For entering the tunnel east bound the time is 1130. We moved up to the tunnel entrance about 1000 and filled with water. We needed the water but I would have filled up anyway just to get the how down a little. We cleared off the top of the boat and dropped the solar panels as the tunnel is very low in parts.
Holderness at the entrance to the tunnel with the railway next to it. In actual fact this tunnel entrance is about 200 yds away from the original tunnel entrance. When the fourth tunnel was built they covered over the canal and so made the tunnel 200 yds longer.
I heard an engine start up and went out to see what it was. C&RT have a little container at the portal that has a generator to provider electricity for the pilots etc. I went for a chat to the chap that had been escorting through the tunnel and watched as the hire boat came out. This trip there was a pilot and a trainee. It seems there are only about 8 'qualified' pilots and some of them are not now in the area. The trainee was a volunteer from the Rochdale flight. They have to do loads of courses like full first aid, helmsman, deck hand, etc plus a minimum of eight transits under supervision. They aren't allowed to touch the helm unless everybody else id incapacitated!
The west bound boat coming out of the Standedge Tunnel.
Entering the Standedge Tunnel. The date stamp above the portal is the date of the opening of the extended tunnel, not the original one.
I had to be kitted out with hard hat, hi-vis vest and life jacket. They also carried an oxygen meter and powerful lights. After a brief safety talk we set off.
A brick lined part of the tunnel. Both ends are like this but the middle section can feel like you are caving as the tunnel seems to be quarried out of the solid rock and some is cement washed. There are parts that are bolted to stop the roof coming in!
The pilots were full of information about the tunnel and the system in the area and the time passed quickly. We regularly had to speak with the tunnel escort who drove through the unused rail tunnel. There are actually 31 addits between the canal tunnel and the railway one that were used to assist with the building of the later. The canal was used to take spoil out and this helped to make the second tunnel built to be completed faster and cheaper than otherwise.
1 hour and twenty minutes later we popped out into the light at the Marsden end.
We stopped and went to get a cup of coffee and a look round the shop at the tunnel. The pilots said that we had had a very smooth trip, but I bet they say that to everybody. The trip boat left soon after to enter the tunnel and we were off to find a berth near the first lock on the east side. Helen went down into the town for a bit of a shop and Chris and I went back to look round the transhipment warehouse near to the tunnel entrance.
At the tunnel mooring with the transhipment in the distance.
Later we all went down to the Riverhead Tap where I sampled a couple of their own brews. I must say that I do like the pub and the beer too.
3 comments:
So pleased it went well, and I have to say reading that parts of the roof are bolted to stop them collapsing makes me all the more clear I am NOT going into it! Good thing Waka Huia is too long for the Huddersfield Broad and L&L, isn't it?
One and hour and 20 minutes is an excessive time to be underground ... Mx
Hi M, I did think of you as we were passing through and then remembered that you wouldn't be able to get up here. You really are missing a treat as it is a beautiful part of the world. The tunnel is fascinating and so absorbing that the time soon passes. We only saw three moving boats the whole time that we were on the Huddersfield Narrow. The Leeds/Liverpool is another hard work but very, very rewarding canal that you will miss out on. I am glad that we got a boat that we could get to travel down them.
You seem to have made down sizing seem easy and moving house even easier. Buying one house seems to be stressful here but you have turned one down and straight away found another. I hope that all goes well for the move, but what is going to happen to Joe! And I have to take you to task about tinned corned beef. It is great straight out of the time with wholemeal bread and pickle, or in a hash with beans. Maybe the stuff they send you lot down south it isn't as good quality as ours!
Cheers, Tony and Helen.
Hi Tony and Helen, We would love to do the L&L and Huddersfield but thought we could hire a boat for that if necessary. However the tunnel is a no go area ...
If I can arrange to meet up with you two as soon as we arrive next year, I will bring over some proper corned beef for you to try. Then the tinned stuff will not be quite so special! I used to have the tinned stuff (Hellaby's I think) when I was a kid, but never really liked it except in fritters that mum used to make occasionally.
I will blog about the ongoing saga of house hunting in the next few days. Busy packing at the moment as we have to be out a fortnight today.
M&D xox
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