Woodhead Route

The Woodhead Route from Manchester to Sheffield has achieved almost mythical status, not only thanks to the Woodhead Tunnels, but also because of the unique EM1 and EM2 electric locomotives. Inspired by the first ‘Railway Mania’ of the 1830s, the Woodhead Route was the first railway built to link Manchester with Sheffield. After many false starts, and even a change of chief engineer, it was finall...