The Tunnel that Collapsed. The Malton to Driffield Railway

In this video we visit the Malton to Driffield disused abandoned railway line. Its located in North Yorkshire in the UK. Firstly we visit the Wharram chalk works active in the 1920's A wonderful piece of industrial history. We see the Lime kilns and the old now abandoned quarry. We walk on down the disused railway line and we eventually come to the Burdale disused railway tunnel. The Burdale tunnel suffered two collapses in 1977 and 1988 we enters the tunnel and approach the collapse. We also hear stories of how the teams of Navvies, Victorian tunnel workers and engineers caused chaos in the area with the advent of illegal drinking dens. This is a historical documentary and an urbex adventure. Looking at some wonderful victorian railway architecture and engineering. This is a collaboration with ‪@ALWResearchTeam‬

[@MartinZero]

The British Pathe footage of the Chalk works www.britishpathe.com/video/the-chalk-getters-a-wharram-study

[@ExploringwithCarl]

Good explore ;)

[@ALWResearchTeam]

@@ExploringwithCarl thanks EWC

[@plentygood422]

How you get in Martin, looks like a solid wall

[@stationsixtyseven67]

Nice to see the chalk chutes you found still working being used in production in that Pathe film :)

[@colinedward3147]

Another good one that old footage was great to see.

[@astronomenov99]

I have actually walked all the way through from South to North (and back). I went with a friend of mine who had been through before. It must have been around 1988 and just after the second collapse, as we had to climb over two tunnel fall debris piles. The water was quite deep between the debris piles as it is 'dammed' by them. Climbing up the piles into the voids it was very interesting to see the layers of brickwork. From memory it was about 4-6 layers. We made it through into the North end but there was no way to exit so we had to walk all the way back. An interesting feature was the ice stalagmites on the tunnel floor for the first 50 metres or so from the South entrance. It must have been after Easter but the tunnel was well insulated from the Spring warmth and quite cold inside. At that time, there were big double doors on the South entrance which must have been left open in the Winter. We used to do some stupidly dangerous things back then! We were rock climbers and dabbled in a bit of caving but this was a bit over the limit.

[@sampointau]

The tunnel collapse looks like a hydraulic break through, where the lined the tunnel in the chalk when it was dry and failed to allow for enough drainage behind the wall during heavy rain periods! I have seen it before in some places, generally caused by poor hydrology investigation by the engineers. Water bleeds through the chalk and builds up in large amounts behind the Brickwork, it then finds a weakness or a crack and pushes through. It also happens in mines in shale areas and also in underground fortifications.

[@aniwilliams3370]

Wow! That’s fascinating, Sam - thank you for posting 😍

[@sexygirlove20]

similar fall happened in a coal mine i worked at in australia... water built up around and above the tunnel ( adit ) lining and it weakened the strata and fell down.... the main conveyor out of the mine was cut for quite a long time... the adit used for men and machines was found to be effected also... above the fall on the surface was a natural depression where the water gathered, this is where the water came from during wet weather..... another mine i worked at had water entering the strata a time after rain... i reported it and was told i didnt know what i was talking about...........

[@velorog]

Martin, watching your video brought back many memories of this area. In the late 1950’s I was a teenager living in Hull. We would cycle out to Burdale on a weekend and push our bikes through the tunnel. Heading north was tricky as there was a bend near the northern portal so we were always heading into darkness. No powerful torches in those days, just feeble Ever Ready bike lights. I seem to recall that there was always a lot of water running from the air shafts, some of which are 300 ft deep. So I am not surprised there has been a collapse; that’s a lot of bricks to support. From the northern portal we would go and explore the abandoned church at Wharram Percy. Heading back south through the tunnel was a lot easier as once past the bend we had a speck of daylight to aim for. Quite an adventure at the time.

[@Zero_Ninety]

Impressed that you managed to walk through the wall at the end of that tunnel...

[@MartinZero]

Rentaghost 👻😀

[@kohedunn]

Exactly ! ahhahahahah

[@tardismole]

@@MartinZero LOL That's a blast from the past. :D

[@professionalidiots101]

Ummmm I was thinking the exact same thing 🤔

[@anthonydefreitas6006]

@@MartinZero Do I detect a new nick name ? Mr Claypole 😆

[@officially-ROB]

Yes 30 mins of greatness

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Rob

[@katherinekinnaird4408]

Great content. I live in Bakersfield California USA. The Tehachapi Loop a very old still used realign with many tunnels that go through the Tehachapi Mountains from Bakersfield and then over to Mojave is still in working order today the loop for such a steep grade is so big and the trains are so long that they actually loop around and meet each other front to back each time they use the loop when I was a young girl passengers still were allowed to ride the Tehachapi Loop and I got to ride it one day look it up it's a famous historic train track and destination.

[@MartinZero]

Wow sounds fantastic Katherine 👌

[@Stop..carry-on]

Amazing the brickwork at the chalk works seems to be in good condition. Those drops in the woods are deadly I’m surprised they haven’t been back filled or fenced off

[@MartinZero]

I imagine in summer when the weeds are high they are very dangerous to spot

[@patrickmccarthy5462]

Or full of dead animals that have wandered and fallen in

[@ShalomBrother]

I saw james walking up Rochdale road, Royton a couple weeks back. I had 1 of them “I know him but I can’t think where from” moments...5 mins later it twigged who it was!

[@MartinZero]

I sent him your comment Ryan. He said say hello next time 👍

[@allanspence1347]

I thought he looked familiar.

[@robertschmitz7300]

James is a great addition.

[@howardsnowden1040]

Great video as usual - well done Martin, James and Andrew. When construction of the tunnel started it was going to be for double track, but the company had financial problems and to save costs the tunnel design was changed for single track, that is the reason for the change in size after the first few hundred yards. As a matter of interest the Resident Engineer for the railway under construction was Alfred Dickens, who was the younger brother of Charles Dickens.

[@CycolacFan]

Fascinating, I really appreciate how you take the time to show buildings in context, too many KZbinrs wave the camera about and don’t stop to take in the details such as pointing up chimneys and around the outsides of structures. Also really helps that you show a map and explain where a new location is in relation to the previous one. I am intrigued as to how you got into the tunnel since there didn’t appear to be a door on the second end you visited, only on the first...?

[@johnstilljohn3181]

Brilliant...! That chalk works is huge - anything like that down our way is long gone and flats built...

[@MartinZero]

Yeah lovely that its still say there in the woods

[@adelestevens]

Because I watched this I now know that a steam shovel typically had a 3 man crew. Watched this video...then watched "the chalk getters"..then wondered about the steam shovel in that video and researched about that topic too. Martin Zero...leading to learning 👍😁

[@OscarVaughn]

Hi from the USA and Thanks for sharing. Loving all you do, I enjoy thr history of everything you show wish I could visit your beautiful country one day.

[@davidhudson8415]

At last - a video from the right side of the hills - brilliant 👍

[@MartinZero]

Done a few now David

[@timwaywell]

.... but it's not in Lancashire

[@nmb46]

I love the fact that its a bat refuge now, it's like we said "Here you are nature, we used this for a while but now its yours again, enjoy!"

[@johnjephcote7636]

Wharram Percy is a deserted mediaeval village-I seem to remember from my historical geography many years ago.

[@MartinZero]

Yeah I believe so John

[@karlb1483]

@J M It's and English Heritage property now, very interesting place.

[@MrJasdog107]

We were round that area this year walked past the chalk works and to the closed off entrance to that amazing tunnel so much work left unseen under those hills . Thanks showing me what i never got to see.

[@brianartillery]

Probably Lime kilns, where limestone and chalk were burned, to create lime for cement manufacture. Sunday evenings sitting at work are always made better by a Martin Zero video. The very best way to travel without moving. Thank you yet again. Nice one. Part of my job is to hand out a right of way token to rail workers who need access to a seldom used rail spur and set of sidings that run through the dock area where I work. The spur is used to park heavy maintenance gear until it is needed. The token is a solid brass rod, about 12" in length, very battered and heavy, with the spur name stamped into it. I hand it out about once a fortnight.

[@MartinZero]

That actually sounds great Brian

[@rontanser9369]

Wow are used to live in Kingston upon Hull when I was younger didn’t know any of that was there well done Martin thank you

[@MartinZero]

Cheers Ron, glad you enjoyed

[@mickleem]

That is one amazing video. I don’t live too far from there so I’m going to take a look next summer

[@sampointau]

Hey Martin, standard bottom fired lime kiln, the funny shaped bricks are fire bricks and designed to be hot at one end but remain stable at the other end. I have seen equally old ones here, very much the same design but used for reducing oyster and other seashells to lime. Also very similar are charcoal kilns which have a cap with adjustable ventilation to semi smother the fire burning in the layered timbers placed in the kiln.

[@DanielMeakin1]

Fantastic video very interesting

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Daniel

[@DanielMeakin1]

@@MartinZero your welcome mate

[@littleratbag1111]

I thought challenge anneka was back at the beginning! Great work as always Martin keep up the excellent videos. Stay safe my friend.

[@MartinZero]

Yep gotta keep the excitement up 😀

[@littleratbag1111]

@@MartinZero ha ha too right cheers me up your videos while this bloody COVID going on! 👍

[@guychallis9427]

Naahhhh, bums not the same 😁😁😁

[@sampointau]

And from the look of the excavated chalk of the tunnel where all the Brickwork has come away they used square edge cutting, leaving a flat surface at the top and angled sides down to a vertical wall and them built the arched Brickwork under it, if the didn't fill the space between the Brickwork and the chalk it just would've filled with water, causing the hydraulic blow out and collapse of the brick liner. That would also explain the rounded rectangular tunnel roof end of the vent Shaft as it would start where the ceiling was flat and narrow to round once it went up around 20'.

[@hovermotion]

Wow another stunning production.. With the bonus is amazeing.

[@MrSvetlin09]

Thanks for this great video, it is great to see how the tunnells were built and lined. It is a lost art. Fascinating. Another masterpiece Martin and team.

[@marygarner5249]

Love VIDEOS Always Great Time Love the History thank you for taking us along

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Mary

[@ProspectstudiosCoUkBFD]

Running round like Keith Chegwin at the beginning gave me a chuckle 😂👍

[@bethsheeba1198]

Great video and the movie was amazing. Thank you Martin and friends cheers from Oz.

[@28YorkshireRose12]

Hi Martin, Nice to see you've been to my part of the world! - Even if you were up on the Wolds I'm in the vale! That 'thing' at 6:00 is nothing more than the front of a pig pen, the trough at the bottom is where the pigs ate, and the tubular bars were just that, bars to keep little porkers in, and to pour their little piggy dinners through, just like the ones on the farm where I worked in the late '70s. From the camera's perspective, you're inside the pen, with the pigs!

[@MartinZero]

Yeah I was thinking engineering equipment then I realised probably pig stuff 😀

[@rydermike33]

Fantastic day out. Thank you chaps. Can you imagine the sound that collapse would have made through the tunnel! Hope you enjoyed your egg buttie James.

[@MartinZero]

Yeah it would have been mega scary to see

[@oddwad6290]

One of your best . You covered an important resource of the early 20th century . Building materials were in huge demand and a very important part of the economy . It employed a lot of folks . They were very competitive and very thin margin businesses . Very tough to manage . What's shown is an excellent look at the impressive structures necessary to harvest , refine ,store and load the massive amount material necessary . Thanks for having Andrew in the video . Maybe a retired engineer could cover the collapse in detail in a separate video .

[@MartinZero]

That would be a good idea if we could do that, thank you

[@matthewgriffiths8423]

Its brilliant that these places are still there to see. Amazing history. Awesome Martin. Fantastic

[@MartinZero]

Yeah great place Matthew

[@getyerspn]

Epic explore ... definitely something 99.9999% of us would never have seen without you're video.... please keep up the good work

[@davidrowe2783]

Brilliant, Burdale Tunnel has mystified me for years having read about the difficulty building it, I always thought it was a no go area but you have proved me wrong! That collapse looks immense, I would never dare 😬🤐

[@MartinZero]

That first part was ok as you saw but no way i would walk past the collapse David

[@rubbershorts999]

Another great video, thank you. Lovely to see James again, I’ve missed him and Connor as well.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks, hopefully we will get Connor back soon

[@ChrisNorris]

Martin. Thanks for these videos. I can't get out and about at the moment but these are very much the next best thing. Cheers.

[@carlbentley80]

Fantastic, that piece of detached lining looked like a piece of art. Fantastic video.

[@stevesrepairs3815]

Thanks Martin that was fantastic and beggars belief that our great engineers would've built a tunnel in such an unstable place that was mostly supported by courses of bricks. Take care and all the best. Stevie

[@MartinZero]

Cheers, yes its interesting to see something Victorian that didnt work

[@Andy-From-England]

Nice to see you in my neck of the woods I only live in Bridlington I visited there many times great video mate 👍

[@MartinZero]

Cheers Andy

[@CaptainScruff83]

Very well presented Never seen brick work come away like that before you were wise to get out sharply. Thanks mate keep up the good work. 👍

[@MartinZero]

Yes Its very strange to look at, and thanks

[@mickd6942]

The pathe news film is brilliant , rare to see an old abandoned works then see on film It working

[@futurenewmedia]

You weren't wrong about the dust having just watched the archive footage 👍 Great vid again Martin ☺

[@ALWResearchTeam]

Nice Video as always Martin :)

[@MartinZero]

Great day Andrew

[@davidclaytonddc]

Fascinating, I didn't know anything about the chalk works and drive past that route to Beverly quite often. The Pathe video really brings it to life. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much David, yeah the Pathe clip is gold

[@johnrogers2826]

Absolutely stunning! Visually and historically. Man oh man, thanks. That is awesome.!

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much John

[@MrJohntheHarp]

Hull history nerd recommended your channel with a link and iam so glad he did! This was great thank you :)) John

[@MartinZero]

Thank you 👍

[@Dan23_7]

8:25 reminds me of when me and my mates went into the old Birmingham and Leyland rubber works and found loads of old gas masks. It’s now new houses on its site 😞 Leyland PR25

[@MartinZero]

Yeah the curse of the housing estate Dan

[@suzyqualcast6269]

Nice finds! Filters full of asbestos tho.....

[@Dan23_7]

@@suzyqualcast6269 My dad said that at the time we got them “don’t fit those bloody filters on” he said 😂

[@sharonstuebi8181]

Hey Martin! Yet another great video thanks

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Sharon

[@MrVxrman]

Hi Martin thank you for an interesting video 😎 All the best 😃🍻👍🏻

[@coalcrackerchris]

WOW!!! BEAUTIFUL ARCHATECTURE!!! Got to try to stand in the EXACT location the original photographer stood. Very interesting video and channel! Make sure you ALWAYS hear an echo in those tunnels! 😆👍👏 A +

[@buzzardexploration]

Nice one Martin, it’s a fantastic place to explore. Medieval village, 18th Century roofless Church, Chalk Crusher & Quarries, disused Railway with Tunnel ............... heaven !

[@MartinZero]

Thanks I wouldnt mind going back to the village

[@buzzardexploration]

@@MartinZero .......check our Channel for other locations over here Martin 😉 The old Butlins Station Platform is still here 🤔 If in doubt give us a shout 👍

[@MrLargePig]

The British Pathe footage was very good! Wonder who they think is going to license it? It shows a gyratory crusher, they still use those today. There must have been a conveyor system to carry the crushed chalk from the output of the crusher up to the top of the hopper, once upon a time.

[@robinoconnor1203]

I was born quite close to the area, the line was nicknamed the Malton Dodger, we used the old quarry for Motorcycle Trials events. I walked through the tunnel over 40 years ago. It was bricked up at the Malton end, although you could see some light from that end, it was partially flooded above wellington boot height so that stopped us going to the end. Its a long way north of Hull. There is still a lot of the lines infastructure in the area.

[@MartinZero]

Ahh yes I heard it was called the Dodger Robin, it missed all the towns didnt it by about half a mile

[@elizabethannferrario7113]

hi , york has a fabulous train locomotives, its a great museum, worth a look , being an ex railway nurse , you need to see to appreciate these amazing engines . my gosh Martin how interesting, always love your videos for bringing history back , being a girlie i know i never was able to know about these places , those shafts were very deep , you would think they would have been filled in by now , its breaking the law to disturb bats now as merseyway river which the stockport shopping centre is built above certain times of the year personnel are forbidden to disturb them . in fact they have a lady who cares for them , and a very stern lady who you just don’t mess with !!! i only know because my hubby had his retirement job in security , following his retirement from the police force . now safely retired from both ! thank goodness with covid -19 , and the new variant, he,s no longer at risk .i hate to say Martin even the open air just speaking to another person without a mask puts you at risk, as i am a registered nurse, so just take care , i am concerned for you . my regards liz x

[@setonwaddington]

This is brilliant. I've a deep interest in Industrial and Transport history and these videos bring a lot of things to life each week. I'd love to have been able to see some of the items featured in use.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you, yes I think the Pathe clip helps though

[@neilhansen5663]

Amazing brickwork work of art

[@shirleylynch7529]

Fantastic. Music brilliant.thoroughly enjoyed that. Thank you.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Shirley

[@missyd0g2]

Beautiful brick work

[@gregbolitho9775]

Excellent m8, nice walk! Its amazing and shocking, what ice an water can do. Homework in 1967 [primary school] was filling a milk bottle with water, and leaving it outside, overnight in the middle of winter. The glass bottle cracked but didn't break. I can see what happened to the roof and wall. Keep up the good walks an you and yours stay safe and well eh!

[@ausi14u]

The addition of the operational movie was brilliant. After your comprehensive explore of the site it was amazing to see how it was in operation. Another excellent presentation, luv ya work, thanks.

[@JK-yf9sx]

The Pathe film was the perfect ending to this adventure. Thanks Martin

[@daveflick12]

My third watch today, fantastic video. Really enjoying my evening tonight, thank you Martin.

[@MartinZero]

Cheers Dave and thanks for watching

[@Cowley46]

Despite the surviving tunnel and industrial buildings I find it very pleasing when a humble little railway hut still stands. A cracking video again thanks.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you, yes that railway hut was a gem 👌

[@shauntodd7123]

You find the most amazing places Martin

[@mainzman7239]

Damn it Martin, you got me again. It was always the abandoned houses that got me down but this time it was the railway hut. I can imagine someone being in there in Winter with the fire blazing to keep warm, going out to give a train driver a token or whatever it was called and coming back into the warmth. Now the hut stands deserted and deteriorating, in a few years it might be just a pile of bricks. It's the personal aspect of these finds that makes me a little sad, wondering what life and work must have been like for whoever was in there. Kudos for going into that tunnel, wherever the access opening is, it must be pretty friggin' big to have allowed your gigantic nads to fit through ; )

[@andrewschmitz9707]

This was captivating to the highest caliber. The chaulkworks at first resembled a shell, but as you explored more it revealed a fascinating story including the chute that filled trains. And the tunnel just made me have even more respect for the men who built it,Navies

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Andrew, glad you enjoyed

[@delawaregamingandy9935]

Keep up the Great Videos love the content.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Andy

[@timbuthfer901]

Wonderful history Martin, superbly filmed. Surprised the bat's didn't pay you a visit.

[@MartinZero]

I think they mainly hang out at the Northern portal Tim

[@Dan23_7]

Yay “James walk sideways down hill” 👍🏼👍🏼

[@MartinZero]

Employing his own methods

[@Dan23_7]

@@MartinZero just finished the video now mate, we had tea then I nodded off last night haha What a find !!! That collapse !!😱

[@johngrant5749]

Surprised they could get radio reception down there. Sounded good. 😎

[@gafrers]

Wonderful as always

[@MartinZero]

Cheers Gafrers

[@mikecawood]

What a great area to explore.

[@MartinZero]

It was Michael

[@steveridgewaynrtgo]

Another great video Martin. Wish you could have gotten some colored light photos of the collapsed part of the tunnel, but it wouldn't have been worth the risk. Perhaps one day you can return with Tank Rover rigged up with colored lights. Thanks!

[@MartinZero]

Good idea but I wont be rushing back Steve 😀

[@garrystacey7018]

Great video thank for sharing 👍

[@jetsons101]

All right, hot tea---soft chair and a Martin video......

[@brituga7354]

Nice 😉 another adventure! Good night Martin 😉

[@MartinZero]

Thank you and goodnight

[@GGS1956]

Great adventure Martin, James and Andrew

[@MartinZero]

Thank you, we had a great day

[@judithsmith9274]

Brilliant as always. 🙂

[@GregDaniel78]

Thanks for the fascinating vid. The tunnel looks incredible. I'm thrilled to see how 'un-chavved' a lot of the victorian post-industrial stuff is in north yorks. Anywhere closer to the cities, those original tunnel-building brick frames would have long gone.

[@RobinTheBot]

Why do you think this is?

[@Belznis]

So many fantastic places, each with a history and memories lost in time .

[@phantomkate6]

Exploring With Your Dad is my favourite show!!!

[@frankfitzgerald5832]

Loved that some tunnels do give ya the creeps and ya feel uneasy or unsettled .. but thanks for sharing this one martin stay safe mate ...keep up the great work Frank & Lee...

[@MartinZero]

Thanks you Frank and Lee

[@marklawson8346]

Hi Martin thanks for your video and thank you for the link to the original video , great to see what you were taking about in action all those years ago . Keep the vids coming mate 👍🏻

[@MartinZero]

Yeah the Pathe clip brings it to life doesnt it

[@martin4787]

Fascinating once again Martin, especially the link to the old film archive.

[@windleshamwanderer3728]

Always fascinating industrial history and a scenic tour of more stunningly beautiful British countryside. Your infectious enthusiasm makes the video even more appealing. I look forward to your next adventure.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you glad you enjoyed

[@robertschmitz7300]

I just watched the British Pathe silent piece,and it was powerful seeing the chalk works especially after viewing your current day piece.

[@MartinZero]

Yeah good footage innit

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

incredible. Dangerous. Frightening. Many thanks

[@18corza]

Thanks for a great video and the link to the chalk works video great to see things then and now

[@moonriseproductions]

Those curvy roof supports need to be saved and one or two restored! Really cool

[@MartinZero]

Yeah they were brilliant Sam

[@markb9013]

Outstanding footage Martin. Thank you so much..

[@robertschmitz7300]

The work you do,all of you,is so important yes for the joy of seeing the infrastructure, but to me this is also about respect for those who built the railroad,those amazing crews of Victorian Times.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Robert

[@paulgorton2207]

That collapse is scary, I would have crapped my keks

[@MartinZero]

I did crap my keks Paul

[@goodlookinouthomie1757]

As little as vibrations from yor voice could have been what it took to set another one off!

[@taisaizepeto7726]

Hi Martin,James And ALW Exploration. Here is from Brazil. Great vídeo!

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Taisa glad you enjoyed it. Regards to Brazil

[@sadieals]

I love all this history you keep finding for us and the way you always seem to find the ' people' story to go along with it. ( the navvies and their 'moonshine') Sad sometimes but nevertheless very interesting.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Helen, yeah interesting about the navies causing riots

[@lindamccaughey6669]

Thanks so much for that Martin it was quite exciting. Those bricks are beautiful. I love the way tunnels are used for bats what a fantastic way to use use them. I’m so pleased you didnt go any further, we don’t want you being hurt. Thanks so much for taking me along and p,ease stay safe and take care

[@christopherrosindale3175]

With reference to Sam Point's comment below, I have seen similar damage inside the Rampgill lead and zinc mine at Nenthead in Cumbria. Around 2 miles inside, there are 1930's era levels driven by the Vielle Montagne company which were lined with concrete. Driven through shale, now you can frequently see signs of the concrete lining buckling inwards at floor level, which may be due to the process that Sam is describing. In contrast, the 18th century dry stone arching in neighboring mines such as Smallcleugh is in beautiful shape, although collapses have occurred in shale in there as well. Both mines are well worth a visit Martin, if you fancy it sometime?

[@icewizzard666]

Awesome vid Mart, The photos were excellent inside the tunnel. The drone footage showing where the chalk works were - fab! You were right, if a piece came down a hard hat would unfortunately not help! Stay safe mate!

[@theowdgit9790]

Stunning...........

[@MartinZero]

Thank you