Going underground…

摘要

If you'd been at the west portal of Standedge Tunnel in early February, you might just have spotted this unlikely looking contraption reversing into the darkness. Known as a Truxor', it's a kind of amphibious tractor that had been brought in specially to clear a blockage of silt about 250 metres in from the Diggle end of Britain's longest and highest canal tunnel. The machine's hydraulic bucket was used to clear silt which had been brought down into the tunnel by the heavy rain falling on the Pennines. "Not only have we had to bring in specialist equipment, we've had to take specialist advice from a mining consultant who is experienced in confined spaces to make sure the work is undertaken in a safe and efficient way," said Project manager Mark Weatherall. The completion of the work means that the tunnel can open to through-navigation and to the regular passenger trips on 19 March as planned.