Trivia - If you had 100 miles of track....?

[4F89]

All Lincolnshire lines from firsby, + oswestry to whitchurch so I dont have to drive to work!

 

[Calthrop]

Assuming that lines in the Irish Republic may be part of the deal (my "wish" involving same, has also a small UK element) -- as an alternative to my all-English ideas in an earlier post, I'm having thoughts of taking advantage of the "no-strings" offer of 100 miles: to bring back into being in its entirety, the 3ft gauge Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway. This system conveniently totalled 99 miles (I'll forfeit the balance of one mile) -- running from Londonderry to Tooban Junction, splitting there into routes to Letterkenny and thence Burtonport; and Buncrana and thence Carndonagh. Lines through much magnificently wild and beautiful scenery, doing some spectacular things to traverse same.

The system's first three miles or so out of Londonderry: in Northern Ireland -- then crossing into the Republic (County Donegal). I'm taking it that the magical processes which allow us to reinstate abandoned railways, no matter what physical obstructions may now be there; would equally handwave-away any problems which might be attendant on lines crossing the border in Ireland, in the wake of political nonsense arisen in the past few years.

 

[Tomos y Tanc]

The OP writes of "a bit of lighthearted fun": which I've construed as this exercise being in the realms of magic -- with nothing which has, in real life, been done on the lines' routes subsequent to their closure; being an obstacle or problem ! OP includes in his list, Bangor -- Afonwen: I'd considered -- including from first-hand observation -- the Bangor to Caernarfon part of that route, to be obstructed by post-closure development, to the point of semi-obliteration.

That's very pessimistic view. Most of the trackbed is still in use as a long distance footpath. The Caernarfon station site has a supermarket built on it and a new alignment would be required at Felinheli, but an alternative route is available. The Campaign for Better Transport estimated in 2019 that reopening would cost £63–£117 million, equating to £9 million – £16.7 million per mile. I have no idea if they're right but that figure is hardly in the "realms of magic".

I'm confining my hundred miles to Wales and would go for a number of short extentions -

Llangollen - Ruabon connecting the LlR with the national network.

Bangor- Caernarfon

Gaerwen- Llangefni

Aberdare - Hirwaun

Waterhall - Llantrisant

Maesteg - Nantyffyllon

Pantyffynnon - Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen

 

[Calthrop]

That's very pessimistic view. Most of the trackbed is still in use as a long distance footpath. The Caernarfon station site has a supermarket built on it and a new alignment would be required at Felinheli, but an alternative route is available. The Campaign for Better Transport estimated in 2019 that reopening would cost £63–£117 million, equating to £9 million – £16.7 million per mile. I have no idea if they're right but that figure is hardly in the "realms of magic".

I'm confining my hundred miles to Wales and would go for a number of short extentions [SNIP]

I'd be glad to turn out to be wrong -- my feelings concerning Bangor to Caernarfon, largely arising from a trip I made a number of years ago, to the then incomplete Welsh Highland: travelled by bus between Bangor and Caernarfon; and what I could see form the road, of reckonable conditions vis-a-vis the old rail route -- had me making an inexpert assessment, "there's no way on God's wide earth, that a railway between these towns could ever be reinstated".

I now have a yen to try yet another exercise; re my choice of 100 miles in Wales to bring back...

 

[beardedbrit]

Including the extension Tollesbury -- Tollesbury Pier?

Well nauturally, to connect to the very busy ferry across the Blackwater River

 

[lancastrian]

Skipton to Colne
Burscough loops
Newcastle to Ashington
Okehampton to Bere Alston
Leeds to Wetherby
Harrogate to Northallerton
Chinley to Matlock
Honeybourne to Stratford upon Avon
Wisbech to March
Spalding to Boston
Dyce to Fraserburgh & Peterhead

I think that uses my 100 miles up, although the last one might push it over.

 

[Calthrop]

My choice -- as threatened -- for a Welsh version of the OP's scenario; actually, in Wales plus an adjoining bit of England -- this latter featuring part of a branch-line complex which I've always liked, and assuming correct measuring on my part: making up pretty well exactly, the 100 miles.

Moat Lane Junction -- Llanidloes -- Builth Road (Low Level) -- Three Cocks Junction -- Talyllyn Junction -- Pontsticill Junction -- Merthyr by way of the B & M / LNW Joint section via Cefn Coed; connecting in one way or another with the national system, at Merthyr. (Some way to be found, of dealing with the Brecon Mountain Railway -- either dual-gauge, with the two undertakings' trains accommodating each other; or -- this is a "universe" in which anything is possible -- buying up the BMR and relocating it to some other closed section of its owners' choosing; perhaps connecting with my new rail enterprise?)

Talyllyn Junction -- Brecon

Three Cocks Junction -- Hay-on-Wye -- Eardisley -- Titley Junction -- Kington

 

[EllieAquitrain]

Northern Heights Line - Alexandra Palace to Finsbury Park.

Oi! That's my favourite walk during lockdown!

 

[D365]

Oi! That's my favourite walk during lockdown!

On a similar note, these are some of my favourite walking/cycle routes:

Skipton to Colne
Burscough loops
Newcastle to Ashington
Okehampton to Bere Alston
Leeds to Wetherby
Harrogate to Northallerton
Chinley to Matlock
Honeybourne to Stratford upon Avon
Wisbech to March
Spalding to Boston
Dyce to Fraserburgh & Peterhead