Woodhead Route- Kendal Green LC to Barnsley Jct.

[Manofkent77]

any possibility yet that they might re-open the two Silkstone tunnels as part of the  Dove Valley trail path?

[tolgug]

Shortest and best route between Manchester and Sheffield...

...hard to believe it was just thrown away like an old fag packet.

Shame on BR! Shame on the politicians!

[ewsiscrap]

This was the first route I signed in 1981, as a new guard based at Huddersfield.

We took the main line at Barnsley Jct to Sheffield Vic. The DMU had to reverse at Vic to get to Midland Station.

Bsly Jct was worked by Wath and Tinsley men, bringing coal from Dodworth Pit and those round Wath Yards.

Main traction was Cl 20 x2 and cl 56's locos.

BR spent £millions on the track just before the line was closed.

Now all this has gone and houses built at Bsly Jct and track lifted past Penistone

[Ropponmatsu2]

I have a couple of questions about your working as a guard on this route. How long did it take to get down from Penistone to Sheffield station? I read somewhere that it was an incredible slog as the train did not stop anywhere in between, hence the low passenger use and the current route via Barnsley. (Wadsley Bridge, Stocksbridge, perhaps?)

Because you were working that route, presumably you saw them dismantling it. How long did it take to clear Bsly Jct of all the track and such?

[ewsiscrap]

From PS to Nunnery Jct it took about 35mins, then reverse at Nunnery Jct for Midland Stn. (10mins)

On the way back, it was nearly all uphill once past Wadsley Bridge, you would get to PS in about 45mins +/- 5 mins.

When it was match day we got a stop order for Wadsley Bridge for the football on the way down.

The times coming home all depended on the DMU you had.

If it was a Metro Cam 2 car 4 engine unit, it would fly, if it was a 4 car 4 engined unit it was hard work.

[ewsiscrap]

The drivers called 4 car/engine units " Dredgers. "

Now nearly all the trains are packed both ways and it is popular with passenger cos the trains run to time(Almost)

We singled the line from Stocksmoor to Huddersfield in the early 1990's. The track is doubled from Stocksmoor to CW Jct. This allows the trains to pass each other at Shepley Station. The road to PS is single line, with electronic token less block signaling.

I have worked Green Party Charter trains over this route

[Ropponmatsu2]

I live in near Brockholes, it's a miracle the line has survived. 45 Minutes to get up to Penistone! God almighty.

I can see how the reversal at Nunnery Jct. kills the service dead, but I had visions that it took maybe 30 at most, based on the fact that it took about 20 in the days of the Victoria services.

Having looked at books on this route, the gradients are actually pretty serious by railway standards and so a regular DMU is out of puff at 40mph, but still, that's surprising, thanks.

[ewsiscrap]

The only level stretch on this railway is the 1 mile stretch for Stocksmoor to Borckholes tunnel.

One of the last engineering trains I worked was to slew the railway through that tunnel into the middle.

In Dec 1987 to May 1988 I worked 17 engineers trains up the branch.

Quite alot were in Brockholes Tunnel pointing the tunnel roof.

We has a Class 31 which was so smoky we had to take the engine off the train and park it in BH station

This job was 9T34 1730 to 0230. 7/12/1987, all week.

[pburr1973]

Absolutely huge wide-span OHLE masts at Barnsley Junction covering all the lines - to think all that infrastructure has gone!

[cutterschoicenotmine]

great videos, thanks!

[olli7776]

It is really hard to take in the loss of all of this infrastructure! I always thought that the Woodhead line had a certain mystique and mood, mainly because of its exotic traction but also the landscape through which it passed was very effecting. The Class 47 headed Fiddlers Ferry coal trains used to pass within sight of my grandparents back garden near Cheadle as they were well into the start of the Cheshire leg of the journey. They were very frequent in the 70s.

[Isochest]

Yes, the traction fits the difficult terrain. But we are rational people and Politicians, Oligarchs and other Power Cravers are not. An ancient Greek Philosopher said the people who should govern are the ones who do not want to. How true. Look up Psychopathy and Narcissism and you will find the qualities of our MPs, Government and Power Élite: Stinks, doesn't it?

[cleckheatoncentral]

This is a double track electric railway serving a huge population and excellent situation for a Europort type container good yards with the M1. So why was it shut down in 1981??? It makes no logical sense! Bring the lot back!

[Inkyminkyzizwoz]

@cleckheatoncentral I think you mean 'was', not 'is'!

Anyway, I agree with you - I mean, even Beeching wanted to keep it open! (Mind you, it'll never happen in the current economic climate!)

[Isochest]

@cleckheatoncentral It makes no sense. To what kind of mind does the closure of woodhead and its continued closure make sense to? Those that govern have minds that make them unfit to govern, yet they seek this power.

[MK55A]

@cleckheatoncentral I can tell you why it was shut down ! because the Tory party closed it, then they went to close the mines, In which they did and in 1984 they were going to come back to us,(BR) in fact they shut part of the Midland Main (Cudworth) and now they are in again, they will finish the lot off

[andythesoupdragon]

@MK55A It's fortunate the British loading guage is so tight,otherwise there'd be alot more railways converted into motorways. Some of the road lobby still seem to think they'd be able to run express coaches on these routes at 100MPH or more. Having been tailgated by a Scottish citylink coach at 55MPH in a 40 zone (mostly the A8 past Edinburgh airport) countless times illustrates the idiocy of coach transport

[Isochest]

@andythesoupdragon Yeah and you get these buggers up your arse. If I did 55mph in a 40 zone, the Porkies would be pulling me up to give me a bloody stuffing. Still I've heard some good tales off friends who are bike couriers who have set up such folk for speed traps

[1044991]

this old line is right on my garden i remember a railtour around 1980,the passengers could shout at me going past its that close.also as my first job was at dodworth colliery filling MGR wagons i never realised they went westwards,i thought they went to wath,can anybody tell me where they would go after barnsley junction.brilliant video brings a lot back.

[Ropponmatsu2]

MGR wagons mostly went to Fiddlers Ferry power station near Widnes, by the Mersey. The problem with the Woodhead line was that the trains ran on DC power to rail yards outside Manchester, the wagons had to be uncoupled and coupled to a new loco to send them onwards. This is inefficient. But to explain why the Woodhead route was shut, due to the fact that it's electric system was "DC," rather than the "AC" power that you get on the railways today is too hard to fit into the remaining characters!

[1044991]

thanks for that. today at barnsley market i saw a book by e.m. johnson on the route and bought it.i cannot understand how we as a country close a modern electric line, if ever there was a case for re-opening the woodhead route it is now ,the diameter of the tunnel suggests it is better to deal with growing container traffic rather than standedge or the hope valley

[Isochest]

Sadly we have a fatally flawed political system without a written constitution. This has allowed Britain's demise to occur unabated. If only we were run by altruistic empathic individuals rather than the Narcissistic and sociopathic scum we call MPs.

[G0IMB]

That's right. The loading gauge is greater.

[Isochest]

It could have been converted to 6.25kV ac as the Great Eastern lines were using the same catenary and insulators and class 81-85 used as they were in effect dual voltage 6.35 and 25kV.

[whitewineguy]

I used to work on this line in the P/way in 1974 BR days and have walk all of it at some time,my uncle was a signalman at Wentworth juc. and his friend worked at Slikstone juc. great to see it again thank you

[kathodenstrahl45]

cool!

[Isochest]

Nice to see you her kathodenstrahl45: But our Government is bad: It does not understand manufacturing nor technology. It does not care for alternative energy:-((( The rest of Europe must oppose our Government:-(((

[Ropponmatsu2]

I live not far from here, and the incredible thing about this video is that everything in it is ALL gone. Barnsley Junction at the end is now a housing estate. I'd use the train to go to Sheffield if the direct line still existed. As it is, I go in the car as I am not interested in being sent all the way via Barnsley, and taking hours in the process.

[Isochest]

This is sad: I think the lines may have been the product of an impermanent industry. But these routes would have a use today if the Government could or care to see. Passenger wise Barnsley-Doncaster as a link to London your city needs: The freight route still needs to be grown as oil runs out and other freight corridors become full up!

[Ropponmatsu2]

No, it is not up to Europe to oppose our government. WE must oppose our government.

The line that runs down to Wath from Silkstone is steep for modern trains, a better routing is either via Sheffield or Barnsley centre. Remember that the coal trains to Wath and the mines that surrounded Rotherham are now sadly all gone. There is still real promise for the Woodhead route though, now that rail traffic is back on the rise, and why we should support it's reopening.

[Isochest]

I do agree with you and I frequently write to my MP regarding important decisions not being made. So us "little people" are not being listened to while the career egos of Westminster are chasing bungs by kissing the bad boys bums. I've had letters in the past about electrification from Tony McNulty saying hydrogen may be a better option. But you need renewable energy to make hydrogen and they're hindering that by opposing feed in tariffs. Dethroning these goons is a must!

[01lawsda]

i agree with you all, and "egos of Westminster are chasing bungs by kissing the bad boys bums" is brilliant, i haven't heard a decent insult about them for ages!

[cgrextreme]

what great footage, i live near the line and ive always had a big interest in the history and the class 76.

thanks

[Isochest]

I hope Woodhead reopens, even with the timid or corrupt Government ministers we have.

[bluebus270]

They've built a lovely cycle path from Ballater - Aberdeen.

So thats OK then..........

[Isochest]

I'd rather have a nice railway on the trackbed with regular DMU commuter service plus freight traffic.

[bluebus270]

An interesting footnote is that the Conservative government commissioned beeching to prune the railway, and Barbara Castle was the Transport minister who butchered the network in the 60's. So they're both as bad.

[Isochest]

Spot on! Just like the Blair/Brown spin. They're all smiling assassins! Goes with all these politicians Narcissistic pathology!

[bluebus270]

This route should never have been closed but we cant turn back the clock. However what we can do is bring in some sort of policy whereas the trackbed is left in situ for 25 years to allow for reopening at minimal cost. The Tories broke up BR so there is absolutely no chance of saving the tunnel let alone relaying the route.

By the way the footage is excellent! Thanks sioz68.

[Isochest]

I agree with the 25 year policy, but as it stands the present government appears corrupt on many fronts. Energy bills are rocketing, but the UK Government is blocking renewables which could lower prices. Other countries in the EU have successfully promoted renewables (wind) but this shower is trying to keep them out of the energy mix. They must be lining themselves up for plum jubs with the energy incumbents! Let's get rid! I agree all parties are as bad!

[bluebus270]

As a litmus test i wrote to several of my local councillors asking if they thought it a good idea (if money was no object) to our local Aberdeen - Ballater line being reopened. Of the one councillor who could be bothered to reply, he said 'no'. With that lame duck attitude is it any wonder we have a railway system that is worse than the one in Bangladesh? And to think 25 years ago the government seriously touted the idea of closing the Settle - Carlisle. We must be a laughing stock.

[Isochest]

Well they sound worse than useless. No surprise really. There are a number of population centres on that route. There are no words foul nor profane enough to describe our blinkered corrupt politicians. We are the laughing stock of Europe, no doubt.

[Isochest]

And nowadays, they are all so much worse, sadly. The numptocrats we have seem hell bent on burying us:-((((

[bluebus270]

They are trying to reopen a stretch of the old Aberdeen-Ballater line, but various bent and corrupt councillors on Aberdeenshire Council are using every trick in the book to throw a spanner in the works. Is a pattern forming here?

[dajwilkinson]

Fills in the gaps in my local knowledge! If the question "Should this be closed?" were asked now, I don't think there would be any supporters!

[ewsiscrap]

My first job as a guard was to work from Huddersfield to Sheffield Midland, in a DMU. Then when the Barnsley Jct to Sheffield Vic was closed, we went via Barnsley.

The next time I was up at Penistone, we were lifting track at Barnsley Jct.

This would be mid 1980's.

It was that hot, I had a good wash in Huddersfield Jct signal box sink, as it was mid July.

Now the Penistone Line trains run fully loaded.

The single fare from Huddersfield to Sheffield was £1.10p.

[thrash427]

A Thoroughly enjoyable trip back in time. Shame the route has almost disappeared. Shame on the government , it'd cost a fortune now to reopen the route now. Oh well , they'll learn eventually. Good video however!

[Isochest]

Perhaps not too much when we're rid of Gordon.

[Isochest]

What a waste of good infrastructure. In the UK: In England, at least according to our (Scots with an anti-English grudge)politicians "Infrastucture" may well be an obscenity! All I can say is More power to the Overhead Wires or "Mais força às catenárias" as the Portuguese would say.

[cutterschoicenotmine]

hell yeah, back in the day! nice work!

[GWR1940]

Great film,

really enjoyed this