Torpantau Tunnel, February 2012

Explored with walsh (non member) and the last of the three tunnels on our Sunday tunnel dash.

Torpantau Tunnel, also known as Beacon or Summit tunnel is the highest tunnel in the United Kingdom at 1,313 feet above sea level. Also known as the Devil's Tunnel as it is 666 yards in lenght ! It is situated in one of the highest, coldest and lonliest places for a train line to be in the UK. In 1947 a passenger train became stuck in the tunnel for several days during the winter snows and eventually the passengers had to be dug out by troops from Brecon.

The SAS also start their notorious Fan Dance at a point south of the southern portal where Torpantau station once stood.

HISTORY

Torpantau - also known as Beacons or Beacon Summit Tunnel - claimed the record for the highest tunnel on the UK's standard gauge network - 1,313 feet above sea level. Reached by a three-mile climb from the south, trains curved sharply right before leaving its darkness on a falling gradient towards Brecon.

The line through it opened for business in 1863 though construction work had finished the previous year. The Brecon and Merthyr Junction Railway (B&MJR) gained the unfortunate nickname of "Breakneck and Murder Railway" due to the number of accidents it suffered which, thanks to its steep gradients, were often severe. Neither was its reputation done any favours by the slowness of its trains. They ground to complete halt when the line shut up shop in 1964.

The structure has a masonry roof but the walls are laregly unlined. Occasional collars of brickwork have been installed for strengthening purposes. Though in generally good condition, the tunnel is now flooded by a stream at its northern end. This water course flows through the bore.

(From http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk)

Sparhawk from http://www.blackmountainsite.co.uk adds -

Torpantau tunnel is another abandoned tunnel on the route of the old line between Merthyr Tydfil and Brecon. I’d recommend it as a good first tunnel for two reasons, one, it’s situated in the beautiful Taf Fechan Valley, and the scenery here is worth a visit on its own, and two, it’s not that long or threatening (unlike Abernant) so if you’re a bit nervous or claustrophobic, it’s not too bad and will probably put you at ease in the future. It has the distinction of being the highest (above sea level) standard gauge train tunnel in the UK.

THE VISIT

1. The grade II listed southern portal from the flooded (and inassessable) cutting.


2. There you go then. Haven't a clue who owns it though.


3. The view back out and down the southern cutting.


4. Deeper into the tunnel and towards the northern portal. All sorts of brickwork are evident.


5. Previous visitors leave their mark. Smokey the Cat also visited Merthyr tunnel and left his mark there too !


6. Further down the tunnel.


7. Army games seem to be played in the tunnel. The message inside the lunch box gave instructions to go to another site.


8. A view back up the steep gradient looking south.


9. The northern portal appears.


10. The grade II listed northern portal.


11. The view that greeted driver and passengers on exiting the northern portal before the tain negotiaited the infamous 7 mile bank.


12. What remains today of Torpantau station.


Again, thanks for looking and again, any comments or advice more than welcome !TEXT

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