The Prospect tunnel, Harrogate, April '09 12 snaps

The Harrogate to Wetherby line was the first to be shut in 1964 under Doctor Beeching's proposed cuts. Midway, is the Prospect tunnel. Here readers, is the southern portal.


The line had been running down over a number of years prior to this, a far cry from when it opened in 1848.
The tunnel cuts through a very straight 825 yards underneath Follifoot ridge.


The tunnel, although dead straight is surprisingly photogenic.


It's a good one for some light painting. Step one, line up the camera on yer tripod by using the flash. These always look rubbish.



Step two, turn on the big torch. They always look a lot better with a long exposure using a big torch.


Merge of the two done by someone called Chris at work because I don't know how do do stuff on Photoshop.




I guess the farmer who's land it is one has been through with his Land Rover recently to clear out the drain. Water drips from the roof in parts, and regularly the tunnel floods.


The bore is 81' below the surface and has a total of 3 air shafts. They were boarded over and covered in cement in 1981.


Reflections


The cutting at the other end of the tunnel.


A view of the Prospect tunnel looking from the northern portal. The white dot is the other end, over half a mile away.

That looks ace mate, you should've given me a shout. I like how its not bricked up, the people of Harrogate aren't exactly famous for their wayward ways.
This is one tunnel we've got to see, symmetry and light painting will really bring out the old hagged texture in that stonework. Love it.

Its a nice tunnel to photograph, although it is fairly ordinary when you are there, and looks pretty unispiring! Picture 4 is pretty much what it looks like. you will need a big torch. I think maglites or LED's will be useless in a place like this.

Rich wrote:

Its a nice tunnel to photograph, although it is fairly ordinary when you are there, and looks pretty unispiring! Picture 4 is pretty much what it looks like. you will need a big torch. I think maglites or LED's will be useless in a place like this.

I've got 2x 5million candle power jobbies. They'll be sufficient. The tunnel doesn't look that big, how high is it.

Not that high mate. Here is me added for scale.

I love the colours in pic 2 - stunning.

Some awesome shots there rich mate. I need to get myself back down some tunnels, right time of year for it now anyways.