Silverdale Tunnel & The North Staffordshire Railway Disused Walk Part 1

Please watch: "The Most Beautiful Closed Railway in the UK? Scarborough to Whitby Railway Episode 2"
• The Most Beautiful Clo... -~-
Silverdale Tunnel & The North Staffordshire Railway Disused Walk
Part 1
In this video we head on up to Newcastle Under Lyme near Stoke on Trent in Staffordshire.
Skirting the village of Silverdale and the former Colliery that closed in 1998, we then advance onto Silverdale Tunnel with it's single shaft at the Western end.
Once out of the tunnel we continue on towards Keele, the site of the former Keele Station and finish off at the Tunnel that holds the same name.
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#silverdale #tunnel #railway Additional Music by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0.
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[@kholden2678]

Thanks for sharing the video of the line. From 1884 to 1914 George James Crosbie Dawson spent 28 years of his 58 year engineering career as Chief Engineer of the North Staffordshire Railway. During this time he supervised the expansion of the line and later supervised the maintenance of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal as part of his duties. George was my 2nd cousin 4x removed. It is nice to be able to see what remains of his work

[@Carolb66]

SIlverdale looks lovely, s beautiful church. Fab walk this one Ant. ❤😊

[@exileinderby51]

That item about a burning coal tip reminds me about Centralia, a town in the USA that was abandoned because of burning coal seams under it. Great video as always

[@Tuberuser187]

There are quite a few fires like that, man made ones usually related to colliaries but there are some natural ones. Ones where a coal seam close to the surface was set alight by a natural, lightning strike brush/forest fire and may have been burning for thousands of years.

[@paulspickernell6875]

Said it before and will say it again, love what you do, and the way you present it, granddaughter doesn’t get it, thinks I am mad, hey different generation

[@markwng]

Well that was a damn good walk. Amazing that such a small amount of light coming down that shaft could support a little bit of greenery..

[@stephengittoes7136]

Worked the occasional coal train from silverdale to fiddlers ferry early 1990s.good memories

[@jamescummings5274]

What locos worked the line?

[@stephengittoes7136]

@@jamescummings5274 I only drove class 60,s whilst based at Warrington. the work was claimed by Crewe depot .we lost the work to Crewe

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thanks for the trip back in time, Ant! Fabulous video and chat. Cheers Ant!

[@cliffgallimore42]

Worked many a coal train on that line from Holditch colliery and Silverdale , which sold amazing bacon butties and P.H.B Soap , abbreviated Pit Head Bath . Great video many memories.

[@urbangeeze1348]

I seem to remember watching a vlog of a guy being interviewed, who worked on the Permanent Way Gang, back in the days of steam, & he was saying, that what you call a 'Recess', was in fact referred to by them, as a 'Refuge', for workers from passing trains. Nice vlog dude, & since your channel name change, your content gets better & better.Look forward to next one. Cheers.

[@seamusmcevoy2011]

That really was terrific a brilliant find. Great to see the rail still down and the tunnel in relatively good nick. Part two looks very interesting as well, can't wait. @11.53 I see your fame knows no bounds!! Nice to also see the platforms and Station buildings that are still there.

[@shauntodd7123]

What an amazing adventire so far, would make for a fantastic preserved line.

[@anthonymoore6009]

That walk has everything. Looking forward to part 2

[@jetsons101]

Just made a tea and ready to enjoy........

[@alistairshaw3206]

Brilliant video again, Ant. It's amazing that the rails are still in situ. After the Beeching cuts, the rails were lifted sometimes after a few months. Along with many steel bridges and viaducts! Your content gets better and better, I like the old photos of the Sulzer type 2 diesels and the 60, the last British built diesel loco.

[@richardperry5538]

Great video......can't wait for part 2 🙂

[@shavedphil]

Excellent as always 👍

[@janepatricia8779]

Well that was an adventure when you came out the tunnel into the jungle 😂😂,loved the drone footage above the shaft,everything looked so green & fresh,another video well presented,look forward to part 2,😃 xx

[@philliphammond399]

Hi Ant, another interesting find. Good video again, it’s nice of you to take us out for a walk. Thank you.

[@Tuberuser187]

Thanks for the explore and upload!

[@chrisbayly5457]

Excellent walk Ant, really enjoyed Part 1

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks so much Chris. We should be ready with part 2 early next week 😀

[@misscharmaineX]

Great video loved being able to see inside Silverdale tunnel. You are so knowledgeable:-)

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed it. Part 2 is coming soon 🙂

[@Sam_Green____4114]

Quite interesting following the route on the OS map as the video plays !!!

[@spesinfracta]

Great video of my North Staffs heritage, nice to see one of Martyn Hearsons photos credited, thanks for posting.

[@lindamccaughey6669]

As usual a fantastic video. Can’t go wrong with tunnels and train tracks. I so enjoyed that, thanks for taking me along. Please stay safe and take care

[@shirleylynch7529]

Incredible footage. Music suited the surroundings. Well done. Loved it. Thank you. Looking forward to part 2

[@fenso6664]

Fantastic stuff Ant. love how they’ve left the rails in the tunnel it’s always bonus when you see that!

[@shaunbyrne9037]

There are a couple of videos on KZbin including ... Last coal train to Silverdale colliery ... and Silverdale mine 1998 . Great to compare then and now .

[@socklesslad]

This used to be my neck of the woods so it was great to see part of the world I know pretty well. There were a few pits served by that line - until about 1990 trains ran as far east as the A34 - but Silverdale was the last. I've never walked along the line, however, so it's good to see - although you could have taken me with you. ;-) It's amazing how overgrown it's got in only 20 years of disuse. Looking forward to the next part!

[@Sim0nTrains]

Brilliant Video, really enjoyed watching this. Just amazing how much of the tracks are still there.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Cheers Simon. This was harder than the first part from Silverdale 🙂

[@jonathanrogers7278]

great video ant looking forward to the next one

[@frankfitzgerald5832]

Another great explore Ant....looking forward to the second part.....good to see so much track still in situ ....mate....regards Frank & Lee...

[@martinhew981]

I really enjoyed that. Look forward to the next part. Another great video, Ant. Thanks

[@merlinonline67]

I can remember going to Silverdale Station in 1995, a Class 60 (in Railfreight grey livery) was conducting a test load, there was quite a bit of interest as there were lots of photographers and people with big clunky video cameras. I can remember seeing the Class 60 locomotive emerge from Silverdale Tunnel, which back then was clearly visible. Seems strange to see it in this state now. I can remember later on in the year hearing about an accident down in the drift mine roughly under the M6 motorway, they had to get the Paramedics to walk down the drift to get to where the casualties were.

[@bobingram6912]

Nice one Ant, you do love a good bit of undergrowth with your walks!!!! So much track left intact, unusual.

[@jontownsend8090]

Very interesting walk, nice to see so much infrastructure still extant, this would make a useful railway reopening, thanks once again.

[@Jimyjames73]

Hiya - @ 4:55 It's nice to see some remain of the Railway like the Signal & old Platforms!!! Interesting that the rail is left in the Tunnel - Don't get run down by any 'Ghost Trains!!!'😀 Lucky the doors were open at each end!!! It goes on for miles & smiles 🙂🚂🚂🚂

[@jetsons101]

Just to start, "Fantastic Drone Work" This looks like another enjoyable walk, nice that somebody left the gate open for you at the tunnel entrance. Nice art work of a steam loco at 12:20. Some of the water leaking in the tunnel could be coming that pond in the drone footage, just thinking. This looks like it would have been a great walk to be on, the undergrowth just makes it that much more of a challenge. Between your narration and music you really pull in the viewers and keep us there. Really looking forward to part two. Thanks for your time you put into your work.....

[@psychokeef]

Great video Ant can’t wait to see the second one. It’s unusual that they left the rails down

[@nigelkthomas9501]

I rode this line on a railtour in either 1997 or 1998. It was called the “Cheshire Mole”.

[@TrekkingExploration]

One of the final workings along there i guess

[@davidhodkinson5164]

Luv It Luv it !! really interesting, your blogs are so good, keep safe Looking forward to seeing Part two.

[@simonballard6413]

Great video, Ant. Would love to do that walk myself. Looking forward to part 2!

[@mbrewin]

great walk Ant, looking forward to part 2

[@peterwatts314]

Fabulous walk and filming - you must get fed up of all the plaudits and compliments that come your way lol! Really looking forward to part 2. As others are saying, your drone filming is wonderful, and sets off the video well. Couldn't help but worry you would be stranded somewhere in the jungle undergrowth and have to retrace your steps!

[@ulovemymum2963]

The hole at 19:53 has a timber in the top which means she they dug the tunnel they came across old mine workings which probably came from the wooded area on the other side of the road

[@lockdownlooping9402]

great video proper adventure

[@b4mouse]

Great effort and a must do walk for me this year.

[@gazclass58]

Wow ant amazing footage loved the video well done you for fighting with nature to film all of this video. Can't believe 20 odd years it got closed and it's all most a full on jungle. Looking forward to part 2.👍 take care ant.

[@a11csc]

roll on part 2, fantastic ant

[@jacobmassey3897]

OMG I've walked all around here. I used to go to Newcastle under Lyme college and have a friend who lives in Penkull so I know this area virtually like the back of my hand ☺

[@rossontinternet]

Great vid, I’m inspecting the earthworks and tunnels that out of use line in a few months…….technically not disused and we still maintain (albeit with minimum effort)…..one of my fave ELRs

[@TrekkingExploration]

Oooh sounds interesting. I bet you get to see a few even I can't ever get into. Thank you for watching

[@rossontinternet]

We only have three out of use lines like that on our route, HCM2 and 3 you’re on now, SCQ1/2/3 between leek and Stoke and one in London I’m still to get onto…….there’s one in Preston with a tunnel if you’ve not seen that one

[@TrekkingExploration]

@@rossontinternet no I've not been to that one. I'll have to look into it 🙂

[@rossontinternet]

@@TrekkingExploration Preston to longridge line, even had a branch to a mental hospital, a lot of it is footpath now but sections of line still

[@TrekkingExploration]

@@rossontinternet I'll have a look into this thank you 🙂

[@seany84uk]

More great content as usual! You live in a great area with lots of walkable former routes! :) Not much to walk up here in Halifax!

[@MrCsfootage]

Interesting to see that they have gated the portals in recent times. There was a well known Geocache in the middle of Silverdale Tunnel, not sure if its still there now. Also looks like they have covered the open drain catch pits inside, they were fairly deep and last time I visited a jogger ran past me and fell down one in the distance, luckily he was ok bar a few cuts and bruises !!

[@TrekkingExploration]

I did the walk and filming inside the Tunnel in late September 2020 but when i went back to find the shaft it was all sealed again in April 2021. Glad i went whe i did. Thanks for watching

[@smilevideobritain499]

soooo interesting. thank you

[@christinaburton9297]

Want to walk this! Thank you from a female disused railway fanatic!

[@andrewwright1200]

Guessing that pond seen at 19m in is draining down into the tunnel where it was wet.

[@martin-mi3cg]

Looks like they're gradually lifting the track then - those big portal gates at Silverdale weren't there a few years ago you were very lucky to find the little door open!

[@alanspencer4054]

Several trains of MGR WAGONS per week, from Silverdale Coliery to Ironbrige Power Station. Hauled by Class 47/50.

[@brothermoto1964]

50?

[@chrisgreen8803]

Did you mean 56?

[@mirutanable]

im suprised that so much track has been left in place... and in good condition to boot

[@MM0IMC]

24:55 Nettles are one thing, but bramble bushes are worse. 😮

[@4623620]

🚂🚃🚃🚃💨 Thanks for being such a fine journey advisor and friendly guide ! 👌😎👍 Almost every time I watch one of your videos I have google maps opened in a separate tab where I can trace the route, zooming in with satellite view is much like navigating my own drone over the area and street view makes it possible to explore more of the surroundings. 🤓 Actually the shaft is about 2/3 into the Silverdale Tunnel, from where it was entered. 🤓 Marvin says: Don't panic and wear your Mask. 🖖😷👍 ❗

[@40022laconia]

I am looking forward to part 2 because in my experience it's very difficult to gain access to the line at the wcml end.

[@2H80vids]

Looking at RailMapsOnline, it seems there was a siding into the Christmas tree farm. That would make for an interesting feature on a model railway. Pretty seasonal traffic though.😁 It would be interesting to learn a wee bit more about the siding and what sort of trains worked into/out of it. Looking forward to part II Ant, should be interesting.👍👌😁 EDIT: From what I can find online, the Christmas tree farm only dates back about 20 years, so the siding must have been for something else, probably something unChristmassy ~ bit of a shame really.😒

[@ulovemymum2963]

The siding your talking about was an old station house

[@ruthbrierley1798]

Music at 23.11 sounds like it's gonna be a Coldplay song! (Just need Chris Martin vocals to enter!)

[@andrewburke5390]

I was born in Silverdale in 1957, 8 High Street opposite the Catholic church. Can you please tell me if the station in 1962 had steam passenger trains stop there to join the West coast line to Blackpool? I really enjoyed this and the 2nd video. I now live in Canada but remember walking down Station road with my parents. Great memories.

[@mikgsal1384]

Thank you that was amazing. I was hoping you would start from the site of Newcastle under lyme station is that possible to walk as well?

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks :) I started down that way but there was not a lot to see really so picked it up further along the route.

[@fhwolthuis]

Great video! I wonder what would happen if you tried to run a little shunter down the tracks... Not very good for nature I know

[@peterboothby2878]

Good video! Can any one answer "Are modern tunnels made out of concrete get just as wet?"

[@paulcharlton4788]

They usually pump grout behind then concrete sections to keep the water out.

[@gaucher28]

I have heard that music in the silverdale tunnel before any ideas?