Ross-on-Wye

The Ballingham Railway Bridge (Click for a larger image)

The Ballingham Railway Bridge
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Ballingham Railway Bridge piers
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Site of Ballingham Railway Station
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Ballingham Station has been rebuilt as a private house (dated as 1973) but it can be seen that the platform still exists.

Holme Lacy and Fawley were the originally the only stations between Ross and Hereford; Ballingham and Backney Halt were later additions.

The causeway and track bed are clearly visible when looking south from the road bridge that is just below the station.

Track bed south of Ballingham Station
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The start of the cutting on the north end of Ballingham Railway Tunnel
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Ballingham Tunnel is 1208 yards long and is the region's longest (32nd longest disused tunnel in the UK). The tunnel is straight except for a slight turn to the east close to the southern end.

The north end of the tunnel is not too difficult to access and the cutting has been cleared making it even easier to get to. The tunnel mouth is completely open.

The north end tunnel mouth of Ballingham Rail Tunnel
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The deterioration at the north end tunnel mouth
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The face of the tunnel mouth has started to deteriorate and has begun to collapse. The mouth is stone faced but the bricks show clear signs that there have been significant repairs made when the tunnel was in service.

The view looking north up the cutting is an impressive view.

Looking out of the north end tunnel mouth
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North end brick liner
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Looking south it is clear to see that there is a brick liner to the tunnel at this point.

The brick liner does not extend that far into the tunnel and is in a good condition. The rest of the tunnel is lined with what looks like local sandstone.

End of the brick liner
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Original brick reinforcements
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At a number of points at the north end some brick reinforcements have been added to the tunnel walls. These are substantial structures and are also in good condition.

Inside Ballingham Tunnel looking north
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Ballingham Tunnel looking north from further in
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The walls of the tunnel have a number of brick patches in them that were made either during the building or when in service.

Patches in the tunnel walls
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Roof of Ballingham Tunnel
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The roof of the tunnel has the usual brick strip used to reinforce the centre.

The tunnel is not fully stone lined as the builders have clearly has to work with particularly large intrusions of harder bedrock and have built these into the walls.

Ballingham Tunnel wall
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A refuge in the tunnel wall
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All of the refuges are of a similar design with a red brick caps. Some are brick lined, some are stone lined and others are cut straight into the bedrock. This one has used both brick and bedrock as part of its surround.

Bricks collapsing in a refuge
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A refuge collapsed into the tunnel
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Calcite deposits on the walls
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Calcite deposits on the roof
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Calcite deposits
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Calcite deposits around a refuge
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Looking out of the south end tunnel mouth
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Collapsed cutting at the south end
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The south tunnel mouth is in good condition and shows no sign of deterioration or previous repairs. It also appears to be more ornate than the northern tunnel mouth. The southern end is stone lined from the mouth inwards and no brick liner or reinforcements have been used.

South end tunnel mouth
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Road bridge - east side
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Road bridge - west side
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