Welcome to Woodhead Station and tunnels
Cutting through the Pennines to link Manchester and Sheffield by rail. You are standing next to what was once a busy railway for nearly 150 years. Ahead of you in the hillside are entrances to three tunnels built at different times.
TUNNEL 1
Started in 1838, Tunnel opened in December 1845. It was one of the longest rail tunnels in the world, at 3 miles and 13 yards (4.840 m). Shafts were dug down from the surface along the route then the tunnel was blasted with gunpowder and excavated. Around 400 people usually worked on the funnel with up to 1,500 people on site. There were many deaths and injuries from rock falls and other accidents. At least 26 men died during the construction and were buried at Woodhead Chapel or at Penistone.
TUNNEL 2
Started in 1847, Tunnel 2 opened in February 1852. Both Tunnels and 2 were used until 1953. 750 men worked three shifts per day to construct this tunnel. Although working conditions were better than building Tunnel 1. a Cholera outbreak in 1849 killed 28 people.
The tunnels were used initially by 'up to 160 trains every day on average, and sometimes as many as 250 trains per day went through. The narrow, claustrophobic tunnels were much busier than planned. Maintenance costs and safety concerns closed the tunnels in 1953. They were then used to house the 400 kV power line (from Doncaster to Stalybridge) under the Peak District National Park to protect the landscape rather than erecting pylons across the moors.
TUNNEL 3
Started in 1949, Tunnel 3 opened in June 1953. Passenger services ended in 1970. It finally closed to freight trains in 1981. It is the widest of the three tunnels as it carried two rail lines rather than one. It measures 3 miles, 66 yards (4,860m) long and during its construction, six men lost their lives. This tunel was designed to take an electrified line.
In 2008, the power cables were removed from Tunnels 1 and 2 to Tunnel 3 because of the increasing maintenance costs associated with the geology of the Victorian tunnels.
In 2016, the works to install the replacement cables in Tunnel 3 were completed. As part of these works, the Victorian tunnel entrances were sealed and conserved and the station area improved.
Supported by nationalgrid
Peak District National Park
Welcome to Britain's first national park, designated in 1951. The Peak District offers fantastic opportunities for walking, cycling and wildlife watching. Call in at our visitor, centres at Bakewell, Castleton.. Edale and Fairholmes for maps and guidebooks to help you make the most of your visit.
Peak District National Park
Longdendale Trail
The former railway line from the tunnels westwards to Hadfield is now the Longdendale Trail - a traffic-free route of 8 miles (13km) for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders. It also forms part. of the Trans Pennine Trail (Liverpool to Hull) and enjoys great views of the reservoirs including Bottoms, Torside, Woodhead and Rhodeswood.
If you are interested in exploring more former railways in the Peak District National Park visit the Monsal Trail, High Peak Trail.. Tissington Trail and Manifold Track. More information at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/trails
CROWFIELD
Welcome to Woodhead Station and tunnels
Cutting through the Pennines to link Manchester and Sheffield by rail. You are standing next to what was once a busy railway for nearly 150 years. Ahead of you in the hillside are entrances to three tunnels built at different times.
TUNNEL 1
Started in 1838, Tunnel opened in December 1845. It was one of the longest rail tunnels in the world, at 3 miles and 13 yards (4.840 m). Shafts were dug down from the surface along the route then the tunnel was blasted with gunpowder and excavated. Around 400 people usually worked on the funnel with up to 1,500 people on site. There were many deaths and injuries from rock falls and other accidents. At least 26 men died during the construction and were buried at Woodhead Chapel or at Penistone.
TUNNEL 2
Started in 1847, Tunnel 2 opened in February 1852. Both Tunnels and 2 were used until 1953. 750 men worked three shifts per day to construct this tunnel. Although working conditions were better than building Tunnel 1. a Cholera outbreak in 1849 killed 28 people.
The tunnels were used initially by 'up to 160 trains every day on average, and sometimes as many as 250 trains per day went through. The narrow, claustrophobic tunnels were much busier than planned. Maintenance costs and safety concerns closed the tunnels in 1953. They were then used to house the 400 kV power line (from Doncaster to Stalybridge) under the Peak District National Park to protect the landscape rather than erecting pylons across the moors.
TUNNEL 3
Started in 1949, Tunnel 3 opened in June 1953. Passenger services ended in 1970. It finally closed to freight trains in 1981. It is the widest of the three tunnels as it carried two rail lines rather than one. It measures 3 miles, 66 yards (4,860m) long and during its construction, six men lost their lives. This tunel was designed to take an electrified line.
In 2008, the power cables were removed from Tunnels 1 and 2 to Tunnel 3 because of the increasing maintenance costs associated with the geology of the Victorian tunnels.
In 2016, the works to install the replacement cables in Tunnel 3 were completed. As part of these works, the Victorian tunnel entrances were sealed and conserved and the station area improved.
Supported by nationalgrid
Peak District National Park
Welcome to Britain's first national park, designated in 1951. The Peak District offers fantastic opportunities for walking, cycling and wildlife watching. Call in at our visitor, centres at Bakewell, Castleton.. Edale and Fairholmes for maps and guidebooks to help you make the most of your visit.
Peak District National Park
Longdendale Trail
The former railway line from the tunnels westwards to Hadfield is now the Longdendale Trail - a traffic-free route of 8 miles (13km) for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders. It also forms part. of the Trans Pennine Trail (Liverpool to Hull) and enjoys great views of the reservoirs including Bottoms, Torside, Woodhead and Rhodeswood.
If you are interested in exploring more former railways in the Peak District National Park visit the Monsal Trail, High Peak Trail.. Tissington Trail and Manifold Track. More information at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/trails
CROWFIELD