Nottingham Suburban Railway
The Nottingham Suburban Railway was completed in 1889; it was only 3.5 miles long but had four tunnels. The line ran between a junction with the Great Northern Railway's Nottingham to Grantham line at Trent Lane in Sneinton, and the Great Northern Railway's Derbyshire and Staffordshire Extension line at Daybrook. It had stations at Sherwood, St Ann's Well and Thorney Wood.
- Ashwell Tunnel is entirely within Woodthorpe Park, Nottingham. The stately home in Woodthorpe Park is called Woodthorpe Grange and was once owned by Edward Parry, the designer and chief engineer of the Nottingham Suburban Railway. Both portals of this 70 yard long tunnel have been covered with earth and the tunnel itself is no longer accessible. At the North Portal there is an accommodation bridge allowing Woodthorpe Drive to cross the railway line. The South side of this bridge has been bricked up and a full-sized model of a steam locomotive has been built into the brickwork.
- Sherwood Tunnel is the next tunnel South from Ashwell Tunnel. At the South end of Woodthorpe Park the line passed under the accommodation bridge for Sherwood Vale. This bridge still exists and marks the beginning of a short cutting leading to the North Portal of the 442 yard long Sherwood Tunnel. This portal has been covered with earth. The South Portal of this tunnel has also been covered with earth and is just to the West of The Wells Road, Nottingham. To the South of this portal is the St. Ann's Well Station House which is used as a residence. The Station House is on the corner of Dooland Drive and The Wells Road.
- Sneinton Tunnel is 128 yards long and the furthest South of the four tunnels. Its North Portal is still visible, but bricked up with access through a locked door. This tunnel was once home to a rifle club. This portal is found at the South end of Porchester Road on the opposite side of Carlton Road, Nottingham.
- Thorneywood Tunnel is a 408 yard long tunnel South of Sherwood Tunnel with its North Portal in a short cutting off Mickleborough Avenue, Nottingham. This portal has also been covered with earth. There was once an embankment to the North of this tunnel leading first over two brick arches and then on to a high girder bridge. The bridge was removed in 1954 and the embankment was removed in 1959. The rubble from the embankment was packed into Thorneywood Tunnel.
- Fifth Tunnel. There was a fifth tunnel on the Nottingham Suburban Railway. This tunnel was on a branch line serving the Nottingham Patent Brickworks. It was 118 yards long and ran from Thorneywood Station under Thorneywood Lane. There was a steep gradient uphill from the Station therefore Wagons were hauled through this tunnel to the brickworks by a stationary engine.
Read more about this topic: Nottingham's Tunnels
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