FOLLOWING work to repair a 35,000 tonne landslide on the Tyne Valley line at Farnley, we’ve unearthed this shot of the old Farnley Scar Tunnel from our archives.
In its heyday, the 155m long tunnel, which was built by the engineering mastermind behind many of the UK’s canals and railways, Francis Giles, was an integral part of the world’s first cross-country passenger railway.
More than one million bricks went into its construction, but during work to widen the single track on December 28, 1844, a section gave way.
Further repairs costing £1,000 were ordered in 1871, but problems continued and the tunnel was eventually abandoned in favour of the new cutting, which now takes the Tyne Valley line.
The ends of the tunnel were sealed when it was taken out of service and the structure is now a Grade Two listed building.
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