Most impressive disused structure

[LNW-GW Joint]

Connel Ferry rail/road bridge is disused from the rail point of view, and is very impressive.
I can't remember if the rails are still in place.

Another big disused viaduct is the one at Latchford over the Manchester Ship Canal.
Not pretty but very substantial.

Bristol TM (original joint terminal) is currently a car park but will apparently be restored for electrification/IEP.

The disused tunnels from Edge Hill in Liverpool are amazing structures considering they date back to the opening of the L&M (Wapping, Waterloo, Crown St etc).
It's a shame the Moorish Arch vanished.

Then there's the GW Deritend half-viaduct in Birmingham towards Curzon St (never used).

 

[Monty]

It's gotta be Bath Green Park for me, a beautiful station that has been restored to it's former glory. It's just a pity that trains no longer depart from there.

 

[inner-city]

The impressive infrastructure is out of sight - tunnels. I think the longest disused rail tunnel in the UK is the Waterloo tunnel that runs under Liverpool's city centre at over 2miles long. Also they are easily brought back to use.

The dock end of the Wapping tunnel - 1830.

Also the Olive Mount cutting of 1830, which is still one of the deepest cuttings in the world. Dug by hand. At Olive Mount Cutting the cutting went to a depth of 100 feet for two miles through solid rock.

 

[91103eastcoast]

How about John O Gaunt viaduct on the old GN/LNWR joint line? Looks much nicer than the patched up appearance of the still in use Welland viaduct.

 

[inner-city]

The disused tunnels from Edge Hill in Liverpool are amazing structures considering they date back to the opening of the L&M (Wapping, Waterloo, Crown St etc).
It's a shame the Moorish Arch vanished.

The Moorish Arch vanished to widen the Cavendish cutting, to accommodate a second short twin track tunnel into the Crown street goods yard, the tunnel on the left. The cutting wall on the left was widened to accommodate the new tunnel, hence the arch had to go. The centre tunnel is the 1.25mile long Wapping tunnel, which runs downhill to the docks, and the tunnel to the right is the short single track Crown St tunnel which runs upwards.

Look at the photos, looking west to the River Mersey, the other tunnels are short tunnels running into Crown St goods yard. The right hand tunnel runs upwards, the left hand tunnel is visibly higher to run straight into the goods yard.

The debris was cleared after this photo was taken. This is the most unique rail history in the world and it lays derelict.

Below: On the other end of the short tunnels the original 1829 Crown St tunnel can be seen a and the camera looks right through seen light in the cutting at the other end. The 1846 tunnel comes out under the bridge and clearly on a higher level. This photo was taken around 1972 when the tunnels were closed for business.

the tunnels in 1975. They were blocked up with rubble and under popular demand they were cleared out and the one reused.

The Moorish Arch looking from the tunnels. The right hand cutting wall was widened, so the arch was demolished. The staircase on the left hand side still exists.

http://www.liverpoolwiki.org/Liverpool's_Historic_Rail_Tunnels

 

[paulb1973]

The Moorish Arch vanished to widen the Cavendish cutting, to accommodate a second tunnel short into the Crown street goods yard, the tunnel on the left. The centre tunnel is the 1.25mile long Wapping tunnel, which runs downhill top the docks, and the tunnel to the right is the short Crown St tunnel which runs upwards.

The track leading to the tunnel on the left is 25kV electrified seemingly.

 

[Pumbaa]

*Apparently* still used for stabling according to other sites. No idea of the voracity of the claim.

 

[inner-city]

*Apparently* still used for stabling according to other sites. No idea of the voracity of the claim.

Correct, a headshunt as well. The used tunnel dates from ~1846, the other two 1829. The centre Wapping tunnel was the first ever driven under a metropolis. It is still earmarked for reuse to take the newly electrified trains from Wigan, Huyton and St.Helens into the central Liverpool Merseyrail underground section. If the James St to Central Stn tunnel is reused for passengers (currently a shunting tunnel) the region has an east-west crossrail. A Merseyrail line is possible from Wigan to West Kirby on the River Dee. Manchester trains can enter James St underground station near the cruise liner terminal. It all fits. If the Wapping tunnel is reused and brought back onto Merseyrail it will be the oldest underground section of any railway in the world. Liverpool already holds that distinction as a section of the original 1836 Lime St tunnel is still in use by Merseyrail at Edge Hill Stn.

 

[Tremzinho]

Correct, a headshunt as well. The used tunnel dates from ~1846, the other two 1829. The centre Wapping tunnel was the first ever driven under a metropolis. It is still earmarked for reuse to take the newly electrified trains from Wigan, Huyton and St.Helens into the central Liverpool Merseyrail underground section. If the James St to Central Stn tunnel is reused for passengers (currently a shunting tunnel) the region has an east-west crossrail. A Merseyrail line is possible from Wigan to West Kirby on the River Dee. Manchester trains can enter James St underground station near the cruise liner terminal. It all fits. If the Wapping tunnel is reused and brought back onto Merseyrail it will be the oldest underground section of any railway in the world. Liverpool already holds that distinction as a section of the original 1836 Lime St tunnel is still in use by Merseyrail at Edge Hill Stn.

The line ends inside Crown St Park, where 66s occasionally sit spewing diesel fumes into the adjacent playground!

Wapping Tunnel was originally to be linked into Merseyrail under the 1972 local transport plan, and a small start to tunneling was built south of Central station along with a grade separated junction.

The parliamentary powers to build the link have long since expired, and the local transport authority haven't been willing to give any serious consideration to bringing it back into use.

Fortunately the idea of turning it into a road tunnel was quickly abandoned, but I doubt we will see it brought back into use in the foreseeable future.

Annoyingly, the £70 million Merseytravel managed to waste on the failed tram scheme would probably have been enough to pay for this 'unaffordable' extension of Merseyrail along with a decent park and ride at Edge Hill.

 

[inner-city]

The line ends inside Crown St Park, where 66s occasionally sit spewing diesel fumes into the adjacent playground!

Wapping Tunnel was originally to be linked into Merseyrail under the 1972 local transport plan, and a small start to tunneling was built south of Central station along with a grade separated junction.

The parliamentary powers to build the link have long since expired, and the local transport authority haven't been willing to give any serious consideration to bringing it back into use.

Fortunately the idea of turning it into a road tunnel was quickly abandoned, but I doubt we will see it brought back into use in the foreseeable future.

Annoyingly, the £70 million Merseytravel managed to waste on the failed tram scheme would probably have been enough to pay for this 'unaffordable' extension of Merseyrail along with a decent park and ride at Edge Hill.

Yes a junction was built south of Central in preparation to reusing the tunnel. The electrification of the Liverpool-Manchester lines will give urgency to the rekindling of the project, before there was no electrification and that would have been a horrendous cost - that is not an object any longer. All they need do is extend two short tunnels into Wapping tunnel from Central stn and put tracks in the tunnel. That is not a big expensive task for the benefits it brings.

Getting the trains from the east into the central underground section also relieves platforms at Lime St (HS2 space?). Also now that idiot Scale has gone from Merseytravel things might improve and a lobby to DfT might bare fruit. Liverpool has had no rail infrastructure investment Look at at Manchester with the upgrade of Victoria stn and the extension of the trollycars. Apart from South Parkway, in 2006, Liverpool has had ziltch. HMG will have to spend on the city. It is cheap to do as most of the infrastructure is there. The bang-for-buck is great at Liverpool.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Yes a junction was built south of Central. The electrification of the Liverpool-Manchester lines will give urgency to the rekindling of the project, before there was no electrification and that would have been a horrendous cost - that is not an object any longer. All they need do is extend two short tunnels into Wapping tunnel from Central stn and put tracks in the tunnel. That is not a big expensive task for the benefits it brings.

Getting the trains from the east into the central underground section also relieves platforms at Lime St (HS2 space?). Also now that idiot Scale has gone from Merseytravel things might improve and a lobby to DfT might bare fruit. Liverpool has had no rail infrastructure investment Look at at Manchester with the upgrade of Victoria stn and the extension of the trollycars. Apart from South Parkway, in 2006, Liverpool has had ziltch. HMG will have to spend on the city. It is cheap to do as most of the infrastructure is there. The bang-for-buck is great at Liverpool.

Well they are tarting up the underground stations (Central/James St finished, Lime St just started).
And there's Wavertree Tech Park.
Olive Mount chord.
4tph to Chester.
Lime St concourse upgrade.
Allerton depot reopened.
Not enough, but not zilch.

 

[wbbminerals]

Blue engineering brick apparently - which might explain why they are still there !

Very interesting, I did not realise that the blue bricks were stronger. It does help explain why they are in such good condition though. The Midland Railway seems to have used these bricks a lot around Wakefield (eg the former MML between Sheffield and Leeds).

 

[185]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LMaJ1hufaFg/UGmdBMfNzHI/AAAAAAAACfA/_Ns0k5Y2OcI/s640/Monsal+viaduct.jpg
Headstone Viaduct on the Monsal Trail is perhaps my favourite. Amazing to fly out of the long, dark tunnel on my mountain bike then blast into the daylight on a sky high viaduct.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Until relatively recently (say about mid 80's to early 90's) St.James station was in fairly good nic for a somewhere that was closed back in 1917.

 

[Pumbaa]

It is still earmarked for reuse to take the newly electrified trains from Wigan, Huyton and St.Helens into the central Liverpool Merseyrail underground section. If the James St to Central Stn tunnel is reused for passengers (currently a shunting tunnel) the region has an east-west crossrail. A Merseyrail line is possible from Wigan to West Kirby on the River Dee. Manchester trains can enter James St underground station near the cruise liner terminal.

Source? First I've heard of it. And the second part of that idea sounds like a pipe dream. I don't necessarily think taking them into Central is a bad idea (apropos a substantial rebuild) but a Liverpool crossrail?.... Methinks not.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Annoyingly, the £70 million Merseytravel managed to waste on the failed tram scheme would probably have been enough to pay for this 'unaffordable' extension of Merseyrail along with a decent park and ride at Edge Hill.

Edge Hill is a in a really crap location for Park and Ride. Broad Green and South Parkway are the best sited. Use as an interchange, yes; as a P+R, no chance.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Liverpool has had no rail infrastructure investment Look at at Manchester with the upgrade of Victoria stn and the extension of the trollycars. Apart from South Parkway, in 2006, Liverpool has had ziltch. HMG will have to spend on the city. It is cheap to do as most of the infrastructure is there. The bang-for-buck is great at Liverpool.

Apart from the examples LNW-GW Joint has listed of course. And as South Parkway has well proved, 'bang for buck' is far greater in other Northern cities. Liverpool will soon have a great service enhancement from the NW wires and new TP services. Let's wait for that to succeed first before elucidating any more fancy ideas.

 

[inner-city]

Source? First I've heard of it. And the second part of that idea sounds like a pipe dream. I don't necessarily think taking them into Central is a bad idea (apropos a substantial rebuild) but a Liverpool crossrail?.... Methinks not.

Bringing two tunnels into use means the city has that capability. As Wirral Waters comes on-line a crossrail is essential. Central does need 4 platforms for sure. Liverpool has a north-south crossrail now - the Northern line from Southport to Hunts X.

Edge Hill is a in a really crap location for Park and Ride. Broad Green and South Parkway are the best sited.

No one mentioned Edge Hill as Park & ride. You are right that South Parkway and Broad Green are ideally suited - they were in the 1972 Merseyrail plans on the Outer Loop, which was never finished, to prevent people on the outers travelling into the centre using Lime St.

'bang for buck' is far greater in other Northern cities. Liverpool will soon have a great service enhancement from the NW wires and new TP services. Let's wait for that to succeed first before elucidating any more fancy ideas.

You think Liverpool should be starved funds in preference to "other northern cities". Might Manchester be the city you fantasise about? You are prattling nonsense. Liverpool has the infrastructure in place. The Edge Hill Spur, the Wapping Tunnel, has a lot of work already complete and the tunnel awaiting rails inside.

The electrification alone from Manchester and Wigan, means sweet FA. Top of the range diesel DMUs can do the job just as well. The electrification means the line to Wigan, St.Helens, Newton-le-Willows can be on Merseyrail with ease. The reuse of the Wapping tunnel mean they can expand right into Liverpool's underground sections. I fail to see what impact Trans-Pennine will have on Liverpool's rail infrastructure, although more services would be nice. If trans-Pennine is successful, with other services, taking the Wigan, St.Helens, Newton-le-Willows, etc, underground in Liverpool's city centre would be release platforms at Lime St mainline. Taking all local services onto Merseyrail, the original 1972 plan, makes lots of sense - and cheap to do. The bang-for-buck in an expanding economy like Liverpool's is the best around.

 

[Pumbaa]

No one mentioned Edge Hill as Park & ride. You are right that South Parkway and Broad Green are ideally suited - they were in the 1972 Merseyrail plans on the Outer Loop, which was never finished, to prevent people on the outers travelling into the centre using Lime St.

@Tremzinho did - that comment was primarily aimed at that user.

You think Liverpool should be starved funds in preference to "other northern cities". Might Manchester be the city you fantasise about? You are prattling nonsense. Liverpool has the infrastructure in place. The Edge Hill Spur, the Wapping Tunnel, has a lot of work already complete and the tunnel awaiting rails inside.

Taking all local services onto Merseyrail, the original 1972 plan, makes lots of sense - and cheap to do. The bang-for-buck in an expanding economy like Liverpool's is the best around.

Not really. I live in Liverpool, work in Liverpool and breathe Liverpool. Making a massive Merseyside service package won't work. As much as I'd like it to, it won't. The sums simply don't add up. It's with a heavy heart I say it, but 'facts are sacred'. Spend a pound (or a million) and you'll get a far better return in other Northern cities - Liverpool will remain bottom of the waiting list for a while.

 

[Tremzinho]

Edge Hill is a in a really crap location for Park and Ride. Broad Green and South Parkway are the best sited. Use as an interchange, yes; as a P+R, no chance.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Vast amount of unused railway owned land on either side of the station, which is contaminated and of no value for housing. On two major roads into the city centre and close to Edge Lane, the main route into Liverpool.

Previously studied as a p&r site, with the main objection being that the existing trains are already overloaded at peak times.

Edge Hill would be a logical 1st phase extention of the Northern line, but wouldn't generate enough passengers just as an interchange. And almost every station car park in Liverpool is full, with limited opportunities to expand.

I'll happily defer to your judgement if you provide a more convincing argument than simply saying, "it's crap!"