Building the last Main Line Railway

Catesby Tunnel and Viaduct

Additional pages divided on different thematic subjects are available by clicking on the links below:

Newton to Oxford Canal (21)                           |  Great Central Bridge and Viaduct (12)
Rugby to Barby (22)                                       |  Catesby Tunnel and Viaduct (31) 
Flecknoe, Willoughby and Staverton (28)          |  Contractor's Locomotives (16)

Select an image below to view the larger version with accompanying text:

Ref: gcrcs174 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland South Portal of Completed Catesby Tunnel

Ref: gcrcs79 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland North Portal of completed Catesby Tunnel

Ref: gcrcs161 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland South Portal' brick lining being completed in Tunnel

Ref: gcrcs80 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland North Portal' brick lining being completed in Tunnel

Ref: gcrcs81 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Long view towards north Portal

Ref: gcrcs153 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Long view towards south Portal

Ref: gcrcs186 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Another view of the North Portal'

Ref: gcrcs155 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Early days in the construction of the north end of the tunnel

Ref: gcrcs76 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Looking out of the mouth of the north portal

Ref: gcrcs88 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland The head frame of No.7 shaft

Ref: gcrcs78 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland A steam crane in action

Ref: gcrcs75 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Another steam crane in action

Ref: gcrcs148 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland The head frame of No 7 shaft

Ref: gcrcs150 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Head frame to one of the shafts

Ref: gcrcs151 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Another head frame to one of tunnel's shafts

Ref: gcrcs162 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Timber framed head frame

Ref: gcrcs165 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Circular timber shaft formwork

Ref: gcrcs159 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland A large square head frame

Ref: gcrcs182 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Pit Shaft No 7's wooden head gear and and winding cable

Ref: gcrcs180 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland 'First tunnel shaft, Catesby'

Ref: gcrcs191 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland The head frame of No 9 shaft

Ref: gcrcs185 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Pit Shaft No 4 and mineral wagons

Ref: gcrcs190 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Pit Shaft No 6 and stagng area

Ref: gcrcs164 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Construction of the twelve arch Catesby viaduct

Ref: gcrcs166 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Another view of the Construction of the Catesby viaduct

Ref: gcrcs163 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Close up of the Construction of the Catesby viaduct

Ref: gcrcs160 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Looking north along the course of the GC's Main Line from the portal of Catesby tunnel

Ref: gcrcs189 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland The Contractor's Survey Station

Ref: gcrcs187 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Navvy hut settlement at Catesby

Ref: gcrcs122 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland View of a completed ventilation shaft

Ref: gcrcs77 - Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Construction of a brick arch overbridge north of Catesby tunnel