The History of Woodhead Tunnels, the "Hell Holes"
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
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You don’t realise how incredibly hungry I am make this channel big to feed jones
I last went through Woodhead tunnel No.3 in December 1956 with my parents on a visit to Sheffield. I remember the trip and can pinpoint the date because the RAF and police were busy that weekend with a crashed aircraft on Brahma edge above the Torside crossing. I last travelled as a passenger on that line some years later, probably just before passenger operations ceased. With some friends we got off the train at Crowden Station to go for a walk on the moors above.
Most of the testament in the video came from my grandfather as he was a steam fireman and often worked through the tunnels.
It it’s always interesting to see how peoples lives are intertwined with these historic places.
Thank you for you comment I hope you enjoyed! ~Connor Jones
Hi there I work long that line in the 70s and 80s there few thing you miss out. The line was going electrification in late 30s that is why Tommy was build as Prototype but 2 thing happened WW2 broke out and old tunnels was too small+ the Electric line was Manchester Central and down to London but coz build a new tunnel they cut back to London road(Piccadilly) and to Sheffield + it help get coal out of Yorkshire.
Tunnel 3 was part of a project of the LNER to electrify the route at 1500V dc, which started before WW2, and was suspended for a while. I can remember travelling on a special from Manchester Piccadilly via the Woodhead route to Sheffield Victoria hauled by a pair of class 76 locos, then by one of the preserved steam locos (Clan Line) via the Hope Valley line to Cheshire. That was in 1979.
At that time, a lot of the traffic was coal from collieries in Yorkshire to Fiddlers Ferry power station, Warrington. It was a typical CEGB one built in the 1960s, with 4x 500MW generators.
INTRESTING VIDEO IVE ONLY BEEN TO THE DUNFORD BRIDGE SIDE LIKED THAT BIT AT 5:05 BLOODY TRAINS LATE NOTHING CHANGES THERE THEN, EITHER LATE OR CANCELLED
250 trains _per day_ in each direction? Seriously? I am highly sceptical of that number, that would be one train every 5minutes 45 seconds, 24/7.
I suspect that the number was actually 250 trains _per week,_ which would still be one train every 40 minutes 24/7, or one train each way every 30 minutes if operations were only 18hrs per day.
More than likely thinking about it
To be honest we got that one wrong and hold our hands up!
Sorry, I can't watch. It looks interesting but I can't stand that muzak.
Don't forget there was signal box inside one of the tunnels
Never been there but went over the road while I was going to go trainspotting in Doncaster, but I just wish I could go back in time and train spy there and see the 76s, even though they were ugly I wanna see em
Barely 16 years of passenger traffic through the new tunnel of the most advanced electrified railway in the country at the time. New tunnel portals on the route bear the name LNER or BR, depending whether they were constructed before or after 1948. At one point there was a signal box inside the old tunnel! Even for the appalling working conditions of the Victorian era, that must have been a grim gig.
Love your uploads I see this channel getting big just you wait friend!!
I went through it a few times in the 1960's on the way to Manchester trainspotting. It never seemed to carry many passengers and the stock used was old and run down, Thompson coaches I think. The locos were state of the art at the time though, boy could they accelerate. Coach rakes were only six or seven. Three minutes through the tunnel = 60mph. Until about 1909 there was a signal box in the old bores, staff reached it by a laddered man hole it is said. That would be an interesting find for you explorers out there. The box was a smoky hell hole to work in. In spite of having shifts cut to 6 hours and bonus payments the railway couldn't keep staff so it was closed about 1910, presumably after the section was track circuited. I can confirm the filth and smoke in the old tunnels. I had an Uncle who used the line in the 1930's. A shiny clean engine at Sheffield was filthy on arrival at Manchester! Good video production, I hope this reply helps. Keep up the good work.
It makes you wonder why they didn’t just build a double track tunnel to start with. Didn’t they think it would be worthwhile? It’s called “future proofing”.
Hell hole also sounds like a great pub name.
27 years of usage. what happened
As it's in the Northern Poor House it was all closed as you all well know governments only spend money on the south
Nice vid. I worked on railways and tunnels for 30 years, mostly in Hong Kong. Cut down on the pies, ha ha.
This was so interesting video thank you from New Zealand
250 trains a day going through the Woodhead tunnels? 250 A DAY? That's about one every 6 minutes? Are you sure?
If only Woodhead had been electrified at 25kv and not the antiquated 1,500 DC it would still be in front line use today I’m sure of it. However, if this had meant that the Hope Valley route would’ve closed instead of Woodhead that would’ve been an even more stupid decision!
Walked through with several friends December 19.87.
Please buy a tripod!
Also what’s the background music?
At which point?
@@DecadesVideos In between 1:47 and 2:23
Very interesting video.
Jfc the loud church music
(Asking from USA) What is the name of the disused station in the video?
Woodhead
There were two one at each end dunford bridge and Woodhead at the Manchester end
Nice video mate good info 👍🏻
A video on the legendary Fred Dibnah, when's it happening.
It’s certainly a possibility…
Exellent😊
So essentially everything about it and its history is just a case of horrendous luck
Heyy coming from vth guys
Loved your work so Im sticking around
Welcome!
Thank you !!
Woodhead Strecke ist im Train Simulator noch fahrbar..Danke für den Film
I travelled from Oughtibridge to Penistone from 52-58, during my years at PGS, then from Manchester to Sheffield Victoria from 59-62, during my years at Manchester University. The line at 1500 DC electrics then. The line was heavily used, and nobody could understand Dr. Beeching's closure of it.
Two weeks ago, we travelled from MCR to Sheffield by car, and it took us 1.5 hrs to get from the M67 through Mottram and onto the Woodhead road. The closure of this line, and the inability to widen the road from MCR to Sheffield has been the worst problem in transportation in the north of England ever.
Only in Britain! Act first; think later!
You have blamed Beeching unfairly here. His report suggested keeping this open but closing the Hope Valley Line instead. Passenger services were withdrawn in 1970, all services between Sheffield & Manchester going via the Hope Valley. The Woodhead line remained open for freight only for a further 10 years, but this had declined rapidly in the late 70s & the overhead power supply was in need of extensive maintenance.
@@TheRip72 I was on the last local passenger train (Sheff, Wadsley Bridge, Oughtibridge, Deepcar, Wortley, Penistone) as I was student at PGS at time. That service was withdrawn in 1958/9. I could still get the express from Manchester to Sheff Victoria while I was at Manchester University, (59-62) but never had a problem thumbing it home on Friday afternoons so I rarely took the train. Didnt have any money back then.
Loved the video Martin. Had to write, I went around Reddish depot at the same time, probably within days of your visit all those years ago. Thanks for bringing the memories back 👍
I guess the Tories can palm off contracts to their mates if they build a new one instead of reusing Woodhead 3
Unfortunately Woodhead 3 would not have sufficient clearance for 25kV AC to prevent arcing. It would be fine for 6.25kV, but that would add an extra layer of complexity to the trains on the line and would at the same time make it non-standard just like the old Woodhead route.
Whilst it is possible to rebore a tunnel, it is a very dangerous process, see the Penmanshiel Tunnel accident for what can go wrong.
Woodhead Tunnel number 4 would look absolutely hideous in comparison if it was ever built. Look at the tunnels on the Channel Tunnel rail link. It’s like the concrete lining just protrudes out at each end. No proper portals at all.
Where are the power cables at the woodhead end now?
There layed through Woodhead tunnel 3 now after being upgraded
Very enjoyable video.
Thank you
Spend a lot of time driving over them old tunnels via woodhead pass. Very interesting video
Thanks for watching!
Good video