Most consecutive stations visited on one line (or with just one omission)

[steamybrian]

Where do I start...!
During my work for BR/Railtrack/Contractor I must have visited every station on what is served now by South Eastern/GTR-Southern services in South London/Kent/Sussex/Surrey.

 

[The exile]

My first bid ( though I reckon I can top it with a bit of thought) is Paddington to Gunnislake via Bristol ( including the closed main line platforms at Westbourne Park) - which I think is 57. The “bit of thought “ has now produced 102 from Gunnislake to Three Oaks via Bristol, Southampton and Brighton, “playing my joker “ at Portchester.

 

[Bevan Price]

I have tried to visit and photograph a lot of stations using area rovers / day rangers where affordable. (I not longer consider all-line rovers to be value for my money.)
But, some examples:
All stations, WCML, Bushey via Northampton to Carstairs (or from Harrow & Wealdstone if you ignore stations with platforms only on the 3rd rail Watford services)
(42 including the closed Garstang, Hest Bank & Shap, or 44 if you include the diversion via Earlestown & Newton Le Willows)
**** CORRECTION - Not yet done Polesworth ****

All stations, Lichfield Trent Valley - Birmingham - Barnt Green - Redditch (24),
or, with change of trains, continuing from Barnt Green - Worcester - Hereford (30)
If I can ever get Bordesley, then I would have about 36 stations from Stratford Upon Avon to Birmingham Snow Hill, Worcester & Hereford.
Similarly, If I can get Salwick, I will have Blackpool North - Preston - Blackburn - Bradford Interchange - Leeds - Church Fenton.

EDIT - ADDITION. If the original definition is expanded, I can get from coast to coast (and further) having done all the intermediate stations still open, plus some closed stations:

Scarborough - York - Harrogate - Leeds - Bradford Interchange - Manchester Victoria - Liverpool (Lime St. & Central) - Southport.
Continuing to any of the following:
...Leeds - Carlisle - Dumfries or Hexham & Corbridge
...Leeds - Huddersfield - Manchester Victoria & Piccadilly - Stoke - Derby - Nottingham;
...Manchester - Stockport or Styal - Crewe - Shrewsbury - Hereford - Pontypool;
...Manchester - Bolton - Preston - Carlisle - Carstairs, or Carlisle - Whitehaven
....Manchester - New Mills Central - Sheffield - Doncaster - Barnetby
......Sheffield - Lincoln
....Liverpool - Chester - Shrewsbury - Pontypool.
....Liverpool - Runcorn - Chester - Bangor.
....Liverpool - Crewe - Birmingham New St - Coventry - Northampton - Harrow & Wealdstone
....Birmingham New St - Bromsgrove - Hereford (as above)
Apart from a couple of stations, including Thirsk, Saltburn - Darlington - York could have been added.

 

[Bertie the bus]

I suppose Newton and Euxton Balshaw Lane are in similar positions, not “officially” on the WCML, but very much on adjacent lines and the WCML is clearly visible from both.

Euxton Balshaw Lane is on the WCML. It just happens to only have platforms on the slow lines but so do Tamworth and Lichfield Trent Valley and nobody would argue they're not on the WCML.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Hyde Central to Market Rasen, excluding Shireoaks.

Interesting! What would the intermediate stations have been? Must be a fair few!

 

[reb0118]

I can trace a line from Oban to Glasgow & thence to Muir of Ord via any route with only one exception Kintore.

Once I visit Conon Bridge that run can extend to Helmsdale.

Alternatively heading south from Glasgow & travelling via Carlisle (WCM or GSW) i can reach Corbridge, Skipton (excluding Dent), & Warrington Bank Quay.

 

[Parallel]

I have visited all stations between Fairbourne and Pwllheli with the exception of Llanbedr.

Of those I have visited, Llanaber was my favourite due to it feeling rather secluded and its proximity to the sea.

 

[PeterC]

Without trying I have managed 16 from Liverpool Street to Wickford.

 

[weepingwillowb]

While living in Harrogate I used the then 12 consecutive stations on the Harrogate Line - Leeds, Headingley, Horsforth, Weeton, Pannal, Harrogate, Starbeck, Knaresborough, Cattal, Hammerton, Poppleton, and York. Since I moved away, two more stations have been opened - Burley Park and Hornbeam Park. Can't see me ever using Hornbeam Park station.

 

[johnnychips]

Interesting! What would the intermediate stations have been? Must be a fair few!

This is through living in Hyde when I was growing up, then lots of walks in the Peaks, and now walking round Sheffield. The non-obvious one, Darnall, is because the Covid testing centre was a minute’s walk from the station.

Anyway: Hyde Central, Woodley, Romiley, Marple, Strines, New Mills C, Chinley, Edale, Hope, Bamford, Hathersage, Grindleford, Dore, Sheffield, Darnall, Woodhouse, Kiveton Bridge, Kiveton Park, (Shireoaks), Worksop, Retford, Gainsborough Lea Rd, Saxilby, Lincoln and Market Rasen.

 

[AlbertBeale]

People have started mentioning the London Underground too - so...

Every station on the Uxbridge branch of the Piccadilly Line through the centre as far as Wood Green (36 stations?) - possibly more, but there are odd stations at the far eastern end that I'm not 100% sure of having ever used.
Every station on the Circle Line - 35-ish.
Every station on the Uxbridge branch of the Met Line.
Every station on the Bakerloo (23).
Everything from North Acton to Leytonstone on the Central (22 stations).
Everything on the Ham & City as far east as Plaistow (26)..
On the Northern, everywhere from Tooting Broadway in the south, via both central loops, to Brent Cross and Mill Hill East.
And of course, proudly joining RoastVeg, the whole of the Waterloo & City!

 

[Taunton]

I have lived on the DLR since it opened in 1987, and indeed was on a train on opening day. So you would expect complete usage. However, out of its 45 stations I find I have actually used just 33 of them, only about two thirds. There isn't even a single line where I have done them all. The 33 actually includes one I used on that 1987 opening day, but never again!

 

[Dave W]

Across the years I've had need to use every station between Hereford - Worcester- Kidderminster- Birmingham Snow Hill multiple times, including Smethwick West.

Every station between Wolverhampton - Birmingham New Street and Walsall

Every station between Sutton Coldfield - Birmingham New Street- Redditch.

I was going to say this, but only from Worcester.

18 if you count Shrub Hill and Foregate Street as consecutive (the service pattern is even if they aren’t physically). Didn’t do Smethwick West though!

Every station on the Victoria too, and Moorgate-Hertford (with Cuffley being the omission)

 

[185143]

I think we have our winner!

Well I've been to every station in the country, by train of course... so unless that XC service from Aberdeen to Penzance calls at more stations, joint winner!

 

[robert thomas]

Slough to Whitland direct and via Bath and via Gloucester

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Anyway: Hyde Central, Woodley, Romiley, Marple, Strines, New Mills C, Chinley, Edale, Hope, Bamford, Hathersage, Grindleford, Dore, Sheffield, Darnall, Woodhouse, Kiveton Bridge, Kiveton Park, (Shireoaks), Worksop, Retford, Gainsborough Lea Rd, Saxilby, Lincoln and Market Rasen.

Thanks for clarifying. This does then beg the question as to whether this is "one line" as such? Must be a few intermediate changes of train required en route?

 

[Cheshire Scot]

In the seventies all stations between Singer and Lochailort, including both old and new Fort William stations - except Locheil Outwardbound which wasn't yet planned to be there, and if I further omit Beasdale then all stations to Mallaig - plus branch from Craigendoran to Helesburgh Central, and branch from Crianlarich Upper to Tyndrum Lower, Dalmally and Lochawe plus Crianlarich Lower. - 36
Not including Rhu or Shandon which closed in '64 but can include both Whistlefield and Glen Douglas which closed at the same time in '64.

 

[Cricketer8for9]

Victoria to Tattenham Corner, though possibly not Reedham (G London)- 19 or 20. Earlswood to Victoria (complete) or to St Pancras I think minus Sydenham. In my 55 years I have no recollection of getting on or off at Sydenham, which is something of a surprise as I’m not short on many other Southern stations in South London (Queen’s Road Peckham and South Bermondsey) though I did get off and back on at the latter to micro-Quail the crossover.

Haywards Heath to Victoria minus Salfords. The first named has, in times gone by, been a service; the others would involve multiple trains.

Does it have to be a feasible service. Ie could I count Haywards Heath to Wembley Central via Redhill, Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction (ie including an never ever done in service reversal at Kensal Green down to the Low Level Platforms at Willesden Jct.)

Victoria to Tattenham Corner, though possibly not Reedham (G London)- 19 or 20. Earlswood to Victoria (complete) or to St Pancras I think minus Sydenham. In my 55 years I have no recollection of getting on or off at Sydenham, which is something of a surprise as I’m not short on many other Southern stations in South London (Queen’s Road Peckham and South Bermondsey) though I did get off and back on at the latter to micro-Quail the crossover.

Haywards Heath to Victoria minus Salfords. The first named has, in times gone by, been a service; the others would involve multiple trains.

Does it have to be a feasible service. Ie could I count Haywards Heath to Wembley Central via Redhill, Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction (ie including an never ever done in service reversal at Kensal Green down to the Low Level Platforms at Willesden Jct.)

And am I allowed to change onto the Underground?

 

[Bald Rick]

Circle Line, in one day, including at least half a pint at a pub near each station

 

[Mikey C]

On the Thameslink service from Luton to Rainham, I would have used all the station between Hendon and Woolwich Arsenal, that's 16

With one omission (Mill Hill) I can add three more up to St Albans City, making 19

Plus before the current service ran, I've used both Kings Cross Thameslink and Holborn Viaduct

 

[Cheshire Scot]

Not quite the same, but back in my signal box bashing days I visited every one of the 18 signal boxes between Stanley Junction and Inverness Locomotive apart from Culloden (which we couldn't find) in one day.

I would guess you were perhaps looking for Culloden (Moor) signal box in the vicinity of Culloden village rather than further up the hill near the Battlefield where the B9006 crosses over the former Culloden Moor Station. Not sure if the box ever lost the 'Moor' suffix.
Not also Rose Street in Inverness? Visible from the north platforms 5, 6 & 7.

 

[alexf380]

Do reversals count? If so, I can get to 50. Stranraer to Berwick via Paisley, Glasgow Central, Shotts and Edinburgh.
If no reversals then it's only 45, Helensburgh Central to Berwick via Glasgow and Bathgate.

 

[mm333]

I decided a few years ago to tick off every station in my home county of West Yorkshire, which makes this a bit easier.

On a recognised line, I’ve done every station on Transpennine North from Marsden to Durham. And I can get to Newcastle if I count Chester-le-Street as my one missing one. So that's 22 to Durham and 23 to Newcastle.

If we can change lines, then I can do 29 from Littleborough to Cottingham except Eastrington.

 

[rcsn319]

All piccadilly line stations between Cockfosters and Acton Town (Bounds Green omitted, 27 stations)

Liverpool Street to enfield town/cheshunt <via seven sisters> (19 stations)

Every stop between Liverpool Street and stansted airport <via Tottenham Hale> (Sawbridgeworth omitted, 20 stations)

 

[D6975]

I've boarded and alighted at every station between Yeovil PM and Cardiff Bay, that's 21 now, but 22 if you include the old Filton station. 23 if you include Horfield where I once got off despite the station being long closed.


edit just realised that diverting to Paignton from Bristol gives 33 with just one omission - Torre, as does Plymouth with the omission of Ivybridge.

 

[Cheshire Scot]

Every station between Macclesfield, via Man Picc, Oxford Road and Victoria, and Leeds via Marsden and Dewsbury with the exception of Adlington (Cheshire) - 28 (eight less than my earlier entry in post 47)

 

[unlevel42]

All 25 stations currently from Manchester Piccadilly to Scunthorpe (except Levenshulme) In addition Attercliffe Road, Brightside, Rotherham Masborough(football) and Rotherham Central. Total 29 or 28 consecutive stops starting at Heaton Norris.
All stops were intentional except for being detrained at Attercliffe Road(door fell off), Woodsmoor(fighting on train) and Davenport(signal failure).

 

[Mcr Warrior]

All 25 stations currently from Manchester Piccadilly to Scunthorpe (except Levenshulme) In addition Attercliffe Road, Brightside, Rotherham Masborough(football) and Rotherham Central. Total 29 or 28 consecutive stops starting at Heaton Norris.
All stops were intentional except for being detrained at Attercliffe Road(door fell off), Woodsmoor(fighting on train) and Davenport(signal failure).

Heaton Norris? That station closed in early 1959!

 

[matchmaker]

I would guess you were perhaps looking for Culloden (Moor) signal box in the vicinity of Culloden village rather than further up the hill near the Battlefield where the B9006 crosses over the former Culloden Moor Station. Not sure if the box ever lost the 'Moor' suffix.
Not also Rose Street in Inverness? Visible from the north platforms 5, 6 & 7.

That's exactly it. All the other boxes are/were quite close to the A9 so easy to locate. And we did Rose Street as well! This was in the days when the double line over Druimuachdar had been singled.

 

[Cheshire Scot]

All 25 stations currently from Manchester Piccadilly to Scunthorpe (except Levenshulme) In addition Attercliffe Road, Brightside, Rotherham Masborough(football) and Rotherham Central. Total 29 or 28 consecutive stops starting at Heaton Norris.
All stops were intentional except for being detrained at Attercliffe Road(door fell off), Woodsmoor(fighting on train) and Davenport(signal failure).

Can you start back before Picc? Oxford Road Deansgate etc?
And perhaps you meant Heaton Chapel?