Refuge recess

What a refuge recess is

A refuge recess is a shallow niche set into the side wall of a tunnel at regular intervals. It gives anyone working inside a place to stand clear of the track while a train goes through.

Spacing is sometimes recorded. The former Hokuriku Line Soujidani tunnel in Fukui Prefecture, from about 1895, is described as a gently curving tunnel 401 metres long with stone side walls and Tunnel portal, a brick arch, and recesses of this kind set inside at intervals of about forty metres.

More often they appear within a sentence about the lining materials. The First Kannonji tunnel on the same line, built in 1894, is described as having a brick arch and stone side walls including the arches over these recesses. The Magaridani tunnel, from about 1895, shares the same materials down to the brick arches above them.

Because each recess carries a small arch of its own, its material is a fact worth recording. The Ashidani tunnel, built in 1894, is described as lined in brick throughout, side walls and recesses alike.

What the detail tells you

Their presence and spacing indicate that people were expected inside. The former Chuo Line Tamano Third and Fourth tunnels in Aichi Prefecture are both recorded as having them, although the tunnels run only 76 and 75 metres.

That records distinguish the material of the recess arches reflects how they were built: the lining and the recesses are separate pieces of work, and a builder could carry the side wall material through or change it at the niches.

On site, follow the line of the side wall. Where it steps back at even intervals under a small arch, those are the recesses. Disused railway tunnels converted to footpaths or roads often allow a close look.