I've walked from oughtibridge to wadsley bridge today alongside the old woodhead line.

All the way along there is one track running.

Do trains still/ever run along this?

If the line was to re open can it still run its original route all the way into Manchester or has any part of the old line been built on?

Is Woodhead tunnel still safe and passable? I was told it was now full of electricity cables?

HI,
the old line to manchester is open to walkers/cyclists ect at least up to the tunnels at dunford bridge,
right from wharncliffe onwards(bottom of finkle st)
its a route i regulary ride,the resovoir at winscar has some of the most blue water in it that ive ever seen,
never been in the tunnels though,
JJ..

you have heard correct that woodhead tunnel in full of electric cabels. last year I was up and around there photographing and on the old line itself and something strange was happing the old woodhead tunnel was being worked on this is inside there was at least 4-5 cement lorries going in and out of the tunnel entrance, now it cant be for the yeb because they use the other tunnel so why are they working on the old tunnel, and there is something else that me and my mate found out just up from the tunnel about quarter of a mile they have dropped a load of new ballast, are they about to reopen the line because of these containers wagons from abroad the woodhead tunnel is the only one wide enough to take them and the other tunnels are to narrow, thats what one of the contractors told us so your guess is as good as mine are they going to reopen it we shall have to wait and see.

Originally posted by semerpus
I've walked from oughtibridge to wadsley bridge today alongside the old woodhead line.

All the way along there is one track running.

Do trains still/ever run along this?

The remaining line links Stocksbridge steelworks to the rail network but I don't know if it is still in use.

Originally posted by semerpus
If the line was to re open can it still run its original route all the way into Manchester or has any part of the old line been built on?

Is Woodhead tunnel still safe and passable? I was told it was now full of electricity cables?

I believe that most of the rail infrastructure of the Woodhead line has been removed, although part of the trackbed has been turned into a walking route (the section beyond the terminus of the line at Hadfield is now part of the Transpennine trail) and one of the Woodhead tunnels is used to carry electricity cables. However, according to a website I found part of the trackbed was blocked by road construction in 1986, although it does not say whether this was temporary or permanent. Given that rebuilding the rail line along the Woodhead route has been considered recently it seems that it would not be impossible, although I think it is unlikely to happen.

Here are some webpages you may find interesting and I'm sure there are a lot more. I suggest searching this site too.

http://www.topforge.co.uk/Photographs/Woodhead.htm

http://www.eastbank.btinternet.co.uk/pennine.htm

http://www.railscot.co.uk/Sheffield_Ashton-under-Lyne_and_Manchester_Railway/body.htm

Originally posted by Fingers
The remaining line links Stocksbridge steelworks to the rail network but I don't know if it is still in use.
I think this may shed some light (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=42144) :thumbsup:

The remaining line links Stocksbridge steelworks to the rail network
but I don't know if it is still in use.

I actually saw a train go over the Five Arches (Herries Road, Sheffield)
on Monday morning (6/9/10).

Couldn't believe my eyes.
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I actually saw a train go over the Five Arches (Herries Road, Sheffield)
on Monday morning (6/9/10).

Couldn't believe my eyes.
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I thought they did anyway? As don't trains still go thru Wardsend Cemetery?

I thought they did anyway?

As don't trains still go thru Wardsend Cemetery?

Trains on that track are as rare as rocking horse poo, hence the
reason that some people think that it's no longer in use - but it is.

Apparantly it only serves Stocksbridge Steelworks and it's only single track.

If a train crosses the Five Arches then it must pass Wardsend Cemetery when going in the direction of Sheffield and pass Wadsley Bridge Station (which no longer exists) when going in the direction of Manchester.

For the greater good, the track bed should be dug out, overlaid with
concrete and used for buses only.
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Trains on that track are as rare as rocking horse poo, hence the
reason that some people think that it's no longer in use - but it is.

Apparantly it only serves Stocksbridge Steelworks and it's only single track.

If a train crosses the Five Arches then it must pass Wardsend Cemetery when going in the direction of Sheffield and pass Wadsley Bridge Station (which no longer exists) when going in the direction of Manchester.

For the greater good, the track bed should be dug out, overlaid with
concrete and used for buses only.
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Arent the platforms still there at Wadsle Bridge, behind the snooker club? Apparently i read somewhere that Wardsend is the only cemetery in the country that has a railway line running thru it

Apparently i read somewhere that Wardsend is the only cemetery in the country that has a railway line running
thru it


That's why it's only a skeleton service.

(Couldn't resist :D)
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That's why it's only a skeleton service.

(Couldn't resist :D)
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That's quite funny actually.

I work about 10 metres from the rail line at Heeley, does anyone want any numbers?

If Nick Clegg gave a monkeys about Sheffield he could get started on reopening this line. It's not going to happen of course, just a thought.

[QUOTE=Fingers;445589]The remaining line links Stocksbridge steelworks to the rail network but I don't know if it is still in use.



I believe that most of the rail infrastructure of the Woodhead line has been removed, although part of the trackbed has been turned into a walking route (the section beyond the terminus of the line at Hadfield is now part of the Transpennine trail) and one of the Woodhead tunnels is used to carry electricity cables. However, according to a website I found part of the trackbed was blocked by road construction in 1986, although it does not say whether this was temporary or permanent. Given that rebuilding the rail line along the Woodhead route has been considered recently it seems that it would not be impossible, although I think it is unlikely to happen.

im sure when the stocksbridge bypass was built it cut straight through the woodhead line so it wouldn't be possible to run on the original route.

That's why it's only a skeleton service.

(Couldn't resist :D)
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Ooh, deary me, ouch! lol lol lol

Terrible, but funny.

I work in Beeley wood and can hear the trains go past,

They are very few and far between.

SUMMARY


The railway line to the steelworks at Stocksbridge (Sheffield) is still in use it is single trac from its junction at woodburn to the sidings at corus a distance of aprox 12 mile. The line operates on the principle of "one engine in steam" sot herefore there is only ever one loco/ train up there at a time.

The trains that use this line are timed to be at the steelworks when the steels works needs them therefore they mainly run during the night however, sometimes stuff runs in the day, last year the branch was included in the leaf fall trains so therefore these operated during the day (link below).



Weedkiller train last year:
http://s116.photobucket.com/albums/o24/TRAMMANN/?action=view&current=DSCN6621.flv

The weed killer season is about to start at the end of this month not sure if the branch will be included this year
The station at wadlsey bridge is still technically available for football use , I would however be surprised if it was ever used again.

The line is still open and therefore the normal laws of treaspass upon the railway are still in force. I understand whenthe stocksbridge bypass was built it did cut the line in two , however, some reports claim there is an access tunel there. The old woodhead line is a footpath i certain areas.

Weedkiller train last year:
http://s116.photobucket.com/albums/o24/TRAMMANN/?action=view&current=DSCN6621.flv



great vantage point busman! is that at the top of that big new retaining wall? how did you get up there?

The station at wadlsey bridge is still technically available for football use , I would however be surprised if it was ever used again.


Could be handy for World Cup 2018 then? A local MP on the case would help.

The last time I was in Stocksbridge (about 2 years ago) the line was as follows:

In use occasionally for steel trains to and from the Stocksbridge Steelworks. The line is under Network Rail's ownership from the junction with the mainline at the back of the Capita building just off the parkway in Sheffield, right up to the "Stop" sign just after the old remains of the Deepcar station, which itself is now privatley owned.

Past this point the line is owned by Corus (or whoever owns the steelworks thesedays!) and there is a siding just round the corner. I believe that the loco runs into the sidings, where a Corus loco picks up the wagons, and the loco either returns with empties, or runs solo back to the mainline.

This usually happens at night, and if you live in Stocksbridge/Deepcar you can sometimes hear the trains at night.

Loco's do sometimes run during the day, and as the line only goes to the steelworks the paths are "as and when" - there is no fixed or published timetable for the trains.

The line is no longer electrified via OLE or 3rd rail, however there are still plenty of dangers on the less-maintained route. Things like uncovered drainage pits, slippery sleepers, lubricators etc. Best to stick to the bridges, and footpaths that cross the railway legitimatley.

There have been various initiatives over the years to re-open the line in its entirity, however there are several barriers:

1 - Stocksbirdge Bypass
2 - Woodhead Tunnels
3 - Trans-Pennine Trail
4 - Cost

1 - Stocksbridge Bypass

The bypass does indeed cut through the route of the old Woodhead line. There is no access tunnel, nor space underneath the bypass to get anything through.

Some suspect that when the bypass was built the line was still classified as "active" despite the lack of rails. If this is the case, then SCC/Whomever built the bypass will have to pay for construction of access for trains should the line be reopened.

Ive not seen any hard evidence of this though, so I suspect that any venture wanting to reopen the line past this point will have to cough up the $.

2 - Woodhead Tunnel(s)

If you know your history, you will no doubt be aware that there are actually 3 tunnels at Woodhead. I believe that all 3 of them are currently used for Electricity cables, however I believe that all 3 are owned by the National Grid PLC and thus present a massive obsticle for any potential reopening.

The idea of large container trains passing over the old route, and through Woodhead was proposed, however I've not heard anything from that idea for a long time.

3 - Trans Pennine Trail

As already posted by someone above, a lot of the old route is now the TPT. This presents yet another problem for any potential re-opening, as the TPT has been in place for a long time, and significant access changes have been made to the old track bed, including removal of level crossings and changes to the bridges.

4 - Cost

Simply put, it would cost £billions to reopen the Woodhead in its entirity, and this is a major stumbling block. I believe that a group based out of Stocksbridge (Something Volunteer Railway???) looked into just reopening the line between Stocksbridge and the junction with the mainline. I think the cost for this part alone was £30bn - dont quote me on that as I'm not sure of the proper figure. Any re-opening would have to spend a lot on first clearing and assessing the route, and then laying ballast/sleepers/rails/signalling/drainage/etc.

I hope this helps you somewhat OP.

Stomp

Could be handy for World Cup 2018 then? A local MP on the case would help.

I believe that Wadsley Bridge is largely collapsed, and the platform is not in good nick. That said, a few thousand £ would tidy it up and make it useable again. The same cant be said for Oughtibridge, or Deepcar though, as both are privatley owned houses now.

great vantage point busman! is that at the top of that big new retaining wall? how did you get up there?

It was very very simple andyrad , I got in my car and drove along it the road which goes behind it think it may be calledVernon Street the road is acually a dead end to the right of where I took the photo, a path leads to the new road.

With referance to the stocksbridge by pass and SCC , the boundry's round there get very complecated a lot of stocksbridge bypass is acully in Barnsley councils area.

The last time I was in Stocksbridge (about 2 years ago) the line was as follows:

In use occasionally for steel trains to and from the Stocksbridge Steelworks. The line is under Network Rail's ownership from the junction with the mainline at the back of the Capita building just off the parkway in Sheffield, right up to the "Stop" sign just after the old remains of the Deepcar station, which itself is now privatley owned.

Past this point the line is owned by Corus (or whoever owns the steelworks thesedays!) and there is a siding just round the corner. I believe that the loco runs into the sidings, where a Corus loco picks up the wagons, and the loco either returns with empties, or runs solo back to the mainline.

This usually happens at night, and if you live in Stocksbridge/Deepcar you can sometimes hear the trains at night.

Loco's do sometimes run during the day, and as the line only goes to the steelworks the paths are "as and when" - there is no fixed or published timetable for the trains.

The line is no longer electrified via OLE or 3rd rail, however there are still plenty of dangers on the less-maintained route. Things like uncovered drainage pits, slippery sleepers, lubricators etc. Best to stick to the bridges, and footpaths that cross the railway legitimatley.

There have been various initiatives over the years to re-open the line in its entirity, however there are several barriers:

1 - Stocksbirdge Bypass
2 - Woodhead Tunnels
3 - Trans-Pennine Trail
4 - Cost

1 - Stocksbridge Bypass

The bypass does indeed cut through the route of the old Woodhead line. There is no access tunnel, nor space underneath the bypass to get anything through.

Some suspect that when the bypass was built the line was still classified as "active" despite the lack of rails. If this is the case, then SCC/Whomever built the bypass will have to pay for construction of access for trains should the line be reopened.

Ive not seen any hard evidence of this though, so I suspect that any venture wanting to reopen the line past this point will have to cough up the $.

2 - Woodhead Tunnel(s)

If you know your history, you will no doubt be aware that there are actually 3 tunnels at Woodhead. I believe that all 3 of them are currently used for Electricity cables, however I believe that all 3 are owned by the National Grid PLC and thus present a massive obsticle for any potential reopening.

The idea of large container trains passing over the old route, and through Woodhead was proposed, however I've not heard anything from that idea for a long time.

3 - Trans Pennine Trail

As already posted by someone above, a lot of the old route is now the TPT. This presents yet another problem for any potential re-opening, as the TPT has been in place for a long time, and significant access changes have been made to the old track bed, including removal of level crossings and changes to the bridges.

4 - Cost

Simply put, it would cost £billions to reopen the Woodhead in its entirity, and this is a major stumbling block. I believe that a group based out of Stocksbridge (Something Volunteer Railway???) looked into just reopening the line between Stocksbridge and the junction with the mainline. I think the cost for this part alone was £30bn - dont quote me on that as I'm not sure of the proper figure. Any re-opening would have to spend a lot on first clearing and assessing the route, and then laying ballast/sleepers/rails/signalling/drainage/etc.

I hope this helps you somewhat OP.

Stomp


Its these guys who are tring to get the Stocksbridge bit reopened..
http://www.donvalleyrailway.org/

Its these guys who are tring to get the Stocksbridge bit reopened..
http://www.donvalleyrailway.org/

Ah yes! I knew it was something like that! :blush:

It's a shame that they dont seem to be very active? A nice looking newsletter, but it's dated 2007??

Ah yes! I knew it was something like that! :blush:

It's a shame that they dont seem to be very active? A nice looking newsletter, but it's dated 2007??

If £30 billion is correct even to within an order of magnitude, it would be no surprise that they'd given up the ghost and folded.

Ah yes! I knew it was something like that! :blush:

It's a shame that they dont seem to be very active? A nice looking newsletter, but it's dated 2007??

yeah i know a few people who have said that, if you eventually find the forum on that site there isnt much happening on there either, I would love to know how they are progressing

If £30 billion is correct even to within an order of magnitude, it would be no surprise that they'd given up the ghost and folded.

To be honest, it wouldn't surprise me if they all had a heart attack and died when they saw that cost!

I believe that Wadsley Bridge is largely collapsed, and the platform is not in good nick. That said, a few thousand £ would tidy it up and make it useable again.
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Yes it is in bad nick.

WADSLEY BRIDGE STATION (http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewverdonsmith/2241615156/)
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That's why it's only a skeleton service.

(Couldn't resist :D)
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:hihi::hihi::hihi::hihi:

It was very very simple andyrad , I got in my car and drove along it the road which goes behind it think it may be calledVernon Street the road is acually a dead end to the right of where I took the photo, a path leads to the new road.

ah its Brunswick Road isnt it that used to go under the bridge at the bottom of the hill! might have to go up there and take some pictures before the spital hill/saville street development goes ahead

ah its Brunswick Road isnt it that used to go under the bridge at the bottom of the hill! might have to go up there and take some pictures before the spital hill/saville street development goes ahead

I do believe that is correct. However there probably wont be much to see.

I took some lineside photos a little while ago, if you want to look at them?

I do believe that is correct. However there probably wont be much to see.

I took some lineside photos a little while ago, if you want to look at them?

yes please! have sent you pm