Ingarsby Tunnel - Abandoned Leicestershire ( Thurnby Tunnel )

Please watch: "The Most Beautiful Closed Railway in the UK? Scarborough to Whitby Railway Episode 2"
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Ingarsby ( Thurnby ) Tunnel in Leicestershire
In 1882, the Great Northern and London & North Western railways opened a ten-mile spur from their mainline into Leicester. The company created a new terminus at Belgrave Road. The line opened for goods traffic on 2 October 1882 and for passengers on 2 July 1883.
One line’s most notable structure was a tunnel of 516 yards (471 metres) between Ingarsby and Thurnby. The former being the provider of its official name.
Join me as i enter, explore and light up this little part of Leicestershires forgotten railway history.
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#ingarsby #tunnel #thurnby #leicestershire #abandoned Additional Music by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0.
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[@davemarson7241]

I used to live near Thurnby station years ago, and when i was younger, walked the the line upto the tunnel. That station masters house still stands, and i remember one of the last steam trains on the line.

[@user-vr7yt6mn9m]

My Aunt and Uncle lived on Kinross Ave just down from the station, me and my cousin watched the trains from the bedroom window. After the trains had stopped running we walked the dogs along the line. Halfway between Thurnby station and the tunnel on the right of the tracks was an abandoned house with a swimming pool the dogs used to swim in it. Also at the side of the tracks was a spring bubbling up from the ground and the water was so clear we drank from it! Happy days then not a care in the world.

[@Coop-Greavesie]

Thanks for this video, we enjoyed it. As someone else said, the line would have been a great heritage route now, but it was never really commercially viable right from when it opened. Just a small point. The Belgrave Road to Marefield Junction line was purely GNR. The GN & LNWR Joint Line ran from Market Harborough to Melton and beyond, with the GNR Belgrave Road line joining it at Marefield. The lost Harborough to Melton line is a fantastic scenic route. East Leicestershire is a hidden gem of beautiful remote countryside.

[@kitwest61]

My garden used to back onto the railway near Thurnby. As a child, we'd play on the line, sitting on the iron grill of the shaft, dropping pebbles on the trains. I recall the aquaduct, which was fed from a reservoir. Again, we'd dare eachother to crawl down the shoot. I remember listening to the trains pulling up the gradient at night. So many memories. Thanks

[@shirleylynch7529]

What a super tunnel. Brick work great. Every time you show us these tunnels Ant I always think of the hard working men , many of which lost their lives building these tunnels, and shafts, etc. Especially the canal tunnels. Thank you for your exploration you do for us.

[@geraldsmith5310]

I remember walking though this tunnel in the late 60s .lived next to Thurnby station used to go to Skegness on the train great memories.

[@lifebankstore8625]

those iron rings and brackets was probably securing points for ladders and the like when maintenance was carried out when the tunnel was in use.

[@cyberleaderandy1]

Figured that as well. Rope work securing points.

[@paulwortley9546]

done this tunnel a few years back it used to have 2 air shafts but the farmer knocked 1 down . this line would have made a great heritage line

[@user-xt5qb2yr6x]

Great will pay this place a visit thanks

[@LeiceExplore]

Nice one, for me, the Aquaduct was my favourite feature when I went down there. I now think as well that some of the earth from excavating the tunnel ended up on top of it. Because as you probably noticed while looking at the shaft from the top, that area above the tunnel is like a big bank...cheers.

[@SergeiJonovich]

Nice one, there is a great railway viaduct further east along that stretch as well - very high, but also overgrown with a tiny watercourse running below.

[@SabinMedia]

John o Guant viaduct. I've walked it previously but not it has big steel fence blocking access. if you walk to the Marefield junction you can see a small siding and a small plate layer shack

[@shortangrybloke]

Ingarsby viaduct, not john o gaunt !

[@jetsons101]

Another great watch. The videos I watch about Manchester, London and other UK areas makes me think, "that's a lot of bricks..." How many brickworks were there and how many are left. Thanks again for your time and work

[@TrekkingExploration]

Very true. I read somewhere that the bricks were manufactured local too :)

[@bexhil7]

Another great video of Ingarsby Tunnel - Abandoned Leicestershire ( Thurnby Tunnel )!.💖💖👍👍

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for watching :)

[@antanascerniauskas272]

Used to go there with a gang of mates in the early 70's as we lived on the Thurnby Lodge estate

[@PaulWatson-wy9xs]

Good intelligent exploration. I think I am correct in saying the Leicester Belgrave Road branch had a speed limit up to closure because of the poor condition of the track. The line and infrastructure was obviously being wound down in the 1950s long before the Beeching Report (similar to the Great Central line). I think the metal rings on the shaft would have been for harnesses for inspection/repair.

[@alanoliver]

Great video ant as always

[@matthewrail6065]

Another great video Ant

[@NickGeraghty]

I remember this well and walked through the tunnel with my elder brother & farther when I was a child.

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

not far from me. Nice to see. Thank you

[@TazmaniaVibes]

Can’t wait to check this out! What a great find 👌🏽

[@simonballard6413]

I love your tunnel explorations, Ant. Please do some more!

[@TrekkingExploration]

Cheers Simon. I'll do my best 🙂

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thanks for the video and chat. Your the best, Ant! Cheers mate. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🙂👍🇺🇸

[@Tuberuser187]

Short but sweet, nice explore! Thanks!

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thank you for watching. Glad you enjoyed it 🙂

[@Carolb66]

Hii Ant, another video I really enjoyed. I love your tunnel videos they are so eerie like this one. I would love to explore one though, disused of course. ❤😊

[@terryansell6641]

What a amazing video it’s a pity that this tunnel is not a walking or cycle track thank you from New Zealand

[@manmeetsinghmahajan6183]

Good one 👍

[@teste38]

Very good

[@Milkybar3320011]

Is the other end a cutting that’s been filled in? Surprised that such a dry tunnel in the great condition that’s it’s still in hasn’t been repurposed.

[@lindamccaughey6669]

That was a fantastic tunnel, wish people wouldn’t ruin it with graffiti. Mind you it did t take the beauty away. Really enjoyed that. Thanks for taking me along. Please stay safe and take care

[@julianlane8313]

Thoroughly enjoyed the video Ant, as per. A line I knew nothing about. Is the infilled end levelled outside to the top of the cutting?

[@brianwillson9567]

Two friends joined me walking from thurnby to merefield junction in summer 1969. The track had only been lifted for a couple of years. My recollection was that only one six foot railing fence needed to be climbed and only scraptoft lane road bridge and one field under bridge had been removed. Could not do it today.

[@barrythedieselelectricstea5217]

excellent video👍 sad to see abandoned railways and tunnels and wish they could be restored was it spokey in the tunnel i be afraid i was being watched

[@a11csc]

fantastic ant

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks Chris 😃

[@ZarlaTristan]

Great video... lived just half a mile from there and was a regular visitor. Good to see a bat as I often didn't see any evidence of them. Also well done for not showing the endless graffiti 'male parts' everywhere... very creative filming! 😉

[@seamusmcevoy2011]

Absolutely loved that, it's given me a good heads up because I'm going to do Thurnby and East Norton hopefully over half-term, they're not too far apart. Some fantastic photos as always.

[@philliptimms8734]

Went there alot as a kid, my boy has been there now, have to say didn't really like the graffiti when I was young but seeing the names now bring back some memories.

[@RobDavisTelford]

The aqueduct is exactly the same pattern as the one at Longdon On Tern, Shropshire.

[@bobingram6912]

Rings & ironwork on shaft probably for securing ropes when the interior needed inspecting? Afraid I can't agree with you on the grafitti comments!!

[@TrekkingExploration]

Hi Bob. Thinking back to when this was filmed, June 2020 for the start, i'm sure i was trying to say i was pleased there wasnt a lot by saying im glad there is a bit of graffiti. I agree about the ladder & shaft too

[@SabinMedia]

I've been in there a fair few years back. surprised the cut out wasn't blanked. for the shaft I gave my mate a leg up and he shun his torch down with his camera. He's took the video unfortunately. we also went to a smaller tunnel you can walk completely at East Norton.

[@helenthorne8451]

Wow great tunnel shame they filled it in but I guess maybe not needed to be left open thanks for sharing xx

[@helenthorne8451]

Hi Ant just wondering if you've ever been able to get in the weekday Cross tunnel at Nottingham x

[@stephen9863]

12-22 to the left is a old swiming pool that belonged to the big house on Uppingham road

[@TrekkingExploration]

I'll have to rewatch and have a look

[@stephen9863]

Its not in the video @@TrekkingExploration

[@TheBigfella53]

great video i used to play in there as a kid and a friend of mine lives in the station masters house, and i know young mr yeo lol

[@TrekkingExploration]

Ha Ha that's great about Mr Yeo. He's certainly been around. Thanks for watching :)

[@haydnyeo8832]

@@TrekkingExploration Mr Yeo is indeed still tunneling with Mr Hyde...

[@haydnyeo8832]

And who is BDave53...?

[@TrekkingExploration]

@@haydnyeo8832 ha ha fantastic! 😃😃😃😃

[@billyruss]

Another great video! Years ago, I had a girlfriend whose mother came from Thurnby and we went to stay with her for a long weekend, but I never managed to get to visit the tunnel. I think both ends were open at that time - do we know what date the far portal was infilled?

[@wossisname4540]

The constant enemy of an interest in Railways is the Female.

[@plentygood422]

I always come down from the top as my old way is blocked with all the new building sites, is there still access from the track side which I guess you came thanks Jay

[@stephan5673]

I used to camp in that tunnel in the 80's , Wasn't any graffiti back then.

[@anthonydefreitas6006]

How did they create a seal between the metal and brickwork on the aqueduct ?

[@jontownsend8090]

The structure of the tunnel looks in very good condition, sad that its been infilled at the opposite end, surely this would make a nice walking and cycle route into Leicester. A much safer route than the A47 to the south. Interesting in our so called selective health & safety culture.

[@oldfart6318]

That tunnel is in remarkably good condition, could be used for something.

[@andrewwood9635]

By Ant's comments and the holes in the tunnel end it is used as a bat roost which always seems a good reuse of a derelict man-made structure.

[@michaelkirk8613]

What is at the other end

[@yg_britz6704]

rich f is my dad

[@christinaburton9297]

Belgrave Road station is now a car park..whrte can you pick up the track from there? Can you walk the line to Marefield jcn?

[@seamusmcevoy2011]

Hi, there is a lot of privately owned land that the line crosses between the tunnel and Marefield Junction, so walking the whole section would be difficult. It's a shame as it would make for a fascinating stroll.

[@stephenc6648]

You'd barely know there had ever been a line or station at Belgrave Road but I think the engine sheds are still there and part of the college next to Abbey Park. If you walk along Ulverscroft Road from nearby Catherine Street, you can see where the track bed must have been, on a patch of waste ground opposite a scrapyard. On Forest Road, there's the remains of a bridge close to the current main line. I think there was a level crossing near here. It's hard to follow the route from this point as the street layout has changed completely since the line was closed but if you continue to the A47, Uppingham Road Health Centre (not to be confused with the Merlyn Vaz Centre) has been built on the site of Humberstone Station. Apparently the stationmaster's house survives but I don't know which it is. The line used to cross Uppingham Road and Coleman Road on bridges but I don't think there are any remains of these. At the back of Humberstone Park, a bit further along Uppingham Road, you can walk along a short section of the old trackbed that's now part of a nature area. If you leave the park at the rear onto Ambassador Road you'll see the blue brick remains of a bridge. I'm not very familiar with the route from this point but if you rejoin the A47 and continue for a couple of miles, ,you'll come to Station Road, a left turn just past Coles' Garden Centre. I believe the line crossed here on a bridge. On the left, just past the Co-Op and a small roundabout is a pedestrian path towards Telford Way. I believe this is the site of Thurnby Station. There's a row of fairly modern flats called Railway Cottages and an extended house that looks like a piece of railway architecture. The exact route that the line took over the dip on Station Road isn't too obvious now because a lot of the houses here will have been built after the line closed. I don't know how much, if any, of the line can be followed beyond Thurnby but I wasn't even aware of the tunnel shown in the video. Maybe someone with better local knowledge can provide corrections and fill in gaps but the fact that I even know this much shows how many lockdown walks I did in the area!

[@christinaburton9297]

@@stephenc6648 thank you so much for this information.

[@stephenc6648]

@@christinaburton9297 if you have thoughts of following the line from Belgrave Road, be warned that it's not exactly the most picturesque part of Leicester!

[@christinaburton9297]

@@stephenc6648 yep! You know what really gets me is the destruction of the Bow String bridge, and that ugly sports centre in its place.. just abutments left.. heartbreaking. Such lack of foresight, the Great Central way could have been extended to Belgrave and Birstall (now Leicester North) a disgrace. Bet some palms were greased on that deal.

[@Jimyjames73]

Very sad - why do they have to 'infill' the tunnels for??? 🤔🚂🚂🚂

[@TrekkingExploration]

I think it was the farmer for his sheep with this one. Thank you for watching :)

[@thomasmann9216]

In-filling tunnels is a rotten thing to do.

[@yg_britz6704]

the graffiti onthe wall