Electrified Rail Lines which have either closed or are now diesel operated

[edwin_m]

Long before the Metro alterations the North Tyne Loop and South Shields line had their third rail electrification removed. In that case they downgraded quite a significant passenger network. I think the decision was independent of the possibility of Metro conversion in the future.

As well as the lines now forming part of the Metro, the Riverside loop was electrified and subsequently closed completely.

Also the link from Jesmond to Manors (part remaining for Metro empty stock only) . The ECML was third rail electrified from Manors to Heaton for the electric trains via North Shields, and on to Benton for use by express electric trains towards Whitley Bay.

 

[marsker]

Also the link from Jesmond to Manors (part remaining for Metro empty stock only) . The ECML was third rail electrified from Manors to Heaton for the electric trains via North Shields, and on to Benton for use by express electric trains towards Whitley Bay.

It was also used for empty stock from South Gosforth to and from the Central Station. In the very early 60s I remember seeing both the North Tyneside sets and the BR built South Tyneside sets using it.

 

[Kite159]

Runcorn Folly Lane siding had 25kv OLE until about 10-15 years ago.

And maybe parts of Bescot yard & Warrington sidings which were wired up but have since lost the wires due to H&S after not being used for many years?

 

[Cheshire Scot]

Balloch to Balloch Pier

And High St Jn. to Bridgeton Central, both referenced in post 9.

 

[vic-rijrode]

Also the link from Jesmond to Manors (part remaining for Metro empty stock only) .

The link is still there (single line only), from just north of Jesmond station to the St James to Wallsend line just west of Manors.

 

[Pinus contorta]

Carlisle avoiding line round near Denton Holme. Does that count?

 

[Greybeard33]

Part of the Fallowfield Loop line, south of Manchester, was electrified at 1.5kV DC from Fairfield Junction to Reddish Electric Traction Depot as part of the Woodhead scheme. I believe it was planned to extend the wires all the way round to Manchester Central, but the funding ran out.

In 1987, the OLE structures along a 1 mile stretch of the line were rewired at 750V DC for a light rail demonstration prior to construction of Manchester Metrolink. A borrowed DLR unit, fitted with a pantograph, shuttled members of the public to and fro along the line from Debdale Park station.

 

[McRhu]

The little-known 500v DC overhead systems in Perth at Huntingtowerfield serving the bleachworks and latterly the Admiralty depot at Almondbank. It was powered by a turbine on the Lade. Closed, disappeared and forgotten.

 

[vic-rijrode]

In addition to the North Tyneside loop line through Wallsend, Tynemouth and Whitley Bay and the Riverside loop through Walker, another electrified line was the Newcastle Quayside Branch down to the Tyne from the sidings at Manors. It was almost certainly the shortest line (around 1 mile) in the UK to be electrified by two systems, third rail in the tunnel down to the river and overhead at the quayside sidings. It had two electric locos, one of which is preserved at Shildon. The line closed in 1969.

 

[rower40]

Does anything electric use the York Avoiding line? I only ever see class 66s on ECML freight, but I could be wrong.

 

[Rescars]

Really stretching the point, but the Southern Heights Light Railway might be worth a mention. This was going to be an electrified single-line link between Orpington and Sevenoaks, but the SR pulled the plug before construction got under way, apart from some earthworks near Orpington and the electrification of the Selsdon - Woodside line, which is already on the list, as Steamybrian has noted. It would have been an interesting byway if had ever been constructed, at least until the inevitable suburban developments followed.

 

[jfollows]

Does anything electric use the York Avoiding line? I only ever see class 66s on ECML freight, but I could be wrong.

Lumo, some down services
EDIT Today, for example, see https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...23/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=passenger&order=wtt

 

[Mikey C]

Also in London the "high level" Docklands Light Railway between Mudchute and the previous Island Gardens terminus.

 

[Rescars]

Have we mentioned the London Post Office Railway? Not sure how much of this system has been preserved.

 

[Peterthegreat]

Two more bits on the Woodhead route
Tinsley Yard
Rotherwood

 

[vic-rijrode]

The only bit of the London Post Office Railway preserved is a circular route (about 1 km) under Mount Pleasant (between Kings Cross and Farringdon) in the Mail Rail Museum on which visitors can ride on new vehicles.

 

[Haywain]

The only bit of the London Post Office Railway preserved is a circular route (about 1 km) under Mount Pleasant (between Kings Cross and Farringdon) in the Mail Rail Museum on which visitors can ride on new vehicles.

Essentially, it's the loops around the ends of the station and the spur to the workshops. All (or almost all) of the stations had such loops for turning trains.

 

[Rescars]

Essentially, it's the loops around the ends of the station and the spur to the workshops. All (or almost all) of the stations had such loops for turning trains.

Thanks both for your explanation. Most of the system belongs on our list then.

 

[Recessio]

There's a very short section lost from Whitechapel to the old Shoreditch (East London Line) station.

Also nearby were all the tracks into Broad Street, and the requisite curves, obviously now gone.

 

[paul1609]

Ashford International Platforms 3 & 4 and the southern link to HS1?

 

[Jamesrob637]

Ashford International Platforms 3 & 4 and the southern link to HS1?

There's a very short section lost from Whitechapel to the old Shoreditch (East London Line) station.

Now we're getting into the realms of what an able person can walk in 5 minutes or less

 

[rower40]

Does anything electric use the York Avoiding line? I only ever see class 66s on ECML freight, but I could be wrong.

Lumo, some down services
EDIT Today, for example, see https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...23/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=passenger&order=wtt

Thanks!
Therefore I submit the Up York Avoiding line for consideration as unused by electric traction...

 

[hacman]

Long before the Metro alterations the North Tyne Loop and South Shields line had their third rail electrification removed. In that case they downgraded quite a significant passenger network. I think the decision was independent of the possibility of Metro conversion in the future.

As well as the lines now forming part of the Metro, the Riverside loop was electrified and subsequently closed completely.

Within this, you could also count the electrified section between Manors and Benton. Whilst the line is now re-electrified, removal of the original 3rd rail was the first step in withdrawing local traffic from the route - along with the demise of Manors and the closure of Heaton.

The part-built extension from Monkseaton to Seaton Sluice could also be worth mentioning - substantial work was completed on the route, which would have been an extension of the Tyneside Electrics network, only for The Great War to halt progress which was never resumed. http://disused-stations.org.uk/c/collywell_bay/index.shtml

 

[Recessio]

Now we're getting into the realms of what an able person can walk in 5 minutes or less

Someone else mentioned Newhaven Marine first, which was pretty much only the length of a platform lost

 

[swt_passenger]

Someone else mentioned Newhaven Marine first, which was pretty much only the length of a platform lost

The line itself is still there though? IIRC it’s open and electrified as far as the NR boundary.

 

[Julia]

Possibly the first electrified closure, the Brighton & Rottingdean?

 

[Rescars]

As well as all the heavy rail examples listed above, I wonder how many miles of electrified urban tramways came and went during the twentieth century.

 

[Oxfordblues]

Nobody's mentioned Greaves & Co's electrified Llechwedd Quarry railway in Blaenau Ffestiniog:

 

[steamybrian]

There's a very short section lost from Whitechapel to the old Shoreditch (East London Line) station.

Also nearby were all the tracks into Broad Street, and the requisite curves, obviously now gone.

Mentioned before see item no. 4 on the previous page

 

[McRhu]

Can I regurgitate the Carstairs House electrified narrow gauge railway which ran to Carstairs Station? This MUST be unique in that when it was de-electrified (the owner fell across the live rail which dampened his appetite for electricity) it switched to horse traction.