Although I’ve documented many facets of Newcastle Upon Tyne’s rich history, architecture, and urban character through my ever-evolving Two Tone Toon photography project, a published hardback book ( view here ) and a five-volume ebook series ( explore here ), the Victoria Tunnel in Ouseburn had remained conspicuously absent.

That changed last month (July 2025), thanks to an exclusive opportunity arranged by the Royal Photographic Society Northern Region. A very small group of members was granted rare access to the tunnel for an hour, allowing us to experiment with our cameras and lighting setups in this evocative subterranean space.

For those curious about the tunnel’s fascinating past, from its origins as a coal waggonway to its role as an air-raid shelter during WWII, you can delve deeper here. Sincere thanks to the Ouseburn Trust for facilitating our visit and to our knowledgeable guide for enriching the experience.

Despite limited time and little opportunity for pre-planning, the shoot was thoroughly rewarding. Next time a similarly atmospheric location presents itself, I’ll aim to be more strategically prepared. That said, one inspired last-minute purchase - a compact LED torch mounted on a pocket tripod - proved invaluable. It enabled me to experiment with coloured lighting effects, though time constraints meant I focused primarily on documentary-style imagery. The torch had other intriguing features I didn’t get to explore, but they’re bookmarked for future use.

Technically, I began with my Nikon D810 on a tripod, capturing Warholesque multicolour montages. Later, I switched to my 50mm f/1.4 lens and bumped up the ISO for handheld shots of the tunnel’s textured walls and historical fixtures.

The experience itself was exhilarating; navigating the dimly lit passageways steeped in industrial and wartime history was a visceral reminder of the city’s layered past. While many images ended up underexposed or blurred beyond salvage, I emerged with enough compelling material to contribute to the work-in-progress volume six of the Two Tone Toon ebook series, which will also spotlight additional iconic elements of Newcastle not featured in the first five volumes.

Once again, heartfelt thanks to the Ouseburn Trust and our guide for granting access to such a remarkable location.