Trivia: Any lines that were built but never used?

[vidal]

At times it can take ages from planning to completion of a route or branch off. Are there any cases where a line was planned for a particular flow, was built and before completion the reason for the flow was withdrawn?

Otherwise what was the shortest a line was in use?

James

 

[Jan Mayen]

I think part of the East Kent Railway into Richborough Port was built, but never used due to a bridge not being strong enough
There was a line in Wales, which I can't recall the name of, which had one train then closed.

 

[stuu]

The Llangurig branch only ever saw a single train, that's the usually quoted answer to this question

 

[Jan Mayen]

The Llangurig branch only ever saw a single train, that's the usually quoted answer to this question

Yes, that's the one I was thinking of. Thank you.

 

[Gloster]

There was the Duddeston Viaduct in Birmingham.

 

[Railsigns]

The Cromarty and Dingwall Light Railway. Six miles of track laid but never opened.

 

[D6130]

The Parsonstown and Portumna Bridge Railway in the Irish Midlands only operated for just over eleven years. Opened on 5th November 1868, it was closed on 29th November 1879 after the local landowner who had financed it had a major fall-out with the Great Southern and Western Railway, which he had contracted to operate it. Thereafter, an attempt was made to reopen it, but by then most of the track had been stolen by local farmers and others. TBH, it was an economic basket case anyway.

 

[WesternBiker]

There was a branch north of Whitley Bay from Monkseaton to Colywell Bay (present day Seaton Sluice) that was nearly completed and even part electrified, but failed to open because of World War I.

 

[daodao]

Part of the Charleroi Metro.

 

[Nottingham59]

They built a viaduct over the ECML at Joan Croft junction to carry coal trains from Immingham docks, which opened in 2014, just in time for Ferrybridge to cease operating.

 

[willgreen]

They built a viaduct over the ECML at Joan Croft junction to carry coal trains from Immingham docks, which opened in 2014, just in time for Ferrybridge to cease operating.

This still gets used though doesn't it?

 

[The exile]

At least one of the suburban lines on the north side of Edinburgh had stations built but never saw a passenger train ( other than rail tours)

 

[D6130]

They built a viaduct over the ECML at Joan Croft junction to carry coal trains from Immingham docks, which opened in 2014, just in time for Ferrybridge to cease operating.

I believe that it's still used by a small number of freight services. The last time I went past the junction on a Bradford-Kings Cross Grand Central service, the rails on both tracks were shiny.

 

[steamybrian]

The Paisley and Barrhead line was built with a number of stations which never opened-

Paisley and Barrhead District Railway - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Kingston Dan]

At times it can take ages from planning to completion of a route or branch off. Are there any cases where a line was planned for a particular flow, was built and before completion the reason for the flow was withdrawn?

Otherwise what was the shortest a line was in use?

James

Leith Central must hold the record for shortest operating large terminus station - opened 1903 (I think) closed in 1951 to passengers - less than 50 years. Is there a shorter lived terminus?

 

[fgwrich]

In the London area you have the Northern Height's lines (particularly from Edgware up to Bushy Heath) and the rebuilt but never served Northern Line platforms at Highgate High Level.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Leith Central must hold the record for shortest operating large terminus station - opened 1903 (I think) closed in 1951 to passengers - less than 50 years. Is there a shorter lived terminus?

Manchester (Liverpool Road), the original terminus of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway, opened September 1830 and was closed to passengers relatively shortly thereafter, in April 1844, so I make that just thirteen-and-a-half years.

 

[30907]

In the London area you have the Northern Height's lines (particularly from Edgware up to Bushy Heath)

Not sure that ever got to the track-laying stage, though.

 

[D6130]

Leith Central must hold the record for shortest operating large terminus station - opened 1903 (I think) closed in 1951 to passengers - less than 50 years. Is there a shorter lived terminus?

Yes....Portumna Bridge in Ireland mentioned in post #7 above.

In addition there was Bradford Adolphus Street - the original Leeds, Bradford & Halifax Junction Railway terminus - which opened in 1854 and closed to passengers in 1867, when Bradford Exchange opened. The goods yard, however, remained open until 1972.

 

[McRhu]

Fort Augustus Pier Station wasn't particularly blessed with longevity: 3 years of passenger services (although remained opened longer for freight). As far as overly-optimistic railways go the I&FA is right up there with the best of them.

 

[Halish Railway]

Would the aborted Tadcaster to York and Ripon to Bedale lines count? I’m not sure how far progressed those lines were.

 

[D365]

At times it can take ages from planning to completion of a route or branch off. Are there any cases where a line was planned for a particular flow, was built and before completion the reason for the flow was withdrawn?

Otherwise what was the shortest a line was in use?

I have a feeling which YouTube video might have inspired this question. If I can link it from my laptop when I get home!

 

[Gloster]

Wikipedia has a page List of Unused Railways (sorry, I can’t do a link), which has 33 British entries. However, some of them are no more than minor curves and many were never completed. A further four Changed plans leaving unfinished work are listed further down and there are other categories.

 

[P Binnersley]

The branch from the GWR line into Birmingham from Bordesley to Proof House Junction. The connection at Proof House Junction was never made and the line was used as a siding. Most of the viaduct still exists.

 

[geoffk]

Micheldean Road to Drybrook in the Forest of Dean.

 

[Lewlew]

Part of the Charleroi Metro.

Someone else watches The Tim Traveller. He's just released two interesting videos about the Charleroi metro.

 

[racyrich]

There were the 2 west facing bays at Stratford built for the shuttle from Fenchurch St. Don't think track was ever laid in them.

 

[DanNCL]

There are quite a few sections of never used tunnels in New York for the Subway. In Manhattan alone there are at least three never used tunnels - on parts of 2nd Avenue, 7th Avenue and Houston Street. Additionally the lower level of the 63rd Street tunnels under the East River will only go into use for the first time later this year as part of the Long Island Rail Road, having been built in the 1970s. The upper level which was built at the same time also didn’t go into use until many years after construction.

For a UK example, is it true that a small part of the Pic-Vic tunnel in Manchester was built and remains unused, or is that an urban myth?

There was a branch north of Whitley Bay from Monkseaton to Colywell Bay (present day Seaton Sluice) that was nearly completed and even part electrified, but failed to open because of World War I.

I didn’t realise it had reached that level of completion, I knew it had been partially built but hadn’t realised they’d already put some third rail electrification down when they cancelled it!

 

[Ken H]

Harrogate Brunswick. 1848 - 1860. Pretty short. More about it in the Harrogate Railway Station entry on Wiki.the tunnels are still under the Stray.

 

[WesternBiker]

I didn’t realise it had reached that level of completion, I knew it had been partially built but hadn’t realised they’d already put some third rail electrification down when they cancelled it!

Re: Colywell Bay from Monkseaton, just to clarify: I've found an entry on Disused Stations, which says the third rail was laid on the Avenue Branch from Monkseaton in anticipation, but (presumably) did not reach Briardene Junction, and was therefore presumably not energised. The track was however laid, pulled up, then mostly relaid for use by a coastal defence gun. The line wasn't removed until 1932. It's a pity - the anticipated housing development has now taken place, so the purpose has rather belatedly been fulfilled!