Which station(s) have gone the longest without seeing any freight/railtours?

[RetroCrowe]

So to set out some parameters and clarify what is/isn't counted:

- As well as the regular Class 4/6/7 freight, any Network Rail maintenance/inspection trains also count as freight. This includes PLPR test trains, tampers and the Class 950 unit.
- RHTT moves count as freight.
- Light loco moves count as freight.
- ECS moves do *not* count as freight.

The reason I have clarified that it must be a station is to avoid any pedantic discussion about mothballed freight-only lines that were never officially closed.


Under these parameters, my nomination will be Stourbridge Town. As far as I know, this line pretty much never sees any test trains and it has no RHTT moves. The last freight, as far as I can tell, was during a possession on the 11th March 2021, when 56090 went down the line with some autoballasters. I'm not aware of any railtours visiting Stourbridge Town for many, many years, and the timetable doesn't allow anything other than the regular shuttle during the daytime.

I reckon the Elizabeth Line stations in Heathrow could be contenders - have they ever seen any freight at all?

I was also considering Gunnislake & Tavistock, but I believe they occasionally receive test trains with Class 37s.

Any other solid contenders?

 

[stadler]

So to set out some parameters and clarify what is/isn't counted:

- As well as the regular Class 4/6/7 freight, any Network Rail maintenance/inspection trains also count as freight. This includes PLPR test trains, tampers and the Class 950 unit.
- RHTT moves count as freight.
- Light loco moves count as freight.
- ECS moves do *not* count as freight.

The reason I have clarified that it must be a station is to avoid any pedantic discussion about mothballed freight-only lines that were never officially closed.


Under these parameters, my nomination will be Stourbridge Town. As far as I know, this line pretty much never sees any test trains and it has no RHTT moves. The last freight, as far as I can tell, was during a possession on the 11th March 2021, when 56090 went down the line with some autoballasters. I'm not aware of any railtours visiting Stourbridge Town for many, many years, and the timetable doesn't allow anything other than the regular shuttle during the daytime.

I reckon the Elizabeth Line stations in Heathrow could be contenders - have they ever seen any freight at all?

I was also considering Gunnislake & Tavistock, but I believe they occasionally receive test trains with Class 37s.

Any other solid contenders?

Regarding railtours does the railtour have to call at the station to count? Or do you count railtours that pass through the station without stopping? Also do you count ECS moves of railtours?

 

[renegademaster]

When was the last time a railtour visited LUL tracks that went the met? Do you count the heritage runs that's the Depot do?

 

[RetroCrowe]

Regarding railtours does the railtour have to call at the station to count? Or do you count railtours that pass through the station without stopping? Also do you count ECS moves of railtours?

Railtours count whether they pass through or call. Railtour ECS moves also count - I didn't think to clarify about railtour ECS moves because these usually just take the quickest route along main lines and don't often cover any rare track, although I'd be happy to be proven wrong.

 

[DarloRich]

As far as I know, this line pretty much never sees any test trains

is that right? Does something not go down in the dead of night?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Georgemass Jct - Thurso?

 

[The exile]

Isle of Wight?

 

[bluegoblin7]

I reckon the Elizabeth Line stations in Heathrow could be contenders - have they ever seen any freight at all?

Heathrow has certainly seen PLPR 1 and MENTOR in the last couple of years.

When was the last time a railtour visited LUL tracks that went the met? Do you count the heritage runs that's the Depot do?

August Bank Holiday 2018. UKR ran two trips from Marylebone to Quainton Road, including a trip via the Watford North Curves. https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk

If LUL's own heritage trips count it would widen the net considerably - the 38 'stock was out the weekend before last running Uxbridge to Harrow trips, and is out again next weekend running Northfields to Northfields via Heathrow Terminal 4. You could compile data for the entire network if you had the time... unfortunately I don't (at the moment...).

 

[RetroCrowe]

is that right? Does something not go down in the dead of night?

Not that I'm aware of - occasional checks of RTT have never shown anything, no photos of a Stourbridge Town test train on Flickr and no videos on YouTube. I'd imagine it would be simple enough to run 950001 down in the middle of the night but that doesn't seem to have happened at all?

Isle of Wight?

Questionable whether the IoW would count because it's a closed system isolated from the main network. If you do choose to count the IoW then I imagine it would be a very solid contender

Georgemass Jct - Thurso?

I believe 43272 and 43277 visited Thurso in May this year

 

[swt_passenger]

Questionable whether the IoW would count because it's a closed system isolated from the main network. If you do choose to count the IoW then I imagine it would be a very solid contender

Island line has seen visits by a tamper taken over on the ferry. Does that count as an engineering train?

 

[RetroCrowe]

Island line has seen visits by a tamper taken over on the ferry. Does that count as an engineering train?

Wow I never knew that - yes tampers do count as engineering trains for the sake of this discussion.

 

[swt_passenger]

Wow I never knew that - yes tampers do count as engineering trains for the sake of this discussion.

I tried to find a link in the IOW upgrade thread but unfortunately it was to a stale Twitter link.

But then a Google search found it on the ferry’s website:

The weird and wonderful world of ferry freight - Wightlink Ferries

We regularly carry every type of vehicle; from commercial vans and double-deck articulated lorries to locomotives and mobile homes

www.wightlink.co.uk

 

[Freightmaster]

Georgemass Jct - Thurso?

PLPR test trains cover the Thurso and Wick branches several times a year.



MARK

 

[route101]

What about the Strathclyde branches like Neilston and East Kilbride?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

In the Manchester area, would doubt that a station at the end of a short branch line, like Rose Hill Marple, has seen too many railtours of recent, but would have thought that even the quietest of backwaters must see the occasional maintenance or inspection trains, from time to time.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

In the Manchester area, would doubt that a station at the end of a short branch line, like Rose Hill Marple, has seen too many railtours of recent, but would have thought that even the quietest of backwaters must see the occasional maintenance or inspection trains, from time to time.

Realtime Trains | 1Q43 1851 Crewe to Longsight Car. M.D. | 31/07/2024

Real-time train running information for 1Q43 1851 departure from Crewe to Longsight Car. M.D. on 31/07/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

That seems to be running to Rose Hill Marple and around South-East Manchester tonight, but no clue what it is, but it certainly doesn't look like a passenger service.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

That seems to be running to Rose Hill Marple and around South-East Manchester tonight, but no clue what it is, but it certainly doesn't look like a passenger service.

If that's 1Q43, it's therefore likely it's a Network Rail test (track inspection) train bimbling around SE Manchester.

 

[Rescars]

Presumably anywhere with a third rail won't be in contention - due to lots of seasonal visits from deicers and leaf sweepers.

 

[Freightmaster]

If that's 1Q43, it's therefore likely it's a Network Rail test (track inspection) train bimbling around SE Manchester.

Correct - 37254+607 on that diagram this week



MARK

 

[Kite159]

What about the Strathclyde branches like Neilston and East Kilbride?

Railtour wise I know at least one tour which has visited Neilston in 2018 (https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/10s/180601sr.htm) although I can't recall seeing a railtour doing the East Kilbride branch.

Maybe the Paisley Canal branch with the more limited clearances with the overheads?

 

[Peter0124]

The Thameslink Core. Whilst Test Trains do run through every few weeks I wouldn't consider them as 'freight' trains.

 

[185143]

In the Manchester area, would doubt that a station at the end of a short branch line, like Rose Hill Marple, has seen too many railtours of recent, but would have thought that even the quietest of backwaters must see the occasional maintenance or inspection trains, from time to time.

There was one in the early 2010s.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

There was one in the early 2010s.

So, over a decade ago. Presume the track inspection train visits (like the one that just happens to be scheduled for later tonight) occur much more frequently.

 

[185143]

So, over a decade ago. Presume the track inspection train visits (like the one that just happens to be scheduled for later tonight) occur much more frequently.

I've no idea if there's been one more recently. Doubt it though!

 

[JonathanH]

In the Manchester area, would doubt that a station at the end of a short branch line, like Rose Hill Marple, has seen too many railtours of recent, but would have thought that even the quietest of backwaters must see the occasional maintenance or inspection trains, from time to time.

There was one in the early 2010s.

and one on 4 July 2021 - https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/20s/210704bl.htm - The Primary Colours

 

[randyrippley]

Heysham?

The nuclear flasks go past the station, not through it

 

[P Binnersley]

Stourbridge Town?

 

[Ken H]

Surely everywhere sees weedkiller trains???

 

[Kite159]

Heysham?

The nuclear flasks go past the station, not through it

From memory Heysham had a BLS tour in March 2020 (one of the last railtours before the world went crazy and shut up shop for a few months)

 

[Ianigsy]

Colne?