Background
Tidenham tunnel is the longer of two tunnels on the route of the Wye Valley Railway, a 15 mile line running between Chepstow in the south and Monmouth in the north. It is unusual to find the tracks still in place in a tunnel (indeed, we had visited no other tunnels with intact tracks) but here they extend right through the tunnel, and nearly a mile to the north and 1.5miles to the south, all the way to Wye Valley Junction, still in use. The other tunnel on this line is Tintern. Perhaps the reason the tracks are still in place is that this particular section of line was closed relatively late; the last train to pass through the tunnel was from Tintern quarry in 1981. This tunnel is 1188 yards long, with a single deep airshaft, and is an elongated S-shape.
The line was completed and opened on 1st November 1876, and managed by the Wye Valley Railway company. Due to financial trouble, in 1905 the line was sold to, and amalgamated with, Great Western Railways. Tidenham station, which was south of the tunnel, was closed for a brief period from 1917 to 1918 to release staff for the war effort. Following nationalisation of the rail network in 1947, passenger services ran on the line until 1959. Then in 1964, freight services ceased on the northern section of the line between Monmouth and Tintern. Freight from the mighty Tintern quarry ceased in 1981, and this section was then closed, signaling the end of the tunnel’s working life. After a few years of intermittent freight services from Tidenham quarry, the whole line closed in the 1990s.
Visiting
Both portals of this tunnel are gated, but both can still be accessed. The southern portal is very close to Netherhope lane, which crossed the trackbed on an impressive bridge, that is perhaps 30 yards from the end of the tunnel. The northern portal is much more secluded, but requires quite a trek to reach. The last time I walked this path was a year ago, and it was very overgrown then, so it is quite possible that the present conditions would make access from the north very difficult, and Ray Mears may be required. Still, I have included the route on the map anyway; winter may be a better time to visit when the vegetation has receded. It is an interesting route; there is a perfect spot to park just outside the gate that blocks the access track for Tintern quarry. This track, or a winding footpath, can be followed down the steep valley known as the Slade. The track curves down around the edge of the quarry and is the easier route, whilst the path runs lower down and is very uneven and steep. A steep scree slope runs between the two, and I recommend running down this like a loon for extra childish fun.
Condition today
A quick scrabble down the steep, deep cutting under Netherhope bridge reveals the southern portal of Tidenham tunnel struggling to keep clear of the choking summer vegetation. Despite the prolific growth of trees and brambles in the cutting, both bridge and portal are in excellent condition. Both cuttings and the tunnel were dry throughout, but then it is summer… Upon entering the tunnel, our attention was drawn immediately to the intact tracks, which are rusty but solid on their sleepers. The tracks curved gently away to the left on a pronounced camber. Along the length of the tunnel could be found series’ of arches cut into the walls, with sides and ceilings of brick but back walls of roughly hewn rock. As is commonly found, the tunnel lining varied from place to place, sometimes bare rock, sometimes stonework or neat bricks.
A single airshaft can be found slightly to the north of the tunnel’s midway point. It is an untidy affair, haphazard planks forming a ceiling to the roughly cut hole in the tunnel roof. Further up the airshaft it is brick-lined and much neater.
Map
(Right click and choose ’save link as’ or ’save linked content’ to download a larger version)
Photos
A short distance in from the south portal
In the central section there are bands of calcite
Weird fungus with red beady eyes
Long sections of wall are comprised entirely of archwork
Sleepers make for dramatic shadows
In the distance a patch of light can be seen from the airshaft above
Ghoulish deposits hang from the walls
The airshaft looks like it’s straight from an Indiana Jones film
Be-right-back, hopefully one day this will be true and the tunnel will reopen as a cycle route
Not quite sure where these fit in with the track construction…
At the north portal, the angle of the curving track is very pronounced
Autumnal scenes around the northern end of the tunnel
Still keeping clear of the undergrowth… just
Improbably named and very impressive
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