Chirk Tunnel is empty and just look at the state its in. Photos

[rogeriko]

Every boat that's ever hit the walls has taken out the brickwork its going to take them months to fix this. They finally got it empty and somewhat cleaned out only to find great big holes all the way through. The pumps are working continuously to maintain the flow. They have numbered the damaged areas, only 420!! The locals say it has never been emptied before but I don't know if that's true or not. You can see how the brickwork wraps around under the water making a complete tubular tunnel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RLWP]

Interesting that the brickwork slopes up at the ends - I wonder why?

 

Richard

[Dorlan]

Interesting that the brickwork slopes up at the ends - I wonder why?

 

Richard

 

Probably because the portal is wider than the rest of the tunnel...

 

[RLWP]

Could be. There might be a transition from a flat bottomed canal to the tunnel section too

 

Richard

[matty40s]

Good answer, I was thinking of technical explanations like load bearing against local strata, however, when you see that shot, it is pretty obvious.

Could be. There might be a transition from a flat bottomed canal to the tunnel section too

Richard

not sure, the very low brickwork is normal lay.

[AndrewIC]

They have numbered the damaged areas, only 420!!

That's probably a distance marker: Chirk tunnel is 421m long...

[springy]

Circular or oval brickwork for the tunnel is a much stonger construction - the same principles which apply to the strength

of the overhead arch apply to the "underneath arch", I'm not sure but ISTR that many canal tunnels actually have a

circular or oval cross section.

 

springy

[pearley]

They make modern railway tunnels wider at the entrances to reduce the sudden increase in air pressure as the train enters but I don't think that would be a problem on a canal.

[RLWP]

They make modern railway tunnels wider at the entrances to reduce the sudden increase in air pressure as the train enters but I don't think that would be a problem on a canal.

 

Although it might make sense in the way the water behaves as the boat enters

 

Richard

[PaulG]

Brilliant photos.

Personally I just loved the "canal closed" sign.

As if the orange barrier mash and lack of water was not enough of a clue...