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Bridgnorth Tunnel

Bridgnorth Tunnel southern portal
Map of the route of the tunnel

Bridgnorth Tunnel allowed the Severn Valley Railway to pass under Bridgnorth High Town north of Bridgnorth Station.

Contents

Construction

The first plans drawn up for the Severn Valley Railway and authorised in the 1853 Act of Parliament showed the course of the line deviating to the right shortly after Sterns to cross the River Severn near Danesford, with the station being situated in Low Town east of the river. Beyond Bridgnorth a second bridge would have returned the line across the Severn to re-join its eventual route. However the potential cost of the bridges, allied to difficulties in raising funds for construction of the line, resulted in the line remaining west of the Severn, requiring a tunnel under Bridgnorth High Town immediately north of Bridgnorth Station.

The original contract of May 1858 between the Severn Valley Railway Company and the appointed Contractors Peto, Brassey and Betts stated that tunnels were to be 24ft wide and not less than 16ft high at the centre and brick lined if the Engineer specified this was necessary. Bridgnorth Tunnel was to be built without shafts and without disturbing any buildings.[1]

On 9 August 1858 Chief Engineer John Fowler reported to the half-yearly shareholders' meeting that "...the cutting through the sandstone rock at the entrance to the tunnel under the town of Bridgnorth is begun."[2] However in October 1858 it was reported that work at Bridgnorth had been suspended due to the opposition of Thomas Whitmore.[3] The differences were reportedly resolved in November 1858.[4]

Tunnelling was carried out from both the northern and southern ends, but the work proved difficult due to the curves at each end. In May 1859, Bridgnorth Town Council gave permission for a shaft to be sunk from the High Street so a small heading could be driven out in each direction to facilitate completion of the work.[5] On 2 September 1859 the headings between the shaft and New Town met "…in the most satisfactory manner." Mr Dowell (the Engineer for Thomas Brassey) and his assistants together with Mr Hassall the sub-contractor walked through the tunnel from New Town and climbed the shaft to the High Street to be met by a large crowd.[6] The shaft was then filled, but the Town Council gave permission for a 3 inch ventilation pipe to be installed at the side of the Town Hall "...to carry off the foul air from the tunnel."[7]

In April 1860 a navvie was severely injured when a large mass of the rock gave way while he was digging in the tunnel.[8] In November 1860 a contemporary newspaper report related "FALLING IN OF A RAILWAY TUNNEL. - An accident; which, had it taken place an hour sooner, would have imperilled the lives of 17 human beings, has occurred on the SEVERN Valley Railway, a new line is course of construction from Shrewsbury to Stourport. Close to Bridgnorth, an extensive tunnel is in course of excavation, which will partially run under the town. Above the entrance, and for some distance into the tunnel, there was a thickness of some 30 or 40 feet of soil, in which a number of large trees were rooted. The usual props and supports had been used to keep up this mass while the brickwork was being executed. Sixteen men were employed in the tunnel, and these had only left work about an hour when the superincumbent mass fell in, chocking up the tunnel with earth, rock, and trees, for a distance of 50 feet. It is expected that this accident will somewhat retard the opening of the line, which was fixed for next May."[9]

In February 1861 Fowler reported that the tunnels, including Bridgnorth, were complete apart from the fronts. His August 1861 report advised that the tunnels were almost completed. Final inspection of the whole line took place in December 1961 ahead of the public opening on 1 February 1862. [10]

The completed tunnel was 550 yards long (in comparison, Bewdley Tunnel is 480 yards), with a double curve right and left. The original bore varied between 19ft width at the north end and 16ft 8in width at the south end, substantially less than the 24ft width which Chief Engineer John Fowler specified as necessary for double track working. The tunnel was re-lined in 1911, further reducing the width to 15ft[11].

  • Another view of the southern portal

History since closure of the line

Following closure of the line north of Bridgnorth in 1963, ballast from the tunnel was recovered by SVR volunteers in July 1965, with the permission of BR.[12] In the same month, BR announced that Hollybush Road railway bridge was to be demolished, severing the connection between Bridgnorth station and the tunnel.[13]

In summer 2003, SVR News noted that BRB (Residuary) Ltd (BRBR) had put Bridgnorth tunnel up for sale. The SVR having been offered first refusal, the structure was unsold and was transferred to Highways England Historical Railways Estate when BRBR was abolished from 30 September 2013.[14][15] In December 2017 a Freedom of Information request was submitted to Highways England asking for details of all former railway tunnels that are inspected and maintained by Highways England.[16] The list produced in response included Bridgnorth Tunnel.[17]

  • The approach to the southern portal seen from the Hollybush Road (2015).

  • The northern portal seen from the adjacent public park (2017).

  • Engineers Line Reference number SVB43 on the northern portal.

  • The former track bed northwards from Bewdley Tunnel with the Bramble Ridge housing estate beyond.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Marshall (1989) pp. 37-38.
  2. ↑ Nabarro (1971), p. 35.
  3. ↑ Shrewsbury Chronicle, 8 October 1858, via the British Newspaper Archive
  4. ↑ Worcestershire Chronicle, 17 November 1858, via the British Newspaper Archive
  5. ↑ Hereford Times, 28 May 1859, via the British Newspaper Archive
  6. ↑ Derbyshire Courier, 3 September 1859, via the British Newspaper Archive
  7. ↑ Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser, 7 September 1859, via the British Newspaper Archive
  8. ↑ Eddowes's Journal, and General Advertiser for Shropshire, and the Principality of Wales - Wednesday 18 April 1860, on the British Newspaper Archive
  9. ↑ Nottingham Journal - Tuesday 27 November 1860, on the British Newspaper Archive
  10. ↑ Marshall (1989) pp. 45,48.
  11. ↑ Marshall (1989) pp. 40/107.
  12. ↑ BBC article
  13. ↑ Magner (1997) p. 44.
  14. ↑ David Rostance, 'Bridgnorth Tunnel', Forgotten Relics website, September 2016 (Retrieved 20 April 2017)
  15. ↑ 'BRB (Residuary) Ltd has been abolished', Gov.uk, 30 September 2013 (Retrieved 20 April 2017)
  16. ↑ FOI request to Highways England, 19 December 2017 (Retrieved 16 May 2019)
  17. ↑ FOI response from Highways England, 3 January 2018 (Retrieved 16 May 2019)

Links

Bridgnorth Tunnel allowed the Severn Valley Railway to pass under Bridgnorth High Town north of Bridgnorth Station.

Construction

The first plans drawn up for the Severn Valley Railway and authorised in the 1853 Act of Parliament showed the course of the line deviating to the right shortly after Sterns to cross the River Severn near Danesford, with the station being situated in Low Town east of the river. Beyond Bridgnorth a second bridge would have returned the line across the Severn to re-join its eventual route. However the potential cost of the bridges, allied to difficulties in raising funds for construction of the line, resulted in the line remaining west of the Severn, requiring a tunnel under Bridgnorth High Town immediately north of Bridgnorth Station.

The original contract of May 1858 between the Severn Valley Railway Company and the appointed Contractors Peto, Brassey and Betts stated that tunnels were to be 24ft wide and not less than 16ft high at the centre and brick lined if the Engineer specified this was necessary. Bridgnorth Tunnel was to be built without shafts and without disturbing any buildings.[1]

On 9 August 1858 Chief Engineer John Fowler reported to the half-yearly shareholders' meeting that "...the cutting through the sandstone rock at the entrance to the tunnel under the town of Bridgnorth is begun."[2] However in October 1858 it was reported that work at Bridgnorth had been suspended due to the opposition of Thomas Whitmore.[3] The differences were reportedly resolved in November 1858.[4]

Tunnelling was carried out from both the northern and southern ends, but the work proved difficult due to the curves at each end. In May 1859, Bridgnorth Town Council gave permission for a shaft to be sunk from the High Street so a small heading could be driven out in each direction to facilitate completion of the work.[5] On 2 September 1859 the headings between the shaft and New Town met "…in the most satisfactory manner." Mr Dowell (the Engineer for Thomas Brassey) and his assistants together with Mr Hassall the sub-contractor walked through the tunnel from New Town and climbed the shaft to the High Street to be met by a large crowd.[6] The shaft was then filled, but the Town Council gave permission for a 3 inch ventilation pipe to be installed at the side of the Town Hall "...to carry off the foul air from the tunnel."[7]

In April 1860 a navvie was severely injured when a large mass of the rock gave way while he was digging in the tunnel.[8] In November 1860 a contemporary newspaper report related "FALLING IN OF A RAILWAY TUNNEL. - An accident; which, had it taken place an hour sooner, would have imperilled the lives of 17 human beings, has occurred on the SEVERN Valley Railway, a new line is course of construction from Shrewsbury to Stourport. Close to Bridgnorth, an extensive tunnel is in course of excavation, which will partially run under the town. Above the entrance, and for some distance into the tunnel, there was a thickness of some 30 or 40 feet of soil, in which a number of large trees were rooted. The usual props and supports had been used to keep up this mass while the brickwork was being executed. Sixteen men were employed in the tunnel, and these had only left work about an hour when the superincumbent mass fell in, chocking up the tunnel with earth, rock, and trees, for a distance of 50 feet. It is expected that this accident will somewhat retard the opening of the line, which was fixed for next May."[9]

In February 1861 Fowler reported that the tunnels, including Bridgnorth, were complete apart from the fronts. His August 1861 report advised that the tunnels were almost completed. Final inspection of the whole line took place in December 1961 ahead of the public opening on 1 February 1862. [10]

The completed tunnel was 550 yards long (in comparison, Bewdley Tunnel is 480 yards), with a double curve right and left. The original bore varied between 19ft width at the north end and 16ft 8in width at the south end, substantially less than the 24ft width which Chief Engineer John Fowler specified as necessary for double track working. The tunnel was re-lined in 1911, further reducing the width to 15ft[11].

History since closure of the line

Following closure of the line north of Bridgnorth in 1963, ballast from the tunnel was recovered by SVR volunteers in July 1965, with the permission of BR.[12] In the same month, BR announced that Hollybush Road railway bridge was to be demolished, severing the connection between Bridgnorth station and the tunnel.[13]

In summer 2003, SVR News noted that BRB (Residuary) Ltd (BRBR) had put Bridgnorth tunnel up for sale. The SVR having been offered first refusal, the structure was unsold and was transferred to Highways England Historical Railways Estate when BRBR was abolished from 30 September 2013.[14][15] In December 2017 a Freedom of Information request was submitted to Highways England asking for details of all former railway tunnels that are inspected and maintained by Highways England.[16] The list produced in response included Bridgnorth Tunnel.[17]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Marshall (1989) pp. 37-38.
  2. ↑ Nabarro (1971), p. 35.
  3. ↑ Shrewsbury Chronicle, 8 October 1858, via the British Newspaper Archive
  4. ↑ Worcestershire Chronicle, 17 November 1858, via the British Newspaper Archive
  5. ↑ Hereford Times, 28 May 1859, via the British Newspaper Archive
  6. ↑ Derbyshire Courier, 3 September 1859, via the British Newspaper Archive
  7. ↑ Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser, 7 September 1859, via the British Newspaper Archive
  8. ↑ Eddowes's Journal, and General Advertiser for Shropshire, and the Principality of Wales - Wednesday 18 April 1860, on the British Newspaper Archive
  9. ↑ Nottingham Journal - Tuesday 27 November 1860, on the British Newspaper Archive
  10. ↑ Marshall (1989) pp. 45,48.
  11. ↑ Marshall (1989) pp. 40/107.
  12. ↑ BBC article
  13. ↑ Magner (1997) p. 44.
  14. ↑ David Rostance, 'Bridgnorth Tunnel', Forgotten Relics website, September 2016 (Retrieved 20 April 2017)
  15. ↑ 'BRB (Residuary) Ltd has been abolished', Gov.uk, 30 September 2013 (Retrieved 20 April 2017)
  16. ↑ FOI request to Highways England, 19 December 2017 (Retrieved 16 May 2019)
  17. ↑ FOI response from Highways England, 3 January 2018 (Retrieved 16 May 2019)

Links

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Welcome to the Severn Valley Railway Wiki

From this week's featured article
"76738" is a London and North Western Railway Company 10-ton Goods Van, although it carries a fictitious number as its true identity is unknown. After restoration it saw limited use in the SVRSevern Valley Railway's demonstration goods train, but due to its age and wooden underframe it is now in static use as a sales coach at Bridgnorth. (Full article...)
Schematic Map of the SVRSevern Valley Railway
BridgnorthEardingtonHampton LoadeCountry Park HaltHighleyThe Engine HouseArleyVictoria BridgeNorthwood HaltWyre Forest LineBewdleyStourport BranchBewdley TunnelConnection to Network RailKidderminsterMaps#Schematic maps of the pre-closure SVRMapandlinks.png
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larger interactive version

For 101 years between 1862 and 1963, the Severn Valley Railway formed part of the national railway network, running for 40 miles between Hartlebury and Shrewsbury. Established as a separate company, it was mainly operated by the Great Western Railway (GWRGreat Western Railway) and later by British Railways (BRBritish Rail or British Railways).

The present day Severn Valley Railway (SVRSevern Valley Railway) was established in 1965 to preserve part of the line as a heritage railway. Today it has six stations and two halts and runs for 16 miles along the Severn Valley between Bridgnorth in Shropshire and Kidderminster in Worcestershire, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route. Operations involve a mixture of steam and heritage diesel-hauled services.

This unofficial website is a project aimed to collect information and record events relating to the SVRSevern Valley Railway, both past and present.

For timetables, fare information, and news about special events, please visit the SVR Official Website. Other news and information of interest to members, shareholders and enthusiasts can be found on SVRLive.

In April 2023 the SVRSevern Valley Railway announced the launch of a Survival Fund to enable it to overcome the current financial crisis and implement longer-term plans for its future. Information and details of how to donate may be found on the SVRSevern Valley Railway's Survival Fund page.

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Unsurprisingly, there are a large number of questions about the SVRSevern Valley Railway, both in pre-preservation days and for a number of historical items since then. Take a visit down to Query Corner to see if you have a recollection relating to some long forgotten event, or know of a reliable source (maybe an early edition of the SVR News?) that might have the information we need!

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