Disused Lines With Track Still In Situ

[Smardale]

What’s the longest stretch of disused railway that you can think of with track still in place?  (And optional bonus: why wasn’t it lifted?)

it would be interesting to find the longest ones in the country (especially if there aren’t preservation/reopening schemes attached, as is often the case!)

[Shropshire Lad]

The West Midlands Metro perhaps 🙄

[big jim]

There’s the bit between Gobowen and Oswestry, that continues beyond there but is now a heritage railway so not sure if you should count the whole lot

 

the east/west line between Claydon was in situ for years but that’s now being rebuilt and relayed 

 

the ironbridge branch is mothballed and in situ, supposedly reopening to allow spoil to be removed from the old power station, by the time they ever decide to do something with it the demolition company could have dug the waste out with spoons took it all out up their trouser legs!

 

 

[The Evil Bus Driver]

18 minutes ago, big jim said:

There’s the bit between Gobowen and Oswestry, that continues beyond there but is now a heritage railway so not sure if you should count the whole lot

 

the east/west line between Claydon was in situ for years but that’s now being rebuilt and relayed 

 

the ironbridge branch is mothballed and in situ, supposedly reopening to allow spoil to be removed from the old power station, by the time they ever decide to do something with it the demolition company could have dug the waste out with spoons took it all out up their trouser legs!

 

 

There's an idea. Transport it all yto the GCR to help build the embankment on their link.

[4630]

The Hamworthy branch in Dorset has been 'out of use' for several years, although there has been talk of it being reactivated for new traffic through Hamworthy Quay and some track work has recently taken place by Network Rail...

 

 

signals are still lit and the evidence of recent limited sleeper replacement and reballasting is shown here...

 

 

 

... although the connection to the mainline at Hamworthy is currently severed.

 

 

These photos were taken on 4th May 2022.

[Halvarras]

Following the last train to the Moorswater cement terminal off the Looe branch in Cornwall in late November 2020, vegetation is slowly (or perhaps not so slowly) reclaiming the Coombe Junction to Moorswater stretch. Well, it was never far away even when the trains were running.....!

A recent photo from Lamellion bridge appeared on the Cornwall Railway Society website - scroll down to 18th May (NB copyright applies):

 

http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/latest-input--news--old-pictures-etc/previous/2

 

[luckymucklebackit]

Dalrymple Junction to Dalmellington is still in place long after the coal loading facility closed.  Ayrshire Preservation Society are working to use the south end of the branch.

 

Jim

[KeithMacdonald]

24 minutes ago, Halvarras said:

Following the last train to the Moorswater cement terminal off the Looe branch in Cornwall in late November 2020, vegetation is slowly (or perhaps not so slowly) reclaiming the Coombe Junction to Moorswater stretch

 

Here's one the CRS prepared earlier, while it was still being used (2016)

http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/moorswater-cement-2016.html

 

[Morello Cherry]

Trawsfynydd Branch?

[Wickham Green too]

The whole Hayes Line from Lewisham is closed over the extended Bank Holiday - does that count ? ............ could be disqualified as I guess there are bits of track missing.

[37114]

Portishead from Portbury?

[Dava]

Is there still track on the Portishead branch?

[Northroader]

If you go south from Radstock on the old GWR Route, there’s one track still in place, with tall trees growing up between the rails. Near the south end it joins into an active line from an aggregate quarry for the rest of the route to Frome. There’s an old brake van dual fitted for the quarry trains which was pushed away up this line and abandoned, now just a burnt out shell.

 

edit: re the last query, yes, the track is still there from  Portishead to the Junction with the portbury dock line, but it’s in pretty ropey condition, overgrown, poor drainage,  rotting sleepers. 

Edited June 2, 2022 by Northroader

[Hibelroad]

Central Anglesey railway, 17.5 miles ?

[KeithMacdonald]

I'm not sure if this one is disused or not. What does the team think?

 

It's the seven-mile branch line from Andover to Ludgershall MOD depot. Aprt from the Swindon & Cricklade Heritage Railway, it's all that remains of the Midland and Southwestern Junction Railway.

 

"Officially" closed even to freight traffic in 2015, so one would assume disused. But once a year or so GBRF shunts a single wagon from Andover to Ludgershall and back again. Is that a contractual obligation, or the MoD maintaining running rights?

 

 

[Northroader]

Probably to keep the line in working order for when WW3 breaks out.

[2mmMark]

28 minutes ago, Northroader said:

Probably to keep the line in working order for when WW3 breaks out.

Some tricky times ahead then. We'll need some coal to keep the strategic steam reserve working.  Won' t get far burning Harbottle's underpants and signs for Cheltenham.

 

Edited June 2, 2022 by 2mmMark

[Colin_McLeod]

Lisburn to Antrim  c20 miles

 

 

Don't walk on it though as NIR still run the occasional train.

Edited June 2, 2022 by Colin_McLeod
Safety message.

[Lacathedrale]

5 hours ago, Morello Cherry said:

Trawsfynydd Branch?

 

Stumbled upon this while staying by Gellilydan - it was most pecular to be walking down a country lane only to fine a bunch of bullhead track and a single line branch!

[Ncarter2]

7 hours ago, 4630 said:

The Hamworthy branch in Dorset has been 'out of use' for several years, although there has been talk of it being reactivated for new traffic through Hamworthy Quay and some track work has recently taken place by Network Rail...

 

 

signals are still lit and the evidence of recent limited sleeper replacement and reballasting is shown here...

 

 

 

... although the connection to the mainline at Hamworthy is currently severed.

 

 

These photos were taken on 4th May 2022.

2018 if I recall was the last scheduled train down there, though the Yellow fleet does visit now and then, when reliability isn’t an issue, but that’s another story. 
Plans are progressing well for a regular flow to start again. 

[Ncarter2]

1 hour ago, KeithMacdonald said:

I'm not sure if this one is disused or not. What does the team think?

 

It's the seven-mile branch line from Andover to Ludgershall MOD depot. Aprt from the Swindon & Cricklade Heritage Railway, it's all that remains of the Midland and Southwestern Junction Railway.

 

"Officially" closed even to freight traffic in 2015, so one would assume disused. But once a year or so GBRF shunts a single wagon from Andover to Ludgershall and back again. Is that a contractual obligation, or the MoD maintaining running rights?

 

 

Technically it is still an open, active line. It’s still maintained to the relevant standards as well. It does see the Yellow fleet in addition to other ad hoc workings. 

[Wickham Green too]

Went down to Ludgershall and back on the Hastings Unit not many years back ........ ABSOLUTELY NO PHOTOS to be taken 'cos it's all top secret military stuff ...................... but then there was absolutely nothing to take photos OF apart from one diesel loco and lots of empty yards : plenty of piccies taken by the train crew and squaddies tho'.

[russ p]

Wisbech branch is quite long and still in situ 

[Ray M]

Not so much a main line.

But i bet there is quite a few miles of the stuff, under this lot.

Healey Mills.

[Ray M]