Trelill Tunnel facts for kids
The Trelill Railway Tunnel is a cool old tunnel built way back in 1895. It was an important part of the North Cornwall Railway network. This railway line used to run a famous train called the Atlantic Coast Express all the way to London! The tunnel helped trains travel between places like Wadebridge and Camelford. It's special because it was the only tunnel on this particular railway route.
The tunnel is about 333 yards long, which is like three football fields end-to-end! It's not a straight tunnel; it has a curve and goes downhill towards a place called St Kew Highway. The tunnel actually runs right underneath the village of Trelill. Its main job was to take the railway line under the village. This made the route more direct for trains traveling between Halwill in Devon and Padstow in Cornwall.
Why the Railway Closed
The railway line that used the Trelill Tunnel closed down on October 3, 1966. This happened because of something called the Beeching cuts. These were big changes to the railway system in the UK, led by a man named Dr. Beeching. The idea was to make the railways more efficient. Many lines that weren't used very much were closed to save money. Even though it was sad for many people, the Trelill Tunnel's railway line was one of those that stopped running.
Where to Find the Tunnel
The Trelill Tunnel is located in Cornwall, England. You can find its two ends, called portals, in these spots:
- North portal: 50°34′12″N 4°45′45″W / 50.570073°N 4.762616°W
- South portal: 50°34′02″N 4°45′50″W / 50.567334°N 4.763796°W
Images for kids
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North portal of tunnel at Trelill
