dave75

Lovely craftsmanship , will these be available through JE for ham fisted amateurs to attempt?

Almost any of the Woodhead books will give you evidence of A3s on Manchester - Marylebone services via Woodhead. There was also A4s working over the line in WW2, I was unaware of this until I picked up on ebay an excellent book by Kenneth Oldham

New to DCC, Ive rigged a test plank up with Jmri. Now l want to run a Bachmann 105 DMU So I can see I need a 4 function chip for the power car. What do I put in the trailer car to control the directional lights? Thanks dave

Updated Confirmed ones 02 reddish depot? 05 at Darnall 08, 10? Jackshaft at Reddish 13, 17 there is a picture of a class 17 at woodhouse heading for Rotherwood. 20, 23 ran new to Doncater from Vulcan Works 24,25, 28 seen a picture one at Reddish parked next to Tommy 31, 35 Hymeks ran new from Beyer Peacock to WR over Woodhead 37,40, 44 farewell railtours. 45, 46 Struggled to find this one but some where on the internet is a picture of "the 46" 46026 running light through Dunford in 1981 47, Lion/Falcon/DP2 Master Cutler Sheffield Victoria to KX 48, allocated to TI 50 the photo above is I believe from a chap called robin lush, also worked MGRs to Godley Junc. 55 ran new to Doncater from Vulcan Works. 56 83, 84 hauled to doncaster for refurb. 87 Reddish for modifications. 52 & 42 there is a picture on the internet, Warship and a Western behind a class 40 heading through Guide bridge to the east lancs railway, date unknown but it would be interesting to know the route to Guide Bridge. SR emus at Guide bridge on the way back from Horwich. Late arrivals 09 Sheffield area in the 90s 33 Manchester Pic - cardiff trains in the 90 (can we stretch woodhead to platform 9 at picc!!) 58 toton - ashburys yard speedlinks 73 Not under the wires but one ran to Stocksbridge some months ago 86 railtour to Glossop

I think the Maroon rolling stock livery was introduced in 1956, so the only 'diesels' around are the LMS twins, the fell, the SR 1co-co1s, and GWR Gas turbines. That assortment (and the Woodhead electrics) would have started appearing in green so the window for your scenario would be closing, not saying it didn't happen.

You can't blame BR for having a look, at the time, the AL3 and AL4s in store and in need of expensive refits. EM1, with an availability of 90%, if you can fit the gear to rectify 25k - dc you've got a useful reliable motive power. Single AC Pantograph and Air tanks in the space for the second, be an interesting project. Any thoughts on a number series E36014?? And a TOPS class 86???

That not the first time it's been on this forum and there is a reference to an article in a railway magazine of the time so thats not a fair comment. I wasnt around at the time but will see if I can put the details on here so someone can check it. As l recall it was discussed as a straight AC conversion to haul low speed freight.

40 years since Woodheads last service train this month. Looking at Ken Oldhams book Wartime Woodhead, the OHL gantry on the viaduct at the west end of Dinting Station appeared in 1941, making it 80 years old. Is it still there? lve not been that way in a few years and noticed some 25kv AC masts in the station area.

It was between the terminus and Ardwick, the station was rebuilt and the 1500v gantries which only covered the ex-lner lines were replaced with the portals we see today.

Is the DC Loco in "Reddish blue"?

Would anyone care to describe the shades of blue in that first picture on the Mk2 coach, AC loco and DC loco?

I do seem to recall one of the batch of EM1 withdrawn around the time passenger services were withdrawn had damage to its high voltage equipment (and seen a photo of it too in one of the woodhead books). Might be adding 2 and 2 together and making 6 but could have been a result of this platform mix up. (PS theres a great image of a EM2 backing onto or leaving a train at midland junction ending on Ebay today, no connection to said sale but its the first image Ive seen of that operation taking place)

Mentioned on the class 02 shunter thread of an appearance at Reddish, be great to see the picture.

Rex Very helpful, and slightly embarrassing, when you dug the instructions out and sent a copy of them to wagonmaster, please also dig out the model they belong to and the spare parts, and kindly return them to me , you had then over 10 years and I would like them back please. As discussed previously Im happy to recompense you for any time you have spent on the model but Ive not seen any evidence of this to date . Sorry to air dirty washing in public but you cant say Ive not been fair . Thanks Dave

Thats a great job !

Can you find a link to the issue for August 1981, that's the source of my data its a good article but didn't want to put it on here if I didn't know who to credit it to.

guess it should be Woodheads last shift, timings are past Dunford Bridge, source is a Abrail site that was a newsletter of a pennine railway society? Friday 17th July Down Trains towards Manchester 16:45 76010+76016 MGR 17:35 76051 LE 17:50 76022 LE 22:27 47411 4Z63 Stourton-Garston Freightliner 22:50 76006+76014 6M46 MGR Barnsley Junction - FF (last MGR) 23:54 37064 +37094 4M55 Newcastle -Trafford Freightliner 00:01 76012+76007 LE 00:20 76010+76016 6M10 Tinsley-Warrington 03:18 76028 8M26 Tinsley-Warrington 03:33 37219 6M27 Immingham-Runcorn 05:08 76006+76014 6M62 Parkeston Quay-Edge Hill Speedlink Up Trains 20:11 76014+76006 6E85 Parkeston Quay 21:28 76016+76010 8E73 Dewsnap-Tinsley 21:50 76007+76012 6Z81 MGR empties - Shirebrook 00:28 76028 8E43 Dee Marsh-Tinsley 02:55 76014+76006 6E80 Ince - Barton-on-Humber ammonia 03:11 47341 4E71 Trafford-Newcastle Freightliner. 03:23 56063(question over number) 6Z82 MGR Empties 04:0147381 6Z64 Garston-Mansfield HBA wagons 37219 was booked to return light to Rotherwood via Woodhead but suffered Engine failure.

Anyone still need this info, I have a copy of the data from the abrail site, that has now unfortunately been lost?

Returning to the original topic, there is a mention in various publications in 1981, that a pair of EM1s got as far as Adwick on the final day and were denied access to piccadilly by in the authors words "the sharp eyed signalman".

Hi, Given the lockdown and my high stocks of foam board, has anyone got any good photos or diagrams of the 1500v Dc electrical supply buildings, they would be willing to post on here. They are always blocked by the train on photos and I would like to get some dimensions. Thanks dave

Ben Ive read the book, and agree with the points you raise. (Think the nuclear bunker was already built in Wiltshire by 1955, ;-)) Also worth a mention is the copy pit line that was closed to passengers in 1965, connecting routes were axed and by 1983 had one freight train a day. It came back from the dead like Lazurus in 1984 and has grown since then. Once the groupthink in a organisation has decided something must happen , its like turning an oil tanker even if the decision is found to be incorrect or circumstances change. In addition to the track, did you know some of the newer Woodhead OHL structures on the Tinsley section were used on the Bed-Pan electrification? As the book also points out the debate around Woodhead and the understanding of the structure and presentation of BRs "facts" saved the Settle and Carlisle. Perhaps we need a thread on "British Rail Railway closure techniques"? :-)

Allow yourself a minute to reflect on the title of this thread, what if, its an alternative history. Maybe BR wasn't so quick to adopt 25 K AC in 1956. The extension of the MSW to Manchester Central and Trafford Park gets built. Then back to your points, Dr Beeching is allowed his way. Hope cement works is served by a freight only single track branch from Chinley (like Hindlow) and other Peak District freight locations. Any eastbound traffic travels to Godley Junction. The direct electrified chord from Victoria to Midland is built in 1965 when the construction and electrification teams are in town linking Tinsley to the MSW system. Im on a roll now ;-) In 1957 BR tests a 1500 DC (Southend) outer suburban EMU on Manchester- Sheffield services . The successful trial allows the 7 Reddish based EM2 Co-Cos to join the other 20 of the class at Finsbury Park electric depot for the commencement of 1955 Kings Cross - Doncaster/Leeds 1500 v dc electrification. The 20 mile gap between Rotherwood and Retford is part of the scheme. Sheffield passenger services are concentrated on Kings Cross. After the success of LMS/EE diesel schemes, the West Coast mainline gets a fleet of 65 Deltic locomotives to replace steam locomotives.

What would happen if the DoT had stuck to the beeching report, closed the Hope Valley line, the Glossop branch and routed all traffic over the Woodhead. Close Victoria and Midland stations, and redevelop the railway land at blast land and the acres of land that becomes Park Square roundabout into a Station with a triangular junction to the GC route (as was planned) and links to the midland routes. Alternate scenario, BR doesn't get permission to build the 58s as no believes they are suitable for export! BR has to keep shifting black diamonds over Woodhead, it closes the wath branch and its inefficient banking operations and centralises Yorkshire/ Notts and Derbyshire coal traffic on Tinsley yard. Manchester- Sheffield is re- electrified at 25K AC on the cheap in 1984 for £3M (like Manchester to Glossop) and Class 81 and 85 haul MGR trains over the hill. Which begs the question how many MGR wagons would an AC electric drag up the hill to Dunford? Tractive effort experts welcome

So since I contributed to this thread Confirmed (Obvious) ones 08,13,20, 24,25,31,37,40,45,47,56. 17 there is a picture of a class 17 at woodhouse heading for Rotherwood. 23, 55 ran new to Doncater from Vulcan Works 35 Hymeks ran new from Beyer Peacock to WR over Woodhead 44 farewell railtours. 46 Struggled to find this one but some where on the internet is a picture of "the 46" 46026 running light through Dunford in 1981 50 the photo above is I believe from a chap called robin lush, also worked MGRs to Godley Junc. 83, 84 as mentioned hauled to doncaster for refurb. 87 Reddish for modifications. Pictures seen since this thread was started. 52 & 42 there is a picture on the internet, Warship and a Western behind a class 40 heading through Guide bridge to the east lancs railway, date unknown but it would be interesting to know the route to Guide Bridge. SR emus at Guide bridge on the way back from Horwich. Late arrivals 09 Sheffield area in the 90s 33 Manchester Pic - cardiff trains in the 90 (can we stretch woodhead to platform 9 at picc!!) 58 toton - ashburys yard speedlinks 86 railtour to Glossop which I suppose leaves 21/29, 26, 27, 41.