I was only a baby when they closed this for trains, but in the early seventies two friends and I tried to ride our bikes through there. We went through an ornate looking breeze-block entrance through a doorway left open in it, then got to a huge wooden scaffold thing and couldn't ride them through it, so we walked through. At the Blaengwynfi side it was breeze blocked almost to the top there was some rubble but we couldn't get through, and even if we did drop down we'd never have got back in. So I've never been through the tunnel, but my head and shoulders have. I hope I live long enough so that I can wholly go through it, even if I have to get on a bike for the first time in fifty years.
The tunnel is just short of two miles long. A few years back I drove from one end to the other via the available roads, and it was a journey of ten miles including the Bwlch mountain road. That road generally has to close for a few days in winter because it's too expensive to grit adequately, so the journey from one end to the other has to be a great deal longer on those days. At the moment there is no sensible route joining two valleys that are only a couple of miles apart. The terrain means that the drive can be anything up to half an hour depending on traffic.
Just finished watching in full this video of very interesting content. Thank you for all of the information and to the other men for sharing their information on the tunnel. Bravo to all
Are the entrances fully uncovered? I tried to go and have a look today by a little farmyard but there's a big gate that says "Private property" so I thought best tnot.
There is nothing to see at the moment. The Portals are still 60 foot underground. Thank you for not entering the field as yes, it is private property. Steve mackey Chair. Rhondda Tunnel Society.
we should run a rickshaw service to carry people through who are less abled. Y'know we'll have to contact Hornby and run a model Train through it at least once just for the fun of it, I'm sure James May would be up for that.
This used to be the holy grail of disused railway tunnel urban exploration ! Now it's like Piccadilly Circus !! But hats off to those working hard to excavate and reopen this tunnel, it's strange how this most unlikely tunnel to see the light of day could well be back in use.... looking forward to it.
Ben, Sorry but we are only allowed to take special guests into the tunnel (such as Senedd members), and we have to get permission from the tunnel managers.
I remember trips (from Treorchy) to the seaside at Aberavon in the 60's via this tunnel. Always vaguely exciting to a small boy, as I suppose tunnels will ever be!
Hi are you aware of the location of the 2nd tunnel stone? I know the 1st one is at treherbert station, but am not sure if you know where the other one is ?
@@therhonddatunnelsocietyoff5851 thanks for the reply,yes I was there today and couldn’t believe it when I saw it,I did ask a staff member about it,and he said it was from the abergwynfi side (I think) I did say that the society would be very interested in having it.. But at least it’s in safe hands until the tunnel is opened I guess … I am a member by the way 😊
I was only a baby when they closed this for trains, but in the early seventies two friends and I tried to ride our bikes through there. We went through an ornate looking breeze-block entrance through a doorway left open in it, then got to a huge wooden scaffold thing and couldn't ride them through it, so we walked through. At the Blaengwynfi side it was breeze blocked almost to the top there was some rubble but we couldn't get through, and even if we did drop down we'd never have got back in. So I've never been through the tunnel, but my head and shoulders have. I hope I live long enough so that I can wholly go through it, even if I have to get on a bike for the first time in fifty years.
The tunnel is just short of two miles long. A few years back I drove from one end to the other via the available roads, and it was a journey of ten miles including the Bwlch mountain road. That road generally has to close for a few days in winter because it's too expensive to grit adequately, so the journey from one end to the other has to be a great deal longer on those days.
At the moment there is no sensible route joining two valleys that are only a couple of miles apart. The terrain means that the drive can be anything up to half an hour depending on traffic.
Even longer if one drives over the Rhigos, down to Neath and from there to Pontrhydyfen, and back to Blaengwynfi....lol.
@@Pizzpott LOL! I went over the Bwlch, and that was convoluted enough!
Just finished watching in full this video of very interesting content. Thank you for all of the information and to the other men for sharing their information on the tunnel. Bravo to all
Are the entrances fully uncovered? I tried to go and have a look today by a little farmyard but there's a big gate that says "Private property" so I thought best tnot.
There is nothing to see at the moment. The Portals are still 60 foot underground. Thank you for not entering the field as yes, it is private property. Steve mackey Chair. Rhondda Tunnel Society.
Well done for investing in the Rhondda Valleys Martin 💎🙏
Bit of a mission for most cyclists to be winched down through a manhole onto the cycle path
😁😁
we should run a rickshaw service to carry people through who are less abled. Y'know we'll have to contact Hornby and run a model Train through it at least once just for the fun of it, I'm sure James May would be up for that.
There have been discussions along the lines of golf buggies to take people through if they're not able to walk or cycle it.
afan tunnel
This used to be the holy grail of disused railway tunnel urban exploration ! Now it's like Piccadilly Circus !! But hats off to those working hard to excavate and reopen this tunnel, it's strange how this most unlikely tunnel to see the light of day could well be back in use.... looking forward to it.
Is that the house auction, fix er' up and flip it bloke?
Yes. Homes under the Hammer
@@therhonddatunnelsocietyoff5851 thats the fucker, he seems a cool dude.
Ben, Sorry but we are only allowed to take special guests into the tunnel (such as Senedd members), and we have to get permission from the tunnel managers.
What a well presented and informative film. Good luck with your aims.
I remember trips (from Treorchy) to the seaside at Aberavon in the 60's via this tunnel. Always vaguely exciting to a small boy, as I suppose tunnels will ever be!
Let’s get it open. Would be amazing to experience it. Are there exploration trips available now? Like what your doing in the video?
Any news on it yet ?
Hi are you aware of the location of the 2nd tunnel stone? I know the 1st one is at treherbert station, but am not sure if you know where the other one is ?
Hi Martin. The other stone is set in a wall at the cycle shop in The Afan Valley. I have wrote a fee letters to them but never had an answer.
@@therhonddatunnelsocietyoff5851 thanks for the reply,yes I was there today and couldn’t believe it when I saw it,I did ask a staff member about it,and he said it was from the abergwynfi side (I think) I did say that the society would be very interested in having it..
But at least it’s in safe hands until the tunnel is opened I guess …
I am a member by the way 😊