A double-bore abandoned railway tunnel between Penistone and Wortley, 924 feet (282m) in total length. The original single-bore tunnel was opened in 1845 on the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway. A second bore was added in 1947-1948 during electrification of the Woodhead Line, bearing inscriptions of both 'LNER 1947' and 'BR 1948' as the project straddled railway nationalisation. The tunnels ceased carrying trains in 1983 and the newer bore is now part of the Upper Don Trail, a walking and cycling route forming part of the coast-to-coast Trans Pennine Trail.
15 March 2026
Walking through Thurgoland Tunnel is a real experience. The original bore was built in 1845 for the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway. A second bore was added in 1947-48 during electrification of the Woodhead Line. Look for the twin inscriptions on the portals: 'LNER 1947' and 'BR 1948', marking railway nationalisation. Trains stopped running in 1983 and now it is part of the Trans Pennine Trail.
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