Well, Kev asked if I had any pictures of tunnels, underground locations, etc, in Liverpool, so I've selected the best ones. I expect most of these are reasonably well known, but interesting all the same I hope.
Waterloo/Victoria Tunnels
The former rail link from Edge Hill to the north docks and Riverside Station, this tunnel stretches a couple of miles under the city. I walked it a couple of years ago, the torch running out just as we reached the end. Luckily there was a way out, otherwise we'd have had to walk back in the pitch dark!! Most of my pictures of this are crap, as the camera I had only did 2s max exposures.
Looking up one of the ventilation shafts
Discarded trolley wheelset
Victorian brick-lined sewer running underneath the tunnel
The exit, piled high with tyres
Fairly recently I went back to explore the old arch that carries the Northern Line over what would have been the LNWR line running out of the Waterloo tunnel. This was interesting as we found a second arch buried under the embankment, and also a network of passages and vaulted tunnels actually inside the main brick arch structure.
Inside the brick structure, which is hollow!
The buried tunnel, just about accessible
Woolton Quarry Tunnel
This one was short, but quite interesting. A tunnel cut into the sandstone quarry face of a quarry in Woolton, most of which has now been built on. The tunnel curves into the rock, then meets another tunnel at 90 degrees, which is blocked after a few yards. Perhaps this was once used to move stones up to the top of the hill? I can't find much info on this one...
The entrance
The tunnel curves uphill
The top section is brick-lined
Bramley-Moore Dock Tunnel
On the west side of Bramley-Moore Dock is a reasonably modern tunnel running underneath the quayside. Not sure what it's for, but it runs across the dock drainage system, with a hole at one point that enters the tidal drain. There was lots of junk in there, and what looked like rails for some kind of hopper wagon or movable machinery. There were no shafts leading into it from above, just two side entrances.
The drainage system beneath the dock is interesting. Part of it would have been used to control the depth of water in the dock. Evidence of this is a big sluice gate that connects to the drain which could have been used to equalise the depth of water in the dock with that of the river.
A drain runs right along the length of the quayside, and at some points there are access points such as the one pictured below. Further exploration wasn't possible as the tide was only halfway out and the steps disappeared into murky water. I'm guessing entry here would allow passage to the sluice about 300 yards round the dock and perhaps the workings of other hydraulic machinery, but I'm not sure I'm that brave!!
Prince's Landing Stage Tunnel
This short tunnel was exposed when work began clearing the site for the new development. The tunnel lead from the inner dockside down to the lower level of the landing stage. The walls and roof were lined with glazed bricks, and the tunnel has subsequently been backfilled or destroyed.
Looking towards the landing stage
Landing stage lower level
Entrance to the tunnel - clearly the tunnel once ran a bit further
Queensway Tunnel
I expect we've all been through here on numerous occasions. These photos are taken from a recent tour I went on. Very interesting, especially getting into the lower section of the tunnel.
One of the huge fans
Looking up the ventilation shaft
Steps down to the road tunnel
The underneath of the road deck, where is was proposed to run a tramway
Georges Dock
When the Three Graces were built, Georges Dock was used as a foundation. The Cunard Building was built in one section of the dock, and the Georges Dock Ventilation Station for the Queensway Tunnel was built next door. From the ventilation station it is possible to access one of the original arches in the bridge across the dock. Subsequent arches run in the direction of the river, and apparently in one of them is an old boat. These arches I think are liable to flooding, hence the basement of the Cunard Building having water pumping facilities.
In some parts of the Cunard Building basement, the original dock wall can be found.
Georges Dock bridge arch
Georges Dock wall, Cunard Building basement
Pumping equipment, Cunard Building basement
Royal Insurance Building Shelter
During the Second World War, parts of the (currently empty) Royal Insurance Building's basement were converted for use as an air-raid shelter. These rooms were probably coal stores originally, but were cleared out so that local workers could take shelter from the bombing raids. I knew nothing of these rooms until I explored the building (don't worry, I didn't break in!).
Below the lower ground floor we entered the basement and found strange escape hatches. Some appeared to lead into what looked like coal chutes - others went from room to room. All had 'Escape' or 'No Exit' painted on them in wartime style signwriting. Also of interest was a removed staircase with paint still visible. On a later visit a friend of mine notices a typed piece of paper pasted to the wall, which cleared up the mystery - it was instructions on how to use the escapes to get out of the shelter! This would have been in the event of building collapse. Amazing that the instructions had survived.
Exits through the coal chute
Typed instructions
There's just too much stuff beneath this city...
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