The British Pathe footage of the Chalk works www.britishpathe.com/video/the-chalk-getters-a-wharram-study

I have actually walked all the way through from South to North (and back). I went with a friend of mine who had been through before. It must have been around 1988 and just after the second collapse, as we had to climb over two tunnel fall debris piles. The water was quite deep between the debris piles as it is 'dammed' by them. Climbing up the piles into the voids it was very interesting to see the layers of brickwork. From memory it was about 4-6 layers. We made it through into the North end but there was no way to exit so we had to walk all the way back. An interesting feature was the ice stalagmites on the tunnel floor for the first 50 metres or so from the South entrance. It must have been after Easter but the tunnel was well insulated from the Spring warmth and quite cold inside. At that time, there were big double doors on the South entrance which must have been left open in the Winter. We used to do some stupidly dangerous things back then! We were rock climbers and dabbled in a bit of caving but this was a bit over the limit.

The tunnel collapse looks like a hydraulic break through, where the lined the tunnel in the chalk when it was dry and failed to allow for enough drainage behind the wall during heavy rain periods! I have seen it before in some places, generally caused by poor hydrology investigation by the engineers. Water bleeds through the chalk and builds up in large amounts behind the Brickwork, it then finds a weakness or a crack and pushes through. It also happens in mines in shale areas and also in underground fortifications.

Yes 30 mins of greatness

Impressed that you managed to walk through the wall at the end of that tunnel...

Martin, watching your video brought back many memories of this area. In the late 1950’s I was a teenager living in Hull. We would cycle out to Burdale on a weekend and push our bikes through the tunnel. Heading north was tricky as there was a bend near the northern portal so we were always heading into darkness. No powerful torches in those days, just feeble Ever Ready bike lights. I seem to recall that there was always a lot of water running from the air shafts, some of which are 300 ft deep. So I am not surprised there has been a collapse; that’s a lot of bricks to support. From the northern portal we would go and explore the abandoned church at Wharram Percy. Heading back south through the tunnel was a lot easier as once past the bend we had a speck of daylight to aim for. Quite an adventure at the time.

I saw james walking up Rochdale road, Royton a couple weeks back. I had 1 of them “I know him but I can’t think where from” moments...5 mins later it twigged who it was!

Amazing the brickwork at the chalk works seems to be in good condition. Those drops in the woods are deadly I’m surprised they haven’t been back filled or fenced off

Great content. I live in Bakersfield California USA. The Tehachapi Loop a very old still used realign with many tunnels that go through the Tehachapi Mountains from Bakersfield and then over to Mojave is still in working order today the loop for such a steep grade is so big and the trains are so long that they actually loop around and meet each other front to back each time they use the loop when I was a young girl passengers still were allowed to ride the Tehachapi Loop and I got to ride it one day look it up it's a famous historic train track and destination.

Great video as usual - well done Martin, James and Andrew. When construction of the tunnel started it was going to be for double track, but the company had financial problems and to save costs the tunnel design was changed for single track, that is the reason for the change in size after the first few hundred yards. As a matter of interest the Resident Engineer for the railway under construction was Alfred Dickens, who was the younger brother of Charles Dickens.

At last - a video from the right side of the hills - brilliant 👍

Because I watched this I now know that a steam shovel typically had a 3 man crew. Watched this video...then watched "the chalk getters"..then wondered about the steam shovel in that video and researched about that topic too. Martin Zero...leading to learning 👍😁

Fascinating, I really appreciate how you take the time to show buildings in context, too many KZfaqrs wave the camera about and don’t stop to take in the details such as pointing up chimneys and around the outsides of structures. Also really helps that you show a map and explain where a new location is in relation to the previous one. I am intrigued as to how you got into the tunnel since there didn’t appear to be a door on the second end you visited, only on the first...?

Thanks for this great video, it is great to see how the tunnells were built and lined. It is a lost art. Fascinating. Another masterpiece Martin and team.

Martin. Thanks for these videos. I can't get out and about at the moment but these are very much the next best thing. Cheers.

Epic explore ... definitely something 99.9999% of us would never have seen without you're video.... please keep up the good work

The addition of the operational movie was brilliant. After your comprehensive explore of the site it was amazing to see how it was in operation. Another excellent presentation, luv ya work, thanks.

Hi from the USA and Thanks for sharing. Loving all you do, I enjoy thr history of everything you show wish I could visit your beautiful country one day.

Absolutely stunning! Visually and historically. Man oh man, thanks. That is awesome.!

Its brilliant that these places are still there to see. Amazing history. Awesome Martin. Fantastic

Wow are used to live in Kingston upon Hull when I was younger didn’t know any of that was there well done Martin thank you

We were round that area this year walked past the chalk works and to the closed off entrance to that amazing tunnel so much work left unseen under those hills . Thanks showing me what i never got to see.

Another great video, thank you. Lovely to see James again, I’ve missed him and Connor as well.

Fantastic, that piece of detached lining looked like a piece of art. Fantastic video.

Outstanding footage Martin. Thank you so much..

Love VIDEOS Always Great Time Love the History thank you for taking us along

Brilliant, as always. I've been watching your videos for a couple of years now and the production just keeps getting better and better. The music is fantastic too.

Thanks for a great video and the link to the chalk works video great to see things then and now

Wharram Percy is a deserted mediaeval village-I seem to remember from my historical geography many years ago.

Fascinating once again Martin, especially the link to the old film archive.

Great video and so interesting, nice to see Andrew with you he also does some crackin stuff, xx

Brilliant...! That chalk works is huge - anything like that down our way is long gone and flats built...

Always a pleasure watching your shows, Martin. Great lighting! Bravo!

Great video and the movie was amazing. Thank you Martin and friends cheers from Oz.

Hi Martin,yet another great and informative video,absolutely loved it.

An absolutely great upload full of information as always. Martin, keep up the top content and stay safe buddy

Another cracking video Martin, again we're seeing those bricks peel away from one another! Fascinating to see the decay that can happen once something like this is left.

Great videos Martin, thank you!

Very well presented Never seen brick work come away like that before you were wise to get out sharply. Thanks mate keep up the good work. 👍

Thank you Martin a nice video see you next week.

Loved that some tunnels do give ya the creeps and ya feel uneasy or unsettled .. but thanks for sharing this one martin stay safe mate ...keep up the great work Frank & Lee...

Another great video Martin, I can never wait for my weekly dose of industrial heritage... Keep them coming!

Fascinating, I didn't know anything about the chalk works and drive past that route to Beverly quite often. The Pathe video really brings it to life. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Always fascinating industrial history and a scenic tour of more stunningly beautiful British countryside. Your infectious enthusiasm makes the video even more appealing. I look forward to your next adventure.

I thought challenge anneka was back at the beginning! Great work as always Martin keep up the excellent videos. Stay safe my friend.

Awesome vid Mart, The photos were excellent inside the tunnel. The drone footage showing where the chalk works were - fab! You were right, if a piece came down a hard hat would unfortunately not help! Stay safe mate!

Wow another stunning production.. With the bonus is amazeing.

Great video thank for sharing 👍

This is brilliant. I've a deep interest in Industrial and Transport history and these videos bring a lot of things to life each week. I'd love to have been able to see some of the items featured in use.

Hey Martin! Yet another great video thanks

That is one amazing video. I don’t live too far from there so I’m going to take a look next summer

Another excellent video thanks Martin, really makes Sundays better, really look forward to watching your vlogs, please keep them coming stay safe

Another cracking video Martin. Thank you very much.

Brilliant, Burdale Tunnel has mystified me for years having read about the difficulty building it, I always thought it was a no go area but you have proved me wrong! That collapse looks immense, I would never dare 😬🤐

Another great one Martin. Always looking forward to your videos.

Another Gem from Martin , thanks mate !

Thanks Martin for yet another lovely vlog ❤️🙏👍🏻👍🏻

Loved the video Martin, the tunnel and the ventilation shafts and all. Always amazing to see what time does to the works of men, gets my adrenaline going watching these adventures!

Hi Martin thank you for an interesting video 😎 All the best 😃🍻👍🏻

You weren't wrong about the dust having just watched the archive footage 👍 Great vid again Martin ☺

Probably Lime kilns, where limestone and chalk were burned, to create lime for cement manufacture. Sunday evenings sitting at work are always made better by a Martin Zero video. The very best way to travel without moving. Thank you yet again. Nice one. Part of my job is to hand out a right of way token to rail workers who need access to a seldom used rail spur and set of sidings that run through the dock area where I work. The spur is used to park heavy maintenance gear until it is needed. The token is a solid brass rod, about 12" in length, very battered and heavy, with the spur name stamped into it. I hand it out about once a fortnight.

Fascinating chaps..genuinely loved this video..I live in East Yorks so going to check it out next week

Eyup Martin never thought I would be interested in railway history, but you make it so interesting with your passion and great video content, keep em coming lad, 👍

Hi Martin thanks for your video and thank you for the link to the original video , great to see what you were taking about in action all those years ago . Keep the vids coming mate 👍🏻

You find the most amazing places Martin

Hey Martin, standard bottom fired lime kiln, the funny shaped bricks are fire bricks and designed to be hot at one end but remain stable at the other end. I have seen equally old ones here, very much the same design but used for reducing oyster and other seashells to lime. Also very similar are charcoal kilns which have a cap with adjustable ventilation to semi smother the fire burning in the layered timbers placed in the kiln.

Ace, Martin. I really, really, really needed that does of sanity. Many thanks, man.

Hi Martin, wow what a fantastic and very informative video. Where do I start, there was so much history crammed into this episode and all of it absolutely fascinating. I was so scared the vibration from your voices was going to bring down another chunk of that tunnel. A big thanks to Andrew and James and also yourself. Thank you for sharing, much love. xx💖

Thanks so much for that Martin it was quite exciting. Those bricks are beautiful. I love the way tunnels are used for bats what a fantastic way to use use them. I’m so pleased you didnt go any further, we don’t want you being hurt. Thanks so much for taking me along and p,ease stay safe and take care

Nice Video as always Martin :)

That was actually quite fascinating. Thank you.

Awesome video Martin. That collapse in the tunnel had me on tenterhooks, also when you went and stood on top of the second shaft, after showing us the first collapsed one ! Awesome

Damn it Martin, you got me again. It was always the abandoned houses that got me down but this time it was the railway hut. I can imagine someone being in there in Winter with the fire blazing to keep warm, going out to give a train driver a token or whatever it was called and coming back into the warmth. Now the hut stands deserted and deteriorating, in a few years it might be just a pile of bricks. It's the personal aspect of these finds that makes me a little sad, wondering what life and work must have been like for whoever was in there. Kudos for going into that tunnel, wherever the access opening is, it must be pretty friggin' big to have allowed your gigantic nads to fit through ; )

What a cracking video! You've done it again, made my morning. Thanks.

I love the fact that its a bat refuge now, it's like we said "Here you are nature, we used this for a while but now its yours again, enjoy!"

Another great video, love the camera work, the backing track really helps bring things to life, great work and content. Thanks Martin

Another interesting story Martin, about somewhere I've never heard of. I did visit the NYMR many, many years ago, so I've been to Malton. I had heard of the line but never the industry along it's course. The Pathé footage brought it all to life - great find!! You're pushing the limits a wee bit with these tunnels though; a disused tunnel is one thing; a collapsed one is something entirely different. Elf & Safety would have a fit. Thanks for taking us along on another adventure. 👍👌😁 Cheers for now, Dougie.

Despite the surviving tunnel and industrial buildings I find it very pleasing when a humble little railway hut still stands. A cracking video again thanks.

Thanks Guys. What an amazing trip.

Keep up the Great Videos love the content.

Have an Awesome Sunday, as always Great Video

Excellent video Martin, I remember when this line was open, it was freight only then. Just the odd excursion train. The chalk works I knew nothing about until today. Keep em coming.

Fantastic. Music brilliant.thoroughly enjoyed that. Thank you.

great vid thanks for sharing

Nice to see you in my neck of the woods I only live in Bridlington I visited there many times great video mate 👍

Wonderful as always

Great trip Martin enjoyed your adventure you have a good group of people with you thank & your friends. John Rooney

Brilliant as always. 🙂

Nice 😉 another adventure! Good night Martin 😉

Fantastic video very interesting

Another great vlog👍

Great photo comparison of the line just before the tunnel. Great job Martin.

Another belter of a video mate thank you, another treck of a journey aswell haha 👍🏻 Andy from Wigan

Another fascinating video Martin. That area must have been an industrial powerhouse back in the day, must have employed thousands of people over the years to build and work the railway, chalk works, quarry and lime kilns. Always makes me wonder where they all lived, it seems quite a remote place. Wonderful to see nature reclaiming it and gradually healing the man made scars in the landscape. This was a brilliant watch.

Always an adventure to watch a video.It is history with a look at what will be more videos and discoveries in the future.

Fantastic day out. Thank you chaps. Can you imagine the sound that collapse would have made through the tunnel! Hope you enjoyed your egg buttie James.

The Pathe film was the perfect ending to this adventure. Thanks Martin

This was captivating to the highest caliber. The chaulkworks at first resembled a shell, but as you explored more it revealed a fascinating story including the chute that filled trains. And the tunnel just made me have even more respect for the men who built it,Navies

Thanks for the fascinating vid. The tunnel looks incredible. I'm thrilled to see how 'un-chavved' a lot of the victorian post-industrial stuff is in north yorks. Anywhere closer to the cities, those original tunnel-building brick frames would have long gone.

Great video thanks for sharing some excellent finds