Rail tunnel is still in place under Leicestershire today
THE Glenfield Tunnel, when it opened in 1832, was the longest steam railway tunnel in the world.
Just over a mile long, it was designed by the famous railway engineer George Stephenson – creator of the Rocket – and built between 1830 and 1832 under the supervision of his son, Robert.
It forms part of the Leicester and Swannington railway network, the first steam railway in the Midlands and one of the first in the world.
The railway brought coal from the North West Leicestershire coalfields into Leicester, to then be distributed by canal all over the country.
The biggest obstacle to this project was the ridge extending from Gilroes to Glenfield village that required a tunnel.
Its construction proved a huge challenge, with engineers having to line it throughout with bricks made on-site.
The project ran heavily over budget but resulted in a tunnel that remained in use for 130 years.
The project really tested its engineers, involving techniques that were then virtually untried.
Faulty trial drillings suggested the bore would be through stone and clay, when, in fact, much of the bore would turn out to be in running sand.
This necessitated a great deal more work and expense. The tunnel had to be lined throughout in brickwork between 14in and 18in thick, backed by a wooden shell where running sand was encountered.
The first section of the tunnel was officially opened on July 17, 1832 and was marked by a special train for the Leicester and Swannington directors and 300 guests. Hauling it was Comet, a locomotive provided by Robert Stephenson. Glenfield’s tight clearances required lower, narrower carriages with bars over the windows to prevent decapitation.
It is even rumoured that at the opening the engine’s funnel struck the tunnel’s roof, showering soot over those in open carriages.
When the railway closed in the 1960s, the redundant tunnel was bought by Leicester City Council for £5.
Early inspections in 2000 revealed serious flaws in the fabric of the tunnel which would necessitate reinforcement of the structure.
A series of reinforced concrete hoops had to be designed and installed in the tunnel in 2007/8.
Leicestershire Industrial History Society has extensive records of the Leicester & Swannington Railway. Visit its website for more details.