The Doomed Bolsover Tunnel and the Premature Demise of the Dukeries Route

In this episode of Chesterfield’s Lost Railways, we uncover the tragic story of the Bolsover Tunnel — the engineering failure that sealed the fate of the Lancashire, Derbyshire & East Coast Railway (LD&ECR). Once a key part of the ambitious Dukeries Route between Chesterfield and Lincoln, the tunnel near Bolsover proved to be the weak link in a grand industrial vision.

Join us as we explore what remains of this long-lost railway. We visit the blocked western portal of Bolsover Tunnel, search for its hidden air shafts, and trace the forgotten path of the LD&ECR through Derbyshire's dramatic landscape. From buried infrastructure to ghostly alignments, this is a fascinating journey into Britain’s abandoned railway past.

The LD&ECR was once a bold plan to connect coalfields and ports — but when Bolsover Tunnel began to fail, the route became unsustainable. This episode dives into the history, geology, and ultimate demise of a railway that time forgot.

Perfect for fans of UK railway history, disused lines, industrial archaeology, and transport geography, this is a must-watch for anyone passionate about lost railways and forgotten infrastructure.

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