The Harecastle Tunnels. Canal and Railway Explore.

A few weeks ago we had a few hours to kill on the way up north so decided to have a quick explore of the Harecastle Tunnels and surrounding area.
As ever, we aren't urban explorers and don't aim to climb, break or in anyway scale fences. This is just us learning about the history and hoping to bring you a nice little exploration vlog.
If you are enjoying what we are doing please check out the following links:
www.paulwhitewi...
/ paulwhitewick
Or perhaps you may like to consider becoming a Patreon:
/ everydisusedstation
Thanks to:
Google - Maps.
Epidemicsound.com
Artlist.io

[@pwhitewick]

Hi folks, just a short one from is this week. Do you like the balance of mixed videos (tunnels, stations old routes)? Or do you have a particular favourite??

[@harleancarpenter8043]

I like the mix, being honest. Of course, close to me is the jumble of railway, and canal tunnels up at Marsden, though as that line is still open, maybe you should set Vicki & Geoff to go investigate those? Other one in my life (again line open) is the Higham to Strood section, where the canal tunnel became the rail tunnel in time. Oh, and is it wrong to add, I love Rebecca's leggings, though I know they wouldnt look so good on a 61 year old, lol.

[@Beatlefan67]

Bring it all on Paul - your interests are mine!

[@pwhitewick]

Ah thanks John.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Harlean, we love the mix too!

[@hubertvancalenbergh9022]

It's all equally interesting. You might include little-known old ruins and follies. These may have been covered elsewhere, of course. Btw, I like your dress, Rebecca.

[@timmorodgers4271]

I explored the northern portal of the southern tunnel for the first time this week, despite living in the area for 15 years. I found it fascinating! Years ago I walked a few hundred yards into the southern portal, the fencing was damaged. Very exciting but apparently some of the air is very stale and unfit to breathe the further in you go. The Canal and riverside trust occasionally run canal barge trips though the Harecastle canal tunnel, usually twice a year. Well worth a visit.

[@TrueSuccessTools]

I live in Portland, Oregon. I confess to having been in love with trains all my life. No surprise then that I find your adventures fascinating. Apparently we share an admiration of the craftsmanship that went into the bridges, stations as well as the brick and stone tunnel portals. I appreciate you providing maps, which gives me a point of reference--especially since I have never been to England in my life. Well done!

[@Yorkshirelad58]

My friends and I navigated north through the canal tunnel in 2019. A nerve wracking experience especially after you enter doors are closed behind you to help the engine fume extraction. this plunges you into darkness immediately. I don't remember seeing the exit at the other end for what seemed an eternity. It took a very long time with barely any light and an ever reducing head room as the tunnel roof became lower towards the middle. Not in a rush to repeat the experience. However, glad I can say I have done it.

[@colinburton113]

Hi Paul and Rebecca, love everything you do, get to see things I would never see in a lifetime. Thank you both so much time. xxx

[@MichaelEhling]

It's amazing to see the ingenuity, investment, and infrastructure here. I haven't thought that 18th- and 19th century works were so clever. But mile long tunnels and tunnels over tunnels?! Very clever indeed.

[@pwhitewick]

Absolutely, the age of ingenuity indeed. When you think about the context of what came before these amazing structures and the evolution of their construction over we such a short period it's remarkable.

[@flippop101]

I’m enjoying all the work you do and I personally feel that the mix of routes/infrastructure/local interest/general railway history is exactly right!

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Philip. We love the balance at the moment but don't want to upset our loyal viewers.

[@rydermike33]

Thank you both, fascinating. These tunnels are only a few miles from where I live and can remember taking the train and passing through the 'old' tunnels at the start of our summer holidays in North Wales. Wonderful, thanks again.

[@lawrencebradley7820]

You are Urban Explorers! We live in Goldenhill, cycle the canal every day, and still learnt new things from your video!

[@bobparsons77]

Fascinating video indeed.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Bob.

[@letshaveago2201]

I remember these tunnels from the 1970s as a child

[@martinhunter9532]

So glad I found this channel, came from Martin Zero who I also recently found by chance. I love history, thoe I’m not a railway enthusiast. The way you edit and present your videos is very professional, combine this with your very likeable personalities and you get a channel that should grow and grow. Love it

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Martin. Very kind. It seems to be getting there, obviously a tad slower than we would like. But we enjoy this little hobby so all good.

[@michaelpilling9659]

I did enjoy that. Thank you for a most interesting and informative film

[@JDLeonard74]

Dig-dig-diggity dig dig dig.. lay stone work... Dig dig! Amazing stuff you have over there! That is some beautiful old stonework as well!😚👌 If you two and Martin have taught me anything. It's that asking a Brit if they can dig it? The answer is a resounding "YES!" Yes they can. lol😄👏👏👏

[@lindamccaughey8800]

Really enjoyed that thanks. Just love brickwork in those tunnels. Just fantastic. I await eagerly for next video

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Linda. The brickwork never ceases to amaze us.

[@andrewphillips9391]

I believe that the Brindley tunnel had wharves inside for loading iron ore which used to be mined from Harecastle Hill. It's the reason the canal water is such a weird colour at the northern end

[@pwhitewick]

Ah I never knew that. There are old mines directly above so that would make sense.

[@ghewitt94]

As you say, fascinating. Wouldn’t the railway tunnels make a great cycle way or walk, as you showed in Bath. Gorgeous portal stone work too. Most enjoyable.

[@jordanthomas78]

At 6:14, just to the left hand side of the house on the corner, is one of three ventilation shafts. Also, I popped by the Southern tunnel today (Northern Portal) and inside a second pair of gates have appeared. Also, at the bottom of the maintenance steps (which were built when the tunnels were so are lethal) a shopping trolley has appeared. I ventured down to the tunnels four weeks ago, they are an interesting piece of history in Kidsgrove. Love the videos, keep up the good work. Jordan Thomas

[@hullhistorynerd]

Those decorations on the tunnel entrances are gorgeous! I love the way the Victorians and Edwardians liked to embellish their constructions.

[@pwhitewick]

They are something else aren't they!

[@iainhunneybell]

Another fascinating story. Having navigated the Harecastle tunnel ... and not the loading gauges ... it it considerably lower inside and not so good for those that don’t like enclosed spaces and lifts! ... I wasn’t aware of or have gotten about the older Brindley tunnel. Makes me wonder why the original railing line didn’t take the ‘loop’ around bearing in mind tunnels were all dug by hand and even greater effort than today. And finally, where did you find the wonderful ‘Becs’ who is so happy to go exploring what have been described to me as; “piles of old stones”? What a lovely lady 🙂

[@gillchatfield3231]

Thanks for this. The railway tunnels were my favourite part of the journey from Etruria to Crewe when I was a child. Sadly, never made it through the canal tunnel. The boating holiday I was on with a group of friends went though it the day my sister got married, so I was busy being a bridesmaid!

[@pwhitewick]

Ah that's a shame. Quite an experience In should imagine.

[@justvin7214]

Thumbs up for the amount of time and effort you put into these vids, long or short they are interesting so I don't mind short ones.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Vin. Much appreciated

[@davidcutts2650]

The mix of rail,trail, track & canals is good for me. Keep up the great job you are doing. 👍👍😎

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks David.

[@JISJ1964]

Only the proximity of THE Harecastle tunnel, which I have followed several boats through gives me a definite higher pulse.

[@paulriggs42]

Thanks for the video, it brought back some good memories of a canal boat trip back from the 90’s

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Paul. 👍👍

[@johntyjp]

Amazes me how many bricks went into lining these tunnels! A very intensive labour industry it must ve been!!!

[@pwhitewick]

Very much so. I think it varies quite a bit to depending on the geology, the contractors etc

[@dickiedollop]

Great videos both of you thanks for your interest and effort in producing them 👍🏻

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you Richard.

[@radioman1170]

Great video - thank you both - It's been a long time since I went exploring down in the cutting - when I was younger everything there was open and you could wander through to the active line or go into the other tunnels and see how far you would dare to go. Glad to see all fenced up and secure now. It's not so easy to park near the Tunstall side of the Harecastle canal tunnels unless you go to Bathpool's other car park but, believe me, that's a dodgy place to park most of the time, though you can then walk past the JCB warehouse back to them. Again, great stuff and thank you!

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Leigh. We had wondered about the area so it was a little bit of an unknown for us. Still a nice little explore with the limited time we had.

[@terryansell6641]

So interesting as usual thank you from New Zealand

[@edjones3919]

most enjoyable. many thanks

[@sapper82]

And a nice shot to finish of a Class 153 on the Derby-Crewe shuttle.

[@christinecrockford1654]

Is so sad they feel the need to block the tunnels up, even if it give some homes people some shelter in the winter. I love the history. Thanks again for such nice video. Xx

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Christina. I think the southern was is very flooded bit not 100% sure. It would be good to see at least the middle open for sure.

[@andrewphillips9391]

when I went to the southern end in the mid 90s, it wasn't blocked off. I think it's flooded in places and the roof may have come down too.

[@saltleywsc]

Great video didn't know about the railway tunnels when I navigated the canal tunnel many moons ago very informative and well shot video !...music was once again superb!

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Merv. Much appreciated.

[@markb9013]

Thank you so much guys for your regular videos... as a Brit now in Canada I love watching your content.. very informative.. Thank you..

[@Mika_Storm]

Interesting rail/canal crossover!

[@pwhitewick]

Crossover is the word!

[@danensis]

We tried to walk over the top of the tunnels and took the obvious route up Boathorse Road, thinking that might be the way the boat horses went. Ended up in a very dodgy caravan park and beat a hasty retreat.

[@pwhitewick]

We did look at a few routes to see if we could see the shafts but go the same vibes as you!

[@danensis]

@@pwhitewick - there is a footpath, but you have to walk west along Lowlands Road quite a way to find it.

[@bobingram6912]

How to turn a boring brick portal into something fancy - just add some Rebecca sun rays!!! Funny how that fallen tree has taken on the shape of the trackbed🤔 I think you know my answer - just keep doing what you do, it's all food for the historically inquisitive😀

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Bob we shall keep supplying that food!

[@0000lowrider]

Theres also an old loop line and a tunnel you can walk through close by

[@nialloneill426]

Your video tours of the disused transport ways are excellent. The Google maps side-by-side with old maps make snese of it all and make it so interesting and attractive. Its just the ticket. They are perfectly judged for anoraks like me. Keep doing what you're doing, I'll keep watching.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Niall, very much appreciated.

[@thomasolsson8816]

Nice video as always. Iam impressed of your interests of old railway and tunnels. Thanks for cheering your work whit all of us. Keep on the good work.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Thomas

[@thecornerplot]

This is where we live lol good informative vid here nice work

[@ianr]

Great video, really pleased you have done these tunnels. A lot of history in that area.🙂👍

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Ian. A couple of hours to kill so worth the quick explore.

[@billyruss]

Explored all three back in the 80s, when I was in uni at Keele (yep, they're part of my tunnel diaries!). Went back for a second visit with some mates, without a torch, and nearly broke my ribs when I fell into one of the inspection pits :-O

[@pwhitewick]

Ouch. Was the pit in the southern tunnel??

[@billyruss]

@@pwhitewick Yep, at the side. And the crazy thing was, I'd remembered there were pits in the tunnel, but thought they were in the middle, and had told everyone to stick to the sides! Luckily, it was a cold day so I had a really thick coat and jumper on. Bruised for a few weeks though, and the last time I went anywhere without a torch!

[@greatbritishentertainmentl5636]

Very nicely presented using Google Maps, OS Maps and real/old photos + videos - most interesting.

[@pwhitewick]

Much appreciated.

[@stubeedoo8259]

I have just come across your channel. A major hobby of mine is walking abandoned railway lines. Thank you both for taking the time to upload videos, I hope you are able to keep it up. I now plan to watch as many as possible over the winter when the weather stops me from getting out.

[@pwhitewick]

Likewise Stu. Really pleased you've found us and the channel. Get binge watching 😳👍🛤️🎥👍

[@andrewholloway231]

ah yes, the Harecastle Tunnel. A while ago now, 1985 I think, during a family holiday on the Trent and Mersey, we cruised through Harecastle tunnel and mum was holding a paraffin tilley lamp to light the way because the headlight tunnel on the boat didn't work.

[@pwhitewick]

Nerves of steel. I'd be hiding in one of the rooms below!

[@Phleeper]

There's also a station you've ticked off doing this video. Chatterley Station was situated on the old track bed just up from the canal before you get to the road leading to the southern portal of the southern tunnel.

[@pwhitewick]

Haha.... Missed that!!

[@shaunwest3612]

Great video Paul and Rebecca, very interesting, great map work as well 👌😀

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Shaun. One take as well.... 😉

[@andrewfanner2245]

Great video there folks, I've been through the canal tunnel several times, knew the rail tunnels exsisted but not what a complex setup it all was. I trust you managed to visit at least one of the excellent local pubs. Some good closed libnes to see in the area, including tramways here and there.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Andrew. Yes a lot of exploring to do here another day.

[@mistywolf312]

Ahh the victorian ethos, we built it so we're gonna damned well decorate it even though its going to cost us more for the professional masons and hardly anyone but the driver and stoker's will see it.

[@pwhitewick]

Haha.... Yes most certainly that.

[@telx2010]

We only know what we're told, that's what HiStory is all about. Check out Martin Liedtke & Rebel Without a Pause channels to see how the past has all been covered up.

[@hairyairey]

The Victorians knew that the KZbinrs of the future would see it though! 😂

[@UKSh1thole]

Well done guys with your extremely interesting videos! (As a longhaul airline pilot) & am awake at stupid ‘O’ clock around the world your videos brighten up my day/night whenever it may be! Keep it up.

[@pwhitewick]

Ah thank you very much. We are pleased to help!

[@GhostTheory]

Nice production, you guys must do so much travelling to get to these places. Also like the presenting ans learning white a lot about these tunnels. I might even look for some to explore too.

[@Dan23_7]

Marvellous 👍🏻 A perfect length video to watch as I wait for my last collection 📦 The soot marks in those tunnels must tell some tales

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Dan. Length of a video is always an issue and debating point for us.

[@johnlaw3323]

As always very interesting and enjoyable. Keep up the good work.

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers John.

[@hanskniezand2049]

Anything historical is fine by me. Hated history at school but, some undisclosed years later I love it. Especially anything to do with transport.

[@pwhitewick]

Youth is wasted on the young.

[@hanskniezand2049]

@@pwhitewick You're so right. Have you ever thought about taking up philosophy as well as vloging?

[@pwhitewick]

Wisest is he who knows he does not know.

[@hanskniezand2049]

@@pwhitewick Ah, velly wise Glasshopper.

[@Tobeshadow]

Brilliant video as always, thanks. Personally, I really love the mix of content, always fascinating and pleasantly varied each week. Keep up the amazing work!

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks TK. That's the overall goal, to keep a decent mix that caters for a range of topics. Much appreciated.

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

Great video. The tunnels around there also have some very sad connections too, with more than one person losing their life in them....and of course, while you're in the region don't forget to visit the closed station at Radway Green........

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you. Yes I heard of the poor chap that hit his head whilst driving a barge through. Wasn't aware of any others (aside the likely scores of navvies).

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

@@pwhitewick I believe the body of Lesley Whittle, victim of the black panther was also found in one of the air vents of one of the tunnels....

[@pwhitewick]

@@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne yes I think that was the resevoir

[@timmorodgers4271]

@@pwhitewick I think manhole where her body was found is very close to where you were exploring in the cutting between the tunnels, also you didn't mention the famous Kidsgrove Boggart! apparently the ghost of a woman murdered on a canal barge as it passed though the tunnel.

[@ianbrown9108]

More tunnels than you can shake a stick at!Very interesting. Love how Telford made the southern canal portal look like a building.

[@pwhitewick]

Yup if you include the new tunnel on the new line there are six in the area.

[@ianr]

Sorry Ian but the building at the Southern portal was only added in the 1950's. It houses large fans and doors to ventilate the tunnel when boats are passing through. I am not sure if the fans are still in use nowadays.

[@exileinderby51]

@@ianr yes, I think they are as I watch a couple of canal vloggers who have been through and they did mention the fans

[@ianbrown9108]

@@ianr I did think it looked a bit modern, but they did a good job of making it look like it had been there a long time.

[@ianr]

@@ianbrown9108 Indeed they did.

[@anotherluckyone]

Nice job!

[@pwhitewick]

👍👍

[@terryansell6641]

Thank you for a another interesting video from New Zealand

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you Terry.

[@lyntonprescott3412]

I like them all since they all have their own fascination. On your recommendation I have been looking at the side to side maps for my local area and the number of closed railway stations is incredible. Many of them gone long before I appeared on the scene, but the old maps are a great memory jogger and I can remember many from my childhood.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Lynton. We like the mix too and don't want to "typecast" the channel if that's the right phrase.

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

another great presentation

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Keith.

[@McMieke]

Brilliant, thank you.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks John. 👍

[@robinhayhurst5943]

You Tube are throwing up old videos of yours for me to watch! Well done You Tube!!!

[@JimTLonW6]

The BBC did a play in 1969 called 'Last Train through the Harecastle Tunnel'. A synopsis can be found here... www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/439510/synopsis.html

[@pwhitewick]

Wonderful thank you.

[@stephengiles2873]

Excellent quality as always fascinating. Is it just me or did they like digging tunnels in the old days more for us to see know. Keep up the good and varied work

[@pwhitewick]

I'd like to think that, but I guess it was down to cheap labour.

[@davie941]

hey paul and rebecca , another great video , loved this one , really interesting and loved the shots of the tunnels , great stuff , :) , the mixed is cool :)

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Davie. Glad you are enjoying the mix.

[@morrislouiseeagle7161]

Nice one again thank you 👏❤️😁x

[@thehermit407]

I particularly like station remnants but also like tunnels + any bonus canals. I can recommend Methley, West Yorkshire for 3 stations with an associated building still visible from public roads + platform at Methley South (corrected), all within about a mile of each other. Whilst I love summer, Rebecca isn't investigative 'Indiana' Rebecca without the shineys. Good to see them back and I suggest Paul gets a hat and a bull whip :-)

[@pwhitewick]

Ah thanks for the tip Mr Hermit. I'll work on the indie look!

[@neilhallett9892]

We have a tunnel on tunel thing going on in Devonport. The LSWR railway goes under the GWR Plymouth Penzancew line, & not alot of space the crown of the LSWR & the trackbed GWR.

[@pwhitewick]

Both active lines?

[@neilhallett9892]

Onty the Ex GWR in use as the ex LSWR taken out of use due to duplication of the route when BR took control

[@pwhitewick]

@@neilhallett9892 makes sense. Thank you.

[@320ifq]

I always thought the standedge tunnel on the Huddersfield narrow was the longest

[@AtheistOrphan]

320ifq lucas - Correct.

[@joncoe9046]

Standedge is the longest, highest and deepest tunnel. That's why they said harecastle is the 4th longest.....

[@owenrichardson1419]

Hello Guys, back to the good stuff, remnants of Rome is not my thing. Canal and railways, what is not to like. As an aside: I recently listened to an interview with Dave Gorman, the conversation came around to the check shirt, it dawned on me there could be some synergy there? Only a thought. Keep posting Wednesday is now been greatly improved. Thanks.

[@pwhitewick]

Marvelous thanks Owen. Railways will always be at the heart of the channel. But I do love any form of old connection, how people moved around and what motivated them. All good. Dave G. Ha... Could be worse.

[@wetdogFBK]

Another great vid. you two 😉

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks 👍👍

[@tobys_transport_videos]

Another interesting tale from you two! Between yourselves and Martin you have got me interested in inland rivers and canals. Fancy a waterway going through a tunnel or up a hill?!? Britain has it all and I (as an Aussie that loves Britain) can't wait for Trip 3 and a chance to explore more interesting places. Hopefully I'll get to do a bit more abandoned railway exploring in 2020. Best Wishes, Jason. (Mixed Gauge Videos)

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Jason. Much appreciated.

[@imjusthereeatingpopcorn5234]

I used to live in this town for 20 years. Theres a Headless ghost of a woman who reportedly haunts the canal tunnel

[@HenrysAdventures]

Another great video! I passed through the newest of the Harecastle Tunnels yesterday. I makes my wonder why they went to the expense of digging the longer tunnels when they could have just gone the route the railway runs today.

[@cakeskin3333]

A few reasons… the current railway alignment isn’t flat, It rises near pool dam then falls back down to kidsgrove. Would likely have caused trouble for the canal builders. The railway however was originally planned to go via the current alignment but the owners of clough hall made a fuss about it going through their land. This wasn’t a problem 120 odd years later when electrification happened

[@HenrysAdventures]

@@cakeskin3333 Thank you for the info!

[@GhostTheory]

As an add on, it's such a shame so many are barred off.

[@AtheistOrphan]

I would love to see inside the original Brindley tunnel. Wonder if anyone’s ever taken a canoe through there?

[@pwhitewick]

I think a canoe was the last chosen method but it's been quite some time.

[@AndrewHalliwell]

I read that the Brindley tunnel collapsed around about WW1. fortunately the Telford one was in use by then.

[@AtheistOrphan]

Andrew Halliwell - Oh right, thanks. Be interesting to put a canoe down each end to see how far you could get though!

[@gaijininja]

You would think that now the railway has gone, the original boat tunnel could reopen, enabling boats to go north in the original, and south in the new.

[@pwhitewick]

Very true, but I guess the cost involved in that would outweigh the demand. Presume this is a government funded project.

[@gaijininja]

Indeed. Either that or the roof of the tunnel was damaged by the trains above.

[@juleshathaway3894]

Very interesting as ever guys thanks. I've done the canal tunnel twice southbound, quite an experience. Not a good idea to be cooking on a gas cooker whilst navigating it due to carbon monoxide build up inside the boat. Several of those inside felt unwell afterwards. Also probably not a good idea to do a canal cruise as a honeymoon if the wife isn't too keen on the whole idea. Ho hum we learn by our mistakes, I'll never do that again.....the honeymoon thing not the tunnel!!!

[@pwhitewick]

Ouch. I'm sure I would be fine going through as long as I wasn't driving.

[@memofromessex]

Just hold your breath next time!

[@pwhitewick]

@@memofromessex haha.... For 2.4km good luck with that.

[@memofromessex]

@@pwhitewick Me and my brothers used to play this game in the car when I went up north to see my dad's family. I think I wee'd myself once in the exertion 😂

[@pwhitewick]

@@memofromessex Erm...... 😅

[@bigladjonnyboy397]

Another great video just a shame it wasn't longer.

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Jonny. Yup we had just a spare couple of hours but wished we had more.

[@Peasmouldia]

A word about all the poor sods who gave their lives in the construction of these tunnels would be good. God rest their souls.

[@pwhitewick]

Yup. Little details about that with these very early tunnels so it's speculation as to every aspect. We are soon considering an "accident" playlist where matters of such sensitivity will be addressed.

[@Peasmouldia]

Thanks. What inspired my comment was an article I read on the construction of these tunnels in Backtrack magazine back in the '90s. If I remember correctly, which I often don't, there is a memorial in a local churchyard to an accident in the construction of the original canal tunnel. I had a gander on the interweb and didn't find anything. I've got the mag somewhere, I'll try and dig it out. All the best.

[@timmorodgers4271]

Apparently nobody was killed in the building of the "new" canal tunnel,I'm not so sure about the others.

[@T420TOMEXPLORES]

That's one way to give out locations

[@pwhitewick]

....Google maps 3D is just that.

[@thomasmann9216]

I'm confused. A canal tunnel, that is still in use, is located on someone's private drive?

[@pwhitewick]

Yes!... We were confused too. We couldn't park anywhere near the entrance as it said "private". We had to park a mile away and walk.

[@gteaz]

​@@pwhitewick It's a public footpath from the towpath leading across Chatterley road.

[@hairyairey]

@@pwhitewick in a lot of cases lock-keepers houses get sold off as private residences. So although you can still pass through the canal (it's undoubtedly in the deeds) you can't drive there!

[@thecornerplot]

There is public access to the tunnels

[@johnstilljohn3181]

Mmmmmmm nice.... How often do boats go through now...?

[@pwhitewick]

No concrete answer but I believe not takes around 45 minutes.

[@carolinegray3150]

Good video🚶🏼‍♀️🚶🏼‍♂️🚂

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Caroline.

[@bullettube9863]

It seems like the owners went through a lot of expense to build these tunnels, but the result was lower costs and faster transit times for the actual job of transporting goods. Building locks entailed more labor, plus you had to insure a constant water supply, and the end result was always a worse bottleneck on the route. Going around, ( even if there was a route ), added to the cost because you would have to buy more land plus pay more to the same people who also had to travel longer distances as the canal moved along. Now, what I didn't see was any evidence as to whether they started at both ends, or did they build shafts to have different working heads. Being brick lined makes me think they dug the tunnels through soft material rather then solid rock. Was it like Isambard Brunel's tunnel under the Thames river, where they used a moveable digging wall? You could do a whole series on just how the Navvies dug this one series of tunnels!

[@shexec32]

Loving the mix of videos on old routes. Unlike what everyone else is telling you, imo, a 10 minute cut is a good length for these videos. PS Have you released your version of the August collab you did with All The Stations?

[@pwhitewick]

Yes... You are right and Geoff would definitely agree with you! We haven't done our version as yet, not 100% sure we will as we spent most of the day yabbering to them and not filming. Maybe one do soon as a little bonus footage.

[@CheshireTomcat68]

7:58 Interesting the top third of the 'rays' are made of bricks, not solid stone on just that tunnel. A later fix or cost cutting?

[@pwhitewick]

Good question!

[@capncol]

Another great video. What’s with the “middle landing” at 0:22 ? 😎😎😂

[@pwhitewick]

Haha.... I was about to pull left.... Honestly.

[@rogerwatson7205]

Enjoyed the video guys. Actually a good length having just watched it on a lunch break. Is it me or do canal tunnels always have a bit of a creepy feel to them?

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Roger. We agree a sensible length too. Yes.... Very creepy indeed.

[@imjusthereeatingpopcorn5234]

The Kidsgrove bogart haunts the canal tunnel

[@wharpblast264]

Nice video. One obvious question. Why the need for such long tunnels when they could have used the easier and cheaper 1965 rail route for the original canal rail lines ?

[@pwhitewick]

Very good question. In my experience with old tramroads and such they built countless tunnels when there was zero requirement. I guess labour was cheap?

[@phu010]

I don't know what the gradients are on the 1965 line, but electric trains are quite good at going up hill. It probably climbs quite a bit from the old alignment before reaching the short summit tunnel. Canals on the other hand have to be perfectly level. The builders probably reckoned it would be quicker for boats to go through a long tunnel, than spend ages locking up and down; not to mention any water supply problems.

[@pwhitewick]

@@phu010 ah now that's the answer I was looking for!

[@phu010]

Yeah. I had a look at the gradient profile using the Show Elevation tool in Google Earth Pro. It appears that the new line rises about 20m from the point it leaves the old line to the summit (which is actually just by the southern end of the reservoir) at a challenging gradient of around 3.4%. Even in the 50s steam engines were limited to around 2% and it would have meant messing around with banking engines to go that way.

[@wharpblast264]

@@phu010 For a canal 20m would be 4 or 5 locks much quicker and cheaper than a tunnel. I read the original canal tunnel was completed 7 years after the remaining canal opened. Some of this was due to difficulties with the tunnel, but sounds like there might have been delays due to disputes over the route. Land ownership perhaps. As well as the cost of the tunnel a lot of lost revenue.

[@craiglogistics2092]

Scarecastle Tunnel according to @NarrowboatGirl who went through it quite recently, another fascinating video, shame about the battery, did you resuscitate it?

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Craig. I think Cruising the Cut also called it that too.

[@rrich52806]

You all need to contract a Narrow Boat to take tunnel trips,

[@jamesdavis5096]

You gonguzzeler!

[@pwhitewick]

No..... Never. 😳🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️🛤️

[@johncrwarner]

Is the third or northern tunnel inaccessible or was it battery failure that truncated the vid?

[@pwhitewick]

Sorry John. Completely forgot to talk about that. Yes the third tunnel on the railway is still in use.

[@ianr]

Harecastle North tunnel was opened out when the diversion was built. It was shorter than the Middle and South tunnels so easier just to open it out. Re: Third tunnel, Paul is referring to the new tunnel built when the diversion was built in 1966. That is the only railway tunnel in use.

[@minisareus]

To me you only half done the video you didn't do the gap between middle and north tunnel and north portal of North tunnel .you didn't explore chattery station either?

[@pwhitewick]

Yup sorry, we literally had about 2 hours spare as we travelled up north. I fully appreciate there is more here to explore.

[@bohicajohnson7203]

I came here after watching Country House Gent go through the Harecastle Tunnel

[@davidwall7747]

Cut out the 'musak' when you have nothing to say - very distracting. And very loud in places.

[@pwhitewick]

Sorry to disappoint David, but if you'll have seen any of our videos you'll know how important the music is to us.

[@cargy930]

Eeee... It wa' thirty year ago (it really was too - August 1989!) when ah went through t' tunnel on t' canal on my mate's boat "Blechynden" (which sounds like a sneeze!). It was an incredible experience, and (to me at least) just as exciting as the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, which was part of the same trip. Obviously I knew about the Brindley Tunnel - you can hardly miss it - but it never even occurred to me that there were railway tunnels too - let alone multiple tunnels. Ya dun good, Whitewicks! Ya dun good!

[@pwhitewick]

Too kind good fellow.