Out of use lines where track remains

[David Dunning]

I was in my posts referring only to the Fawley branch from Totton. Because it all appears to be still intact I wondered if it was being kept with an eye on future re-opening.

The google maps puzzled me as, although they are a year or two out of date, the Fawley area looked like it is still in use, but I can't find a NR connection, other than Totton, which has been closed for years.

The Fawley branch is connected to the main line just west of Totton station and the level crossing . It runs south on a curve at the end of the sidings and heads off to Marchwood. It is fully operational with daily oil tanker flows

The disused line in Totton is the old Eling Tramway which left the main line just east of the level crossing , curved behind the down platform
on a sharp curve to the high street level crossing . Then it went under the c1930s by pass and into the quayside area. There used to be a few of these tramways in the Southampton area and they also included unusual level crossing . The Itchen Wharf one at Northam bridge ran thru the middle of the car park at Southern Television . The was also another one which crossed the road into the old power station where Toys R us is now nr Central station and another one on the site of the football stadium

 

[Donny Dave]

About 50% of the Killingholme to Goxhill branch was still in situ last time I looked. Dont know how much of that is out of use or how much remains beyond the Coal Terminal.

I had a good look around a couple of years back, and the line ends somewhere around the oil terminal. After that, the formation is heavily overgrown in places, but it is still intact all the way to Goxhill, although in Goxhill itself, some houses do get very close to the formation.

 

[Noguidedbus]

If you are refering to my post above, then, as mentioned earlier, there is a proposed reopening of the Bristol - Portishead line.

True, and much needed. This has got as far as GRIP 3 stage, with a putative opening date of April 2018, and a rough cost estimate of around £38 million. The report is at http://travelplus.org.uk/public-transport/train/portishead-grip3-report and contains photos of more or less the whole route.
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Two lines near to where I live -

Poulton-Le-Fylde - Burn Naze
and
Preston - Deepdale

There are plans to get the old Poulton - Fleetwood line running again in Pres but the Preston - Deepdale line is severed from the mainline, although the track along the branch is still there.

Poulton - Fleetwood passed hurdle number 1 in December 2006 - see http://www.mywyre.co.uk/GetAsset.aspx?id=fAAzADgAMwB8AHwARgBhAGwAcwBlAHwAfAA3AHwA0

There's a nice video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb7IRZbBtmI . I'm an occasional hobby pilot myself, and know how difficult this sort of thing is. Respect.

The local MP has brought it up in Parliament, with encouraging noises coming from the government, but no cash - see http://www.fleetwoodtoday.co.uk/community/local-businesses/boost_for_rail_link_up_1_3378832

And finally, it got the thumbs up in the 2009 ATOC report - http://www.atoc.org/clientfiles/File/publicationsdocuments/ConnectingCommunitiesReport_S10.pdf

So probably nothing morre will happen. Therre's a big police overtime bill to pay first.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

The rails survive (albeit heavily overgrown) in Little Eaton in Derbyshire on the former Denby branch.

There were even proposals earlier this year to look into reopening the line, but I think it's something of a pipedream and wouldn't really serve any useful purpose.

http://rail-news.com/2011/01/01/proposal-for-new-derbyshire-passenger-line/

 

[spionkop64]

There is a spur from the Kirkgate-Barnsley line a few miles south of Horbury Junction that joins with the the Huddersfield line just before Healy Mills. It's not connected at either end and a few small bit have been erm 'lifted' but the track is mainly in situ. It features a couple of bridges, a tunnel, an impressive bridge over the canal, a few plate layers huts and a signal post still with signal number plate on it! About 15 years ago I can remember a few more signals on it and still lit! Not sure how long it's been out of use but a HM driver told me years ago the Royal train would stable there at night!

Metro have an aspiration to reopen it and run a Bradford-Sheffield. It would require quite major resignalling as Crigglestone Jn box used to control the Barnsley end. Would be useful for cement trains Dewsbury Blue Circle-Hope as they avoid the main line at Hare Park. Can't see any major use for it though given the run down of Healey Mills.

Another short WY line is the Wortley curve that was last used by direct BDI-KCX HSTs way back when. Again, can't see any real use for it - apart from making GC diversions a little less problematical!

 

[TheBigD]

On the disused Wisbech line in Cambridgeshire the level crossing across the A47 was removed overnight (10/11th September).

The rails and sleepers were removed and the area tarmacced. The crossing lights remain.

 

[SSL1990]

The most obvious line near me is the South Staffordshire Line between Round Oak and Walsall via Dudley, the track still in place but not in use for passenger services since the 1960's and freight since 1993.

Its protected so it can be re-opened for the Midland Metro.

 

[Butts]

What happens to the old rails etc when the lines are lifted - are they recycled and used elsewhere or melted down for scrap ?

 

[Noguidedbus]

What happens to the old rails etc when the lines are lifted - are they recycled and used elsewhere or melted down for scrap ?

Depends on the state of them. If they are old and knackered, they go for scrap, or just get left somewhere. If they can be "cascaded", such as former mainline high speed rail being used on a freight line or low usage commuter line, they will be. This report http://travelplus.org.uk/public-transport/train/portishead-grip3-report on reopening Portishead's railway, for example, suggests re-using old rail to save money.

 

[DarloRich]

Bletchley to Claydon is a bit gappy.

I believe the Akeman Street branch is still intact, albeit no longer connected.

Menstrie branch?

Isn't there a former narrow gauge railway nr Fort William where track was left on bridges/viaducts.

Where is the Akeman Street Branch?

 

[truckman060473]

Just outside Kidwelly station is a disused single line that led to Coedbach Washery, which was used up until the mid-late 90's. The track seems to be still in place with a section under a roadbridge submerged in water. A few years back some work was carried out on the line, clearing overgrowth when there was a proposed bio fuel wood burning power station to be built which would receive wood chip by rail. The plans all fell through due to local opposition and the line remains disused.

 

[DarloRich]

Is the line to tower colliery after aberdere still in use? Years since i went up that way

 

[wbbminerals]

Horbury Curve still has the majority of its track left.

 

[truckman060473]

Is the line to tower colliery after aberdere still in use? Years since i went up that way

Correct me if I'm wrong but Freightliner may still run stone trains on this section as I think there is a quarry along the route to the recently closed Tower Colliery

 

[Tim B]

Akeman Street Station was on former Great Central line between Ashendon Junction and Grendon Underwood Junction. Akeman Street was Roman name for present A41 and this station was located where the line crossed A41 close to the village of Kingswood in Bucks.

 

[TGVDUDE]

Is the line to tower colliery after aberdere still in use? Years since i went up that way

Intresting read this thread, yes the track is still in place as far as I know, also a couple to mention from South Wales are the Briton Ferry branch(es), I'm sure the branch to Llantrisant from Pont-y-Clun is still intact except for the mainline connection, and has been called to be re-instated as part of the Valley's development i read in the paper a while back

 

[lancastrian]

Up our way:

• 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)

In the recent Railway Magazine it was stated that the local people were not only complaining about the potential reopening. Thay are also objecting to it on the basis that they now use it as a linier park through their twon and use it for walking anf dog walking.

The technical term for this is trespussing, the transport Police should be down there quick and raise some money from fining all these people. If this line is reopend then Moorland and City should not open the station there until they beg for it. Obviously they prefer to have heavy lorries and other traffic poluting their town instead of having a decent rail link to Stoke.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

On the "Todmorden Chord" thread, I was informed that the track that is still in situ past Todmorden station, leading to the site where the new chord will be re-instated, is in fact the track of a former goods yard.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

True, and much needed. This has got as far as GRIP 3 stage, with a putative opening date of April 2018, and a rough cost estimate of around £38 million. The report is at http://travelplus.org.uk/public-transport/train/portishead-grip3-report and contains photos of more or less the whole route.
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Poulton - Fleetwood passed hurdle number 1 in December 2006 - see http://www.mywyre.co.uk/GetAsset.aspx?id=fAAzADgAMwB8AHwARgBhAGwAcwBlAHwAfAA3AHwA0

There's a nice video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb7IRZbBtmI . I'm an occasional hobby pilot myself, and know how difficult this sort of thing is. Respect.




The locall MP has brought it up in Parliament, with encouraging noises coming from the government, but no cash - see http://www.fleetwoodtoday.co.uk/community/local-businesses/boost_for_rail_link_up_1_3378832

And finally, it got the thumbs up in the 2009 ATOC report - http://www.atoc.org/clientfiles/File/publicationsdocuments/ConnectingCommunitiesReport_S10.pdf

So probably nothing morre will happen. Therre's a big police overtime bill to pay first.

NR have just consulted on declaring the line "out of use" -
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Is the line to tower colliery after aberdere still in use? Years since i went up that way

Stlil in use for coal loaded from other local collieries - brought in by road - sporadic movements though.
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Walsall to Stourbridge (part of track stolen) , also Bletchley - Calvert LNE (part missing also)

 

[fordylad]

In Watlington in Oxford there is a old station that has fallen into disrepair, the platform is still visible, and parts of the station building. It's circa 1920's of GWR design. Very interesting place. There are still traces of the track bed and fencing,

 

[Whistler40145]

Is the line between Blaenau Ffestiniog & Trawsfynydd Power Station intact?

 

[jones_bangor]

Is the line between Blaenau Ffestiniog & Trawsfynydd Power Station intact?

Yes it is.

 

[RichmondCommu]

The rails survive (albeit heavily overgrown) in Little Eaton in Derbyshire on the former Denby branch.

There were even proposals earlier this year to look into reopening the line, but I think it's something of a pipedream and wouldn't really serve any useful purpose.

http://rail-news.com/2011/01/01/proposal-for-new-derbyshire-passenger-line/

I own a house in Holbrook and last time i was up there the track either side of the level crossing at Kilburn had been lifted. However closer to Little Eaton the track is still in place. One can only assume that NR have been searching high and low for 2nd hand track!

 

[DarloRich]

Yes it is.

is it used?

 

[Noguidedbus]

I own a house in Holbrook and last time i was up there the track either side of the level crossing at Kilburn had been lifted. However closer to Little Eaton the track is still in place. One can only assume that NR have been searching high and low for 2nd hand track!

Somebody has - not necessarily NR, nor anyone who asked them.

 

[tempests1]

I was in my posts referring only to the Fawley branch from Totton. Because it all appears to be still intact I wondered if it was being kept with an eye on future re-opening.

The google maps puzzled me as, although they are a year or two out of date, the Fawley area looked like it is still in use, but I can't find a NR connection, other than Totton, which has been closed for years.

The Fawley is very much still alive. It has about four trains a week. One example is the 6Y30/6Y31 - Rtn working. Which goes from Fawley to Holingbourne (On the Alton Line between Bentley & Alton). It is routed via the Portsmouth Direct Line. Breaks up the boredom of the Desiro EMU's. It then goes via Guildford/Ash/Aldershot. On the actual Fawley Branch there is a signalbox at Marchwood. Network Rail staff this on as required basis. There is occassional talk of a passenger service being reinstated but nothing ever comes of it!
ELR: TTF
LOR: SW155
As for the sidings at Totton I believe the Chandlers Ford Train's used to turn around & restart from the Up Platform. They could not turn around at Soton Central due to timetable/pathing constraints.

 

[Schnellzug]

Is the line between Blaenau Ffestiniog & Trawsfynydd Power Station intact?

There was an idea that someone had fairly recently of reopening that in a similar fashion to Wensleydale and Weardale as a combined heritage & freight line, though i don't know how far that's got, if at all.

 

[tempests1]

There used to be track as a branch off of the old Gosport branch at Bedenham just before it crosses the road into the RN base. I suppose that's gone now as well?[/QUOTE]

Sadly yes this was removed recently beginning of last year I think by BAM Nuttall the contractor appointed by Hampshire County Council as part of a Guided Busway Scheme
South East Hampshire Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Phase 1 - Fareham to Gosport
The project is very behind schedule. The residents were dead set against the scheme. One person appealed against the scheme 'siting a rare colony of bats' lived along the disused rail line' it went to court loads of times as the average person has more rights than they realise! I think the person eventually ended up at the final appeal at the supreme court but the Judge found in favour of the council as if the work is not completed by a certain time HCC would lose Government Funding. I don't particularly like Guided Busways but at this location I don't ever imagine that a Rail scheme would ever happen so It's better than loads of new houses being built on the former trackbed

 

[RichmondCommu]

Somebody has - not necessarily NR, nor anyone who asked them.

Good point but enough track had been removed to suggest that it had not been stolen.

 

[Noguidedbus]

There used to be track as a branch off of the old Gosport branch at Bedenham just before it crosses the road into the RN base. I suppose that's gone now as well?

Sadly yes this was removed recently beginning of last year I think by BAM Nuttall the contractor appointed by Hampshire County Council as part of a Guided Busway Scheme
South East Hampshire Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Phase 1 - Fareham to Gosport
The project is very behind schedule. The residents were dead set against the scheme. One person appealed against the scheme 'siting a rare colony of bats' lived along the disused rail line' it went to court loads of times as the average person has more rights than they realise! I think the person eventually ended up at the final appeal at the supreme court but the Judge found in favour of the council as if the work is not completed by a certain time HCC would lose Government Funding. I don't particularly like Guided Busways but at this location I don't ever imagine that a Rail scheme would ever happen so It's better than loads of new houses being built on the former trackbed

Some fool has applied for funding for one of these Bus Rabid Transit systems in Bristol. You may have guessed that I am not a supporter.