The Hell Holes - Woodhead Railway Tunnels & Station to Hadfield - The Woodhead Route

[@russellwhiteoak772]

I've walked this route with my Dad a couple of times over the years and today was his funeral. I'm back (slightly fresh and) with a Gin and some scran and this appears on my feed. Loveley. We both enjoyed the Scarborough to Whitby route as well which you've also covered. Take care and please carry on with these great videos.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Aaww I'm very sorry about your loss. I'm glad it can bring a little comfort to you. Thanks very much indeed

[@timleech]

Condolences to you from another subcriber x

[@tonyrobinson362]

I know exactly what your going thro take care one step at a time.

[@peterthornton2396]

Bless you my friend ❤

[@a20axf]

Sorry for your loss. Clearly a sign from him ❤️

[@nickwiley480]

I’ve actually walked through the 3rd tunnel before it was sealed off properly. I had a rucksack on my back with a sml car battery in it wired up to a torch. It was amazing standing in the bottom of air shafts looking up at the condensation coming down like rain. But my biggest amazement was the door in the wall that led to a small canteen that still had the tables and chairs in it just as would have been when the railway workers were on there breaks

[@philthymiller]

Wow!

[@leer798]

Today things get photographed and filmed left right and centre - but back in the day it wasn’t so easy . Thank god for the ones that made the effort back then, for our nostalgia fix today ! 👍

[@TrekkingExploration]

I always find delight when I see old photos then you get those with old footage and it takes it to another level. It doesn't happen often and I feel so grateful. Thanks for watching 🙂

[@haroldhorseposture9435]

This is very sad for me . I spent the last 4 years of this line employed as a guard , then shortly after, a secondman , at Guide Bridge. It is a reminder of the time that's past since, and now here I am in me twilight years. We had the Guide Bridge traincrew reunion yesterday ,26th Sept. , and there were 10 of us, but only 7 being Guide Bridge men. Many have gone the way of the line. Good men. The old 'leccy men could make the Bo-Bo's sing and dance, they were a driver's loco. I started on the same day as a fellow called Arnie Furniss , who always had a camera with him . He has some excellent pics of the line on his Flickr page , and Martin Zero has used/referenced some of them in his past vlogs .I can recommend his Flickr page, if you want to see some insider pix of things. His page is either under his name of Arnie Furniss, but more likely as Deadman's Handle. There's even the odd pic of me and my bro in there . Big deal, eh !!!?? Great vlog, Sir , bttersweet..

[@bobcannell7603]

I walked through no. 3 after the track was lifted. Amazing echoes from the smooth concrete walls unlike other older tunnels. It was a long walk! And then back to my motorbike at Dunford Bridge. In the 90s I was part of a project to reopen the line (and no. 3) to remove goods traffic from the M62 by taking container trains from Liverpool to Hull. We even nearly bought a train ferry to take wagons over to Holland. Hull rebuild a rail link into the docks. We had surveys and costings to relay track. All looking good. And then John Major privatised the railways. Chaos ensued. Game over. Idiots in charge.

[@formidable38]

Everything railway related they touched, turned to s***. I never realised it was that close to reopening. What shame and a waste.

[@leeshepherd6512]

Typical Tory shambles.

[@eolhcytoos]

A very well presented tour. Thankyou!

[@a11csc]

3rd tunnel closure a crime to humanity but big brown envelopes do wonders Ant

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's unreal isn't it? To think what it must have cost. 6 lives lost too I believe

[@schlollepop]

If you look at the trains, they all have hopper cars full of coal. At the time of closing, mining was in full decline. As for need for passenger service, check today’s bus services. We tried hiking there last summer, but all that runs there is a volunteer service on weekends. The area is beautiful, but largely devoid of people.

[@nickboden5866]

Superb Superb, the Landscape is stunning. Love the class 76 locos. As always a wonderful powerful footage, and superb music.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much indeed Nick 😊

[@AndrewCattermole]

Brilliantly produced and as informative as ever. I always look forward to your videos particularly old railway and canal. So interesting and entertaining. Great content, Andy Cat.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Very kind Andrew thanks very much indeed 😃

[@Flossy_tops]

I only ever traveled the Woodhead tunnel twice but can remember it well, and is something that has remained in my memory box ever since. I never gave it a thought at the time that I would be passing through a remarkable passage of history, and only now do I realise how lucky I really was. …Thank you for sharing this film 👍

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's good that you got to do it. We take a lot of everyday for granted I suppose never realising it's the last time, at the time. Thanks for watching

[@timmoontransported.6385]

I walked this route a few years ago. Left the car at Woodhead and walked to Hadfield. My intention was to return on the bus, only to find there wasn’t one. It was a scorching day and I was on my knees after I walked back. So, so much for buses replacing a closed service. I do remember the line in passenger use, it was so surreal up there. Modern stations, an electric railway and nothing but moorland and the cry of a curlew all around.

[@TrekkingExploration]

It is a strange one not having a bus service even if it was every couple of hours it would be something connecting Dunford to Hadfield

[@chrisbentleywalkingandrambling]

I've loved the vintage footage and pictures too Ant. Amazing. Thanks for keeping history alive.

[@martinl1053]

Great video and fabulous memories! I left school in 1977 and joined BR. I was based at Guide Bridge and frequently worked the Woodhead route. Working in the tunnel was pretty scary, taking shelter in the wall recesses as trains flew past. I also worked on the gang that replaced Torside crossing gates with barriers and that was only a couple of years before closure. Thanks again for a great video 👍

[@brucemunro8598]

First time I've watched one of your videos. The level of research you've done with all the old films and photos is most impressive, and the drone work, when you could fly, was lovely. Keep up the good work!

[@James-Power82]

No, Thank You for taking the time to do these fantastic videos 👍

[@TrekkingExploration]

My pleasure! Thanks very much indeed 😃

[@nigelarmstrong252]

Great video. Got up that way from down south (nr Gatwick Airport) many times during the mid 70s to early 80s. It was heaven to a southern spotter ! Guide Bridge being one of my favourite places on the route. I travelled through to Sheffield Victoria 2 or 3 times too, the last trip being a rail tour. The station was closed but still looked like it could be reopened. What a wonderful looking place. The railtour went from the Guide Bridge side, along and through the tunnel then on, down to Sheffield Victoria. From there we went out and across to Tinsley and onto Wath. It's a bit sketchy now, so many great railway places in that area and it was ages ago. I've a feeling we went back the other way and through the tunnel again but I could be merging two visits ! Two of the trips were hauled by double-headed 76s through the tunnel. Another was a 40. Another trip, not via Woodhead was by double-headed 20s in the Sheffield area. I seem to remember that 6 or 8 class 77s were sold to Holland. They used 1500v back then and the locos were used there for a while. I've hundreds of photos but, sadly, didn't own any sort of video camera. After watching this video, I went on google maps and found the Woodhead tunnel on the map. If you trace the route from west to east, over the hill, you can see areas of man-made earthworks and nearby you can see the air vents of the tunnels. Much of the mud, soil etc. was removed up through these vents and spread out across the hill forming the earthworks. I found 4 or 5 examples. Zoom in and you can clearly see the earthworks to this day ! Again, a great video which brought back some great memories and also dismay at the criminal closure of this route despite lots of efforts to keep it open.

[@cedarcam]

On Sundays during engineering work the Trans Pennine DMU's were diverted this way and I was lucky enough to go on some. A lovely scenic ride and a quick one, it made no sense to close what was a far better line for freight than the Calder Valley or Huddersfield line, which could not be used for large containers due to the smaller tunnels. With 4 routes across the Pennines two were going to close the other being the Calder Valley. It was lucky WYPTE got involved and wanted to increase the number of trains from one an hour as far as Hebden Bridge and that saved the line from closure. Sadly Woodhead with few stations was not saved. Today like the Settle Carlisle it would of been a popular line for cyclists and hikers and still a very useful diversion during engineering work.

[@chrisbentleywalkingandrambling]

I've hiked a few times from Crowden and driven over the Woodhead pass numerous times and walked along the route of the tunnel above ground. I never knew the history. Thanks for sharing Ant. I really enjoyed this one.

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

Thank you for this great informative great presentation

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thank you very kind 😊

[@jetsons101]

Thanks to Ant for keeping "Vintage Steam" history alive and kicking. I tip my hat to the workers that dugout the first two tunnels --- all that work with no powered equipment, just sweat and muscle.

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's sad waste of time, money and life. I believe 6 were lost in the new tunnel construction

[@ianr]

Brilliant video Ant! Despicable and deplorable decision to close the line. I could rant all day about the Woodhead line! 🤬 Got you a couple of Coffees/Beers/Doughnuts on Ko-Fi. 👍🙂

[@TrekkingExploration]

I absolutely agree Ian. How many would have ridden this even for the views. Very kind of you thanks very much indeed

[@LenaSjogren-yk8rv]

hello and thank you for a nice and interesting video from you and I wish you luck with future films with greetings from Sweden

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thank you very much! I hope you are well 😊

[@jackjames3190]

Bravo on this SUPERB video 🎉🎉🎉 As good as if not BETTER than anything youd see on tv - the passion of an authentic enthusiast is unbeatable - keep up the great work ❤

[@davidgarton-gg8mt]

What a beautiful area. 😍

[@jbconno]

Tunnel 3 is used by The National Grid to run power lines over to Sheffield. If you look at the pylon at the entrance to the tunnel the cables come off it and disappear underground where they're then routed through the tunnel. Its also used for telecommunication lines too.

[@winterbliss4459]

honestly ridiculous that they didn’t give the old tunnels a fresh coat of paint for that use. now the new, much more spacious tunnel is effectively off limits for any rebuild of this line unless you want to reroute that power line

[@soundseeker63]

@@winterbliss4459 A "fresh coat of paint".... as in a complete structural refurbishment to the tune of many millions of pounds... just to house some wires? That was never going to happen. Completely non-viable financially. At least National Grid will now have to maintain the new tunnel rather than letting that fall into disrepair too. If (exceedingly unlikely) the line ever was to be reinstated then the power cables would have to get re-routed over the top of the moor.

[@michaelhearn3052]

@@soundseeker63 The power cables would never be re-routed over the top of the moor as you describe, as the local authority would not allow planning permission to do this due to amenity issues, in what may be seen as an area of outstanding natural beauty. It would mean a number of transmission towers along the moor. The cables were renewed recently.

[@soundseeker63]

@@michaelhearn3052 I didn't say they would build pylons over the top of the moor. I said they would re-route the CABLES over the top of the moor i.e. sub surface level but not using the tunnel. But, seeing as how many supposedly natural beauty areas have had dozens of massive wind turbines put up all over them recently, I can't imagine why a line of pylons would be such a stretch to get planning permission for. And I would say of the two they are probably the less visually intrusive. Anyway, it's very unlikely to ever be necessary so no point fretting over it.

[@iantaylor6858]

Excellent vintage footage. Loved old locos too

[@shirleylynch7529]

Glorious day for your explore. What a magnificent reservoir Woodhead is. Scenery amazing. Excellent filming and info as always. Loved all the old films and photos. Well done. Brilliant video.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it Shirley thanks very much. I'll be back to do the rest over the Winter ☺️

[@raywood569]

Yet another brilliant film, very short sighted of them to close that section. Fabulous views in summer or winter. Progress, I think not Thanks once again, stay well

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much indeed Ray. It's definitely a short sighted closure

[@VikingExploration60]

When I was 18 in 1982, myself and a mate walked the lines from where the level crossing used to be to the tunnel entrances, the tracks were still down. A couple of years earlier, I was staying at Crowden Camp Site, from there you could watch the one or two goods trains a day still using the route before its closure. I think the reason why your drone would not fly is because you are walking the Manchester Airport approach, its the line the planes take when they are coming in to land. Great video, brought back some good memories from a child into my teens, I spent many a weekend at Valehouse Res fishing with my Grandad, or rather he was fishing I was wandering around exploring.

[@lindamccaughey6669]

Really enjoyed that thanks Ant. Love the old trains and stations. Loved those bridges. Beautiful area too, beautiful place for a hike. Thanks for share. Please take care

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it Linda 😌

[@soundseeker63]

Those old photos are wonderful! Props to all the guys who had the forsight to record the line in its final days before it was all pulled up! The closure of the line was not a popular move and I think that's in part why it was so well documented by the local people - It was clearly going to be a loss to the area, so a lot of photos and footage was taken in those final days, despite far fewer people having a camera back in the early 80s. I might take my bike with me next time I'm over Manc way and do an out and back from Hadfield, the scenary around here is (in the right conditions) to die for! The trip between Manchester and Hadfield still has the old LNER 1500v DC style catenary equipment and retains some of the feel it would have had back in those days of EM1/2 locos and 506 Units.

[@steadycamman1]

Thank you for the video Ant, AMAZING, I am going to walk that route myself soon, thanks again for the video, cheers, Pete.👍

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much indeed Pete. I'll be doing other sections of the line and the surrounding areas over the winter 😊

[@Lolasdad4312]

What an awesome video. Thank you so much for posting. My wife and myself will endeavour to do this walk in the not too distant future 😃

[@johnlaw3323]

What a superbly put together presentation of this once wonderful railway. Many thanks Ant for making and sharing this brilliant video.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it John thanks very much ☺️

[@tharkthax3960]

Real nice presentation with atmospheric music! Brought the video to life. I feel like ive just spent the day there, thanks!

[@TrekkingExploration]

Very kind thank you I'm pleased you enjoyed it ☺️

[@jillanderson7048]

Fascinating....thank you for putting it together for us to enjoy.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much for watching 🙂

[@levelcrossing150]

What a superb video and great archive of the old line. I passed there two years ago and would love to return to see it in more depth. Many thanks.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it many thanks indeed 😊 It's a lovely area

[@michaelheaton5469]

Wow amazing video thank you so much for sharing I have walked this route many times love it.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much for watching I'm pleased you enjoyed it

[@craigmarsh3221]

Hi that was a fantastic video I love the history of the railway plus such beautiful scenery well done you you deserve more than one beer keep the videos coming so very enjoyable to watch 😊.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Very kind Craig thanks so much 😊 I'll be back over the winter to do the other side of woodhead towards Sheffield

[@IndaloMan]

I lived in Glossop 10 years back and used to drive over Woodhead regularly. I remember when they upgraded all the electric pylons and cables running alongside the reservoir.

[@ianbolton9309]

Fantastic video was a stunning line such a loss so need it open today would be a superb trip and the views are breathtaking with those tunnels too 👍🤗

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it. I'll be back to do the other side of the tunnels over the winter

[@ffrancrogowski6263]

I worked with a driver on the railway at Buxton who had been at Gorton (Manchester) shed as a fireman, and he was a victim of a wheel slipping venture in one of those single bores, back in the early fifties. Until they could gain momentum again, both himself and his driver on this particular heavy goods train had to get down on the floor to get the 'freshest' air, not that there was much! Great viseo Ant!

[@darreneveleigh4624]

Wonderful video, your best use of archive footage and photos yet. Walked Hadfield to Penistone last month. Like you i didn't see many other walkers. With some hikes along old lines you can feel enclosed in culverts or surrounded by trees so views can be limited, but the Woodhead is largely the opposite; a spectacular hike recommended to anyone (particularly railway fans!)

[@ilgiusto6885]

Che bel video, bravo !!!

[@Richard_Barnes]

🚂 Another superb walk and what we'd give to be able to walk those tunnels or take a train pat that reservoir, wow😄Thanks Ant 👍🏻

[@TrekkingExploration]

Very kind Richard thanks very much indeed 😊

[@stevenstopford9847]

Absolutely brilliant video many thanks ant 👍🏻

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it Steven thank you 😌

[@machosker]

Nice video, we are going to be in the area at the end of the month. Will look at maybe working this route while there.

[@suzyqualcast6269]

Telyu what I never saw but miss - the Blue Pullman tramming across those short fields twixt Haddon tunnel and Rowley, slowing as it crossed the still extant stone bridge before overriding the main road, bridge gone but trackbed still abutting either side of, as it pulled into Rowsley Stn. Must've looked a beaut.

[@davebutterworth7414]

Absolutely brilliant content! Photos of which I’ve never seen before. I remember riding on this line as a child in the 70s on a diverted train ❤️ Great coverage Much enjoyed thanks ……

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it Dave thanks very much 😊

[@Mark_T]

Stunning. I'll have to pay that area a visit myself.

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's definitely worth it. I'll do the other side in the winter

[@fernwright7737]

Lovely there. If you’re feeling adventurous you can take the hike and rock scramble to Black clough waterfall ( starts near the tunnels) - nice walk along the waters edge to it. Only a small fall but nice to see.

[@TrekkingExploration]

@@fernwright7737 yes I saw that on maps I'm quite keen on doing this

[@april6rain]

Not long after closure me and my friends walked bore 3 on the dunford side in the early 80's they was not much of gate to keep kids out and lots had done it and come from far and wide as they wrote their names and date on the tunnel walls and the tracks were still down, they had removed the cables though but not the overheads that held them in place. Once we ran out scared of the dark we rode from dunford to hazlehead on our bikes exploring all the abandoned buildings along the way for some reason a power house not long out of dunford sticks in my mind. When we got to hazlehead we were done for and knackered kids bikes are not made for riding on railway stone lol. Ever since that day I have had an affinity and love of woodhead railway, it was an engineering marvel and i am still gutted at waste of closure. Living a couple miles from dunford bridge the missed oppotuniay for us as in our younger years and opportunity this connection to Manchester would have given us all growing up leaves me devastated about this line. I still ride the route dunford to penistone and sometimes thurgoland tunnel on my bike at least a couple times a week and I go over holmemoss to the the woodhead side 4/5 times every summer on the bike still. Im always drawn to whats left and ponder at the waste. I think the recent national grid works to remove pylons in dunford was more to end the growing wish for new line and to put bore 3 beyond use of ever carrying rail traffic ever again as a new bore would be too expensive, they had bore 1&2 and should have been made to repair them and keep up to looking after them. Dont get me wrong Dunford bridge looks a thousand times better but i think the national grid had an ulterior motive behind it. If you google "the woodhead route dvd" its well worth the £15, some amazing footage and history of the line, it always gives me tears at was tossed away with little thought. Great video and thank you

[@TheMisterB2u]

Excellent video, well researched and presented.Enjoyed it very much!

[@TrekkingExploration]

I'm pleased you enjoyed it thanks very much 😁

[@andymoss]

Brilliant film mate! The archive footage is incredible.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks Andy I'm pleased you enjoyed it

[@jamesgilbart2672]

Brilliant exploration! Yes, the route is a sad loss and surely could still be part of an important link across the Pennines?

[@yorkshiremen1]

Whoever made the decision to close this,the only electrified crossing of the Pennines to this day, should be charged with criminal vandalism.

[@TrekkingExploration]

It does seem to be very short sighted especially today

[@rob1134]

Awsome photos and video footage of what used to be. I am just about old enough to remember the freight trains from the Woodhead route that travelled along the old Godley to Woodley line.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it. I was born a little too late but it's great that some went out and filmed them with probably these huge video cameras

[@robertwalton6674]

Excellent video Ant. I (we) appreciate the research you put into making these films

[@TrekkingExploration]

I appreciate that Robert thanks so much :)

[@juleshathaway3894]

I enjoyed that very much. I have been to Dunfold Bridge and Woodhead in 1983 ( I think) and there was still one line through the tunnel. I ventured in for a few yards to get the photo looking out the portal. Had a look in the shell of Dunford Bridge signalbox too. I started doing the odd railtour from 1979 but Woodhead was one that eluded me and my pals sadly. I was a bit confused with something you said at 11:27 about it being quite a gradient uphill. I had to get my battered Ian Allan Gradient Profiles book out to have a look. The summit of the route is at Dunfold Bridge and on entering the tunnel it changes from 1 in 135 rising to descending at 1 in 201, at the western portal it steepens to drop at 1 in 117 for 5 unbroken miles then steepens more to 1 in 100 for 2 1/4 miles through Hatfield station to Dinting Viaduct where it becomes level. So at the 11:27 time you say you are about 5-6 minutes away from the tunnels the line is dropping so you would have been walking downhill the whole way.

[@AllanBinks-wi5gj]

Great video, my Dad drove passenger trains on that route and was delighted when we visited the museum of science and industry in Mancheser timing a type 77 loco as an exhibit.

[@bazza3643]

My first time on your channel. Very informative video, great photography, thank you.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Very kind thanks very much 😌

[@davedear929]

What a brilliant video.. so much visual and verbal information...as an 81 year old railway enthusiast I never made it up there. I had so many questions about the route and tunnels .... you have more than answered them apart from one... was it really necessary to double head the trains...many thanks for a great video.. hope you got your cold beer you earned it that trip.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much I'm pleased you enjoyed it. I believe the double heading was due to the inclines at both ends of the tunnels

[@gagwithgaffer8385]

Fabulous episode

[@landcrab75]

Superb quality film work - just as good as broadcast television. It would make a great cycle route if it isn’t already

[@brothermoto1964]

Ant. Superb video. I think it was 1979 (age 15 and on my own) that I somehow found out about weekend diversions for Sheffield to Manchester trains via Woodhead so I got myself there from Derby and had Class 45 haulage through the tunnel. Memory is a bit hazy of the logistics but I have (somewhere) a photo I took hanging out of the train window of the train about to exit Woodhead tunnel.

[@ccjelley2390]

Many thanks for that, Ant. I travelled on the line from Sheffield Victoria to Manchester Piccadilly once in 1969, there were hardly any other passengers in the ancient corridor coaches but coming the other way was a procession of empty coal trains. Happy memories but sad to see what became of it.

[@michaelmiller641]

Thanks for that fascinating video, Ant

[@TrekkingExploration]

Very kind Michael thank you 😊

[@gordonwebster3809]

very informative have driven this route from middlesbrough to manchester many times now son has moved to ashton under lyne will take the dog up there cheers.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Gordon very kind of you. Thanks very much for watching

[@raybeaumont7670]

Cheers Ant - a very enjoyable viewing while I munch away at my breakfast. Such a pity that lines such as this no longer allow us to "ride and enjoy". I wish I was fit enough stroll along this track bed. Many thanks.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Ray. I plan to walk from the other side of the tunnels over the Winter towards Sheffield

[@BecsterDotCom]

Another great video. Love the old train footage. It would've been amazing to travel this line to see those reservoirs. Pretty sure I've driven this road for some reason. Just remembered why Hadfield rings a bell! That's where they filmed League of Gentlemen

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it Bec. The scenery would have been some of the best in the UK by rail. Also I love that series 😂

[@BecsterDotCom]

@@TrekkingExploration You've inspired me to rewatch the League of Gents!

[@TrekkingExploration]

@@BecsterDotCom I've been too with that idea for a good while! Daaaavvveee!

[@stephendavies6949]

Great video. Just sent you a little gift to buy that beer you desperately needed! Also, to say "thanks for the excellent series of videos around Merthyr Tydfil recently.

[@TrekkingExploration]

That's very kind of you Stephen thanks very much indeed. I'll be back in South Wales again 🙂

[@fredphipps9452]

Thank you for this interesting video

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much for watching 😀

[@alankennedy3398]

Fascinating video well done keep em coming 👏👏

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it Alan thank you

[@janepatricia8779]

Another good video Ant, some lovely scenery too, you were walking so fast you made me breathless 😂

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it I can't remember why I was walking fast 😂

[@TheAcEgamer15]

I do love your trekking videos ant and also that you will say about something random that is happening I love

[@TrekkingExploration]

AHH thanks very much.. I'm pleased

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Marvellous scenary and some evocative archive footage. Thank you for reminding us of what was lost in what many - rightly - regard as the shortsighted closure of this Pennine route. As you say, it seems most unlikely that it will ever reopen, unless the power lines through the tunnel are made redundant by a reconfiguration of the electricity grid. Stranger things have happened...

[@sixtyshippee]

Back in twenty seventeen a few days after the dreadfull Manchester Bombing i struggled with the trains from Hull to Southport in order to cycle the trans pennine trail over two days it was magnificent weather like you experienced and much of the route follows this through the pennines and is glorious , yes long distance cycling alone is grand and it dozent come better than this and a never to be forgot journey.

[@gppsoftware]

The issue with upgrading OHLE from 1500v to 25kv is that due to the significant difference in voltage, much greater clearances around the wires are required for 25kv. This normally means greater distances between the wires and train roofs and the wires and things above them. Creating the extra clearances usually involves rebuilding bridges and tunnels. With another line effectively in competition, I'd suggest that the work involved to upgrade the Woodhead route probably wasn't financially viable and that's one of the reasons why it closed.

[@yorkshiremen1]

This wasn't an issue as the Sheffield Barnsley end was not and still isn't electrified it was just an excuse to move freight to the roads.

[@andrewjames3908]

surely it could have been kept as a diesel route?

[@daystatesniper01]

So how come the parts that have survived and been converted to 26 kva have had no bridges raised etc' the tunnel they if needed to lower the track a few inches

[@gppsoftware]

@@yorkshiremen1 Passenger services were stopped in 1970. After this, the line was predominantly used for moving coal. The coal industry was in decline by the late 70's except for power stations. And there was another line effectively operating in parallel. I would suggest that the economic case for two lines probably didn't stack up and one had to go.

[@gppsoftware]

@@andrewjames3908 From 1970, it was predominantly carrying coal for an industry that was in decline. What is the point of keeping a line open, even if with diesels, to carry coal which was rapidly in decline when there was effectively a parallel route ? The economic case probably didn't stack up and one of the two lines had to go.

[@RCassinello]

I cycled this about about 15 years ago - cycled up from Hadfield to Woodhead, then freewheeled back down again. Much more fun than the day before where I'd cycled down from Dunford Bridge to Wortley, and then spent and agonising two hours cycling back up again!

[@johnroberts8512]

Used as a diversionary route when the other route was closed on a Sunday also handy for Football specials to Sheffield Wednesday from the North West quick route to Sheffield that would be a must nowadays. I'm gutted that I never got to ride along it I remember the day it closed not great. Great video by the way

[@Design2winLew]

Excellent vid Ant as always . Always been fascinated by this route and as you said it's very sad it is not longer there to be enjoyed in it's former glory .

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it thank you. I'll be back over the winter to do the other side of it

[@Design2winLew]

@@TrekkingExploration looking forward to that 👍

[@andrewmatley7688]

nice one Ant my neck off the woods cheers mate.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it Andrew thank you 😊

[@dafdaffer1]

great video and footage, best yet

[@TrekkingExploration]

Very kind thank you 🙂

[@gwynrandall7255]

Excellent very informative. 👍

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you liked it thank you 😊

[@britishlongbarrows]

Look at those pantographs on the Type 76s - remember 'visiting' Guide Bridge and the depot at Reddish South when they were all lined up ready for the scrap heap - born in Manchester😀

[@nickcaunt1769]

I went on this line a few times in the mid '70's on Nottingham Forest football specials to Bolton and Oldham.

[@TrekkingExploration]

AHH you got to have a ride, thanks for watching 😊

[@simonballard6413]

I cannot imagine anything sillier than building a double line tunnel, electrifying the route and then closing the line. Surely this was a much more direct route to Sheffield than either the Hope valley or Calder valley routes? Madness. But thanks for a really interesting video, Ant.

[@cedarcam]

It was a quicker route yes and a lot better suited for freight which due to smaller tunnels cannot run on the Calder Valley route.

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's almost like... Oh we have to spend some money lets do this with it and waste it 😔 It should have been left. I'm surprised it never got an attempt for a heritage line purchase

[@TheDaf95xf]

Being 67 and born in Urmston I had the short but sweet opportunity to go through the Woodhead tunnel. And I even walked through it when it closed and everything just left behind. It was a great line that should still be here 👍🏻 I’m

[@drevo50]

Excellent film.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Very kind thank you for watching

[@macstyle2012]

I remember going over torside crossing in the early 1980s when I was quite young. Cannot remember much about it, but I do remember seeing machinery lifting the track.

[@TrekkingExploration]

That must have been around the time some of the photos were taking of track removal trains 😔

[@garymutten4093]

Cracking video Ant. What a tragedy it closed. Hope you managed that cold beer at the end!

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Gary. I think I did when I got home 😊

[@Snowy1of1]

New Sub here, your upload appeared on my feed, watched first 5 seconds and immediately clicked Subscribe and also hit the specific button to show that I enjoyed the video. As someone who lives on 1 side of the Pennines, I find the Woodhead route fascinating. (Amongst others!) I like it so much that I recreate the old days and drive trains, both Steam and Diesel through the tunnel using Train Sim World. It must have been quite grueling with all the smoke, steam and heat from the Steam engines going through, also Diesel fumes and heat, would be quite a thing to do. Health & Safety gone mad would prevent humans driving through them nowadays. Sad these expensive amazing transport lines where removed. Love the old photos of signal boxes, especially ones that really date the photo due to vehicles within them. I have a few vids to catch up on thats for sure.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Hey I'm pleased you have enjoyed it. I'm planning to go back over the winter and walk the other side back towards Sheffield. I imagine a lot of train crew dreaded going inside them and others on steam locomotives. Also the signal box halfway through the tunnel must have been dire

[@andrewmaurerandrew6801]

Quality as always top notch 👍👍🍷

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thank you kindly 😊

[@bobingram6912]

Thanks Ant that was a great walk, you had me running to the fridge for a cool beer😂😂😂 Lots of info and some great footage, thank goodness for railway lovers. Crowden seemed to be a bit over the top for in the middle of nowhere, was there a reason????

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it Bob thank you. I love it when I can find and place archive footage. Yes I think Crowden must have surely been mostly goods and produce

[@joelchristensen9503]

Really neat video! Love British rail history. As an American Thomas the tank engine got me into British railroading.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Very kind thanks for watching 😌

[@johnreece3882]

Hi there, my name is John Reece, i lived in Tintwhistle from 1964 till 1977, and traved onthe train from Tintiwhistle to Chesterfield and later to Sheffield on the route your walking, i used Dintting Station.

[@geoffhobbs5287]

We walk our dogs from woodhead, we went there Wednesday and the water level in woodhead r reservoir was quite low. Weve also done a little bit from Torside towards Woodhead, our dogs loved that little pond between the track beds.

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's a lovely stretch isn't it? You could never get tired of it. Thanks for watching 😊

[@LKBRICKS1993]

Excellent video very interesting. Such a shame this railway closed.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much indeed 😊

[@TheSilmarillian]

Love the inclusion of the old b/w and color footage well researched and presented indeed thank you, hello from Australia. With the aircraft frequency no the drone wont play its controlled airspace or the emf fluctuations from the power lines ( may I ad take a neon tube and stand under those overland lines the neon tube glows but I digress, not there so not sure. Ahhh you are near a major airport should have watched 2 that point a large commercial 747 going over exclusion zone most of them are electronically tagged since the inception of drones as they even being small much up the ILS approach systems , its the reach out of the ILS that confuses the drone and it goes into standby or preservation mode. ILS be a powerful beasty akin to nex rad mil radar scoping, its where it came from , wont go back and rewrite my comment was making it as I was watching but poor drones electronics paused and just went I aint going there, I guess.

[@RaggyAl1971]

Looks like you've got a new camera,picture clarity is lovely.

[@kevanhubbard9673]

I've walked from Glossop up to those tunnels but obviously never through them!Done them from the east side too walking from Pennistone.I think it's one of 3 closed lines that actually crossed the Pennines the other two being much further north;the Redmire to Garsdale and the Darlington to Tebay.