Favourite stretch of line in UK?

[hst43053]

Just wondering if you have a stretch of line you particularly enjoy travelling on and why? For me, I've always liked the Cotswold Line from Worcester to Oxford - some nice scenery along the route and some sections of good old jointed track still survive.

 

[Techniquest]

I was asked this question when I was on the LM 150 farewell. I couldn't answer it then, and still not sure to be honest. I also like the Worcester to Oxford line, as it's one of my local (well, ish) lines. Haven't been on it since way before the re-doubling, maybe I'll do it on Tuesday. Shall look at fares and find out if it's do-able.

As for favourite line potentials, I dunno. West Highland Line, Highland Main Line, GWML, South Wales Main Line, the North and West, northern WCML, North Wales Coast are just a few that come to mind.

 

[hst43053]

I've not actually travelled down the line since the redoubling either. I'd be interested to see how it's changed. Thanks for your reply anyway.

 

[ACE1888]

Plymouth-Gunnislake, former mainline, then reversing down (and up) a Colonel Stephens survivor, the contrasts and scenery make it untouchable to me

 

[BestWestern]

The Severn Beach line is a good mix of varying landscape. Some beautiful scenery towards the middle, as you pass through the Avon gorge, towering dockside industrial structures at Avonmouth, and the expanse of the Severn crossing and bleak open fields as you approach Severn Beach.

Or, for the more conventional green landscape, the Stroud Valley.

 

[brillopad]

Newton Abbot to Exeter and on to Exmouth - fabulous Dawlish seafront, Powderham castle & deer park, Brunel's pumping station, two estuaries full of wildlife, Commandos yomping in the mud.

 

[hst43053]

The Severn Beach line is a good mix of varying landscape. Some beautiful scenery towards the middle, as you pass through the Avon gorge, impressive dockside industry and Avonmouth, and the Severn estuary and bleak open fields as you approach Severn Beach.

Or, for the more conventional green landscape, the Stroud Valley.

I agree, the Stroud Valley is a nice area. The line from Gloucester to Swindon is another one I like.

 

[Temple Meads]

Either the Dawlish Sea Wall or Bristol Parkway - Cardiff methinks.

 

[gnolife]

The section between Wilmslow & Alderley Edge, because it means I'm going somewhere different

 

[ushawk]

Unusual mine is, its the WCML between London and Watford, a lot of train movements and you get metro, semi-fast stoppers and high-speed trains running close on the lines.

 

[Steven1054]

Mine is the Settle-Carlisle line, purely because of Ribblehead Viaduct. Plus it has the connection to the Airedale Line, which has the KWVR attached to it.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Dingwall-Kyle or Barnt Green-Bristol Parkway.

 

[BestWestern]

I agree, the Stroud Valley is a nice area. The line from Gloucester to Swindon is another one I like.

That's what I had in mind, a very nice route to work trains over. Particularly when the train used to be an immaculate SWT Class 158 on hire

 

[johnnychips]

HS1 because it feels fast.

 

[4SRKT]

Plymouth > Gunnislake. Just wonderful.

 

[150222]

I'm torn between Sydenham to Peckham Rye and Flowery Fields to Hattersly.

 

[ValleyLines142]

A particular favourite of mine is passing through central Manchester on a 185 to Blackpool. I also love the Settle-Carlisle Line and the Cumbrian Coast Line, the Ribblehead Viaduct is spectacular. And Arnside Viaduct on a 185 is fab too! Yet to try the Tay Bridge too.

 

[craig87034]

The Far North for me

 

[Hydro]

I never tire of the West Highland line.

 

[Schnellzug]

between Trowbridge & Bath, through the Avon valley, and some nice Bath stone bridges, viaducts and stations.

 

[Rugd1022]

Everything west of Exeter for starters.... you've got the seawall section, the South Devon banks and the twisting turning nature of the Cornish Mainline with numerous gradients and viaducts etc.

From a driving point of view my favourites are Barnt Green to Worcester and Gloucester, Droitwich to Stourbridge Junction (parts of which look like the West Country at certain times of the year), and Birmingham - Leamington - Banbury - Oxford - Didcot.

 

[Callum]

There's one stretch between Glasgow and Kilmarnock where the line is quite high up and you can see the Firth of Clyde and Arran. I like that.

Rannoch Moor, like that too.

Approach into Glasgow Central, like that too.

 

[Ibex]

For me it's either the WCML between Lancaster and Carlisle, particularly around Beattock Summit, or the Cambrian line once you get past Machynlleth heading towards Pwllheli.

I'm rather fond of the Ffestiniog railway too.

 

[The Planner]

The Severn Beach line is a good mix of varying landscape. Some beautiful scenery towards the middle, as you pass through the Avon gorge, towering dockside industrial structures at Avonmouth, and the expanse of the Severn crossing and bleak open fields as you approach Severn Beach.

Or, for the more conventional green landscape, the Stroud Valley.

I have to agree with both of those, especially the Severn Beach line. There is also something about the bleakness of the Cumbrian coast line around Workington and Whitehaven too. Machynlleth to Borth is a nice stretch too I think. Didcot to Reading is ok too.

 

[westcoaster]

For me it's eynesford tunnel to otford in Kent, I also like brockley to new cross gate at night as you can see the whole of the London docklands lit up.

 

[paulb1973]

I'm torn between Sydenham to Peckham Rye and Flowery Fields to Hattersly.

For me - perhaps the Watford Junction to Euston section of the WCML, its sheer beauty gets me all the time, especially from the Wembley yards. Alternatively Birmingham NS to Wolverhampton. Heading from my home city (Coventry) along the WCML always brings a slight sense of excitement as you near London.

Living in Plymouth for 3 years - Exeter St Davids to Plymouth with its sea wall, curves, gradients, even the names are interesting; Dainton, Rattery and so-on. There is a 'Western Region' feel even after passing Barnt Green on the edge of Birmingham.

 

[dangie]

I've never travelled across it by rail, but having driven and walked the area many times the West Highland Line across Rannoch Moor would probably be top of my list.

 

[ashworth]

Most of my favourite stretches of line are in the north of England such as Settle to Carlisle and Skipton to Lancaster. Also Cumbrian Coast and Carlisle to Newcastle.
In the East of England I like Norwich to Lowestoft.
One line in the south I really like is the Arun Valley between Horsham and Barnham.

 

[50010 Monarch]

The route from Newport to Shrewsbury is a favourite of mine.

Good scenery & plenty of signalboxes (at least for the next five years). Not much variety of traffic though but you can say the same abount the rest of the network these days.

Also like Barnt Green to Bristol Parkway & Bridgwater to Plymouth.

 

[MK Tom]

Probably the Aylesbury-Marylebone line. Aylesbury is where I went to school and that line is such an overlooked gem and was once home to so much more traffic. Delightful scenery and awesome stations too.