Due to the Depression and World War II, it was not completed until the 1950s. After completion, the government chose to standardise on 25kVAC instead, leaving the Woodhead Route and the few other 1,500VDC lines isolated and non-standard. The passenger locomotives were sold in 1969 and saw further service in the Netherlands. In a subsequent rationalisation, BR closed much of this route east of Hadfield in 1981 in favour of the more southerly Hope Valley line, which serves more local communities. A section of the line between Manchester, Glossop and Hadfield remained open as part of the Manchester suburban network, and was operated by Class 506 EMU's, until it was converted to 25kVAC in December 1984.
