Dingle Tunnel + Station, Liverpool REPORT 04/08

[4737carlin]

This one had been on the "to do" list for far to long for me, Dingle Station and 809yds tunnel, the last stop on Liverpools Overhead Railway which closed in 1956. The station itself is today a private owned car work shop so i went to see one of the guys who owns the place and took some photos from other tunnels, figured if he see's i have a genuine interest (and I'm not just trying to steal some alloys :) ) he might let me have a look around the place.

Starting on the old external side of things, this western portal is wonderful

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg58/4737_carlin/train/dingle/640IMG_5811.jpg

There use to be a fantastic lattice girder bridge taking the Liverpool overhead railway into this tunnel towards the last stop at Dingle. This addition to the line was opened on December 21, 1896. The railway closed on December 30th, 1956 and was dismantled in the September the following year.

The ground in front was once the Herculaneum dock but these days serves as a car park for a health club built on the filled in dock. I'm sure this was the car park for the Garden festival in 1984. The Herculaneum Pottery Company had been based on the site. They specialized in commissioned and maritime pieces. Many of these were exported.

On to the station on Park Road, the location of the Park Road station isn't that garage shown on the SubBrit site but further along the road. Nothing apart from this ramp remains, the booking office has long gone.

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg58/4737_carlin/train/dingle/640IMG_5348a.jpg

In 1901, 6 people were killed when a train inside this tunnel caught fire and engulfed the station inside which was then closed for over 12 months. This foot ramp is over the top of what would have been the platform in the center of the tunnel, the section on the left with cars on top is a later addition post 1956. The tunnel runs a short way beyond the station area to a blind end

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg58/4737_carlin/train/dingle/640IMG_5346a.jpg

West view from the same spot, looking down towards the 3/4 mile tunnel in the darkness
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg58/4737_carlin/train/dingle/640IMG_5339a.jpg

On either side are some small sidings, i found one buffer still in situ
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg58/4737_carlin/train/dingle/640IMG_5328a.jpg

From here i headed right to the end of the tunnel, this is the inside of the portal in the first report picture, was hard to get a shot looking right at it due to the light coming into the darkness
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg58/4737_carlin/train/dingle/640IMG_5278a.jpg

What was good about the portal being so high was i could get tunnel shots using natural light to start with

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg58/4737_carlin/train/dingle/640IMG_5276a.jpg

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg58/4737_carlin/train/dingle/640IMG_5289a.jpg

The refuges i noted as all being very low in height with no evidence of back filling either
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg58/4737_carlin/train/dingle/640IMG_5290a.jpg

Was very wet down here i noticed
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg58/4737_carlin/train/dingle/640IMG_5294a.jpg

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg58/4737_carlin/train/dingle/640IMG_5295a.jpg

I noticed there was lots of old rope around, stacks of it in some places of all sizes. These for example seem to be from ships, ill have to find out why there is so much but i forgot to ask the mechanics if they knew

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg58/4737_carlin/train/dingle/640IMG_5296a.jpg

This is where it gets interesting for none railway reasons, theres plenty of old cars down here
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg58/4737_carlin/train/dingle/640IMG_5307a.jpg

A grabbed a few shots of a few of them

Humber Hawk
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg58/4737_carlin/train/dingle/640IMG_5327aHumberHawk.jpg

Morris Minor i guess
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg58/4737_carlin/train/dingle/640IMG_5323a.jpg

Ford Prefect
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg58/4737_carlin/train/dingle/640IMG_5320aFordPrefect.jpg

No idea what this is
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg58/4737_carlin/train/dingle/640IMG_5326a.jpg

In all a decent trip for which i was glad to get permission to go and do

[KingElvis]

Wow, stunning result there...you have seen some ace places :thumb

I am actually quite envious of this one.

What a place for those poor cars to end up in :mad:

[Rebel]

Ernie thinks it's a 1968 Citreon Panel Van. Theres some amazing classic cars stuffed down there.

[converse1]

Excellent stuff there Carlin :thumb Those tunnel shots are great. those cars look in pretty good nick too :)

[sqwasher]

Strewth! :eek: I've had to read thru this two or three times to make sure i've not missed anything! Superb pics & a great report-the old cars find is fab too! :thumbup Even whats left in the tunnel is good-the buffer is an excellent spot! Top job! :thumb

[casiodan]

Hi guys, just so you know the van is a citroen HY.

Im sure you're not that bothered lol.

Great post btw.

[Maca67]

Great photos Carlin, pin sharp even in those conditions, I'm keen to know how you managed them. I visited this garage in 1976, when i was a kid it was quite scarey back then!!. My Uncle is still part owner so will have to plan another vist.

[Parkus.]

nice one, i remember seeing this on 28dl possibly but cracking all the same :thumb

is that an old 3dr sierra i spot? id of had away with that

[Trousercowboy]

Great report there Sir...what a perfect place for a garage to dump all it's crap. I love the Citroen van, you only really see those in French 'art' movies :D

[freebird]

Great report and pics. Those old cars are excellent, must be worth some money as they look in such good nick! Nice one. :thumbup

[dipdop]

Haha how did you spot that? :ohmy

Anyway, great post!

[morgan]

Think you'll find the third car is a Ford Poplar and not a Prefect (the front grills are different). Morgan

[coopsleeds]

wow great pics mate :thumb

[wherever i may roam]

great stuff:thumb...will have to get my backside down there,permission permitted of course!!!

[judderman62]

fab. Liking it and liking the Citroen Van :thumb

[evilnoodle]

This is excellent. What a wonderful find.
I love the Citroen van :thumb

[Kevsy21]

fantastic pictures 10/10- pass this place most days never thought it was like that,but who owns the cars? the citroen van looks in great condition, it should be in a museum.

[4737carlin]

I guess the guys who own the garage own them all. I keep meaning to see if they change over time. Really thou if you go down its the train tunnel you really need to say your going to look at not the cars, i think a few of the people who work there are railway enthusiasts

[georgie]

i need to see this place again