Woodhead line

Woodhead line
An electric freight train headed by two Class 76s, about to enter Woodhead Tunnel in 1981
Overview
StatusPartially open
LocaleSouth Yorkshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Lancashire
Termini
Service
TypeMain line
SystemNational Rail Network
Services3
Rolling stock
History
Opened1845
Closed1970 (passengers) and 1981 (goods)
Technical
Number of tracks2
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification1,500 V DC Overhead line
Route map

(Click to expand)
Manchester–Sheffield–Wath
electric railway
incorporating the Woodhead line
Manchester Piccadilly
limit of 1500V DC electrification
limit of 1500V DC electrification
Ardwick
limit of 1500V DC electrification
limit of 1500V DC electrification
towards
Ashton Moss
Ashburys
Gorton
limit of 1500V DC electrification
Hyde Road exchange sidings
Fairfield
limit of 1500V DC electrification
Ashton Moss sidings
limit of 1500V DC electrification
limit of 1500V DC electrification
Guide Bridge
limit of 1500V DC electrification
towards
Stalybridge
Dewsnap sidings
Hyde Junction
to Hope Valley Line
Flowery Field
Newton for Hyde
Godley
Godley East
Godley Junction
to Hope Valley Line
Hattersley
Broadbottom
Etherow viaduct
Dinting viaduct
Dinting
Glossop
Hadfield
Crowden
Woodhead
Dunford Bridge
Hepworth Iron and Steel
Hazlehead Bridge
Penistone Goods
Penistone Line (unelectrified)
to Huddersfield
Penistone
Barnsley Junction
Oxspring viaduct
Oxspring tunnel
Penistone Line (unelectrified)
to Barnsley
Silkstone tunnel 2
Silkstone tunnel 1
Wentworth Silkstone colliery
M1
Swaithe viaduct
Hallam Line & Penistone Line
Wombwell Main
exchange sidings
South Yorkshire Railway (unelectrified)
towards Dovecliffe
Wombwell Main Junction
to Barnsley (unelectrified)
Aldham Junction
to Barnsley (unelectrified)
Wombwell Central
Elsecar Junction
to Elsecar (unelectrified)
limit of 1500V DC electrification
Wath Central
Rumtickle Viaduct
Wortley
Stocksbridge steel works
Deepcar
Ewden Valley Railway (unelectrified)
Oughty Bridge
Wadsley Bridge
Neepsend
Sheffield Victoria
Sheffield (Midland)
Midland Main Line
Nunnery Junction
Woodburn Junction
towards Rotherham
Darnall

The Woodhead line was a railway line linking Sheffield, Penistone and Manchester in the north of England. A key feature of the route is the passage under the high moorlands of the northern Peak District through the Woodhead Tunnels. The line was electrified in 1953 and closed between Hadfield and Penistone in 1981.

The Manchester to Glossop/Hadfield section is still in operation; east of the Pennines, the vicinity of Penistone is still in operation and until 2024 the Sheffield to Deepcar section was still open, although for freight only. The track has been lifted on other sections and much of the trackbed now forms part of the Trans-Pennine Trail and National Cycle Route 62.