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cunningcorgi Senior Member Posts : 71 Location : Status : Offline |
Gellifelen / Clydach Twin Tunnels - November 2011 Explored with the semi cunning corgi.Gellifelen tunnels history (courtesy of http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk) Gelli Felen’s original single bore tunnel opened with the first section of the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway in September 1862. The line’s principal driving force was Crayshaw Bailey, a major local industrialist, whose influence was crucial in attracting investors. In 1860, it was his wife who cut the first sod to mark the start of construction but a year later, with the company’s finances looking precarious, the London & North Western Railway had to ride to the project’s rescue, taking over its management. The Abergavenny-Brynmawr section, engineered by John Gardner, involved eight bridges, two tunnels and a climb of over 1,000 feet, placing it amongst the steepest stretches of railway in the UK with one three-mile section demanding a rising gradient of 1 in 34. The tunnel, just 352 yards long, incorporates a curve of 90° to the north and is mostly masonry lined. Some patches of engineering brick are to be found, especially in the second southerly tunnel which appeared in 1877 when the route was doubled in an effort to maximise traffic flows. The bores are linked by two adits which are now partly flooded. Timetabled services hit the buffers on Saturday 4th January 1958. The following day, the very last train - a special - made its way through, bringing the line’s life to an end and saving British Rail around £60,000 a year in maintenance costs. (Bore distances, 352 & 386 yards). Clydach Twins history The tunnels are on the Abergavenny to Brynmawr railway. The original was built upon Baileys Tramway which ran from ironworks at Nantyglo to the Govilon wharf of the Brecon and Abergavenny Canal. This was converted to a locomotive-hauled railway and in 1862 the line opened from Abergavenny to Brynmawr. In 1877 the line was doubled, and new tunnel bores at Clydach and Gellifelen were made. The new tunnels are the southerly tunnels. The line was closed in 1958 The eastern portals are on private property and are obscured by trees. (Bore distances 302 & 330 yards). Gellifelen Twins western portals. Now unloved and nature running wild. Original northern bore is on the left (1862), newer southern bore on the right (1877). 
Signs of old industry abound on the old trackbed due to Nantyglo and Clydach Ironworks. To the right of the western portals, a drainage tunnel. Still working too ! 
A close up of the southern bore portal. 
A close up of the northern bore portal. 
To the right of the portals, a viaduct from the Crawshaw Bailey tramroad constructed in 1821. 
A view back out the northern bore towards the western portal. 
A view heading eastwards as the bore begins to veer sharply left 90 degrees. 
A workers refuge. Squeezing through the gap at the bottom gives access to the southern bore. 
A view back westwards which again shows the sharp turn that the bore took. 
The eastern portal(s) come into sight. 
Signalling cable bracket remains in situ. 
The eastern portals in all their glory. The southern bore has been bricked up at this end. 
Southern bore portal close up. 
Northern bore portal close up. 
View from the portals along the old trackbed. 
View back towards the eastern portals. Arches to the left were build to support the trackbed. Single arch below the Gellifelen Twins is another drainage tunnel and the Twins can be seen in the distance. 
Clydach Twins, northern and southern bores, western portals. 
Close up of the southern bore portal. 
Close up of the northern bore portal. 
A mileage marker directly at the entrance to the northern portal. 
View along the southern portal trackbed. 
Another view along the southern portal. 
The drivers view as the Twins are approached. 
Fellow explorer guarding the gear ! 
At this stage, we had been in Clydach Gorge over 6 hours and knew that we would have no leaving point at the eastern portals (walked around to try and find them but they are both blocked and in a private back garden) so we called it a day and headed for home. Thanks for looking ! ---------------------- |
 Wed 30 Nov 2011 @ 21:06
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ratty Admin Posts : 96 Location : Pontypridd Status : Offline |
Some nice shots there. I've been meaning to go there for a while and regularly pass through the gorge. I'll do it one day when I eventually get some time off work  The mileage marker is actually a gradient marker - the joys of being a 'spotter' 
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Fri 09 Dec 2011 @ 22:39
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cunningcorgi Senior Member Posts : 71 Location : Status : Offline |
Ahhh, a gradient marker ! I initially thought it was because of the slant on it and also because I was thinking it was never 7 miles to Abergaveny and 30 odd miles to where exactly ?!?!?! The only thing that put me off thinking it was a gradient marker was that there is now no gradient from the Clydach Twins to Gellifelen. When they landscaped the old trackbed they must have taken a lot of the gradient out. Let you know when you're free as I definatly want to go back - got disturbed in the Clydach tunnels (two fat dog walkers mouthing off at me but luckily I was in the tunnel and they couldn't get access as they were literally too fat !) and didn't get to have a good wander through them. Loads of other stuff there too - old quarry and ironworks between the tunnels for example. |
Sat 10 Dec 2011 @ 10:55
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ratty Admin Posts : 96 Location : Pontypridd Status : Offline |
I should be free between xmas and new year if you fancy another go. Did get asked if I wanted to work that week up in Scotland. You can imaging what my reply was
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Fri 16 Dec 2011 @ 21:45
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cunningcorgi Senior Member Posts : 71 Location : Status : Offline |
Grand out ! Usually go home over Christmas but staying put this year - sick of crap weather and driving in it. Definatly up for going back to Clydach - great day out up there. Also thinking of doing Merthyr / Abernant as it will be 49 years soon that the last scheduled train ran through there. Can imagine your answer alright ! |
Fri 16 Dec 2011 @ 22:06
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ratty Admin Posts : 96 Location : Pontypridd Status : Offline |
cunningcorgi wrote: Grand out ! Grand out? You from 'oop norf' ? cunningcorgi wrote: Usually go home over Christmas but staying put this year - sick of crap weather and driving in it. You should try my job then. Driving all over the country in all weather and working in it 
cunningcorgi wrote: Definatly up for going back to Clydach - great day out up there. Also thinking of doing Merthyr / Abernant on the 29th December as it will be 49 years to the day that the last scheduled train ran through there. I'm up for it if you are. ---------------------- |
Sat 17 Dec 2011 @ 03:08
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cunningcorgi Senior Member Posts : 71 Location : Status : Offline |
ratty wrote: Grand out? You from 'oop norf' ? No, Ireland. ratty wrote: You should try my job then. Driving all over the country in all weather and working in it Can imagine as bad enough driving to Pembroke and then to Dublin over Christmas / New Year. Always code, always wet, always icy and always show at some stage. Spend longer on the drive than actually on the ferry as have to crawl along. ratty wrote: I'm up for it if you are. Will PM you. |
Tue 20 Dec 2011 @ 13:29
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