Out of use lines where track remains

[Marvin]

As far as I know the Longbridge branch is still there.

No, it's been lifted now. All that's left is the junction itself and a few yards of track.

 

[ACE1888]

In this day and age, it beggars belief how with the infrastructure still in place, Local Councils don't attempt to do something for their public transport system, talk 'Greener', do nothing...very poor

 

[OuterDistant]

Up our way:

• Much of the Cheadle (Staffs) branch is still there, albeit heavily overgrown (closed 1986)
• Moorland & City Railways are due to start work on the Stoke - Leekbrook line this year; most of that track is still there (contrary to OS maps suggesting that the northern section has been lifted) (closed 1989)
• I believe that the line from Silverdale colliery to the WCML is still in situ (closed 1998)

 

[BlythPower]

Up our way:

• I believe that the line from Silverdale colliery to the WCML is still in situ (closed 1998)

Whilst its connection to the WCML has been removed, the signal that protected that connection is still present and illuminated. Keep an eye out for it as you head northwards. Wonder how it costs NR for the electricity..?

 

[Old Timer]

Whilst its connection to the WCML has been removed, the signal that protected that connection is still present and illuminated. Keep an eye out for it as you head northwards. Wonder how it costs NR for the electricity..?

To explain the logic.

The costs of signalling design driven into the Industry since Clapham Jct and Ladbroke Grove mean that even the simplest of jobs can cost an absolute fortune in the bureacracy of design, installation, and testing, and that excludes the various costs that are involved in signalling equipment being brought up to recent "Standards".

The cost of simply leaving the signal alight will be minimal compared to those which would beincurred in removing it. There is also the fact that if the line was ever re-opened the existing signalling could be treated as having Grandfather rights.

It also sounds as if the wiring in the location cases and the interlocking have been left pretty much undisturbed so as to save money on the recoveries of the S&C.

 

[BlythPower]

Thanks for that. I'd guessed it had been left in place 'just in case'. It still seems odd to illuminate it though!

 

[Old Timer]

Thanks for that. I'd guessed it had been left in place 'just in case'.

No worries, pleased to be of help.

...It still seems odd to illuminate it though!

The reason for illuminating the signal is that it needs to be detected as showing a red aspect within the signalling controls in order for the routes on the main line to clear.

As I hinted earlier, the minimal work will have been done so the interlocking still "thinks" that the layout is in place on the ground, it is just being fooled into that belief by minimal alterations to the signalling circuits. For example the equipment may still think it is detecting the points although there is only plain line there.

It is a pretty common situtaion, indeed unless altered the Tyne IECC still shows S&C and Sidings off the main line that were recovered years ago, and some emergency crossovers have been installed with special mods to fool the interlocking into thinking it is operating clamp lock points when in fact there are HW2000 machines there now.

 

[Hydro]

I am aware of a Western box that an S&T friend of mine used to work under where everything signalling wise, including interlocking, signals and even partial S&C, plus the representation on the panel, is in place for a branch line, except the track! The panel has a sheet of paper taped over the branch layout that has been lifted to blank it off from the rest of the panel.

 

[emoaconr]

Bangor - Amwlch (Anglesey Central Railway) ... although NR are currently doing an assesment with the WAG over proposals to re-open as far as Llangefni.

Gobowen - Oswestry - Llynclys ... recently taken-over by Shropshire Council and leased to Cambrian Heritage Railways, under restoration Also includes 2 functional level crossings over major dual carriageway roads!

There are a couple in South Wales also that I know of but can't remember the names exactly. There's a frieght-only line in Neath somewhere and then there's the line to Cwmbargoed off the Rhondda line.

 

[Techniquest]

Well if the old bit at Longbridge is still there at all it's not visable from the mainline on passing trains, I was disappointed when I saw all signs of the track there gone back in April.

Still got some disused railway in Hereford, the old Bulmers line. Walked what could be walked of it once some years ago, very peculiar feeling that!

 

[PinzaC55]

Ryhope Grange junction - Sunderland South Dock hasn't been used since about 1997 but is still there. There's a barbed wire fence across the track at Grangetown Crossing.

 

[Rugd1022]

To explain the logic.

The costs of signalling design driven into the Industry since Clapham Jct and Ladbroke Grove mean that even the simplest of jobs can cost an absolute fortune in the bureacracy of design, installation, and testing, and that excludes the various costs that are involved in signalling equipment being brought up to recent "Standards".

The cost of simply leaving the signal alight will be minimal compared to those which would beincurred in removing it. There is also the fact that if the line was ever re-opened the existing signalling could be treated as having Grandfather rights.

It also sounds as if the wiring in the location cases and the interlocking have been left pretty much undisturbed so as to save money on the recoveries of the S&C.

That particular ground signal comes in handy for me as a 'marker' for shutting off power when I'm on the Up Slow with a heavy freight, it's very reassuring to know it's still there, and still lit.

 

[Eng274]

The Leith Central Branch still exists in places, some random bits of track left, speed limit posts etc. The site of the old Abbeyhill Station is now occasionally used as a storage area by Network Rail and their subcontractors. The Powderhall/Leith Docks branch further North is still very much alive though.

Its a pity buses hav rendered this route not cost effective to reopen, I'd rather use it and get to Waverley from Abbeyhill in all of 3 minutes, than wait for a bus which will take 10 minutes to the same destination.

From the same website, a picture of the old railway line through Gilmerton showing the bridge that was raised in recent years to allow double deck buses to pass safely.

 

[TheBigD]

March to Wisbech is still intact. Not been used for years.

 

[Liam]

Thornton Jn to Methil Power Station, although the power station is no longer there.

 

[PinzaC55]

In this day and age, it beggars belief how with the infrastructure still in place, Local Councils don't attempt to do something for their public transport system, talk 'Greener', do nothing...very poor

I read in one of the mags that one of the local Green/Tree Hugger groups had mounted a campaign AGAINST extension of the Churnet Valley Railway. Presumably they want somewhere to take their dogs for a dump rather than a thriving tourist attraction. :roll:

 

[Old Timer]

I read in one of the mags that one of the local Green/Tree Hugger groups had mounted a campaign AGAINST extension of the Churnet Valley Railway. Presumably they want somewhere to take their dogs for a dump rather than a thriving tourist attraction. :roll:

Such people themselves tend to drive old cars/vans, the diesel variety pumping out black smoke.

Their organisations think nothing of jetting off to the various venues where they hold their tree-hugging get togethers, normally somewhere warm I believe - rather environmentally unfriendly.

 

[12CSVT]

I doubt VERY much it was with the blessing of Railtrack as the Wensleydale line remained "open" throughout that period and was used for some MOD services i think (Redmire being handy for Catterick)

I seem to remember the Redmire branch being used for walkers as long ago as the 1980s even though there were daily limestone trains.

 

[Teaboy1]

The branch to Harworth pit in S Yorks has been abandoned now since 2005 but this being an area blessed with enterprising toe-rags ......... the inevitable happened ............

http://www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/88375/thieves-steal-one-mile-of-railway-track.aspx

...... now credit where due, it certainly shows how Notwork Rail can improve its efficiency by redeploying local manpower !! Quite a feat when you actually look at whats been done !! Must have been mechanised and used big Hiab to get that lot away. Warning to other society railways in S Yorks as well, watch out for scrap dealers with eye upon your tracks, gone in maybe 3 hours !! Mmmm .... bandits eh ??

 

[d9009alycidon]

There is a short stretch of track still in place in Dumbarton, well away from the main line, THe branch used to to run into the Hiram Walker Distillery, must have been one of the few locations where a railway line crossed a dual carriageway on a level crossing.

Jim

 

[DarloRich]

I seem to remember the Redmire branch being used for walkers as long ago as the 1980s even though there were daily limestone trains.

So do I - but the point is it WASNT official!

 

[Jonny]

I read in one of the mags that one of the local Green/Tree Hugger groups had mounted a campaign AGAINST extension of the Churnet Valley Railway. Presumably they want somewhere to take their dogs for a dump rather than a thriving tourist attraction. :roll:

True. They're often nature worshipers who just want their idols to grow wild.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Leamside Line up in the North East still has track along most of it's length, there is at least one quite large section that has been lifted by metal theives but on the whole it's mostly still there.

As for walking it I'm not sure if it's officially allowed but there are various photos on the internet from people who have walked it so I suspect the authorities don't care/mind.

I think it might be trespass, although the track over the level crossings at Follingsby Lane, Fencehouses and one in between (A1290 but don't know the "proper" name) have been removed as well as a stolen bit; it would be hard to argue trespass over that sections. The phrase "sticky wicket" springs to mind for north of Follingsby lane or south of Fencehouses though, especially as I can't think of any physical barrier.

 

[LE Greys]

Such people themselves tend to drive old cars/vans, the diesel variety pumping out black smoke.

Their organisations think nothing of jetting off to the various venues where they hold their tree-hugging get togethers, normally somewhere warm I believe - rather environmentally unfriendly.

They also cause all sorts of negative publicity for serious environmentalists who want to do something substantial and wide-ranging instead of preserving every little bit of the planet exactly as it was. The environment changes constantly anyway, and people have to live in it. It's far better to have a railway that can be used by thousands of people every day, keeping them off the roads, than a narrow strip of land with some trees on either side. There will still be enough rough grassland and shrubs for animals to move about even with track down, and nobody is going to come along with a dog and disturb them.

Incidentally, I remember walking along one or two bits of line that I thought were completely dead, the Radstock branch and the Folkstone Harbour line, only to find that they were still considered active railways, despite having no traffic.

 

[schwa]

The Portishead branchline still remains and is scheduled for reopening. I doubt the current track is good enough though.

Freight trains run on the line up to Portbury; but no further, i.e to Portishead.

 

[hooky3]

the extension of the Edinburgh sub line which cuts off at meadowbank runs towards Waverley via Leith but is not connected to Waverley where the tracks have been lifted near the old Abbeyhill Station.

 

[plymothian]

Laira Junction - Plymouth Friary - Cattedown.

Though the Cattedown branch had its tracks lifted just before the LC over Macadam Road and part of Friary is used for Laira depot's train wash.

 

[jopsuk]

OS Landranger Maps (the pink covers, 1:50000 scale) show "disused" (track remains) and "dismantled" (track lifted) differently. May not always be up to date, of course.

 

[schwa]

The Portishead branchline still remains and is scheduled for reopening. I doubt the current track is good enough though.

Freight trains run on the line up to Portbury; but no further, i.e to Portishead.

http://www.portisheadrailwaygroup.org/

 

[exile]

Aintree - Bootle still has the track in place, though disused.

I think that route is used occasionally by network rail but not sure.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I think that route is used occasionally by network rail but not sure.

Is this the line that goes over the Merseyrail electric line south of Seaforth and Litherland station then runs parallel to the line, but behind the railway stations at Bootle New Strand and Bootle Oriel Road. If so, what use would Network Rail make of it?