Spinkhill Tunnel
Spinkhill Tunnel is a disused twin-track railway tunnel south of Spinkhill railway station in Derbyshire, England.
History
The 501 yards long tunnel was opened by the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway on 21 September 1898. It was the only tunnel on its Beighton Branch which ran north westwards from Langwith Junction to Beighton Junction. The LD&ECR and its successors always referred to Spinkhill station, tunnel and signalbox as "Spink Hill", though the spelling "Spinkhill" is now universal. See, for example, railway tickets in the Glynn Waite collection.The Beighton Branch lost its local passenger traffic at the outbreak of World War II but remained in use for excursions, diversions and relief, together with its prime purpose - coal. Spinkhill station had an extra role - schools specials at the start and end of term at Mount St Mary's School in Spinkhill.
The line through the tunnel was closed on 9 January 1967 and was subsequently lifted, though tracks almost to the tunnel mouth from the north remained in use until 1984 for wagon storage and shunting at Westthorpe Colliery, Killamarsh.