Manchester – Sheffield LNER main line electrification : Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co Ltd., Manchester advert in the Electric Railway Traction supplement to the Railway Gazette,

An advert that appears in the special Electric Railway Traction supplement to The Railway Gazette on 14 October 1938 and showing the work of Metropolitan-Vickers, the huge Manchester based electrical engineers, on the London & North Eastern Railway’s electrification scheme of the Manchester – Sheffield line; the Woodhead Route. Work had indeed started on this scheme which was to bring the benefits of electric traction to a line that was busy with heavy freight and passenger services. This was to be delivered to the UK’s then agreed standard of 1500vDC overhead.

Work was suspended during the War and when it recommenced the scheme was expanded to include the construction of new tunnels at Woodhead. It was finally opened by successor British Railways in 1953 by which time the new standard of 25kvAC electrification had been decided upon. Sadly, within a couple of decades and following studies considering the trans-Pennine rail conenctions BR decided to close and abandon the route, the central section going in 1981. At the western end the electrified lines between Manchester Piccadilly (still London Rd. here) and Hadfield and Glossop that remained open for suburban traffic were converted to the new standard. This sketch map also shows the never completed electrification to Manchester Central.

As usual with M-V and AEI, the holding company, they get another line in on the advert, this being for the use of the company’s Cosmos lamps on the Queen Elizabeth Cunard liner. The advert also shows on the map two of their works, the main Trafford Park Works and that at Attercliffe in Sheffield.

Posted by mikeyashworth on 2023-08-21 19:21:21

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