Class 76's Withdrawal 1977

[sheff'd victoria]

Could someone throw some light on why a large number of the EM1 ( Class 76's ) were withdrawn in 1977, Ive heard it was due to blue asbestos ?

 

[RichmondCommu]

Could someone throw some light on why a large number of the EM1 ( Class 76's ) were withdrawn in 1977, Ive heard it was due to blue asbestos ?

But surely that would have caused all of them to be withdrawn? I know that several were stored out of use long before the Woodhead route was closed but I'd assumed that was because fewer trains were using the line.

 

[455driver]

Could someone throw some light on why a large number of the EM1 ( Class 76's ) were withdrawn in 1977, Ive heard it was due to blue asbestos ?

They werent, only 5 were withdrawn in 1977-
76020 August 1977, Preserved at NRM
76048 February 1977, scrapped November 1983
76050 February 1977, scrapped November 1983
76055 February 1977, scrapped February 1984
76057 February 1977, scrapped February 1983

 

[40012Railrover]

There were quite a number that were taken out of service long term (not sure exactly when) but were returned to service after a major overhaul. These examples can be identified as they came back into service as air-braked only.

Cheers

Mike

 

[455driver]

So they weren't withdrawn, they were stored pending overhaul.

 

[Taunton]

Principal traffic over Woodhead was coal from South Yorkshire into the North-West. This was of course a traffic in long-term decline, but after the big mining strike of 1973-4 the traffic fell off considerably, let alone the collapse of household coal market at the same time (much of which, nationally, originated from South Yorkshire pits).

Regarding asbestos, for those vehicles that had it there was a stripping-out process, but this was very expensive to do and so only the minimal number required for service were commonly done, the rest being disposed. Some vehicles were also able to have the asbestos "sealed in" and continued in service pending proper treatment or withdrawl later on, which gave issues if they were then involved in accidents and the bodywork was torn open.