Write to us - Woodhead letters page

Here's a selection of recent letters to the campaign, please feel free to reply to them or send in one of your own: reopenthewoodheadline@gmail.com


An Illustrated History of the Woodhead Route

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Greetings!

Just subscribed to your newsletter and support you 100% on the plan to reopen the tunnel.

Many years ago, I walked through tunnel 3 and I can tell you it’s a once in a lifetime experience! Absolutely pitch black, wet and the smell of damp will stay in my nostrils for ever!

I see no reason why this trans Pennine route can’t be reopened and electrified at the standard 25kv AC. However, thought should be given as to where the line will go from there! Sheffield Victoria station has been demolished and there is no access from this line to Sheffield Midland station. The line would have to be electrified as tunnel 3 was never designed for diesel traction so it only has one ventilation shaft.

I would very much like to hear what the master plan is!

BTW, someone asked how much National Grid paid for tunnel 3. Apparently it was bought in a British Rail Property Board sale for £1! If only I’d known!

Good luck

Mike Paull


WOODHEAD REPLIES: THANKS FOR THE LETTER MIKE, YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN ON OUR WEBSITE http://savethewoodheadtunnel.blogspot.com INCLUDING A BRIEFING SHEET ON POSSIBLE OPENING SOLUTIONS

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Hello,

I am just writing to suggest that your recent booklist of reading into the Woodhead Line has missed off a useful recent work - Alan Whitehouse's own work, no less:

"An Illustrated History of the Woodhead Route"
ISBN 978-0-86093-635-0
Published by Ian Allan publishing.

It even includes the large set of trackplans and signaling diagrams that are available at this webpage:

http://www.lymmobservatory.net/railways/sbdiagrams/sbdiagrams.htm

God....This makes me a train nerd. When's the next meeting?

Yours faithfully,

Andrew Mooney, Holmfirth.

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Hi Guys,

Fantastic website, It is so good to know we have people out there doing everything and more to have this beautiful route back alive again, I noticed the National Grid are in the "Current" process of transferring cables from the 2 single tunnels to the 1954 tunnel. Does this mean that any hope we have of having the route reopened mean it is now not viable because of the "National Grid's current work development?

I did see an interview with the Ruth Kelly from 2 years ago saying why the route should be reopened and what the massive benefits are. Amongst the things that have been done from our side as the public, has anyone come up with more options and ways to which we can tackle this? It does upset you when you go and look at the tunnels and you stand there wondering why on earth the powers that b back then did what they did.

Understandably the country is making cuts to save money, however they must see what a huge benefit Woodhead is work with"US" the peole who want the route back open. I worked for Transpennine Express trains and the amount of times and the severity of problems the Sheffield/Dore line has had with landslides has been untrue again this is something that could be put forward to the Goverment/DFT to keep on pushing them.

Keep up the Excellent Work,

Kind Regards,

Chris Davies