Thames Tunnel

The Thames Tunnel is a tunnel in London. It crosses the River Thames and connects the districts of Rotherhithe and Wapping together. The tunnel is about 10 feet wide and 366 feet long. It was completed in 1843 and was the world's first tunnel under a river. The engineers responsible were Marc Isambard Brunel and his son Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Originally, the tunnel had been built for horse-drawn carriages, but he has never been used in this way, but first as a pedestrian and then as a railway tunnel. Here to operate until 2007 metro trains the East London Line, which belonged to the London Underground. Since 2010 courses of the London Overground.

History

The first projects

At the beginning of the 19th century, the need for a new link from the North grew to the South Bank to link the expanding docks on both sides of the river together. The engineer Ralph Dodd undertook in 1799 an unsuccessful attempt, between Gravesend and Tilbury to build a tunnel.

Between 1805 and 1809 a group of miners from Cornwall, including Richard Trevithick tried upriver to build a tunnel between Rotherhithe and Wapping. But the plan failed due to the difficult ground conditions. The miners of Cornwall were accustomed to hard rock and had not adapted their methods of construction to the soft clay and quicksand. The project " Thames Archway " was discontinued after 305 had been dug out of a total of 366 meters. Even with the completion of the benefit of the tunnel would have been doubtful: With a width of only 2-3 feet ( 61-91 cm) and a height of 5 feet (1.52 m ), he was much too tight.

The failure of the project resulted in the engineers to the widespread view that a tunnel under a body of water can not be realized. However, a native of France engineer Marc Isambard Brunel was not convinced. In 1814 he presented to the Russian Tsar Alexander I. a plan to tunnel under the Neva River in Saint Petersburg. Although the plan was rejected in favor of a bridge, but Brunel developed his new tunneling methods further.

Construction work

Brunel and Thomas Cochrane patented in January 1818 the Tunnelbohrschild, which brought with it a significant step forward for the tunnel construction. 1823 Brunel designed a plan for a tunnel between Rotherhithe and Wapping, with its newly developed method of tunneling should be used. Several investors, including the Duke of Wellington, funded the project. 1824, the Thames Tunnel Company was founded in February 1825, work began.

The first step was the construction of a large bay on the south bank at Rotherhithe, 150 feet (46 m) from the river bank. To this end, in one an iron ring with a diameter of 50 feet (15.24 m). It was a 40 feet ( 12.19 m ) high and 3 feet ( 91 cm) thick brick wall. This was a steam engine which powered the pumps. The entire apparatus weighed about 1,000 tons. Below the sharp lower edge of the ring remote workers by hand the soil. The whole shaft thus gradually sank under its own weight to the desired depth. In November, the shaft was completed and the tunnel construction work could begin.

The built in Lambeth and assembled in the bay of Rotherhithe Tunnelbohrschild was the key element in the construction of the Thames Tunnel. With this, the walls of the excavated tunnel could be supported. However, many workers and also at Brunel diseased dirty water that dripped from the river through the tunnel ceiling. When in April 1826 still chief engineer William Armstrong fell ill, took over the 20-year old Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Marc's son, the line.

The construction work proceeded slowly, about 3 to 4 meters per week. To earn some money, the tunnel company allowed to visit the site. Approximately 600 to 800 visitors per day paid a shilling for this adventure. On January 18, 1827 now 549 feet ( 167 m ) were dug, the tunnel was flooded suddenly. Isambard Kingdom Brunel was lowered from a boat a diving bell to repair the hole in the riverbed can. This was done by the plug with the opening bags filled with clay. After completion of the repairs and the drainage of the tunnel Brunel held in a banquet.

On January 12, 1828, the tunnel was flooded again. Six workers died and Isambard Kingdom Brunel narrowly escaped drowning. Due to financial problems of the tunnel company, the tunnel was bricked up in August. The project rested for seven years until it Marc Brunel succeeded to raise new funds, including a loan from the Treasury in the amount of 247,000 GBP. The work was resumed in February 1836 a new Tunnelbohrschild had to be installed.

Renewed flooding and fires and leaks in the hydrogen sulfide and methane tanks were reluctant to complete the project also continues. It was only in November 1841, the tunnel construction could be completed. Then the tunnel with lights, a road and spiral staircases was fitted. On the south side, a power house with the drainage machine was designed. Finally, the tunnel was opened on March 25, 1843.

Pedestrian tunnel

Although the Thames Tunnel was a triumph of engineering, he proved not to be a financial success. Construction costs amounted to £ 454,000, the equipment further £ 180,000, well above the initial cost estimates. The proposal to widen the entrance to allow use by wagons had to be rejected for cost reasons. So the tunnel was used by pedestrians. The Thames tunnel developed into a tourist attraction with around two million visitors per year. Each paid a penny to pass and the tunnel has been sung in numerous popular songs. However, Karl Baedeker II pointed out in his first London Guide of 1862 indicate that the then annual revenues of approximately 5000 pounds had hardly enough to cover the damage caused by the seepage of spring water repair costs. The American traveler William Allen Drew wrote: " No one goes to London without visiting the tunnel. " He described the tunnel as the "eighth wonder of the world " and described him very exuberant. In the aftermath of the tunnel attracted many prostitutes who were waiting for customers. Pickpockets hid behind the arches to steal from passersby.

Railway tunnel

The threatened by constant financial worries Tunnel Company sold in November 1865 Tunnel to the East London Railway. Comprised of six railway companies consortium intended the tunnel as part of a connection for freight and passengers between Wapping (later Liverpool Street) and the South London Line to use. The large gauge had plenty of space for trains. The first train reversed on 7 December 1869. In 1884, the input shafts no longer used have been converted into Wapping and Rotherhithe stations. The East London Railway later went to London Underground. By 1962, even goods trains ran on the track.

On 25 March 1995, the tunnel was closed for a long time to carry out renovations. His condition became so bad that London Underground publicly stated that the East London Line would have to be closed permanently, the tunnel should can not be repaired. The proposed method, the spraying of concrete, led to clashes with stakeholders who wanted to get the tunnel in its original condition and questioned the need for the work in question.

The parties agreed to have at both ends a short section unmolested and to treat the rest of the tunnel friendly. On 25 March 1998, much later than originally planned, the tunnel was reopened. As of 22 December 2007, the track was closed again in order not to impede the construction of the extension of the East London Line. The reopening took place on 27 April 2010; Since then, the East London Line is part of London Overground.

Influence

The construction of the Thames Tunnel had proved that, contrary to the earlier skepticism of many engineers was actually possible to build underwater tunnel. In the following decades, originated in the United Kingdom more buildings of this kind; the Tower Subway in London, the Severn tunnel under the Severn and the Mersey Railway Tunnel under the Mersey. All originated with further developments of Brunel Tunnelbohrschild, with particular James Henry Greathead excelled in this area. The historical significance of the tunnel was recognized when he was taken in 1991 by the American Society of Civil Engineers in the List of International Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks and you put the building on 24 March 1995 under monument protection. A plaque in Rotherhithe station is reminiscent of the performances of the two Brunel.

Brunel Engine House

In Rotherhithe the Brunel Engine House, Marc Isambard Brunel, designed by engine house stands. It once housed the pumping machinery and in 1975 saved from decay. Today the building serves as a museum which informs visitors about the construction of the tunnel. On display will be a more modern steam engine, which was donated by the Royal Navy. Several times a year the museum organizes visits to the tunnel.

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