What is the best unofficial name for a railway line?

[317663]

Mine has to be the "wall of death" (Sutton Loop). You can tell why it's named that just by looking at an image of it!

 

[aliceh]

I'm gonna go for the Goblin (Gospel Oak - Barking LINe) because it's a pretty clever creation

 

[Maude673]

The Clockwork Orange - Glasgow subway

 

[Ashley Hill]

Bed Pan line. Bedford-St Pancras.

 

[yorksrob]

The Crab & Winkle line (For the Canterbury and Whitstable line).

 

[Mikey C]

I'm gonna go for the Goblin (Gospel Oak - Barking LINe) because it's a pretty clever creation

And one which is much wider known than just within the "rail" community

I quite like the "Purple Train" name for the Elizabeth Line, popularised by Geoff Marshall.

 

[TurboMan]

I quite like the "Purple Train" name for the Elizabeth Line

Also, Ginger Line for the Overground.

 

[43096]

I’m always amused that the Dr Day’s Jct to Feeder Bridge Jct loop in Bristol is known as “Rhubarb loop” due to its proximity to The Rhubarb Tavern.

 

[BrianW]

Also, Ginger Line for the Overground.

Perhaps if it becomes divided, opportunities may arise for the Chris Evans Line, Ben Stokes, Garfield?

 

[Stampy]

5&9 - Brighton Line?

 

[WizCastro197]

5&9 - Brighton Line?

Brighton Main line? I have never heard of that one!

Waterloo and City? The Drain?

 

[gordonthemoron]

Isn’t one of the tube lines known as the Drain? Maybe Waterloo and City

I refer to Crossrail as the Elizabethan Line

 

[SargeNpton]

Brighton Main line? I have never heard of that one!

Waterloo and City? The Drain?

5 & 9 Brighton Line is a bingo call.

 

[WizCastro197]

5 & 9 Brighton Line is a bingo call.

Oh Okay I have had a quick google search. I do not play Bingo.
Although the childhood anticipation whether your number was going to be called out when playing at school was rather fun.

 

[Dai Corner]

Historically, my favourite is the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway (MSJ&AR) - Many Short Journeys & Absolute Reliability.

 

[D6130]

The Pickle Bridge line....the former Lancashire & Yorkshire branch from Wyke to Anchor Pit Junction (East of Brighouse). Nowadays best known for the half-demolished viaduct across the A58.

 

[Woolos 22]

5 & 9 Brighton Line is a bingo call.

They were the 2 head code on the London Bridge to Brighton services

 

[Gloster]

5&9 - Brighton Line?

5 & 9 Brighton Line is a bingo call.

I have heard two explanations for this.

59 was the original SR routing code for fast trains to Brighton when electrification was inaugurated, which was probably broadly contemporaneous with Bingo increasing in popularity.

5/9, five shillings and nine pence in old money, was the price of weekend return ticket from London to Brighton. And we know why people used to go to Brighton for the weekend, don’t we... Nudge, nudge, snigger.

 

[Taunton]

God's Wonderful Railway

(not the current incarnation, incidentally).

 

[Basil Jet]

The now deceased South Acton shuttle was called T&BBTKB (There & Back Before The Kettle Boils)

 

[Dai Corner]

God's Wonderful Railway

(not the current incarnation, incidentally).

Oh, the Great Way Round? (when London to Exeter was via Bristol).

 

[Bletchleyite]

If this can extend to trains, I can't think of a lot more evocative than "The Deerstalker Express" for the FW Sleeper. I also quite like "The Master Cobbler" as very occasionally put on the side of a Euston to Northampton fast (aping the Master Cutler to Sheffield).

 

[WizCastro197]

If this can extend to trains, I can't think of a lot more evocative than "The Deerstalker Express" for the FW Sleeper. I also quite like "The Master Cobbler" as very occasionally put on the side of a Euston to Northampton fast (aping the Master Cutler to Sheffield).

Has The master cutler become obsolete? Isn't it just a regular train from St Pancras to Sheffield? And It stops at Leicester and Other stations. I know it used to go from Leeds. Maybe I should start a new thread if it hasn't previously been talked about?

 

[Mollman]

Muddle and Get Nowhere for the Midland and Great Northern joint.

 

[Peter0124]

North Clyde line aka 'North Electrics'

 

[6Gman]

Historically, my favourite is the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway (MSJ&AR) - Many Short Journeys & Absolute Reliability.

Or, less politely - given the early electrics - Many ... short ... JERKS ... and ... awaaaay!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Has The master cutler become obsolete? Isn't it just a regular train from St Pancras to Sheffield? And It stops at Leicester and Other stations. I know it used to go from Leeds. Maybe I should start a new thread if it hasn't previously been talked about?

Could have a thread for train rather than line names I suppose. The Cutler was always Sheffield, that's what the city is famous for - cutlery! (There were I think a few "The Master X" for cities famous for one thing).

 

[Lucan]

As someone mentioned a pre-grouping railway, there was also The Old Worse and Worse - the Oxford Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway.

 

[Dai Corner]

Then there was the Weston, Clevedon and Portishead - WC & P

 

[Springs Branch]

God's Wonderful Railway

One part of God's Wonderful Railway - the Reading to Hungerford section of the Berks & Hants line - was allegedly known as the 'Toot and Bunny' in steam days.


Another historical one: 'Delph Donkey', the branch line from Uppermill to Delph.
Despite what parts of the internet seems to suggest, I'm not 100% sure this was the nickname of the line back in the day, although it certainly was that of the steam railmotor operating the branch service to/from Oldham.