Clay Cross Tunnel

Clay Cross Tunnel
An East Midlands Trains Meridian service leaving the tunnel
Overview
LineMidland Main Line
LocationClay Cross, Derbyshire
Coordinates53°09′49″N 1°24′55″W / 53.16359°N 1.41514°W / 53.16359; -1.41514
Operation
Work begun2 February 1837 (1837-02-02)
Opened18 December 1839 (1839-12-18)
OwnerNetwork Rail
Technical
Design engineerGeorge Stephenson
Length1,784 yards (1,631 m)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
The northern portal of Clay Cross Tunnel

Clay Cross Tunnel is a 1,784 yards (1,631 m) tunnel on the Midland Main Line line near Clay Cross in Derbyshire, England.[1] It was the most substantial single civil engineering feature present on the North Midland Railway and was one of the more ambitious railway tunnels to be built during the early development of Britain's railway network.[2]

Built to a design produced by the pioneering railway engineers George Stephenson and Robert Stephenson, the tunnel was constructed between February 1837 and August 1839 at a total cost of £105,460.[2] Mid-way through the tunnel's excavation, the alignment had to be changed due to previously undiscovered seams of coal as well as iron ore; their presence led to the creation of a neighbouring colliery and iron works by George Stephenson. Many elements of the tunnel, such as the Grade II listed portals, have remained unaltered since their completion.[2]

  1. ^ Labrum, Edward A (1994). Civil Engineering Heritage. Eastern and Central England. Thomas Telford House, 1 Heron Quay, London E14 4JD: Thomas Telford Ltd (for the Institution of Civil Engineers). p. 24. ISBN 072771970X.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference heritage engsouth was invoked but never defined (see the help page).