History

Mapperley Tunnel is a 1,132-yard-long tunnel, built for the Derbyshire and Staffordshire Extension of the Great Northern Railway. This line ran from Colwick Junction in Nottingham to Egginton Junction in South Derbyshire. The route planned took the line through Mapperley via the Mapperley Tunnel built to avoid attempting to get the railway over the ridge. The tunnel was in use by 1875 but suffered a roof collapse due to mining subsidence on 23 January 1925.



A length of roof about 12 yards long collapsed blocking the line with approximately 150 tons of rubble. Whilst repairs were undertaken traffic was diverted along the Nottingham Suburban Railway. The tunnel was repaired but the continuing effects of subsidence resulted in speed restrictions in the 1950s and closure on 4 April 1960. The Eastern Portal is still open and accessible and the tunnel itself is open to a point just West of the second air shaft (counting from the East). Beyond the second air shaft the tunnel has been filled with earth.

Explore

I came here back in November 2012 with a mate, with cheap torches and cameras, didn't even have tripods. This time round, I was much better equipped for the task in hand.

One thing I had forgotten about Mapperley was how muddy it is. We got caked up, some more than others. After battling our way through the mud and foliage for what seemed forever, we were there. I found it quite nostalgic, considering four years ago I started exploring with tunnels, but haven't been down one for over a year(ish).

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Next to this airshaft, topside, there's a house. This is the result of the builders throwing the rubbish down said airshaft.

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Cheers for Looking