2025 New Track Coverage

[xotGD]

11th April

First time I've been to the EVR:

Wirksworth - Ravenstor
Wirksworth - Duffield

And Peak Rail has been extended in both directions since my only previous visit:

Rowsley South - Darley Dale
Matlock Riverside - Matlock

 

[Sunil_P]

26th April

After years of waiting, finally did Fulwell to Strawberry Hill eastbound, on outbound and inbound trains diverted to run via Twickenham for a rugby match (I didn't alight at Twickenham, mind!). Did the westbound journey (the standard evening peak service) back in 2018.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

29/04/2025
Choppington Jc to Ashington

30/04/2029
Alnwick Lionheart to Greenrigg Halt.

 

[43172]

2nd May

Par to Newquay

Have finally got around to it, now means i've cleared all the main passenger lines in Cornwall

 

[Sunil_P]

13th May

London-bound via Ockendon platform 2 (1648 ex-Grays).

 

[D841 Roebuck]

19/05/2025
Port Erin to Douglas (IOM)
Douglas to Hydro Hotel (Horse tram)

 

[D841 Roebuck]

20/05/2025
Derby Castle to Ramsey (MER)
Laxey to Snaefell Summit (SMR)

 

[D841 Roebuck]

22/05/2025
Derby Castle to Hydro Hotel
(to complete coverage of the Horse Tram route!)

 

[1971martin]

Friday 23rd May 2025

Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

Duffield - Wirksworth

 

[Sunil_P]

29th May

Reprised Peterborough to Stamford both ways to account for the flying junction inserted to make space for Werrington dive-under. Tracks here were skewed, especially the up "slow" track. Previously there was no junction here on the "slow" tracks.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

01/06/2025

St Andrew's Place to Newhaven (Edinburgh Trams)

 

[Cambus731]

Finally did the Bolton and Embsay Railway last week. The day I did it there was a crew there filming for a Channel 5 programme.

 

[Sunil_P]

22nd June

Bedford to Wellingborough via the down slow and Wymington Tunnel (northbound only).
Because of weekend engineering work requiring all Corby EMU trains to turn back at Wellingborough, and long distance DEMU trains to run via Corby.

 

[Kite159]

20/6:
Cholsey and Wallingford Railway

14/6:
Keighley & Worth Valley Railway - Keighley (P4) to Oxenhope

 

[Adam0984]

A case of right place at the right time today managed Morpeth to Bedlington due to the Metro overheads falling down at Northumberland Park
Also a couple of new bits for me earlier the flyover from Hitchin to Letchworth and the Down ML and Up ML at Darlington

 

[Sunil_P]

29th June

Upminster bay platform 1A to/from Ockendon
Connection from/to Barking platforms 7/8 to/from Upminster

 

[D841 Roebuck]

15/06/2025
Tram route at East Anglia Transport Museum
Narrow Gauge railway at East Anglia Transport Museum

22/06/2025
Sittingbourne Viaduct to Kemsley Down (S&K Light Railway)

Both well worth a visit!

 

[Kite159]

10/7:
Alton (P2) to Ropley (Mid Hants Railway)

 

[xotGD]

26th July

Churnet Valley Railway: Froghall - Ipstones

 

[Cambus731]

Yesterday I finally got round to catching a train from platform 3 at Maidstone East, therefore traversing the trailing crossover on the London side of Maidstone East.

 

[Sunil_P]

6th August

Heald Green South to Heald Green North (avoiding Manchester Airport) both ways.
Avanti/CrossCountry diversions due to Stockport block.

Had a bit of a scare on the outbound journey - was detrained from the 1033 ex-Euston at Crewe due to points failure at Wilmslow, but the next Avanti to arrive (1053 ex-Euston) completed the journey into Manchester!

 

[xotGD]

22nd August

Bradford Forster Square Platform 0.

I wouldn't normally go down to that level, but it is local and new.

 

[Turbo004]

24th August

Northallerton Southbound Diveunder
Completed at the fourth attempt.

Just four more lines in Britain to do.

 

[Sunil_P]

31st August

Plaistow bay platform (in and out) - unexpected reversals (also involving the through platforms) due to signal probs at Upton Park.

 

[Sunil_P]

9th September

The Southend Cliff Railway, often described as a "funicular", but as it has only a single track/car and a counterbalance weight, it's really an Inclined Lift (as found at Greenford, Farringdon and Liverpool Street). Tried doing it back in 2022, but it was closed!

 

[Sunil_P]

17th September
Northallerton avoider northbound (1527 LNER ex-King's Cross)

18th September
Whitby to Middlesbrough westbound (eastbound only done in 2018)
Reprised Meadowhall to Meadowhall South/Tinsley (Supertram) both ways to account for junction towards Rotherham

(Tried also Aldwarke-Thrybergh-Mexborough, but the 1543 ex-Reading was nearly 20 minutes late reaching Sheffield, and it went via Swinton!)

 

[Sunil_P]

20th September
Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway (2ft gauge)

 

[Turbo004]

20th September
Newton South Connecting Lune
Heaton Depot to Manors

 

[sh24]

Points failure meant a Pendolino over the down reception road to Carlisle Kingmoor Yard

 

[Turbo004]

Lichfield North Junction - Lichfield Trent Valley Junction

and Central Rivers Depot

all done in the cab of a Class 197.
Without doubts one of the highlights of travelling by rail of my life.