jwos
Member
- Joined
- 13 Aug 2009
- Messages
- 45
I think Leeds - Knaresborough is stunningly beautiful most of the way, and criminally overlooked.
Yes, you don't need the query (?) (or is that just the music in your voice?). Yes, yes, yes, it's MY LINE! The Copy Pit route. In the 40s our family lived just one field away from Kitson Wood signal box, and I can hear NOW the sound of the 8F coming up the hill, and the interleaved yet more distant sound of the 8F banker - "one TWO three four one TWO three four" becoming "One-a Two-a three-a four-a" as the banking engine emerged from the cutting above our house. The line is SPECTACULAR, passing through short tunnel (Harley Wood), then high on stone viaduct (Doliker), then on a shelf opposite the rocky cliffs in the cleft of Cliviger Gorge, and finally out onto the moors above Cornholm (the site, incidentally, of my little story "Popping" in another thread). Then through calmer country as it descends, now on the west side of the valley, to Towneley and on through urban Burnley to Rose Grove. At one time it was almost disused, but with the rail renaissance it carried the experimental Leeds-Preston service, now well established. And with Todmorden West Curve, and all that, in the offing it will be a busy route in the future.
Guildford to Havant has been mentioned. I will put in a second vote for this stretch of the Portsmouth Direct line. I am lucky enough to have it as my daily commute - in fact I am passing Godalming as I type, running along the embankment across the Lamas Lands.
Rick
The Lake District would be on the WCML from Carlisle downwards. North of Carlisle on the WCML lies the Lowther Hills in the Scottish Borders.
Both are excellent stretches of line for scenery though.
That's true! Although are the UP and DOWN directions in railway parlance ever referred to as upwards and downwards? I've never heard it said quite like that.No, travelling UP from Carlisle is to travel southbound.
Lancaster - Carlisle is DOWN; Carlisle - Lancaster is UP.
This is a railway forum!
I think Leeds - Knaresborough is stunningly beautiful most of the way, and criminally overlooked.
Given that Armley jail is on a hill above the line at the Leeds end, it is without doubt criminally overlooked.
North Wales Mainline between Chester & Holyhead I agree with Statto is stunning
Going under the Britannia Bridge between Llanfairpwll & Bangor, the views either side are breathtaking, between Bangor & Llandudno Junction you got the brilliant coast & of course Conwy Castle, the Llandudno branch off near Deganwy is fantastic too, as well as the Conwy Valley line to Blaenau Ffestiniog, you got the coasts, valleys & mountains all in one 30 mile stretch!!!!! Back on the mainline as well as some great coast views round Colwyn Bay - Rhyl too as well as another castle in the mountains too in that stretch, you have it all round there!!!!!!
Another line (which I dont think has been mentioned) is the Riviera Line (Exeter - Paignton), the views especially round the coastline at Dawlish & Teignmouth are fantastic, and even round Starcross you got the views of Exmouth too!!!!!! The only problem with that line is its too short & fast lol!!!!!!
Oh 1 other line thats got some amazing views (especially if its had snow in winter)
And that is the Hope Valley Line which runs between Sheffield & Manchester, amazing Peak District views especially from Grindleford - Chinley
I second that. Fabulous views on a sunny day too