Tunnels from City Station

big s · Post by **big s** » Sat 01 Dec, 2007 6:31 pm

electricaldave wrote: Ref - Some of the tunnels under LGI.I worked there for a number of years in a maintenance role so I had to go into these places quite a lot.There are proper tunnels linking various parts of the LGI, laundry was moved through them, along with equipment, empty beds and the like.They linked between the Generating Station, which used to house the laundry, Clarendon wing, LGI main site, and the Dental School.None went up to the University, however there were several service conduits that carried cables, from the main power lines through to data cables that did go up there, things did chang with the building of the Jubilee Wing as this cut off some of the tunnels temporarily, and when they were reconnected some could not be used by trolleys as you had to use fixed ladders to get down there - you used to get into them either by lifts or by long descending ramps.There are lots of services channels round about and under the LGI linking various parts up and you can readily walk down them but they are no use at all for general traffic.Originally when Clarendon wing was built this was going to be phase one of a three phase project, and the start of the tunnels to the planned phases two and three were put down, but it was cancelled, the empty tunnel stubs were used as storage areas.(I think they did actually use one when Jubilee wing was put up)I remember watching them build Jubilee wing, there wer several folk who took daily and weekly photos so they must have a pretty reasonable slide show of the whole thing.When the foundations were dug, several wells were discovered, and in the top layers of soil you could see the foundations of buildings, these looked like they belonged to fairly substantial town houses.They dug those foundations deep, including under the old dental school which had been demolished years before and there was no old tunnel work down there, a few old gas pipes and lead water pipes, not much else. electricaldave,did you see the photo i added to page2 29 april?

electricaldave · Post by **electricaldave** » Sat 01 Dec, 2007 6:59 pm

Hmmm, just seen that, where does that one start ?I know there were underground routes somewhere between wings such as Wellcome wing.Our work depot was right under the heart of the LGI, with tunnels going both ways along the length of the main George Street block.We also used to send folk down into the undercroft to spray insecticidal chemicals to deal with the ants.Those ants were absolutely minute, but they had a very nasty bite that caused a reaction, we caught some and sent them off to some entymologist who told us what they were, Rogers Ants or something, I really cannot remember, one guy had a terrible reaction to something that bit him whilst he was working in the undercroft, nearly lost his leg.He was off work for ages, and his medical records mysteriously dissappeared when the union reps suggested he might be in line for compensation.He only went there as a favour to management, the rest of us refused as there was no lighting, and it was a difficult place to get to, or rescue an injured person.At least one consultant was extremely concerned about the source of the infection.They didn't want to do anything about those ants, I suspect becuase of cost, but the excuse they gave was laughable, they said they wanted to leave the ants as they killed and ate all the cockroaches! Anyway, a word of warning to anyone wanting to go down those tunnels, make sure you wear protective clothing there are some extremely nasty infectious bugs down there, rats you can see - MRSA you cannot, you really really do not want to break any of your skin while crawling under the LGI.

rangieowner · Post by **rangieowner** » Mon 03 Dec, 2007 4:11 pm

interesting comments there electricaldave hope you not leaving youself open to being sued for liable there mate!!!!

electricaldave · Post by **electricaldave** » Wed 05 Dec, 2007 3:42 pm

Nah, the incident ocurred around 15 years ago, there's no possibility of a claim after being made aware of the infection so long after the event.

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Thu 06 Dec, 2007 5:45 pm

Apologies for my late contribution to this thread, but I have only just discovered this excellent site.Tunnels running from Central Station into (and beyond) the city - fact or fiction?Well we all know how urban myth's tend to snowball until they are either proved or, more often than not, dispelled - however, let me relate to you something I was told by two totally different people.Both worked for the Telecoms section of what was then Railtrack and both people told me of a Control room that is several stories below ground level under City station, further more both people told me that there were indeed a series of tunnels linking various buildings up around the city such as City hall, the Town hall, various police stations - including Milgarth and the old headquarters building close to International pool - along with hospitals, the BBC buildings, and several council buildings on the outskirts of town.Both people informed me that they were aware of the links these tunnels provided as they contained "live" phone and power links from the various outposts back to the control room under the station and that it was part of their responsabilitys to maintain these links, and more importantly the control room in full working order.I was shown where the enterance to this room was but was told by the person that showed me that it was more than their job was worth to try taking me down there, but the door is still in place and as a matter of fact I passed it a couple of weeks ago whilst taking a friend to the station, it is very close to the general public area in the booking hall.One of the people also told me there were a great number of tunnels that had been bricked up or sealed which would seem to be supported by photos earlier in this thread.

Post by **cnosni** » Fri 07 Dec, 2007 11:59 am

BIG N wrote: Apologies for my late contribution to this thread, but I have only just discovered this excellent site.Tunnels running from Central Station into (and beyond) the city - fact or fiction?Well we all know how urban myth's tend to snowball until they are either proved or, more often than not, dispelled - however, let me relate to you something I was told by two totally different people.Both worked for the Telecoms section of what was then Railtrack and both people told me of a Control room that is several stories below ground level under City station, further more both people told me that there were indeed a series of tunnels linking various buildings up around the city such as City hall, the Town hall, various police stations - including Milgarth and the old headquarters building close to International pool - along with hospitals, the BBC buildings, and several council buildings on the outskirts of town.Both people informed me that they were aware of the links these tunnels provided as they contained "live" phone and power links from the various outposts back to the control room under the station and that it was part of their responsabilitys to maintain these links, and more importantly the control room in full working order.I was shown where the enterance to this room was but was told by the person that showed me that it was more than their job was worth to try taking me down there, but the door is still in place and as a matter of fact I passed it a couple of weeks ago whilst taking a friend to the station, it is very close to the general public area in the booking hall.One of the people also told me there were a great number of tunnels that had been bricked up or sealed which would seem to be supported by photos earlier in this thread. I can hear phil_d quivering with excitement from here!!

Phill_d · Post by **Phill_d** » Fri 07 Dec, 2007 8:36 pm

Ha.. nice one csnosi...Leeds will have to wait for a bit mate, I've got wind of a few awesome things to get my teeth stuck into already including an underground ballroom built by a mad eccentric in the South of England linked by 5 miles of tunnels.. Thats got all my attention at the mo!

Post by **chameleon** » Fri 07 Dec, 2007 10:42 pm

Phill_d wrote: Ha.. nice one csnosi...Leeds will have to wait for a bit mate, I've got wind of a few awesome things to get my teeth stuck into already including an underground ballroom built by a mad eccentric in the South of England linked by 5 miles of tunnels.. Thats got all my attention at the mo! Well there had to be a reason for the silence - 'Merry Christmas Phill' - just in case you get too involved and don't make it back by then!!

Phill_d · Post by **Phill_d** » Fri 07 Dec, 2007 11:34 pm

I'm always about Chamaleon Merry xmas to you too & all the other secret Leedsers as well! Don't forget to cook that turkey properly Jane

jane666 · Post by **jane666** » Sat 08 Dec, 2007 12:30 am

me cook turkey?? off to my mums!! xx merry christmas to you too xx