The Friends Of Drakelow Tunnels
(Now closed)

'The Friends of Drakelow Tunnels' was a voluntary group set up to maintain the tunnel complex and run monthly guided tours for the public or private groups. From around 1998 we worked to preserve as much as we could and to repair and service plant and equipment. Our major achievements included :

Restoration of the bunker's generators and returning them to working order.
Repairs to the lighting to restore lights to most areas of the bunker and to Tunnel 4.
Replacing the main cable run to the AHU - after it had all been stolen.
Finding an alternative route for power to the AHU after the cable we replaced was stolen again.
Repairs to the borehole pipework.
Returning the main AHU fan to working order and later replacing the main bearings.
Repairs to the fans in the radiator block house returning them to service.
General cleaning and maintenance.
Repairing damage caused by vandals and people trying to break in.
Running monthly guided tours for public groups or private parties.
Acquiring and bringing in exhibits.
Repairing collapsing ceilings in the canteen, comm centre and BBC studio areas.
Researching all aspects of the site's history, recording and accumulating as much info as possible.

Some of our last projects included:
Replacing the Star Delta starter for the main AHU fan
Replacing the starter on the generator hall extract fan, retracing the wiring, identifying faults and returning the fan to working order.

Some projects we would have liked to achieve:
Clear out the security office and aquire a manequin to wear full NBC suit to greet visitors.
Persuade other restored RGHQs to join us in constucting a working comms system enabling us to link our ECN equipment to each other thus enabling realtime communications such as Sit-Reps to be sent back and forth.
Restore a permanent power supply to the site.
Restore the dehumidifcation plant.
Build a replica MSX unit for the RGHQ comms area.

We ran our final tour in October 2009 and ceased to be involved in the site during 2010.
Here are a selection of photos of our activities over the years.

	At the rear of RGHQ9's canteen we experienced a number of small sandstone falls. During January 2003 we worked to stabilise this area by removing any loose or suspect areas of sandstone.
Roger inspects the collapsing ceiling of the 'Uniformed Services' department during March 2003.We are unable to do anything at this time other than observe the gradual deteriation of this area. In other areas we have removed the offending ceiling, propped up sections and removed the strip lighting.

 

2003 Photos
2004 Photos
Goodbye Adit D
2005 Photos
E.C.N. Equipment
Dutch visitors fly in for tour

Drakelow RSG 9 (1960's - 1970's) RGHQ 9.2

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