Hard to believe you had expresses hauled by classes 40 and 45 through there years ago. I’ve been in Gildersome Tunnel three times in the past and walked as far possible. You can’t get out at south/western end because it’s solidly filled in and that entrance is buried.
An old Ordnance Survey map of the area from the early '60s (pre-Beeching) shows that local stations on the line had already been closed and strongly suggests that the line itself was on borrowed time, like the matching Diggle Loop on the other side of the Pennines.
last time i went the portal was pretty much the same as it is now bone dry & that bike was there when i went just moved to current location someone put pics on of the cutting being level with water & it pouring off the top into the cutting too it did come out close to the cinema on the opposite side of the motorway unfortunately the bore is blocked off halfway & remaining tunnel infilled only this side is untouched
