NoOnesFool
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Kentish Town to Mill Hill Broadway, I love the quaint buildings around Kentish Town, the views of Wembley Stadium around Hendon and the inter-urban landscape around Mill Hill.
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Opinion: Which is the best stretch of railway in the British Isles?
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For me it would be Carnforth - Barrow and the Cumbrian Coast up to Maryport. Both super scenic routes and the Cumbrian Coast has the extra benefit (well not if your a regular user) of being like a Preserved Railway with Semiphore signalling and trains which should be on a Preserved Railway, well probably for a couple more months anyway.
Possibly I am slightly biased as for a couple of summers in the 70’s I stayed with a relative near Arnside and some days we would go up to the station to see the ex Barrow sleeper a 40 if you were lucky or 47 if you weren’t, I have always loved the viaduct at Arnside and probably my favourite photographic location.
Possibly I am slightly biased as for a couple of summers in the 70’s I stayed with a relative near Arnside and some days we would go up to the station to see the ex Barrow sleeper a 40 if you were lucky or 47 if you weren’t, I have always loved the viaduct at Arnside and probably my favourite photographic location.
SwindonBert
Member
Another vote for Dawlish, as my other half is from Plymouth I know it well. Greatest journey there was on a moon lit night when there were some serious waves around. Very dramatic.
SwindonBert
Member
Slight issue, it's in Gloucestershire, not Wiltshire. The line doesn't reach Wiltshire until a few miles south of Kemble
theironroad
Established Member
Not the stretch between helensburgh and arrochar then? Hugging the sea lochs is pretty great as wellss the rest.
jayiscupid
Member
I second that, it's my favourite too!
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Garriongill Jn (near Law Jn north of Carluke) was where the Caledonian from Carlisle joined the morass of existing local freight lines east of Glasgow.
While there were new bits built to link them all up into the WCML, the route still retains a fragmented character as it threads the area.
It was also designed originally to reach Buchanan St via Coatbridge, and the link directly into Bridge St/Central came later.
The various WCML upgrades (electrification, then WCRM and tilt) all petered out before Law Jn.
More recently, the Newton and Uddingston/Rutherglen areas have been improved, but Motherwell is still a problem.
The Carstairs area is due for upgrading in CP6 but I think they are still arguing about the scope.
Links towards Edinburgh need improvement even more than the main line.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
It is very nice - but the only good bit of an incredibly drab several hundred miles. WCML for me!
61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
The stretch of the Aberystwyth line from Dovey Junction along the estuary and through Ynyslas and Borth before turning inland again is one I always liked. Not quite as dramatic as some of the others, but there's something beautiful about the isolation of that bit. The faded glamour of Borth has something about it too, like many other smaller seaside settlements. The chance of the occasional hit by a golf ball adds a bit of excitement too... 
Train jaune
Member
Oxenholme to Penrith through the Lune Gorge and over Shap summit,stunning!
70014IronDuke
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Er, actually no, not really.
I looked into this thread assuming it meant some sort of technical measure of route making it suitable for traffic. (I confess, I was intrigued how this was to be measured.) Whereas, as you say here, you merely want "favourite" stretches of line. For me, the two are entirely different.
Pedant? Maybe - but definitely not what is says "on the box".
PeterY
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There are lots of lovely lines around the UK but outstanding ones I've traveled over
Dawlish
Fort William to Mallaig
Gunnislake
Dawlish
Fort William to Mallaig
Gunnislake
Settle Carlisle. But I am biased as I live nearby.
I used to get a train about 1700 to travel to central Scotland on a Sunday afternoon in the early 1980's. Class 47 and 4 Mk1 corridor coaches. Has to be the spookiest rail journey. then time travel as I changed onto a Class 87 and Mk 3's!.
Kite159
Veteran Member
Dundee - Aberdeen is good for views of the Tay & North Sea
gazthomas
Established Member
I second that, at times it looks as if the train will fall of the cliff, travelling over Barmouth Bridge on a sunny day is beautiful. I like parts of the Cumbrian Coast for similar reasons.
I like the walk from Dolgellau to Barmouth down the old railway and the Mawddach estuary to Morfa Mawddach station, then over the bridge to barmouth. Then bus back to Dolgealu. The T3 runs from Barmouth to Wrexham and must be a replacement for the railway that used to run that way!
gazthomas
Established Member
That was recently shown on Channel 5, beautiful.
Muenchener
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Would agree with post #32 and theFurness/Cumbrian coast line but reckon the starting point would be passing thru Hest Bank. That is when you get the first view of Morecambe Bay and it's wildlife. That's also the attraction of the Cumbrian Coast; the proximity of the wildlife to the track plus the eclectic mix of beach huts/houses.
Agree about Arnside; fantastic in late summer watching the sun going down and the sprinters sauntering over the viaduct whilst savoring an ale or two before the last train home...
Agree about Arnside; fantastic in late summer watching the sun going down and the sprinters sauntering over the viaduct whilst savoring an ale or two before the last train home...
getting a bit off topic, but Arnside has a bore, like the severn bore.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnside_Bore
Fireless
Member
Manx Electric Railway.
Second that. ECML between Morpeth and Edinburgh. Something about it, even when you see the line from the A1, find yourself desprate to see a train go by. Some great photo opportunities around Berwick as well.
Foggycorner
Member
The Channel Tunnel
Whistler40145
Established Member
Too many to choose from, but these are my favourites:-
WCML north of Preston
ECML North of Newcastle
Highland Mainline
West Highland Line including the Oban line
Kyle Line
Settle & Carlisle line
Hope Valley
Manchester to Huddersfield via Stalybridge
Manchester to Bradford via Rochdale
Preston to Bradford via Burnley Manchester Road
WCML north of Preston
ECML North of Newcastle
Highland Mainline
West Highland Line including the Oban line
Kyle Line
Settle & Carlisle line
Hope Valley
Manchester to Huddersfield via Stalybridge
Manchester to Bradford via Rochdale
Preston to Bradford via Burnley Manchester Road
Spamcan81
Member
So many stretches of line to chose from, each with its own endearing features. I’ll go for the LSWR main line west of Sailisbury, especially steam hauled so I can dream I’m on the ACE.
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