I'll be honest mate the ECML, certainly south of Leeds and York does surprise me. What do you like about it? Genuine question, not being snarky myself.
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What is your Favorite line.
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I'll be honest mate the ECML, certainly south of Leeds and York does surprise me. What do you like about it? Genuine question, not being snarky myself.
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anti-pacer
Established Member
I like the whole line, from suburban North London and Herts, through to the flat Cambridgeshire countryside and the little isolated church. This time of year you also get plenty of green and yellow fields around the East Midlands stretch. After the power stations of Yorkshire give way to historic York, soon after you have the White Horse of Helmsley.
Passing high up over Durham with its dominating cathedral I like, then the Angel of the North, followed by the Tyne Bridge. Northumberland offers glimpses of the sea and Holy Island, and the lovely little town of Berwick. After the border it hugs the coast, giving way to lovely agricultural East Lothian with views over to Bass Rock and the "Kingdom of Fife", and then majestic Edinburgh.
I just love the variety, and sitting in the UK's best First Class helps too. I find that line really relaxing and as it's my link to London and Scotland, it means a good day out or a few days break is at the end of it.
Fair play mate, you sell it very well.
anti-pacer
Established Member
Haha, thank you.
To be honest mate I haven't done the southern section for a number of years. One trip I do like to do when I get a rest day during the week is a Virgin Return from Liverpool to Crewe and then a return from Crewe to Chester. I quite like a trip out across the Cheshire plain. I'll get lunch and a pint or two in Chester. A few mates ask why I don't just get Merseyrail to Chester as it is cheaper and quicker, the answer is I just like the journey.
For me, lakeside and haverthwaite railway, visit several times a year because its near, good value, the kids love it, and the smell of coal smoke.
Heysham Branch, goes by my house, it needs electrifying and a freight service to the port and maybe support the bay tunnel construction traffic, and of course a direct train to London to give it some operational interest, but I like it all the same, with its half a train a week.
Wakefield/Dearne Valley Line. Spent my youth ticking off 56s and wishing a 58 would pass but never did, and yet the last thing I saw on the line was warship and a hoover together, that would have blown my teenage mind.
And of course the Woodhead. The most fascinating of lines and I missed it by a couple of short years, but wath hump was on my patch and I spent time walking langdondale while a lot of the kit was still in place. So sad
Heysham Branch, goes by my house, it needs electrifying and a freight service to the port and maybe support the bay tunnel construction traffic, and of course a direct train to London to give it some operational interest, but I like it all the same, with its half a train a week.
Wakefield/Dearne Valley Line. Spent my youth ticking off 56s and wishing a 58 would pass but never did, and yet the last thing I saw on the line was warship and a hoover together, that would have blown my teenage mind.
And of course the Woodhead. The most fascinating of lines and I missed it by a couple of short years, but wath hump was on my patch and I spent time walking langdondale while a lot of the kit was still in place. So sad
ian959
Member
Wolverhampton - Birmingham New Street... seriously, it ALWAYS makes me glad I no longer live there!
Cairns - Forsayth: gem of a train journey to nowhere and back
Perth - Adelaide: the route of The Indian Pacific
Cairns - Forsayth: gem of a train journey to nowhere and back
Perth - Adelaide: the route of The Indian Pacific
3141
Established Member
1) The line to Overton, in either direction, because it gets me home.
2) Minehead to Taunton, because we lived in Minehead when I was a young child and that's where I took the first train journeys that I can remember.
2) Minehead to Taunton, because we lived in Minehead when I was a young child and that's where I took the first train journeys that I can remember.
grumbeast
New Member
In the UK, I've always loved the Welsh Marches line and the Gloucester -> STJ line down the bank of the Severn.
Overseas, While the train through the Rockies in Canada is spectacular, I think I prefer the line taken by the 'Ocean' from Halifax to Montreal, especially in northern New Brunswick as it runs along the St Lawrence between Bathurst and Matapedia.. its a pity that its late in the day / overnight when you generally travel over it. Although I do have very pleasant memories of being in a sleeper on my way to see my wife who was in Quebec City, listening to the sounds of the train and the grade crossings while I dozed
Overseas, While the train through the Rockies in Canada is spectacular, I think I prefer the line taken by the 'Ocean' from Halifax to Montreal, especially in northern New Brunswick as it runs along the St Lawrence between Bathurst and Matapedia.. its a pity that its late in the day / overnight when you generally travel over it. Although I do have very pleasant memories of being in a sleeper on my way to see my wife who was in Quebec City, listening to the sounds of the train and the grade crossings while I dozed
Essan
Member
The West Highland Line, particularly after the Fort, is easily my favourite for so many reasons. But only when heading north 
NorthKent1989
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I have several favorite lines
SE London: The North Kent line, sometimes known as the Woolwich line, the main line for the Dartford/Medway routes, I grew up along this line in the 90s and when the slam door trains were being phased out, the Charing Cross to Gillingham service was the last service to still use them, I loved travelling from Gillingham through the Medway towns, to Gravesend, passing the Kentish/London suburbs at speed, I find it an underrated line myself.
South London: I like the Oxted lines, especially going into Victoria, it reminds me of alot of suburban lines north of the river where the tube provides the "stopping" service while The NR service provides the "fast/express" service, I especially enjoy the non stop run between
East Croydon and Clapham Junction, and the beautiful Wealden countryside too.
SW London: The Waterloo to Windsor/Reading line, similar in nature to the Woolwich line really,
The London to Aylesbury line is my absolute favourite line north of the Thames, the way it zooms all the way to Harrow in ten minutes from Marylebone, then the next thing you know its the countryside.
Outside London, I like the York to Leeds line, I spent some time in Knaresborough a few years ago and I used this line alot, I loved the bleakness of the route.
SE London: The North Kent line, sometimes known as the Woolwich line, the main line for the Dartford/Medway routes, I grew up along this line in the 90s and when the slam door trains were being phased out, the Charing Cross to Gillingham service was the last service to still use them, I loved travelling from Gillingham through the Medway towns, to Gravesend, passing the Kentish/London suburbs at speed, I find it an underrated line myself.
South London: I like the Oxted lines, especially going into Victoria, it reminds me of alot of suburban lines north of the river where the tube provides the "stopping" service while The NR service provides the "fast/express" service, I especially enjoy the non stop run between
East Croydon and Clapham Junction, and the beautiful Wealden countryside too.
SW London: The Waterloo to Windsor/Reading line, similar in nature to the Woolwich line really,
The London to Aylesbury line is my absolute favourite line north of the Thames, the way it zooms all the way to Harrow in ten minutes from Marylebone, then the next thing you know its the countryside.
Outside London, I like the York to Leeds line, I spent some time in Knaresborough a few years ago and I used this line alot, I loved the bleakness of the route.
Quite honestly the North Kent line would probably be bottom of my list but each to their own opinion!
The West Highland would have to be my favorite, Glasgow to Stranraer is lovely too, more locally the Purley to Tattenham Corner line is nice and the long straight between Ashford and Tonbridge on a fast train but sadly not many left now because of HS1.
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