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TUBWAY PROJECT |
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The Victoria Garesfield Colliery Tubway
Drift mine tunnelling was first begun at Victoria Garesfield in 1860, with three main tunnels (and two remote access tunnels) eventually being dug. "The Coronation Drift" or West Way went right under Chopwell Wood. Men returning from WW1 worked in this Drift tunnel, which led to it being locally known as "The Barracks". The Coronation Drift was officially closed on 1st March 1934 - some parts of Victoria Garesfield Colliery continued until final closure on 13th July 1962.
| During the 19th and early 20th centuries, a tubway line was used to carry coal through the drift mine tunnel under Chopwell Wood. The tubway was a narrow gauge rail track that ran underground from Victoria Garesfield, on the east side of the Wood, to the west side of the Wood. Part of the line came to the surface through a cutting near Carr House (on the west of the Wood). The line was closed in 1934, the track was removed, and the cutting became overgrown. |
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The overgrown cutting in April 2003 |
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In Spring 2003 "Friends" funding was agreed
to restore a section of the tubway through the cutting. Planning of
the project, locating track and tubs, was done during the Summer and early
Autumn. We are extremely grateful to John and Frank Shepherd of
Alston, who kindly donated four tubs and track from their Drift
Mine. Transport was arranged and the items were brought to the Wood,
where they were renovated during November and December. |
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"Friends" member, Steven Waters, unloading the tubs |
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After a bit of repair work and a coat of primer, the tubs are looking good |
Conifers felled near the cutting, stacked ready for the timber lorry |
| Tree felling in the area during Nov/Dec exposed the whole length of the cutting, but prevented any work being done at the site for the project. In January 2004 a specialized JCB was hired to clear the forest debris from the cutting to uncover the original track-bed. Up to two foot of debris had to be dug out along the entire length of the cutting, a drainage ditch was dug and a field drain put in. |
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The JCB clears the cutting |
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On a sunny day in February the track was laid on the prepared bed. A
big "thank you" to "Friends" members Paul Fountain and Mike
Stephenson for their excellent track work. On February 28th,
with the Wood under 6 inches of snow, a JCB was used to transport and
place the tubs onto the track. The tubs were then filled with stone
and blacked over with bitumen to give the image of coal. A path and viewing area have been
created, and an information plaque erected.
All photos by Bill Storey |
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Mike & Paul laying the track |
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| All of the research, planning and organising for the installation of these tubs was done by our Project Officer, Bill Storey. His dedication and hard work are much appreciated. It is most satisfying to see another part of the heritage of the Wood restored for everyone to see. Other heritage work done previously, include the installation of the "Railway Wagons", and the repairs to the "Mineral Railway Overbridge". Background information about Victoria Garesfield Colliery was supplied by Liz Searle. |
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The tubs complete with lettering and number, and loaded up with "coal" |
The two other main tunnels at Victoria Garesfield were the Speculation Drift and the Hookergate Drift. The remote access tunnels began at Ashtree and Rickless, and were named after these areas - these two tunnels allowed quicker access to the coal face, without workers having to travel over ground to the main colliery and then all the way back again underground.
© Copyright 2008 - Friends of Chopwell Wood