2022
SK0957 : Refuge inside Swainsley Tunnel
taken 4 years ago, near to Warslow, Staffordshire, England
Refuge inside Swainsley Tunnel
Refuges like this were built for railway workers to dodge into when a train passed through the tunnel. They are still needed for pedestrians to stay out of the way of motor vehicles. You can see the natural rock through which the tunnel is built.
Manifold Trail (provided by Chris Heaton)
Long Distance Footpath that starts at Manifold Head near the village of Flash, following the river downstream through Longnor, Brund, Hulme End, Ilam to its confluence with the River Dove - a distance of 23 miles.
Swainsley Tunnel The tunnel is 164 yards (150m) long and originallly carried the single track, 2ft 6in gauge Manifold Valley Light Railway from 1904-34. It was allegedly built at the insistence of Sir Thomas Wardle, a director of the company, so that the view from nearby Swainsley Hall should not be spoilt, although there may well have been good engineering reasons for taking this route in the narrow valley.
The tunnel is now part of the Manifold Way footpath and cycleway but is also open to road vehicles.
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