Is Tidenham Tunnel Dangerous?

[@slimey99uk]

Glad you enjoyed the tunnel, Paul and Rebecca! I'm one of the many volunteers who worked on getting the tunnel fixed up so that people could use it on foot or by bike - so it's really nice to see you and others enjoying it. You may not have been able to see them due to the low lighting, but many of the alcoves along the tunnel have been bricked up to provide additional bat habitats, and about half way along the tunnel there is a huge ventilation shaft, which had to have a new roof put across the bottom of in order to remove the danger of any objects falling (or being thrown) down the shaft. There have been various plans over recent years to rebuild the bridge at the end of Tintern Tunnel to link back up with Tintern Station (now known as Tintern Old Station), but the problem as always is that of funding. As you rightly said, there's a few railway carriages at Tintern Old Station which house exhibitions about the history of the line, as well as a small gift shop.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Simon. And a massive thanks to you and the team. Wonderful work and a legacy to leave behind for generations.

[@BeeJay120]

I visited around a month ago on the last day of my 3-day Forest of Dean trip. It was marvellous being inside and appreciating the construction and ambience of trickling water, not to mention the nice, cool air on a hot summer's day! This is the first railway tunnel I've walked inside of (I came across it on the map the night before) and I'm glad it's open to the public compared to the (first) previous tunnel I visited at Redbrook which was bricked up. Keep it up you guys, I look forward to seeing the other tunnel open and possibly even a bridge whenever I may visit again! :D

[@Deepthought-42]

Many thanks to you guys for the work you put in to get the route open. What a pity replacing the bridge to get to Tintern Station will be too expensive and that a dedicated footpath and cycle route to continue further is fraught with problems.

[@Lichfeldian--Suttonian]

Lovely. I remember often seeing that very impressive cliff face when I was kid. That takes me back. I have since driven down the A466 to Tintern railway station for some refreshments (as I assume that is where you ended up). You can walk over to the former viaduct from the station and glance over to the now overgrown tunnel entrance. I bet it was impressive in its day, as was the whole route from Chepstow to Monmouth. Thanks again, you two.

[@terryansell6641]

So nice to see your video as we are in lockdown in NZ you both have such interesting life’s exploring the U.K. Thank you

[@michaelpilling9659]

What a fabulous video. You brought back many many childhood memories of Easter holidays in Symonds Yat where my Mum was born and brought upi. I have vivid memories of catching the train to Chepstow. I hope that all the line can eventually be made into the Wye Valley Greenway.

[@pwhitewick]

Love the Yat

[@Hairnicks]

That was terrific, thank you for the trip. Love the Wye Valley any way so a real Sunday treat.

[@robrees8207]

Fantastic guys. Thank you. The last bit you went on, from the Wye Valley Railway across the bridge is the Wireworks branch, it too carried trains.

[@pwhitewick]

Ah yes I've heard that but completely forgot

[@nilo70]

Yay ! Good to see you guys out and about ! Thanks for bringing me along with you !

[@briancjohnson]

I hope you get a chance to head over to Chester Cathedral to see the 70-foot-long OO WCML model railway! This video was lovely, the mix of trail, tunnel, and river views, quite stunning!

[@keving6218]

What a lovely route, the scenery looks wonderful.

[@pwhitewick]

It's quite something

[@bostonrailfan2427]

i could imagine a scenic railway doing well there in newer times but sadly no bridge means no line

[@timtownsend1171]

Loved the video guys. I always like it when there are loads of railway remnants along such routes to look at. Great stuff! Keep up the great work!

[@dustpanandthebrush5293]

Ahh the lush green land of mother cymru , lovely watch guys , another good cycle and railway explore starts from port penrhyn in Bethesda , viaducts , embankments it has the lot and a tunnel

[@geoffcook1446]

Possibly my favourite of all your videos I have watched! The incidental music was fun and upbeat! Big thanks from an ex-Stevenage lad, now living in the Arizonan desert!!

[@pwhitewick]

I think.we might match you for temperature today..... maybe... 😬🙃🙂

[@geoffcook1446]

@@pwhitewick It's 5pm, temp outside is 104F/40C!!! But it's tough to complain about the weather!! It's not snowing!!

[@davidrees2040]

Lovely video as always, guys! Fantastic little fact about that bridge at the end - the industry it was built to serve actually closed down before the bridge was completed! It remained open for a few decades serving a few other little industries, but closed around WWII I think.

[@kiles99]

Great video - I will head down there this summer to do the tunnel section - I walked a lot of the section south from Tintern a couple of years ago. The bridge you finished at was also a railway bridge - that was part of the Tintern Wireworks branch.

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Keith. Yup I always seem to forget that

[@lindamccaughey6669]

Wow what a beaut video. Just love the tunnels. That via duct was gorgeous the stonework was just beautiful. Thank you so much. Please stay safe and take care

[@leroyholm9075]

This line is one of the saddest and in no way could it be saved. During the last year of operation it often carried only one passenger on its last return journey of the day. That does not come from me it comes from the Loco Driver's recollections.

[@stephaniebutcher18]

The bridge you used to cross the River Wye at Tenterden was actually a railway bridge - a long siding served Tintern Wireworks on the Welsh side of the river.

[@stephaniebutcher18]

At TINTERN

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Stephanie.

[@HenrysAdventures]

Great video! I used to love visiting Tintern Abbey and the old station as a child. I remember the miniature railway at Tintern Old Station ran to where the bridge over the River Wye used to be.

[@radiosnail]

Many thanks. Camped by the Wye as a scout back in the day at a place called Biblins. It had it's own suspension bridge across the Wye.

[@davidlugg841]

Tintern Tunnel wasn't fenced off in the mid 1970's. Walked through it a couple of times. Use to visit from Bristol.

[@Odin029]

It's amazing how much those hills in Wales look like the mountain foothills in East Tennessee.

[@DerekHartley]

Both the Appalachians and Snowdonia were formed from folded and thrust faulted sedimentary rock.

[@painterman235]

Brilliant video .. very interesting content. It felt as though you both really enjoyed making that one!

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Mike. Yup absolutely loved this trip

[@simonballard6413]

Lovely video, both of you. Looks like a beautiful area. Many thanks.

[@jontownsend8090]

Looks like a great day out, like the low light levels in the tunnel, once your eyes adjust to the darkness, there shouldn't be any problems. Thanks for sharing.

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Jon. Yeah doesn't take too long to adjust

[@davie941]

hi paul and rebecca , thank you for yet another great video , loved the drone shots , well done guys :)

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Davie

[@phillipbateman2284]

You two are amazing, showing me amazing scenery and sights, hauling me down tunnels and holes in the ground I'm far too scared of entering without your company. And here I am without a blister or a scratch. Thank you my heroes, do take care, remember I'm right behind you 'BOO'.

[@BarneyLeith]

The Wye Valley is really beautiful and it looks like the Greenway is a great way to see it. Thanks for taking us along and through the Tidenham Tunnel.

[@rogermorris6957]

Thanks guys another fascinating blog you find some some very picturesque place till your next one 👍

[@neildaniel8232]

I've ridden through the tunnel three times now and on two times I've seen people who have had collisions with bikes due to the low light levels, the second happened in front of me. The lights are just too low and set too low to show others, far too easy to disappear into the shadows. The Two Tunnels near Bath are much better on all fronts despite having the same rules. Would be great if they do extend the path through the Tintern tunnel though as it would open up an easy cycle route to explore the south western side of the Forest of Dean.

[@martin4787]

The Wye Valley and river are just beautiful from its source to its eventual end into the Severn Estuary.

[@geoffwysham1731]

Fantastic! All within half-hour of my ancestral home of Wyesham! I really hope someday to get over there and explore that part of the country. Thanks, Paul and Rebecca!

[@simonbradshaw3708]

I very much enjoy watching your videos especially being a railway and canal buff. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us.

[@C2K777]

That's a stunningly beautiful area I have to say. Never been but some of those wide shots and scene's of the countryside look really appealing. What amazing, selfless work all those volunteers have done to open up such an amazing part of the countryside so that others can enjoy it.

[@raytheron]

Love being able to see a part of the world I love, but will never see, through your eyes. Thank you, Paul and Rebecca!

[@grahamlee3296]

Having lived for the first twelve years of my life at Walford just outside Ross on Wye, we used to get the train from Walford Halt to Monmouth and then change to get the train from Monmouth to Chepstow. This was many, many years ago, ok over 60! I remember you had to change stations at Monmouth from the Town station to Monmouth Troy, I think. Memory lapses sometimes! And I think one of the Monmouth signal boxes is now on the Gloucester and Warwickshire Steam Railway. Enough! Goodbye!

[@terryplumb4833]

Hi another great video we walked to the tunnel at Tintern from the village a few weeks ago whilst on a weekend away at Symonds Yat. I’m not certain but think you passed us on your bikes after you coffee break going back to Chepstow - .One of those chance encounters 😁

[@shirleylynch7529]

Absolutely brilliant. If it wasn’t for you both I would never know these places existed. Thank you for taking me with you

[@xeinsgaming]

seeing you covering this route makes me excited to see you two covering the centurion way/chichester - midhurst railway!

[@malcolmsmith6615]

Interesting little run, and more tunnels to get excited about! Yet another area I knew little about, so thank you once again.

[@BlaiddLlwyd]

The Wye Valley is a beautiful drive, especially in the autumn, and it must have been amazing to get the train down there to admire the scenery. Chepstow to Monmouth and then a change of train to travel the line to Pontypool Road would have been a great trip. It's been years since I lived in the area but I did cross the river on the railway bridge at Usk and walking through the old station and the tunnel (closed now as far as I know) quite a few times on afternoons out. As well as checking out other remaining parts of that line.

[@bathroomjon1]

Great tunnel - particularly impressed by that culvert though - wow! Cheers

[@Sim0nTrains]

Brilliant Video. But when Rebecca said that I don't want to do the diversionary route uphill? surely it can be done on a electric bike! Love the chatting with the locals and that tunnel is defiantly dark.

[@pwhitewick]

You should have seen the diversions in Rugeley this morning..... 🤪😬

[@Sim0nTrains]

@@pwhitewick That's why I was asking if you was staying in 'R' last night (because I didn't want to give your location away), would had warned you about it lol! But yes the Iron man Marathon was on today.

[@pwhitewick]

@@Sim0nTrains we eventually managed to leave.... took its time though.

[@Sim0nTrains]

@@pwhitewick Hope you enjoyed the tour of Rugeley, shame there no Power Station for you to see which was next to the hotel

[@lhmark73]

I just watched and loved every second, awesome scenery with just lovely presenters. I just had a holiday from my lounge. Thanks guys that really was awesome I loved every minute

[@markb9013]

Another awesome video guys.. Thanks

[@andymiller4971]

Another super video ,thanks for your efforts and sharing .

[@davekirwin]

Fabulous shared greenway. Can't help feeling if they added reflectors to the sleepers it might help guide people a little easier. That culvert is amazing, great workmanship. Good b-roll and music choice.

[@alanclarke4646]

Another great video, Paul and Rebecca, and nice to see the tunnel back in use, in an environmentally friendly way.

[@RichardMaguire110]

The Wye Valley is beautiful in Autumn. I walked the Tiddenham Tunell years ago with a friend when it was an adventure to get to the portal, there was lots of rail left and rail all though the tunel. I also recall the trains serving the quarrly in 1980 shortly before the line closed. The locomotives made lots of noise powering up to the tunell portal. This noise could be heard all thought the valley.

[@timeflysintheshop]

Very neat place. History, scenery, fun and exercise all in one stop! Thanks for sharing!

[@billyruss]

Tidenham tunnel a lot less eerie than the last time I walked it, back sometime in the 90s. On that occasion, we accessed it from the old quarry at the north - at the time full of derelict quarrying equipment. The rails were still down, but flooded in places. It's a wonderful route - walked most of it in the 70s and the scenery is lovely. Nice picnic area at the restored Tintern Station, and a great little pub (The Boat at Redbrook) a bit further up the line, accessed by another of those iron viaducts (the car park is in England and the pub in Wales) that serves excellent ales straight from the cask at the back of the bar. The very first time I walked it, we cycled down to Tidenham, and I think we may have asked that lady in the cottage if we could leave our bikes with her whilst we explored the tunnel. Just as we got there, the once-weekly freight train came bursting out of the tunnel - we timed that one just right! Picture of the southern portal on that trip here: www.geograph.org.uk/photo/243896

[@pwhitewick]

A very famous pic too Bill

[@billyruss]

​@@pwhitewick There are a few of my pics on Graeme Bickerdike's excellent Forgotton Relics site - though I can't seem to see them recently because Adobe Flash is no longer supported!

[@pwhitewick]

@@billyruss yup.... a little bit of a frustration lately, but probably a mountain of work for graeme to convert.

[@aliendon73]

Amazing video as always, beautifully shot & presented. Bit of permanent way info for you. The short section of track you showed with the rails bolted into the sleepers, is called a scarf switch. It enabled the rail to expand and retract in the hot/cold temperatures. The rails bolted to the sleepers are called braces and prevent any longitudinal movement. The bit you called a chicane in the tunnel, is called a reverse curve.

[@TrevsTravelsByNarrowboat]

Hi guys. a very interesting video. Deja ve for me how it started. I am on the Llangollen Canal at the moment. I am in Wales at the moment but go out of Wales back into Shropshire when I more, before going back into Wales again. The lights and bat thing gets me, as I see bats in just about every tunnel I go through, and Boats have to have their light on.

[@pwhitewick]

Must meet up soon!!

[@jeffallinson8089]

That was so interesting, thanks for your effort, I loved this.

[@jamesgilbart148]

Great video - I'm really keen to cycle that brilliant newly opened route

[@markh3271]

I like that they kept it in low light in the tunnel. I wonder if they might, for those who would prefer a little more "safety", use infrared lighting in appropriate internal areas. Those who want can use special glasses to see the illuminated path, walls, and oncoming traffic better. A dark brown paint, tested the best in reflection of infrared light, would be visible to a person wearing infrared glasses but virtually invisible to all others.

[@q-fesh3498]

Wow, such a cool tunnel. Never knew that it existed. 😊

[@simonwinter863]

One of your best so far, really enjoyed, when I get my new hip I will be checking it out myself

[@stephenreardon2698]

Welcome to Tinternet, as we say up North

[@Chris.Strange]

There's a tunnel I walked through on an outing from Plas Pencelli when I was a teenager and I've never been able to pinpoint exactly where it was but one day Paul and Rebecca will feature it on this channel. It's a curved tunnel that is long enough to be pitch black for most of its length. It can't be too far away from where this was filmed.

[@markkilley2683]

Wales is a beautiful place, I wish I had gotten to see more of it.

[@stewartshackleton7825]

Excellent video as usual. Let us hope Queensberry Tunnel can be preserved and used in the same way. Moorland Yorkshire scenery is perhaps not as picturesque as the Wye Valley but still stunning in a more rugged way.

[@TheAnonymousfruit]

@1:27 where is this? That’s an old Adjustment (aka ‘Breather’) switch. It is to allow thermal expansion from CWR (Continuously Welded Rail) into Jointed track.

[@elzorroman1]

Excellent guys as always thank you

[@tomstickland]

That palisade fence appeared at Tintern tunnel in the 3 weeks between two visits I made there in about 2016. I think you can descend down the bank to reach the other portal.

[@lyndondowling2733]

Another well-produced and entertaining Trek and history lesson by Rebecka & Paul.

[@MrGreatplum]

Fantastic video - I’d love to go through that tunnel - I bet it was lovely and cool in there!

[@pwhitewick]

Most definitely yes!

[@Simon_Nonymous]

Great to see these sorts of projects working out! And Tintern too, home of the world wide web!

[@Taladar2003]

I am sure the people who built those tunnels all those years ago would like the thought that someone is still making some use of the tunnel they built, even if it is far from the original use.

[@a11csc]

brilliant both of you and paul i can see where the attention to detail comes from

[@gchecosse]

Was there in June, the Wye Valley might be the most beautiful area in the UK

[@pwhitewick]

Filmed in June... 🙂

[@rogercmerriman]

I loved exploring it earlier in the year even if I needed a while to recover after the tunnel, as vestibular system damaged so my balance is almost entirely vision, liked the bridge too!

[@colwichjunction3366]

Hi Paul & Rebecca Lovely part of the world, I didn’t know about the “Greenway” I’ll defo check it out next time I’m down that way👍 Great vid, thanks for sharing, stay safe Cheers John b 😷

[@bostonrailfan2427]

a positive video, hopefully the other tunnel can be opened even if as a trail without the viaduct

[@paulmartin1095]

Another fantastically informative video, love it

[@exileinderby51]

Another absolutely stunning video, thank you.

[@darrenhitchcox6345]

I rode this tunnel just yesterday. Yes it is darker than Bath Two Tunnels for sure and really busy. I find there are more walkers than cyclist in this, so take it steady and beware. Once out the Northern Portal of the tunnel, the path scenery is just stunning, such a beautiful area.

[@mal_752]

Beautiful. Love the scenery. Well done. 🙏 👏👏👏

[@christopherbraiden6713]

Thanks for the video, what can I say, just totally awesome my favourite yet!!😎🚂🚃🚃🇬🇧

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers. Not the first to say that. Much appreciated

[@Shaun.Stephens]

Thanks guys.

[@biking261]

I love this path, I have been along it several times since it opened and yes its darker than the two tunnels route but I found my eyes got used to the darkness after a minute or so,

[@allenatkins2263]

It must be comforting to have Rebecca there in case of trouble.

[@Llanigraham53]

I would suggest that the small culvert that you went through was actually a cattle creep.

[@RobertSmith-zv1xo]

Beautiful indeed! Enjoyed this vlog and apperently you did too ;-)

[@anthonymoore6009]

Enjoyed this. Lots of railway debris in situ.

[@jackprier7727]

Okay, that's officially the most beautiful culvert I have ever seen-

[@pwhitewick]

Wait.... stop press, go check out our vid about sleeping in an abandoned tunnel. There is another epic one there.

[@jackprier7727]

@@pwhitewick Thanks! What a work of art performed quite long ago by diligent masons-(and heretofore mostly ignored)-

[@lesbendo6363]

Great video

[@davidsheriff8989]

Know this area well.....nice to see again....have you done the Dean Forest Railway ?

[@pwhitewick]

Hey David. Yup a few times.

[@neilbain8736]

That's handy, only up 9 mins and just as I sat down for tea and just the sort of weather that makes you want to get out on your bike. There's some excellent colour footage of the line as a railway in colour. At least that tunnel has lights. It didn't look as black as I thought but I do wonder if the picture here is the same as what you actually see. It would be ideal for night vision goggles.

[@pwhitewick]

Muuuuch darker in real life as it where

[@bcoldgoalie]

If only you could go back in time and take a train ride through that area! Beautiful valley.

[@pwhitewick]

Indeed

[@martynridley513]

Excellent, just loved it. Thank you, you have outdone yourselves. Any the music was really special. Who was it?

[@davidstewart5811]

What a neat video. I love the English people and your attraction to nature.

[@robertmcgovern8850]

Nature never did betray / The heart that loved her" --WW, Tintern Abbey

[@bostonrailfan2427]

perfect quote…

[@misterwibble6411]

May I ask - what the music is that starts at 04:46? I really like it. That tunnel looks fantastic with the lighting that has been installed

[@michaelmiller641]

Lovely area!

[@karlbythesea]

ahhh I have the same orange bike !!

[@Walesktf]

Many thanks for this video. i don't live too far away so I will be walking this at some stage during the autumn. What's the song played at the beginning? A classic slice of Northern Soul that I haven't heard in many a long year and I can't for the life of me remember who it is by, or the title of the song. Thanks

[@andyskelton7223]

Loved it thanks, music too 💥

[@johnponter1486]

Brilliant, hope to do this very soon.

[@lawrencemvc]

I went through that about 15yrs back. Not by bike though.

[@JOHNMONO]

Thank you so much for the time and effort you put in, i really enjoyed watching , you guys should be snapped up by a TV company, looking forward to the next show. Thank you both