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

The Ps (31)

Tunnel Name(s)	Company	Yards	Trks	Open	Closed	Portal		Link
Paddington Canal
Paddington Canal	WL	40	2	1844	1860
Paddock
Paddock	LNW	43(g)	1	<1890	~1966
Paxton (Rockhills)
Paxton (Rockhills)	CP&SLJ	439	2	1865	1954
Peggs Green
Peggs Green	CR	483(g)	1	1833	1872?
Penar
Penar	GW	239	1	1912	1989
Pencader
Pencader	C&C	988	1	1864	1973
Pencaedrain
Pencaedrain	VoN	526	2	1851	1967
Pendlebury (Fast)
Pendlebury (Fast)	L&Y	201	2	1887	1965
Pendleton (Up)
Pendleton (Up)	L&Y	41(g)	1	1887	1965
Penmanshiel
Penmanshiel	Nth Brt	264	2	1846	1979
Penmanshiel Tunnel collapsed in 1979 during gauge enhancement works, killing two labourers.
Perridge (Longdown)
Perridge (Longdown)	Exe	829	1	1903	1958
A 40-yard section in the middle of Perridge Tunnel collapsed around 1986.
Pickering Nook
Pickering Nook	WV	58(g)	1	1855	1885
The line through the tunnel was closed in 1866 but it was reused by the Lintz Waggonway in 1867.
Pinnock
Pinnock	CM	1173	1	1874	1968
Pinnock Hill
Pinnock Hill	Dr&Sn	60~	1	1845	s1850
Plas Madoc
Plas Madoc	GW	33	1	<1874	<1954
Plymouth Ironworks (Trevithick's)
Plymouth Ironworks (Trevithick's)	MT	384(g)	1	1802	<1871
Pontardawe
Pontardawe	GW	103	1
The heading of Pontardawe Tunnel was driven in 1918-20 but the line was abandoned before work on it was completed.
Pontypool
Pontypool	PIron	82(g)	1	~1825	<1920
Pontypridd (Graig/Treforest)
Pontypridd (Graig/Treforest)	Barry	1323	2	1889	1951
Port Dinorwic
Port Dinorwic	Pad	92~	2	1842	1961
Port Mulgrave
Port Mulgrave	Grink	1729(g)	1	1875	1916
Portobello Road
Portobello Road	Nth Brt	53(g)	2	1846	~2000
Portway No.1
Portway No.1	BPR&P	73	1	1865	1921
Portway No.2
Portway No.2	BPR&P	175	1	1865	1921
Presthope
Presthope	Wen	207	1	1867	1963
Privett
Privett	LSW	1058	2	1903	1955
Privett Station
Privett Station	LSW	55(g)	2	1903	1955
Prospect (Crimple)
Prospect (Crimple)	Y&NM	825	2	1848	1964
Provan Gasworks
Provan Gasworks	Nth Brt	520	1	1902	1962
Pwll-du
Pwll-du	Hill's	2040~	1	1815	>1926
Pwll-du Tunnel has two portals at its northern end - a 60yds bore branches off to the east.
Pwllbach New Mine
Pwllbach New Mine	PCol	1892(g)	1	1913	1966?
Pwllbach New Mine Tunnel has two entrances at its eastern end - a 36yds bore branches off to the south.