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Loiner
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Location:
Super Leeds!
Joined on:
09-May-2007 14:55:14
Posted:
5 posts
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Hello all. Been reading for a while and decided to post at last!
Anyway, have caught the bug and done some exploring lately. Last week went for a walk up Rooms Lane to try and look for where the old Gildersome station was. About 100 yards up from Gelderd Road crossed over what seemed to be a bridge where I presume the railway previously ran under (although underneath seemed somewhat filled). Sort of lost where the railway should go from there and it looked pretty impossible to get down onto where I though the track should be and up to the eastern entrance to the tunnel.
Also, had a trek up to the other end of the tunnel (I think). Parked in the Showcase car park and climbed over the fence and down the embankment at the back. Saw what looked like some sort of markers which I presume were where the track bed was. Couldn't for the life of me find the tunnel entrance though. Did come across some sort of water works but no sign of the tunnel and didn't want to venture too far towards the motorway as the night was closing in!
Any advice on where to find the tunnel entrances etc much appreciated. Cheers all....
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rikj
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Location:
Leeds
Joined on:
20-Feb-2007 21:29:42
Posted:
307 posts
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Basher
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Location:
Headingley, Leeds
Joined on:
22-Feb-2007 21:19:54
Posted:
16 posts
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I have doubts about the privacy of the land. I been there several times, most as recenlty as this week. On the visit this week I walked straight past 2 dog walkers.
And there appears to have been some human activity around the portal, guessing from the additional junk i noticed in the water.
The land around the portal is far too easy to access for it to be private.
Basher's got this one cracked!! I'm off down that tunnel.
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Phill_d
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Location:
Leeds
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21-Feb-2007 10:52:59
Posted:
2638 posts
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Has that water subsided any yet Bash?
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Basher
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Location:
Headingley, Leeds
Joined on:
22-Feb-2007 21:19:54
Posted:
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Unfortunately not Phil, think it was slightly deeper than my last visit earlier in the year. Either that or the flooding has stabilised a bit.
I'm checking it out again in the near future, going to test how deep that water is.
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Loiner
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Location:
Super Leeds!
Joined on:
09-May-2007 14:55:14
Posted:
5 posts
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rikj
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Leeds
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20-Feb-2007 21:29:42
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Wow, cheers for posting that Loiner. This pic from Leodis shows the same crossroads from the air.
I think in the pic you've posted the Gildersome tunnel is a bit behind the photographer and about 90ft down! It looks as if what's pictured is a cutting leading up to a short tunnel going underneath the A62/A650 junction. This railway is the LNWR that ran between Morley and Gildersome. In fact it ran overland above the Gildersome tunnel. The direction we are looking in here in approx NW.
(Picture from Leodis)
The pic you posted is interesting as nearly all the old trackbed in that area has disappeared because of the size and scale of the motorway junction. I never knew that it went under the roads at this point. I wonder if it's still there under the roundabout! Must go and have a look.
Thanks for posting the pic up.
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edgey2001
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Location:
Morley
Joined on:
11-Apr-2007 12:03:36
Posted:
78 posts
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The picture at Gildersome is about where the start of the Driglington by-pass is now. This is the western portal and was filled in when they were building the M62, it was only a short tunnel as can be seen in aerial photo, at the other side was where Gildersome Station was, the retaining wall is still there to this day, as is the exit ramp which went down to the station, you can see this on the left hand side as your drive towards Gildersome roundabout from Gelderd Road.
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jf
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Location:
Armley Free State
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17-Mar-2007 20:26:14
Posted:
199 posts
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This is a 'modern' view from more or less the same elevation on Google Earth - it's surprising how many buildings are unchanged.
It almost looks like the portal is still there from the shadow on Google Earth - has it definitely gone?
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jf
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Location:
Armley Free State
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17-Mar-2007 20:26:14
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199 posts
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edgey2001
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Location:
Morley
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11-Apr-2007 12:03:36
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78 posts
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The portal has definatley gone, just a grass slope where the entrance used to be, still worth going to have alook though .
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jf
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Location:
Armley Free State
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17-Mar-2007 20:26:14
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199 posts
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I was hoping there was something in the bushes that can be seen where it was on Google Earth! It looks like the cutting has been backfilled though - which is presumably what's taking place in the Leodis picture. I reckon if you took a spade or better still a JCB you might find something at depth. :-)
This looks to have been a 'long bridge' rather than a tunnel as most people think of these things (is there a true definition for a tunnel anywhere?). 'Cut and Cover' is I think the correct term for this type.
If you follow the line northwards it looks like there is still a tunnel remaining under Bradford Road at Birkenshaw/East Bierley - I think this might be documented on http://www.lostrailwayswestyorkshire.co.uk/ but that site isn't working at present.
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edgey2001
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Morley
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Phill_d
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Leeds
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edgey2001
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Morley
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11-Apr-2007 12:03:36
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I think your referring to Gildersome tunnel on the Leeds Huddersfield Line Phil , the pic I posted is from the Laisterdyke to Ardsley Line.
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Phill_d
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Location:
Leeds
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21-Feb-2007 10:52:59
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Sorry Edgey.. I've been busy uploading my days stuff to flickr. Rushing as usual & not paying attention.. Apologies :-)
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Loiner
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Location:
Super Leeds!
Joined on:
09-May-2007 14:55:14
Posted:
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Ah, so my picture was of the line that ran from Morley top to Bradford?! I always wondered where this line went after Morley. I knew it ran up Chartists Way but then I was always lost after that. Like JF says, there looks to be some sort of portal still there on Google earth. Might have a wander up there.
I was down the back of Showcase cinemas yesterday. Found the old track bed but the western portal of Gildersome tunnel is definitely filled. And the eastern portal is still well flooded up to the entrance.
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edgey2001
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Morley
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11-Apr-2007 12:03:36
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Phill_d
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Leeds
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SarahOvMorley
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Location:
Morley Leeds
Joined on:
11-Mar-2008 18:49:02
Posted:
8 posts
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Hey i know how to get to this tunnel.
If you follow Asquith Avenue up towards gildersome from Morley bottoms, When you get near the top over the motoway bridge there are woods on either side of the road. If you enter the woods on the right side, and walk next to and follow the stream you will come accross this tunnel. This is blocked off and i will post a picture within the next few days. I live round and very close to this area so any questions just ask 
Thanks
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Phill_d
User
Location:
Leeds
Joined on:
21-Feb-2007 10:52:59
Posted:
2638 posts
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| SarahOvMorley wrote: |
Hey i know how to get to this tunnel.
If you follow Asquith Avenue up towards gildersome from Morley bottoms, When you get near the top over the motoway bridge there are woods on either side of the road. If you enter the woods on the right side, and walk next to and follow the stream you will come accross this tunnel. This is blocked off and i will post a picture within the next few days. I live round and very close to this area so any questions just ask
Thanks |
Hi Sarah. Check this out for THE VORTEX and THE HELL HOLE pictures of the tunnel you never knew existed.
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=265602590&blogID=326762127
There's even a video from down there.
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Trojan
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Location:
Joined on:
22-Dec-2007 20:24:37
Posted:
1821 posts
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| SarahOvMorley wrote: |
Hey i know how to get to this tunnel.
If you follow Asquith Avenue up towards gildersome from Morley bottoms, When you get near the top over the motoway bridge there are woods on either side of the road. If you enter the woods on the right side, and walk next to and follow the stream you will come accross this tunnel. This is blocked off and i will post a picture within the next few days. I live round and very close to this area so any questions just ask
Thanks |
You can get to the other end of the tunnel by following Rooms Lane. I don't remember this line being operational.
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Phill_d
User
Location:
Leeds
Joined on:
21-Feb-2007 10:52:59
Posted:
2638 posts
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| Trojan wrote: |
| SarahOvMorley wrote: |
Hey i know how to get to this tunnel.
If you follow Asquith Avenue up towards gildersome from Morley bottoms, When you get near the top over the motoway bridge there are woods on either side of the road. If you enter the woods on the right side, and walk next to and follow the stream you will come accross this tunnel. This is blocked off and i will post a picture within the next few days. I live round and very close to this area so any questions just ask
Thanks |
You can get to the other end of the tunnel by following Rooms Lane. I don't remember this line being operational. |
You might need a machete to clear the undergrowth that way these days. It's very very overgrown. You might expect to see David Bellamy jump out of the bushes
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jonleeds
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Location:
Horsforth, Leeds, UK
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31-Jan-2008 21:29:59
Posted:
86 posts
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SarahOvMorley
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Location:
Morley Leeds
Joined on:
11-Mar-2008 18:49:02
Posted:
8 posts
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