Lines That Have Closed Since 1970

[railjock]

Bilston Glen to Millerhill about 1990ish
Dalkeith Colliery to ECML about 1980

 

[61653 HTAFC]

ECML through Penmanshiel tunnel, prior to electrification. Similar situation at Selby.

 

[steamybrian]

ECML through Penmanshiel tunnel, prior to electrification. Similar situation at Selby.

Has anyone mentioned the Leamside line between Ferryhill Jn and Newcastle.
I travelled over it on an engineers works diversion whilst electrification work was in progress and finally closed in 1991

 

[najaB]

ECML through Penmanshiel tunnel, prior to electrification. Similar situation at Selby.

I don't know if it's fair to include Penmanshiel as the tunnel collapse left the line unusable, rather than it being a planned closure.

 

[dcsprior]

Googling some of the lines near where I grew up shows one that closed later than I thought: Alloa-Dollar closed to freight in 1973

I don't know when the last freight ran between Cambus-Menstrie, but I think it was fairly recent.

 

[Class 170101]

Upper Holloway to Kentish Town chord there closed around 1981, trains diverted to Gospel Oak.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Mickleover line - wasn't this the CEE test track?

It was certainly a test track running from Eggington Junction on the North Staffs Junction to Stoke line although whether it was for the CEE I'm not sure. However I do remember that there was a wind tunnel at the Mickleover end to test aerodynamics. I've a feeling that at one time there was a Hymek at Mickleover which I'm guessing was there for load testing, along with a collection of Peaks. Mickleover station is pretty much as it was and the route has now been converted to a cycle track which can be followed to Etwal.
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Upper Holloway to Kentish Town chord there closed around 1981, trains diverted to Gospel Oak.

Yes, I'd forgotten about that although I've passed the site of the chord hundreds of times over the last 30 odd years. I'm pretty certain that's where the Kentish Town loco shed was sited. Murphy's now appear to own the site, having been there for many years.
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Brechin line went in 1982 I think (now heritage)
Appleby - Hartley Quarry (cut back to Warcop in 1976) 1989?
Direct Heysham curve
Gateacre branch from Hunts Cross
Aintree - Fazackerley Junction

That is a very good shout. Does any of the track remain between Appleby and Warcop? I know the junction still exists at Appleby but I've always assumed that it wasn't worth the expense to remove the point work.

 

[adrock1976]

Has anyone mentioned the Leamside line between Ferryhill Jn and Newcastle.
I travelled over it on an engineers works diversion whilst electrification work was in progress and finally closed in 1991

Is that the line that runs from Eaglescliffe and rejoins the main route south of Durham?

If so, that is the route I travelled on an IC125 from Birmingham to Newcastle in 1990. It left the main line at Northallerton, called at Eaglescliffe, and rejoined the main line just south of Durham for the run to Newcastle.

In peace

Adam

 

[Marton]

No that line is from Norton on Tees and is still open for freight and has been used for some GC diversions in the past.

Leamside line runs from Tursdale which is north from ferryhill.

 

[Springs Branch]

Up until the mid-1970s, there were connections at Kings Cross between the GN main line and the Widened Lines, used by peak-hour diesel suburban trains.

Interesting commentary & pictures of Kings Cross York Road station and the closed curves here.

 

[Buttsy]

That is a very good shout. Does any of the track remain between Appleby and Warcop? I know the junction still exists at Appleby but I've always assumed that it wasn't worth the expense to remove the point work.

Part of it is now operated by the Eden Valley Railway: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eden_Valley_Railway

 

[Tetchytyke]

Not sure if it's been listed, but the Scotswood Bridge closed in 1982, with everything going via Dunston after that. The line along the north bank of the Tyne remained open as far as Stella (near Newburn) until 1990, when the Power Station closed. All that's left is a short rump of track which goes out of Newcastle Central round the back of the Arena.

 

[Buttsy]

Lenwade branch (GE, MG&NR + BR new curve) - now part used by the Bure Valley Railway.

 

[infobleep]

Up until the mid-1970s, there were connections at Kings Cross between the GN main line and the Widened Lines, used by peak-hour diesel suburban trains.

Interesting commentary & pictures of Kings Cross York Road station and the closed curves here.

Hadn't realised York Road lasted so long. Amazing.

 

[davyp]

Quite surprised that Paul S and Ash Bridge have missed this one.
The stretch of line between Bredbury Stone Terminal/GM Waste sidings through Stockport to meet with the Hazel Grove High Level Junction to Northenden line just to the East of the Northenden GM Waste terminal. Originally built by the Cheshire Lines Ctte. it was shut temporarily in 1980 following damage to the line alongside the construction site of the M63 (now M60) through Stockport. It was finally officially shut in 1984.

Passenger services had ceased in 1967 leading to the closure of Tiviot Dale Station.

Pictures:http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk/tunnels/gallery/tiviotdale.html[/URL]
and on the website www.28dayslater.co.uk

 

[Juniper Driver]

The sugar refinery was and indeed still is at Silvertown. From memory (and this is going back a long way!) I'm pretty sure one of the Model Railway Constructor annuals including an article on the line. Following on from this was the line officially known as a tramway due to the fact that some of the route was actually shared with road vehicles?
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Apologies for the stupid question but what does SM stand for?

My Second Man days at Stratford in the mid 1980's.

Thanks for the answer about the sugar factory.Didn't really know a lot about it except the rails were well dodgy.We got out in one piece with loco though.Class 31 if I remember rightly.

 

[CockneySparrow]

Dunstable is a good one. How come it lasted so long? I'm guessing here that the branch served a freight terminal.

Clipstone is very poignant in my view as the winding gear is still there but the colliery and branch line are long gone.

Dunstable I am led to believe had several customers along the line mainly speedlink, when speedlink ceased so did the line, with Luton under wires and this branch line not it was never going to open to passengers again

 

[RichmondCommu]

Dunstable I am led to believe had several customers along the line mainly speedlink, when speedlink ceased so did the line, with Luton under wires and this branch line not it was never going to open to passengers again

That's a real shame because of course we also had Luton which at the time I think was still loading cars / vans and the freight terminal at Wellingborough. You would have thought that all that would have paid for itself but of course Wellingborough would have involved an expensive trip working.

Incidentally does Luton still operate as an aggregate terminal or is just for railway ballast. Whenever I pass by its too hard to tell.

 

[Buttsy]

Amlwch branch
Stourport power station branch
The Riverside Loop in Newcastle.

 

[Tumbleweed]

Pontyclun - Cwm Colliery line (1987)
Fairwater to Creigiau Quarry line (1980's?)

 

[Deepgreen]

I'll lob in Fort William's old, and more central, station, which was replaced by the present "suburban" site. About a quarter of a mile of track was lost to become the town centre by-pass. The new station opened in 1975.

At the other end of the country, a similar thing happened at Epsom Downs in 1989, where the station was moved closer to London to allow a housing estate to be built.

Finally, a very odd one - the old Waterloo and City line car lift which closed when the International station was built. Technically it could be classed as a route by which trains were transported, even though without rails! However, I'll understand if I'm told it doesn't fit the rules of the thread.

 

[fsmr]

Dunstable I am led to believe had several customers along the line mainly speedlink, when speedlink ceased so did the line, with Luton under wires and this branch line not it was never going to open to passengers again

We lived in Dunstable 1985-87 and remember the Blue circle cement depot and wagons on the side of the Houghton Regis road. Also seem to remember a temporary platform being built near the town centre for a passenger special over the branch Where it would have been a brilliant addition was if it had been retained and reopened through to the WCML at Leighton Buzzard and thus giving connection to Milton Keynes and Northampton for Luton and Dunstable and beyond. Dream as they say

 

[Deepgreen]

The chord from the West Croydon line to the fast Victoria lines at Windmill Bridge junction when the junction was re-modelled in the 1980s. The up line signal was there and lit (red) for some time after the track was lifted if I recall correctly!

 

[NSEFAN]

Newhaven Marine

Newhaven Marine still lingers on, although passengers are not permitted to board or alight at the station due to the poor condition of the roof. It is still possible to walk up to the station though, past Newhaven Harbour signal box (which is due to close soon!)

 

[Deepgreen]

The connection between the BML and the SLL at Battersea Park.

 

[Passenger John]

Has the Foxton Barrington freight line been mentioned - not sure when it closed but now being relaid. Have two sleepers bridging the ditch at the bottom of the garden from the old track.

 

[Metobusfan]

Don't sure if these has been mentioned: west Croydon to Wimbledon via mitcham jnc and elmers end to Addiscombe Lines

 

[steamybrian]

Don't sure if these has been mentioned: west Croydon to Wimbledon via mitcham jnc and elmers end to Addiscombe Lines

See item 81
also Woodside to Selsdon part of the trackbed now also used by Croydon Tramlink.

New items-
Kings Cross (York Road)- Moorgate
The Hotel Curves closed in the 1970s.
Moorgate- Farringdon (Thameslink Lines) closed 2006

Finsbury Park- Dalston Jn passenger service closed in the 1970s when Finsbury Park to Moorgate service introduced.

Highgate Wood Jn to Finsbury Park line completely closed around 1970- last used for transferring empty LT tube stock.
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....
Finally, a very odd one - the old Waterloo and City line car lift which closed when the International station was built. Technically it could be classed as a route by which trains were transported, even though without rails! However, I'll understand if I'm told it doesn't fit the rules of the thread.

A replacement lift was built in "Spur Road" on the east side of the station.

Mentioning stations resited - Uckfield was resited in 1991 shortening the line buy a few hundred yards.

Has Balloch Pier- Balloch been mentioned.
I believe there are dates to record- Balloch Pier to Balloch Central and then Balloch Central to the present Balloch station.

 

[Metobusfan]

See item 81

also Woodside to Selsdon part of the trackbed now also used by Croydon Tramlink.



New items-

Kings Cross (York Road)- Moorgate

The Hotel Curves closed in the 1970s.

Moorgate- Farringdon (Thameslink Lines) closed 2006



Finsbury Park- Dalston Jn passenger service closed in the 1970s when Finsbury Park to Moorgate service introduced.



Highgate Wood Jn to Finsbury Park line completely closed around 1970- last used for transferring empty LT tube stock.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---




A replacement lift was built in "Spur Road" on the east side of the station.



Mentioning stations resited - Uckfield was resited in 1991 shortening the line buy a few hundred yards.



Has Balloch Pier- Balloch been mentioned.

I believe there are dates to record- Balloch Pier to Balloch Central and then Balloch Central to the present Balloch station.

It was March 2009 the Moorgate branch line closed

 

[steamybrian]

It was March 2009 the Moorgate branch line closed

Agreed.
(My error I used closure date of Kings Cross Thameslink)

Closure date of Kings Cross (Hotel Curves) and Kings Cross York Road platform was 1976 for regular passenger service.