Which is your favourite railway line in the UK and why?

[theageofthetra]

Sevenoaks to Tonbridge. Nothing special in terms of scenery etc, it is just where I commuted to school for 5 years on slam doors in the 80s. Many memories - the girls from Tonbridge Girls Grammar School, the lights going off in Sevenoaks tunnel on the compartment stock due to the tw*ts with chewing gum and 1p coins, the lights off AND the girls from TGGS!, the view of the flooding upstream from Tonbridge on the Medway during winter, the guards/parcels compartments that were my home on Wednesdays when I took my bike in for PE, the long wait on Sevenoaks platform for a train in snow knowing that if it gets to 30 minutes you are allowed to go home and skip school (why did it always arrive at 29.5 minutes?)...
Arun Valley - The lowest workload part of my route knowledge. And the scenary and wildlife you get to see while running on greens on the front part of a Horsham splitter.
Three Bridges to London Vic - I don't sign it, but during the practical handling part of my training I drove it often. London suburbia at 90mph, miles and miles of coasting, then the feeling of having done something worthwhile when you step off at Vic and change ends dodging the hundreds of punters.

I remember those school trains well. Remember the time a door got ripped off in Sevenoaks tunnel when the dog boxes were still about? Pre 85?

 

[Harshil]

The stretch between Sudbury Hill Harrow and Northolt Park on the Chiltern Route out of London.

 

[AJM580]

Many of my favourite routes are linked to happy days spent on proper loco hauled trains:

Norwich - Great Yarmouth
Norwich - Peterborough
Exeter - Plymouth
Paddington - Oxford (Thames Valley)

Scenery wise it would have to be the West Highland line

 

[backontrack]

Also: the stretch of track between the A64 near Chaloners Whin Junction and York station. Because that's coming home.

 

[yorksrob]

I've always quite liked the Brighton line and the East Coastway. When visiting family in Brighton and not in a rush to go home, I enjoy going via Brighton for Rastrick's marvellous viaduct alone.

Yes, I remember my first ever trip there back in the 80's and the excitement of going over the viaduct and into the massive trainshed for the first time. As an aside,I think it was the day of the Purley crash, but we didn't find out until we got home.

 

[muddythefish]

Two lesser known routes

Blackburn - Hellifield. The scenery in the Ribble Valley is very pleasant.

Whitland - Milford Haven. I love the West Wales lines after spending many of my childhood holidays down there

 

[DaveTM]

I remember those school trains well. Remember the time a door got ripped off in Sevenoaks tunnel when the dog boxes were still about? Pre 85?

OT... Maybe the same incident, maybe not, but I was at Judd from 1986 to 1991 and I remember such an incident clearly. Tiny toughened glass shatterings coming back in through the windows of the rear coaches, and a very white/green faced guard who had been standing nearby.
The only train I used to catch regularly with doggy boxes was the 16:18 Tonbridge-London (Charing X?) off platform 4, although I preferred to catch the 16:12 or if possible 16:05 which didn't stop at Hildenborough. How sad is it after all these years I still remember that!

 

[Confused147]

Watford Junction to Euston for the modern day computerised signalling scenery with plenty of track layout and miles of points to watch

 

[xc170]

Not scenic in the same way as the S&C or Conwy Valley, but the Derby - Matlock line is one of my favourites, short and sweet but has a nice branch line feel to it, connecting some nice little places, Cromford, Matlock, Matlock Bath...

 

[Clansman]

Nothing beats going over the Forth Bridge on an express service during sunset on a calm and clear evening. It's my favourite scenic part of the rail network, and it's always a great welcoming feeling that encompasses you with emphasis that you're back home (after coming back from down south).

I do enjoy the Watford Junction to Euston run also, as we don't see anything of the manic nature up here.

 

[SteveP29]

Dorchester to Weymouth.
I can see the farm my uncle used to manage in Upwey from the line, which reminds me of every summer holiday I had there up until I left school.

I do still get to go and see the place, even though he's long retired and has been dead 6 years, I go and put flowers against the tree in the orchard where him and my aunt's ashes have been scattered.

 

[385001]

1. The West Highland Line. Stunning views everywhere such as inner Hebrides, Loch Shiel and Loch Lomond
2. The ECML around Berwick. I always make sure I'm sitting on the coast side.
3. The WCML between Carstairs and Lancaster - the views
4. Dalmeny to Kirkcaldy - The Forth Bridge and views back to Edinburgh across the Forth

 

[frodshamfella]

I like Liverpool to West Kirby, City to the Sea in such a short trip, with a walk over to Hilbre Island where you can sea the seal, its a lovely day out.

 

[xotGD]

I'll give an honourable mention to Hudds - Stalybridge. Beautiful Pennine scenery, classic old mill buildings and sometimes the contrast in weather at each end of the tunnel. (No prizes for guessing which end is the wet end!)

 

[RichJF]

Used to like the Moorgate - Farringdon section when it was open.

I've got 3 lines in the SE I love equally:
Medway Valley. It's like a timewarp through a beautiful part of Kent.
Uckfield Line. Near to me & a wealth of railway history around it & it's diesel in a sea of electric.
Ashford to Canterbury West. Many memories of travelling to uni in Canterbury on this section.

 

[FormerBritInMe]

Another vote for the Cambrian Coast line.

Also the LT&S when it still used steam Seriously though the stretch along the Thames Estuary East of Benfleet passing Hadeigh Castle is scenic, although I'm prejudiced because I grew up near there.

Pretty much any line in the Southeast back when still still ran the Slam Door stock, making sure to sit over a motor bogie for the full sound effects.

 

[Marklund]

2. The ECML around Berwick. I always make sure I'm sitting on the coast side.

The section of line to the north? That's probably my favourite. I remember when they slewed the line further from the cliffs. Amazing just how close it was, and to a degree still is.

 

[Requeststop]

Exeter to St Erth - It means I'm on my way back home. I can only do the journey once a year. It's always the best. These days the reverse journey is always tinged with melancholy as I cannot get out of my head that each journey may be my last and when crossing the Royal Albert Bridge into Devon, I am always afraid it was just my last time home in Cornwall.

St Erth-St Ives is very special though as it was my local line. Travelled on the line for as long as I can remember, and that is now 60 years or so now. Sun, rain, wind, or whatever weather is thrown at you, it's a special journey. The Hayle estuary when the tide is in is always at it's best.

 

[385001]

The section of line to the north? That's probably my favourite. I remember when they slewed the line further from the cliffs. Amazing just how close it was, and to a degree still is.

Yes. Just south of Berwick is pretty good as well. It’s great seeing the Royal Border Bridge and most of the train ahead.

 

[Deafdoggie]

Exeter to St Erth - It means I'm on my way back home. I can only do the journey once a year. It's always the best. These days the reverse journey is always tinged with melancholy as I cannot get out of my head that each journey may be my last and when crossing the Royal Albert Bridge into Devon, I am always afraid it was just my last time home in Cornwall.

St Erth-St Ives is very special though as it was my local line. Travelled on the line for as long as I can remember, and that is now 60 years or so now. Sun, rain, wind, or whatever weather is thrown at you, it's a special journey. The Hayle estuary when the tide is in is always at it's best.

I'm not jealous you live there at all!! Holidaying in Hayle at Easter, so I'll enjoy the journey there and back & try to get a St Ives branch line trip in.

 

[Mikey C]

From the West Country, the Looe Valley line is stunning, but then the main line is lovely too.

Less scenic, but fascinating would be HS1 between Stratford and Ebbsfleet - I love the section running by Rainham marshes, then diving under AND over the A282 Dartford crossing.

Similarly the DLR network when it travels over viaducts, is a wonderful ride, especially if you can sit in the front seat. Even the tunnels become interesting then!

 

[mrcheek]

Anything that isn't Exeter SD to Birmingham New St Via Bristol...

I actually rather like this journey! The beautiful Somerset countryside, the view of Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge as you enter Bristol, the countryside again in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, the Lickey Incline, and the canal running alongside as you come into Birmingham

 

[Con]

Londonderry to Belfast. The section between Derry and Castlerock is rightly regarded as wonderfully scenic, between Lough Foyle overlooking Donegal and the turn at Downhill to the Atlantic coast, but it also means I am getting away from my family caring duties for a time.

 

[B&I]

Londonderry to Belfast. The section between Derry and Castlerock is rightly regarded as wonderfully scenic, between Lough Foyle overlooking Donegal and the turn at Downhill to the Atlantic coast, but it also means I am getting away from my family caring duties for a time.

Good call. Do Translink passes allow you to do Belfast-Derry one way by train, the other by bus over the Glenshane Pass ?

I am taking my other half over to see Norn Iron for the first time later in the year. She is rather trainophobic, largely due to living in East Manchester and putting up with one of its less frequent, and more Pacerised, services. She wants to drive round the coast, but I'm trying to think of a way to persuade her to leave the car in Coleraine and train it into Derry.

 

[duffield]

I actually rather like this journey! The beautiful Somerset countryside, the view of Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge as you enter Bristol, the countryside again in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, the Lickey Incline, and the canal running alongside as you come into Birmingham

Veering offtopic, but this canal is the Birmingham and Worcester, and its 30 (approx) miles can be walked in three rail-convenient sections of around 10 miles each - Birmingham (gas street basin) to Alvechurch, Alvechurch to Droitwich (slight sideways diversion on the Droitwich canal) and Droitwich to Worcester. Highly recommended (though some of the last leg is slightly blighted by motorway noise).
Make sure you know the walking routes over the tunnels, which don't have towpaths.

 

[SwindonBert]

Couple of lines for me in Devon & Cornwall:

The coast at Dawlish, have been on that route at night when there's been a storm - very drematic
Looe branch line, very picturesque branch line

and finally - the line I travel on the most, between Swindon & Gloucester

 

[Con]

Good call. Do Translink passes allow you to do Belfast-Derry one way by train, the other by bus over the Glenshane Pass ?

I am taking my other half over to see Norn Iron for the first time later in the year. She is rather trainophobic, largely due to living in East Manchester and putting up with one of its less frequent, and more Pacerised, services. She wants to drive round the coast, but I'm trying to think of a way to persuade her to leave the car in Coleraine and train it into Derry.

I think the ticket you are looking for is the iLink one day card - £16.00 a go. It's zoned so if you are only doing Coleraine-Derry and back it will be cheaper. Link: http://www.translink.co.uk/Find-The-Right-Ticket/travel-cards/ilink/

Thankfully the CAF stock on NI Railways is a lot more comfortable than a Pacer!

 

[Doctor Fegg]

I'll give an honourable mention to Hudds - Stalybridge. Beautiful Pennine scenery, classic old mill buildings and sometimes the contrast in weather at each end of the tunnel. (No prizes for guessing which end is the wet end!)

If you like it by rail, you should try it by canal - even better. (Except when it rains.)

 

[Non Multi]

The 'down' lines out of London Paddington. Always happy to see the city's bright lights disappear into the distance after a day trip.

 

[faltskog36abba]

I'll give an honourable mention to Hudds - Stalybridge. Beautiful Pennine scenery, classic old mill buildings and sometimes the contrast in weather at each end of the tunnel. (No prizes for guessing which end is the wet end!)

I agree with you about the Huddersfield line, Its lovely going through greenfield and Marsden. I think the Calder Valley route is also a nice line - once you emerge from summit tunnel into west Yorkshire.