The LNER Encyclopedia

Maybe a bit OT as it takes us into the BR era, but...

I find confusion when looking at books as to when passenger services were withdrawn from the Woodhead route and the locos sold to Holland.
Any time from 1968-1970 is given for withdrawal, 1969 or 1970 for the locos going to Holland.

Can any kind person clear this up with some definitive info?

Thanks

Tanya

Tanya,

It is a little confusing but here goes.

To set the scene, when the Woodhead route electrification took place there were two classes of locomotive manufactured to work the traffic over the line.

The EM1 Bo-Bos were designed mainly for freight traffic and the larger, more powerful EM2 Co-Cos were for the express passenger services.

There were just seven EM2s and these were all withdrawn in 1968, although one did work a special in August 1969. I am guessing that these withdrawals were a result of the through service to London ceasing, maybe someone else can confirm. All seven were shipped to Holland from Harwich on 24th September 1969.

However, some passenger services continued between Manchester and Sheffield and these were operated by the EM1s. The last weekday passenger service was on Saturday 3rd January 1970; I am not sure whether there was a Sunday service the following day, probably not.

I have got all my information from the RCTS publication Locomotives of the LNER volume 10B.

Tanya i can see why you are confused as certain diesel hauled passenger trains still used the route after the EM2s went Dutch. Including Sheffield Huddersfield DMUs and Hope valley trains diverted over Woodhead on Sundays due to engineering possesions.

The EM2s were withdrawn in 1968 and stored at Bury Shed until they were sold to the Dutch railways and shipped between very late 1969 and sometime in 1970. I cannot find an exact date for shipping.