Re-open the Woodhead Line

WOODHEAD - RESTORING THE MISSING LINK - A Presentation by Colin Eilliff

noreply@blogger.com (concreteblondy) — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 08:06:00 +0000

WOODHEAD

RESTORING THE MISSING LINK

MANCHESTER PICCADILLY

MANCHESTER AIRPORT

SHEFFIELD VICTORIA

LEEDS CITY

WOODHEAD TUNNEL

STOCKPORT

LIVERPOOL LIME ST

Thursday 16^th April, 7.30pm

Labour Club, Chapel St, Glossop

A restored Woodhead rail corridor is vital for improving connectivity across the North. Colin Elliff of High Speed UK will outline plans for new trans-Pennine links for passengers and freight that will transform the local economy and bring major environmental benefits to the High Peak constituency.

All High Peak parliamentary candidates invited.

For further details visit the following link:-

http://highspeeduk.co.uk/

HSUK - THE RIGHT SOLUTION TO CONNECT MANCHESTER AND SHEFFIELD THROUGH WOODHEAD

LET'S GET THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL STRATEGY RIGHT!

Dear members/supporters,

Recent policy announcements outlining proposals for High Speed Rail show that clear thinking and a sound engineering strategy are fundamental requirements for achieving the long-term benefits of a properly integrated network.

The High Speed UK strategy is already in existence at a detailed level. We are happy to offer a presentation given by Colin Elliff BSc CEng MICE, of High Speed UK, that will provide clear insight into the issues involved and the best solution.

Colin is an experienced railway civil engineer, having worked in the industry for more than 30 years. He has taken a keen interest in the development of new rail systems, both high speed intercity railways and also new links to airports. He has worked with Pennine communities to redevelop the Woodhead rail corridor. All this supports the central vision of his High Speed UK proposals, for an accelerated and higher-capacity national intercity rail system

This presentation will be under the auspices of the Re-Open the Woodhead Line group, as it is clear that the basic aims of the Woodhead project are best served in association with the wider HSUK strategy.

The HSUK and Woodhead groups are grateful to Glossop Labour Club for the use of their premises. Please note that it is an independent social club and is not affiliated to any political party. The presentation will take place on:-

THURSDAY 16 ^TH APRIL @ 7.30 P. M.

LABOUR CLUB, CHAPEL ST, GLOSSOP

David Bryson

Chair, Reopen the Woodhead Line.

BACK TO THE FUTURE?

noreply@blogger.com (concreteblondy) — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 14:32:00 +0000

DO FUTURE PLANS MATCH THE 1950'S VISION FOR THE WOODHEAD LINE?

The Chancellor has recently made a new announcement, proposing an east-west high speed rail link to be added to the existing HS2 plans. He gave no details, but he mentioned Manchester and Leeds as being likely to be involved. At this month’s meeting we thought we should give this announcement a guarded welcome. The route we want established is, of course, Manchester to Sheffield. However at the very least Mr Osborne is finally recognising the need to develop east-west rail communications in northern England.

There is no denying that we are chasing a moving target. We want to associate political and commercial movers and shakers with our campaign, but we are in no position to be precise about the finer detail of what we would like them to associate themselves with. In fact this may not be entirely a bad thing. We are not trying to unmake any entrenched plans or get any firm decisions reversed. While proposals are still fluid we need to look for ways of making sure that they develop in ways that suit what we are trying to achieve. However if we want allies we need to have something to offer them.

So who else wants, or might want, a Manchester to Sheffield link? Operating from west of the Pennines we have always ‘thought Manchester’. In fact it may be that ‘railway consciousness’ is stronger in Sheffield than it is on the west side. Obviously this has to be worth sounding out, at least, so our next move will be to see who we can find in Sheffield who shares our ideas. One thing that we definitely have got going for us is the tremendous amount of detailed work that has been done by our in-house civil engineer Colin Elliff. Colin’s scope is much wider than ours, but his proposals include what we are looking for. So Sheffield here we come.

Dave Brysson - Chair - Re-open the Woodhead Line

New Year Greetings from Re-open the Woodhead Line - The Campaign in 2014

noreply@blogger.com (concreteblondy) — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 17:52:00 +0000

THE WOODHEAD CAMPAIGN IN 2014

First, a happy New Year to everyone.

HS2 has changed the entire scene, but it has not changed our objectives. We are still determined:-

. to restore a fast rail link between Manchester and Sheffield, both for passengers and freight

. to oppose any further motorway construction over the Dark Peak

The basic objective of ‘HS2’, even in its present unsatisfactory form, is the right one – to add strategic rail capacity. What we need to do is to use the better things in the proposal to serve our specific objectives for a Trans-Pennine link. The Northern Hub, while admirable in its way for easing rail traffic around Manchester, is not a strategic proposal of the kind we need. For our purpose we need to:-

· get people with clout on to our side before the ‘HS2’ proposals are implemented in the wrong form

· get the message across that as the HS2 proposals stand the approach to Manchester from the south is the wrong thing. A Manchester Labour MP pointed out just recently that to approach Manchester from the east via Woodhead not only makes more sense but serves the national interest by enabling an east-west rail freight link.

As a specific issue there is the question of where the electric cables should go. We want to ensure that these are not laid along the existing track bed, when there is a feasible and better route along the old construction rail track on the other side of the reservoirs.

For 2014 we would like to canvas ideas from the entire Woodhead group membership on how best to go about all this. Colin Elliff has done an immense amount of work on high speed rail in the UK as a professional civil engineer, which is available to us, and hopefully we will show the determination to make the best use of it.

Finally, apologies for and acknowledgement of stealing the above photo, which is excellent, from the following website:-

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/w/woodhead/

Hopefully they won't mind, if in return you use the above link to visit their website, where incidentally you can view many other great pictures. Woodhead is however one station we would love to be able to remove from the disused stations website but for all the right reasons.

Regards,

David Bryson/Steve Bagshaw

Chair/ Vice-chair Reopen the Woodhead Line

noreply@blogger.com (Navvy) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 13:24:00 +0000

RERUN OF LAST MONTH'S PRESENTATION

Same place, usual time 3rd Thursday of the month, i.e. 18 April 7.30 p.m.

Place Glossop Labour Club, Chapel Street, Glossop (facing the Market steps).

Civil engineer Christopher Quayle will give another showing of our group's ideas on the place of the dormant Woodhead route in current national rail strategies.

All welcome. No admission charge, bar open from 7 p.m.

David
Chair, Reopen the Woodhead Line.

noreply@blogger.com (Navvy) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:34:00 +0000

Lynda Price R I P

It is with the deepest sadness that I have to inform the group of the sudden death of Lynda Price yesterday morning, Wednesday 3 April 2013. Many members of the group will remember Lynda from her time as Secretary, a post she stood down from following a serious fall. Her sudden death yesterday in Manchester Royal Infirmary seems to have been from complications consequent on another accident.

I am sure everyone who remembers Lynda will feel a personal sense of loss, and our deepest sympathy and commiserations have been expressed to her partner, our Membership Secretary Peter Swinnerton.

David Bryson
Chair, Reopen the Woodhead Line.

Reconnecting Woodhead presentation - 7.30pm, Thursday 21st March 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Navvy) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 09:31:00 +0000

RECONNECTING WOODHEAD: RAILS ACROSS WOODHEAD -- TRANSPENNINE CONNECTIVITY TRANSFORMED
Presentation by the 'Re-open the Woodhead Line group'

7.30pm, Thursday 21 March 2013
Glossop Labour Club, Chapel Street Glossop

Matching the government's welcome new strategic thinking for railways with some strategic thinking of our own for Woodhead. The elephant in the room is as always Britain's carbon targets and the need for a paradigm-shift from roads to rails.

Anyone is welcome to attend, from rail buffs to environments and those concerned with local issues.
For those with an interest in where transport policy may be going, mainly but not entirely with a focus on Woodhead.

Chaired by Ro-open the Woodhead Line chair David Bryson, featuring presentations from and Q&A with Christopher Quayle a civil engineer with experience of the rail industry.

Bar open from 7 pm, presentations at 7.30pm. Interval at 8.30p, 9.30pm end time.

WOODHEAD AND HS2

noreply@blogger.com (Navvy) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 15:39:00 +0000

** The basic objectives of the Reopen the Woodhead Line campaign are still what they always were:

. The transport bottleneck over the Dark Peak needs a solution. For various environmental reasons this calls for a railway and not another motorway. The local impact of a motorway would be horrific, and although Britain's carbon targets get forgotten about for long periods, that issue has not gone away and it will look worse when the next panic sets in.

. Manchester and Sheffield have inadequate rail links for cities of their size and importance. The improvements announced are welcome -- enhancement of the Hope Valley line and the electrification of the Huddersfield line (if that counts as a link with Sheffield) together with links between the Manchester termini. However in the last resort this is housekeeping where a strategy is what is needed.

The HS2 proposals are at last official. The regulars at the Woodhead meetings have been considering the proposals in draft for years, and our number happens to include a genuine expert civil engineer. As we see it, it's impossible to think of Woodhead in isolation from this. Nobody, not even the management of the HS2 project, is claiming that the route as proposed is how it will finally turn out. The Woodhead group welcomes the opportunities that HS2 provides, and in a fully constructive spirit we feel we should press immediately for a change to the HS2 approach to Manchester. This envisages something over 7 miles of tunneling under residential areas, when there is a first class rail route (Woodhead) from the east still substantially in place. The tunnels and the solum will need further expansion, but that looks a rather 'minor' issue compared with boring 7 miles under south Manchester. It also offers the opportunity for an east-west rail freight link between Immingham and Liverpool. The government are at least thinking strategically now, so we feel we should press for enhancements to the strategy at this early stage. **

The next meeting (Thur 21 Feb, 7.30 p.m. in Glossop Labour Club, Chapel Street Glossop) will be setting a date and place for our next public presentation.

Woodhead Sparks Improved Transpennine Rail Route

noreply@blogger.com (concreteblondy) — Fri, 11 May 2012 23:44:00 +0000

News that National Grid is to install a new supply point at Stalybridge, to support the forthcoming electrification of the transpennine route via Diggle, means that Woodhead will be contributing to the effectiveness of the electrified railway from December 2016.

The obvious disappointment is that this is not going to be via a reinstated railway line but instead increased use of the replacement National Grid cables through the new Woodhead Tunnel.

However the campaign to restore the rail route continues to grow and both Railfuture and the Campaign for Better Transport continue to support re-opening in order to improve rail links across the Pennines between two of Britain's biggest cities.

Our campaign group, Re-open the Woodhead Line meet every third Thursday in the month at Glossop Labour Club, 7.30pm.

Please feel free to join us at our next meeting this Thursday 17th of May. All Welcome

XMAS FUN QUIZ - Monday 19th December 2011 @ Glossop Labour Club 7.30pm

noreply@blogger.com (concreteblondy) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:55:00 +0000

FUN QUIZ
MONDAY 19TH DECEMBER 7.30PM - GLOSSOP LABOUR CLUB

Map of Venue

Hi Folks,

All in all it's been a busy year for the Re-open the Woodhead Line group, what with it being the 30th Anniversary year of the closure of the line. On St. Patrick's Day we held a slideshow on the history of the Woodhead line and followed that up in May with a Rail Users Forum at which no less than 2 M.P.'s were in attendance (Angela Smith & Shadow Rail Mnister, Andrew Gwynne).

July involved much courting of the media to publicise the then forthcoming anniversary celebrations/commiserations?! This paid fine dividends with our wreath laying ceremony at Manchester Piccadilly (in memory of those who lost their lives in building the tunnels) meriting coverage on both the BBC and ITN news programs.

Then of course the autumn saw the Woodhead Special, a whole day of Woodhead related material presented by the Great Central Railway Society, providing a veritable feast of information for Woodhead enthusiasts.

So by way of giving ourselves and yourselves a chance to wind down for the year's end, we present a fun quiz that does not involve trains, railways, gauges, anoraks or even nerdy related questions that allude to a certain form of transport.

No. This will be a fun quiz to provide a light hearted finale to what has been a hard year of campaigning. So come along for a beer and a laugh and to participate in a fun quiz, regardless of whether you are a member or supporter or otherwise.

There may be food on the evening or there may be not. There may be a prize for the winner or there may be not. What I can definately guarantee is that there will be a fun quiz, there will be me, the quizmaster and hopefully: there will be you too - and that's all we need. See you there.

MONDAY 19TH DECEMBER 7.30PM - GLOSSOP LABOUR CLUB
Map of Venue

XMAS FUN QUIZ - Monday 19th December - Glossop Labour Club 7.30pm

noreply@blogger.com (concreteblondy) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:53:00 +0000

NOVEMBER MONTHLY MEETING - Thursday 17th

noreply@blogger.com (concreteblondy) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:38:00 +0000

Hi everyone, all aboard,

As Thursday 17th November is the third Thursday in the month, it means we will be holding the regular monthly meeting of the Re-open Woodhead Line, same time, same place, namely, Glossop Labour Club, Chapel St at 7.30pm, just behind the outdoor market square. Please feel free to come by and drop in, all welcome.

For no reason whatsoever, except it's a beautiful photo and I took it, here's a snap of the steam train used to mark the opening of the Rowsley to Matlock railway on 2nd of July this year. Here's a link to copy and paste into your browser if you want more details:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-14003558

As it's my photo and I own the copyright, please feel free to copy and paste it to your own site or your desktop with my permission. I'm not arsy about such things and I know how difficult it can be to get good photos for your blogs.

Hope to see some of you at the meeting.

AUTUMN MEETING - The Woodhead Special

noreply@blogger.com (concreteblondy) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:55:00 +0000

SATURDAY 22ND OCTOBER 2011 - The WOODHEAD SPECIAL at St. John's Community Centre, Church St, Penistone.

Hi Folks,

As our members and regular readers will know by now, we normally meet at Glossop Labour Club on the third Thursday of each month. This month however is an exception to that rule and there will be no October meeting of the Re-Open Woodhead Line group until November, when we will be putting on a presentation regarding the future options for Woodhead. Details of that event will be posted nearer the time.

Instead we are encouraging our members and supporters to attend a special Woodhead event that has been organised by the Great Central Railway Society, details of which can be found below:

Autumn Meeting 2011: "The Woodhead Special"

Saturday 22 October 2011
at St.John's Community Centre, Church Street, Penistone, South Yorkshire S36 6AR.
5 minutes from the railway station.

10:30 - Doors open
11:00 - Talk by John Quick: "The Woodhead Line"
12:30 - Lunch break with displays and sales stand.
14:00 - Talk by Stephen Gay: "Woodhead: The Lost Railway"
16:15 - Meeting ends

The venue (pictured) is quite easy to find in the centre of Penistone and near the church, the giveaway being that it is located on Church St! For anyone coming from outside the area that is unfamiliar with the Penistone area, click the link below to get your bearings, then zoom in. Basically, we're talking the Woodhead side of Barnsley.

Map of Venue

The lovely town of Penistone is very accessible from the Sheffield side but not from the Manchester-Glossop area (that is to say by train of course) which is the whole raison d'etre of the Re-Open Woodhead Line group, namely to rectify this glaring transport inadequacy between two of England's major cities.

This special event features two of the best known and authorative speakers on the subject on Woodhead namely John Quick who gave a presentation for us in Glossop last St. Patrick's day and Stephen Gay, whose name goes before him and is synonymous with Woodhead itself.

The day will serve up a veritable feast for Woodhead enthusiasts and we encourage anyone who can attend this special event to do so - it deserves your support and promises to be a day to remember.

Woodhead route in Rail Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Navvy) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 08:41:00 +0000

There is a six page profile of the Woodhead route and our campaign in the latest edition of Rail Magazine, find out more here: http://www.railmagazine.com/news/default.asp?storyID=7

Re-open the Woodhead Line on Facebook and Flickr

noreply@blogger.com (Navvy) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 07:41:00 +0000

Re-open the Woodhead Line now has Facebook and Flickr accounts. If you use any of these social media sites pay us a visit and 'like' us or 'friend' us. It's an easy way to show your support and keep in touch with latest developments.

On Facebook we're here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Re-open-the-Woodhead-Line/249704815040215?sk=wall

On Flickr we're here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/woodheadcampaign/

30th Anniversary events

noreply@blogger.com (Navvy) — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 08:54:00 +0000

Saturday 16th July 2011 saw Re-open the Woodhead Line mark 30 years since the closure of the Manchester-Sheffield rail route.

The day began with simultaneous wreath laying ceremonies at Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield Victoria to remember those navvies who died in the construction of the Woodhead Tunnel and route. In Manchester, Shadow Rail Secretary Andrew Gwynne MP made a short speech before Re-open the Woodhead Line treasurer Steve Bagshaw laid a wreath below the plaque at platform 1 that once lay at the entrance to the Woodhead Tunnel. In Sheffield, members of the Don Valley Railway laid a wreath at Sheffield Victoria, the now closed station that used to be the terminus for Woodhead services.

Campaigners then made their way towards a meeting point above the Woodhead Tunnel. On the train from Manchester out to the route's current terminus at Hadfield, passengers enjoyed an impromptu folk train performance from singer songwriter Aidan Jolly.

Demonstrating the lengths required to make it along the Woodhead route without a railway service, people then made their way to the tunnel mid-point, by cycle, car and on foot.

Three hours later the intrepid few, braved (un)seasonable stormy weather to meet on the moor above the Woodhead Tunnel's mid-point. Campaigners who had made their way from Sheffield and Manchester shook hands and celebrated the event with a few pints of specially brewed Tunnel Vision ale.

The events commemorated the route's closure but also highlighted the real need for it's re-opening. 30 years after the decision was made to close the line it seems the political will may now be there to push for it's re-opening. Meanwhile campaigners on both sides of the Pennines will keep making the case.

See you Saturday!

noreply@blogger.com (Navvy) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:29:00 +0000

We've had lots of interest about Saturday's events including a fair bit of press coverage.

You can meet us at several points:
9.30 Platform 1, Manchester Piccadilly Railway Station
11am Hadfield Station (walk/cycle)
11.30 Deepcar Station (with Don Valley Railway)
2.30pm at the mid-point on the moor above the Woodhead Tunnel (car park on the map below, at the 'P' by Salter's Brook Bridge on the A628)

Sat 16th July 2011: Events marking 30 years since the closure of the Woodhead Line

noreply@blogger.com (Navvy) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:22:00 +0000

For the sake of sixteen miles!

09.30 - Platform 1, Manchester Piccadilly Station
11.00 - Cycle and walk from Hadfield Station to Woodhead
12.30 - Congregate at Tunnelhead entrance at Woodhead
14.30 - Meeting on moor with campaigners from Yorkshire

Calling for the re-opening of the Woodhead line!

Saturday 16th July 2011 marks exactly 30 years since the last train ran along the Woodhead line from Manchester to Sheffield. To commemorate this sad milestone Re-open the Woodhead Tunnel Route campaign are staging a series of events.

Help us lay a wreath at Piccadilly Station where the tunnel’s entrance plaque is now sited, take a walk from Hadfield station along the old route bed or meet us on the moor at the tunnel’s midpoint. This event is not only about looking back but calling for the route’s re-opening and campaigning for it’s future use.

Come and join us!

Re-open the Woodhead Line Campaign
http://savethewoodheadtunnel.blogspot.com
email: reopenthewoodheadline at gmail.com

Sip a taste of 'Tunnel Vision Bitter'

noreply@blogger.com (Navvy) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:58:00 +0000

Don Valley Railway have brought you with the help of the Brew Company 'Tunnel Vision Bitter'. This is delivered right on time to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the closure of the Woodhead Route. It is 4.2 percent proof.

Having sampled it, it is a bitter bitter! It has a real kick to it. It is possibly the best £2.60 I've ever spent! Its available in Sheffield at The Harlequin, The Hillsborough Hotel, The Riverside and The Kelham Island Tavern, and should shortly be arriving at the Rutland and The University Arms. It is available far and wide across the country with orders coming in from as far away as Berwick upon Tweed.

Chris Bell,
Don Valley Railway Campaign

30 Years and counting - Woodhead Anniversary events

noreply@blogger.com (Navvy) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 08:42:00 +0000

For the sake of sixteen miles!

Saturday 16th July 2011 marks exactly 30 years since the last train ran along the Woodhead line from Manchester to Sheffield. To commemorate this sad milestone Re-open the Woodhead Tunnel Route campaign are staging a series of events including a wreath laying at Manchester Piccadilly, a walk/cycle to the tunnel and a symbolic meeting with our friends from the Sheffield side on the moors above the mid-point of the tunnel.

In making our way to the route's mid-point we are demonstrating the extreme lengths people go to for the sake of sixteen miles of missing track.

Provisional details are listed below but we'll be confirming arrangements in the next few weeks. If you'd like to help out or get involved with the event please contact us: reopenthewoodheadline@gmail.com

Oh, and did I mention, there will also be an especially brewed real ale, 'Tunnel Vision' a mid brown 4% strength session beer has been produced by Pete Roberts, micro-brewer and landlord of the Harlequin Pub, Nursery Street, Sheffield and should be available in real ale pubs in Sheffield, Huddersfield, Manchester and at many locations across the north of England.

Many thanks to our good friends from Don Valley Railway for organising the beer, we will meet representatives from their group on the moor above the Woodhead Tunnel mid-point.

Saturday 16th July 2011 (exact details tbc)

9.30am - meet Platform 1, Manchester Piccadilly Station

10.18am - Train to Hadfield (hopefully a folk train)

10.59 - Arrive Hadfield

11.00 - For the Sake of Sixteen Miles... Cycle and walk to Woodhead (car lifts on request)

12.30 - Congregate at Woodhead Tunnel entrance, Woodhead

2.30 - Meeting on moor with Don Valley Railway representatives

Rail Campaigner's Summit report

noreply@blogger.com (Navvy) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:17:00 +0000

Rail Campaigner's Summit – Guide Bridge Theatre - 26^th May 2011

Over 40 rail campaigners attended the event organised by the Re-open the Woodhead Line Campaign at Guide Bridge Theatre on 26^th May 2011.

Dave Shaw welcomed everybody and recognised the support the Woodhead group had received from Railfuture in funding the event.

The opening speech was given by Andrew Gwynne who made an appeal to grass-root rail campaigners to support the development of the Opposition's rail and wider transport strategy. Andrew set out the national context for rail developments, including the reduced budget for rail developments. The plans to bring a regular service back to Reddish South and Denton had his strong support, as well as the need for more rail capacity between Manchester and Sheffield and he believed a re-opened Woodhead line could be part of the solution.

Northern Rail provided an informative presentation about their Route 28 strategy. This is a low cost / high impact strategy to improve the facilities and appearance of stations on two historic lines out of Manchester to Liverpool (via Chat Moss) and Glossop / Hadfield. Dwayne Wells, Service Quality Manager from Northern, spoke particularly about his aspirations for Hadfield Station.

This led nicely into the next presentation which was from Steve Bagshaw, one of the members of the Campaign to Re-open the Woodhead Line group. Steve made an important announcement – the setting up of a Friends of Hadfield Station group (FoHS). This would be in partnership with Northern Rail and the partnership was consequently christened 'Friends and FoHS'.

Steve also recounted his trip to deliver an important consignment to the HQ of his local authority by rail. This involved exiting and re-entering the county four times, travelling from Glossop via Manchester, Sheffield and Derby before heading NORTH to Matlock. A distance of 38 miles which took 9.5 hours for the return journey!

A series of presentations followed from local campaign groups; first of all Kim Burrows and Dot Ashworth spoke of the campaign by the Friends of Reddish South station to get a regular service re-instated between Reddish, Denton and Manchester Victoria. This had received endorsement from Stockport Borough Council, Travelwatch Northwest and nationally by Railfuture. Both spoke of the importance of engaging the wider community in their campaign. The station was undergoing a transformation, as plants and flowers set last year were coming into bloom and importantly two excursion trains had decided make Reddish South a pick up / drop off point.

Alan Jones added to this from the Denton perspective and gave notice of a community open day on 2^nd July 2011 when they would be manning a stall in the foyer of Sainburys to raise awareness of the station group and recruit new members. The group had recently received the alarming news from Network Rail that the platforms were slowly collapsing onto the track and that this may bring about the stations demise. Assurances had been received from Andrew Gwynne, prior to the conference that this was not an option.

The summit next focused on Woodhead proper with a presentation from the Don Valley Railway and their proposals for the re-instating of a passenger commuter service on the stretch of line currently open for freight only, between Sheffield Victoria and Stocksbridge. Originally an 11 minute non-stop journey between Stocksbridge and Sheffield had been regarded as the most cost-effective, however the need to engage with all the communities along the line of route had brought a recognition that the DVR could not ignore the wishes of these communities to see their stations re-opened. DVR also stated its long term aims of pressing for re-opening of the route as far as Penistone and its support of the Woodhead group in their campaign to re-open the whole line.

A presentation on behalf of the Woodhead group was delivered by David Bryson and Colin Elliff. This firmly set the campaign in the context of the wider environmental agenda and the need for a contingency rail route between the country's 3^rd and 4^th largest cities. It was unacceptable that passengers were put on buses everytime the Hope Valley Line was closed for engineering work. The essential connectivity which the line could provide across the North was outlined. In engineering terms a re-opened Woodhead line offered the most cost-effective means of increasing rail capacity, as well as allowing for electrification, between East and West ports.

Jim Bamford delivered an extremely interesting presentation demonstrating how line speed improvements on the Robin Hood Line had vastly improved reliability and was prising open the door for a potential route extension to Ollerton. Jim emphasised the importance of best utilisation of diesel trains as few new units were likely to be built. In addition line speed improvements could reduce the number of units required to operate routes and consequently improve their cost efficiency. The need to have local authorities on board was emphasised and how holding regular conversations with network Rail could reduce scheme costs.

Angela Smith closed the conference commending all the groups for their presentations, but particularly pointing out the way in which Kim and Dot from Reddish South had illustrated the valuable roles that women could play in rail campaigns and better engagement with the local community. Angela restated her support for the DVR proposals and promised to work hard to see them come to fruition. She also supported the need to ensure that the rest of the Woodhead line was safeguarded for re-opening. However greater political pressure was required at this time as the dialogue between Network rail and National Grid over the situation at Woodhead had stopped and Angela stated there was a danger of the re-opening scheme being kicked into the long grass by Government, in view of the financial situation. National Grid had offered to sell the old tunnels for a nominal sum, however the costs of upkeep, reckoned to be in the region of £500k per annum, would not be taken on by the National Park and consequently the old tunnels could end up being sealed off. She urged all the groups to engage with the political process to ensure that the need for re-opening was given a far hearing within the DfT.

REMINDER - 26th MAY Local Railway Campaign Summit

noreply@blogger.com (concreteblondy) — Fri, 20 May 2011 08:27:00 +0000

Hi Folks,

Just a quick reminder that the Campaign to Re-open the Woodhead Line are organising a Rail Campaigner's Summit to take place 7pm to 9.30pm on Thursday 26th May 2011 at Guide Bridge Theatre.

The event features a vision for Woodhead presented by the Re-Open the Woodhead Line Campaign as well as a presentation from Jim Bamford - Rail Officer Notts County Council - on the success of the Robin Hood Line re-opening and the broader lessons for rail campaigns.

The summit will include representation from campaigns from Reddish North Station, Denton Station and Don Valley Railway as part of a 'market place' showcasing local rail campaigns, there'll also be '5 minutes of Fame' with feedback from local groups on successes, challenges and lessons learned.

David Bryson, Chair of Re-open the Woodhead Line campaign says:

“We're really looking forward to a chance to meet and network with other local groups and demonstrate the passion and commitment shown by local campaigners.

With our campaign commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Woodhead route's closure we believe there's a strong, vibrant network of people working to revitalise and re-open local railways and stations.”

Entry is free, but there will be an opportunity to donate towards event costs, refreshments available, including a licensed bar.

The venue is very close to Guide Bridge Station, with regular services to Manchester and Glossop. Parking is also available.

For further information contact: Jonathan Atkinson, 0782 861 7933

Re-Open the Woodhead Line AGM

noreply@blogger.com (Navvy) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:27:00 +0000

Re-open the Woodhead Line Annual General Meeting
7.30pm, Thursday 21st April 2011
Glossop Labour Club, Chapel Street, Glossop, Derbyshire SK13 8AT
All welcome

Greater Manchester campaigns come together in community rail summit

noreply@blogger.com (Navvy) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:23:00 +0000

Campaign to Re-open the Woodhead Line are organising a Rail Campaigner's Summit to take place 7pm to 9.30pm on Thursday 26th May 2011 at Guide Bridge Theatre.

David Bryson, Chair of Re-open the Woodhead Line campaign says:

“We're really looking forward to a chance to meet and network with other local groups and demonstrate the passion and commitment shown by local campaigners.

With our campaign commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Woodhead route's closure we believe there's a strong, vibrant network of people working to revitalise and re-open local railways and stations.”

Entry is free, but there will be an opportunity to donate towards event costs, refreshments available, including a licensed bar.

The venue is very close to Guide Bridge Station, with regular services to Manchester and Glossop. Parking is also available.

For further information contact: Jonathan Atkinson, 0782 861 7933

FRIENDS OF HADFIELD STATION?

noreply@blogger.com (Navvy) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:19:00 +0000

Earlier this month, on the afternoon of Thursday 7^th April to be precise, I met Theo McLaughlan, the Regional Station Manager for Northern Rail and Dwayne Wells, the Service Quality Manager for the same company at Hadfield station.

The meeting was arranged, of course, by the ubiquitous Dave Shaw who arrived bang on time (14:59) with Theo and Dwayne in tow, on the inwardly bound train from Piccadilly.

The point of the mission was to have an inaugural discussion/site visit/meeting of minds as to how we might spruce up the station and put it on the map, so to speak, and how this might fit within the aims and remit of our own ultimate mission, which is to re-open the Woodhead Line.

Before coming back to this question a few casual observations might be helpful. I like to think of myself as a casual observer and where better to casually observe Hadfield Station than the railway bridge at the end of the platform.

Spending any length of time here the casual observer would notice that the station is well used, most noticeably at rush hour naturally but throughout the day generally as well, it would be fair to say. Also the platform is quite lengthy for a small town station, not sure why but it has plenty of scope for enhancement, however form that might take.

The most noticeable and yet the most unfortunate observation though, is that when you arrive at Hadfield you really do hit the buffers. This is the terminus, though for no obvious reason. This isn’t Lands End, or a natural coastal cul-de-sac.

Rather, Hadfield is perhaps as far from a huge expanse of water as one is likely to be in England, notwithstanding the eight miles of reservoirs that flood the Longdendale valley! Moreover it lies between two of the largest cities in the country, with Manchester and Sheffield having a combined population of over one million people.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheffield

Armed with this knowledge our casual observer may begin to ask why indeed is

Hadfield a dead end, a railway cul-de-sac, the end of the line, or the Last Stop as the pub on the platform used to be called - before an image enhancement led it to be renamed Edwards Wine Bar (a misnomer if its sales of wine to lager ratio is anything to go by – just an observation!)

Meanwhile back at our meeting and having walked the length of the platform making casual observations, Theo explained that a ‘Friends of…’ group would be a logical way forward. Though it would be a slow process to establish a group in order to lever the fundraising/grants needed to make steady improvements to the place, it can be done, as regular users of Glossop Station will have witnessed.

Whilst nothing can be done about litter, that is the job of Network Rail who own the buildings and the track, (though Hadfield isn’t currently that bad), Northern are as Dwayne explained, responsible for basically everything that the passenger comes into contact with. The platform concourse, benches, notice boards, etc

Notice boards? Yes, Theo confirmed. There aren’t any at Hadfield but there’s plenty of room for at least two. A Friends group could display information about what they’re doing and how to get involved, publicise events and another could explain the history of the line for instance.

Now hanging baskets, planters and a good lick of paint will do wonders for brightening the old place up, especially on a typically grey drizzly day in Hadfield midsummer! A notice board on the other hand, depicting the travesty of the line closure - that could make people think. It might even spark discussions about how the past was and how the future might be….now that’s worth its weight in railway sleepers.

Friends of Hadfield Station, doesn’t exist yet and possibly never will but I don’t see why not. Whilst neither the best nor the worst of stations, it could benefit from a manicure, as could most. From the point of view of re-opening the Woodhead Line it is one small step perhaps towards re-igniting interest and publicity regarding the past, present and (potential) future of the line.

Definately Maybe as that Manc band would have it, or to confuse the words of an historical figure, a well known rock star and a mildly famous philosopher to create a quote of my own:

“Friends (of Hadfield Station), rovers, railwaymen,

The future (of the line) is unwritten, we have nothing to lose but our terminus.”

“Sounds more like Stuart Hall to me” said the casual observer!

“Well that would be most appropriate. Don’t you know that his parents had the cake shop on Station Road for donkey’s years? Yes, a fact and only a stone’s throw away from the station yard!” replied the local sage.

Woodhead memory – the summer of ’76

noreply@blogger.com (Navvy) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:14:00 +0000

During the long, hot summer of 1976, I was a signalman at Woodhead. Being remote, posts at the signal box were hard to fill. The other signalman was Dick Gibbs who lived in one of the former railway cottages at Woodhead. I lived in Newton (for Hyde) at the time and enjoyed the run to and from work, especially coming in for early turn or going home after a night turn when the A628 through the Longdendale Valley was virtually traffic-free.

Working 12-hour turns had been good for my bank balance and towards the end of the summer I bought a brand new Triumph Bonneville 750cc motorbike for £954 (I still needed to borrow some of the money). The bike handled brilliantly and I learned the trick of tightening the locking screw on the throttle so that it stayed open when I released the twist grip. On a pair of Dunlop TT100s, the bike would handle itself and my party piece was to set the throttle, remove my hands from the handlebars and ride as far as I could along the curving valley road, steering, literally, by the seat of my pants; what a machine!

Dick and I were on regular 12-hour shifts, alternating days and nights, week by week. Saturday was a good day, as the line closed after the 06.00 to 14.00 turn. Generally, the last train cleared the section by 12.00, more often than not a light engine movement. One of my colleagues in an adjacent box would phone the Control Office (I didn’t have the nerve) and check that nothing else was en-route. Then it was 7-5-5 all round on the block bells and the weekend had begun – the line was closed on Sundays.

Of course, by 1976 the Woodhead Line was freight-only with an occasional passenger diversion if the Hope Valley route was closed for engineering work or due to an emergency. The advent of a passenger train caused a bit of excitement, albeit that it would almost inevitably consist of a humble DMU on our all-electric railway. Very occasionally, the Harwich Boat Train would come our way. Fittingly, this train still conveyed a 6-wheel bogie teak Gresley buffet car, very appropriate for this outpost of the former LNER.

However, freight trains were our regular fare plus any number of light engine movements. It was common for train crews to haul their load over Pennines and return empty-handed; bad for economics but good for footplate jobs. On a good day we would average four trains an hour in each direction. Yorkshire coal for Fiddlers Ferry power station was a staple traffic, Merry-Go-Round trains headed by a pair of air-braked class 76s in multiple. Plenty of steel also came out of the east, emerging blinking into the sunlight at Woodhead. New 100-ton air-braked wagons were slowly replacing the old vacuum-braked bogie bolsters at this time.

One baking-hot day, the British Oxygen Company train came to a stand on the Up line at Woodhead signal box, a couple of hundred yards short of the tunnel entrance. The double-headed train consisted of twelve 100-ton bogie gas tanks filled with liquid nitrogen; this was a crack train in the world of freight. Having axles with roller bearings, we had little trouble with the train but today a wagon wheel bearing was running hot and the wagon had to be detached. The only option was for the train to draw forward into the tunnel and then set back into the sidings to put the wagon off.

Woodhead had some sidings which were used by an occasional tamping machine and a few engineer’s ballast wagons but it was many years since anything this long or heavy (25-ton axle load) had been inside them. The sidings disappeared into heather and bracken after a few yards and buffer stops were not much in evidence. A phone call to the local Permanent Way Supervisor at Dinting (the locally legendary Arnold Simpson) met with a curt (and hurt) response – of course the sidings were usable and in good fettle – back the train inside!

The train drew forward into the tunnel. The driver couldn’t see the dolly signal from his cab so I arranged with him that when I flicked the tunnel lights off and on a few times (Woodhead Tunnel was illuminated throughout), that would be his signal to stop and set back. All duly went to plan and after some cavorting in the sidings, the wagon was detached. The train proceeded towards Yorkshire and Woodhead returned to its peaceful summer doze with a bright and shiny new guest – a white BOC tanker with an orange stripe along the side and 50 tons of liquid nitrogen on board, slowly cooking in the midday sunshine.

As the afternoon drew on and there was a break in traffic, curiosity got the better of me and I wandered down from the signal box to the patch of moorland that was Woodhead sidings. The wagon gleamed in the sunlight – the BOC tankers were always clean – and a wisp of steam swirled up from underneath the tank. Only it wasn’t steam, it was nitrogen escaping from the tank, converting from liquid to gas and then dispersing in a few seconds. What was I to do? Was this supposed to happen? Should I tell someone?

The answer came quickly. As I peered under the belly of the tank, there was a huge blast of gas – imagine a steam locomotive safety valve blowing off upside down. With a roar in my ears, I ran (as I thought it) for my life; as far as I know, I still hold the Peak District record for 100 yards in Doctor Marten’s boots. By the time I reached the signal box, the noise had stopped, the gas had gone and all was tranquil again.

Bravely, I stuck at my post, sending 6-bells (“Obstruction Danger”) to Dunford West and Torside signal boxes, preventing any trains approaching Woodhead. About half an hour later, the Control rang to tell me to re-open the line. They’d been in touch with BOC who said that there was nothing to worry about – the tank was venting its expanding contents through its safety valve and nitrogen is an inert gas. Reminded of my schoolboy chemistry lessons, I felt relieved to hear this information.

A couple of hours later, a small white van with red lettering came bumping down the track from the main road to the signal box - the man from BOC had arrived. He assured me that he would sort things out and all would be well, then off he strolled to visit Woodhead’s latest tourist attraction. I quickly realised that “sorting things out” meant opening the wagon’s discharge valve and dumping 50 tons of liquid nitrogen into the hot, still afternoon air. The valley filled with a white mist to a depth of about six feet over several hundred yards between the wagon and the tunnel mouth – much to consternation of the crew of a west bound coal train that I had allowed to approach at caution. As soon as the locomotive stuck its nose out of the tunnel, the driver slammed on the brakes – it didn’t look safe to continue as far as he was concerned - and fancy words like “inert” were not going to convince him otherwise!

Eventually, the mist cleared, the BOC man went home and the next day the wagon was repaired and a locomotive arrived to take it away. All that was left was a frozen patch where the liquid gas (at -196°C) had been discharged – it took 48 hours for the ground to thaw. The story of my selfless courage was recounted many times (by me) over a pint or three of Boddington’s Bitter in the Star Inn next to Glossop station, only to fade, like the Woodhead line itself, into the (inert) mists of time.