Impressive bits of line

[RochdalePioneers]

Took the old man on his first Pendolino trip on Saturday (Stockport - Euston and return). Of all the bits on the route, the run through Rugby is for me the most extreme bit of track I can think of.

Coming from the north, you absolutely thrash round the bend off the Trent Valley, the 390 speeding up if anything as we get full tilt round the bend with flanges squealing wildly. Then blasting through the platform road at 125mph (didn't through trains run outside the trainshed? When rebuilt was the up platform widened to be on the fast line?) before full tilt the other way.

And similar in reverse - its a fantastic few seconds of utter thrash. I can think of other sections of line that fascinate me - the run down the Cumbrian coast past Nethertown is one. But nothing as quick as this. Having ridden Eurostar thats obviously quicker, but with little drama.

 

[2030720310]

Dawlish for the sea views and some nice views around Lydney (Gloucester to Cardiff line) as well!

 

[me123]

Riding through Bealach Druim Uachdair in the Highlands is something I shall never forget. (Picture). It's amazing in the snow.

 

[asylumxl]

I kinda like the bash from Reading to London as you rush through the suburbs, though it's not of scenic beauty.

 

[WillPS]

Can't quite remember where, but somewhere between Worksop and Mansfield on the Robin Hood Line the scenery opens up to reveal a massive quarry. I was impressed.

 

[JustinStacey.x]

Here's an impressive bit of line

_____________________________

Har har har

 

[Mojo]

The Severn Beach line in Bristol was rated by Thomas Cook as one of the most interesting train journeys in the world. It's very good stopping at all the suburban stations, on parts of the route you get a great view over the City. You then go into the ~2km tunnel under the Downs just past Clifton Down station and enter alongside the river, like you're in a different part of the country until you reach industry at Avonmouth. Over the level crossing and a sharp curve to the right you run past the flour mill and the request stop at St Andrews Road station, originally opened during the First World War to serve a munitions factory, the station now backs on to a rail freight yard for DBS and there are piles of imported coal behind the platform for as far as the eye can see. You then run alongside the marshy banks of the River Severn on noisy and bouncy track (Pacers are the main traction on this line) with a great view of the river, wildlife and the new Severn Bridge. Arriving at Severn Beach is the place time forgot (bar the 90s houses on part of the old station). Once upon a time trains came here from all over the country for people to visit the "seaside," now there is a decaying coin operated "amusement park" (I've never seen it open) and you can also join one of the longest riverside cycle paths in the country.

And all for just £3 return or £1.50 children/Railcards.

 

[Pumbaa]

Non-Pendo: WHL. It really is gorgeous.
Pendo: Carlisle - Glasgow. 125, full tilt all over the shop and a good hour of breathtaking scenery - lovely stuff.

 

[JustinStacey.x]

On a serious note I loved the Glasgow to Inverness route. More impressive to me than the WHL especially with the remnants of old stations it almost felt like a wild west movie. Newton station in Lanark is also pretty impressive, on the Newton side you have the 314s, 318s and 334s running the slow commuter services and the Lanark ones that come by Motherwell from the south, and on the other line, the fast one, you get the 334s and 318s that come by Motherwell from the North and then all of the WCML traffic that is going into Glasgow such as Pendolinos, Voyagers, Intercity 225s, freights, HST and more.

If you go there on a good day and have a beady eye you can catch an amazing amount of traffic.

 

[Lampshade]

Non-Pendo: The Hazel Grove - Buxton section of the Buxton line, so much scenery around New Mills.

Pendo: Heading out towards Macclesfield/Stoke from Manchester, you just hear this almighty roar as the train picks up speed

 

[yorkie]

(didn't through trains run outside the trainshed? When rebuilt was the up platform widened to be on the fast line?) .

Yes the platforms used to be in the middle with the through lines outside.

The platform roads were 20mph maximum yet had yellow lines as far from the platform edge as you could imagine, and if anyone dared to step one foot beyond the yellow line as a train approached at 20mph then Jeffrey would throw a major wobbler and start shouting. It's probably been 4 years since I stepped foot on a platform at Rugby though, I doubt I'd recognise the place now!

 

[90019]

The Far North Line (Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh), on an FSR 158.
Great train, great route, with amazing scenery. I think I'd say I prefer it over the WHL.

 

[EM2]

The southern approach to Berwick-upon-Tweed on the ECML is just stunning.

 

[87031]

Lune Gorge with an 87 screaming away up top sittin in the front coach on a summers morning just superb. Its the combination of traction and scenery and bombing past cars on the M6

 

[sheff'd victoria]

Settle to Carlisle is worth every penny

 

[starrymarkb]

Not UK but the Lotschberg mountain route...

 

[jopsuk]

The line to the North of Berwick, as it runs along the coast, is fantastic- a cliff top tide with vertiginous views (especially if you're on the left hand side heading south) to the sea below.

 

[CallySleeperKid]

The Far North Line (Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh), on an FSR 158.
Great train, great route, with amazing scenery. I think I'd say I prefer it over the WHL.

Agree, that's my number one.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The southern approach to Berwick-upon-Tweed on the ECML is just stunning.

And that's my number two!

 

[Waverley125]

Far North line is actuall Inverness-Wick...

Inverness-Kyle of Lochalsh is the Kyle line. TBH I prefer the WHL.

But in order:

1) Mallaig-Fort William-Helensburgh Upper (West Highland Line)

2) Morpeth-Dunbar

3) Halifax-Rochdale (a highly underrated line, very scenic through Calderdale)

 

[mrcheek]

Im astonished that nobody has yet mentioned my favourite, the Cumbria Coast. Like Dawlish, only much, much longer!

 

[Waddon]

Not in the same league as any of the above to be sure, but I've always been partial to the Docklands Light Railway - all that elevation, plus those sharp corners, steep inclines and over-complicated flyovers winding in and out of all that modern architecture. If only it had some loco hauled trains and some freight, it would be perfect

 

[generalvegitable]

...If only it had some loco hauled trains and some freight, it would be perfect

no that would ruin it, I think that it is perfect as it is with the automatic multiple units and the way that it is elevated and ultra modern has always driven me to use it almost every time I have been to london, having freight and locos would spoil the modern and urban atmosphere

 

[tbtc]

The whole of the Edinburgh - Aberdeen line is nice, but especially Dalmeny to Kinghorn - you get The Bridge and beautiful coastline through Burntisland etc

Or, more locally, Barnsley to Huddersfield

 

[yorksrob]

For scenery I think the St Ives branch is short but beautiful, snakeing around the Cornwall coast - well worth a visit if you're in the area.
I've also always found the approach to Clapham Junction from Battersea in the rush hour quite impressive for shear numbers of trains - particularily in the days of slammers.

 

[philjo]

The Whitby line is good - especially the final approach into Whitby.

Also, the Cambrian coast line on the section crossing Barmouth Bridge

 

[whoshotjimmi]

How much does the type of train matter in these situations? Settle to carlisle is great on a 156 - not so enjoyable on a pacer or 153.

Personally, i really love the racetrack between York and Donny. I agree, it is in the middle of scenic nothing! But it is just a feeling one gets on that particular stretch of line. In terms of scenery, can one really argue with the kyle line? I'm not sure how much better scenery can get from a train window. There are definitely other special parts of lines dotted around everywhere - the forth bridge; the snowdon mountain railway etc - someone mentioned the calder valley. Surprisingly beautiful between Halifax and Walsden. It is let down badly by Rochdale and Bradford though.....

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Riding through Bealach Druim Uachdair in the Highlands is something I shall never forget. (Picture). It's amazing in the snow.

Yes! But the best bit is just before you get to the pass (going north) when you have that blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment when a break in the mountains on the SW give you a brief glimpse down the length of Loch Garry. Then its gone.

The line to the North of Berwick, as it runs along the coast, is fantastic- a cliff top tide with vertiginous views (especially if you're on the left hand side heading south) to the sea below.

Yes! Another of my favourites! You get a quick glimpse of a ruined stone house halfway down the cliffs which you can actually walk to (with care) from Berwick station.

So between the 2 of these posts, can I just elect the entire line between Alnmouth and Inverness and get all the good bits in between too? (like the Falkirk Wheel, the Royal Border Bridge, Strathspey railway, the sealed up Penmanshiel tunnel, the Culloden viaduct, Lindisfarne and the Ratheugh Folly, the Killecrankie Pass (the linespeed is slower going north on account of the sharp drop on the west side!) geez, where do I stop?

 

[Bittern]

On a serious note I loved the Glasgow to Inverness route.

Did it recently and is my favourite journey to date.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Riding through Bealach Druim Uachdair in the Highlands is something I shall never forget. (Picture). It's amazing in the snow.

What line is that?

 

[90019]

Far North line is actuall Inverness-Wick...

Inverness-Kyle of Lochalsh is the Kyle line.

I had a feeling I might've been getting the two mixed up.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Riding through Bealach Druim Uachdair

What line is that?

Its the Pass of Drumochter‎, on the Highland Mainline, about 25 miles NW of Pitlochry, its the highest point in the UK mainline network.