• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Last freights on rural routes

Status
Not open for further replies.
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

Greenback

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
9 Aug 2009
Messages
15,268
Location
Llanelli
I was on the broads with my family in 1980, and I never saw any freight on any of the lines. We moored near Reedham, Berney Arms and Somerleyton and I kept my eyes open for any and all trains!
 

Greenback

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
9 Aug 2009
Messages
15,268
Location
Llanelli
I seem to remember that freight was running on the line to Pembroke Dock until around 1980. Can anyone provide the exact date, and any information on what was carried?

Also, it might be an idea if we can talk about the last freights on other secondary routes. I admit I've been motivated by the 'Stranded at Berney Arms' thread, and I'll be moving a couple of posts over from that discussion.
 

ChiefPlanner

Established Member
Joined
6 Sep 2011
Messages
7,768
Location
Herts
I seem to remember that freight was running on the line to Pembroke Dock until around 1980. Can anyone provide the exact date, and any information on what was carried?

Also, it might be an idea if we can talk about the last freights on other secondary routes. I admit I've been motivated by the 'Stranded at Berney Arms' thread, and I'll be moving a couple of posts over from that discussion.

There were infrequent MOD specials down to Pembroke Dock till about 1983 / 84 - flatcars with tracked vehicles for exercises at Castle Martin - there was a temporary unloading ramp especially installed at the Dock. Some of these trains were "interesting" as they carried European forces - and I recall one from Ramsgate - off the ferry - which included 2 MK1 passenger coaches for the accompanying personnel. General freight traffic - domestic coal - ended about 1980. another oddity was the 3 times a week pick up freight from Llanelli and Pantyffynon to Llandovery - again mostly domestic coal and the odd van of fertiliser - hauled by an 03 for a while after class 37's were temporarily barred from the HoW north of Ammanford due to "condition of track - again - ceased around 1984.
 

Harbornite

Established Member
Joined
7 May 2016
Messages
3,634
If we are talking about rural routes then I should mention the Cambrian. The last regular freight workings on the Cambrian lines were the Stanlow to Aberystwyth petroleum workings, which ceased in 1993. The only freights which have ran since were trails with MPV's and log carrying wagons.
 

RichmondCommu

Established Member
Joined
23 Feb 2010
Messages
6,912
Location
Richmond, London
If we are talking about rural routes then I should mention the Cambrian. The last regular freight workings on the Cambrian lines were the Stanlow to Aberystwyth petroleum workings, which ceased in 1993. The only freights which have ran since were trails with MPV's and log carrying wagons.

When did the log traffic finish?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I'm pretty certain that MOD traffic was still running on the branch from Appleby to Warcop at the start of the 1980's. From memory the plan was still to keep the section of the S & C open from Carlisle to Appleby to serve Warcop even if the rest of the line had been closed.
 

AndrewE

Established Member
Joined
9 Nov 2015
Messages
5,064
Weren't a lot of the last freight trains on rural routes the ones that took away the ripped-up track?
If we are talking about the last freights on surviving lines then it's a good question: what was the last freight on the Blaenau or Redditch lines, for example?
 

RichmondCommu

Established Member
Joined
23 Feb 2010
Messages
6,912
Location
Richmond, London
Weren't a lot of the last freight trains on rural routes the ones that took away the ripped-up track?
If we are talking about the last freights on surviving lines then it's a good question: what was the last freight on the Blaenau or Redditch lines, for example?

On the Blaenau line I'm assuming that would have been nuclear waste or something to do with the decommissioning of the nearby nuclear power station.
 

DarloRich

Veteran Member
Joined
12 Oct 2010
Messages
29,182
Location
Fenny Stratford
When did the log traffic finish?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I'm pretty certain that MOD traffic was still running on the branch from Appleby to Warcop at the start of the 1980's. From memory the plan was still to keep the section of the S & C open from Carlisle to Appleby to serve Warcop even if the rest of the line had been closed.

I am sure they until 1989/1990
 

Harbornite

Established Member
Joined
7 May 2016
Messages
3,634
When did the log traffic finish?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I'm pretty certain that MOD traffic was still running on the branch from Appleby to Warcop at the start of the 1980's. From memory the plan was still to keep the section of the S & C open from Carlisle to Appleby to serve Warcop even if the rest of the line had been closed.

They were trials that took place in 2003, I think.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Weren't a lot of the last freight trains on rural routes the ones that took away the ripped-up track?
If we are talking about the last freights on surviving lines then it's a good question: what was the last freight on the Blaenau or Redditch lines, for example?

I think in this case, freight refers to revenue-earning traffic. The last freights on the Redditch branch were stone trains from a terminal located next to Redditch Station. These ceased in the 1980's.

15535858381_fdbc55df72_b.jpg


https://www.flickr.com/photos/invader1009/15535858381/
 
Last edited:

DarloRich

Veteran Member
Joined
12 Oct 2010
Messages
29,182
Location
Fenny Stratford

Harbornite

Established Member
Joined
7 May 2016
Messages
3,634
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top