Murican Posted July 14, 2021 Share Posted July 14, 2021 One of my personal pet projects is to review abandoned railroads in the United States, and speculate on what they might have been like had they survived as tourist or heritage railways. In your opinions, what are some abandoned British lines that would have made decent, if not superb, heritage railways. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
'CHARD Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 We can start with this beast! 3 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNER4479 Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 Peak District mainline through Millers Dale and Monsal Dale. Next question ... 2 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium rab Posted July 15, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 15, 2021 Wadebridge to Padstow ; great views of the river all the way. 3 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium spamcan61 Posted July 15, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 15, 2021 (edited) 18 minutes ago, rab said: Wadebridge to Padstow ; great views of the river all the way. Having walked and cycled this route a fair few times I have mixed feelings, in some ways it would be nice to take a train ride along the Camel estuary, but I do rather like being able to stop and admire the view or watch the changing tide, which would be trickier with no access to the line on foot. Edited July 15, 2021 by spamcan61 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kylestrome Posted July 15, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 15, 2021 The Ballachulish line? 1 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold BMacdermott Posted July 15, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 15, 2021 Hello everyone The Somerset & Dorset line. Brian 4 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 Whitby to Scarborough line Brit15 6 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tartaruga Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 Sidmouth and Budleigh Branch line 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted July 15, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 15, 2021 Longmoor military railway 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejstubbs Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 40 minutes ago, Kylestrome said: The Ballachulish line? The main problem with that is that you end up in Ballachulish (Oh, and the two major bridges at Connell & Creagan are now fully dedicated to road traffic - though that wasn't the case when the line was originally closed, of course.) If we're looking in that part of the world I'd suggest the line from Spean Bridge to Fort Augustus would be a more realistic proposition. Plenty of scope for tourist traffic to Loch Ness and access points along the Caledonian Canal I'd have thought, plus baggers for various hills along the route. And anything would be preferable to the godawful A82. 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Royal42 Posted July 15, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 15, 2021 43 minutes ago, BMacdermott said: Hello everyone The Somerset & Dorset line. Brian Yes indeed, all the way to the beach at Burnham on Sea. Mike Burnham on Sea 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stretch37266 Posted July 15, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 15, 2021 Wye Valley line,Chepstow to Monmouth 3 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Andy Kirkham Posted July 15, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 15, 2021 (edited) How about the Maidens and Dunure Light Railway (Ayr to Girvan along the coast)? Extensive sea views and It would have served Butlins at Heads of Ayr, Robert Burns's birthplace at Alloway, Culzean Castle and Turnberry golf course. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maidens_and_Dunure_Light_Railway Possibly the only light railway to have enjoyed a sleeping car service. Edited July 15, 2021 by Andy Kirkham 3 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Legend Posted July 15, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 15, 2021 Callendar to Crianlarich . Spectacular But also agree with Ballachulish 1 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hodgson Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 The Wye Valley line from Chepstow to Monmouth. The GWR ran day trips to Tintern specifically for tourists. Long after the line was closed to passengers in 1959 BR continued to serve quarries at Tintern and Tidenham, though these have now gone too. Too much has gone now for the route to be reopened unfortunately, https://www.flickr.com/photos/midlandexplorerboy/albums/72157624273048317/ 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Andy Hayter Posted July 15, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 15, 2021 1 hour ago, APOLLO said: Whitby to Scarborough line Brit15 I would extend that from Whitby to Middlesbrough - or strictly Saltburn Junction, since the Middlesbrough - Saltburn line is still fully open. Saltburn Junction - Boulby Potash Mine is open to freight and I had the pleasure of taking a passenger special over the route some 30 odd years ago. Skinningrove viaduct was spectacular as I think would the other viaducts down the line to Whitby - Sandsend et al. 2 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Legend Posted July 15, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 15, 2021 31 minutes ago, Andy Kirkham said: How about the Maidens and Dunure Light Railway (Ayr to Girvan along the coast)? Extensive sea views and It would have served Butlins at Heads of Ayr, Robert Burns's birthplace at Alloway, Culzean Castle and Turnberry golf course. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maidens_and_Dunure_Light_Railway Possibly the only light railway to have enjoyed a sleeping car service. Good one . Keep on forgetting about that one , but the views out over the Clyde towards Arran must have been spectacular . I used to do the audit of a Caravan Park that used part of the former trackbed . By coincidence the family will be heading to Girvan this Saturday for a day out . Will come back via coast route . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium spamcan61 Posted July 15, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 15, 2021 On a breathtaking/scary cliff views basis I'll nominate Weymouth to Easton, Portland. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Andy Kirkham Posted July 15, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 15, 2021 (edited) 3 minutes ago, spamcan61 said: On a breathtaking/scary cliff views basis I'll nominate Weymouth to Easton, Portland. Edited July 15, 2021 by Andy Kirkham 8 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyman7 Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 19 minutes ago, Andy Hayter said: I would extend that from Whitby to Middlesbrough - or strictly Saltburn Junction, since the Middlesbrough - Saltburn line is still fully open. Saltburn Junction - Boulby Potash Mine is open to freight and I had the pleasure of taking a passenger special over the route some 30 odd years ago. Skinningrove viaduct was spectacular as I think would the other viaducts down the line to Whitby - Sandsend et al. A beautiful route but the structures and earthworks were marginal all the way. A journey over Sandsend viaduct on a windy day strikes me as slightly scary.... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kylestrome Posted July 15, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 15, 2021 1 hour ago, ejstubbs said: The main problem with that is that you end up in Ballachulish Yes, but what glorious scenery on the the way there! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Trevellan Posted July 15, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 15, 2021 The Ventnor West branch on the Isle of Wight was quite picturesque in places, but the final leg from St Lawrence to Ventnor was spectacular. 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted July 15, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 15, 2021 39 minutes ago, Andy Hayter said: I would extend that from Whitby to Middlesbrough - or strictly Saltburn Junction, since the Middlesbrough - Saltburn line is still fully open. Saltburn Junction - Boulby Potash Mine is open to freight and I had the pleasure of taking a passenger special over the route some 30 odd years ago. Skinningrove viaduct was spectacular as I think would the other viaducts down the line to Whitby - Sandsend et al. Unfortunately major geological problems occurred between Sandsend and kettleness tunnels ironically one of the reasons they gave to shut the line over sixty years ago. In the last 25 years the North portal of Sandsend collapsed and the trackbed has slipped towards the sea. If it had initially been preserved it may not have been still open today Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 Mid Wales Railway - Moat Lane down to Three Cocks - stunning scenery. The bit beyond to Newport isn't bad either! 2 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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