FAMOUS LINE MEMORIES: Wonderful Woodhead

IT’S almost 36 years since the closure of the scenic Woodhead route between Manchester, Sheffield and Wath, but it remains a great favourite with enthusiasts, and the subject of regular proposals for reopening to provide extra capacity across the Pennines. Geoff Willerton presents a selection of previously unpublished views of the line in its final years.

More images and memories in the May issue of The RM – on sale now!

Right: A year before the line between Penistone and Hadfield closed, EM1 class Nos. 76030 and 76010 double-head an eastbound train of empty MAT ‘Cartic 4s’ between Torside and Crowden on July 7, 1980. As can clearly be seen, this section of the route towards Woodhead tunnel once had four tracks to cope with the enormous volume of coal traffic between Yorkshire and Lancashire.