FALL OF A RAILWAY TUNNEL.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 258, 29 May 1868, Page 3

FALL OF A RAILWAY TUNNEL.

An accident of a serious character, but fortunately unattended by loss of life, Happened on Wednesday, on the Knighton and Central Wales branch of the London and North-Western Railway. This line extends from the Craven Arms to Flanurtydd, and in a

distance of a little over 48 miles passes under three tunnels. For the last two months a gang of men have heen engaged at every favorable opportunity in casing with brick the tunnel near Llangunllo station, a costly work undertaken by the company, as a means of giving additional strength to the arches, and more as a matter of precaution than of necessity. On Wednesday, however, the precaution was justified by the sudden collapse of a portion of the tunnel at the Knighton end, which had not yet been reached by the workmen. The last train had passed through in safety some hours previous, and none of the workmen or officialsbeingabout nofatality occurred. The line was, of course, completely blocked up, and for some time all traffic was stopped; but in the course of the day arrangements were made whereby the ordinary traffic was resumed, trains running up to either terminus of the tunnel, and the passengers walking across, and joining the train in waiting on the other side. The tunnel is nearly three-quarters of a mile in length, and was constructed about four years ago.