Lines closed or travelled that are now not part of the National rail system.

[Hardcastle]

Fleetwood Wyre Dock-Poulton le fylde, Haltwhistle-Alston, Newcastle-South Shields,Manchester Victoria-Bury latter two both metro/tramway East Lancs Lines out of Preston. Whats yours !.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Fleetwood Wyre Dock-Poulton le fylde, Haltwhistle-Alston, Newcastle-South Shields,Manchester Victoria-Bury latter two both metro/tramway East Lancs Lines out of Preston. Whats yours !.

The Folkestone Harbour branch. I can also include the Manchester Victoria - Bury line.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Shepley-Clayton West would be one... Though as I was only 6 weeks old at the time, I have no memory of it! Other than that in more recent times, I made a point of visiting Garston (Merseyside) before it closed to be replaced by South Parkway Low Level; and Leeds (Whitehall) temporary station. The only other line/station I can think of that I've used and has since closed (at least as part of National Rail) is Stratford-North Woolwich.

 

[Harpers Tate]

Specifically excluding strange excursions along lines to power stations and the like - so, just on regular timetabled public services:

The Liverpool Overhead Railway (part - I don't remember which part; I was very young.....)
Scarborough <> Whitby (both with and without West Cliff)
Beverley <> York
Shepley <> Clayton West
Penistone <> Sheffield (direct)
Penistone <> Hadfield

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I will cite a few of the local lines to my area that being an age of 68 now left me fortunate enough to have travelled upon:-

Manchester Central to Wigan Central (parts that no longer see traffic)
The Tyldesley Loop Line
The Fallowfield Loop Line
The Oldham Loop Line
The Hayfield branch line
The Royton to Royton Junction branch line
The Middleton to Middleton Junction branch line
The Middleton Junction to Oldham Werneth branch line
The Clifton Junction to Bury branch line

Two more late additions to the above
Services that started from Bolton Great Moor Street
Eccles to Platt Bridge branch line

 

[Welshman]

Long ago, the North-Eastern Region of BR used to market a "Day-Line Diesel" ticket [yes, about the same time as 1st gen. dmus were being introduced!]. The price was 10/6d, with half fare for children.
Using one of these I managed to cover several lines which are now no longer open, including:-

Mirfield-Low Moor via Liversedge;
Laisterdyke - Wakefield Westgate [via Morley Top or Dewsbury Central];
Harrogate-Ripon;
York-Market Weighton and Beverley;
Selby-Goole;
Laisterdyke-Bramley via Pudsey Greenside and Lowtown;
Wortley Junction-Leeds Central via Holbeck High Level.
Scarborough Londesborough Rd-Whitby.

Further afield, I remember trips to Blackpool Central via Todd Lane Junction and the East Lancashire side of Preston station[now a car-park], and Liverpool Exchange via Atherton, Wigan Wallgate/Pemberton loop, and steaming through Kirkby at over 60mph! [no buffer-stops in the way, then!].

I could go on........

 

[gordonthemoron]

Dover Western Docks
Folkestone Harbour
Carlisle-Edinburgh Waverley via Galashiels
Newcastle Central-Howden (tyne loop)
Newcastle-Blaydon through Scotswood
York-Selby direct

 

[chorleyjeff]

Fleetwood Wyre Dock-Poulton le fylde, Haltwhistle-Alston, Newcastle-South Shields,Manchester Victoria-Bury latter two both metro/tramway East Lancs Lines out of Preston. Whats yours !.

Bangor to Llanberis
Prestonr to Bamber Bridge direct.
Todd Lane Junction to Lostock Hall and on to Liverpool Exchange
Wigan to Chorley to Blackburn
Colne to Skipton
Settle Junction to Morecambe
Lancaster Caste to Morecambe Euston Road
Kirkham to Blackpool Central direct
Poulton to Fleetwood (then boat to Isle of Man)
Lakeside from coast line
Coniston to Ulverston -I think it was Ulverston
Manchester to Sheffield by electric train
Leeds Central to Halifax - changed at Low Moor
Blackburn to Burnley via Gt Harwood
Preston to Manchester via Bolton avoiding line
Preston to Manchester Exchange via Whelley line.
Heaton Mersey to Manchester Central
Birkenhead Woodside to Chester ( the disused bit near Woodside )
Seacoombe to somewhere.
Liverpool overhead rIlway -full length a time or two while parents and sibling were at interview/meeting.
And probably others. Memory fading now I am as old as Paul.

 

[gordonthemoron]

doesn't Settle Junction to Morecambe still exist as part of national network or do you mean direct avoiding Lancaster?

 

[David Barrett]

Lakeside from coast line
Coniston to Ulverston -I think it was Ulverston

What a both impressive and sad list. Just a couple of points though: Ulverston was the junction for Lakeside whilst the Coniston Branch connected with the main line at Foxfield.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

doesn't Settle Junction to Morecambe still exist as part of national network or do you mean direct avoiding Lancaster?

Lancaster wasn't avoided, it had a seperate station at Green Ayre. The place which was missed via the Midland Route from Wennington was Carnforth.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

The Oldham Loop and Stratford-North Woolwich are the only ones I remember doing.

 

[Crossover]

I don't think I have done any

Out of interest, has anyone done the old Royton branch that closed in 1966?

 

[gordonthemoron]

abroad, I've used the Munich Olympic Stadium S-bahn station/spur which is now disused and derelict (although still visitable)

 

[steamybrian]

I think I have listed them before but here goes-

Folkestone Harbour branch
Dover Western Docks triangle
New Romney-Appledore
Polegate- Heathfield
Uckfield-Lewes
Tunbridge Wells-Eridge
Tunbridge Wells-Three Bridges
Haywards Heath-Horsted Keynes
Brighton-Kemp Town
Chichester-Lavant
Elmers End-Addiscombe/Selsdon
West Croydon-Wimbledon via Mitcham
Merton Park-Tooting via Merton Abbey
Horsham-Guildford via Cranleigh
Alton-Winchester
Wareham-Swanage
Weymouth Quay line
Maiden Newton-Bridport
Taunton-Minehead
Barnstaple-Ilfracombe
Newbury-Welford Park
Radley-Abingdon
Bourne End-High Wycombe
Staines West-West Drayton
Stratford-North Woolwich
Broad Street-Dalston Jn
Croxley Green-Watford Jn
Millwall Jn-Victoria Park
Kings Lynn-Hunstanton
Cambridge-St Ives
Lowestoft-Yarmouth South Town
Oxford-Bletchley
Oxford-Witney
Peartree- Sinfin Central- ? is it still open for freight?
Selby-York (old ECML)
Ferryhill- Newcastle (via Leamside)
Birmingham Snow Hill (old station)-Wolverhampton LL
Manchester-Sheffield Victoria via Woodhead

also Aberystwyth-Devils Bridge (Vof R) when BR owned.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Out of interest, has anyone done the old Royton branch that closed in 1966?

See my posting # 5 that had both the Royton branch and the Middleton branch stated.

 

[chorleyjeff]

doesn't Settle Junction to Morecambe still exist as part of national network or do you mean direct avoiding Lancaster?

I should have said Wennington to Morecambe direct which now seems to be mainly a cycle path or footpath. ie the track that largely followed the Lune down to Lancaster and beyond.
Sorry for my inexactitude.

 

[341o2]

Okehampton - Bude, would like to plug the ACE but aware that one can travel Waterloo - Exeter St Davids then Summer Sunday service to Okehampton

Also as mentioned above Vale of Rheidol when BR owned.

Unofficial footplate ride Falmouth Docks railway. I was fortunate to allowed in as there were a couple of other enthusiasts already admitted and I think we were offered a carrot of a footplate ride back to the main gates rather than have us wandering unsupervised around the complex

On a visit to the Leighton Buzzard light railway when Arnold's Double Arches still rail worked given a lift on one of the quarry locomotives. This was within Double Arches quarry so qualifies as a closed line, at the time of my visit, the LBLR was worked as far as Stonehenge by the preservation society and beyond by commercial traffic, the latter section now abandoned

Would the last 2 be appropriate to this thread as title reads "closed or not now part of the national rail network?"

Could also add Balloch pier and most preserved railways, Bluebell, Mid Hants, Swanage etc

 

[Hardcastle]

Some of the above posts jogged my memory about some i had forgotten to list such as Weymouth Quay, March-Spalding, Lancaster Green Ayre-Morecambe Promenade, Manchester-Altrincham, Oldham Loop the latter two being tramway now.

 

[Bevan Price]

Far too many to list in one post. So, some from Scotland for now.

Waverley route.
Riddings Jn - Langholm.
Edinburgh Princes St. station.
Edinburgh suburban line (still open for freight).
Thornton Jn - Crail - St. Andrews - Leuchars.
Dundee - Tayport branch.
Dundee West station.
Glasgow St. Enoch & Buchanan St. stations.
Perth - Forfar - Kinnaber Jn (Aberdeen line)
Aberdeen - Ballater.
Dyce - Fraserburgh
Cairnie Jn - Buckie - Elgin
Forres - Aviemore.
Elgin - Craigellachie
Keith Jn - Craigellachie - Aviemore.
Dunblane - Crianlarich.
Grangemouth branch.
Alloa - Larbert.
Balloch - Balloch Pier
Dalry - Kilmarnock
Irvine - Kilmarnock.

Unfortunately missed plenty of other lines - closed too soon, lack of time / money, sparse train services, etc.

 

[Crossover]

See my posting # 5 that had both the Royton branch and the Middleton branch stated.

Apparently I missed that!

I only ask as I only found out the other day from talking to colleagues that the line used to intersect the road I work on (naturally the road wasn't there at the time). I intend to go and walk part of it one lunchtime (being there is only one other business between us and it) but am awaiting better weather

 

[D6975]

A few OTTOMH

Man Vic - Bury
Penmanshiel ECML
Selby ECML
Altrincham pre tram realignments
Sheffield - Wakefield old main line (via Cudworth was it?)
Stratford LL - Woolwich
Blackpool S - Blackpool C
Broad St
Dover Western Docks
Tilbury Riverside
Sheffield Midland - Victoria - Penistone
The S-E chord at Ashton under Lyne

there must be more too.

There are a few places where a terminus has moved slightly down the line too, like Morecambe.

 

[daddsie71b]

Fawley, Eling Tramway, Hamworthy branch, Yeovil Pen Mill to Yeovil Junction of those that have not been mentioned. Bit too young for the ones I would have love to have done.

 

[transmanche]

The only ones I can think of are;

• Broad Street branch (although most of that has now re-opened as LO)
• Stratford-North Woolwich (although some of that has now re-opened as DLR)
• CWL between Farringdon and Moorgate (although the Circle/H&C/Met parallels it)

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Apparently I missed that! I only ask as I only found out the other day from talking to colleagues that the line used to intersect the road I work on (naturally the road wasn't there at the time). I intend to go and walk part of it one lunchtime (being there is only one other business between us and it) but am awaiting better weather

I was nearly 16 years of age in February 1961, when an empty 4-coach DMU from Shaw to Royton lost control on the very steep downwards gradient leading to Royton station. It was said the speed was in the order of 40mph when the leading DMU coach hit the buffers and demolished them and also the stone wall behind them and shot over 30 yards across High Barn Street, causing havoc with the properties at both 13 and 15 High Barn Street, which were directly facing that part of Royton station.

 

[Johnuk123]

I have travelled over loads of disused/closed lines, so many I have forgot a lot of them.

The one little stretch that is always close to my heart is the Birmingham Snow Hill to Wolverhampton low level ex GW line which his where my love of trains started.

 

[Spam Can]

As a boy I lived in Leicester and travelled on the Great Central to London.
Leicester Belgrave Road (GNR) to Skegness via John 'O Gaunt
Poulton to Fleetwood (Out of B-Pool North 'old station')
Lines into Blackpool Central.
Midland main line (Leicester-Man Central via Matlock & Buxton)
Preston -Bamber bridge on East lancs lines
From Port Glasgow (I think) into St. Enochs, Glasgow.
Preston into Liverpool Exchange
And I dont know if it was run by BR but the ferry from North Queens ferry to South Queens ferry in the shadow of the Forth bridge!

 

[steevp]

I was nearly 16 years of age in February 1961, when an empty 4-coach DMU from Shaw to Royton lost control on the very steep downwards gradient leading to Royton station. It was said the speed was in the order of 40mph when the leading DMU coach hit the buffers and demolished them and also the stone wall behind them and shot over 30 yards across High Barn Street, causing havoc with the properties at both 13 and 15 High Barn Street, which were directly facing that part of Royton station.

Sorry Paul - travelling beyond the buffers (stone wall, High Barn Road, and properties included) does not fit the original question :-P

 

[Buttsy]

Watford High Street - Croxley Green
Peartree - Sinfin Central
Stratford - North Woolwich
Oldham Loop
Elmers End - Addiscombe
Morecambe - Morecambe Promenade
Kew - South Acton on the short lived Basingstoke - Ipswich service.

 

[QJ]

I have managed to travel over quite a few lines now closed in the UK and abroad many of which were red penned by railtour or in some cases non passenger services. I also managed to miss some I should not have (Bridport and Filey Holiday Camp and the Kings Cross Hotel curve spring most readily to mind).

Quite a few were courtesy of railtours but some examples of those in the UK trundled over by me on service trains or BR excursion train have included

Haltwhistle to Alston
Shouth Shields branch
Tyne loop
Spalding to March
North Woolwich branch
Sheffield Victoria to Hadfield (thence Piccadilly)
Tilbury Riverside
Broad Street
Holborn Viaduct
Epping to Ongar
Bedford Saint Johns
Croxley Green
Clayton West
Cheltenham to Honeybourne via Broadway
Bootle to Edge Hill
Paisley Canal to Kilmalcolm
Old Oak to North Pole
Metrolink heavy rail conversions
Bere Alston to Tavistock
Balloch Pier
Sinfin Central
Sanderstead / Addiscombe Road to Elmers End
Spa Valley
Brightside to Treeton North Jn
Aldwarke Junctions before the Roundwood chord was built
Wimbledon - Mitcham Jn - West Croydon
Weymouth Quay
Farringdon to Moorgate
Kentish Town curve onto the Goblin
Newhaven Marine
Folkestone Harbour
Dover Marine
Dover Train Ferry ramp
mv Saint Germain

In Ireland I managed Mullingar to Athlone, Dun Laoghaire Pier, Rosslare Harbour Pier, Rosslare Strand to Waterford and Lisburn to Antrim by service train.

 

[flymo]

Still think of the Leamside line whenever I'm down that way, so many wonderful diversions on Sundays during the ECML electrification works. Happy memories of peeking my head out of the HST windows going over the crossing at Fencehouses

Also of course the ECML from York to Doncaster through Selby (lots of fun on the overnight stopper) and the ECML pre-Penmanshiel as mentioned up thread together with the North Tyne loop and South Shields.