A fascinating look at the long abandoned Cheshire Lines Railway Tunnels between the former Walton-on-the-Hill station and Kirkdale.
The (CLC) Cheshire Lines Committee, commenced the building of Walton-on-the-Hill tunnels in September 1875. Built by contractors, Messrs Kirk and Parry, architectural and civil engineering, of Sleaford in Lincolnshire. The Railway Line and Tunnel’s were excavated through the sandstone ridge of north east Liverpool, running from Walton-on-the-Hill, through to the east of Kirkdale Station.
An unfortunate modern feature can be seen in the main photograph above, where concrete can be seen protruding through the brick arch of the tunnel. This addition is believed to be part of the foundations of the (A5058) Queens Drive, flyover and roundabout, at the junction of Rice Lane and County Road (A59) above.
Walton-on-the-Hill tunnel is actually formed of 3 tunnels, separated by 2 deep cuttings. The first of the Tunnels from Walton is the 229yd ‘Walton Hill tunnel’ (‘Walton-on-the-Hill No.1’), which opens out into the first 150yd long cutting. Then we enter the longest of the three tunnels at 643yd, ‘Breeze Hill tunnel’ (‘Walton-on-the-Hill No.2’). No.2 tunnel emerges into the second 70yd long cutting, followed by the final 247yd ‘Hawthorne Road tunnel’ (‘Walton-on-the-Hill No.3’).
Originally, Walton-on-the-Hill was intended to consist of two parallel tunnels, with four running lines throughout. Construction of the first double track tunnel was completed and opened for trains. Whilst construction of the second tunnel was started, it was never completed. At Walton, two small sections of the incomplete parallel tunnel were excavated on the east side of main tunnel. Whilst at the south-west end, alongside Hawthorne Road Tunnel (No. 3), the second Tunnel was also partially built, complete with the twin tunnel portals at Kirkdale. These small incomplete sections of the parallel tunnel became simply abandoned.
The Tunnel was finally closed in the spring of 1979, when the remaining single line was lifted and the Tunnel became sealed up and forgotten.
Map showing the location of the Walton CLC Railway Tunnels
Open maps to view in greater detail.
‘Railway Clearing House map’, dated 1909, showing the Old Railways of Liverpool, along with a closeup of the section detailing the three long disused, Walton on the Hill Tunnels.
Cheshire Lines Railway Map. The Lines in Red, show the Railway Lines operated by the Cheshire Lines Railway Company (CLC), in Liverpool and the North West.
A map purchased for my collection of Historic Liverpool maps. A ‘Kelly’s Directories’, ‘Map of Liverpool, Bootle and Suburbs 1903’, showing the Railway network with stations throughout Liverpool.
Click the maps, to view in more detail.
Media Coverage
Stunning pictures reveal the secret tunnels under Walton – Liverpool Echo
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