The Shortest Disused Railway Tunnel on the Island? The Isle of Wight Railways

[@mikeizzard5964]

BRILLIANT Sir...your engagement with the viewer is perfectly balanced with the excellent variety of footage and old photographs. Many congratulations & thank you 👍

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

A really imaginative and sensitive piece of repurposing of an old railway tunnel. Such a change to the usual neglect, decay and blocking-off of these marvellous structures. Wonderfull piece of old video footage at the end. Thank you.

[@simonballard6413]

What a fabulous little tunnel! I had no idea it existed. I thought that the only ones on the Isle were Ventnor, Esplanade, Cowes and St.Lawrence! Thanks to you, as always, Ant. Look forward to the next video.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thank you for the “bulletin” video today. Hot off the press. Your the best, Ant! Enjoy the week ahead. Cheers mate! ❤️🇬🇧👍🙂🇺🇸

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Martin 🙂

[@davecullingworth3787]

Interesting video. I walked the bit between Wooton towards Newport a few years ago but there was a section inaccessible. As you say looks like a lot of recent work to open it up. Shame that trains don’t run to Newport anymore as it is the administrative capital of the Isle of Wight. Good that the section between Smallbrook Junction and Wooton is still open with steam trains though. Beeching actually recommended axing all the railways on the IOW but luckily the busiest bit between Ryde and Shanklin survived and was electrified for ex London tube stock.

[@terryansell6641]

I used to live in Newport on the island and never knew about this tunnel your videos are just great thank you.

[@Leggg]

Thanks so much for posting this fascinating and informative video. Very clever use of archive footage to illustrate how the line used to look. How lovely to see some money spent on resurfacing the former line so that it can be enjoyed by all. Love visiting the island and the walks it offers.

[@shirleylynch7529]

Lovely video. Great tunnel. Loved the murals in the tunnel. Music so apt as well. Thank you Ant.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Shirley 😀

[@philliphammond399]

Hi Ant, really good ramble with some lovely "then" shots. The last picture I have of the 73yard Newport tunnel is from 1991. Thanks for all your hard work again.

[@ianr]

Excellent video again Ant! Nice jumper again! 👍🙂

[@mrsgenehunt48]

I was thinking the same about his jumper 😊

[@mcmarky1985]

Wasn't expecting another video so soon so was a nice treat! Loved the little sculpture above the portal and even though it was a small tunnel surprised there was no recesses.

[@chrisbentleywalkingandrambling]

I really enjoy how you bring history to life. Thanks for sharing Ant.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Chris. Very kind

[@lindamccaughey6669]

What a beautiful tunnel. That artwork is stupendous. Really enjoying all this work you have put into this. Always brilliant. Thanks for taking me along. Please take care

[@TrekkingExploration]

I only saw this one by chance as I was off to do something else 🙂

[@janepatricia8779]

How lovely..loved the mural paintings 😊

[@TrekkingExploration]

A pleasant little extra as I just happened to spot it

[@elainemclelland5121]

Love the art work on the tunnel wall. The new red brick at the end must have looked as it did when the old end portal did when it was originally built. Love your jumper too 🦺.

[@lilchris26]

Another nice video and a nice tunnel thrown in for good luck, thanks Ant for your efforts. Chris H.

[@ANTONYTHEDRAWINGMAN]

i love your videos....thanks for doing these as they are always such a pleasure to watch.

[@Marc_von_Hoffrichter]

Bloody wonderful find Ant. Thanks mate!

[@railwaychristina3192]

Thought Mill Hill tunnel is the shortest?Check out St Lawrence , Whitwell and Godshill stations! Also you can walk from Merstone junction to Horringford and Newchurch. Lived on the island for many years. Lovely use of old film. Thank you.

[@WightWanderer]

Fairlee is shorter than Mill Hill, but the Shide quarry tunnel and Ashey down tunnels we're shorter still.

[@baxtermarrison5361]

It raises an interesting question, at what point does a bridge become a tunnel? 🤔 This, to my mind, falls into the wide bridge category, given that it was built to allow the road to pass over, rather than being 'tunneled' into/through the landscape.

[@shaunhouse8469]

About a month or two ago there was some maintenance to the retaining wall at the Ryde end. It's good that they've left the original brickwork mostly visible in the old section, the could have easily rendered over it as they did for the new portion

[@lesbendo6363]

Cool tunnel. Interesting to see how much either end of the tunnel has been built up over the years. 🇨🇦

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much for watching Les

[@benGBRf]

I wonder how many pedestrians walk through that tunnel now not knowing it use to be for trains. Great little find Ant 👍🏻

[@FRANCISStenson]

There were 2 shorter tunnels but not for passenger use. Going south from Ashey station was a curving line past old racecourse to a short tunnel into a chalk quarry. The was also a short tunnel at Gunville into another quarry to west of Newport on the Newport to Freshwater lineto Fr

[@stuart3383]

Made my evening again thanks

[@valfaulkner648]

Hi I love to see the old railway lines on the Island, so thank you! Have you thought of doing just over the water , the Fareham to Gosport line which now is part bus road and some cycle/footpath?

[@misterbridger]

There was a shorter tunnel at Shide, to the south of Newport, which served the chalk quarry there. The chalk was carried by rail to the Cement Mills works, located between Newport and Cowes. The north end of Shide tunnel was bricked-up and partially backfilled in the 1980s when the St George's Way road was built, but the south end portal is still visible. The remaining part of the tunnel is now used to house bat boxes, so the portal is fenced off to prevent them being disturbed.

[@thebagfather4633]

you would like the walk between Keswick and threkfield in Cumbria.. it has just been reopened after being repaired after storm desmo9nd in 2015. they also reopened bobbin tunnel which was all closed up great little walk.

[@JohnDavies-cn3ro]

There was and probably stil is an even shorter tunnel just south of Newport, at Shide on the old line to Merstone Junction. This is where a branch line swung off to serve the big chalk quarry - was it called Pan's Lane? - which still gives access to the pit. I walked through it some years ago; its about fifty yards long.

[@megansirkett8812]

I walk through there most days as my mums house is just before you walk down. I remember them doing the art work down there too. I us to take cups of tea down for them

[@hayley-e7p]

I used to walk newport to Wootton. The farmer took down a tunnel, and put up fencing, to stop people crossing over what was the top of the bridge. We used to climb over and carry on but soon it became unusable. Its been fenced off for around 6 years I think. The other part how ever has stayed in use and was re done over the last few years

[@Jimyjames73]

What a Lovely little Line & tunnel 🙂🚂🚂🚂

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much for watching

[@Design2winLew]

Ant more excellent content as ever . Wanted to point out one small thing I noticed on the video . Whippingham Station was on the Newport to Cowes line not the Newport to Ryde line . Not sure if you meant Wootten . Only pointed out because I know how accurate you are in your research and video content which is always of the highest quality .

[@andychurches7280]

Whippingham Station is on the Newport to Ryde line, between Newport and Wootton.

[@Design2winLew]

@@andychurches7280 Absolutely right , no idea why I was thinking that !! Bit of a walk to the village back in the day .

[@bobingram6912]

More hidden gems. Be good if they replaced those nettles with a bit of track🤔🤔🤔!!!! How unusual to see a Council actually enhance a piece of architecture instead of pulling it down😂😂😂 Nicely Ant👍👍👍

[@michaelmiller641]

Great video Ant. Thanks

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it Michael

[@andrewmatley7688]

nice one Ant totally enjoyed it.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Cheers Andrew

[@AlisonParker-c8j]

The path has been there for some years but only revamped fairly recently. The continuation of the track behind the corrugated iron used to be accessible (although on private land) and was blocked at the far end; beyond that was the remains of a bridge and farmland. Maybe 6 or so years ago, the bridge was demolished, high security fencing was erected and the sheep replaced with solar panels. I suspect there's no chance of this particular track being extended.

[@grimpeursdusud1533]

I did this in 2020 during one of the rare occasions we were allowed due to Covid. It's a real joy to cycle into the new bit to find it's a real railway tunnel! I think the resurfacing may be new it was all rough gravel along the trail 3 years ago. There may be a shorter tunnei in Cowes have ridden past it a few times?

[@angelaknisely-marpole7679]

lovely, thank you

[@tpaul2866]

Shortest tunnel is Ashey. The spur from Ashey station curved around towards the site of the Ashey Scurry, with the line continuing under the road into the chalk pit. Shide tunnel is also possibly shorter than Fairlee. Both can be accessed via footpaths.

[@TrekkingExploration]

I popped by Shide not long after this one. Definitely shorter. I'll have to go see any remains of the other one next time I'm down

[@iainmcgaw1947]

Hi Ant, according to NLS maps the line went through an under bridge at Halberry Lane. Although I bet that's the first thing you checked after you questioned yourself 😊

[@chrismccartney8668]

Another route which would be lovely for a Tourist Line..

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thankfully some of it is part of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway

[@chrismccartney8668]

What a superb walkways and cycleway for cycling hiking Dog Walking etc..

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much for watching Chris

[@jetsons101]

Ant, just thinking here "sorry" but how wide does a bridge over the tracks have to be before becoming a tunnel? Thanks for your time and work............. mike

[@vehicletransmission]

Favourite holiday spot. Look for 'The ghosts of the isle of wight", book. 1 of the volumes mentions a ghost train around Wooton area. Think its volume 6. We got it from Godshill, The Smithy gift shop.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Oooh thanks very much. I'm going back in the autumn to do a few more walks etc

[@mikegreyfromnz]

thanks for the video. Couple of suggestions; one town on the island has a miniature village with miniature outdoor railway. Sorry can't remember the name of the village. then there's the needles, and near it, the WW2 rocket testing remains. .. Info at the sight as well.

[@gothica64]

Godshill has a model village.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Mike. I'll be back mid September it seems so I shall have a visit

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thank you 😊

[@mrsgenehunt48]

That is a cute tunnel 😍

[@ryanday2882]

Amazing video

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thank you Ryan

[@dianekivi5349]

From an engineering point of view, it is not a tunnel, it is a 'covered way', they dug a trench, built foundations and then roofed it over!

[@TrekkingExploration]

Covered way sounds nowhere near as interesting though does it?

[@dianekivi5349]

Belive me, I'm an engineer! What defines the difference is both the construction method and the depth of soil and other materials above the structure.

[@TrekkingExploration]

@@dianekivi5349 cool 👌

[@alantraish3368]

Managed to get a pic of both ends as it was with the builders equipment around it. Very muddy but recorded for posterity

[@fhwolthuis]

I would never venture in a a tunnel at night when I can't see the exit 😅

[@a11csc]

delightful ant

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Chris

[@StephenForster-z3m]

👍