Trivia - abandoned railways with intact track

[Jlob2804]

Hamworthy Goods loop has recently been disconnected from the main line.

 

[marks87]

There’s a few remnants of the Dundee Harbour railway scattered around the new(-ish) City Quay development.

 

[peteb]

Off the Severn Valley Railway there is a closed branch and on it a depot. The SVR own the site of the depot next to their Railway and there is track remaining and in the undergrowth there are other railway remains such as rusty wheelsets and the remains of old goods wagons. The SVR appear to not wish to do anything with the site.

That would be the formation of the original 1861 SVR Hartlebury to Shrewsbury south of Bewdley. The Bewdley to Kidderminster link was built nearly 20 years later. Trackbed intact for over a mile through tunnel to Burlish just north of Stourport where line now built over. Rails extend only 100m or so, lifted thereafter.

Little Mill to Glascoed appears part intact from satellite imagery as does Chepstow to near Tintern, but heavily overgrown.

Until recently the ex-Hartlebury RAF siding retained a main line connection, now severed. Short length of line within depot housed a row of wagons for many years, not sure if they've rotted away by now!

 

[bramling]

That would be the formation of the original 1861 SVR Hartlebury to Shrewsbury south of Bewdley. The Bewdley to Kidderminster link was built nearly 20 years later. Trackbed intact for over a mile through tunnel to Burlish just north of Stourport where line now built over. Rails extend only 100m or so, lifted thereafter.

Little Mill to Glascoed appears part intact from satellite imagery as does Chepstow to near Tintern, but heavily overgrown.

Glascoed was certainly intact 3 or 4 years ago, though possibly not for much longer as there seems to be plans in the development stage for a footpath conversion.

Tintern will have gone now, as there’s a footpath conversion actively in progress as of the now.

Madeley Junction to Silverdale I think is another which still has track, including through the three disused tunnels.

A more obscure one - the branch to Waterloo Goods in Liverpool. There’s a short length of track which remains in use as a headshunt for Tuebrook Yard, extending into the Waterloo Tunnel. A short distance into the tunnel there’s a sleeper baulk, however the track extends a few hundred metres further in a derelict state before coming to an end. This is one of the most spectacular disused tunnels, though anyone tempted to explore it needs to be very aware that the top end is still operational, therefore could certainly end up in BTP’s hands (which does seem to have happened to at least one explorer).

 

[randyrippley]

Preston - the remains of the Longridge branch that runs under the city centre and leads to the Ribbleton area

 

[adrock1976]

Another one in the West Midlands is the single track line that diverges/converges behind the north end of the Birmingham platform at Langley Green.

This branch at one time led to either an oil depot or the former ICI works.

Although still connected, it has been out of use for a good number of years with most of the loops and sidings at Rood End between Langley Green and the former Smethwick West station.

 

[The Planner]

Another one in the West Midlands is the single track line that diverges/converges behind the north end of the Birmingham platform at Langley Green.

This branch at one time led to either an oil depot or the former ICI works.

Although still connected, it has been out of use for a good number of years with most of the loops and sidings at Rood End between Langley Green and the former Smethwick West station.

The Oldbury branch has been gone for more years than I can remember.

 

[Cowley]

Does the Haytor Tramway count?

I thought about mentioning that one.

 

[ejstubbs]

What about the branch out to Loanhead, does that still have track?

Not for several years now. It's a cycle path all the way from Shawfair to Roslin now. Ignore what it shows on the online versions of the OS 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 maps, that's well out of date.

That said, the satellite view on Google Maps does seem to show track(s) in situ on the curve east of Millerhill Road. I haven't been there to check in person recently.

Google's satellite view also suggests that the line through Abbeyhill has been lifted, presumably since the plan (IIRC) to use it as a layover for Borders Railway trains was abandoned.

I believe the track to Powderhall from Meadowbank is in situ while the powers that be work out what to do with it. Practically every other such abandoned route in Edinburgh (with the exception of the Western Approach Road) is now a foot/cycle way but for some reason that seems to be difficult to do in this instance.

 

[High Dyke]

Some narrow gauge rails in the harbour/sea-front at Swanage. Also when the Barkston South Junction - Barkston East Junction chord (East Coast Main Line) was closed in 2005 the track was lifted from the formation, but stacked up at the side. It's still there. Equally the former grain siding at Ancaster is still in place, though disconnected from the Up Main line. It even retains the brake van at the end of the siding.

 

[PaulC1309]

The old royal ordnance factory at Bishopton had miles of narrow gauge lines a lot of which was still in situ until the site redevelopment began around 10 years ago. Also had an intact engine shed. Did quite a bit of work on the site just before the remediation works started. Was a fascinating site but is now largely houses.

Also is the Dalmellington line technically still open? As far as I can see the track is all intact. Remember seeing 37s with coal trains from the opencast mine in late 90s on it.

 

[Southsider]

The old royal ordnance factory at Bishopton had miles of narrow gauge lines a lot of which was still in situ until the site redevelopment began around 10 years ago. Also had an intact engine shed. Did quite a bit of work on the site just before the reaction works started. Was a fascinating site but is now largely houses.

It had a fair bit of standard gauge too as the produce was largely shipped by rail. The royal train used to be stabled within the site perimeter when visiting the area.

 

[Ayrshire Roy]

Also is the Dalmellington line technically still open? As far as I can see the track is all intact. Remember seeing 37s with coal trains from the opencast mine in late 90s on it.

Technically yes although the line serves nothing now that the mines are gone.
The Doon Valley Railway uses the old coal board line at the end of Network Rail territory.
It would be ideal as an extension to the museum although costly I'd imagine.

 

[Andrew S]

There is apparently some mixed gauge track from the Woolwich Arsenal railway system still in place amongst thick undergrowth on the last undeveloped plot of land in Thamesmead. Quite hard to get to safely though, but someone has managed it and put a video on youtube.

 

[basfordlad]

The line from Creswell on the Robin Hood Line to Staveley. There are probably a few former colliery branches too, I believe the former GC Welbeck Colliery branch is still in situ.

Are you sure about the staveley bit? Thought the track had been lifted few years ago

 

[Hey 3]

Is the connection from HS1(UK Channel Tunnel portal, near Dollands Moor Freight Yard) to the South Eastern Main Line considered abandoned as since the BR Class 373's TGV TMST sets had their third rail shoes removed, they can no longer use the line(as with Fawkham Jn upthread) and Javelins never take the route, and the connections are clamped out of use?
Edit: The connections to the WCML from London St Pancras International and Stratford International/HS1 have never been used I do not think.

 

[SeanG]

A few from the north east:

The Leamside Line, as already mentioned, had most of its track nicked by a contractor (or his scrap merchant mate). However a few bits are left around where the line bypasses Durham. There is also some track in situ where the main road in Fence Houses crosses the line.

There are some tracks set in the ground on the banks of the Tyne at the bottom of the Ouseburn, near to where the Quayside branch came out, I believe.

Similarly, Sunderland docks have inlaid track in them which are linked to the Hendon Branch, but not used any more.

There are many lines around British Steel at Redcar which are now disueed but intact.

The last time I ventured up Weardale, the western end of the line appeared to be in situ but unused (track intact etc).

I think that the various lines Blyth and Ashington have already been mentioned up thread.

I believe that the stub of the line along the north bank of the Tyne in Newcastle, towards Scotswood remains partially intact but unused, but happy to be proved wrong.

I am imagining that unused sidings etc do not count as there are a number of these across the network (I thought of one at North Shields but doubt it would count on reflection).

 

[Wildrover]

From last weeks BBCScotland viewers pictures https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-56483972

Mark Reynolds said his image shows a ruined railway bridge on the old "puggy line" which carried supplies along a narrow gauge railway between Loch Treig and Fort William. Now an artistic shot

 

[Dr_Paul]

Looking at Google Earth, there are still some remnants of the tracks at Lowestoft Harbour, out on the breakwaters. Back in the late 1960s, I remember seeing wagons being towed across the main road into and out of the harbour premises by a farm tractor, the old LNER 0-4-0 steam tractors having been withdrawn by then.

Again looking at Google Earth, there are remnants of track on the some of the disused piers on the Thames near Dagenham.

 

[86206]

Is their still a small part on line close to Longport Yard, which used to be part of The Pinnox?

 

[GlosRail]

I remember on the odd times of going to Gillingham for football there is a short branch from near the station which I expect went to down to the docks. Over the years it's become more and more overgrown.

 

[Geoff DC]

Still track running down the Albert Pier at Penzance Harbour

I think it was mainly used for China Clay shipments

 

[Lucan]

The satellite view shows the track on the branch into the [former?] Caerwent military depot (from main line junction just east of Caldicot) is now lifted except what appear to be isolated sections on the bridges over the M48 and the A48. Maybe the bridges were too narrow to allow easy removal.

 

[najaB]

Maybe the bridges were too narrow to allow easy removal.

That, or lifting the track risked weakening the bridge.

 

[Grecian 1998]

Still track in place from the Portbury docks branch to Portishead including where it goes under the M5

Large parts seem to be in place, but not all. In one place near Portbury the track stops to allow the cycleway to use the trackbed, then a few hundred metres later the cycleway moves away and the track recommences. Can't recall seeing anything quite like it elsewhere.

 

[Western 52]

Neither the Pantyffynnon to Gwaen cae Gurwen or Neath & Brecon Jct to Cwmgwrach lines appear to have any traffic although both are intact. The Cwmgwrach line is apparently earmarked for use as a test track for new trains.

 

[Cletus]

The Trekking & Towpaths videos, mainly in Nottinghamshire show a lot of in-situ tracks.

https://www.youtube.com/c/TrekkingTowpaths/videos

 

[Swanny200]

I remember on the odd times of going to Gillingham for football there is a short branch from near the station which I expect went to down to the docks. Over the years it's become more and more overgrown.

yes the Chatham Dockyard branch, stops just short of the Asda at The Strand, no idea when the last train ran down there or even used it as a siding

 

[LondonExile]

Again in the North East, the Ferryhill and Hartlepool branch has track in-situ near Cornforth. Given the overgrowth, it would be quite a task to get it out even if you wanted to!

From what I could see there were tracks intact from near the ECML junction up to the first quarry, then it was dismantled both as it gets close to the mainline and once you're east of the quarry.

 

[Rikki Lamb]

Holbeck viaduct and Wortley curve in Leeds spring to mind. Up until recently the Horbury West Curve still had track too