[1830-1907] [1907-1948] [1949-1963] [1964-1981]
Hazlehead station closed completely on 4th April 1964, and in 1965 the modified Beeching report advocated the transfer of 24 trains a day from the Woodhead route to the Hope Valley line. On the positive side, the wires were extended to the newly open Tinsley marshalling yard in Sheffield. These structures were erected with conversion to 6.25Kv in mind.
But 2 routes from Manchester to Sheffield was one route too many and BR announced its intention to withdraw passenger services from the Woodhead route as from 5th June 1967. The ensuing outcry resulted in an enquiry that was to take two years before it gave its result. During this period of indecision, in March 1968, the Co-Co locomotives were withdrawn and placed into store, before being eventually being sold to the Netherlands Railways. BR also tried experimentally running one of the Hadfield emu's through to Penistone to link up with the new Huddersfield - Sheffield service, but the experiment was not a success due to 'restricted tunnel clearances'. It is interesting to reflect that on the opening day in 1954 a special shuttle service ran through the tunnel formed of one of these units. However, it is the general consensus that the units would not have been suitable for this service due to other reasons.
On 28th May 1969, 46115 'Scots Guardsman' was hauled across the line to Dinting Railway Centre.
Unfortunately, the enquiry backed BR's decision to withdraw passenger services, so in August 1969 the Minister of Transport gave his consent for the cessation of services from 5th January, 1970. The last day of regular service, 4th January, duly arrived, and the final train was scheduled to be the 21:20 from Manchester, but due to a derailment at Valehouse, was sent via the Hope Valley route. The enthusiasts who had gathered were incensed at this and promptly arranged an impromptu sit-in in the station managers office. The result was that he arranged for a special service, departing at 23:10. The locomotive chosen for this task was 26054, formerly 'Pluto'. The train reversed at Hadfield and ran wrong line to Torside. It eventually arrived at Sheffield at 00:44 on 5th January 1970, and as from that time Sheffield Victoria and Dunford Bridge stations closed.
Freight services continued across Woodhead but in December 1976 it was first mooted that these too should be withdrawn. But the line still retained its usefulness as a diversionary route, as proved on 16th March 1977 when 9 specials worked from Liverpool to Wadsley Bridge for a football match. 'Modern' traction railtours were starting to catch on too. 44008 'Penyghent' worked the '3 Peaks Express' over the route on 1st October 1977, and on 29th November another football match at Sheffield resulted in 3 special trains using the line from Manchester.
21st January 1978 saw another 'Peak' 44009 'Snowdon', work the 'Class 44 Farewell Railtour'. With the closure of the line still being mooted the 76's came into demand for railtours. 76021 &76013 worked the 'AC/DC' railtour on 16th September 1978, Sheffield Merrymakers arranged a run behind 76023 and 76010 on 7th October, and on 14th October 1978 the 'Pennine Explorer' utilised 76016 & 76003.
1979 saw few railtours as the proposed closure started to become 'sensitive' - why are we wanting to close an electrified route with a large diameter tunnel that is less than thirty years old? - but 'The Woldsman' ran on 21st April with 76014 & 76003, and 76011 & 76025 hauled the 'Trans-Pennine Freighter' on 27th October. During September the island platform buildings at Penistone were demolished.
1980 started off in a bad way, as on 15th January 76003 was mistaken for another train and was sent off along the non-electrified branch to Stockport. The incident brought down the wires!. No sooner were normal services resumed than 76051 fell off in Dewsnap sidings. On 17th July the RCTS ran their 'Worsboro Banker' railtour which utilised 76003 and 76001 on different occasions. Then on 24th September closure notices were posted for the Sheffield - Denby Dale services. However, the TUCC received so many objections that closure was postponed, and eventually abandoned, but not before the service was re-routed through Barnsley. Late in 1980 engineering work closed two tunnels on the Hope Valley line on Sundays, and all services were diverted onto the Woodhead route. The possession was to last until 1981. The last railtour of 1980 was the massively oversubscribed 'Xmas Tommy' which ran on 30th December. 76006 was the train engine, assisted up Worsborough by 76054, formerly 'Pluto'.
1981 was not a good year - not only did the route close, but it also 'went out with a bang'. On 10th March 76028 and 76029 were working a scrap train trough Dinting station when it derailed. The wagons badly damaged the station platform before overturning a short distance further on. The track was so badly damaged that B.R. could not justify its repair (even though this was a section not scheduled to close) so the section between Dinting and Hadfield became single track. The arrangement worked well for 3½ weeks when on 8th April 76025 & 76027 were on Hadfield crossover hauling an ammonia train which derailed, completely shutting the line. At the same time B.R. changed the closure date from 1st June to 20th July to allow the N.U.R. to hold an inquiry.
The only railtour of 1981 was the L.C.G.B.'s 'Easter Tommy' which ran on 17th April, hauled by 76025.
The last major problem occurred on 9th July when a massive landslip near Torside closed the line. However, the civil engineer sorted the problem out by Saturday July 11th - just one week before closure.
In the early hours of Saturday 18th July, 1981, 76010 & 76016 hauled 6M10 return Harwich ferry train across the line, passing Woodhead at approximately 5.00am, over one hour late. This was the last service train to travel the route. One of the first pair through the tunnel was also one of the last.