The First Severn Tunnel Failure
Ойын-сауық
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We hope you enjoyed this weeks Abandoned Tunnel Story, judging by what great condition the Bullo Pill Tunnel is in today, its a shame this never quite made the trip under the severn.
Credit and Thanks:
Severn Trow: C.Catton (Own work CC 2.0)
Source of information: Largely Keith Walker via various news articles.
Red Lion: www.redlionarlingham.co.uk/
Maps: Google Maps Base overlay
Maps: National Library of Scotland
If you would like to know a little more about what we do please do check out the following links:
/ everydisusedstation
www.paulwhitewick.co.uk
Пікірлер: 204
For NordVPN’s birthday, every purchase of a 2-year plan will get you 1 additional month free AND a surprise gift. Go to NordVPN.com/thewhitewicks and use code "thewhitewicks"
@ScienceChap
3 жыл бұрын
Not impressed with Nord VPN. When I activate it, Netflix stops working.
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
@@ScienceChap that's one of the biggest reasons we use it, so probably worth contacting a help desk. Works a dream for us.
@ScienceChap
3 жыл бұрын
@@pwhitewick Noted. I'll have a play with it perhaps...
@petertrevena804
3 жыл бұрын
Still have a year to go on Sufshark.
@samueldeakin2902
3 жыл бұрын
I've always used Private internet access PIA.. I love it
Fun story about the Severn tunnel When my grandad was at school, they went on a school trip to Bristol zoo by rail. As the train went into the tunnel, one of his mates bet him sixpence that he wasn't brave enough to pull the emergency chain. The train came to a stop at the bottom of the tunnel, and due to the slope going in both directions, it was unable to get going again. Another engine had to be brought into the tunnel from the English side and assist, rocking the train backwards and forwards until it was able to get enough speed up to make it out of the tunnel again. By the time they got to Bristol, the zoo was closed and they had to just turn round and head for home again
@tardismole
3 жыл бұрын
The best story ever.
@kal9001
3 жыл бұрын
And on the way back the chain was pulled again lol.
@neilbain8736
3 жыл бұрын
Possibly the best 40 bob fine earned had they ever been caught!
@mickd6942
3 жыл бұрын
Bless them the little scallywags, kid knew how to have fun in those days
@chriszanf
3 жыл бұрын
@@mickd6942 Because they were high from all the asbestos they were eating
Love the shot at 2:44 showing the outside turns of the combine harvesters
Very interesting as usual,didn’t know anything about that tunnel, well done, thanks
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Cheers Stephen. I was news to us that it was the same guy who built the Bullo Pill.
That's the southern bridge at Bullington village that crosses the road and the River Dever. And that telegraph pole that still stands as a reminder. Great video by the way about the first tunnel under the Severn. That I didn't know. Many thanks again, you two.
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Well spotted Sir. Much appreciated
Hi Paul and Rebecca, another very interesting video about tunnels, I recently discovered an interesting fact about Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s famous Box Hill Tunnel, that on his birthday every year when the sun rises it shines directly through the entire tunnel..!!!
@nigelprice3929
3 жыл бұрын
You need to have a look on one of their other videos Peter. Might not be true
@2H80vids
3 жыл бұрын
I'm sure I've read somewhere that this is no longer true. I'm pretty sure it 𝒘𝒂𝒔 true but something may have changed ~ leap years maybe, or something similar?
What an interesting clip! Worth a sub on this alone. Well filmed, edited and the enthusiasm of both of you shines through.
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Welcome to the channel. We've a biiiig back catalogue
That was fascinating, your enthusiasm for history and your presenting skills are a pleasure to watch, thanks a lot 👍
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you. Very kind
Brilliant, well presented and illustrated throughout.
Another fantastic video. That tunnel was quite lovely and so was the history. Thanks so much for taking me along. Please stay safe and take care
As soon as you said "What could possibly go wrong?" My WiFi connection went and you started buffering! lol
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Noooooooooo
Really enjoy your videos. Also it’s great to see how well your videos are put together and seeing progression of your editing and video construction.
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you. Very kind.
Thanks for another very interesting video! I really enjoyed it and as usual you both made it really interesting and informative. Thanks again Paul and Rebecca.
As always, a most interesting video. Thanks so much, both of you.
The Red Lion at Arlingham is one of my favourite pubs!
That was interesting. It would seem the technology of the day didn't match their ambitions. Can't knock them for trying though.
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Cheers Carl, yup absolutely that!
hi paul and rebecca , really interesting video again , loved the bit at the end lol , well done and thank you :)
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Cheers Davie.
That was short and sweet. I was just getting into the video and it ended! Bugger.
Fascinating story. Super video too. Thanks for posting it
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Cheers Michael.
Nice story and didn't knew about the first Seven Tunnel but did knew about the Seven Tunnel that still stands today.
That was brilliant! I love it when I discover something I know little about, but it is even better when it is all new! 😀 Fascinating- and indeed very sad- tale...and many thanks for ensuring I am now aware of it! 👍👏 🍀
Another fascinating gem from you. I had never heard of this tunnel before.
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Cheers Mervyn, we knew about it but had no idea how it was related to Bullo Pill.
I've lived in sub tropical Dursley all all my life thus far and never knew a tunnel was attempted there. There's a pub called the passage which is much closer to the severn at Arlingham than the Red Lion.. It's mad that if your over at Newnham , and you want to get back to Dursley, you have to drive for 42 mins at least as you have to drive up to Gloucester and come back down as there are no crossings near enough at that point. If you could get across the severn from Newnam to Arlingham, it would take 15 mins. Thanks for that short yet informative video.
Thanks to you both for another interesting (railway) vid, and about a partly built tunnel I knew nothing about!
Nice one seeing both I remember my College teachers,since they always showed me the correct path.
Always with the facts and interesting stories you two!
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you Scott
Fascinating! I had no idea there had been another. An idea before its time bolstered by inadequate technology and geological data, perhaps.The current tunnel had quite a few difficulties too. One breach was actually sealed from above at low tide- there is a 45 foot tidal range at Clevedon Pier- second only to The Bay of Fundy ( in Canada between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia ).
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
I'm learning a lot from the comments alone here
That's a fascinating story, i knew nothing about this tunnel. Water is a huge issue in the Severn rail tunnel of today. The pumps must be working overtime 24/7 to keep it dry.
Absolutely no previous knowledge of any of this, so thank you! Really interesting, I need to find out more!
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Fascinating little story isn't it
@malcolmsmith6615
3 жыл бұрын
@@pwhitewickEverything about it is fascinating, including the tramway in general. I don’t know why this is not widely known, because it ought to be!
@chatteyj
3 жыл бұрын
@@malcolmsmith6615 It could be a hollywood movie or at least a quirky feel good (or not so good) bbc movie
& I thought with that intro & the linking of arms, we were going to follow the yellow brick road 🤣 Alas
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
You know if we would have thought of that......
I love your tunnel videos. Probably because I have been through quite a few in my boat
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
You need to take me through one, one day soon. (That sounded weird as I typed.... ).
@TrevsTravelsByNarrowboat
3 жыл бұрын
@@pwhitewick This will sound weird too. We must make that a dare! We just need to get back to some sort of normality and we can pick a tunnel. I do intend to head north, so Harecastle tunnel will be on my agenda
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
@@TrevsTravelsByNarrowboat we are game.... most definitely
@TrevsTravelsByNarrowboat
3 жыл бұрын
@@pwhitewick I have sent you a request on facebook as Trevor Travels IM is a little more private to discuss plans in the future
As always excellent video. There have been a few attempts at building a crossing over the Severn below Gloucester. Have a look at the Enock Williams pontoon bridge, at Newnham, and not too far from this tunnel. Enock Williams was the owner of the Aust to Beachley Ferry’s, another story in its own right.
I 've worked on many modern long tunnels and how they did it back then absolutely baffles me.
If you go looking for it, the Red Lion in Arlington is a brilliant pub, we don't live far from there and it's always done great food. I hope it survives post-covid.
@stephengurr3731
3 жыл бұрын
Arlingham, not Arlington
Great video, lovely couple... Subscribed!
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you Chris
While constructing the CEGB tunnel under the Severn and Wye rivers, we hit water twice on the Severn section. Two rock diggers were purchased but proved too slow, one started a Aust towards Beachley and the other Beachley under the Wye. It make up time the drill and blast was used to meet up with the machines. One firing left an outcrop that would interfere with the precast lining, so it was drill and a half stick pop round used, well this found a fissure. A steel plate was fixed over it to control the spray of water and the lining progressed past it. Once suffient lining had past the leak was grouted up with success. Friday night the drillers would drill 3 holes forward to prove the ground for the next weeks work, the drill shot forward into a void and when detached from the air drill the drill length shot out into the tunnel with the high water pressure. The miners managed to inert a cut off valve into the drill hole and for the next 10 days grout was pumped into the void. Water was always a problem the pump out rate at the Beachley shaft was 1800 gals per min during excavation. On completion of the lining it was 50 gals per week from the entire tunnel length.
@TheByard
3 жыл бұрын
@Ian Concannon We pump in a thin grout first to fill the crevasses and then thicken it up to fill the void. The thick one would be 10 x 1cwt bag to 25 gals water. The other would be the Paddy mix. IE: Some to plenty.
Great work and very close to my Home
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you. We actually covered the Bullo Pill line so this fitted nicely
Thanks again always a interesting videos thank you so much from NZ
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Terry
Top stuff guys..
This reminds me, I meant to mention it before, you should do a video of Adelina Patti. She was the first passenger through the Severn Tunnel (although she didn't plan to be) and had her own station built at Penwyllt so she could travel by train without having to ride to Cray station. The story works well with Rebecca's channel theme of famous women too - a win win 👍
@Microtherion
3 жыл бұрын
Her own train-station. That's a diva, huh? :)
Very interesting tale. The Great Western tunnel was delayed because the Great Spring broke, must have been a clockwork train ;)
@christophernewman5027
3 жыл бұрын
Daaaaad! 😂
Wow, I lived 13 miles from Cinderford for more than 10 years and visited the Forest of Dean frequently; my father was also interested in industrial archeology, and yet I had never heard of the Bullo Pill tramway, nor the earlier attempt at tunneling under the river Severn, before today!
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
The Bullo Pill line makes for some wonderful walks.
Gday Paul and Rebecca love the video and history.
So... What did the researcher find out? Why was the man and his wife shot? What happened next? You left us in suspenders.
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Wellllll..... thats where the story ends we don't really know. We assume that the the investors lost so much money which kicked off a recession.... Tippings name was not popular.
@tardismole
3 жыл бұрын
@@pwhitewick Such a shame. And not entirely fair to Tippings.
... and that's how Rebecca will be remembered... as the hoarder of the m and m's
Enjoyed that interesting story from the shire l am sure local industrial archaeology group did a full survey of the the remains on the banks of the severn. Also it was on the channel 4 documentary Britain at low tide.
Fascinating stuff - thanks for this fascinating factoid - I’m now going to annoy my family with this new found tunnelling facts! 😆
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
We looooove a good factoid
You should make a video about the passage at Newnham. People claim to have walked across at low tide.
".. links in the dooblydoo below..." where have I heard that before... ;-D
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Vlog brothers.... 🤪
My old friend Lucy Swainson used to run the Red Lion ar arlingham
Have to investigate the Isle of Wight tunnel that was stated to be dug in the new forest
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Yup on the cards I feel. Lymington side, right!?
£20,000 in 1805 England is equivalent to about £1.7 million in 2021. Not to be sneezed at!
@highdownmartin
3 жыл бұрын
Barely enough to make it worthwhile tendering for that PPE contract!
@twotone3070
3 жыл бұрын
Easily within the reach of a CEO bonus though.
Excellent video guys 🙂🍻🥂👍🏻
I tend to assume all the engineering works were instigated by the railway building after the S&DR. And I know I’m wrong because of the canal building and little tramway enterprises like this one. Fascinating. Thanks.
Yippee I've done it, I've caught up with all your fantastic video's. I now need to finish catching up with Rebecca's Nest!
Interesting story, Don't think I've heard about that before.
Very interesting and nicely presented as usual. Just a thought.... TV news tonight did a brief piece about old railway lines that people are planning to try and get re-opened. Maybe this could be a new line of material for you? don't know? just an idea....
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Cheers Robin. Appreciated. Lots of plans in the making.
The red lion is in Arlingham NOT Arlington. I'm not usually that fussed but I'm a local.
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Yup, we messed that bit up!....
Very interesting video about an early attempt to build under the seven. Luckily all the navvies managed to get out!!😎🚂🚃🚃🇬🇧
A very interesting video, Well done....🙂👍🏼👍🏼
Poor Paul. All that work and no M&Ms for him. 🍭🤣
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
YES!!!
Great!!! Fascinating information, I never knew about this tunnel. P.S. I like "M&M's" too ☺
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Me too.... that was completely the issue
@dilwyn1
3 жыл бұрын
@@pwhitewick LOL!!
I's good to hear about my tunnel
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Indeed I suspect it is Edmund!
Interesting as ever. Is that Keith Walker from Bristol? I know of someone here in Horfield with that name.
What about getting time team to sort it,that kink in the roman road
What tunnel is pictured at 4:52?
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Thats the Bullo Pill Tunnel that Tipping originally built in 1810 as a tramroad tunnel. Longest in the world!
Rebecca, try the dark chocolate M&M's. And buy enough for Paul, they are the best!
@2H80vids
3 жыл бұрын
Ooooh, they sound good ~ never heard of 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘 ones.👍
Great now I want some m&m's! 😋🤣
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
So good!
My home town of cinderford is mentioned 😊
Another greta video both ! who knew Rebecca is a secret sweet eater !.... I have one of those in my house !
@hubertvancalenbergh9022
3 жыл бұрын
I for one wouldn't mind reveling in Rebecca's delights. 😆 For the sake of clarity, I mean those of the Quality Street variety.
Local to me, worth a mooch!
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Go careful near the edge!
@monkehbitch
3 жыл бұрын
@@pwhitewick driving the 48 for years, I've seen that depression on the bank and wondered what it was. I've taken a few break times at bullo, there was an old boat at one of those pills. Never had time to approach people to see if I could look.
Great and so interesting. Thank you for that. I like m and ms too.
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Tasty right
would you share your last rolo/m&m NO!!
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Erm.... ok OK you got me. No
Paul (or Rebecca :) ), just an item of curiosity from a non-British viewer. Who actually owns these old abandoned railroad right of ways? From the drone shots overhead, that's quite a fair bit of land left to go wild on this one. Thank you!
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Thats a massive question we shall be address one day very soon
@vburke1
3 жыл бұрын
@@pwhitewick Thank you!
@mrlister2000
3 жыл бұрын
The trackbed remains within the ownership of the Highways Agency Historical Railways Estate. until it is sold off. The same applies to structures, which are still being examined by the way. Old railway trackbeds are retained until the DfT decide that there is no need for them, after which they can be/are sold. Ingress onto old track formations frequently happens and because there is no-one actively managing the former property little if anything is done about it. If someone uses land for a period of time without the land owner objecting (10 years I seem to recall), then ownership of that passes to the person occupying or using the land. Also, councils can own former trackbeds and convert them to cycle or walkways. By doing this it means that in the future if they want to, they can reinstate the line with the minimum of fuss!
@mileswilkins2849
3 жыл бұрын
@@mrlister2000 The BRBR was abolished in 2013 - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRB_(Residuary)_Limited. Most of the legacy property is now owned by the Highways Agency Historical Railways Estate.
@neilbain8736
3 жыл бұрын
@@mrlister2000 This happened to the Bathgate - Airdrie cyclepath that was on the old trackbed of one of the Edinburgh to Glasgow routes. The railway was reinstated in 2012.
Very good 🙂🚂🚂🚂
Loved the outtake. Did either of the Tipping survive the shooting? Whodunnit?
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Both survived apparently
I am suprised you got away with using the word 'sod' (sod cut) as I was warned by KZread about using the phrase 'dicky birds'.
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Very good point David. I did consider rephrasing
@mrlister2000
3 жыл бұрын
They pulled you up over the word sod, yet I watch other videos were people swear their heads off and these are allowed?
@neilbain8736
3 жыл бұрын
Not to mention certain British towns.
A doo-bee-doo is a mop.
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
What about a dooblee doo
Thank you, very interesting. I've just discovered your channel and have subscribed. Rebecca - please share your sweeties next time 😉😊🚂
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Welcome Ian
ArlingHAM!! NOT ArlingTON!! ArlingHAM!!! First time our lovely little village has been mentioned on KZread and you get the name wrong! Public apology please! (Love the videos BTW)
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
I know!!.... sincerest apologies offered. 🤪
@sloth_bristol9504
3 жыл бұрын
Was just going to reply to say 'Arlingham' but was beaten to it. I have friends who live there and used to run The Old Passage Inn which is actually on the banks of the Severn where a ferry used to run across to Newnham, almost over the place where it seems the tunnel was going to be. Didn't know anything about the tunnel until your video so thanks (even if you got the place name wrong!
@keithstannard2872
3 жыл бұрын
@@pwhitewick Only joshing - think your videos are great! You should come and try the Rd Lion when lockdown finally comes to an end.
Cool
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks
Is a doobledoo the same as a whatchamacallit and a thingamajig??
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Nooooooo. A whatchamacallit is tangible... surely?.... a doobledoo is more.... erm..... well.... non tangible. I guess.
@paintedpilgrim
3 жыл бұрын
@@pwhitewick so how do you explain a thingamjig? 😅🤣
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Hmmmmm.... neither or until you open the box
Seriously... does Rebecca only have one pair of trousers?!
So the builder of the failed tunnel was shot five times and his wife once? Did they survive? Was the shooter hung? More please!
But they did build a Forth tunnel in 1964 ;)
nords been hacked so many times . even nord doesnt know any more.
Roood.
'Longest tunnel in the wowld.'. lol
😀
Quite funny, clicked on the link to Nordvpn safari could not open it and google chrome said this site could not provide a secure connection.😀😂
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Works a dream for us on Safari
@jonny7491
3 жыл бұрын
@@pwhitewick Well not for me, perhaps there’s something wrong with the your link.
Very rude not sharing ur sweets, I'm sure the present tunnel in use was the 3rd if not 4th attempt, I could be wrong but didn't they try do go through at sudbrook or blackrock p.s. have you seen james fox ghost train green park to templecombe or barntaple to Ilfracombe, i think you'd like them.
hang on did i miss something?? feels like half a video not nasty or anything maybe because of covid
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Just a short one this week indeed. We are staying local untill the end of March so a tad short on content!
Can you imagine opening your door and getting shot five times , yes that will teach him to post hurty words on ye olde Facebook lol
From this video it isn't very clear as to what you found what remains or doesn't on site of the actual first tunnel - surely not the tunnel you walked thru...
M&M`s rude..
LOL. The last quarter of the video is advertising junk.
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Lolzzzzzz
That was quite a confused presentation. You show all sorts of scenes without telling us what they were, the tunnel you showed was clearly not the tunnel in question and only the drawn maps explained much.
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
Owing to nationwide lockdown Ted, we have to tell stories locally. So every backdrop you saw was just that, a generic local location. Hopefully the story flowed though.
Tunnel construction is boring.
@iamcanalboy
3 жыл бұрын
Bridge construction is riveting etc. etc.
@henrybest4057
3 жыл бұрын
I'm sorry that you can't dig it.
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
.....thud
;
What happened to the Covid lockdown rules ?
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
What seems to be the problem Ian?
@ianlitchfield9273
3 жыл бұрын
@@pwhitewick Just asking
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
@@ianlitchfield9273 ok well the Lockdown rules are still in place u til the 29th March 2021 when they start easing. Does that answer you question? 👍
@justvin7214
3 жыл бұрын
You can travel for work - which a lot of people do. Filming this video comes under that criteria and I'm sure covid rules were complied with during it.
@pwhitewick
3 жыл бұрын
@@justvin7214 www.paulwhitewick.co.uk/Safe.html