A QUICK STEP INTO DERBYSHIRE

Back on the Woodhead line, we find the GCR signal box at Dunford East.

 

At Dunford Bridge itself, Dunford No. 1 signal box, in pre-grouping times.

LNER (ex GNR) Atlantic 3277 emerges from Woodhead tunnel and passes through Dunford Bridge station.

The year 1935 saw a bit of a pile-up at Dunford Bridge.

In August 1950, 0-8-4-T No. 69901 was photographed at Dunford Bridge by the late Ben Brooksbank.

Here's a postcard view of Dunford Bridge and the adjacent Stanhope Arms in GCR times.

A similar view in 1995, after the Woodhead line had been lifted.

The original Woodhead tunnels were used by the CEGB for their National Grid cables and a narrow gauge railway was in situ to service these, seen in 2007.

The remains of Dunford Bridge station in 1995.

Back in 2007, Dunford Bridge still had a bus service, operated by Stagecoach.

Sadly, the Stanhope Arms has since closed.

The eastern end of the Woodhead tunnel marked the boundary between BR's London Midland Eastern Regions, as seen here from an eastbound service.

At the other end of the tunnel was Woodhead station, seen in GCR ownership. We're now in Derbyshire.

An ex NER 0-8-0 with an eastbound freight passes through.

The "new" Woodhead station, when the line was still open.

Looking down from the main road over the closed station and disused tracks at Woodhead in 1986. Lifting took place soon after.

The Woodhead line then passes a series of reservoirs in Longendale.

The reservoirs were serviced by a narrow gauge line, partly electrified, based at Tintwistle (Photos in my collection, photographer unknown).

Not far away is Hadfield, a through station in GCR days.

LNER 5324 stands at Hadfield with a local service, ready to return towards Manchester.

Hadfield station in the 1980s, now a terminus.

Here's a postcard from my collection showing the delights of Hadfield.

Not far away is the town of Glossop, seen here from Shire Hill (Postcard in my collection).

Another postcard of Glossop.

Glossop station, a terminus, was served by DC EMU's from Manchester, as seen in 1982.

Twenty years later, the line had been converted to AC power and trains used the rebuilt opposite platform.

The North Western Road Car Company once served Glossop. In 1974, the AEC Renown had just been taken over by SELNEC, when photographed by Les Flint in Glossop.

Speedwell Bus were operating Glossop in 2007.

The Bull's Head in Glossop is still open but no longer serves Openshaw Brewery beers!

The Friendship is one of several Robinson's houses in Glossop.

The Globe is seen here in 2007. It's now a brew pub, I'm told.

Very handy for the railway station, an excellent pub, the Star.

That seems like a good place to end this post. 

Next time, we'll follow the Woodhead route further towards Manchester. Follow the route on this Google Map.