Re: the UK Tunnel Cottage in the link below. What was the purpose of this elaborate structure initially? Perhaps housing for track maintainers?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/mai ... ain28.html

This is a shot of the structure about 10 years ago, from the rear.


The purpose of the castellations is purely decorative. There are quite a few castellated tunnels in UK, many of which aren't even visible except from the rails.

The cottage would probably have housed a tunnel inspector. (It may have housed several male workers in the 1840s.)

The south end of this tunnel is a simple portal - no castellations or cottage. And much harder to get to.