Disused tunnels database

Disused tunnels database

Research to expand our database of disused tunnels continues to pay dividends. Many thanks to those of you who have sent in contributions. If you can help with any details, omissions or corrections, please click the ‘contact us’ link in the sidebar to get in touch.

By clicking on the relevant column header, the database can be sorted by name, yardage, company or opening/closure dates. Hover over the abbreviated company name to see the full version. New tunnels are highlighted by a red tip; modified entries are in orange. More information or pictures – where available – is provided via the Link button.

Tunnels which were opened out either during or after the railway’s period of operation are excluded. Only those that still exist – even if now buried – are listed.


  • (g) length determined using historical maps and Google Earth’s measuring tool
  • ~ scaled length/approximate year
  • ? evidence uncertain
  • < earlier than/less than
  • > later than/more than

Click here to search the database by map. Each tunnel is marked at the midpoint of a straight line drawn between its portals (which can prove deceptive if the tunnel is curved). No buried tunnels are shown.

Most of the tunnels on the database can be viewed in GoogleEarth by opening a .kml file developed by Antony Badsey-Ellis. Download the ZIP to your hard disk by clicking here, then extract the .kml and open it using GoogleEarth.

Current total: 628

23
71
70
30
11
8
31
45
5
17
31
33
15
13
31
4
19
67
39
4
6
51
4
628

The Cs (70)

Tunnel Name(s)CompanyYardsTrksOpenClosedPortalLink
Charlestown
Charlestown M&L2502
Carsons Road
Carsons RoadA&G34(g)118311865
Cowhorn Hill
Cowhorn HillA&G72118311865
Coed Helen
Coed HelenNant22~118281867
Cape Horn
Cape HornGW52(g)1s18701906
Crossgates
CrossgatesBT41(g)11855~1913
Calke Park
Calke ParkTT138118021915
Caldon (Cottonplain)
Caldon (Cottonplain)Nth Stf480(g)118471920
Colwall Old
Colwall OldGW1567118601926
Cheadle (Draycott Cross)
Cheadle (Draycott Cross)Nth Stf978119011933
Cheadle Tunnel suffered a major collapse in 1933 and a deviation was then built.
Clifton Rocks
Clifton RocksCRk137(g)418931934
Calderbank Colliery
Calderbank CollieryCalCol224(g)118651936?
Coppet Hall Middle
Coppet Hall MiddleSaund18~118421939
Coppet Hall North
Coppet Hall NorthSaund111~118421939
Coppet Hall South
Coppet Hall SouthSaund73~118421939
Castle (Maenclochog)
Castle (Maenclochog)NR&M100118761949
Crawleyside (Hog Hill)
Crawleyside (Hog Hill)S&T121118341949
Combe Hay
Combe HayGW66119101951
Clifton Hall
Clifton HallLNW1298218501953
Clifton Hall Tunnel suffered a catastophic collapse in 1953, killing five people.
Cocking
CockingLBSC738118811953
Cromer
CromerN&S61219061953
Crescent Wood
Crescent WoodCP&SLJ400218651954
Chickenley Heath (Ossett)
Chickenley Heath (Ossett)WYks47118641956
Coles Rock
Coles RockS&W22118741956
Crich
CrichCCC63(g)118411957
Cinder Hill
Cinder Hill LBSC61218821958
Clydach Old
Clydach OldMT&A302118621958
Clydach New
Clydach NewLNW330118771958
Culver
CulverExe248119031958
Cornubia Works
Cornubia WorksCorn114(g)1~1890<1959
The Cornubia Works tunnel was opened out at its north end around 1900, reducing its length to 80 yards.
Chedworth
ChedworthM&SWJ498218911961
Chipping Norton
Chipping NortonB&CD715118871962
Clayton
ClaytonGN1057218781963
Caernarfon
CaernarfonLNW164218521964?
Caenarfon Tunnel now forms part of the town's road network.
Cefn Glas (Quakers Yard)
Cefn Glas (Quakers Yard)GW703118641964
Chesterfield
ChesterfieldMS&L474218931964
Church Street
Church StreetMid43(g)1>18801964
Crow Road
Crow Road L&D355218961964
Cwm-y-glo (Padarn)
Cwm-y-glo (Padarn)Ca&Ls106118691964
Cwmcerwyn (Bryn)
Cwmcerwyn (Bryn)PTR&D1012118971964
Chapel Street
Chapel StreetBall49(g)118281964
Canal
CanalL&Y51218871965
Castle Hill
Castle HillDv&Sm319118731966
Catesby
CatesbyGC2997218981966
Chesil (Winchester/St Giles)
Chesil (Winchester/St Giles)GW441218911966
Chilcompton Down
Chilcompton DownS&D64118741966
Chilcompton Up
Chilcompton UpS&D64118921966
Chilcompton Tunnel is used by the Midsomer Norton Target Shooting Club.
Cobridge No.1
Cobridge No.1Nth Stf310218731966
Cobridge No.2
Cobridge No.2Nth Stf45(g)218731966
Combe Down
Combe DownS&D1829118741966
Combe Down Tunnel reopened as part of a foot/cycle path in 2013.
Cartsburn Down
Cartsburn DownCal381(g)1~19011967
Clowne
ClowneLD&EC44(g)218961967
Colinton
ColintonCal150118741967
Chee Tor No.1
Chee Tor No.1Mid401218631968
Chee Tor No.2
Chee Tor No.2Mid94218631968
Coburg Street (North Leith)
Coburg Street (North Leith)Cal139219031968
Cressbrook
CressbrookMid471218631968
Crigglestone
CrigglestoneMid250219061968
Cymmer (Caerau/Maesteg)
Cymmer (Caerau/Maesteg)L&O1595118781970
Craigellachie (Taminurie)
Craigellachie (Taminurie)Str68118631971
Crown Street Old
Crown Street OldL&M291118301972
Cadeby
CadebySYJ163118941975
Castlebank Street
Castlebank StreetL&D38(g)218961978
Copenhagen East
Copenhagen EastGN59421852?1978
Colwyn Bay Goods
Colwyn Bay GoodsLNW69(g)1>19001981
Canada Dock (Sandhills)
Canada Dock (Sandhills)LNW427218661982
Croppers Hill
Croppers HillSHCR161(g)118591988
Cattedown (Cattewater)
Cattedown (Cattewater)P&D48118802009?
Central
CentralL&Y449218472014
Having first closed in 2009, Central Tunnel reopened temporarily in 2012 as part of the Rochdale extension of Manchester Metrolink but closed again in January 2014.
Clammerclough Down
Clammerclough DownL&Y295118802015