There's sommat in the tunnel...

Just noticed something odd about the avatar on my Flickr account - look closely in the tunnel and is that a person, a giant pair of eyes appear to be staring back at me. I've never seen that before... (The tunnel is the one under the Suspension Bridge in Bristol).

Hello...

Hello. I don't know if anyone ever actually views this blog - the stats suggest not. Perhaps I deserve it after deserting you all on Facebook, but after all the recent sh*t about that platform, I'm, not going back. Anyway, I'm still here, still being me, and still doing the odd bit of Exploring, but nothing out of the ordinary.

So, just thought I'd share this view of the OTHER railway tunnel in Colwall, Herefordshire, the small one on The Downs mini railway as it passes under Brockhill Road. Hopefully, normal service will be resumed with Exploring in the New Year. 

Serious question: does anyone think I should open a Twitter account?

Spot the difference?

For one moment, I thought they'd got the pictures of Boris and the goat back to front, ha ha!! Go on Boris – I might vote Labour (when it's NOT headed by that pr*ck Corbyn) but I'd love to see the country run by Boris, seriously!

Must remember to post that letter...

Spot the bus shelter ...

Yes, it's crap photo time again!!! And in today's picture I'm asking you to spot the bus shelter! Tucked away in a remote but picturesque corner of the Forest of Dean, is this quite well-used bus stop in Lower Lydbrook.

And, lurking under all that ivy, by the white 'X' is indeed the entrance to a brick-built bus shelter, so heavily colonised by ivy and cobwebs it's a miracle it's still there!

There's trouble on t'Moors...

No, it's not a thick early morning mist, but the smoke from the huge moor fire on Saddleworth Moor, near Stalybridge, in late June 2018. All around was a hot, clear day, with unbroken blue sky, but in the fire zone, this...

This was the scene on Wednesday (27th) on Buckton Vale Road, Carrbrook, as strong winds drove thick smoke down into the lower reaches of the area. Local advice was to stay indoors with your windows shut - what, in that heat!!

Further photos can be found on my Flickr at:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/midlandexplorerboy/albums/72157695312419882 

Thurgoland tunnels, in t'Pennines

The Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne & Manchester Railway is probably best known for not only crossing the Pennines but for the massive Woodhead tunnels. Other bores exist along the way and these are the south portals of the two at Thurgoland, a short distance NW of Sheffield.

The part-backfilled one in the foreground is Thurgoland Old, opening 1845, and 315 yards / 288 metres in length. In the 1930s, the decision was taken to electrify the Woodhead route, so a new bore was dug to the south, Thurgoland New, opening in 1948, the year of railway nationalisation.

New is slightly longer at 339 yards / 310 metres, and is concrete lined. The portals display two datestones to show the change of ownership that took lace during construction - started in 1947 by LNER, the tunnel opened under BR in 1948, thus two datestones (the 1947 one is visible in the background). New is open, lit and in use as part of the Trans Pennine Trail.

Greenside tunnel, Pudsey, Leeds

To the SW of Leeds, is a suburb called Pudsey. Nearby lies one of the many disused tunnels in West Yorkshire, Greenside, aka Pudsey. This is its west portal at SE2127032630, locked, protected and smothered in anti-climb grease (nasty)!!

At 618 yards (565 metres), it's one of the shorter ones in the region (think Gildersome, Woodhead, etc). Built for the Great Northern, it was in use from 1893 to 1964. The east portal is in danger of being buried by spoil from a nearby building site – photo may follow.

To the west of the portal, lies one of the highest railway embankments in England, as the railway crossed Tyersal Beck - it's nigh on 110 feet high!

Distant skyscrapers...

Staying with the crap photo theme... here's the latest, of a panorama of the Manchester skyline (as seen from West Gorton) with its forest of cranes, as the city continues to regenerate itself - and grow taller.

The two under-construction tower blocks to the left (in Castlefields) will soon be the tallest in the city, even taller than Bentham's Tower, though plans for even taller blocks are under consideration, of up to 53, or even 75 storeys. Think of the view...

Distant turrets...

Staying on the crap photos theme...

Was out and about on the Bank Holiday yesterday and was in the area immediately to the east of Broadway, Worcs, so here is the world's worst photo of Broadway Tower, as seen from across a field of rape off the A44 in Gloucestershire! I know...

Just for reference, the Tower is the sticky-up thing in the gap in the trees...

Farleigh Down tunnel

OMG - I finally did some Exploring, albeit slightly unplanned...

Was in Bath yesterday, so popped out to the old WW2 tunnel at Farleigh Down, the old weapons conveyor system. Not dressed for it, nor with the right equipment, so here is potentially the worst photo you'll ever see of the tunnel (no tripod, wrong torch, etc!!!)

Walked right up to the 'join', where the cut & cover section meets the dug part. I then returned to the transit shed, only to meet a large group of 10 or more youths about to go in for a party, or sommat! Tut...

One day, I WILL do this tunnel properly, but of the five visits there since 2010, I've always either been disturbed, not had enough time, or it was a flying visit. Oh, do get organised...

Not another one...

Just when you thought it was safe to view my blog again (if anyone does), here's another photo of a 'ghost' - this is the fabulously derelict Gwrych Castle at Abergele, North Wales, an amazing ruin that's actually for sale.

But, what's THAT in the extreme left hand window...

(Screenshot from North Wales Daily Post website)

Dumped...

Message to flytippers...

Dumping rubbish in the countryside makes you a c-word, yes, a complete lady-garden! Next time, why not consider recycling it, or giving good stuff to a charity shop. Consider the fact that someone else might be able to use your rubbish, or if you're gypos, use it as firewood! Maybe you'd consider giving me some shelving units, as I could sure do with them.

Hell, maybe even take it to a registered council RUBBISH DUMP!!!

Dumping rubbish in farmers fields (or anywhere) is just NOT acceptable. SCUM!

(This example was found off the A44, at Oxfords' Loop Farm Roundabout)

Greetings...

Hello.

Been having a quiet month, still in winter hibernation mode, but gearing up for Spring (whenever the hell that's gonna arrive!).

Just thought I'd share this pic of a hopeful snowman on Worcester's Bath Road during the now-long-forgotten blizzards of last week (yes, it DID snow, it wasn't imagination, yes, it's all gone).

Hopefully soon normal Urbex service will be resumed...

Oh, I SAY!!

Have you ever met a man who'd not like to be Maintaining Manlier Throb?? Well, I might just be able to help you...

For those of you who know me, you know I have a dry, acid but broad SOH, liking nothing better than a good double entendre or slightly smutty joke, therefore it's no surprise to find I like things like this, the national rail anagram map. Someone has taken all the railway station names on the national network and turned them into anagrams. Neat, eh?

Find a copy at www.projectmapping.co.uk or follow this link.

Enjoy!

The latest fight...

A few years ago, when I was on Facebook, I appeared to upset some of my followers by showing my distant support for some eco-warriors who were being threatened with eviction from Yorkley Court Farm in the Forest of Dean. I lost several 'likes' and the eco-warriors were later evicted, at great cost to the taxpayer & Gloucestershire Police.

The landowner is Brian Bennett, a nasty piece of work from Harrow Hill (?) in FoD. Since he cleared the 'hippies' from his land, he's been in countless troubles with the council and has upset the locals by blocking footpaths, wrecking a listed building and now this, this desecration of farmland for a motocross course.

The man and his companies and his attitude and his business ventures are SCUM - the Forest of Dean does not need a person like this! I am a native of Gloucestershire and hate to see the county I love being destroyed. While there may be a place for an activity like this, done legally and with planning permission, mature, historic farmland near a quiet village is NOT it!

Read all about it here and search for previous issues, and you'll see just the kind of man he is!

Just mentioning it, is all, not asking for the plebs to rise up, just sharing my views, that's all.