trivia as the crow flies vs rail

[westernpunk]

back in the days when there were loads of summer dated extras was there ever a direct train from barry to minehead, just looking at the map its about 16 miles as the crow flies as against about 120 miles by rail.
What would be the greatest differences in journeys as the crow flies as opposed to the shortest route by rail on todays network
Aberystwith to carmarthen must be another

 

[Mcr Warrior]

What would be the greatest differences in journeys as the crow flies as opposed to the shortest route by rail on todays network

As regards the latter question, reckon this, or something fairly similar, crops up on here from time to time, but Mallaig to Kyle of Lochalsh must be a likely contender.
420+ miles by rail, but only ~20 miles "as the crow flies".

 

[Cheshire Scot]

As regards the latter question, reckon this, or something fairly similar, crops up on here from time to time, but Mallaig to Kyle of Lochalsh must be a likely contender.
420+ miles by rail, but only ~20 miles "as the crow flies".

Or in this case, replace crow with seagull!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Or in this case, replace crow with seagull!

Like your thinking!

As regards the first part of @westernpunk's question, weren't excursions / ferry connections from South Wales to/from the North Somerset coast, more likely to have been undertaken, back in the day, by paddle steamer boat or similar, rather than by train? Anyone in the know?

 

[30907]

Like your thinking!

As regards the first part of @westernpunk's question, weren't excursions / ferry connections from South Wales to/from the North Somerset coast, more likely to have been undertaken, back in the day, by paddle steamer boat or similar, rather than by train? Anyone in the know?

I'm sure that's the case, certainly to Ilfracombe - which incidentally had a full-length through summer Saturday train to Cardiff (9.25-3.37 in 1958) but not one the other way.

 

[Magdalia]

back in the days when there were loads of summer dated extras was there ever a direct train from barry to minehead, just looking at the map its about 16 miles as the crow flies as against about 120 miles by rail.

Probably not. The high point of summer Saturday operation was the late 1950s/early 1960s. In those days Minehead had through trains to Paddington and Wolverhampton but not anywhere in South Wales.

What would be the greatest differences in journeys as the crow flies as opposed to the shortest route by rail on todays network
Aberystwith to carmarthen must be another

Aberystwyth-Carmarthen had direct trains via Lampeter (about 56 miles) until the line closed in 1965. Unless I've missed something, there are no direct trains now.

On today's network the Far North Line is a very indirect direct train. The distance by rail is approximately double what it would take a crow to fly.

 

[Merthyr Imp]

Hull to Grimsby?

 

[Harvester]

Scarborough-Whitby? Roughly 25 miles as the crow flies, and around 140 miles on the present rail network.

 

[Tester]

Scarborough-Whitby? Roughly 25 miles as the crow flies, and around 140 miles on the present rail network.

Good call.

In fact 22 miles actual by foot station to station, so must be less as the crow flies - it's a lovely walk!

 

[Merle Haggard]

Wellingborough to Northampton? 11.7 miles by road, 139 miles by rail via London (plus walk or short Underground journey) - rail would be slightly quicker than walking all the way if the cross London connection worked well. Or you could change at Kettering, Leicester, Nuneaton and Rugby for the scenic tour by rail.

Similar, but not quite so extreme, for three other Northamptonshire stations to the county town - the fourth, Long Buckby, has a direct service rivalling the crow's flight.

 

[Taunton]

I'm sure that's the case, certainly to Ilfracombe - which incidentally had a full-length through summer Saturday train to Cardiff (9.25-3.37 in 1958) but not one the other way.

Not that full length. Discussion of this very train here a while ago had a photo of it en route, D63xx diesel loco and two coaches.

Please help identify which MK1 coaches are in this photograph (Wiveliscombe-Cardiff, 1965)

This rare photo of a Class 22 hauling a local passenger train consisting of two coaches was taken by Roger Joanes on 19.6.1965 at Wiveliscombe. Can someone help me identify exactly what models of Mk1s are being hauled behind this Baby Warship? Also, was a two coach configuration common for local...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Blackpool North to South is 1.6 miles as the Crow files but just under 21 miles by train. (13 times longer)

Ormskirk (Northern) to Ormskirk (Merseyrail) is probably about 10 metres as the crow flies but a lot more by rail (via Preston, Wigan, St Helens Central, the freight line and Sandhills) but that probably shouldn't count because you could still do the journey quicker.

Southend Victoria to Central is 0.3 miles as the Crow files but by rail is 66 miles (220 times longer)

 

[The exile]

Like your thinking!

As regards the first part of @westernpunk's question, weren't excursions / ferry connections from South Wales to/from the North Somerset coast, more likely to have been undertaken, back in the day, by paddle steamer boat or similar, rather than by train? Anyone in the know?

Indeed - some of the original “booze cruises” ensuring thriving trade for pubs in the towns on Sundays as South Wales was “dry” on Sundays.

 

[Magdalia]

Wellingborough to Northampton? 11.7 miles by road, 139 miles by rail via London

there is a much shorter rail route via Bedford and Bletchley, though not with direct trains.

A better example of a journey like this is Sandy-Bedford which once had direct trains and a journey of just over 8 miles, but is now 94 miles with a change of trains at St Pancras.

 

[Merle Haggard]

there is a much shorter rail route via Bedford and Bletchley, though not with direct trains.

A better example of a journey like this is Sandy-Bedford which once had direct trains and a journey of just over 8 miles, but is now 94 miles with a change of trains at St Pancras.

True, I had forgotten that the Marston Valley service had re-started and was hourly again. Only 54 miles. And NRES shows an hourly service - but taking 1 hour 49 minutes, so actually only slightly quicker than via London.

in the real world, there's two all-stops and two express buses every hour from quite early to quite late for £2 at the moment. NRES offer a fare about 11 times that.

 

[The exile]

Sure we’ve had this before - but Canterbury East to Canterbury West must be in with a shout. You used to be able to pull a fast one on strangers to London by leaving them at Temple station and letting them know you’d meet them later at Aldwych.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Euston-Glasgow via the WCML is 401 miles.
The same "crow's flight" journey on Google Maps is 343 miles, so there is a 58-mile detour on the "direct" rail route.
The straight line route passes over/close to Derby, Glossop, Rochdale, Burnley, Oxenholme, Keswick, Dumfries and East Kilbride.

Flight paths can be close to the direct line of course, but they also have their own levels of indirection with various take-off and landing paths, plus any ATC-imposed holding loops and variations, eg for the weather.

 

[Merle Haggard]

Euston-Glasgow via the WCML is 401 miles.
The same "crow's flight" journey on Google Maps is 343 miles, so there is a 58-mile detour on the "direct" rail route.
The straight line route passes over/close to Derby, Glossop, Rochdale, Burnley, Oxenholme, Keswick, Dumfries and East Kilbride.

Flight paths can be close to the direct line of course, but they also have their own levels of indirection with various take-off and landing paths, plus any ATC-imposed holding loops and variations, eg for the weather.

Does your crow fly 'great circle'? - the difference might be significant over that distance. Certainly long distance flights do, not following what looks like a straight line on a 2 dimensional map.

 

[Western Lord]

As regards the latter question, reckon this, or something fairly similar, crops up on here from time to time, but Mallaig to Kyle of Lochalsh must be a likely contender.
420+ miles by rail, but only ~20 miles "as the crow flies".

Or as the boat sails (or used to). Back in 1972 when I was doing a round Britain trip by rail I took the Stornoway to Mallaig ferry which called at Kyle on its way south, thus saving a roundabout double back by rail.

 

[30907]

Not that full length. Discussion of this very train here a while ago had a photo of it en route, D63xx diesel loco and two coaches.

Please help identify which MK1 coaches are in this photograph (Wiveliscombe-Cardiff, 1965)

This rare photo of a Class 22 hauling a local passenger train consisting of two coaches was taken by Roger Joanes on 19.6.1965 at Wiveliscombe. Can someone help me identify exactly what models of Mk1s are being hauled behind this Baby Warship? Also, was a two coach configuration common for local...

www.railforums.co.uk

That was 1965, though. The 1960 carriage Workings give it as 9 coaches in peak season, which made it the longest train of the day - no doubt because it left Ilfracombe at peak departure time.

 

[Cricketer8for9]

Whyteleafe to Upper Warlingham might win this prize if one was looking at multipliers. Less than 10 mins on foot, about an hour by train.

 

[62484GlenLyon]

As regards the latter question, reckon this, or something fairly similar, crops up on here from time to time, but Mallaig to Kyle of Lochalsh must be a likely contender.
420+ miles by rail, but only ~20 miles "as the crow flies".

Exactly 54 years ago I did this very move in the opposite direction. Given the traction of the time I am glad I didn't take the crow option!

Tuesday 4/8/1970 - 17.50 Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness - 5331 (26031)
23.30 Inverness to Glasgow Queen St. - 5334 (26034) and 5346 (26046) Inverness to Perth, 5334 (26034) Perth to Glasgow.

Wednesday 5/8/1970 - 10.05 Glasgow Queen St. - Mallaig - 5402 (27040) Glasgow to Fort William, 5366 (27020) Fort William to Mallaig.

 

[Bryson]

How about London St. Pancras to London Kings Cross? A few meters by foot (as the pigeon walks?) but 2 trains and a change at Finsbury Park by rail - about 5 miles.

 

[duffield]

Matlock to Buxton usually gets mentioned, 110 miles by rail (going into both Derby and Sheffield since routes changing at Belper, and/or avoiding Sheffield, while shorter are not typically viable journeys), but only 17 miles as the crow flies. I've not been able to get a very accurate distance for the rail miles between these towns when the direct line was open but it appears to be not much more than 18 miles.

 

[mike57]

Hessle to Barton on Humber? About 2 miles as the crow flies, about 5 miles by road.

Rail is either ~79 miles if you can change at Hatfield and Stainforth or ~93 miles if you have to change at Doncaster

Anytime day single £48.60, time well over 5h

 

[Rescars]

Whyteleafe to Upper Warlingham might win this prize if one was looking at multipliers. Less than 10 mins on foot, about an hour by train.

..... but if you walk from Upper Warlingham to Whyteleafe at least that way most of the route is downhill!

 

[Harvester]

Waterloo East to Waterloo, about half a mile as the crow flies! Overground route with changes would, I think, be via London Bridge-Peckham Rye-Clapham Junction?

 

[Rescars]

It looks like a tour via East Croydon and Redhill is needed to get from Edenbridge to Edenbridge Town by train. The non-rail route is well under half a mile.

 

[DelW]

How about London St. Pancras to London Kings Cross? A few meters by foot (as the pigeon walks?) but 2 trains and a change at Finsbury Park by rail - about 5 miles.

If you start from Euston instead, Kings Cross is about 10 minutes walk, but the shortest National Rail route I can see is via Nuneaton, Leicester and Peterborough.

(Edited to specify National Rail not tube).

 

[Rescars]

If you start from Euston instead, Kings Cross is about 10 minutes walk, but the shortest rail route I can see is via Nuneaton, Leicester and Peterborough.

Or if you are happy below ground, you could always go one way on the Northern Line and come back on the Victoria! Non-stop on both routes! Strangely, you be going southbound on both legs of your journey.