Trivia: What's the longest possible journey a train could make between two UK stations without reversing?

Here's an interesting little question:

Supposing you had complete open access and unlimited paths, what's the longest possible journey a diesel train could make in the UK without reversing or repeating track?

There has to be a clear A and B - you can't go on in an infinite loop - and once your train has covered a stretch of track, you cannot cover it again.

Here's what I've got, with the help of @Doctor Fegg's excellent New Adlestrop Railway Atlas. I don't know if all of the connective tissue lines that I've used are still passable by trains, so I'm just sort of hoping they are.

Penzance - Taunton - (avoiding Westbury) - Reading - Guildford - Havant - Southampton Central - Redbridge - Romsey - Salisbury - Westbury - Bath - Lawrence Hill - Bristol Parkway - Cheltenham Spa - Worcester Shrub Hill - Kidderminster - (Monument Lane) - Birmingham New St - Tamworth - (Castle Donington) - Ilkeston - Chesterfield - (Killamarsh) - Swinton - Fitzwilliam - Wakefield Kirkgate - Hebden Bridge - Blackburn - Darwen - Salford Central - Manchester Victoria - (Droylsden) - Denton - Stockport - Hazel Grove - Chinley - Dore - Sheffield Midland - Darnall - Shirebrook - Kirkby in Ashfield - Nottingham - Bottesford - Sleaford - Spalding - Peterborough - Ely - Cambridge - Hitchin - London St Pancras - Herne Hill - Tulse Hill - Streatham - East Croydon - Redhill - Tonbridge - Hastings - Ashford International - Ebbsfleet International - Barking - Gospel Oak - Willesden Junction - Acton Main Line - Greenford - Leamington Spa - Coventry - Stechford - Aston - Perry Barr - Sandwell and Dudley - Wolverhampton - Shrewsbury - Whitchurch - Crewe - Styal - Manchester Piccadilly - Eccles - Wigan North Western - Preston - Lancaster - Carnforth - Barrow-in-Furness - Workington - Dalston - Armathwaite - Settle - Skipton - Kirkstall Forge - Woodlesford - Castleford - Sherburn-in-Elmet - York - Northallerton - Eaglescliffe - Sunderland - Newcastle Central - Dunbar - Edinburgh Waverley - Carstairs - Wishaw - Motherwell - Whifflet - Glasgow Central Low Level - Partick - Anniesland - Maryhill - Croy - Falkirk Grahamston - Linlithgow - Dalmeny - Inverkeithing - Cowdenbeath - Markinch - Perth - Dundee - Aberdeen - Nairn - (Rose St Curve) - Beauly - Tain - Helmsdale - Wick.

Unfortunately you would run into the buffers at Ormskirk and need to reverse

Lloyds siding said:

Unfortunately you would run into the buffers at Ormskirk and need to reverse

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Ah dear. You're right, of course. I'll adjust things to run via Wigan North Western, with Blackburn-Darwen-Salford Central earlier on.

Can you go Ebbsfleet to Barking?

NSE said:

Can you go Ebbsfleet to Barking?

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And a quick check on Carto Metro (aka the bible) shows me exactly where you can!

Also, a quick check, would you be happy to go through the same station on different lines? I think instead of going Acton-Greenford-Leamington Spa, would the mileage be longer going Acton-Reading-Oxford-Leamington Spa? You would pass through Reading again but *i think* on totally different lines.

To add some decent mileage, you can change St Pancras to Ebbsfleet:

London St Pancras - Herne Hill - Tulse Hill - Streatham - Tooting - Wimbledon - Morden South - Sutton - Wallington - West Croydon - Crystal Palace - Balham - Clapham Jct - Wandsworth Road - Denmark Hill - Peckham Rye - Nunhead - Lewisham - Blackheath - Abbey Wood - Slade Green - Crayford - Lee - Grove Park - Chislehurst - Swanley - Otford - Sevenoaks - Tonbridge - Ashford - Dover - Deal - Ramsgate - Margate - Gillingham - Rochester - Gravesend - Ebbsfleet

backontrack said:

Here's an interesting little question:

Supposing you had complete open access and unlimited paths, what's the longest possible journey a diesel train could make in the UK without reversing or repeating track?

There has to be a clear A and B - you can't go on in an infinite loop - and once your train has covered a stretch of track, you cannot cover it again.

Here's what I've got, with the help of @Doctor Fegg's excellent New Adlestrop Railway Atlas. I don't know if all of the connective tissue lines that I've used are still passable by trains, so I'm just sort of hoping they are.

Penzance - Taunton - (avoiding Westbury) - Reading - Guildford - Havant - Southampton Central - Redbridge - Romsey - Salisbury - Westbury - Bath - Lawrence Hill - Bristol Parkway - Cheltenham Spa - Worcester Shrub Hill - Kidderminster - (Monument Lane) - Birmingham New St - Tamworth - (Castle Donington) - Ilkeston - Chesterfield - (Killamarsh) - Swinton - Fitzwilliam - Wakefield Kirkgate - Hebden Bridge - Blackburn - Darwen - Salford Central - Manchester Victoria - (Droylsden) - Denton - Stockport - Hazel Grove - Chinley - Dore - Sheffield Midland - Darnall - Shirebrook - Kirkby in Ashfield - Nottingham - Bottesford - Sleaford - Spalding - Peterborough - Ely - Cambridge - Hitchin - London St Pancras - Herne Hill - Tulse Hill - Streatham - East Croydon - Redhill - Tonbridge - Hastings - Ashford International - Ebbsfleet International - Barking - Gospel Oak - Willesden Junction - Acton Main Line - Greenford - Leamington Spa - Coventry - Stechford - Aston - Perry Barr - Sandwell and Dudley - Wolverhampton - Shrewsbury - Whitchurch - Crewe - Styal - Manchester Piccadilly - Eccles - Wigan North Western - Preston - Lancaster - Carnforth - Barrow-in-Furness - Workington - Dalston - Armathwaite - Settle - Skipton - Kirkstall Forge - Woodlesford - Castleford - Sherburn-in-Elmet - York - Northallerton - Eaglescliffe - Sunderland - Newcastle Central - Dunbar - Edinburgh Waverley - Carstairs - Wishaw - Motherwell - Whifflet - Glasgow Central Low Level - Partick - Anniesland - Maryhill - Croy - Falkirk Grahamston - Linlithgow - Dalmeny - Inverkeithing - Cowdenbeath - Markinch - Perth - Dundee - Aberdeen - Nairn - (Rose St Curve) - Beauly - Tain - Helmsdale - Wick.

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You can't get from the Hastings line to HS1.

Lawrence Hill to Kidderminster via Maindee curve and Hereford would be longer than via Cheltenham?

Peterthegreat said:

You can't get from the Hastings line to HS1.

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You can't, can you? Oh dear. Not to worry, I'll reroute it in Kent.

Sean Emmett said:

Lawrence Hill to Kidderminster via Maindee curve and Hereford would be longer than via Cheltenham?

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Yes it would! Nice spot.

This is what I've got now:

Penzance - Taunton - (avoiding Westbury) - Reading - Guildford - Havant - Southampton Central - Redbridge - Romsey - Salisbury - Westbury - Bath - Lawrence Hill - Filton Abbey Wood - Severn Tunnel Junction - Cwmbran - Hereford - Worcester Foregate Street - Kidderminster - (Monument Lane) - Birmingham New St - Tamworth - (Castle Donington) - Ilkeston - Chesterfield - (Killamarsh) - Swinton - Fitzwilliam - Wakefield Kirkgate - Hebden Bridge - Blackburn - Darwen - Salford Central - Manchester Victoria - (Droylsden) - Denton - Stockport - Hazel Grove - Chinley - Dore - Sheffield Midland - Darnall - Shirebrook - Kirkby in Ashfield - Nottingham - Bottesford - Sleaford - Spalding - Peterborough - Ely - Cambridge - Hitchin - London St Pancras - Herne Hill - Tulse Hill - Streatham - East Croydon - Redhill - Tonbridge - Ashford International - Dover Priory - Margate - Faversham - Rochester - Ebbsfleet International - Barking - Gospel Oak - Willesden Junction - Acton Main Line - Greenford - Leamington Spa - Coventry - Stechford - Aston - Perry Barr - Sandwell and Dudley - Wolverhampton - Shrewsbury - Whitchurch - Crewe - Styal - Manchester Piccadilly - Eccles - Wigan North Western - Preston - Lancaster - Carnforth - Barrow-in-Furness - Workington - Dalston - Armathwaite - Settle - Skipton - Kirkstall Forge - Woodlesford - Castleford - Sherburn-in-Elmet - York - Northallerton - Eaglescliffe - Sunderland - Newcastle Central - Dunbar - Edinburgh Waverley - Carstairs - Wishaw - Motherwell - Whifflet - Glasgow Central Low Level - Partick - Anniesland - Maryhill - Croy - Falkirk Grahamston - Linlithgow - Dalmeny - Inverkeithing - Cowdenbeath - Markinch - Perth - Dundee - Aberdeen - Nairn - (Rose St Curve) - Beauly - Tain - Helmsdale - Wick.

Can that be improved at all?

Can you not go Birmingham New St - Nuneaton - Leicester - EM Parkway - Ilkeston?

I also think your last section might be longer going
Sunderland - Newcastle - Hexham - Carlisle - Carstairs S Jn - Kirknewton - Kingsknowe - the South Sub - Brunstane - Edinburgh - Linlithgow - Falkirk High - Bishopbriggs - Ashfield - Maryhill - Anniesland - Partick - Glasgow Central Low Level - Rutherglen - Newton - Hamilton Central - Motherwell - Whifflet - Greenfaulds - Cumbernauld - Larbert - Stirling - Alloa - Dunfermline Town - Cowdenbeath then as you put

gnolife said:

Can you not go Birmingham New St - Nuneaton - Leicester - EM Parkway - Ilkeston?

I also think your last section might be longer going
Sunderland - Newcastle - Hexham - Carlisle - Carstairs S Jn - Kirknewton - Kingsknowe - the South Sub - Brunstane - Edinburgh - Linlithgow - Falkirk High - Bishopbriggs - Ashfield - Maryhill - Anniesland - Partick - Glasgow Central Low Level - Rutherglen - Newton - Hamilton Central - Motherwell - Whifflet - Greenfaulds - Cumbernauld - Larbert - Stirling - Alloa - Dunfermline Town - Cowdenbeath then as you put

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Can't do that latter thing I'm afraid as I've already been through Carlisle London Road once (between the Cumbrian Coast and S&C). Nice try, though! Rutherglen-Motherwell is a better route too, so added.

Birmingham - Leicester - Ilkeston is an excellent spot, however. At that point I was trying to leave Nuneaton open in case I was to use that part of the WCML later, and I never did, so thanks You can even route it via Dudley and Walsall to Water Orton, avoiding Birmingham New Street - and then later, route the route via Birmingham New Street, Tame Bridge Parkway and Wolverhampton rather than through Sandwell & Dudley. I've just realised that you can also send it via Hertford North between Hitchin and Finsbury Park, so that adds more kilometres on.

Not sure whether it's longer to go Dunbar-Carstairs via Waverley or the South Suburban?

Penzance - Taunton - (avoiding Westbury) - Reading - Guildford - Havant - Southampton Central - Redbridge - Romsey - Salisbury - Westbury - Bath - Lawrence Hill - Filton Abbey Wood - Severn Tunnel Junction - Cwmbran - Hereford - Worcester Foregate Street - Kidderminster - Walsall - Water Orton - Nuneaton - East Midlands Parkway - Ilkeston - Chesterfield - (Killamarsh) - Swinton - Fitzwilliam - Wakefield Kirkgate - Hebden Bridge - Blackburn - Darwen - Salford Central - Manchester Victoria - (Droylsden) - Denton - Stockport - Hazel Grove - Chinley - Dore - Sheffield Midland - Darnall - Shirebrook - Kirkby in Ashfield - Nottingham - Bottesford - Sleaford - Spalding - Peterborough - Ely - Cambridge - Hitchin - Hertford North - Finsbury Park - London St Pancras - Herne Hill - Tulse Hill - Streatham - Tooting - Wimbledon - Morden South - Sutton - Wallington - West Croydon - Crystal Palace - Balham - Clapham Jct - Wandsworth Road - Denmark Hill - Peckham Rye - Nunhead - Lewisham - Blackheath - Abbey Wood - Slade Green - Crayford - Lee - Grove Park - Chislehurst - Swanley - Otford - Sevenoaks - Tonbridge - Ashford - Dover - Deal - Ramsgate - Margate - Gillingham - Rochester - Gravesend - Ebbsfleet International - Barking - Gospel Oak - Willesden Junction - Acton Main Line - Greenford - Leamington Spa - Coventry - Birmingham New Street - Tame Bridge Parkway - Wolverhampton - Shrewsbury - Whitchurch - Crewe - Styal - Manchester Piccadilly - Eccles - Wigan North Western - Preston - Lancaster - Carnforth - Barrow-in-Furness - Workington - Dalston - Armathwaite - Settle - Skipton - Kirkstall Forge - Woodlesford - Castleford - Sherburn-in-Elmet - York - Northallerton - Eaglescliffe - Sunderland - Newcastle Central - Dunbar - Musselburgh - Curriehill - Carstairs - Wishaw - Holytown - Motherwell - Hamilton Central - Newton - Rutherglen - Glasgow Central Low Level - Partick - Anniesland - Maryhill - Croy - Camelon - Falkirk Grahamston - Linlithgow - Dalmeny - Inverkeithing - Cowdenbeath - Markinch - Perth - Dundee - Aberdeen - Nairn - (Rose St Curve) - Beauly - Tain - Helmsdale - Wick.

London Trains said:

To add some decent mileage, you can change St Pancras to Ebbsfleet:

London St Pancras - Herne Hill - Tulse Hill - Streatham - Tooting - Wimbledon - Morden South - Sutton - Wallington - West Croydon - Crystal Palace - Balham - Clapham Jct - Wandsworth Road - Denmark Hill - Peckham Rye - Nunhead - Lewisham - Blackheath - Abbey Wood - Slade Green - Crayford - Lee - Grove Park - Chislehurst - Swanley - Otford - Sevenoaks - Tonbridge - Ashford - Dover - Deal - Ramsgate - Margate - Gillingham - Rochester - Gravesend - Ebbsfleet

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That is really excellent! Thank you - added.

How about Shrewsbury-Wrexham-Bidston-Birkenhead-Liverpool Loop-Rock Ferry-Hooton-Chester-Northwich-Stockport-Manchester Picc instead of just Shrewsbury-Crewe?
Not entirely sure if diesels would be allowed or not in the Liverpool tunnels..

Would it also be possible to add another long loop in:

Kidderminster - Birmingham Moor Street - Solihull - Leamington Spa - Banbury - Oxford - Swindon - Stroud - Cheltenham - Worcestershire Parkway - Bromsgrove - Kings Norton - University - Birmingham New Street - Water Orton

Then later on go directly up the WCML and use the original routing avoiding New St:

Willesden Jct - Watford Jct - Milton Keynes - Northampton - Rugby - Coventry - Stechford - Aston - Perry Barr - Sandwell and Dudley - Wolverhampton

After Bristol Parkway, I think you can go via Abergavenny, Hereford, Shrewsbury, nearly Crewe, Stafford, Wolverhampton and Birmingham New Street, if you then later, after Perry Bar, go via Rugeley, Stone and Stoke to Crewe

backontrack said:

Here's an interesting little question:

Supposing you had complete open access and unlimited paths, what's the longest possible journey a diesel train could make in the UK without reversing or repeating track?

There has to be a clear A and B - you can't go on in an infinite loop - and once your train has covered a stretch of track, you cannot cover it again.

Here's what I've got, with the help of @Doctor Fegg's excellent New Adlestrop Railway Atlas. I don't know if all of the connective tissue lines that I've used are still passable by trains, so I'm just sort of hoping they are.

Penzance - Taunton - (avoiding Westbury) - Reading - Guildford - Havant - Southampton Central - Redbridge - Romsey - Salisbury - Westbury - Bath - Lawrence Hill - Bristol Parkway - Cheltenham Spa - Worcester Shrub Hill - Kidderminster - (Monument Lane) - Birmingham New St - Tamworth - (Castle Donington) - Ilkeston - Chesterfield - (Killamarsh) - Swinton - Fitzwilliam - Wakefield Kirkgate - Hebden Bridge - Blackburn - Darwen - Salford Central - Manchester Victoria - (Droylsden) - Denton - Stockport - Hazel Grove - Chinley - Dore - Sheffield Midland - Darnall - Shirebrook - Kirkby in Ashfield - Nottingham - Bottesford - Sleaford - Spalding - Peterborough - Ely - Cambridge - Hitchin - London St Pancras - Herne Hill - Tulse Hill - Streatham - East Croydon - Redhill - Tonbridge - Hastings - Ashford International - Ebbsfleet International - Barking - Gospel Oak - Willesden Junction - Acton Main Line - Greenford - Leamington Spa - Coventry - Stechford - Aston - Perry Barr - Sandwell and Dudley - Wolverhampton - Shrewsbury - Whitchurch - Crewe - Styal - Manchester Piccadilly - Eccles - Wigan North Western - Preston - Lancaster - Carnforth - Barrow-in-Furness - Workington - Dalston - Armathwaite - Settle - Skipton - Kirkstall Forge - Woodlesford - Castleford - Sherburn-in-Elmet - York - Northallerton - Eaglescliffe - Sunderland - Newcastle Central - Dunbar - Edinburgh Waverley - Carstairs - Wishaw - Motherwell - Whifflet - Glasgow Central Low Level - Partick - Anniesland - Maryhill - Croy - Falkirk Grahamston - Linlithgow - Dalmeny - Inverkeithing - Cowdenbeath - Markinch - Perth - Dundee - Aberdeen - Nairn - (Rose St Curve) - Beauly - Tain - Helmsdale - Wick.

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The via Westbury and Westbury avoiding routes - do they share any approach track?

To add a few more miles you could go from East Midlands Parkway to Chesterfield via Derby instead of Ilkeston.

Actually I just realised you can add a lot of distance by looping the whole of Essex/Suffolk:

Barking - South Tottenham - Seven Sisters - Edmonton Green - Cheshunt - Harlow - Cambridge - Bury St Edmunds - Ipswich - Chelmsford - Shenfield - Stratford - Highbury and Islington - Gospel Oak

Then earlier in the route miss out Cambridge by going directly from Peterborough to Hitchin.

backontrack said:

Here's an interesting little question:

Supposing you had complete open access and unlimited paths, what's the longest possible journey a diesel train could make in the UK without reversing or repeating track?

.... Hitchin - London St Pancras - Herne Hill....

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Are diesel trains (other than those hauling engineering trains) allowed through the Thameslink link tunnels?

Bear in mind that all stations in Northern Ireland are excluded. OP probably meant Great Britain.

The Quincunx said:

Bear in mind that all stations in Northern Ireland are excluded. OP probably meant Great Britain.

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Not necessarily. It’s just that Northern Ireland happens not to feature in the answer

Minor addition, it's slightly further if between Taunton and the Westbury avoider you go via Frome.

Is using Merseyrail allowed, and if so can a train go Biston/Birkenhead North/Birkenhead Park and onwards?

John Webb said:

Are diesel trains (other than those hauling engineering trains) allowed through the Thameslink link tunnels?

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If we are going to get that pernickety then the OP needs to define the train type / class we are using and we thus need to check if there are any gauging restrictions on the proposed routes for the class of train concerned.

Mag_seven said:

If we are going to get that pernickety then the OP needs to define the train type / class we are using and we thus need to check if there are any gauging restrictions on the proposed routes for the class of train concerned.

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It could be formed of a class 769/9

Mag_seven said:

If we are going to get that pernickety then the OP needs to define the train type / class we are using and we thus need to check if there are any gauging restrictions on the proposed routes for the class of train concerned.

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The OP does state "....complete open access...." so even if there were normally limitations, that would presumably negate them. It just struck me from the practical point of view to ask the question. But I assume a bi- or tri-mode could be used in any case.

Once there's a definitive answer (!) how easy would it be to show it on a map?

If you are starting at Penzance I would have thought your target end point would be Exeter, as that is the closest end point you can get to the start by an alternative route, Unless finishing way up in Scotland if preferable.

Class800 said:

The via Westbury and Westbury avoiding routes - do they share any approach track?

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The Westbury Avoiding Line passes under the line from Salisbury to Westbury. If continuing from Westbury to Bath there is no common track.

Do we have any Mathematicians specialising in networks who could run a program on this?

Mystic Force said:

If you are starting at Penzance I would have thought your target end point would be Exeter, as that is the closest end point you can get to the start by an alternative route, Unless finishing way up in Scotland if preferable.

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There's a lot of Scotland you can't do without reversing, so it makes sense to take it in as much as possible. The route I've chosen pretty much obliterates any chance of return to Exeter via Honiton, because you can't get back there - I've used up as much track as I can.

I've also just realised that a routing from Nottingham to Sleaford via Newark and Lincoln gains even more track, which is handy.

A Challenge said:

Minor addition, it's slightly further if between Taunton and the Westbury avoider you go via Frome.

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That's handy too - thanks for this.

London Trains said:

To add a few more miles you could go from East Midlands Parkway to Chesterfield via Derby instead of Ilkeston.

Actually I just realised you can add a lot of distance by looping the whole of Essex/Suffolk:

Barking - South Tottenham - Seven Sisters - Edmonton Green - Cheshunt - Harlow - Cambridge - Bury St Edmunds - Ipswich - Chelmsford - Shenfield - Stratford - Highbury and Islington - Gospel Oak

Then earlier in the route miss out Cambridge by going directly from Peterborough to Hitchin.

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That is brilliant. Superb!

Howardh said:

Is using Merseyrail allowed, and if so can a train go Biston/Birkenhead North/Birkenhead Park and onwards?

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Depends. Is it possible to go from there to Wigan North Western without reversing?

London Trains said:

Would it also be possible to add another long loop in:

Kidderminster - Birmingham Moor Street - Solihull - Leamington Spa - Banbury - Oxford - Swindon - Stroud - Cheltenham - Worcestershire Parkway - Bromsgrove - Kings Norton - University - Birmingham New Street - Water Orton

Then later on go directly up the WCML and use the original routing avoiding New St:

Willesden Jct - Watford Jct - Milton Keynes - Northampton - Rugby - Coventry - Stechford - Aston - Perry Barr - Sandwell and Dudley - Wolverhampton

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That is brilliant, making excellent use of the Didcot west chord.

SteelWeelApeal said:

Not necessarily. It’s just that Northern Ireland happens not to feature in the answer

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Correct.

Penzance - Taunton - (avoiding Westbury) - Reading - Guildford - Havant - Southampton Central - Redbridge - Romsey - Salisbury - Westbury - Bath - Lawrence Hill - Filton Abbey Wood - Severn Tunnel Junction - Cwmbran - Hereford - Worcester Foregate Street - Kidderminster - Birmingham Moor Street - Solihull - Leamington Spa - Banbury - Oxford - Swindon - Stroud - Cheltenham - Worcestershire Parkway - Bromsgrove - Kings Norton - University - Birmingham New Street - Water Orton - Nuneaton - East Midlands Parkway - Ilkeston - Chesterfield - (Killamarsh) - Swinton - Fitzwilliam - Wakefield Kirkgate - Hebden Bridge - Blackburn - Darwen - Salford Central - Manchester Victoria - (Droylsden) - Denton - Stockport - Hazel Grove - Chinley - Dore - Sheffield Midland - Darnall - Shirebrook - Kirkby in Ashfield - Nottingham - Newark Castle - Lincoln Central - Sleaford - Spalding - Peterborough - Ely - Cambridge - Hitchin - Hertford North - Finsbury Park - London St Pancras - Herne Hill - Tulse Hill - Streatham - Tooting - Wimbledon - Morden South - Sutton - Wallington - West Croydon - Crystal Palace - Balham - Clapham Jct - Wandsworth Road - Denmark Hill - Peckham Rye - Nunhead - Lewisham - Blackheath - Abbey Wood - Slade Green - Crayford - Lee - Grove Park - Chislehurst - Swanley - Otford - Sevenoaks - Tonbridge - Ashford - Dover - Deal - Ramsgate - Margate - Gillingham - Rochester - Gravesend - Ebbsfleet International - Barking - South Tottenham - Seven Sisters - Edmonton Green - Cheshunt - Harlow - Cambridge - Bury St Edmunds - Ipswich - Chelmsford - Shenfield - Stratford - Highbury and Islington - Gospel Oak - Willesden Junction - Watford Junction - Milton Keynes - Northampton - Rugby - Coventry - Stechford - Aston - Perry Barr - Sandwell and Dudley - Wolverhampton - Shrewsbury - Whitchurch - Crewe - Styal - Manchester Piccadilly - Eccles - Wigan North Western - Preston - Lancaster - Carnforth - Barrow-in-Furness - Workington - Dalston - Armathwaite - Settle - Skipton - Kirkstall Forge - Woodlesford - Castleford - Sherburn-in-Elmet - York - Northallerton - Eaglescliffe - Sunderland - Newcastle Central - Dunbar - Musselburgh - Curriehill - Carstairs - Wishaw - Holytown - Motherwell - Hamilton Central - Newton - Rutherglen - Glasgow Central Low Level - Partick - Anniesland - Maryhill - Croy - Camelon - Falkirk Grahamston - Linlithgow - Dalmeny - Inverkeithing - Cowdenbeath - Markinch - Perth - Dundee - Aberdeen - Nairn - (Rose St Curve) - Beauly - Tain - Helmsdale - Wick.

SteelWeelApeal said:

After Bristol Parkway, I think you can go via Abergavenny, Hereford, Shrewsbury, nearly Crewe, Stafford, Wolverhampton and Birmingham New Street, if you then later, after Perry Bar, go via Rugeley, Stone and Stoke to Crewe

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Hmm. Does that add any metres in total? Might need to puzzle over this one.

backontrack said:

There's a lot of Scotland you can't do without reversing, so it makes sense to take it in as much as possible. The route I've chosen pretty much obliterates any chance of return to Exeter via Honiton, because you can't get back there - I've used up as much track as I can.

I've also just realised that a routing from Nottingham to Sleaford via Newark and Lincoln gains even more track, which is handy.


That's handy too - thanks for this.


That is brilliant. Superb!


Depends. Is it possible to go from there to Wigan North Western without reversing?


That is brilliant, making excellent use of the Didcot west chord.

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You could go from Lawrence Hill to the West Midlands via the Severn Tunnel, Cardiff, Port Talbot, Swansea District line, Central Wales line, Craven Arms, Abbey Foregate and Wolverhampton to Birmingham. You would then need to run Stechford, Bescot, Stafford, Stoke and Styal. I think this would probably be longer than the original.

Peterthegreat said:

You could go from Lawrence Hill to the West Midlands via the Severn Tunnel, Cardiff, Port Talbot, Swansea District line, Central Wales line, Craven Arms, Abbey Foregate and Wolverhampton to Birmingham. You would then need to run Stechford, Bescot, Stafford, Stoke and Styal. I think this would probably be longer than the original.

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No way onto the Heart of Wales Line without reversing at Llanelli, I think?

EDIT: Yes there is! Well this changes things completely. Thank you!