there is definately something worth more poking around at. It could obviously be space in between huge lumps of rubble but it might not be. I think I will spend some time on the internet trying to get as much info as possible about the quarry to try to work out what I might be looking for. I could do with an exact GPS location of the split in the line to see if it compares with the coordinates I have for the shed structure- I think it is too far to the right .
I didn't realise the line carried on past the great cutting and then divides in two, is that a turnstile or whatever you call it for trains/trams/trolleys?
I was in the woods for nearly two hours taking pictures and GPS readings, unfortunately, the GPS readings are not accurate enough to make sense (I measured a resolution of about 30yds). Anyway, I am pretty sure I know where the turntable was and that is just a few yards south of the rod that started this topic.
The Apex most certainly isn't part of a larger structure.
Bernie's concrete block is on the corner immediately south of the entrance to the great cutting, the northern corner has other material, these might just be scrapings from some bulldozing.
I understand how the quarry was formed, basically they didn't dig down - they dug sideways - firstly along the great cutting then north and south from the turntable position. I strogly suspect they went south first and gave up on this part then headed north - all of this going HORIZONTAL the tram lins were at the bottom of the pits and level with the entrance to the great cutting.
The western wall of the "North of turntable" quarry is very clear to see, you can see the rock, the eastern wall is presumably in the ramp up to the Mount Road wall, which is starting to get too brambley to penetrate and is builtup with soil.
Looking at the growth - I would say the pit to the south of the turntable was closed and filled in along time before the pit to the North, because everything to the north is clear to see.
Here is a map showing the great cutting and the Northern Pit .. the great cutting DEFINATELY goes straight through the middle of the opening. You can see the western line of the pit quite clearly.
Thanks for that report. I'm sure your analysis of the site is correct. The line was pretty well level from the turntable to the Mount Rd. tunnel, with a variation of no more than about 10 feet. After that, it descended to the Stone Quay quite rapidly, with a gradient of up to 1 in 20. The only motive power used was Shire horses; they would haul laden wagons from the quarry to the eastern end of the Mount Rd. tunnel, from where gravity would take over. The horses would haul the empty wagons back to the quarry.
Who else remembers the large deep section of the storton quarry that was on the other side of mount road been filled in. Seem to remember it was during the 1960s or perhaps the early 70s
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Who else remembers the large deep section of the storton quarry that was on the other side of mount road been filled in. Seem to remember it was during the 1960s or perhaps the early 70s
I do, it was probably 70s. it was bought as an investment for future building land. I am not sure but it may have been free or cheap tipping of certain materials till the quarry had been filled in. I remember as they got near to the top only soil could be tipped. As far as i know, so many years have to pass for the land to settle before building can commence.
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Yes, I remember it well, back in the 1940's/50's. It had water in the bottom as I remember. It was filled in in the late '60's with the spoil from the Wallasey tunnel. I don't know how long it has to be left before it can be built on, but it looks like a prime site (well, maybe not at present). However, the bit of land at the East end of the Mount Rd. tunnel has been filled in & built on.
A nice series; thanks. Now, from the point where you took the last pic., the line ran level into the quarry, so if we were able to figure out how much higher the Western edge of the quarry is, we'd know the depth. Any surveyors on here?
Highest reading on GPS was 83 yds and lowest was 65 yds, but again resolution of GPS was poor and only had 6 satellites up, need around 10 to get reasonable accuracy on height.
The 18 yds above sounds about right, I can't imagine a narrowish cutting with a depth of more than 54 ft, definately a hard-hat zone!
@Chris Are your 1:10 and 1:20 figures quotes for this quarry or normal practice?
I could string it to find out but too much risk of decapitating dogs/kids/people.
Have we got BMs on maps?
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Your GPS figures are in the ballpark with those I've just got on Google Earth, (but I don't know how accurate they are). I get: Western edge = 237ft. & preserved rails point = 200ft. However, I've just found some info. in the book about the Mersey Tunnel (Queensway). This was published in 1934 to commemorate the opening & contains much technical detail. I'll paraphrase the relevant bit. "Filling of Storeton quarry...over 500 yards long & varying in depth from 25 to 80ft." (They dumped 453,000 tons there). My thoughts now are: the line came through the cutting to the turntable & then lines radiated from there as shown on the drawing I posted earlier. All this essentially on the level. Then the quarry, apart from where the tracks were, was dug deeper & the stone lifted to track level by crane. Cranes are shown on the drawing, although these would have been needed anyway just to lift from track level onto the wagons. This could account for the "25 to 80ft." So; maybe the turntable was only 25ft. below the rim & that would also have been the maximum depth of the Great Cutting. My previous quoted 1:20 gradient is from "The Storeton Tramway" book. I didn't say a 1:10 gradient, but noted that the total height variation from turntable to Mount Rd. tunnel was no more than 10ft. This also from figures in the book. Can't find a map of the area with BM's; don't think there'd be any in the middle of the woods anyway.
My eye popped out my head when I read 500 yds, but that quarry map above was 1870, quarry carried on northward after that and of course they must be including the south quarry as well.
Here is 1918 map which gives quarry about 500 yds end of north to end of south minus a bit for the middle.
I notice the road entrance to the quarry from the north, I thought I noticed another gap in the west wall, this will be another cutting.
The two huts are on the 1913 map.
We don't do charity in Germany, we pay taxes. Charity is a failure of governments' responsibilities - Henning Wehn
