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LNER Route: Leicester to Marylebone

Catesby Tunnel (Northants)

Catesby tunnel which at 2997 yards, was the longest on the Great Central's route to London, the last of the mainline railways to be built by the Victorians. The Catesby Tunnel was originally planned as a cutting, but due to it running through a wealthy land owners estate, it was insisted that the cutting be turned into a tunnel. The contractor responsible for building this section of the London Extension (Contract No.4, Rugby to Woodford) was T Oliver & Son. At 27 feet wide and 25 feet 6 inches high, Catesby Tunnel is straight throughout and on a rising gradient of 1:176 to the south, with the summit of this section reached as daylight resumes. It was designed as an 'egg shape' tunnel with eight ventilation shafts along its length. It was lined with Staffordshire Blue brick, and over 30 million were used in the 3km length. Its creation demanded round 290,000 cubic yards of mining. Work to sink the first shaft began on 18th February 1895 and the last length was keyed in on 22nd May 1897 - a remarkably quick average rate of 110 yards per month. Progress was greatly accelerated by the use of Ruston steam navvies (cranes). The tunnel was mostly driven from nine construction shafts, each equipped with wooden headgear which was used to lower materials to the men working beneath. None though was permitted within 500 yards of the north portal due to the landowner's wish that the privacy of his residence, close to the workings, be maintained. As a result, 264 yards through very heavy ground had to be constructed by means of a 12x10ft bottom heading and break-ups.

This proved liable to breakages and one part completely collapsed. The surrounding strata was under significant pressure which resulted in a heavy lining of seven rings in the arch and side walls, with six rings in the invert. These were divided into 10-foot sections. Cut-and-cover was used for the first 44 yards from the north portal. The length adjoining this had so little ground above it that the two crown bars were laid from a trench on the surface. The remainder of the tunnel proved relatively light work and was driven full-sized without headings. Here the lining is mostly five rings thick with a four-ring invert, all faced with Staffordshire brindle and built in lime mortar. Around 30 million bricks were swallowed up by the structure. Very little water ingress was experienced, amounting to around 80 gallons per minute. Chases were built into the back of the brickwork at intervals, leading to pipes built through the side wall at rail level. Water was then discharged into a culvert in the six-foot, accessed via deep catchpits. Ventilation is provided by five shafts. Four of these are 10 feet in diameter but the northernmost - 1,250 yards from the entrance - is 15 feet wide to provide greater air flow. The landowner did not want his view blighted by rising smoke either! The first belch from coal traffic occurred on 25th July 1898.

Trackworkers were relatively well served with regular refuges provided on both sides and three rest cabins built into the Up side wall. One is located directly opposite the tablet that marks the "half way" point. Both lines through the tunnel were inspected by the local ganger twice each day. In the winter of 1906, this role was carried out by Joseph Turner, as it had been for the previous 18 months. At about 4:20pm on 4th January he completed an examination of the Down line. Half-an-hour later, a London-Manchester express with upwards of 50 passengers on board entered the south end of the tunnel at around 60mph. As it approached the fifth shaft, a rail broke beneath the locomotive and all five coaches behind it derailed, ripping up 450 yards of track. The last carriage became detached and came to a stand foul of the adjacent Up line as a goods train was approaching. Only prompt action by the driver, who put down a detonator, and the guard, who sounded the whistle, prevented a collision. The report on the derailment of the passenger train in Catesby Tunnel can be seen here courtesy of the Railways Archive website. Catesby Tunnel retired from operational service on 3rd September 1966 since which time the permanent way has been removed.

A pair of ex-WD 2-8-0 LNER Class O7s, No 3102 and No 3084, are seen leaving Catesby Tunnel
Ref: gcct1
Weston Collection
A pair of ex-WD 2-8-0 LNER Class O7s, No 3102 and No 3084, are seen leaving Catesby Tunnel
An unidentified ex-WD 2-8-0 Austerity locomotive seen at the head of a long coal train is emitting lots of smoke
Ref: gcct2
Weston Collection
An unidentified ex-WD 2-8-0 Austerity locomotive seen at the head of a long coal train is emitting lots of smoke
Ex-GCR 2-8-0 Class O4/1 No 63722 leaves Catesby Tunnel on a down goods train on 14th May 1949
Ref: gcct3
Weston Collection
Ex-GCR 2-8-0 Class O4/1 No 63722 leaves Catesby Tunnel on a down goods train on 14th May 1949
An unidentified ex-LNER 4-6-2 class A3 locomotive enters Catesby Tunnel at speed with a down Manchester express
Ref: gcct4
Weston Collection
An unidentified ex-LNER 4-6-2 class A3 locomotive enters Catesby Tunnel at speed with a down Manchester express
Ex-GCR 2-8-0 Class O4/3 No 63841 enters Catesby Tunnel working hard whilst at the head of a down goods train
Ref: gcct5
Weston Collection
Ex-GCR 2-8-0 Class O4/3 No 63841 enters Catesby Tunnel working hard whilst at the head of a down goods train

Close up showing hanging on the lineside hut the large variety of tools used by P&W gangs when maintaining the line
Ref: gcct5a
Weston Collection
Close up of hanging on the lineside hut the large variety of tools used by P&W gangs when maintaining the line
An unidentified O1 2-8-0 locomotive has cleared the tunnel and is about to pass Charwelton on an up goods
Ref: gcct223
C Ward
An unidentified O1 2-8-0 locomotive has cleared the tunnel and is about to pass Charwelton on an up goods
British Railways Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 No 92067 storms out of Catesby Tunnel on 10th September 1961
Ref: gcct224
C Ward
British Railways Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 No 92067 storms out of Catesby Tunnel on 10th September 1961
British Railways Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 No 92013 exits the north portal of Catesby tunnel, in the summer of 1963
Ref: gcct281
A Newman
BR Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 No 92013 exits the north portal of Catesby tunnel, in the summer of 1963
British Railways Standard Class 5 4-6-0 No 73032 is seen starting away from Charwelton with the south portal of Catesby tunnel just  visible in the distance
Ref: gcct315
A Newman
BR 5MT 4-6-0 No 73032 starting away from Charwelton with the south portal of Catesby tunnel just visible

Ex-WD 'Austerity' 2-8-0 No 90448 crosses Catesby viaduct heading into a wintry sun on the long drag up to the tunnel
Ref: gcct316
A Newman
Ex-WD 'Austerity' 2-8-0 No 90448 crosses Catesby viaduct into a wintry sun on the long drag up to the tunnel
Ex-WD 'Austerity' 2-8-0 No 90448 crosses Catesby viaduct heading into a wintry sun on the long drag up to the tunnel
Ref: gcct316
Board of Trade
Derailed passenger train in Catesby tunnel, between Charwalton and Willoughby on the 4th January

cimunstanees under which a passenger train was derailed at about 4..r>0 p.m. , on the Great Central Uailwav. '

After the closure of the GCR and the lifting of the line

A 1970s view of Catesby Tunnel's south portal showing the build date incorporated in to the wall above
Ref: gcct240
Anon
A 1970s view of Catesby Tunnel's south portal showing the build date incorporated in to the wall above
Looking south out of Catesby Tunnel's south portal showing the cutting stretching into the distance
Ref: gcct241
Anon
Looking south out of Catesby Tunnel's south portal showing the cutting stretching into the distance