Lost Woodhead - Penistone to Hazlehead
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- Welcome to the 4th part of our Lost Woodhead series. We’re making our way from Deepcar all the way (eventually) to Hadfield. We’ve covered the history of the line before, but just a reminder, the Woodhead route was the UKs first electrified mainline, but closed in 1981.
Last time out we looked at the town of Penistone from the old Woodhead station platforms to the original station and coal drops. We left you just as we’d polished off a couple of huge bacon sarnies (that’s a sandwich for anyone not from around here) to the west of the old Penistone Goods junction. They should keep us going for an hour or so. We’ll take this episode just short of Dunford Bridge.
We pass the sites of Thurlstone and Shore Hall crossings before reaching the site of the former Bullhouse colliery.
The scenery improves as we progress along the line, switching between cuttings and embankments. Passing the site of the heart warming story of Warren House cottage. Next up is Hazlehead bridge and station. The station buildings remain as private residence, as well as the station hotel and railway cottage at road level. At the west end of the station was wide area with seven lines. Here is the site of a junction. This Branch line from Hazelhead closed in 1964, but Im not sure exactly when it was opened. It made it’s way up to Crow Edge, Hazelhead colliery, Sledbrook Colliery, Hepworth Iron Works on what looks quite an incline. Ive seen the figure of 1 in 25 mentioned The line of the track bed is still very much visible from the air and the road.
We have a drink at the Magic Wood Cafe before heading up the trackbed towards Dunford Bridge.
The line opened in 1845, built by the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway. It became part of the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway in 1847. In 1897 it became part of the Great Central Railway (GCR) and it’s mainline between Manchester and London (via Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester). In 1923, it was grouped under LNER (London North Eastern Railway). Before upon nationalisation moving under British Railways in 1948.
Before the outset of WW2, plans were drawn up to electrify the section of the GCR between Manchester and Wath and Sheffield. Steam hauled heavy freight trains were struggling over the steep gradients on the line at the time. The project was delayed by the war, but was completed in 1955. The overhead wires energised at 1,500 volts DC. Whilst this was tried and tested technology (and is still standard in the Netherlands), the comparatively low voltage meant that a large number of electricity substations and heavy cabling would be required. It also made regenerative braking by transfer of power from descending to ascending trains in the same section of line comparatively straightforward.
Having seen major investment in the 1950s, the line was controversially closed to passenger traffic on 5 January 1970. Freight continued until 1981 when the line was mothballed. The tracks were ripped up in the following years.
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Great walk Paul, beautiful scenery and full of history.
The rails at the crossings tend to get left in place in most cases as this would have to involve the local council to remove them due to them managing the road.
Council planning permission/road closure would be required to rip the rail out and resurface the road (with the bill going to network rail). Easier to leave them in place, avoid the red tape and get the council to tarmac over them in most cases!
Fantastic video, thank you for sharing 😊👍
Cheers David.
I guess you're right. Great these bits of remains are still there.
I used to walk that, from Thurlstone into Penistone when it was still railway ballast and sleepers. Quite hard walking on that surface. Where you come out of the woods and admire the view, you're looking at Royd Moor. At that level crossing, the road uphill (forget the name) goes to join the top of Hornthwaite Hill Road, and downwards it goes to Mllhouse Green, crossing the Don. You're more or less following the Don all the way.
That's surely a hare, not a rabbit. It's a good area for hares.
Absolutely brilliant videos of the former wood head route paul i have thourghly enjoyed watching them having only ever seen the wood head route in books and on video after and before closure in July 1981 on videos an absorbing insight into the former woodhead route that I feel that could have been saved from closure and would have been amazing if it had indeed survived to this day 😊
Agreed. I'm like you. I've only ever seen the photos and videos really.
It sure would have come in handy these days.
@@WobblyRunner indeed Paul it certainly was at the time a short sighted act by the government as part of the wood head route was kept open from Manchester Piccadilly and converted from 1500 volt DC to 25kv AC to Glossop and I think also guide bridge even if the entire route had not been considered for conversion to 25Kv AC from 1500v DC it could have been kept open as a diesel only locomotive route I think the argument for it's closure was that the 1500v DC overhead catenery was considered life expired and possibly to expensive to convert to 25kv AC overhead on the entire route where did seem short sighted at the time as i think it had potential to survive in service but due to the new wood head tunnels carrying the high power national grid cabling it seems very unlikely to happen nowadays 😔
I think at the time it seemed fashionable to be closing railways. Any excuse would do not to invest any money. I know they've spent a lot of money and time recently with the work on the new tunnel for the cables. I reckon if they really wanted to, they could open it up again. On the line as a whole, I didnt realise how still usable it is. Apart from the Stocksbridge Bypass, there's not a lot of obstacles. A few angry cyclists and walkers maybe 😁
Thank you for today’s video and walking tour. Always great to see and taking the walking tour. Enjoy the weekend, and see you on the next, Paul. Cheers mates! 🇬🇧🇬🇧🙂🙂👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸
Thanks Martin. Take it easy. See you on the next one 👍🙂
When I lived in the area, Hazlehead was always pronounced (approximately) az (as in 'has' but without the h) - led!
👍😃 I was almost right. I got the 'as' bit right.
Paul, I've been traveling for a long spell and am just now starting to catch up on videos, but I have to tell you that this was a pleasure to watch. Just the tonic for a road weary soul! Scott
Great stuff Scott. Welcome back 👍🙂
Some lovely views on that walk with an excellent variety of things to discover. Hazelhead Station was a beauty, and I'm sure that was part of the old signal box at the end of the building. I do love those bridges they look so strong and you feel they'll be here a lot longer than we will.
You're right about the signal box Jim.
Such a great walk.
Hi Paul, I just love this video one of your best IMO. So much to see & explore in stunning South Yorishire countryside. Fab spotting the rails hiding under the tarmac at the level crossing. The cutting was so impressive too, so much to see ! I'm rabbiting on now so thanks for the video it is making me feel better after an awful day in hospital! ❤😊👍
Sorry to hear that Carol. Glad the video cheered you up a bit. It really is a fascinating piece of old railway.
@@WobblyRunner it's one of my favourite disused line Paul. Brings back a lot of nice memories too! 🥰👍
Very recently did Penistone to Hadfield, what a beautiful walk upto woodhead, some amazing engineering went into that line!
👍 agreed some great scenery. I'm looking forward to the walk to Hadfield
@@WobblyRunner sadly the avoiding tunnels part is a pain in the arse and walking on a road and then near a main road not the greatest but worth it in end
Looks like a great route. Love looking for those little artefacts and old relics then piecing the history together.
Hazelhead Signal Box looks great on the hill, bet the views below were great as trains blasted by
👍 glad you enjoyed it. Loved making this series so far and can't wait to do the rest.
Can't wait for part 5 of lost woodhead, woodhead 3s now got 400,000 volts running through it and big gates. It's a lot of electricity enough to light up entire area
👍 great stuff. Part 5 should be out in the next week. Just got a few finishing touches to make.
OMG. How did we miss those rails?! I was probably on my phone again 😂 So much going on in the video, loved the day out and the cafe was ace!
😄 I couldn't believe it when I was editing it. Spotted them straight away. If I remember we were getting out of the way of some cyclists.
@@WobblyRunner Ah yes you’re right. Now we know…always look for rails at a level crossing. I still love those really thick white gateposts.
Great video again Paul so much history like the David Brown 990 tractor over the crossing Grandad had one of them keep up the good work.
Great stuff 😃. That really is a great shot with the tractor isn't it.
It is that tractor new cost 863 pound in 1963 lol.@@WobblyRunner
Great section covered - my workmate Richard has often recommended that cafe at Hazelhead to me as well.
That cafe as almost like a mirage in the desert after 6 miles of walking 😄
There's a metal sign on top of the moors at Cut Gate. One arrow gives the distance to Hazlehead Station, the other to Derwent Village. Hazlehead closed in 1950 and Derwent was drowned under Ladybower reservoir in 1944.
That sounds like a fascinating piece of history 👍.
I'm going to look up that sign. I'm intrigued
@@WobblyRunner Did a little research because I was going from memory, and it has been some years since I walked there. It was a Peak District and Northern Counties Footpath Preservation Society sign from 1924 (sign No 51). "Footpath and bridle road via Cut Gate and Slippery Stones to Derwent and Ashop Valleys - leave no litter". Beneath in a similar style is a feathered arrow sign "Flouch Inn and Hazlehead Station". Both signs have raised metal letters, with Hazlehead Station painted out, but still clearly visible. Flickr has a photograph of it. It appears this sign was pinched in 2010 and a replacement erected which has the word "station" omitted after Hazlehead.
Location: Little Brookhouse Bridge, Langsett
Grid reference: SE 19770 00603
Sign No 50, also on Flickr, carries similar information, including Hazlehead Station. To the best of my knowledge it hasn't been nicked!
Excellent series this is Paul. Must have been a great line to work on. I did know people that worked on it,they always sang their praises of the 76s
I hadn't realised there were pits that far west in Yorkshire
Nice one Russ. The 76s do look full of character don't they. You do anything with electrics?
Well done Lads... the little cafe is great for a pitstop- they do some nice Eggs too.. The station masters house was up for sale last year for £500,000 .. ! Would have loved it... I always speak to the older folk who walk the lines and they remember when it was active and always have a good story ! My fav walk that - Did you see the Board for the famous BULL house train accident ? Cheers look forward to the next 1 😁
Cheers John.
Wow I'd love to find 500k for something like that 😲.
I didn't see the board on the accident. Wonder if it was on the bit that was closed at Bullhouse?
@@WobblyRunner Yes, the crash was at the former Bullhouse Bridge. A crank axle broke on the loco, spreading the rails and sending the coaches down the lane at 8:07. Penistone had an unfortunate reputation in Victorian times for the number of railway accidents in the district.