[ntloop]

I was wondering if anyone knows when the "boat trains" from Manchester Piccadilly to Harwich ceased to operate. I remember as a spotter in the mid 60s traveling on this train, always behind a class 37, from Piccadilly to the first stop at Guide bridge.
For some reason i was suprised to see a photo on a website recently that showed this train still running in 1980, with a class 45 this time.
Did these trains cease with the clousure of the woodhead tunnel? Does anyone know when the train first started and when it finished?