The Standedge tunnels are four parallel tunnels beneath the Pennines in northern England. There are three railway tunnels and one canal tunnel, located at the traditional Standedge crossing point between Marsden and Diggle, on the edge of West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. The canal tunnel, which forms part of the Huddersfield narrow canal, is the longest and oldest of the tunnels and holds the record as the longest and highest canal tunnel in the United Kingdom, stretching 3.25 miles through the Pennines from Marsden to Diggle. Of the three railway tunnels only one tunnel which was built in 1894 is currently used for rail traffic. The canal was closed in 1943 but was re-opened in May 2001. You can go on boat trips into this tunnel from the Marsden end of the tunnel. There is also a visitors centre as well. The nearby tunnel end cottages which formerly housed canal maintenance workers, now houses a cafe and booking office for the 30 minute boat trips into the tunnel.
Tunnel end cottages now the booking office and cafe.
Closer view.
The tunnel entrance in the background with a boat and its tug boat (blue one ) which pulls or pushes the barge through the tunnel.
The tunnel entrance with a train coming through the railway tunnel. You can also see the lights from one of the barges coming out of the canal tunnel.
Closer view of both tunnels.
The entrance.
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THE EXHIBITION CENTRE.
The Standedge tunnel visitor centre is located in a former warehouse. The centre contains exhibits on the history of the tunnels, the canals recent restoration and the Huddersfield narrow canal.
The view looking towards the exhibition centre from the cafe.
The exhibition centre.
One of the exhibits.
And another.
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A FEW PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE COUNTRYSIDE AROUND STANDEDGE.
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