Lee Moor Tramway - Leigham section part 2

From the photo just posted if you continue walking up the hill you eventually come to this tunnel entrance. It is vandalised a bit now and the track level seems to be raised a bit from the earliest photos I have seen of this entrance. The tunnel itself was one of the earliest rail tunnels in the country. It was 620 yards long, 8 feet 6 inches wide, and 9 feet 6 inches high. This line was finally discontinued as late as 1960 with most of the line being lifted by 1962.
For more on the history of this fascinating little line I can recomend the book below. It is the definative history of the line.

The Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway and the Lee Moor Tramway

Lee Moor Tramway - Leigham section part 1

From the modern transit of the previous few days posts I go way back in time to one of the earliest tramway routes. The Lee Moor Tramway which made its way from Plymouth Sutton Harbour, to Marsh Mills and then uphill all the way up onto Dartmoor. The line opened in 1823 from Crabtree, in Plymouth to near Princetown on Dartmoor. the extension to Sutton Harbour was opened a while later. At its peak the line was more than 25 miles. I have been looking into this route and aim to walk it where possible. Today I walked part of the Leigham section. I will eventually have more pictures and details on my new web site I am planning but for now here is a photo looking up towards Leigham having come in from the Crabtree end of the short section of track that is still visible. This is now a footpath through the woods, just down from a modern housing estate. Also visible in this picture are some of the flag stones which the track was laid onto. These are still there in one or two places and apart from the path itself are one of the very few reminders of the history behind this 'footpath'. My wife and son can be seen on the path waiting for me to finish taking pictures!