Search for Bullo Pill Hidden Rail Tunnel
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- When the merchants in the Royal Forest of Dean wanted to expand their customer base, they looked towards the river Severn for transportation to new markets. The roads at the time were not up to the job so they invested in a new fangled system known as a tramway. Like a railway tramways need a fairly level surface with moderate grades, which means that if a hill is encountered, the options are to cut it open or tunnel through it.
Eventually the problems of the dock at this point on the river forced a move farther downstream to Lydney and the dock became a backwater. Meanwhile Mr Isambard Kingdom Brunel got involved in the tramway converting it to a railway, said to be one of his most challenging projects to date. This involves a tunnel hunt, which initially had disastrous results, but as shown in the subsequent film, eventual success. Sit back and enjoy a walk through history.
Fantastic! You lower our expectations at the start, and blow us away, with not just one, but three! Amazing brick work, and your perseverance paid off. Thank you Ron! Paul.
I guess that's show business Paul!!!! Take care. Ron
Thanks Ron, to me the undoubted star of that walk was the quality and condition of the stonework after all these years. Peter
You have to admire the art of the masons Peter, all done with primitive tools. Ron
I knew you would not be beaten, well done and thank you very much for entertaining us all with an absolutely fantastic video. The Box at 05:31 I believe to be the signals and telegraph connection point for the wiring as telegraph poles would not have been used inside the tunnel due to clearance problems. The structure at 05:43 is the base of Soudley Down Distant Signal. The large wall at 17:56 belonged to The Great Western Iron Company Limited's Soudley Furnaces which was rail connected at the bottom (the pathway at 17:45) and at the top via an incline which were all connected to a maze of sidings worked from Soudley signal boxes (the first box dating from 1888 or before, was replaced by a second one from 22nd July 1907). Further on down the pathway there was a crusher installed in, or just before 1896, after which there were two long sidings. Between the Western Portal of the 1064 yard Bullo Tunnel and the eastern portal of the 299 yard Bradley Hill Tunnel the area contained 3 facing sidings in the down direction, the incline and the Great Western Iron Company sidings in the Up direction. At the top of the incline was a wagon turntable which had lines to the top of the structure at 17:56 on a level embankment, two run off sidings, a shed siding and a long siding which actually went over the top of Bullo Tunnel a few yards in from the Western Portal. There was also Coopers siding as soon as you come out of the Eastern Portal of Bradley Hill tunnel in the Up Direction which was removed in about 1892. Incidentally there was a station between Bullo Pill and Bullo Tunnel Eastern Portal called Bullo Cross Halt opened on 3rd August 1907 and closed on 3rd November 1958 I wonder if any remains can be found? I was very pleased to see you looked back to your usual self this week, make sure you do not over do it, these railway expeditions are hard work. (Amended 030921)
Fantastic post Andrew how do you do it. I did look for the station which I believe was on the river side of the main road, but there was no access. Take care, and thanks once again. Ron
Andrew You never cease to amaze me with your knowledge. It is as though you were there when it was built. Peter
@@ParkinsonsWalks Hi Ron, I suspect the only access to Bullo Cross Halt might be from Bullo Pill Junction, I think there's a footpath which I believe starts at the site of the engine shed there. I will see what I can find out and if I come across anything concrete I will post it on here. I was shocked to come across the fact that a railway line was actually over the top of Bullo Tunnel, (and not the only case in the Forest Of Dean) and that it went some way beyond, I suspect it had something to do with Soudley Iron works, again if I find out more I will post it on here. Your very welcome for the information Ron, I will take care of myself but more importantly you take care of yourself, I am sure I speak for many viewers when I say we appreciate what you do.
@@petersmith5574 Unfortunately I am not quite old enough to have been there when it was built but I would have loved to have been there then. Tracking down the information is quite time consuming but I usually start looking the previous Friday when I know where Ron is going next. Some of the things like the Signal Post at 05:43 I knew from a video I have that shows a train going along the line just before it closed in August 1967. The Box at 05:31 were not un-common where lines were going to go through a tunnel. Some of the historic information I get from books I have, some from track or signalling diagrams and the internet is always helpful. It is having the time to find out the various things that is so valuable, enabling me to post the information which some viewers may find interesting. Take care Peter and thank you very much for your comment it is appreciated and makes it all worth while.
@@ParkinsonsWalks Hi Ron, I have tried to copy and paste a couple of links for you but for some reason they keep disappearing. However if you go onto the National Library of Scotland side by side maps and select from the drop down menu OS 25 inch (Gloucester) follow the line from Bullo Pill Junction you will see Bullo Cross Halt is right next to a minor road, it looks pretty easy to get to the site. If you then travel to the western portal of Bullo Tunnel and change the drop down menu to OS 25 inch 1873-1888 you will see the track layout including the line over the tunnel I mentioned in my first comment. Best Wishes, Andrew.
Well Ron, after being left alone most of the week, that walk was even better that usual. Who says it's always raining in England! I hope the weather keeps being good for you (not that rain isn't good) and that you have another adventure planned in a few weeks. Thanks for avoiding the nettles. Sumac OVM
Thanks Sumac, we are a little bit short of rain at the moment, there are rumblings of a hose pipe ban. Hope you are getting used to not having James under your paws all day. Ron
@Leslie Dodds Leslie I believe the main tunnel is over a thousand yards long and was said to be the longest in the country when built. The other one is much shorter. Ron
@Leslie Dodds Hi Leslie, I can give you the exact lengths of the tunnels, starting from Bullo Pill Junction the first tunnel (The one Ron Started at) is Bullo Tunnel at 1064 yards there is then a gap of 264 yards followed by the second tunnel called Bradley Hill Tunnel at 299 yards (the second tunnel in Ron's video) there is then a further gap of 1320 yards to reach the third tunnel called Blue Rock Tunnel at 109 yards. Hope that answers your question, if not, please let me know. Andrew.
You are a star Andrew. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Hi Ron, I would not go that far but I try my best, I happened to have the information Mr Dodds required in front of me as I read his message so rather than trouble you to look it up I just sent him the information I had. It may well have been more than he wanted but it was very quick to type out and anyone else reading my reply may be interested in it. I have found some information that may interest you, there was a running line laid in the Forest Of Dean that was later taken up having never had a train run over it, not the only case of that happening I have come across. Take care and always, anything you think I can answer that I may have missed please send me a message. Regards, Andrew.
You were certainly rewarded for all that effort, Ron. Amazing how good the tunnel looked - in better condition than I am, I think.
Well it was certainly in better condition than me Jim, I think we make a good pair. Take care. Ron
Well done Ron, fantastic achievement to find that. Very enjoyable viewing Ron. Thank you for sharing and best wishes, take care.
Thanks John, hope all is well with you. Ron
Well done Ron, an abject failure avoided and the elusive tunnel portal located.
Ropes and climbing irons next!
Thank you again for taking the hard work out of the walk for the rest of the sofa-based clan!
Best regards as always. ~ Martin
Hi Martin, I'm not sure about the ropes and climbing irons. Ron
Very enjoyable afternoon adventure Ron. Persistence, doggedness and inquisitiveness paid off in the end. I wonder if whoever was responsible for the dangling rope down to the tunnel portal watches this and thinks "Bugger!" why didn't we think of getting down there like Ron.😄
Ha - I wonder. There was a time when I would have seen if I could climb it, but sadly those days are behind me. Ron
Absolutely brilliant walk Ron, there really is no better brick and stone work than that done in Britain, just beautiful. As far as your new technique to avoid letting down your viewers, I think I'll try it in class. "Boys, this is going to be a really disappointing lesson, just warning you"...I wonder what the Head would think. Thanks Ron, it's always worth the wait until Friday!
I suspect the Boys will think (and may even say) all your lessons are disappointing Sir! As for the Head well I doubt he would do as well as you do.
Thanks James, the problem is the boys might agree with you, boys being boys, not worth the risk. Ron
@@andrewmerriman7133 Hah! no doubt Andrew.
@@sumacmacarthur3380 Hi Sumac, Hope you have managed without James this week, at least you can have a rest now, sit yourself outside and raid the treat cupboard but don't forget to hide any wrappers or other evidence that you have had them. If James queries where they are just tell him he must have forgot to buy them and despatch him out to get some more! Don't tell James where you got the idea from or we will both end up in detention. Take care, Andrew.
@@andrewmerriman7133 Good idea Andrew! I do have a very innocent face. Have a good week. Sumac
An absolute gem of a find, RON. So pleased your persistence paid off. Another superb video. Well done! Stay safe, Ron.
Thanks Ron glad you enjoyed it. Ron
Lovely bimble Ron in the forest of dean. So much to see in the forest.Cheers for vblog Ron.
Thanks Lee, I love the forest. Ron
That really was some antastic architecture on display there Ron. Quite magical the way it looms out of the lush green undergrowth.
Both walks were a success I reckon, but then I always consider a hack through the Forest of Dean on a lovely sunny day to be a success everytime.
I'm with you David, hard to beat a walk in the Dean, Ron
Hello Ron, many thanks for all the effort that you put into the videos.
The Green object that you noticed on top of the stone embankment was probably an old fashioned Western Region (ex GWR) location/equipment case.
Kind Regards, Mark.
Hi Mark, You absolutely correct it is an equipment case, from a video I have of the line it shows the wires from a telegraph pole going to the case, I suspect to take the wires through or over the tunnel to Soudley Signal Box or the telegraph poles on the other western side of the tunnel. The other thing that could have been in there is the detection equipment for the lamp outage on the Down Distant Signal, the base of which was shown in the following sequence of the video. Regards, Andrew.
Thanks Mark, Go to it Andrew. Ron
Magnificent! Thank you so much Ron. What a treat to find two tunnels, one after the other. The engineering was superb. Just to think, all that work was done by hand. Your video told the story perfectly. I hope the adventure didn't take too much out of you. See you next week.
Glad you enjoyed it Michael, have a good week. Ron
A fresh definition of failure! Great viewing. Your adventures will be invaluable historical documents for the yet-to-be-born civil engineers when they undertake contracts to reopen these routes 75 years from now.
Wonderful thought Rodney, unfortunately I won't be here to see it. Ron
Great to have met you on your walk yesterday Ron. I’ve sent my films off to the lab, hopefully something comes out! Hope to see you on another adventure soon.
Aiden you are a man of your word, it is always good to meet someone with a passion, who knows what he is talking about. I was thinking, a TH-cam channel based around the camera and its capabilities would go down well when accompanied by the photos of say a walk or visit somewhere, (maybe ship wrecks), give it a go. Ron
Thank you a great informative video on a fascinating set of lines in the forest. Going to consult my superb neil Parkhouse book on the Fod lines. Best wishes Julian.
Happy reading Julian. Ron
Triumphant return to the Forest and the usual and well deserved tribute to the early railway builders. Like you, I always get a thrill when seeing evidence of their skill and the trouble they took to make industrial structures beautiful. Is there any area with more undisturbed industrial archaeology than the Forest, I wonder ?
When Brunnel says it was difficult you know you will be looking at some special engineering. The forest would be hard to beat Philip, Take care. Ron
Great tunnel and a very interesting channel, I was lucky enough to photograph inside this tunnel last year, have a search for this tunnel and you will find my images. LM
Thanks Lenny, I'll have a look. Ron
Fantastic Dean Forest scenary and grand railway architecture to match. Congratulations on a very successful exploration. .
Glad you enjoyed it Malcolm, Ron
So after wearing yourself out in the first video, you go back the next day and repeat?!?!? Ay yay yay..... Nevertheless, I do admire your tenacity, Ron! Turned out to be a cracking video and wonderful failure in the end....😁 Really enjoy watching your investigative skills in action. I really didn't realize it was so hilly in the Forest. OK, around Symonds Yat area is. I haven't spent much time in the central and eastern parts of the Forest. My main experiences have been around where my brother lives in Bream, which is way south and is far less less hilly. Sounds like a good excuse to get back there if / when covid allows me to travel. Anyway Ron, stay safe and talk soon....Cheers, Ian
Hi Ian, good to hear from you. There is no such thing as a wasted day in the Forest, it is a special place for sure. Have fun. Ron
Really interesting, thanks Ron.
Thanks for watching Derek. Ron
Glad you got to both ends! I've always meant to go here but never have.
You can't go wrong with a walk in the forest Stav. Ron
I found your video while looking for some filming locations that were used in the movie "Men". This walled off tunnel was in the film.
Good research Bob, well done. Ron
Just in case it's of interest - if you have volume 2 of Neil Parkhouse's Gloucestershire railways in colour series, there's a small picture of the tunnel approach and the signal on page 31. According to his notes, the box on top of the retaining wall was the base of the original signal, replaced later by the one with the base at track level.
Hi Richard, I have had another look at the box on top of the wall, it definitely would not have been a signal base as the siting would have been way outside legal limits, it is the wrong shape for a signal support for the relevant signal at that point. It is most likely the joining box for the telegraph wires where the telegraph poles finished and a cable run would have carried on to the other end of the tunnel where another similar box would have taken the telegraph to Soudley Signal Box, telegraph poles could not be used inside the tunnel. If it was anything to do with the signalling it could be the box that held the lamp failure electric circuits connections but that seems unlikely as the signal lamp in that signal had a two week paraffin capacity unit and lamps were filled on a weekly basis.
@@andrewmerriman7133 Cheers for the clarification Andrew. I may have misinterpreted his notes slightly, as he's probably not necessarily referring to the blue box - rather another post that was in about the same location.
Fascinating stuff Richard. Good old Andrew. Ron
@@rich7750 Hi Richard no problem at all, the post above the signal was in fact a telegraph pole, I have had a chance to view a video of the line during it's final month of operation since I sent you the message. It looks as if the wires from it went down to the blue box which I had not noticed when viewing it last Monday. You may not know but there are strict regulations on the siting of signals and they have to be signed off by the regulators before been bought into use, from my experience the regulator would not have allowed a signal at that position as it would be to easily missed by a train in some weather conditions. Take care, Andrew.
Thank you
You're welcome.Ron
Well done a superb video you are very intrepid just concerned you would have a fall in such isolated and beautiful countryside and from the birdsong a area full of birds.
Amazing the craftsman’s ship on the infrasucture so it was so important for trade and shipping via the Pill in earlier episode…
They built things to last Chris, and last they have. Ron
Success!
It's sweet when it comes Charles. Ron
That was an amazing little venture into majestically beautiful countryside.
'Such a shame that such well-built tunnels and railway alignment have gone to waste. I suppose the bats make use of at least part of the tunnels; but just think if the heritage railway was extended through Cinderford and on through those tunnels. - Wow that would be a colossal achievement, and a huge money-spinner for the local area too. Unfortunately it would probably have to be funded by Elon Musk, or Bezos, or someone with a similar available budget. Maybe if I were to start playing the Euro-Lottery again.. Well it's no harm to dream.
I do hope it didn't take too much out of you doing all this: I'd rather you stayed able to enjoy it rather than burn yourself out by overdoing it. Thank you for yet another enjoyable foray into the forgotten recesses of yesteryear. I for one certainly appreciate it.
Thanks Sharron, you are an angel. I'm always a little sad to see these magnificent works just being left to rot, when truly they are works of art, but as you pointed out no one wants to spend the money. Shame.
Thanks for your concern I appreciate it. Ron
Another late comment. I believe I have read that the Hay Hill tunnel was used as a footpath access to Bullo/Newnham area and due to the length was a risky business. They were keen to get to work in those days if this is true.
I've heard the same story, so it may be true. Ron
You need a camera on a stick to see into tunnel as used Tunneler extordinaire Martin Zero..
Good idea Chris, I have a selfie stick somewhere, thanks for the info. Ron
What about the other portal of the second tunnel?
Slave driver. Actually I had intended to film it but the access was poor and I couldn't find anywhere to park. Most sorry. Ron
that's ok Ron no problem