Belsize Tunnel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Belsize tunnel is a railway tunnel at Belsize Park on the Midland Main Line between Kentish Town and West Hampstead Thameslink.
Overview | |
---|---|
Line | Midland Main Line |
Location | Camden, London |
Coordinates | 51°33′08.70″N 0°09′26.3″W |
Operation | |
Work begun | 1865 |
Opened | 1867 |
Owner | Network Rail |
Technical | |
Length | 1,867 yards (1,707 m)[1] |
It was built between 1865 and 1867 for the Midland Railway extension from Bedford to London St Pancras. The ceremony of laying the first brick was performed on 27 January 1865[2] by Mr. Price, the chairman of the company, at Barham Road, Haverstock Hill. The contract price for the tunnel was £250,000 (equivalent to £30,190,000 in 2023).[3]
The last brick was laid on 20 June 1867 by the chairman when the directors of the railway travelled along the line between Bedford and London.[4]
The construction of the line out of St Pancras consisted of four tracks for the first 6 miles (9.7 km), with the exception of the Belsize Tunnel which only had two tracks.[5] This was remedied in 1884[6] by the completion of another tunnel running parallel, to allow the full route of 6 miles to expand to four running lines. It was built under the Midland Railway (Additional Powers) Act, 1881.[7] The additional tunnel was designed by W.H. Barlow, with James Campbell as reference engineer.[8]
It comprises two tunnels 1 mile (1.6 km) long plus strainer arches and buttressed cuttings in the east arch.[9]