I have always liked travelling by train and became more interested more in the mode as a teenager. In the 80s poss 90s also , certain lines closed before I managed to sample them. I was living in Bexleyheath in those days, I managed to travel from Ellmers End to Sanderstead , I also went to Addiscombe too. I took a dmu from North Woolwich to Stratford which I found really interesting being used to 3rd rail trains from my neck of the woods.
I missed out on and regret not experiencing West Croydon to Wimbledon , Epping to Ongar and Holborn to Aldwych .Can anyone share the memories of the lines I mentioned or other lost lines experienced or unfortunately missed out on before it was too late !
I think that everyone will have missed travelling on lost lines. Some closed before we were born, some when we were too young to be interested, and some because we could not afford the time or money to get there - or sometimes we did not realise how quickly lines would disappear after Marples + Beeching started their destruction.
I managed Ongar and Aldwych plus many others, but some I regret missing include:
The entire Midland & Great Northern system (except the North Norfolk' preserved line, Sheringham to Holt).
The North Cornwall lines, Okehampton to Padstow & Bude
All the routes serving Brecon
Dumfries to Stranraer.
Darlington To Barnard Castle,
Penrith & Tebay
Hull to Withernsea & Hornsea
etc., etc.
Those I managed include:
Fraserburgh (Peterhead had already closed)
Scottish North Coast line, Cairnie Jn - Buckie - Elgin. (Both with Class 21s)
Aviemore - Forres & Caigellachie / Keith.
Waverley Route (was disappointed to find my first trip was with a Peak when I was hoping for an A3 or A2.)
Ruabon - Barmouth.
Chester - Mold - Denbigh; Rhyl - Denbigh - Corwen.
Peterborough - Louth - Grimsby.
Aberystwyth - Carmarthen (3 round trips, all with Manors)
Plus numerous others, including the last day of Wolverton - Newport Pagnell, when the usual 2 coach push-pull set was increased to 4 coaches