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Trivia: What is the shortest heritage railway by length?

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Peter C

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Didcot Railway Centre must be a contender as they have 3 stations within a site that is only about 3 quarters mile long.
<pedant>4 stations
They have a mainline and branchline, with the branchline running into the Broad Gauge Transfer Shed, right next to the mainline "Oxford Road" station.</pedant>

In all seriousness, it makes it more impressive that they have squeezed so much into a small site! And it doesn't feel crowded either. I could go on about Didcot all day but I won't in order to keep the thread on topic and to not bore others :D

-Peter
 
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mdewell

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<pedant>4 stations
They have a mainline and branchline, with the branchline running into the Broad Gauge Transfer Shed, right next to the mainline "Oxford Road" station.</pedant>

In all seriousness, it makes it more impressive that they have squeezed so much into a small site! And it doesn't feel crowded either. I could go on about Didcot all day but I won't in order to keep the thread on topic and to not bore others :D

-Peter
I was counting the Transfer Shed and Oxford Road as 1, but . . . :D
 

Peter C

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I was counting the Transfer Shed and Oxford Road as 1, but . . . :D
Fair - they are pretty much the same thing and now I'm trying to remember the Transfer Shed's name... I know it has a running in board on the platform but I can't remember what it says! :D

-Peter
 

robkitchuk

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Technically of course any piece of track can be considered a railway, but in the context of this thread may I suggest the following definition may help. A railway is often considered as a means of transport between 2 or more stations. So, if it only has a single station, then that's a demonstration line and not a railway as such.
So, whats the shortest railway line that only has 2 stations (as measured along the track. So places like Telford where the stations are a mile or so by rail, but only a couple of hundred yards by road count a 1 mile).
Didcot Railway Centre must be a contender as they have 3 stations within a site that is only about 3 quarters mile long.
Bowes has two stations, approx 1/3 of a mile apart.
 

Cowley

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Yellow pen. It has to be a yellow pen!

I'll wait for the diesel gala.
:lol: I’ll meet you at the front of the train for the full BSK...

(Edit - That sounds a bit wrong)
 
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Cowley

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Brake standard compartment coach I think.

Or in normal people speak a carriage (with compartments) with a guards section...
It is what you say of course, but it used to also be known as ‘Buffer Stop Kissing’ - when a railtour ran right up to the very end of a rare bit of track.
 

STEVIEBOY1

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As well as Didcot, is there a short bit of Running line at the NRM York and also at the Science Museum in Manchester?
 

bluegoblin7

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1) Its a tramway
2) its more of a museum
so it doesn't count for those reasons

Heaton Park is absolutely not “more of a museum”. It’s a fully fledged preserved tramway, and the only one in the UK at that. The original, double track run is all original Manchester Corporation.
 

pdeaves

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Heaton Park is absolutely not “more of a museum”. It’s a fully fledged preserved tramway, and the only one in the UK at that. The original, double track run is all original Manchester Corporation.
Yes and no. I think the only original formation is from Middleton Road to the museum building. The remainder is new build through the park, I believe.
 

bluegoblin7

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Which is exactly what I said. “The original, double track run is all original Manchester Corporation.”
 

UP13

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It is what you say of course, but it used to also be known as ‘Buffer Stop Kissing’ - when a railtour ran right up to the very end of a rare bit of track.

That sounds a bit too saucy for me.
 

Harvey B

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Heaton Park is absolutely not “more of a museum”. It’s a fully fledged preserved tramway, and the only one in the UK at that. The original, double track run is all original Manchester Corporation.
Still not a railway
 

walec

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Northampton & Lamport? Well, technically one station for now, they recently built a new stop near Boughton signalling. Also may not be the shortest, but this is my local, so a bit of patriotism.
 

Harvey B

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Northampton & Lamport? Well, technically one station for now, they recently built a new stop near Boughton signalling. Also may not be the shortest, but this is my local, so a bit of patriotism.
middleton railway is 0.96 miles which is shorter than that
 

apk55

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Still not a railway
What is the difference between a tramway and a railway. They both run on rails and potentially a tramcar could run on a normal railway. I see a tramway as a specialized railway with stock designed for street running
 

EbbwJunction1

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Fair - they are pretty much the same thing and now I'm trying to remember the Transfer Shed's name... I know it has a running in board on the platform but I can't remember what it says! :D -Peter

The Transfer Shed station's name is Burlescombe.
 
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