Closest unvisited railway line

[nw1]

Inspired by the "closest unvisited settlement" thread, was thinking that it might be interesting to discuss the closest unvisited railway line, or, any notable unvisited lines even if they are not the very closest.

For me (living in Hampshire) I still have not travelled on the BML between Three Bridges and Brighton, which is quite a notable omission. The nearest, however, is likely to be Ockley-Balham and Ockley-Raynes Park, including the Effingham-Leatherhead line and Chessington branch; I've never travelled on the lines in the Sutton-Epsom area at all (or even visited the area by road).

Other lines of note include Forest Hill to Norwood Junction, the SWML beyond Templecombe and the Berks and Hants beyond Castle Cary. In fact I've not travelled on any of the network in the SW beyond Templecombe or Castle Cary, and have only done Westbury-Castle Cary (and on to Dorchester West) at night.

Finally an honourable mention for Wokingham-Ascot. Only visited at night, in December 1982 on a Reading-Guildford diversion, and as I'd only been using the railways about three months I was unaware what lay along this line.

 

[zwk500]

Remarkably, despite living 3 miles north of Lewes for 20-odd years, I never used the Uckfield line. I also didn't get any further west than Bexhill on the East Coastway, or ever use the Hastings line.

 

[WizCastro197]

Despite living in Redhill/Reigate I haven't used the Redhill to Tonbridge line yet. I just haven't got the need to.

Never ever travelled on the fast line (quarry line) between East Croydon and Gatwick Airport.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Oct 2022 ==

Inspired by the "closest unvisited settlement" thread, was thinking that it might be interesting to discuss the closest unvisited railway line, or, any notable unvisited lines even if they are not the very closest.

For me (living in Hampshire) I still have not travelled on the BML between Three Bridges and Brighton, which is quite a notable omission. The nearest, however, is likely to be Ockley-Balham and Ockley-Raynes Park, including the Effingham-Leatherhead line and Chessington branch; I've never travelled on the lines in the Sutton-Epsom area at all (or even visited the area by road).

Other lines of note include Forest Hill to Norwood Junction, the SWML beyond Templecombe and the Berks and Hants beyond Castle Cary. In fact I've not travelled on any of the network in the SW beyond Templecombe or Castle Cary, and have only done Westbury-Castle Cary (and on to Dorchester West) at night.

Finally an honourable mention for Wokingham-Ascot. Only visited at night, in December 1982 on a Reading-Guildford diversion, and as I'd only been using the railways about three months I was unaware what lay along this line.

Please can you link such thread I can't seem to find it when I search for it

 

[nw1]

Despite living in Redhill/Reigate I haven't used the Redhill to Tonbridge line yet. I just haven't got the need to.

I have just the once, en route to Nimes in southern France of all places (Eurostar disruption)

Never ever travelled on the fast line (quarry line) between East Croydon and Gatwick Airport.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Oct 2022 ==


Please can you link such thread I can't seem to find it when I search for it

OK it's here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/closest-settlement-youve-never-been-to.238109/

 

[swt_passenger]

Living in south Hants my nearest unused lines would be the North Downs east of Guildford, the Dorking to Horsham section, and in the other direction Castle Cary to Dorchester West. None of those have been needed on my travels yet.

 

[johnnychips]

I live in Sheffield, but I’ve never travelled the Moorthorpe to York or Knottingley to Google lines.

 

[plugwash]

I live near stockport and for me it's probablly some of the lines round east manchester. I've never been to hadfield/glossop or rose hill. I don't think i've been to or through marple on the train either but i'm not so sure about that.

Going a little further afield, I don't think i've taken the section of WCML between Wigan and Crewe, I think entwhistle is the furthest i've been on the mancester to blackburn line and I don;t thinkk i've done any of the other lines in the blackburn area. I also don't think ive ever been to Derby, by rail or otherwise. I've been through Crewe and Stoke countless times, but I don't think i've ever used the line from one to the other.

 

[43172]

Having lived in Cornwall and Devon my whole life, my nearest untravelled line is the Atlantic Coast line between Par and Newquay (although i've got off at Par once), not sure why i've yet to use it but i'll get round to it at some point. Next nearest ones are in Somerset being Yeovil to Weymouth and going via Frome on the Berks and Hants line.

 

[PGAT]

Never been on the mainline between Victoria and Bromley South

 

[YorksLad12]

I live in Leeds. I have never passed through Baildon or Baghill. I've also never done Kirkgate to Monkhill, but the rest of the West Yorkshire stations I have passed through or called at for work or play.

 

[L401CJF]

I live in Ellesmere Port, but have never done the parliamentary service to Helsby. Its on the to do list (and has been for many years, and probably will remain that way!)

 

[Gloster]

I am now on the Isle of Wight, but it is a toss up which of several is the nearest:
Brighton avoiding line (I think)
Tattenham Corner branch
Weybridge-Virginia Water (and possibly east of Ascot)
The Thames Valley branches.

 

[Segedunum]

I think Ayr to Stranraer is probably my nearest. One of those lines that's a faff to get to as it's on a complete dogleg despite not being a million miles away as the crow flies.

Other than that the only other bits I need are Mach to Pwllheli and Kyle/Far North.

 

[Accura]

Lived in Preston or Manchester most of my life, but never travelled on the Bolton-Blackburn route.

 

[Dave W]

I suspect mine is Romford-Upminster! I've ticked off surprising amounts of North London in search of football.

 

[D1537]

Despite having lived in Coventry and Warwickshire for many years I have never travelled on the Leamington-Stratford route from Hatton to where it joins the North Warwickshire Line.

 

[steamybrian]

Living in Kent I have travelled over all lines in the South-east except-
In the London area I have not travelled on are the Dudding Hill Loop, Kew East jn/New Kew Jn- South Acton the new line to Barking Riverside and new extensions of the Elizabeth Line at Liverpool Street and Paddington. Also some short spurs such as Strawberry Hill- Fulwell and Carlton Road Jn-Gospel Oak.

 

[Strathclyder]

As far as the Strathclyde network is concerned, I've never travelled on the East Kilbride, Larkhall, Weymss Bay, Ardrossan Harbour or (the majority of) the Neilston branches.

 

[Taunton]

I quite regularly walk or drive over the top of the tunnel between Charlton and Blackheath, across the Thames from the house, but have never been on a train through it.

 

[Pinus contorta]

I've never done the Bare Lane to Hest Bank line despite living close to it for quite a long time. Although it is more difficult to catch a train along the line than when I was a youth.

 

[4COR]

Living west of Oxford, I think mine is probably the Marlow branch. When living in Whyteleafe, my money was on the Uckfield branch (which I never had need to venture down), but it turns out the Hayes branch is marginally closer.

 

[Roger1973]

I live in Berkshire, and not sure I have travelled on the Henley or Bourne End / Marlow branches, which are not that far away.

I might have done one or both on a railtour involving a Hastings Diesel set with parents when I was quite young, but I can't now remember exactly which tours we went on or where they went (there was a spate of tours with Hastings Diesel sets in the mid 80s.)

Thinking about it, I have a vague recollection of one railtour that did a branch line that involved a reverse at a Y shaped junction, and the tour train was too long to fit in to the station of the dead end, so we didn't do the remote end of the line - that would fit the geography of going to Bourne End but not going to Marlow.

 

[Statto]

I've never done Preston to Liverpool via Ormskirk, & i've done Preston to Liverpool a load of times but always via Wigan North Western, & not Ormskirk, ironically i've done Ormskirk to Liverpool a load of times too

 

[nw1]

The Thames Valley branches.

Just thought of another possible two for myself: the two Windsor branches. Not done either. Possibly nearer than the line north of Ockley but difficult to say without looking at a map.

 

[DerekC]

I am trying to think of mine - "never travelled" is a long time when you are ancient and have lived in lots of different places! Berks and Hants between Reading and Westbury. Chessington Branch. Top of my "notable unvisited (must visit) list" is Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh and the Far North line.

 

[317 forever]

My nearest station is Heaton Chapel and 4th nearest Stockport. (My #2 and #3 are Burnage and East Didsbury).

Anyway, I have never travelled on the very rare Stockport - Guide Bridge via Reddish South link. I doubt I have used the line to Rose Hill either.

 

[mrcheek]

aside from a couple of lines in London, I have covered everything in the south. except for Okehampton, which I should be doing next month

 

[nw1]

My nearest station is Heaton Chapel and 4th nearest Stockport. (My #2 and #3 are Burnage and East Didsbury).

Anyway, I have never travelled on the very rare Stockport - Guide Bridge via Reddish South link. I doubt I have used the line to Rose Hill either.

Strangely that exactly matches my line visits in the south/east Manchester area too*. Or perhaps not so strangely, given that the Reddish South line barely has any services and you probably wouldn't go to Rose Hill unless you had a specific reason.

(*actually not sure if I've done Hadfield. Definitely Glossop. Depends which way round the triangle the service went in December 1996 and April 1998, if anyone has that info...)

 

[Ken H]

Nearest is Hellifield- Clitheroe. Never done Shipley - Guiseley. Or the line through Brighouse. Dont spose i will ever get the direct Shipley - Woodlesford line avoiding Leeds Stn. Never been west of Kents Bank on the furness line. So really the whole Cumbrian coast to do. Not done Morecambe -Heysham but I have done Hest Bank - Bare Lane but long ago in a modernisation Plan DMU.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I doubt I have used the line to Rose Hill either.

Me neither. Probably closest station/stretch of line (Romiley->Rose Hill) that I've never ever had the need or occasion to visit. Have done Manchester Victoria -> Stockport via Reddish South a couple of times though.