The Electric Trans-Pennine Way

The Woodhead Railway

Scenes on the Manchester, Sheffield and Wath electric railway since 1968.

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 This is Manchester Piccadilly Station, Platform 1 in August 1968. An EM1 Class 76 hauled express is ready to depart for Sheffield Victoria. The train consists of five ex LMS corridor compartment coaches. The Class 76 which brought in the train from Sheffield Victoria is at the buffers.

Not many stations could claim the distinction of having overhead AC and DC on adjacent platforms. Platforms 1 to 4 were energised at 1.5Kv DC and Platforms 5 upwards were energised at 25Kv 50Hz AC. The EM1 Class 76 is off to Sheffield Victoria and the AL6 Class 86 and the BR Mk. 1 coaches are off to the south. August 1968.

This is Sheffield Victoria in August 1968 and the EM1 Class 76 has run around the five coaches and will attach to the other end, ready for the return to Manchester Piccadilly. This Locomotive is E26053 and carries the nameplate Perseus. This passenger service between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield Victoria ceased in January 1970.

On now to July 1977 and we are at Woodhead Station on a typical summer Pennine day, wet and misty. The leading locomotive is 76022 and was the only Class 76 to retain the British Railways lion and wheel logo until the end of its days.

On a more summer like day in July 1977, we once again see 76022 with a friend just having emerged from under the hill (Woodhead Tunnel), approaching Dunford Bridge station.

Back at the western portal of Woodhead Tunnel and an unusual scene on the Pennine Line, seeing two trains in action at the same time. July 1977.

No, they have not forgotten to detach the Worsborough banking locos. This scene shows an eastbound train on the westbound track, The eastbound line was out of action and single line working was in force on the remaining track. July 1977.

The view from above the western portal of Woodhead Tunnel adjacent to the main A628 road. This time the eastblund train is on the correct track.

After the 5th of January 1970 the only passenger service remaining on the Woodhead line was the commuter service between Manchester Piccadilly to Glossop and Hadfield. Here we see a Class 506 unit emerge from the Glossop line at Dinting and head towards Hadfield. July 1977.

Viewed from the Huddersfield platform at Penistone, a pair of Class 76's are seen passing Huddersfield Junction signal box taking a loaded coal train west. July 1977.

The electrification continued beyond Sheffield Victoria Station to exchange sidings at Rotherwood. Here motive power was exchanged between the Woodhead Class 76 electrics and usually pairs of Class 37 diesel electrics. July 1977.

Dinting Station in July 1977 and a Manchester bound Class 506 takes the direct route from Hadfield without calling at Glossop.

This Class 506 at Dinting is on route for Hadfield but first it will call at Glossop where a reversal of direction will take place. July 1977.

After the ending of the through passenger service to Sheffield in 1970, local passenger service remained at the western end between Manchester Piccadilly, Glossop and Hadfield operated by Class 506 units. This is Hadfield in July 1977. East of here, only freight trains operated.

Jumping forward about nine years to May 1986, all operation ends here at Hadfield and the remaining passenger lines have been converted from 1500v DC to 25Kv 50Hz AC. For a short period, services to Glossop and Hadfield were provided by some imported Class 303 Scottish "Blue Trains".

Still at Hadfield but forward another two years to July 1988. The Scottish "Blue Trains" have gone and have been replaced with Class 304 units.

Yet again at Hadfield but now it's September 2004. The Class 304 units have been replaced with Class 323 units. Note how the undergrowth has engulfed the station area making the previous two views impossible.

It's back to the 1970's. We are at Reddish Depot in Greater Manchester. This was the main depot for the Class76 locomotives and also the Class 506 electric units. This is April 1978.

Here we see the lion and wheel locomotive 76022 in for a bit of maintenance in the depot at Reddish. July 1978.

Almost everyone that visited Dinting in the 1970's came to see steam locomotives. Commented on at the time was that the Pennine Electrics would be gone well before the steam locomotives in the Dinting Steam Center. History subsequently proved this ominous forecast accurate. Here we see a Class 506 on route to Glossop passing the access line to the steam centre. April 1978.

As freight trains did not normally operate at weekends, there were usually plenty of Class 76's to be seen resting at various locations such as Rotherwood and Guide Bridge. This scene is at Wath, one of the eastern extremities of the electrified line. May 1978.

This westbound train is passing the signal box at Hadfield Station. The westbound platform had been removed years before and passenger trains arrived and departed from the eastbound platform. July 1980.

Manchester Piccadilly Station in July 1980. The Class 76 hauled express passenger trains to Sheffield Victoria via Woodhead is now a distant memory but the Class 506 units maintain a local service to Glossop and Hadfield.

The Worsborough incline was the only place in the UK where you could see four locomotives on one train. There are two Class 76's on the front and another two on the back to give banking assistance on this heavy coal train which has just departed westbound from Wombwell Main Junction. July 1980.

The line from Wath joins the Sheffield to Manchester main line at Barnsley Junction Here we see a loaded coal train which has recently detached the two banking locos crossing Oxspring Viaduct near Penistone.

Just west of Dinting Viaduct is Mottram, where a number of sidings were located. Here a local passenger train approaches Mottram Staff Halt. July 1980.

After departing Mottram Staff Halt the unit continues on its journey to Manchester. July 1980.

West of Mottram is Godley Junction. This was a motive power interchange point between the Woodhead electrics and diesel electric power. July 1980.

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