Which station(s) have gone the longest without seeing any freight/railtours?

[_toommm_]

When was the last test train at Manchester Airport (if any)?

There was meant to be one on the 31st:

Realtime Trains | 2Z03 0849 Crewe to Crewe | 31/07/2024

Real-time train running information for 2Z03 0849 departure from Crewe to Crewe on 31/07/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Before that, it was 23/07

livetrain 5603p

 

[JonathanH]

I remember seeing a railtour at Colne, a good few years ago, trailing back across the viaduct.

There was one at Colne on 4 September 2022 - The Ribble Ranger - see https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/20s/220904bl.htm

Also visited Blackpool South, and, the previous day, Manchester Airport.

 

[50002Superb]

Southport?

I went to Southport on a BLS Tour not long back

 

[Thornaby 37]

East London Line
Thameslink Core

Probably not since the 1960s in both cases

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

Greenford (the bay platform)?

One of the last photos I took on 35mm film was of 950001 in the bay at Greenford during March 2010.

 

[BrummieBobby]

How about a man in a hi-vi walking the route the same way they did it for the past 200 years before yellow trains were invented ?

Regarding Stourbridge, there used to be a bi-weekly cyclic line blockage for patrolling and light maintenance on the Stourbridge Town branch, usually taken around 0500 on a Sunday morning. Presumably this is still the arrangement.

Given the lack of signal protection on the branch, the COSS was protected by possession of the train staff for the duration of the work.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Regarding Stourbridge, there used to be a bi-weekly cyclic line blockage for patrolling and light maintenance on the Stourbridge Town branch, usually taken around 0500 on a Sunday morning. Presumably this is still the arrangement.

Given the first train (starting at Jn) Mon-Sat is at 05:50, but Sunday doesn't start until the 09:40 from Jn, there's certainly still time for it.

 

[A S Leib]

Questionable whether the IoW would count because it's a closed system isolated from the main network. If you do choose to count the IoW then I imagine it would be a very solid contender

How frequent are railtours on the island of Ireland in general? I wouldn't be surprised if Portrush, Dhu Varren and University stations have gone decades without any railtours or freight services.

 

[Alder]

How common are stuff on the Northern City line?

 

[b0b]

I never saw anything remotely interesting on the Hamilton Circe line - must be a contender

 

[devon_belle]

Can Quidhampton near Salisbury still accept trains?

 

[Lee_Again]

How common are stuff on the Northern City line?

 

[Ashley Hill]

Can Quidhampton near Salisbury still accept trains?

The pointwork into Quidhampton was renewed a couple of years ago,presumably its still aavailable for use.

 

[Gloster]

I don’t think that the tamper went along the pier at Ryde. That may not be a whole line, but it is between two stations.

 

[swt_passenger]

East London Line
Thameslink Core

Probably not since the 1960s in both cases

Well, that seems a long time.
Here's a 73 hauled test train on the ELL at Wapping, Whitechapel, Canada Water etc in 2023:

and a similar 73 hauled test train heading south on the up line, leaving the Thamslink core last month:

 

[Supercoss]

Here is 73 964 at St Pancras low level , the Thameslink route between Kentish Town and Farringdon ( “Moorgate Lines” ) are gauge cleared for class 31 , 33/2 and any sub class of 73 providing overhead line is de energised and 15mph speed restriction obeyed due to low height clearance.
Strangely the route from St Pancras low level through to Belle Isle ( link from/to Great Northern ecml) is not cleared for any locomotive operation through the Canal Tunnels which appears to have been overlooked on opening with only EMU stock assessed

 

[Peter0124]

I never saw anything remotely interesting on the Hamilton Circe line - must be a contender

I do remember Colas Prestwick to Grangemouth fuel tanks were sent that way in 2018 a few times. Think the regular route via Langloan Jn was shut.

As for railtours, you get regular visits of the Flying Scotsman stock to and from the Steele Yard near Hamilton West. IIRC a railtour did run through there in service in the last 2 years.