MAPPERLEY TUNNEL IS DANGEROUS
Mapperley tunnel was opened in 1875. 1 person died during its construction in 1874. The tunnel was part of the great northern railway and went from what is now the gedling country park to where weaverthorpe road is now. 12 yards of the tunnel's roof collapse in 1925, It was repaired. In the 1950s speed restrictions were put in place and in 1960 the tunnel was closed and tracks removed.
It is the 25th of November 2020 and only the Eastern portal remains open, the walls of the eastern portal are collapsing and only a small pillar of brick is holding it up. As you head into the tunnel it becomes more like a rainforest. When walking in the tunnel you should keep to the sides, Large uncovered drains are located in the centre of the tunnel (one of these is under the fallen wooden beams at the entrance). There are 3 vents in the ceiling of the tunnel called pepperpots, The first vent is open and you can up the shaft, The second is open but a large pile of trash is blocking the bottom of the shaft, The 3rd has been filled in as a house was built on top. The pepperpots will not be knocked down for the gedling access road. As you get to the first vent you can feel the vibrations of construction vechicles working on the gedling access road above. Just after the first vent is some track parts (the actual tracks have been scattered in the forest near the abandoned cars). After that is a part of a train, from here if you put your torch on max distance you might start to see the massive trash pile. The trash pile is in the middle of the tunnel and is full of things from long ago (one thing I found was a pepsi can from the 1970's). You should turn back when you get to the trash pile as after the trash pile the tunnel is filled in, you can walk on it but its very difficult and it gets hard to breathe.