Oxendon Tunnel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Oxendon Tunnels are disused railway tunnels in Northamptonshire, England. The line between Northampton and Market Harborough opened in 1859 and had tunnels at Oxendon and nearby at Kelmarsh.
The original tunnel was single-track, and when the line was doubled a second single-track tunnel was built. The "up" line tunnel is 453 yards (414 m) long while the "down" line is 462 yards (422 m). Due to the small bore, the tunnels were known as "the rat-holes" by train drivers.
The former "up" line tunnel at Oxendon is open as part of the Brampton Valley Way, a linear park which runs from Boughton level crossing on the outskirts of Northampton to Little Bowden near Market Harborough, on the former railway trackbed.
The tunnel is easily navigated on foot or by cyclists, and has been effectively restored. It nonetheless requires a certain level of nerve to navigate the long dark tunnel, and a torch is essential. The closed bore has not been restored and the approaches and tunnel itself are regularly flooded. It is advisable to limit your exploration of the tunnels to the bore that is part of the way and avoid the closed tunnel, which might still be dangerous, even if one or other of the protective doors is unlocked. The tunnel is a great visit for anyone interested in railway architecture or who just likes a good scare.
