Wapping Tunnel

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Wapping Tunnel
Entrance of the Railway at Edge Hill, from Bury's Liverpool and Manchester Railway, 1831 - artfinder 122456.jpg
Eastern portal in the Cavendish Cutting in 1831. The Wapping tunnel is the centre tunnel. The right hand tunnel is to the Crown St terminal Station
Overview
Other name(s)Edge Hill Tunnel
Location Edge Hill railway station, Liverpool
Operation
Opened1830
Closed1972
Traffic Liverpool-Manchester line
Eastern portal in the Cavendish Cutting today. The tunnel is the middle portal of three. The portal to the right is obscured by undergrowth. Edge Hill cutting.jpg
Eastern portal in the Cavendish Cutting today. The tunnel is the middle portal of three. The portal to the right is obscured by undergrowth.
1833 view of the tunnel, lit by gas-lights The Tunnel, from Bury's Liverpool and Manchester Railway, 1831 - artfinder 267574.jpg
1833 view of the tunnel, lit by gas-lights

Wapping or Edge Hill Tunnel in Liverpool, England, is a tunnel route from the Edge Hill junction in the east of the city to the Liverpool south end docks formerly used by trains on the Liverpool-Manchester line railway. The tunnel alignment is roughly east to west. The tunnel was designed by George Stephenson with construction between 1826 and 1829 to enable goods services to operate between Liverpool docks and all locations up to Manchester, as part of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. [1] It was the first transport tunnel in the world to be bored under a city. [2] The tunnel is 2,030 metres (1.26 mi) long, running downhill from the western end of the 262 metres (860 ft) long Cavendish cutting at Edge Hill in the east of the city, to Park Lane Goods Station near Wapping Dock in the west. The Edge Hill portal is near the former Crown Street Station goods yard. The tunnel passes beneath the Merseyrail Northern Line tunnel approximately a quarter of a mile south of Liverpool Central underground station.

Contents

History

Liverpool is built on an escarpment running down to the River Mersey. The original proposal for the railway out of Liverpool was a route north along the docks and riverbank. This route proved problematic with local landowners. The new route entering the city centre from the east required considerable engineering works in addition to the tunnel. The 1-in-48 gradient of the tunnel was much too steep for the power of the steam locomotives of the day. A large stationary steam engine was installed at the Cavendish cutting at Edge Hill in a short tunnel bored into the rock face on the side of the cutting, near a decorative Moorish Arch spanning the cutting. Goods wagons were hauled by rope up from the Park Lane goods station at the south end docks. The goods wagons were hitched to locomotives at the Edge Hill junction for the continuing journey to all locations from Liverpool to Manchester. The tunnel opened in 1830 and closed on 15 May 1972.

The dockside portal to the tunnel is clearly visible on Kings Dock Street. This was the middle of three short exit tunnels at the western end, which met in a short open ventilation cutting between Park Lane and Upper Frederick Street. The quoted length of 2,030 metres (6,660 feet) includes both the main tunnel and the short exit tunnel.

The Edge Hill entrance is still open to the atmosphere, however not accessible to the public. The portal is the central of three tunnels at the western end of the Cavendish cutting. The right hand tunnel is the original 1829 tunnel into Crown Street Station. The left hand tunnel is the later 1846 tunnel into the Crown Street goods yard. This tunnel currently has tracks, for use as a headshunt and locomotive run-round for goods trains. However, artwork from before the third tunnel was constructed shows that a portal was already present from the outset[ citation needed ] - this was purely for architectural symmetry and is, in fact, a store room.

Other visible evidence of the tunnel still exists, in the form of three imposing red-brick ventilation towers. One is on the landscaped park between Crown Street and Smithdown Lane, one on Blackburne Place (illustration), and one close to Grenville Street South. There were at least two others that were later demolished, one adjacent to Great George Street, and one by Myrtle Street.

Plans for partial reinstatement of tunnel

A ventilation shaft for the Wapping Tunnel, located in Blackburne Place, Liverpool WappingTunnelShaft.jpg
A ventilation shaft for the Wapping Tunnel, located in Blackburne Place, Liverpool
Inside of Tunnel from Kings Dock Street. The light seen is from an air shaft Wapping Tunnel 1.jpg
Inside of Tunnel from Kings Dock Street. The light seen is from an air shaft
Tunnel portal at Kings Dock Street at the western end Wapping Tunnel 2.jpg
Tunnel portal at Kings Dock Street at the western end

In the 1970s, during planning work for the Merseyrail underground in Liverpool city centre, there were two proposals to use parts of the Wapping Tunnel or Waterloo Tunnel (Victoria Tunnel) to connect Liverpool Central underground station and Edge Hill junction. During the construction of the Merseyrail network in the 1970s a part of the new tunnel south out of Central Station passed over the Wapping Tunnel at right angles. The new tunnel dropped into the upper part of the Wapping tunnel reducing its height. [3] This would require lowering the floor of the tunnel at this point to allow trains to pass. When the junction on the Northern Line tunnel south of Central station was built in the late 1970s, two header tunnels were constructed to cater for branching into the Wapping Tunnel. [4]

In May 2007 it was reported that chief executive of Merseytravel, Neil Scales, had prepared a report outlining the possibilities for reuse of the tunnel. [5] [6] The November 2016 refresh of Mersytravel's Long Term Strategy references a "Wapping Tunnel Scheme" in Network Rail's CP7 period. [7] Merseytravel hope to re-use the tunnel to create new underground connections into burrowing junctions south of Liverpool Central station on the Northern Line to allow trains to run between Central station and Edge Hill station and beyond. [8]

Merseytravel commissioned a feasibility study into the re-opening of the tunnel which was completed in May 2016. The study was focused on using the Wapping Tunnel to connect the Northern and City Lines together and the possible creation of a new station along the route to serve the city's Knowledge Quarter. The report found that the Wapping Tunnel was in good condition though suffered from flooding in places and would require some remedial work, however the concept of re-opening the tunnel was viable. [1]

Accidents and incidents

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liverpool and Manchester Railway</span> Railway in England

The Liverpool and Manchester Railway (L&MR) was the first inter-city railway in the world. It opened on 15 September 1830 between the Lancashire towns of Liverpool and Manchester in England. It was also the first railway to rely exclusively on locomotives driven by steam power, with no horse-drawn traffic permitted at any time; the first to be entirely double track throughout its length; the first to have a true signalling system; the first to be fully timetabled; and the first to carry mail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edge Hill, Liverpool</span> Human settlement in England

Edge Hill is a district of Liverpool, England, south east of the city centre, bordered by Kensington, Wavertree and Toxteth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merseyrail</span> Commuter rail system in England

Merseyrail is a commuter rail network which serves Merseyside and adjacent areas of Cheshire and Lancashire. Merseyrail serves 69 stations, 67 of which it manages, across two lines – the Northern Line and the Wirral Line. The network uses 750 V DC third rail electrified lines having 75.0 miles (120.7 km) of routes, of which 6.5 miles (10.5 km) are underground. Since January 2023, Merseyrail commenced replacing its train fleet, withdrawing the Class 507 and 508 trains and introducing 53 new Class 777 trains. The network carried 25.5 million passengers in the 2022/2023 statistical period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crown Street railway station</span> Former railway terminus in Liverpool, England

Crown Street railway station was a passenger railway terminal station on Crown Street, Liverpool, England. The station was the world's first intercity passenger station, opening in 1830, also being the railway terminal station for Liverpool. Used for passengers for only six years, the station was demolished as the site was converted into a goods yard. The goods yard remained in use until 1972. The location of the station is now a park with little trace of the station or goods yard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterloo Tunnel</span> Disused railway tunnel under Liverpool, England

The Waterloo Tunnel in Liverpool, England, is a former railway tunnel, 852 yd (779 m) long, which opened in 1849. Its western end was at 53.414829, -2.994385, underneath Pall Mall. From here the line continued under Great Howard Street to Waterloo Goods railway station, now the site of the Kingsway Tunnel Ventilation Shaft, after 1895 continuing beyond to the dock railway system and on to Liverpool Riverside at the Pier Head for direct connection to the passenger liners. The eastern end opens into a short cutting, four tracks wide between Byrom Street and Fontenoy Street, which connects to the Victoria Tunnel, which emerges at Edge Hill station. It is effectively one long tunnel from Edge Hill to Liverpool Waterloo Dock with two names along its route. The tunnels were given two different names because initially trains in the Victoria Tunnel were cable hauled and in the Waterloo Tunnel locomotive hauled. Both tunnels closed on 19 November 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edge Hill railway station</span> Station serving the district of Edge Hill in Liverpool, England

Edge Hill railway station is a railway station that serves the district of Edge Hill, Liverpool, England and is one of the oldest railway stations in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liverpool Central railway station</span> Railway station in Liverpool, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liverpool James Street railway station</span> Underground railway station in Liverpool, UK

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liverpool–Manchester lines</span> Railway line serving between Liverpool and Manchester

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern line (Merseyrail)</span> Line part of the Merseyrail network

The Northern line is one of two commuter rail routes operated by Merseyrail and centred on Merseyside, England, the other being the Wirral line. The cross-city route runs from Hunts Cross in south Liverpool then branches in the north to terminate at Southport, Headbolt Lane and Ormskirk (Lancashire).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wirral line</span> Commuter rail route in Merseyside, England

The Wirral line is one of two commuter rail routes operated by Merseyrail and centred on Merseyside, England, the other being the Northern line.

The North Liverpool Extension Line was a railway line in Liverpool, England in operation between 1879 and 1972. It was at one stage intended to become the eastern section of the Merseyrail Outer Loop, an orbital line circling the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canada Dock Branch</span> Railway line serving Canada Dock, Liverpool, England

The Canada Dock Branch is a 4-mile 59 chain long railway line in Liverpool, England. The line's route is from the large Edge Hill rail junction in the east of Liverpool to Seaforth Dock to the north. The line was originally built by the London and North Western Railway terminating at Canada Dock, with a later branch extension added to Alexandra Dock and links onto the MDHC railway lines. The line is not electrified.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liverpool–Wigan line</span> Railway line in the north-west of England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garston and Liverpool Railway</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Park Lane railway goods station</span>

Park Lane was the world's first goods terminus on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway serving the south end Liverpool Docks. The station was opened in 1830. Its initial name was Wapping Station. The goods station was accessed from Edge Hill rail junction in the east of the city via the 1.26 miles (2.03 km) long Wapping Tunnel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City Line (Merseytravel)</span> Railway network brand in the UK

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Tunnel (Liverpool)</span> Disused railway tunnel running under Liverpool, England

The Victoria Tunnel in Liverpool, England is a 1.537 miles (2.474 km) long rail tunnel. Opened in 1849, its eastern portal is adjacent to Edge Hill station. The western portal opens into a short cutting, between Byrom Street and Fontenoy Street, the shorter Waterloo Tunnel exits the cutting terminating at Waterloo Dock. The Victoria and Waterloo tunnels are effectively one long tunnel connected by a ventilation cutting. The whole length is generally known as the Waterloo Tunnel.

Liverpool in North West England, is a major British city with significant road, rail, and ferry networks, in addition to an international airport and a well-known dock system. As with most other major UK cities, Liverpool's transport infrastructure is centred on its road and rail networks. Public transport services within the city are controlled and run by Merseytravel.

References

  1. 1 2 "City Line to Northern Line Connection Feasibility Study" (PDF). Merseytravel. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  2. "Wapping and Crown Street Tunnels". Engineering Timelines. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  3. "Subterranea Britannica: Sites: Wapping Tunnel". Subbrit.org.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  4. Maund, T.B. (2001). Merseyrail electrics: the inside story. Sheffield: NBC Books.
  5. Coligan, Nick (17 July 2006). "The trams are dead, long live the train". icLiverpool. Retrieved 10 September 2008.
  6. Nield, Larry (30 May 2007). "Plan to reopen railway tunnels". icLiverpool. Retrieved 10 September 2008.
  7. "Merseytravel Committee Rail Development and Delivery" (PDF). Merseytravel. Merseytravel. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  8. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. "Long Term Rail Strategy" (PDF). Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  9. Esbester, Mike (5 September 2022). "Listed accidents". Railway Work, Life & Death. Retrieved 23 April 2024.

53°23′59″N2°58′11″W / 53.39972°N 2.96972°W / 53.39972; -2.96972