I've wondered this for a while, but after reading some comments in a class 195 thread, where someone stated that our railways have 'Victorian infrastructure', it got me thinking again.
Now I get that the stations, bridges, tunnels etc. can easily date from the Victorian period and that signalling can go way back into the early 20th century too (when Lincoln signal boxes were decommissioned some had Edwardian era parts).
The question here though relates to the track itself (rails/sleepers/chairs/clips etc. specifically). On average, how old is most UK trackwork?
What's the oldest main/branchline track in regular use? (I.e. not sidings).
Oldest piece of track on the network still in use?
I suspect it's near impossible to know with any certainty, but thoughts are welcome.
Now I get that the stations, bridges, tunnels etc. can easily date from the Victorian period and that signalling can go way back into the early 20th century too (when Lincoln signal boxes were decommissioned some had Edwardian era parts).
The question here though relates to the track itself (rails/sleepers/chairs/clips etc. specifically). On average, how old is most UK trackwork?
What's the oldest main/branchline track in regular use? (I.e. not sidings).
Oldest piece of track on the network still in use?
I suspect it's near impossible to know with any certainty, but thoughts are welcome.
