Devonport Park Disused Railway Tunnel

Date:

23 Dec 09

Party:

Big Dave, Dave W, Dave J, Rupert, Neil, Margot, & Colin

Photos: 

Big Dave

In Brief:

Our last underground trip before Christmas saw us gathering on a freezing cold night to make a fairly straightforward trip into disused railway tunnels under Devonport. With us we had some goodies such as whiskey, home brew and mince pies. 

When the Southern Railway arrived in Plymouth from the Tavistock direction it shared the Great Western mainline from St Budeaux through to Plymouth North Road. It soon became apparent that this was not suitable as, obviously, the Great Western, gave their own trains priority. So, in the late 1880’s the Southern Railway began to construct their own route through Ford, across St Levan’s Road on an almighty viaduct and then through two tunnels under Devonport and a road bridge under Paradise Road into a station at Kings Road where City College, Plymouth now stands. This line opened in June 1890 and was double track throughout. 

This gives both the tunnels sizeable dimensions. The first tunnel, the shorter of the two, is Ford Tunnel. This begins at the southern end of the Ford Viaduct over the St Levan valley and runs beneath Albert Road for 373 yards emerging in a short cutting beside Exmouth Road. After this cutting the railway plunged into the longer tunnel which ran for 530 yards beneath Devonport Park starting in a southerly direction but gradually turning east towards Kings Road Station. 

Continued:.

Between the two tunnels was the site of the old Albert Road Halt opened in 1906 and closed in 1947. The last passenger carrying train ran through these tunnels on 7^th September 1964. 

After some photography we had our refreshments in the larger tunnel watched over by Sylvester and a polar bear! Emerging after an hour to find the nearest open pub, the Three Ferrets (except there were 6 of us!!).

Write up by: Dave J

Added 22-12-09