Central Station Tunnel - Chesterfield
One Sunday afternoon at the start of 2024, I finally decided to check out Chesterfield Tunnel. It’s around an hour away from me, but I’d always been put off by rumors of cameras, sensors, and loud alarms supposedly installed to keep trespassers out. This sounded rather peculiar for a disused railway tunnel, so curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to see it for myself.
Upon arriving, I quickly discovered that these rumors were unfounded. The only visible security measure was a palisade fence, which, frankly, looked very climbable. The most challenging part turned out to be waiting for a gap in foot traffic. It seems the tunnel has a certain mystique, as many passersby would stop to peer through the gaps in the fence, craning their necks for a glimpse of the dark interior. Some parents even issued stern warnings to their children about the fictional dangers lurking within. Like clockwork, however, the NPC’s moved along without any thought of entering and carried on the day.
After spending a good ten minutes trying to look inconspicuous—vaping and typing on my phone—the coast was finally clear.
The tunnel’s sloped entrance is a stark reminder of how uninspiring modern brutalist architecture can be. It’s a simple, functional slab of concrete, clearly designed for efficiency and cost-saving, with only a faint trace of the original brickwork left behind. It’s almost as if it’s there to mock us, a subtle reminder of how far we’ve drifted from taking pride in our structures. As drab as the entrance may be, it does exude a certain ominous charm, which might explain why so many passersby view it with suspicion.
The tunnel itself is relatively short, and after a few minutes of walking, I could see faint light creeping in from the northern end. A central drainage channel runs the full length of the tunnel, though to the left, silt has accumulated, sometimes reaching knee-deep in wet weather.
At the northern exit, even more concrete awaited, leading to the base of a ladder shaft. Intrigued, I climbed to the top, only to find a firmly locked chain and padlock barring the way. With no other choice, I retraced my steps and made my way back the same way.
History
“Built in the late 19th century this disused railway tunnel located in Chesterfield was part of the Great central railway an extension of its line between Nottingham and Sheffield. On departing the old Chesterfield Central Station, the railway entered the 474-yard straight tunnel, before emerging from under Hollis Lane in the town center. Passenger services were suspended in 1963 and the Great Central station closed in March later that year although the tunnel continued in use until the following January. The station was demolished in 1973 to make way for the town's inner relief road, while the tunnel’s northern portal and about 25 yards of brickwork were also cut back for the road, which opened in 1984. 75 years later the tunnel sits empty becoming part of the local landscape within a busy main road and town center. There is still meter signage along the wall along with alcoves every few meters with the ladderway at the far end being a newer modification in its history. The tunnel's inadequate drainage results in it being prone to flooding and sometimes several feet deep on occasions”.
