Carr Brook, Sheffield

History

A short culverted section of the Carr Brook under Darnall, Sheffied, with an adjoining CSO and processor room.

Esoteric Eric

Interzone, Sheffield

History

The Bagley Dike rises in a valley in Longley Park and flows on the surface for a short distance before going underground via a man made culvert built in the 1930s to keep the dike away from the old open air swimming pool.

 

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longley_Park

 

Esoteric Eric

 

 

Thurgoland Tunnel, Sheffield

History

Thurgoland Tunnel is a double-bore abandoned railway tunnel between Penistone and Wortley. Its total length is 924 feet (282 m). The original tunnel, a single bore carrying two tracks, was opened in 1845 on the Sheffield, Ashton-Under-Lyne and Manchester Railway between Manchester Store Street and Sheffield.

 

It is characterised by a curve of 60 chains (4,000 ft; 1,200 m) radius on a falling gradient of 1 in 131. Due to the difficulties in laying the original tunnel out, it consists of a series of straight sections in a series of erratic curves varying in radius from 100 to 20 chains (6,600 to 1,300 ft; 2,010 to 400 m). Maximum clearance was only obtained by reducing the normal six-foot spacing between the tracks.

 

Because of the clearance problems the original construction caused for the planned LNER electrification, and because opening-out was deemed too expensive, in 1948 a second single-line tunnel was built for the up line and the old tunnel was converted to carry only the down line. As this project was begun in 1947 just before railway nationalisation (British Railways), each of the up tunnel portals host twin dates, with "LNER 1947" inscribed in the central parapet panel at the top of the portals and "BR 1948" below in the keystone. Due to the anticipated interim period of steam working before Woodhead New Tunnel was completed, a cast-iron smokeplate lined the roof of the tunnel to protect the concrete lining. Electric working commenced in 1954 and ceased in 1981.

 

The tunnels ceased to carry trains in 1983 when the local Sheffield–Huddersfield train service was diverted via Barnsley.

 

The up tunnel, being much newer, has been re-utilised for a walking trail, whilst the down bore has been blocked off.

 

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurgoland_Tunnel

 

Esoteric Eric

 

 

Silica Bricks Ganister Mine, Sheffield

History

Ganister (or Gannister) was mined for its use in the manufacture of silica bricks (often called 'refractories'; materials that maintain strength at high temperatures), used to line industrial furnaces. For a short period of time in the late 1800s - mid 1900s, Ganister mining was a significant industry in parts of Sheffield.

Located in woodland to the North of the city, this particular mine was likely to have been owned by the Silica Fire Brick company, who had a factory nearby in Oughtibridge. The mine was part of a large complex of mines located in the area, on the west facing slope of the Don Valley. The relative height of the mines in these woods allowed gravity to be used to help transport produce to the railway below.

 

Source:

https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/silica-bricks-ganister-mine-sheffield-november-2017.t110733

 

Esoteric Eric

 

 

RAF Coningsby Bomb Dump, Lincolnshire

History

When the Tornado F3 went out of service, the RAF had planned to shut the bomb dump temporarily until the Typhoon came into service - and then it would be re-opened. In that interim period metal thieves caused so much damage from the removal of copper from the lightning protection system (LPS), that it was more cost effective for the RAF to build a brand new facility rather than repair the old.

 

Source:

http://www.oblivionstate.com/forum/topic/11971-raf-coningsby-weapons-store-october-2017/

 

Esoteric Eric