Scenic Railway Journeys -Under-rated and Over-rated

[mrcheek]

I was looking through some of my railway books the other day. I have several on a similar theme "See Britain by Train" "Britain from the Rails", "The Railway Route Book", "On the Slow Train" etc, which describe the best, most scenic railway journeys in Britain.

But they mostly cover the same routes, West Highland Line, Settle to Carlisle, Cumbrian Coast, Devon Coast, Inverness to Kyle, Cambrian Coast, and so on.

There seems to be a literary consensus on which journeys are the best. But are they right? Which journeys and routes are they missing? Which journeys and routes are they over-celebrating?

Basically, which are the most under-rated and over-rated scenic journeys in Britain, according to regular rail travellers like those of us on this forum?

For me, the most under-rated are the Welsh Valley Lines. Hardly ever mentioned among the best journeys, but some of the views are spectacular. Especially heading to Rhymney.

Over- rated? Has to be Settle to Carlisle. Sure, some great views, and some great viaducts, but I think people over-rate the experience by getting caught up in the line's (admittedly interesting) history. And when you're on the train, you can hardly see the awesomeness of the viaducts!

What do other people think?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

We had this a while back, may be worth a read.

Overrated - http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=67847&highlight=rated
Underrated - http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=67843&highlight=rated

 

[Beveridges]

Overrated - Ffestiniog Railway, found nothing great about it when I checked it out back in Sept 2009. S&C is overrated, the way people go on about it you'd think the entire line is scenic, but the northern half of the route is not that good.

 

[swcovas]

Yes, this has come up before but I'll still repeat what I've said previously and beat the drum for Swansea-Carmarthen.....just keep your eyes closed coming out of Swansea.

 

[asylumxl]

TBH the Devon Coast isn't all that great. I prefer when it goes inland. Totnes to Plymouth is a nice bit of line with high, curving viaducts over trees .

 

[Wath Yard]

I agree that the Settle & Carlisle is seriously overrated. It's pretty boring for most of it. I would also class the Heart of Wales line a very overrated.

One of my favourite stretches of line is Southampton - Bournemouth. The Test Estuary, followed by the New Forest. Not spectacular by a very pleasant journey.

 

[Buttsy]

Overrated - Ffestiniog Railway, found nothing great about it when I checked it out back in Sept 2009. S&C is overrated, the way people go on about it you'd think the entire line is scenic, but the northern half of the route is not that good.

S&C is best done North to South, that way the scenery builds up slowly to Dentdale, Ribblehead and Horton.

 

[Searle]

Someone mentioned it in the Overrated lines, but I definitely think it's Underrated; Dawlish Sea Wall. I did it on a sunny September, with my head out of a HST, was the best ride so far, loved it so much

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Having done the line via Dawlish a good few times, it was nice to see it looking the other way from the Exmouth line. It sticks to the coast for quite a long way too, certainly both sides of Exton. Other underrated ones I'd say are Ayr-Stranraer and the Arun Valley. Overrated would be S&C (for the reasons others have said) and I do think sometimes the Dawlish Sea Wall is spoken of a little too much.

 

[ATW Alex 101]

Apparently the DLR is a very underrated line and is ok in some parts.
The S&C is nice but I got a bit mislead and like somebody has pointed out, the Northern half isn't as scenic as some people say it is, still very nice though.
The Cumbrian coast isn't anything impressive.

Underrated is the WCML near Carlisle way,Manchester Vic-Leeds via Todmorden, St Ives bay line, and I actually quite like the district line past Plaistow!

 

[mrcheek]

Yes, this has come up before but I'll still repeat what I've said previously and beat the drum for Swansea-Carmarthen.....just keep your eyes closed coming out of Swansea.

I was lucky, the only time I did this route, it was on the Cardiff to Fishguard service that avoids Swansea, so I got the best part of the journey without the worst part.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I agree that the Settle & Carlisle is seriously overrated. It's pretty boring for most of it. I would also class the Heart of Wales line a very overrated.

One of my favourite stretches of line is Southampton - Bournemouth. The Test Estuary, followed by the New Forest. Not spectacular by a very pleasant journey.

Why stop at Bournemouth? The journey through Poole and onto Weymouth is also superb, another favourite of mine

 

[Mr Sam]

St Earth - St Ives

will always be my favourite rail journey

 

[shedman]

I did the S & C upfront in the summer and was bitterly disappointed. Riding upfront is never interesting for me anyway but I thought the route would make it better, how wrong I was. My suggestion for underrated is going to be the Piccadilly - Hadfield line. Once you're out of the urban sprawl of Manchester I think it is great.

 

[D1009]

TBH the Devon Coast isn't all that great. I prefer when it goes inland. Totnes to Plymouth is a nice bit of line with high, curving viaducts over trees .

You could say that about most of the rest of the route to Penzance. I don't think many would describe the Devon coast as "not great".

 

[asylumxl]

You could say that about most of the rest of the route to Penzance. I don't think many would describe the Devon coast as "not great".

It's far nicer to be on the track side than on the train. Besides, once you get close to Teignmouth the industrial buildings don't seem very scenic.

 

[W-on-Sea]

Overrated : Heart of Wales
Underrated: c2c (specifically between Chalkwell & Pitsea, but also some parts of the stretch across the marshes from there as far down as Tilbury. Definitely some of the parts near lakes, and the Bata township at East Tilbury). An evocative, sometimes melancholic, sometimes intensely beautiful landscape, largely overlooked and unappreciated, on the very doorstep of London

(Have to agree about what I've seen of the Valley Lines too)

 

[43074]

I will agree with what everyone has said about the Settle & Carlisle: it is very overrated and best appreciated from the lineside - Ribblehead was more splendid from the lineside than it was from the train, in my opinion.

I think the East Coast Main Line between Morpeth and Berwick is one of my favourite stretches of coastal railway - certainly more impressive than the Dawlish Sea Wall, for the simple reason that despite having the OLE, it blends in with it's surroundings better.

The Bittern line between Cromer and Sheringham is nice too.

 

[snail]

Overrated - Ffestiniog Railway, found nothing great about it when I checked it out back in Sept 2009.

Yes, Vale of Rheidol is much better (as I was reminded when watching Portillo the other night )

 

[yorksrob]

For all those dissing the S&C, you should see it on a winters day glistening with snow. It is nice from the lineside, but for me there's nothing quite like travelling through the hills !

 

[jnjkerbin]

I really love all the London - South Coast routes; the SWML, Arun Valley, Brighton, and my favourite (and local!), the Hastings Line! Underated, all of them.

 

[Statto]

North Wales Coast line is underrated imo, makes its way near the River Dee near Shotton up to Point Of Ayr & from Towyn to just before Bangor most of the line is next to the Sea or you have Sea views, even in Anglesey you see the Mountains of Snowdonia approaching or disappearing[depending on which direction you're going in].

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Under-rated:
The Penistone Line- From Longroyd Bridge viaduct with the views (best enjoyed from the priority seats opposite the door in a 144 DMS imho!) of the industrial lower Colne valley, into Lockwood and past the David Brown factory before disappearing into a leafy cutting and emerging onto the magnificent Lockwood viaduct over the Holme valley, which you then follow up to Brockholes. After Thurstonland tunnel, a more agricultural landscape takes over for the rest of the run to Penistone... (probably not much point in going beyond there, mind!).

Also worth a mention- Standedge, especially in snow; and Welsh Marches.

Over-rated:
Caldervale- The valley is too narrow for the amazing views like on Standedge (and chances are you won't see much anyway through the grimy 153/155 windows!)... Guess really though, I'm just jealous that the Calder Valley and Copy Pit seem to get way more charters through, meaning less chance of photting from my home station!

 

[Fred26]

Underrated: c2c (specifically between Chalkwell & Pitsea, but also some parts of the stretch across the marshes from there as far down as Tilbury. Definitely some of the parts near lakes, and the Bata township at East Tilbury). An evocative, sometimes melancholic, sometimes intensely beautiful landscape, largely overlooked and unappreciated, on the very doorstep of London.

I wondered whether anyone else thought that about the c2c line. I love that stretch - Hadleigh Castle and the downs on one side, the estuary on the other. I always watch it pass.

 

[Buttsy]

The run from Goodrington Sands to Kingswear is a lovely route, possibly the best on a heritage railway...

 

[gazthomas]

I have a book "Great Train Journeys of the West". In addition to the usually, West Highland Line, various in Europe and North America would you believe they've included the line from Bletchley to Bedford! I've done it twice and while it has a certain charm it wasn't great!

 

[tsr]

The Tattenham Corner branch has some very underrated views of the local commons and rolling downlands, interspersed with pleasant tree-lined sections - in addition, it's within the furthest outskirts of Greater London and can all be done on Oyster. The branch has an interesting history, too.

Most of the passengers are well-behaved, but there is a small chance of ruffians. To avoid any issues, you can often find an empty coach mid-morning.

 

[Starmill]

Over- rated? Has to be Settle to Carlisle. Sure, some great views, and some great viaducts, but I think people over-rate the experience by getting caught up in the line's (admittedly interesting) history. And when you're on the train, you can hardly see the awesomeness of the viaducts!

What do other people think?

Agree with you on that one. S&C was... um... a smidge boring actually. I arrived in Carslilse wishing for all the world that Northern had done a bit more to refurbish their 158s.

Sadly, despite it being a clear day in Leeds, by the time we got to Ribblehead there was thick fog, despite this being last summer. Biggest missed opportunity was not going on a 333 and joining S&C at Skipton. Oh well.

From what I've seen of the Cambrian Coast, and that's not all of it, but I've had quite a few trips, it's far more interesting (and ATW have treated their 158s far better, if that's any sway on it)!

 

[Requeststop]

Have to agree with another poster that St.Erth - St-Ives is the best. I'm biased though as it is my local line back in the UK.

Over-rated for me has to be Perth - Inverness. One or two good bit's I can recall, but overall a boring run.

One that had my heart racing was Inverness - Strathcarron. In Feb/March with snow on the mountains, deer at the Loch-side, and wonderful views all the way. Sit on the left going forwards. One day I will complete the line.

I was wondering, is sitting left going forwards always the best way to ride a line? Certainly from Paddington to Penzance, I'd always opt for left forward. From St Erth to St Ives right forwards. Does anyone like to ride backwards for scenery? What are peoples recommendations for their favourite rides?

 

[General Zod]

From a southern perspective I think the Richmond-Stratford / Clapham-Stratford NLL /WLL is very much under-rated. You get to see some great views of other lines and interesting junctions enroute. Same applies to the Gospel-Oak to Barking line and stretch of line between Paddington and Northolt junction.

 

[Rhydgaled]

The Heart Of Wales I think was over-rated, apart from a few bits of industrial heritage at the southern-most end all I could see most of the time was banks or thick foilage almost touching the train. Interesting for a few minutes but not for very much longer. There's some nice scenary around though, you just can't see much of it from the train sadly.

Having heard very few comments about the Cambrian Coast Line (Dovey Junction to Pwllheli) being scenic before I went up there, I would have to say it is under-rated. On a sunny day at least, it was great (except the last bit from Porthmadog to Pwllheli). Even parts of the Cambrian main line (Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury) are quite scenic compared to the HOWL, but it doesn't compare to something like the Cambrian Coast or even the Settle-Carlise.

Speaking of which, in the sun I did find it (S&C) scenic. I posibily had had a little too much of a good thing by the end of it but it was really quite good. If I remember rightly my return leg (on the WCML down to Preston) had a few interesting veiws too (although I could only really see out of one side of the train due to the Pendo's small windows).

I was lucky, the only time I did this route, it was on the Cardiff to Fishguard service that avoids Swansea, so I got the best part of the journey without the worst part.

I've done that once too. Most of the Swansea District Line from Britton Ferry to Llanelli was rather interesting, I'd say that's definitly under-rated especially the view down the valley from the viaduct just before you reach the tracks shared by HOWL services (just a shame about the M4 if you look the other way on said viaduct). Getting out of Swansea on the normal trains may not have visual value, but (although it's actually been a while since I've done it) it's not particularly ugly either as far as I remember. Anyway, then you get Llanelli - Carmarthen, a great stretch of scenic line (esspecially the bit near Ferryside) that is certainlly under-rated. Just a shame about the double row of electricity pylons that cross overhead about halfway, surely when they have so many cables need a double row of pylons the cost of burrying wouldn't be much higher than installing all that extra metalwork. Anyway, once past Carmarthen the line on to Whitland and Clarbeston Road is nothing special (to me at any rate, but I've travelled Clunderwen/Whitland to Carmarthen a lot), being pleasantly rural but just plain-old fields. Clarbeston Road to Fishguard gets a bit more interesting, but probably doesn't hold a candle to the Cambrian Coast or Llanelli - Carmarthen.