Sadly, through a number of PM's from people involved I now know rather more than I did about what has actually happened.
The original photos were taken by Rob Eavis, who surveyed the site for the scientists. He posted them on his flickr pages without expecting that others would assume there was some "secret cave" and demand to be given access.
One person who sent me a PM explained that in fact access was gained by someone who, to quote "... [made] a plasticine mould of the locking mechanism ... he then fabricated a key to fit ... . This allowed us to open the gate with ease without causing any damage, we did re secure upon exit."
I pointed out to my correspondent that surely, he must have realised this was wrong?
The reply to this was: "I was unaware it was a restricted site. As for the key, my friend often makes keys for various places, not because they have restricted access but mainly because we cannot locate a key or whoever controls access ..." ???
I do not know, and I doubt anyone now does, how many people got into the site or who did what in the way of damage.
From correspondence Mel and I have had with the scientists involved we now know that some damage was done, although who of the various people visiting the site was responsible is not known. Someone moved equipment to the far end of the tunnel, through a fragile section of straws, and it had to be retrieved from there. The comment was:
"There is no further evidence of damage to stalagmites (only the one previously noted) but I suspect that the straws have suffered a bit. There seemed to be more space to walk through than before. But this is a hard one to tell because they grow so quickly and also drop of their own accord when they get too heavy or when flow rates change, from water movement at high water levels and even as a result of people talking some distance away. While none of our monitors had been disturbed two of the crates that we use for keeping kit/computer etc out of the water had been removed to the far end of the tunnel and this made life rather difficult to start with until I spotted them and got wetter than intended recovering them (putting the straws at the far end at unnecessary risk in the process)."
So, all this fuss to gain access to a railway tunnel, less than 50m long, on private land for which special permission from the owners had been obtained to carry out scientific work! The mechanism by which the flowstone forms was accelerated because of the very peculiar conditions in this particular site, which was underneath an old lime dump; now removed, so the flowstone will probably not re-form in the same way as before. Of course the site was locked because scientific instruments were inside and should not be disturbed. If people want to photograph stals in a railway tunnel, or even under a bridge, there are plenty of places you can find them without disturbing scientific work. It's not that long ago that someone working in a cave in the Dales had to give up altogether because intruders moved his instruments and ruined his work - what a triumph for those people. One hopes they were proud of their photos.
DCA has a proud record of trying to ensure that access in the Peak is available as freely as possible - we try very hard not to lock sites but instead, where necessary at the request of the owner, instal the now legendary "Derbyshire Lock" so all you need is a large adjustable spanner and you can help yourself. There are some sites on private land where the owner insists that control be maintained and, where DCA is involved in the access, we try to arrange even this with the minimum of hassle. However, there still remain a few sites where there is no access at present, though it may become possible at some time in the future (as at the Peak Railway Tunnel site). It would be helpful if everyone could respect this and, if you are not sure whether a site has access, then please ask and we will do our very best to help.
Jenny Potts,
DCA Hon. Sec.
