Bootle Tunnel, Liverpool

Opened in 1881, Alexandra Dock was part of Bootle's northern docks. It had a main basin by the Mersey, plus three branches east. Before Seaforth Dock, it handled grain.

The Midland Railway opened Alexandra & Langton Docks Goods Station nearby. This was on June 1st, 1885. The 2¼-mile Langton branch served it from Fazackerley North Junction. This was on the Cheshire Lines Committee’s North Liverpool extension. The line climbed at 1:80, then reached its peak after 600 yards. After that, it fell at 1:64 for a mile. Two tracks went 100 yards into Bootle Tunnel, the main structure. The gradient then eased to 1:400 to the tunnel's west end.

Locals called it the ‘Half Miley’ tunnel. A central pier splits it in two, with access holes. It used engineering brick and curved at each end. It ran under Marsh Lane, built using cut and cover. The two-part build kept height down. This allowed a low arch where the Leeds & Liverpool Canal crossed over. A tramway also ran through the arch, above springing level. So did an access road for the nearby gas works. The tramway is now a footbridge. The tunnel is sound, but the floor is flooded.

Most of the Langdon branch closed on January 1st, 1968. The last train ran on November 24th. The section from the junction to the gas works lasted four more months. Workers removed the tracks between June and August 1969.

The tunnel’s west approach has been filled in. But the portal's top is still there. The east end is fenced off on all sides.