Unseen Photos of the Woodhead line

#railway #history

[@albertsmith1048]

It was a criminal act to close the Woodhead line. Talk about been a short sighted decision, one of the Countries worst I would say.

[@nestorke53]

always nice to see that someone still preserves images from a recent industrial past. thanks for sharing!

[@mikerevill6171]

As a youngster had many an hour on Sheffield Victoria station train spotting ,happy days .

[@rodericstanley2258]

I took the train from Oughtibridge (Oughty Bridge) to Penistone from 1952 to the day they stopped the local service. Then we had to go via Sheffield bus and a Barnsley Transport bus from Deepcar through Stocksbridge to the grammar school at Penistone. Then later I went to Manchester university and would take the train home to Sheffield on Friday evenings. I would train-spot from our front room in Oughtibridge with binoculars. The past passenger trains were pulled by BIs, and our local service was pulled by a C13. It wasnt so much fun after they electrified the line. I never forgave Beeching for closing this line.

[@kharkhov]

Aw. Great images of a better time now sadly lost. Thanks :)

[@Palestina.non.grata86]

I've stood in the mouth of the western portal of Woodhead Tunnel, wishing that there was no gate behind me and still an active railway running underneath me. Reopening the line would be troublesome but its not impossible. I say bring it back!

[@owenevans83]

nice shots

[@_RabbitLeader]

Still cannot fathom why this line was closed…a major route between two key cities…and more than 25 years after Beeching.

[@laurenceskinnerton73]

It should never have closed!

[@daystatesniper01]

Nice set of videos/photo's spent many a happy hour at Wath etc'

[@speakfreeley4473]

After the line got a major upgrade in the 1950s with the third Woodhead tunnel & electrification they choose to close it less than thirty years later. Money well & truly down the karzy.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

They closed the line for a number of reasons. 1. It was expensive to operate - for each MGR from Yorkshire's coal fields to Fiddler's Ferry that changed loco and crews twice making these trains more expensive than those that went direct for mine to power station with the same locomotive. 2. There was a recession on which lead to spare capacity on the other route to the Manchester area. 3. The electrification equipment and locomotives were reaching the end of their working lives and needed replacement. 4 It could not be converted to 25kV AC as the Woodhead Tunnel did not have sufficient clearance for 25kV AC (it could take 6.25kV AC but BR had no locomotives capable of handling this voltage as the early AC locomotives had had that capability removed in the ealy 1970s, all that money wasted on giving them/that capability and them/never needing to use it). In that 30 year period did BR get its money's worth out of the line?

[@speakfreeley4473]

@@neiloflongbeck5705 Not even Dr Beeching closed this one down. He may have been responsible for ending passenger services, but the ultimate closure came under Thatcher.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

@@speakfreeley4473 Beeching slated the Hope Valley line for closure with all services being transferred to the Woodhead. But the Hooe Valley was retained due to the hardship the closure would cause and the rest is history.

[@bertcert991]

Happy days at Guide Bridge depot 1976-1980 most of the drivers like the locos will now sadly be gone

[@Oh-come-on]

This line should never, ever have been taken out. Such short-sightedness.

[@mesnilman2327]

Such short-sightedness...

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

40 years have past, that's not a short time. s it? Recession, worn out non-standard equipment in need of replacement, a government with tight control on spending, spare capacity of the Hope Valley.

[@neilcollin4269]

Sad to see now of what was the first electrified railway in Britain. It's a pity a heritage railway couldn't have taken over Sheffield Victoria to Dunford Bridge.

[@Jolly56Roger]

I needs to reopen its a no brainer😜😜

[@scaleop4]

👍

[@prof.hectorholbrook4692]

Such a great shame.

[@Acridblue999]

The Bo Bos and the Co Cos.