feature
extended for 500 yards. Twenty thousand housing. One front garden now features a
bricks were despatched to site each week mysterious manhole cover - the only clue
in the vain expectation that 36 yards of as to what lies beneath.
tunnel could be completed before the In 1969, Leicester City Council
next batch arrived. Three working shafts discovered a five pound note burning a
became four in an effort to catch up. It hole in its pocket. For reasons best known
was down one of these that Daniel Jowett to itself, that cash was invested in
fell to his death. Glenfield Tunnel. Its acquisition has left a
substantial legacy. With major roads
Craved by its owners crossing it and several buildings perched
Over budget to the tune of £7,326 - a directly above, this functionless asset
little over £500,000 in today's money - commands ongoing attention from the
the tunnel welcomed its first revenue- council's officers. The shadow of liability is
earning train in May 1832. It was lacking cast over them.
the 'impressive but not too costly' granite
portals craved by its owners, presumably Punched into the crown
because they failed to comply with the as late as 1929. A favoured dare for Inspectors venture in to carry out visual
latter requirement. young kids was to hide in a refuge while exams every five years or so. Specialist
It was on 17th July that the first trains passed - a practice which had Haswells - now defunct - was
section's official opening was marked by a appalling consequences on one occasion. commissioned to take a deeper look at
special train for the Leicester & Glenfield's tight clearances demanded the structure in 2004. Cores confirmed the
Swannington's directors and 300 guests. lower, narrower carriages, with bars over lining to be mostly four bricks thick,
Hauling it was 'Comet', a locomotive the windows to prevent decapitation. though just three in places. Remarkable
procured from his son's company by Closure came in 1966 when coal and oil variations in profile were recorded - as
George Stephenson. Though possibly the traffic ended. Passenger services had long much as 900mm wall-to-wall whilst the
stuff of legend, it is said that over-packing since hit the buffers. Marconi Radar roof rises and falls by over a metre.
of the track caused the engine's funnel to moved in, taking advantage of the Distortion became most apparent
strike the tunnel's roof, bringing the tunnel's straight mile to test military around the 13 shafts, which had punched
adventure to a halt and showering soot lasers. But the eastern portal was soon into the crown. But these and other
over those in open wagons. lost beneath infill as its approach cutting brickwork discontinuities did not serve as
The tunnel proved a draw for the made way for proof that any movement had taken place
inquisitive, during both construction and - Glenfield's many quirks and
operation. High wooden gates kept the
public out - these were removed
(Above) Illustrating Glenfield's tight clearances, an afternoon train
squeezes out of the western end on 9th September 1965.
PHOTO: JOHN BRIGGS
(Left) In May 1962, 58143 ventures towards the tunnel's now-buried
eastern portal. PHOTO: RICHARD C RILEY/TRANSPORT TREASURY
44 | the rail engineer | july 2008
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