how it wastes our money.
I used to work in the Builders Yard on Kings Dock Street. There was always enthusiasts turning up to see the tunnel. Apparently, Land Rover filmed an ad down one to show what their car could do. They are responsible for some of the rubble as they needed to show it ‘off-road’, or so we were told! Should definitely be opened up as an historical site. Great vid!
Absolutely loved this. I’ve wanted to do what you have done for years! Fabulous! I’m a train driver and these old pieces of railway infrastructure are built to last..... the tunnels I drive through in Derbyshire are just awe inspiring. I think it would be great to see this reused as a combined cycle & tram way, we could even use this for heritage steam traction with the Wapping dock end as a museum/terminus. Well doe by the way, you are a brave man!
Fantastic job mate, you brought back so many memories for me , as kids we played down there we lived on Chatsworth street, no health and safety then or computer games, the steps that lead to the top that's over grown we used to drop of the top of the wall and come down those steps, now when I think back how dangerous it was I shudder to think about it but as you know you have no sense of danger, the Wapping tunnel we went down many times, we had a rubber dinghy that I think my Dad's Brother got from somewhere ????? It had the Royal Daffodil printed on the side it so obviously of the ferry it was about 7 foot long bright yellow We used that to get across the water need the end, well done mate and thanks for half hour of great memories 👍👍👍👍👍
From Wikipedia Merseytravel commissioned a feasibility study into the re-opening of the tunnel which was completed in May 2016. The study was focused on using the Wapping Tunnel to connect the Northern and City Lines together and the possible creation of a new station along the route to serve the city's Knowledge Quarter. The report found that the Wapping Tunnel was in good condition though suffered from flooding in places and would require some remedial work, however the concept of re-opening the tunnel was viable.[1]
Enjoyed the video, interesting stuff, up here in Edinburgh a lot of the old railway lines are now cycle paths which is good and a possible use for the old railway line down your way.
An excellent video, well done for finishing your walk through some pretty murky conditions and the rubbish tip. What a shame, totally agree with you, this is a historic piece of very early railway history and at least should be restored as a walkway / cycle route in it's entirety - so important to the history of Liverpool itself.
Thanks to the algorithm for throwing this up into my feed! What a great video. You have a really natural, engaging presentation style, and this is was super interesting, especially as someone born in Merseyside.
It's shameful I think that such an important historical site - a veritable keystone of the industrial revolution - has been allowed to become so neglected and almost forgotten. Surely this great nation, and the city of Liverpool in particular, should ensure that what remains is at least preserved until a more enlighten time arrives when have we learnt to value our working past more than we do now. Future generations will thank us if we do.
Aye, it would be a universal good, but sadly the city of Liverpool has been constantly and royally fucked by our benevolent southern lords, so we have little to no funds to take care of the actual living breathing folks in our wider area, nevermind the maintenence of historic architecture. Maybe when that situation resolves itself, we can turn back to caring for our illustrious history.
Crown street park has a pretty good memorial to the old railway. The museum of Liverpool at Albert dock has a whole exhibition celebrating the rail way. But it would be nice to see these tunnels repaired and accessible to the public.
we would love to but the city of liverpool is experiencing huge cuts to funding that to spend the money needed would mean further cuts to social services. unfortunately the tunnel is north of watford so the central government will not give the funding. if it was in london it would be mind!
@@davidroonmeister I see Liverpool has been stripped from the UNESCO World Heritage list. A disgrace. I wonder if the corruption cases against the Labour council have anything to do with it? Of course blaming London is much easier!
Omg that’s an amazing place! What a day out! There’s probably been more people up Everest than have walked through there since it closed. You’re very brave!
That was really interesting, you've made a great documentary on the old tunnel linking the rail line to the docks. I lived in Myrtle Street and had no idea about the tunnels. I've visited the Williamson tunnels which are off Smithdown lane near Myrtle Street. I'm old enough to remember the Overhead railway and near Brunswick station on Merseyrail there was a tunnel that took the Overhead railway to Dingle Station. Liverpool has an amazing history and I wonder how much more has been forgotten.Good on you for making this film.
I knew Clarkes that lived on mount st. There was a mysterious hole at the back of their house which sadly mr Clarke filled in! All that white stuff on the tunnel walls is probably seepage from the gallons of bleach he poured down the hole!.. The city is like swiss cheese, we dont know half of whats down there.
@@alberttatlock1311 that sounds like a mystery! Mount Street is about 50m from the Wapping Tunnel but well outside Mr Williamson's area of operation, not a clue what that hole could have been!
Also curious to know how you got out of Wapping Tunnel at the very end, because it looked like a well padlocked gate with all gaps filled in around it and the brickwork. Or is that a trade secret?! ;-)
Great stuff, I just came across these arches for the first time yesterday and today your video is on my home screen. Really appreciate the effort this must have taken and not once did you ask us to subscribe or go buy some crap like the majority of people on YT, you didn't over-jazz things for people with no attention span or give it a stupid clickbait title. Keep it up man!
What an insightful video! Such a shame to see how more modern generations have mistreated such an important part of railway & Northern history. Really enjoyed following your journey & I’m excited to see more of your videos 😊
Tragic - what is one of the most important heritage sites on the face of planet Earth. This is what Britain of all places has done for it? Nothing. Just gut-wrenching. How?! This should be a tourist site for global tourism. This changed planet Earth forever and all our lives.
You should see the mess that they have made of Stockton- on- Tees station. That beautiful glass roof has gone and it looks a mess. I was there in 1975 for the cavalcade to mark 150 years but 2025 to mark 200 years will be a disaster.
It's a shame how our past is neglected and forgotten. That whole area was once an impressive engineering marvel. I understand that you're never going to get the area looking how it once was but it could at least be kept from being overgrown and highlighted and maintained as a heritage site so people can go and see it.
There are two things incredible about this video: first, how neglected and derelict these tunnels and places when their historic value is enormous, and second, how this isn't more popular and why only a few thousand people watching you. Amazing work, I wish I could've been there with you.
Remember playing in these tunnels as a child, back in the seventies. Remember steps up side of cuttings. Even in the seventies tunnel was flooded at wapping end.
Waterloo Tunnel next? - lol That ran just north of Edge Hill Station went to Waterloo Dock, then it used to curve to the south to serve Princes Dock station. There, passengers could step off the train and straight on to an awaiting Cunard liner without needing as much as an umbrella.
My Mums family used to shelter in Myrtle gardens basements from the German Air raids in 1941. They lived in Sirdar st next to the cutting wall. She said after one raid a big hole was made above the tunnel and you could see the railway lines below. And a river of margarine was flowing down the road from a warehouse that was hit.
Amazing adventure thanks Ollie. This is a piece of world heritage and particularly in regard to the dawn of passenger railways . One has to wonder if this were anywhere else ( The South East!) it would be a visitor centre and preserved for future generations to visit. Best wishes' S&J
What an excellent informative documentary. We used to play regularly in them tunnels when I was a kid in the 70s. For some unknown reason we called them "The time tunnels" (The Timey's) The wapping end always had water there but nowhere near as much as there is now. Scary pitch black we used to light matches and take newspaper and burn them for light. We would climb over the fence at Chatsworth st estate and scale down the walls to the steps It was a long way down one wrong move and you could have died or been seriously injured. We had no fear, we would climb anything. I've fell out of more trees than most kids today have climbed. The kids today have a lot more personal possessions but I think they miss out on the adventures and laughs we had, because we were allowed to do our own thing. Different times Brought back some great memories. Just a shame that we didn't realise the history of the place we used to play in.
Haven't scrolled through all comments so sorry if I repeat. The triple tunnel landfill bit was called the crows feet. I agree that it is historical site that should be preserved. Recreate the morish arch and pillars on the top and run cable pulled wagons up and down?. Anyhow excellent video.
What an absolute shame it's in that state ,it would be a great tourist attraction if they cleaned it out and made it accessible people would pay for a tour like Williamson tunnels
Brilliant vid this matey , I’m from Liverpool but no longer live there so it has a special place in my heart , Your bravery and enthusiasm where awesome
Superb, thanks, and absolutely fascinating. I really felt like I was there and, having had a few faint-hearted moments myself on lone explorations of tunnels and such like, I was totally with you in spirit.
First vid of yours ive seen great content love to see im not the only one that appreciates our great history thats sadly lost and forgotton we in the past achieved wonders
What an excellent video. I explored these tunnels several years ago on a weekend trip with some friends. We travelled up from London mainly to meet up with a small group who were planning to open up a museum on the site of the Williamsons Tunnels and whilst we were there we were taken to this location and explored the three tunnels starting at the famous Cavendish cutting. Very interesting history. We managed to pass a couple of airshafts in the Wapping tunnel but shortly after the bit where the other railway cuts over the top the going got a bit tougher and waterlogged so we gave up the final section because we didn't have any waders. I'd like to visit this place again one day. This part of our trip was for me the biggest highlight.
Thank you so much for such an interesting presentation of something that was on my doorstep for the 17 years of my early life in Liverpool. Which I didn't even know existed.
I've just found this by accident, what a brilliant video! My wife and her family are from Liverpool and I love learning about the industrial history so this is right up my street. If you haven't already, get yourself down the Williamson tunnels. Love the reference to Pat Dickinson. 😄👍 Keep up the good work.
Such an amazing video! Best that’s ever been done on these tunnels, I have told Old Liverpool Railways about this, and they have added your link to their Twitter 🙂
Marvellous video. Well done!! I love underground spaces (being an ex- part-time caver and mine explorer), plus I was brought up near Edge Hill. I'd love to do that journey through Wapping Tunnel. I think I'd be inclined to wear my hard hat the whole time, mind. Well done for anticipating the need for the waders, although I'd consider taking a dingy and a paddle! And for all my decades of poking my nose into underground places, I've never ventured far on my own. And on that, a word for the curious ... best not to go into such places alone, and if you do always tell someone where you're going and how long you think you'll be gone, so there's someone who can raise an alarm if you go missing!
Fabulous bit of exploring. To think we used to walk past this n look over the walls at the railway here as kids on the way to the cinema (aka Tunny) in Tunnel road back in the late 50's early 60's 😊. Im totally amazed anything of it is left at all 😮.
i used to play down there when i was younger i live just above the entrance to the edge hill cutting tunnel was good finding out where it lead and all the information on it
Very brave doing that on your own! Have you written to Liverpool City Council to request restoration? Such a shame how it has been neglected. This could be a great landmark and tourist spot for Liverpool. Very interesting thank you for sharing.
An underground “flying” junction exists at the south end of Merseyrail Central station, purposely provided in the 1970s, that would allow Merseyrail to be extended from Central into the Wapping Tunnel. There are two options as to where the service would be extended to at the Edge Hill end. Mothballed but there all the same. It is also the reason for the different Up and Down direction alignments between Central and the former St James station (which incidentally is in the process of being reopened).
Is it possible that the end where Ollie came out of which was obviously a station, be transformed in to a new terminus for trains from Central? Aptly named Kings Dock station.
@@davideeyore2002 It was a significant goods station. It would be hard (if not impossible) to run from Central towards the docks; the alignment of the tunnels precluding it, plus the junctions already built at the south end of Central would direct trains into Wapping Tunnel to head east towards Edge Hill. The plan was to extend the Central terminators further east, to Edge Hill and beyond.
Fascinating stuff, even for a distant Oregonian. The Industrial Revolution in Britain spread quickly to all corners of the western world, both its energy and side effects of urbanization and attendant squalor. I know that at one time both Manchester and Liverpool were unmatched for grime and stench per capita (London and New York by volume) but your videos have shown me they are today very attractive and livable cities. The history! And nice to follow someone who does his homework.
Fabulous piece of filming and history retold. Thank you. I've always been fascinated by the Wapping Tunnel and am so pleased to have seen what is inside.
Watched the 'Cheggers' video today from way back & it led me back here for a second time. Both are well worth their weight in gold for viewing pleasure & historical content 👍
I thoroughly enjoyed this video - thank you! I remember seeing the illustrations of the Edge Hill Cutting and reading about it in books as a child, seeing it so neglected today is both fascinating and tragic. It's such an important piece of railway history it definitely deserves to be brought back to life.
What a fantastic video! I have longed for many years to see or even explore myself where these tunnels go to and what they were for. Yes, a bygone age but could still be, like you say brought back into use. If nothing else, a cycle way, to avoid traffic. I would definitely use it to get into town safely! Keep up the great work!
Excellent history lesson, my train goes through Edge hill on the way to work, there a tons of tunnels in North Liverpool running from the city, Great work and many thanks 👍🏻😃
Would make a great tunnel for an underground tramway, put a few stations in between, and it would link the dock area to Edge Hill via the city without any traffic delays!. The 157 sign on the way is part of an old gradient marker by the look of it. Great vid.....
This was undoubtedly one of the best POV explores I've experienced! Enjoyed your earlier venture here and sooo glad you returned. I wonder if many others like me, watch along with viewing your progress on google maps. This has made my 'Sunday evening blues' that little bit more bearable. Thanks for posting :-)
Really enjoyed this video. Amazing history so badly treated. Great to see it appreciated and celebrated in your video, whilst there’s still something left of it. Nice Pat Dickinson reference too ha!
Fantastic! I thoroughly enjoyed that. Thank you so much for sharing the history, the present and the journey of the Wapping tunnel. So much history is lost to time and bad planning. I'm a firm believer that if something is broken, fix it, repurpose it, don't just abandon or replace it. The effort that must have gone into these feats of engineering is beyond calculable. How they managed to achieve such a marvel of engineering; by hand as well, just astounds me! A plaque should be placed at both ends, tours could be introduced as a way of raising funds for the up keep of the old railroad.
Such a nice tribute hopefully Liverpool reopen it. The area at end of wapping tunnel make an ideal HS2/3 station for Liverpool far cheaper than brand new tunnels under Liverpool. Some alterations be needed where Mersey rail cuts through it may have be deepened either side compensate. Fantastic to see video well done
Thank you for a fabulous video 🙂.my house backs onto the wapping tunnel and would love to walk it .not sure about the underwater lake part. I agree this needs to be preserved for history .next time I'll come with you 😁
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
On behalf of all Scousers, thank you very much for creating this video, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This sort of thing is the reason why television will soon be obsolete.
Absolutely brilliant!
Cheers thanks very much
The Wapping tunnel was scheduled to be used in the creation of the Merseyrail network in the 1970s. Thatcher came to power stopping the what was not built. A large underground burrowing junction was constructed south of Central station complete with header tunnels to connect onto the Wapping tunnel. They headers are still there ready for the work to be completed. This would have connected the east of the city with the main 3rd rail underground section. The east of the city was served by diesel trains until the work was completed then run by Merseyrail. Merseyrail trains could have run from Liverpool's underground section to Wigan and St.Helens. This disconnect affected the city. The city has been waiting for over 40 years to have the one third of the metro completed. So far zero, while London in the meantime has had, the Overground, DLR, Elizabeth Line, Thameslink, Underground extensions, etc.
I came across your video by accident and all I have to say is well done. I can't believe that such a historic piece of railway engineering is basically landfill and being treated with such disrespect. Your presentation skills as a roving reporter are excellent and put many pros to shame (I am an ex broadcast cameraman). Loved every second and will follow any progress with great interest.
Nice work, and yes what a shame it's not treated as a Heritage site, a reminder of a brilliant engineer in George Stephenson
And Mr J Husskison, who managed to get himself run over and killed on the opening day of the line,,,,, Husskison Dock was so named in his memory, if its still there.
Don't forget his son Robert! :)
Did you find any remnants of Jimmy Savilles child trafficking?
@@suzyqualcast6269 Yeah, and wasn't there once a Husskison station too?
Yeah, it should be, especially as it was because of George Stephenson's absolute insistence on building tunnels to the highest possible standard that saved the line through Summit tunnel near Littleborough after nearly a whole train load of petrol set on fire inside it december 1984, and I used to know one of the firemen who dealt with that blaze.
The 1848 tunnel with tracks in it, is still used as a headshunt. The tunnel and the original 1830s Crown St tunnel ran into a large coal depot, which was the site of the original Crown St terminal station. Crown St Park is now on the site.
3:34 This is such an eclectic and integral part of early railway history in the UK.
The whole area should be cleared and restored in recognition of to the Liverpool to Manchester Railway.
Surely a history and restoration group could be formed.
It is *world* history. We have to preserve it for the rest of the world.
The Liverpool heritage centre should make these tunnels a Liverpool land mark
It would be a great tourist attraction, with bits about the history and also gift shops, somewhere to eat and a microbar selling local brews.
I'm from Liverpool and have always wanted to go and have a look around here. There's so much history, it's such a shame that it isn't being preserved in the manner it should be. Thank you for an amazing view of what's down there.
This would make a great covered walkway as part of a walking trail. It's beautiful.
...or a cycle route, for that matter. I can see people traveling to Liverpool just to be able to cycle this bit!
That area at the beginning of the video absolutely needs to be protected and preserved. Some many newer buildings are preserved and renovated, yet that area is absolutely historic internationally in the history of rail and it just lies in ruins. It would make an amazing 'museum' and would help bring visitors.
I thought this myself. We have some absolutely amazing history here on our door step and should preserve it. It's a part of our city's history. I hope they do finally turn it into a kind of museum they would get a lot of visitors yearly.
If it was in London it would have been a museum decades ago.
@@liamhennelly3961
The city cares little of its own history. The UN stripped the city of World Heritage Status, as it was desecrating world heritage sites.
@@johnburns4017 The council are not the city, they represent the city they are not the people. The average Scousers doesn't like the council and how it wastes our money.
@@johnburns4017 Very true.
I used to work in the Builders Yard on Kings Dock Street. There was always enthusiasts turning up to see the tunnel. Apparently, Land Rover filmed an ad down one to show what their car could do. They are responsible for some of the rubble as they needed to show it ‘off-road’, or so we were told!
Should definitely be opened up as an historical site.
Great vid!
Absolutely loved this. I’ve wanted to do what you have done for years!
Fabulous!
I’m a train driver and these old pieces of railway infrastructure are built to last..... the tunnels I drive through in Derbyshire are just awe inspiring.
I think it would be great to see this reused as a combined cycle & tram way, we could even use this for heritage steam traction with the Wapping dock end as a museum/terminus.
Well doe by the way, you are a brave man!
Brilliant video. Thanks for showing us part of our heritage.
Fantastic job mate, you brought back so many memories for me , as kids we played down there we lived on Chatsworth street, no health and safety then or computer games, the steps that lead to the top that's over grown we used to drop of the top of the wall and come down those steps, now when I think back how dangerous it was I shudder to think about it but as you know you have no sense of danger, the Wapping tunnel we went down many times, we had a rubber dinghy that I think my Dad's Brother got from somewhere ????? It had the Royal Daffodil printed on the side it so obviously of the ferry it was about 7 foot long bright yellow We used that to get across the water need the end, well done mate and thanks for half hour of great memories 👍👍👍👍👍
From Wikipedia
Merseytravel commissioned a feasibility study into the re-opening of the tunnel which was completed in May 2016. The study was focused on using the Wapping Tunnel to connect the Northern and City Lines together and the possible creation of a new station along the route to serve the city's Knowledge Quarter. The report found that the Wapping Tunnel was in good condition though suffered from flooding in places and would require some remedial work, however the concept of re-opening the tunnel was viable.[1]
Enjoyed the video, interesting stuff, up here in Edinburgh a lot of the old railway lines are now cycle paths which is good and a possible use for the old railway line down your way.
An excellent video, well done for finishing your walk through some pretty murky conditions and the rubbish tip. What a shame, totally agree with you, this is a historic piece of very early railway history and at least should be restored as a walkway / cycle route in it's entirety - so important to the history of Liverpool itself.
Your are living the life! Am from croxteth and you show me how lazy I am! Keep the vids coming my son thay are top notch!
Cheers thank you
This should at least be a tour, absolutely amazing
Thanks to the algorithm for throwing this up into my feed! What a great video.
You have a really natural, engaging presentation style, and this is was super interesting, especially as someone born in Merseyside.
Thank you very much!
It's shameful I think that such an important historical site - a veritable keystone of the industrial revolution - has been allowed to become so neglected and almost forgotten. Surely this great nation, and the city of Liverpool in particular, should ensure that what remains is at least preserved until a more enlighten time arrives when have we learnt to value our working past more than we do now. Future generations will thank us if we do.
Aye, it would be a universal good, but sadly the city of Liverpool has been constantly and royally fucked by our benevolent southern lords, so we have little to no funds to take care of the actual living breathing folks in our wider area, nevermind the maintenence of historic architecture. Maybe when that situation resolves itself, we can turn back to caring for our illustrious history.
Crown street park has a pretty good memorial to the old railway. The museum of Liverpool at Albert dock has a whole exhibition celebrating the rail way. But it would be nice to see these tunnels repaired and accessible to the public.
we would love to but the city of liverpool is experiencing huge cuts to funding that to spend the money needed would mean further cuts to social services. unfortunately the tunnel is north of watford so the central government will not give the funding. if it was in london it would be mind!
@@davidroonmeister
And yet plenty of money for speedhumps and so called traffic calming that nobody wants!
@@davidroonmeister
I see Liverpool has been stripped from the UNESCO World Heritage list. A disgrace. I wonder if the corruption cases against the Labour council have anything to do with it? Of course blaming London is much easier!
Omg that’s an amazing place! What a day out! There’s probably been more people up Everest than have walked through there since it closed. You’re very brave!
absolutely brilliant documentary, I have actually visited this place myself, however your coverage was in depth and good viewing, tar kidda
just adding to what I already said brilliant watch and I agree historical, i would like to think others would probably pay to go on this journey?
That was really interesting, you've made a great documentary on the old tunnel linking the rail line to the docks. I lived in Myrtle Street and had no idea about the tunnels. I've visited the Williamson tunnels which are off Smithdown lane near Myrtle Street. I'm old enough to remember the Overhead railway and near Brunswick station on Merseyrail there was a tunnel that took the Overhead railway to Dingle Station. Liverpool has an amazing history and I wonder how much more has been forgotten.Good on you for making this film.
I knew Clarkes that lived on mount st. There was a mysterious hole at the back of their house which sadly mr Clarke filled in! All that white stuff on the tunnel walls is probably seepage from the gallons of bleach he poured down the hole!.. The city is like swiss cheese, we dont know half of whats down there.
@@alberttatlock1311 that sounds like a mystery! Mount Street is about 50m from the Wapping Tunnel but well outside Mr Williamson's area of operation, not a clue what that hole could have been!
Also curious to know how you got out of Wapping Tunnel at the very end, because it looked like a well padlocked gate with all gaps filled in around it and the brickwork. Or is that a trade secret?! ;-)
Great stuff, I just came across these arches for the first time yesterday and today your video is on my home screen. Really appreciate the effort this must have taken and not once did you ask us to subscribe or go buy some crap like the majority of people on YT, you didn't over-jazz things for people with no attention span or give it a stupid clickbait title. Keep it up man!
Fantastic video, thanks for taking us with you. What a terrible shame such an important historical site has been left to rot.
What an insightful video! Such a shame to see how more modern generations have mistreated such an important part of railway & Northern history. Really enjoyed following your journey & I’m excited to see more of your videos 😊
Tragic - what is one of the most important heritage sites on the face of planet Earth. This is what Britain of all places has done for it? Nothing. Just gut-wrenching. How?! This should be a tourist site for global tourism. This changed planet Earth forever and all our lives.
Agreed. Such a shame and a waste to see history this significant just left to rot
You should see the mess that they have made of Stockton- on- Tees station. That beautiful glass roof has gone and it looks a mess. I was there in 1975 for the cavalcade to mark 150 years but 2025 to mark 200 years will be a disaster.
@@michaelcampin1464 No-one cares about beauty today. Absolutely no-one.
I agree sir
This is a man who loves infrastructure. Great watch!
Great video, really interesting and well put together. Keep up the good work.
It's a shame how our past is neglected and forgotten. That whole area was once an impressive engineering marvel. I understand that you're never going to get the area looking how it once was but it could at least be kept from being overgrown and highlighted and maintained as a heritage site so people can go and see it.
There are two things incredible about this video: first, how neglected and derelict these tunnels and places when their historic value is enormous, and second, how this isn't more popular and why only a few thousand people watching you. Amazing work, I wish I could've been there with you.
Thanks Daniel! I appreciate your support
I walked this tunnel back when I was 8yrs old with my brother and friends. Cranborne road. 1973 😊
Wow, what a fantastic thing to do when as a little kid!
Remember playing in these tunnels as a child, back in the seventies. Remember steps up side of cuttings. Even in the seventies tunnel was flooded at wapping end.
Did they not use same cuttings for a TV advert, Landrover I think.
Waterloo Tunnel next? - lol That ran just north of Edge Hill Station went to Waterloo Dock, then it used to curve to the south to serve Princes Dock station. There, passengers could step off the train and straight on to an awaiting Cunard liner without needing as much as an umbrella.
Oh yes it's on my list!
Jenny slater@ like to see that.
Fantastic, thanks for making the effort to show us it. 👍🏻
Terrible that our Old 1830's Tunnels & Opens are now Flooded Landfill.
Good Video, thanks.
My Mums family used to shelter in Myrtle gardens basements from the German Air raids in 1941. They lived in Sirdar st next to the cutting wall. She said after one raid a big hole was made above the tunnel and you could see the railway lines below. And a river of margarine was flowing down the road from a warehouse that was hit.
Amazing adventure thanks Ollie. This is a piece of world heritage and particularly in regard to the dawn of passenger railways . One has to wonder if this were anywhere else ( The South East!) it would be a visitor centre and preserved for future generations to visit. Best wishes' S&J
What an excellent informative documentary. We used to play regularly in them tunnels when I was a kid in the 70s. For some unknown reason we called them "The time tunnels" (The Timey's) The wapping end always had water there but nowhere near as much as there is now. Scary pitch black we used to light matches and take newspaper and burn them for light. We would climb over the fence at Chatsworth st estate and scale down the walls to the steps It was a long way down one wrong move and you could have died or been seriously injured. We had no fear, we would climb anything. I've fell out of more trees than most kids today have climbed. The kids today have a lot more personal possessions but I think they miss out on the adventures and laughs we had, because we were allowed to do our own thing. Different times Brought back some great memories. Just a shame that we didn't realise the history of the place we used to play in.
Haven't scrolled through all comments so sorry if I repeat. The triple tunnel landfill bit was called the crows feet. I agree that it is historical site that should be preserved. Recreate the morish arch and pillars on the top and run cable pulled wagons up and down?. Anyhow excellent video.
Great video, very interesting, you’re a brave lad continuing through there on your Tod!
What an absolute shame it's in that state ,it would be a great tourist attraction if they cleaned it out and made it accessible people would pay for a tour like Williamson tunnels
Brilliant vid this matey , I’m from Liverpool but no longer live there so it has a special place in my heart , Your bravery and enthusiasm where awesome
Superb, thanks, and absolutely fascinating.
I really felt like I was there and, having had a few faint-hearted moments myself on lone explorations of tunnels and such like, I was totally with you in spirit.
First vid of yours ive seen great content love to see im not the only one that appreciates our great history thats sadly lost and forgotton we in the past achieved wonders
What an excellent video. I explored these tunnels several years ago on a weekend trip with some friends. We travelled up from London mainly to meet up with a small group who were planning to open up a museum on the site of the Williamsons Tunnels and whilst we were there we were taken to this location and explored the three tunnels starting at the famous Cavendish cutting. Very interesting history. We managed to pass a couple of airshafts in the Wapping tunnel but shortly after the bit where the other railway cuts over the top the going got a bit tougher and waterlogged so we gave up the final section because we didn't have any waders. I'd like to visit this place again one day. This part of our trip was for me the biggest highlight.
Thank you so much for such an interesting presentation of something that was on my doorstep for the 17 years of my early life in Liverpool. Which I didn't even know existed.
Loved this video. I never even knew this was here or its history. Should be preserved as part of our heritage for future generations
I've just found this by accident, what a brilliant video!
My wife and her family are from Liverpool and I love learning about the industrial history so this is right up my street.
If you haven't already, get yourself down the Williamson tunnels.
Love the reference to Pat Dickinson. 😄👍
Keep up the good work.
Such an amazing video! Best that’s ever been done on these tunnels, I have told Old Liverpool Railways about this, and they have added your link to their Twitter 🙂
Marvellous video. Well done!! I love underground spaces (being an ex- part-time caver and mine explorer), plus I was brought up near Edge Hill. I'd love to do that journey through Wapping Tunnel. I think I'd be inclined to wear my hard hat the whole time, mind. Well done for anticipating the need for the waders, although I'd consider taking a dingy and a paddle! And for all my decades of poking my nose into underground places, I've never ventured far on my own. And on that, a word for the curious ... best not to go into such places alone, and if you do always tell someone where you're going and how long you think you'll be gone, so there's someone who can raise an alarm if you go missing!
This was amazing i really enjoyed none of us know what lies beneath thankyou for sharing
i grew up in Edge hill / Wavertree and remember going down there as a kid with my mates
Me too! I walked the whole length back when I was 8 yr with my brother and his friends.
brilliant very interesting well done for keeping going parts looks very hard indeed so 10/10
Fabulous bit of exploring. To think we used to walk past this n look over the walls at the railway here as kids on the way to the cinema (aka Tunny) in Tunnel road back in the late 50's early 60's 😊. Im totally amazed anything of it is left at all 😮.
Well done mate. The tunnels are an important part of the nation’s industrial heritage and something should be done with them.
Good news on that front, it's just been given scheduled monument status- that puts it on a par with Stonehenge!
if you're scared in a dark tunnel just shout Martin 3x he will appear with tea and biscuits
Haha and James
i used to play down there when i was younger i live just above the entrance to the edge hill cutting tunnel was good finding out where it lead and all the information on it
Very brave doing that on your own! Have you written to Liverpool City Council to request restoration? Such a shame how it has been neglected. This could be a great landmark and tourist spot for Liverpool. Very interesting thank you for sharing.
An underground “flying” junction exists at the south end of Merseyrail Central station, purposely provided in the 1970s, that would allow Merseyrail to be extended from Central into the Wapping Tunnel. There are two options as to where the service would be extended to at the Edge Hill end. Mothballed but there all the same. It is also the reason for the different Up and Down direction alignments between Central and the former St James station (which incidentally is in the process of being reopened).
Is it possible that the end where Ollie came out of which was obviously a station, be transformed in to a new terminus for trains from Central? Aptly named Kings Dock station.
@@davideeyore2002 It was a significant goods station. It would be hard (if not impossible) to run from Central towards the docks; the alignment of the tunnels precluding it, plus the junctions already built at the south end of Central would direct trains into Wapping Tunnel to head east towards Edge Hill. The plan was to extend the Central terminators further east, to Edge Hill and beyond.
Fascinating stuff, even for a distant Oregonian. The Industrial Revolution in Britain spread quickly to all corners of the western world, both its energy and side effects of urbanization and attendant squalor. I know that at one time both Manchester and Liverpool were unmatched for grime and stench per capita (London and New York by volume) but your videos have shown me they are today very attractive and livable cities. The history! And nice to follow someone who does his homework.
Fabulous piece of filming and history retold. Thank you. I've always been fascinated by the Wapping Tunnel and am so pleased to have seen what is inside.
Watched the 'Cheggers' video today from way back & it led me back here for a second time. Both are well worth their weight in gold for viewing pleasure & historical content 👍
I thoroughly enjoyed this video - thank you! I remember seeing the illustrations of the Edge Hill Cutting and reading about it in books as a child, seeing it so neglected today is both fascinating and tragic. It's such an important piece of railway history it definitely deserves to be brought back to life.
One of the MST interesting RUclips videos I’ve seen in ages. Thank you so much
What a fantastic video! I have longed for many years to see or even explore myself where these tunnels go to and what they were for. Yes, a bygone age but could still be, like you say brought back into use. If nothing else, a cycle way, to avoid traffic. I would definitely use it to get into town safely! Keep up the great work!
Brilliant , loved every minute of your tour of these tunnels, be careful ...
Excellent history lesson, my train goes through Edge hill on the way to work, there a tons of tunnels in North Liverpool running from the city, Great work and many thanks 👍🏻😃
Brilliant tour mate, you are either very brave or totally crazy doing that on your own.....total legend!!! 😂👍
Would make a great tunnel for an underground tramway, put a few stations in between, and it would link the dock area to Edge Hill via the city without any traffic delays!. The 157 sign on the way is part of an old gradient marker by the look of it. Great vid.....
What an amazing journey and greatly told and edited with views from the air shafts from above. Incredible!
Superb work! Enjoyed this very much, thank you!
The 3 wonders .History. Place and Adventure. Fantastic y Congratulations,.
So very well done, great coverage of the history and location!
Such a shame to see these places left like this...
More please….. brilliant episode 👍👍👍
This was undoubtedly one of the best POV explores I've experienced! Enjoyed your earlier venture here and sooo glad you returned. I wonder if many others like me, watch along with viewing your progress on google maps. This has made my 'Sunday evening blues' that little bit more bearable. Thanks for posting :-)
Fantastic! Thank you for a brilliant and very interesting program!
Fantastic and interesting video 👍👍👍
Yet another great video, so glad i discovered you a while back. So informative and brilliantly made. Keep up the great work. Del
Very interesting video and well presented. Thanks for your wealth of information.
Really enjoyed this video. Amazing history so badly treated. Great to see it appreciated and celebrated in your video, whilst there’s still something left of it. Nice Pat Dickinson reference too ha!
Thanks very much
Brilliant video, well done, very interesting and stunning.
Me and my mates from Park Lane and Kent Gardens used to build rafts out of pallets and barrels and explore these tunnels when we were kids.
Wow amazing
Look how clear that water is as well
Cool video, scouser meself always learning something new from years and years ago, this city is amazing 😎
great video!!!! this should be a pilgrimage site for railway enthusiasts worldwide.
Thank you!
Fantastic! I thoroughly enjoyed that. Thank you so much for sharing the history, the present and the journey of the Wapping tunnel. So much history is lost to time and bad planning. I'm a firm believer that if something is broken, fix it, repurpose it, don't just abandon or replace it. The effort that must have gone into these feats of engineering is beyond calculable. How they managed to achieve such a marvel of engineering; by hand as well, just astounds me! A plaque should be placed at both ends, tours could be introduced as a way of raising funds for the up keep of the old railroad.
Thanks for exploring this Tunnel, been fascinated by it for years
I really enjoyed watching and you are really passionate in your voice
Such a nice tribute hopefully Liverpool reopen it. The area at end of wapping tunnel make an ideal HS2/3 station for Liverpool far cheaper than brand new tunnels under Liverpool. Some alterations be needed where Mersey rail cuts through it may have be deepened either side compensate.
Fantastic to see video well done
Either this or the Waterloo Tunnel. But both should be brought back to use.
Thank you for a fabulous video 🙂.my house backs onto the wapping tunnel and would love to walk it .not sure about the underwater lake part. I agree this needs to be preserved for history .next time I'll come with you 😁
Wow that's great. It's a hell of a good place to potter about.
Well done and thanks for making the effort so we can enjoy the journey with out the hardship . Appreciated
Cheers!
Really interesting, 10/10 for bravery, thank you for taking the time to make this video.
Excellent, very well done!! This should be properly preserved, especially the forest of stalactites. Great ending too, by the way.
You've put some serious effort and commitment into this one mate, really impressive and a great watch as always 👍
Oh, me and my mates walk through this turn has kids from the docks to Edge hill …… happy times