I had the entertainment of onboard RPIs for that trip, so wasn't properly looking outsideThe Sheerness branch. Especially between Queenborough and Sheerness.
Most depressing? Middlesbrough to Redcar, nowhere else even comes remotely as close.
Just sat on a Derby to Crewe train and it struck me that the line between Longport and Kidsgrove is one of the most depressing “scenic” experiences one can have.
Middlesbrough to Seaton Carew is pretty grim tooMost depressing? Middlesbrough to Redcar, nowhere else even comes remotely as close.
I love it, it's one of my favourite urban railways. But then I like canals, and particularly canals and railways side-by-side, showing the different ages of the industrial revolution.
I think it's time those black metal horses at the lineside were removed, myself.
I've no idea what they are supposed to represent, and there's one cluttering the platform at Wolverhampton.
The Atherton Line?
A slow trip through some of the most deprived areas of Northern England...
I agree with you on this. Industrial dereliction on a large scale and the “interesting” station of Redcar British Steel, an open station that is served by no trains at all.Most depressing? Middlesbrough to Redcar, nowhere else even comes remotely as close.
I recently met a Dutch man in West London. On the way to the pub, he pointed at a row of Greenford's houses and said "This is very strange. In the Netherlands it's very common to see people with very beautiful houses, but run down crappy old cars parked out front. Here it seems to be the reverse?"First time I went on E* I overheard a posh American couple talking enthusiastically about "going through the ghettos". I wondered if they had, even in the 1990s, seen the house prices.
It may well be that, but I don't think that it fulfils the requirement of being depressing. Other than the first bit in Aberdeen out of the Hutcheon Street tunnel and as far as Woodside there are no run down areas anywhere in the 100 or so miles, everything else is spick and span to an extent almost unsurpassed elsewhere in the UK.Aberdeen to Inverness is a complete yawn.
It may well be that, but I don't think that it fulfils the requirement of being depressing. Other than the first bit in Aberdeen out of the Hutcheon Street tunnel and as far as Woodside there are no run down areas anywhere in the 100 or so miles, everything else is spick and span to an extent almost unsurpassed elsewhere in the UK.
The Atherton Line?
A slow trip through some of the most deprived areas of Northern England...
I'm wondering why you think the Stoke to Longport section is better - you still get the scrapyards and dereliction. At least between Longport and Kidsgrove there's a glimpse of open country and a tunnel. You can even see Harecastle Central if you know where to look.
It was much worse in years gone by, when there was an iron foundry right under the line at Crane St and huge gas works around Bilston.
In fact it's surprising how quickly the greenery has taken over in some areas, though there is still much dereliction.
I think it's time those black metal horses at the lineside were removed, myself.
I've no idea what they are supposed to represent, and there's one cluttering the platform at Wolverhampton.
Much the same applies between Longport and Kidsgrove - in fact it's a lot better than it was now the collieries, steelworks and pot banks have gone.
e.