Help me find this rail route (Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh or beyond)

[Bruce Bruce]

In the early 2000s, I took a rail journey up North, It was either to Leeds, Newcastle or Edinburgh.

I cant remember which location, but I hope my description can jog some memories.
The train went through a deep valley and to the left hand side of the train was houses, pubs and walk ways.

I remember The valley being so narrow and deep it would have been a mission living in those houses because the climb to reach each house was significant.

I have spent hours searching Google Maps, but cannot find anything. I do remember go under several huge arched bridges.

Any help or suggestions is welcomed.
If needed I could upload a drawing to help.

 

[The exile]

Just to give us a helping hand - where was your journey from? (The choice of destinations suggests southern ECML, but the description doesn’t )

 

[35B]

It sounds like it could be the Calder Valley route round Todmorden or Hebden Bridge

 

[sh24]

It sounds like it could be the Calder Valley route round Todmorden or Hebden Bridge

That was my thought. Can't think of anything similar on the ECML.

 

[Whisky Papa]

Depending on what exactly is meant by 'walkways' in the OP, I wondered about the west end of Hebden Bridge, where you can see across the valley to the backs of Queen's Terrace; the upper dwellings front onto Heptonstall Road and have a rear fenced walkway above the underdwellings. Not easy to replicate the view from the train on Google Street View, sadly.

One other terrace I can think of, in very close proximity to the line, is the one in Mossley?

 

[Bruce Bruce]

Thankyou so much for all of your replies, its definitely not Hebden bridge < I am wondering if it was Edinburgh area, but it was so long ago,
I will check Mossley now

 

[30907]

Thankyou so much for all of your replies, its definitely not Hebden bridge < I am wondering if it was Edinburgh area, but it was so long ago,

Your description sounds a bit like the view from west of Waverley on the Castle side.

 

[35B]

Your description sounds a bit like the view from west of Waverley on the Castle side.

It might be. If we're focusing on the ECML, it might also be either Ferryhill or somewhere in Gateshead and Newcastle. But it would help if @Bruce Bruce could clarify where he travelled between.

 

[Bruce Bruce]

Thankyou so much for your replies again it's really appreciated, Its definitely not Waverley or the castle side, I have checked Gateshead but cannot find anything there, I am trying to remember if was maybe Liverpool area .
Basically in the early 2000's I did a lot of jobs up North for Twiglets the company.
I remember the train went through a lot of tunnels before coming into a very deep gauge like area and the houses were old and cut into the cliffs with steep steps leading all the way to the top and to each house.
Somewhere along the way I am confused as to which area , because it was so long ago

 

[NorthOxonian]

Thankyou so much for your replies again it's really appreciated, Its definitely not Waverley or the castle side, I have checked Gateshead but cannot find anything there, I am trying to remember if was maybe Liverpool area .
Basically in the early 2000's I did a lot of jobs up North for Twiglets the company.
I remember the train went through a lot of tunnels before coming into a very deep gauge like area and the houses were old and cut into the cliffs with steep steps leading all the way to the top and to each house.
Somewhere along the way I am confused as to which area , because it was so long ago

Do you remember if it was coastal at all? It's a long shot but Burnmouth might fit the description, or possibly some of the parts of Berwick around Spittal. A bit less urban than other suggestions but cliffs and old houses with significant climbs up and down immediately made those places spring to mind. Assuming your location guess is correct there won't be too many options because the line generally doesn't go through too many upland areas.
 
Also, just south of Durham, some of the housing as you come up to before the viaduct might work? But Durham is so distinctive that I think it would have stuck in your mind, not least with the cathedral view being so iconic.

 

[Bruce Bruce]

It might be. If we're focusing on the ECML, it might also be either Ferryhill or somewhere in Gateshead and Newcastle. But it would help if @Bruce Bruce could clarify where he travelled between.

I will check more of Newcastle area, I definitely remember a crossing on the railway line, but the houses were on a steep climb

 

[Bruce Bruce]

Do you remember if it was coastal at all? It's a long shot but Burnmouth might fit the description, or possibly some of the parts of Berwick around Spittal. A bit less urban than other suggestions but cliffs and old houses with significant climbs up and down immediately made those places spring to mind. Assuming your location guess is correct there won't be too many options because the line generally doesn't go through too many upland areas.
 
Also, just south of Durham, some of the housing as you come up to before the viaduct might work? But Durham is so distinctive that I think it would have stuck in your mind, not least with the cathedral view being so iconic.

No its not Berwick, , I've checked Spittal and Burnmouth but can't see any resembalance, I was thinking maybe it was somewhere along the train route from Lime street heading east from Liverpool but can't find anything

 

[The exile]

I don’t we have yet established where you were coming from. Makes a big difference in determining where you might have travelled through.

 

[NorthWestRover]

When I first read this thread, I'd assumed it was going to be somewhere between Stalybridge and Huddersfield.

 

[The exile]

Isn’t there somewhere in the Belper / Duffield/Clay Cross area that might fit the bill (given the memory’s tendency to over emphasise things).

 

[Bruce Bruce]

I don’t we have yet established where you were coming from. Makes a big difference in determining where you might have travelled through.

Yeah apologies I cannot remember where I was coming from

 

[Phil Anthtropy]

You say several arched bridges, were they a distance apart or quite near to each other?

Stone or brick?

Single arch or multiple?

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

Thankyou so much for your replies again it's really appreciated, Its definitely not Waverley or the castle side, I have checked Gateshead but cannot find anything there, I am trying to remember if was maybe Liverpool area .
Basically in the early 2000's I did a lot of jobs up North for Twiglets the company.
I remember the train went through a lot of tunnels before coming into a very deep gauge like area and the houses were old and cut into the cliffs with steep steps leading all the way to the top and to each house.
Somewhere along the way I am confused as to which area , because it was so long ago

The lot of tunnels followed by a deep gorge sounds like the approach to Liverpool Lime Street (7 tunnels between Edge Hill and Lime Street), except the deep gorge in question contains Lime Street station, and the cuttings between the tunnels are so high and steep-sided that you can't see the houses etc. on top.
Is it possible that you're fusing two journeys/areas together, because...

In the early 2000s, I took a rail journey up North, It was either to Leeds, Newcastle or Edinburgh.

I cant remember which location, but I hope my description can jog some memories.
The train went through a deep valley and to the left hand side of the train was houses, pubs and walk ways.

I remember The valley being so narrow and deep it would have been a mission living in those houses because the climb to reach each house was significant.

I have spent hours searching Google Maps, but cannot find anything. I do remember go under several huge arched bridges.

Any help or suggestions is welcomed.
If needed I could upload a drawing to help.

... the original description sounds a bit like the exit from Huddersfield towards Manchester. You've got Huddersfield tunnels, followed by a brief view over the Colne valley at Springwood Junction with the Penistone line diverging over Paddock viaduct, then straight into Gledholt tunnels and out through Golcar with houses hard by the line, generally level with it on the up side (left hand side if heading towards Manchester) and above it atop the cutting on the down side. Plenty of arched bridges over the line there as well, then out over Milnsbridge viaduct with a good view of Milnsbridge village centre (including Milnsbridge Models' shop) and Stotts bus garage!

 

[Bruce Bruce]

Thankyou for your replies, I will make a drawing of what it looked like in my mind, and then I will upload here,
hopefully it will jog some memories.

 

[Bruce Bruce]

You say several arched bridges, were they a distance apart or quite near to each other?

Stone or brick?

Single arch or multiple?

The lot of tunnels followed by a deep gorge sounds like the approach to Liverpool Lime Street (7 tunnels between Edge Hill and Lime Street), except the deep gorge in question contains Lime Street station, and the cuttings between the tunnels are so high and steep-sided that you can't see the houses etc. on top.
Is it possible that you're fusing two journeys/areas together, because...

... the original description sounds a bit like the exit from Huddersfield towards Manchester. You've got Huddersfield tunnels, followed by a brief view over the Colne valley at Springwood Junction with the Penistone line diverging over Paddock viaduct, then straight into Gledholt tunnels and out through Golcar with houses hard by the line, generally level with it on the up side (left hand side if heading towards Manchester) and above it atop the cutting on the down side. Plenty of arched bridges over the line there as well, then out over Milnsbridge viaduct with a good view of Milnsbridge village centre (including Milnsbridge Models' shop) and Stotts bus garage!

I am thinking you might be right here, because one of the jobs I did was in Batley just south of Leeds, I will have investigate more.
Thankyou

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

I am thinking you might be right here, because one of the jobs I did was in Batley just south of Leeds, I will have investigate more.
Thankyou

It could even be Batley to Dewsbury you're recalling in that case; there is a very steep-sided cutting just after Batley viaduct with houses on the top of it, then a road called Crackenedge Lane running hard-by (but above) the line. There are some bridges over the railway in the area, and a disused railway cutting on the down side. Finally you pass a tunnel vent from the disused line and go out onto Dewsbury Viaduct. The memory-jogger there would be the mill visible with "Shoddy and Mungo Manufacturers" written on the side. AFAIK the mill and the lettering have survived, they were certainly there last time I passed through Dewsbury.

 

[Bruce Bruce]

It could even be Batley to Dewsbury you're recalling in that case; there is a very steep-sided cutting just after Batley viaduct with houses on the top of it, then a road called Crackenedge Lane running hard-by (but above) the line. There are some bridges over the railway in the area, and a disused railway cutting on the down side. Finally you pass a tunnel vent from the disused line and go out onto Dewsbury Viaduct. The memory-jogger there would be the mill visible with "Shoddy and Mungo Manufacturers" written on the side. AFAIK the mill and the lettering have survived, they were certainly there last time I passed through Dewsbury.

Hi there
So I have checked the area extensively but it doesn't look like it. Back to the drawing board.
The place I went through on the train actually had houses right next to the track on a (massively steep cut cliff) with the railways line running through it and the people were able to walk down the pathways from those houses and there was a walkway across the tracks.
The houses had steep steps to each house, there was no fence or barriers separating the houses from the track.

 

[Phil Anthtropy]

Could it be on the Calderdale line running through Sowerby Bridge/Mytholmroyd/Hebden Bridge? perhaps?

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

Hi there
So I have checked the area extensively but it doesn't look like it. Back to the drawing board.
The place I went through on the train actually had houses right next to the track on a (massively steep cut cliff) with the railways line running through it and the people were able to walk down the pathways from those houses and there was a walkway across the tracks.
The houses had steep steps to each house, there was no fence or barriers separating the houses from the track.

I can't place the steps up to the houses! As @Whisky Papa states Mossley on the main Transpennine route has houses right next to the line, but not with steps.

Saltaire has houses and walkways, although no pubs visible from the line, but again there are no steps to the houses.

Final suggestion for now would be the Copy Pit route from Hall Royd Junction near Todmorden across to Burnley. The climb up from Hall Royd through the outskirts of Todmorden and on through Portsmouth (Yorkshire, not Hampshire!) has a number of properties clinging onto cutting sides, similarly from Towneley level crossing through Burnley Manchester Road to Rose Grove. Again I can't place the steps to the houses in that area.

 

[Bruce Bruce]

Could it be on the Calderdale line running through Sowerby Bridge/Mytholmroyd/Hebden Bridge? perhaps?

Hi there,
Thankyou for your reply, it's definitely not these exact stations, I have checked and the hills are not steep enough from my memory.

 

[The exile]

Hi there,
Thankyou for your reply, it's definitely not these exact stations, I have checked and the hills are not steep enough from my memory.

It’s probably worth “playing down” anything particularly “extreme” in your memory as the mind tends to exaggerate over time. 9 times out of 10 a “very tall person” probably means “someone I noticed was taller than me”, for example.

 

[Bruce Bruce]

It’s probably worth “playing down” anything particularly “extreme” in your memory as the mind tends to exaggerate over time. 9 times out of 10 a “very tall person” probably means “someone I noticed was taller than me”, for example.

I have a very good memory, and I remember a steep cliff like hill , almost like the train was in a very steep gorge.

 

[Bruce Bruce]

I can't place the steps up to the houses! As @Whisky Papa states Mossley on the main Transpennine route has houses right next to the line, but not with steps.

Saltaire has houses and walkways, although no pubs visible from the line, but again there are no steps to the houses.

Final suggestion for now would be the Copy Pit route from Hall Royd Junction near Todmorden across to Burnley. The climb up from Hall Royd through the outskirts of Todmorden and on through Portsmouth (Yorkshire, not Hampshire!) has a number of properties clinging onto cutting sides, similarly from Towneley level crossing through Burnley Manchester Road to Rose Grove. Again I can't place the steps to the houses in that area.

Thank you for your suggestions,
These are the areas I have travelled to on train around England, it is in one of these areas but as I say I cannot remember.

I remember going through:

Bath heading to Liverpool, then from Liverpool I had to take a train East , cannot remember where.

I have taken a train to Leeds, visited Batley and Morley.

I have taken a train to Newcastle, had to take a separate train south of Newcastle, cannot remember where.

I have taken a train to Edinburgh

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

Thank you for your suggestions,
These are the areas I have travelled to on train around England, it is in one of these areas but as I say I cannot remember.

I remember going through:

Bath heading to Liverpool, then from Liverpool I had to take a train East , cannot remember where.

I have taken a train to Leeds, visited Batley and Morley.

I have taken a train to Newcastle, had to take a separate train south of Newcastle, cannot remember where.

I have taken a train to Edinburgh

I'm going to chuck in a real curve ball, but based on the journeys listed could it be the route through Bath?
I've put a link to a cab ride video below, from around 29:30 to 34:30 covers the relevant bit, from the Bathampton area to Twerton tunnels.
The cliff-like steep gorge sounds like Olive Mount cutting near Liverpool, between Edge Hill and Broad Green on the route east, but there are no houses visible on top of it.

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

(The "watch on YouTube" link will open the video!)