The Caversham Tunnel Built in early 1870s from Burnside to Caversham coming out about opposite the Mobil? service station just below Burnett Street on the Caversham Valley Road. Looking into the Burnside end of tunnel c1948. Photo (K170) from Ian Gilchrist

I think this is the Burnside end of the tunnel but it could just as easily be the Caversham end c1948. Photo (K169) from Ian Gilchrist The length of the tunnel is 865 metres and was a single track tunnel. A new double track tunnel was later built and this opens on the opposite side of Caversham Valley Road about opposite the old tunnel which closed in 1910.

In April 1923 Dunedin was hit by unprecedented rainfall. Over two days nearly a third of a whole year’s normal rainfall fell. Flood waters from the Kaikorai stream washed through the old Caversham railway tunnel and spread out across 'the Flat'. Hundreds of people had to evacuate their homes and many suffered considerable losses. A similar flood occurred in 1929. Source: Otago University History Dept - The Caversham Project (community/hardtimes). See also: http://www.cavershamtunnel.org.nz/history/ Please e-mail me at gilchrist@orcon.net.nz if you have photos you could loan me.