The St Ann's Hospital Railway Tunnels

Comment by Chris Barker on November 20, 2020 at 10:10

Intriguing but I'm not sure what you mean by 'tunnels' Hugh. I can't see them

Comment by Hugh on November 20, 2020 at 10:23

Chris, if you look again, you'll see three black scars showing this position of the tunnels. If you click on the tag under the photo, you'll find another image on this issue with five pages of comments and more links.

Comment by Gina O on November 21, 2020 at 16:26

We live on Oakdale and we tried hard to find the middle bridge in our neighbour's garden. We thought we could just about make out where it had been, but it wasn't clear. I've heard that you can see the nearest one from some of the Arena buildings. I've not seen it myself but would love to. Presumably British Rail or Network Rail would have filled them in with rubble or concrete at some point. It's hard to imagine that the tunnels could support the weight of the freight trains that go over them nowadays.

Comment by Gerry Newton on November 21, 2020 at 22:30

Hugh, they were not tunnels but bridges through the embankment. All have been filled in now. The last was back in 1974. The one closest to the corner of Warwick Gardens and Stanhope gardens.

Comment by Hugh on November 21, 2020 at 23:21

Gerry, it sounds like you have personal experience of the passages/tunnels. That souds interesting. Did you experience their being filled in personally?

When I googled a definition of tunnel, the first thing I got was:

an artificial underground passage, especially one built through a hill or under a building, road, or river.

At some point I’ll dig out a copy of a page from the early 20th century hospital management board minutes in which they refer to them as tunnels.

Either way, I'm not that fussed what exact word is used to describe them as long as it describes tunnel-like passages/ passage-like tunnels under the railway line. 

Comment by Gina O on November 22, 2020 at 19:59

I'd also be interested to hear about your personal experience of the tunnels, Gerry. Did you ever see them/walk through them? I wonder if there are any photos of them in use at any point.

Comment by Gina O on November 22, 2020 at 20:06

Hugh, If you zoom in on the photo you can see why they are called bridges. The embankment is scooped right out and the railway line seems to go over a small bridge. They were basically the same as the one that goes over Hermitage Road.

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