Geograph - photograph every grid square

Standing alone now, surrounded by a crop of oilseed rape, this is a ventilation shaft for one of the two Kelmarsh tunnels on the former Northampton - Market Harborough railway line, which opened in 1859 and closed in 1960. The line was single track at first and was later doubled, a new tunnel being created parallel with the original one, as happened at Great Oxendon. Kelmarsh tunnels were 322 yards long and like Great Oxendon there was very little room in the bores, leading train drivers to call them 'rat holes'. The Brampton Valley Way, a cycle and walkway from Northampton to Market Harborough, now occupies the route of the former railway. It passes through tunnels at Kelmarsh and Oxendon and both of these are unlit, so you will need a torch if you are on foot. The bore shown is said to be dangerous and should not be entered, although the Victorians built many structures which still stand firm even today, outlasting some more recent ones. Time photo taken 12.41 pm BST (British Summer Time).

SP7479 : Brampton Valley Way over not through 1 - Kelmarsh, Northamptonshire SP7479 : Brampton Valley Way over not through 2 - Kelmarsh, Northamptonshire