Stodhart Tunnel is a 100-yard (91 m) tunnel on the Peak Forest Tramway at Chapel Milton, Derbyshire. The tunnel stretches under the Chapel-en-le-Firth to Glossop Road. Although one side has been blocked up, it remains one of the oldest rail-related tunnels in the world and was also the site of one of the earliest rail-related accidents, when a laden carriage rolled into two horses, killing them.
The tunnel was built in 1796 for the Peak Forest Tramway. Designed by Benjamin Outram, it was built out of gritstone with ashlarcoping.[1] Originally considered as an open cutting, it was designed in the style of canal tunnels, so as to not disturb the owners of the nearby Stodhart Lodge.[2] It ran for about 100 yards (91 m)[3] under the road between Chapel-en-le-Frith and Glossop, as a single track route. It remained a single-track route when the rest of the tramway was doubled, becoming a bottleneck on the line.[4] The tunnel is also the site of one of the earliest railway accidents: six laden wagons broke free from their horses and rolled back into a following team, killing both horses and injuring an apprentice.
One side of the tunnel was filled in during road realignment in 1949, so it is only accessible from the other side. The tunnel was designated a grade II* listed building on 3 September 1985[1] and is on the Buildings at Risk Register.[5] From the 1950s part of the tunnel and about 1⁄2 mi (0.80 km) of track was tar sealed and used to test Ferodo brakes. The tunnel was used to test the effect of humidity on brakes.[3] Until May 2013, it was considered to be the earliest rail-related tunnel in the world, but is now believed to be pre-dated by Fritchley Tunnel on the Butterley Gangroad at Fritchley, also in Derbyshire.[6]
^Whitehead, Peter J (2003–2011). "Stodhart Tunnel, Chapel Milton, High Peak". The Industrial Heritage of Britain. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
^ abClowes, Peter (September 1963). "The Peak Forest Limestone Tramway". Railway Magazine. pp. 611–617.
^Nicholson, Christopher; Barnes, Peter (2020). Railways in the Peak District: A History (illustrated ed.). Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN9781445693859.
^"Stodhart Tunnel, Hayfield Road, Chapel-en-le-Frith – High Peak". Heritage at Risk Register. Historic England. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
^"Archaeologists find 'world's oldest railway tunnel' in Derbyshire". BBC News. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
stodhart, tunnel, yard, tunnel, peak, forest, tramway, chapel, milton, derbyshire, tunnel, stretches, under, chapel, firth, glossop, road, although, side, been, blocked, remains, oldest, rail, related, tunnels, world, also, site, earliest, rail, related, accid. Stodhart Tunnel is a 100 yard 91 m tunnel on the Peak Forest Tramway at Chapel Milton Derbyshire The tunnel stretches under the Chapel en le Firth to Glossop Road Although one side has been blocked up it remains one of the oldest rail related tunnels in the world and was also the site of one of the earliest rail related accidents when a laden carriage rolled into two horses killing them Stodhart TunnelStodhart Tunnel portal in 2012LocationChapel Milton Derbyshire EnglandCoordinates53 19 55 N 1 55 01 W 53 332 N 1 917 W 53 332 1 917OS grid referenceSK0588081490Built1796ArchitectBenjamin OutramLocation of Stodhart Tunnel in DerbyshireListed Building Grade II Official nameStodhart TunnelDesignated3 September 1985Reference no 1334843History editThe tunnel was built in 1796 for the Peak Forest Tramway Designed by Benjamin Outram it was built out of gritstone with ashlar coping 1 Originally considered as an open cutting it was designed in the style of canal tunnels so as to not disturb the owners of the nearby Stodhart Lodge 2 It ran for about 100 yards 91 m 3 under the road between Chapel en le Frith and Glossop as a single track route It remained a single track route when the rest of the tramway was doubled becoming a bottleneck on the line 4 The tunnel is also the site of one of the earliest railway accidents six laden wagons broke free from their horses and rolled back into a following team killing both horses and injuring an apprentice One side of the tunnel was filled in during road realignment in 1949 so it is only accessible from the other side The tunnel was designated a grade II listed building on 3 September 1985 1 and is on the Buildings at Risk Register 5 From the 1950s part of the tunnel and about 1 2 mi 0 80 km of track was tar sealed and used to test Ferodo brakes The tunnel was used to test the effect of humidity on brakes 3 Until May 2013 it was considered to be the earliest rail related tunnel in the world but is now believed to be pre dated by Fritchley Tunnel on the Butterley Gangroad at Fritchley also in Derbyshire 6 References edit a b Historic England Stodhart Tunnel Grade II 1334843 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 21 October 2018 Whitehead Peter J 2003 2011 Stodhart Tunnel Chapel Milton High Peak The Industrial Heritage of Britain Retrieved 27 October 2011 a b Clowes Peter September 1963 The Peak Forest Limestone Tramway Railway Magazine pp 611 617 Nicholson Christopher Barnes Peter 2020 Railways in the Peak District A History illustrated ed Amberley Publishing Limited ISBN 9781445693859 Stodhart Tunnel Hayfield Road Chapel en le Frith High Peak Heritage at Risk Register Historic England Retrieved 21 October 2018 Archaeologists find world s oldest railway tunnel in Derbyshire BBC News 1 May 2013 Retrieved 21 October 2018 53 19 55 N 1 55 01 W 53 332 N 1 917 W 53 332 1 917 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stodhart Tunnel amp oldid 1171474692, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
