Old Metropolitan Tunnel

Slipping through time, imagine yourself in 1889 at the Old Metropolitan Tunnel. Not the quiet, glowworm-filled space it is now, but a bustling hub of the South Coast Line. The Old Metropolitan Tunnel, originally just “Metropolitan Tunnel,” was a vital artery. It pumped coal from the local colliery uphill to Helensburgh Station, the heart of this small town. At 624 meters long, this tunnel dwarfed its 80-meter companion, the Helensburgh Tunnel. They were both crucial for the town’s first railway station. Both tunnels, along with the station, were retired in 1915. The railway line was rerouted and the colliery repurposed the Old Metropolitan Tunnel as a reservoir. Decades later, in 1995, the colliery cleared the northern entrance, revealing remnants of the original platform. Helensburgh Landcare, recognizing the historical significance, began excavating. By 2001, they’d secured a grant. They used it to restore a section of the tunnel, laying down ballast and even a piece of the old track. The original station sign, rescued from a nearby gully, was also restored and proudly displayed, a testament to the tunnel’s past. This restoration inadvertently created a haven for glow worms, adding another layer of fascination to the Old Metropolitan Tunnel. Sadly, the sign became a target for vandals, repeatedly damaged and removed. Yet, the Old Metropolitan Tunnel persists, a silent witness to the changing fortunes of Helensburgh, from bustling railway hub to a tranquil haven for both history buffs and glowing insects. Its story reminds us that even in the quietest corners, echoes of the past can still resonate.