Diversionary routes that aren't used anymore

[Bevan Price]

WCML diversions between Liverpool & London I have encountered in the past have included:
Runcorn - Frodsham - Chester (triangle) - Crewe
Runcorn - Hartford Jn - Middlewich - Crewe
Stafford - Bescot - Walsall - Sutton Park - Nuneaton.
Willesden Jn - Kensington Olympia.
Stafford - Bescot - Stechford - Coventry - Rugby. (I think this is the only one they still use occasionally)

And a few WCML diversions I have used:
Liverpool or Manchester - Stafford - Rugeley - Walsall - Birmingham.
Stafford - Nuneaton (reverse) - Birmingham.
Warrington - Springs Branch - Whelley - Standish Jn - Preston.

And some Trans Pennine diversions in the loco-hauled era.
Liverpool - Ditton Jn - Widnes South - St. Helens (Shaw St.) - Bamfurlong curve - Parkside East - Manchester Vic
Liverpool - Huyton - St. Helens (Shaw St.) - Bamfurlong curve - Manchester.
Liverpool - Earlestown - Golborne Jn - Bamfurlong - De Trafford Jn (reverse/change loco) - Hindley (North) - Atherton - Manchester Vic
As above to Bamfurlong, then reverse at Wigan Wallgate - Atherton - Manchester Vic.
As above to Bamfurlong, then Amberswood - Hindley South - Tyldesley - Eccles - Manchester.

 

[Eagle]

Runcorn - Frodsham - Chester (triangle) - Crewe

No longer possible as the Frodsham–Runcorn curve is not bidirectional.

Stafford - Bescot - Stechford - Coventry - Rugby. (I think this is the only one they still use occasionally)

This one is used a bit during disruption, and it's also the standard route for the sleepers on Sunday nights (route knowledge et cetera).

 

[IanXC]

Does the Anlaby Road curve in Hull see any diversions?

Unfortunately not. Its purpose now seems to be purely allowing infrastructure workings onto the Yorkshire Coast Line without having to reverse in Paragon Station. It does from time to time see charter workings, such as Railtourer's "Oxford and the Cotswolds" next Saturday (13 Oct 2012).

 

[Whistler40145]

Can anyone confirm if the following diversion ever took place.

Manchester Piccadilly (P13/14), Manchester Oxford Road, Chorlton cum Hardy, Fallowfield, Guide Bridge

 

[D1009]

Can anyone confirm if the following diversion ever took place.

Manchester Piccadilly (P13/14), Manchester Oxford Road, Chorlton cum Hardy, Fallowfield, Guide Bridge

Wasn't that the route that trains from Liverpool Central via Manchester Central towards Sheffield used to reach the Woodhead line, with a loco change at Guide Bridge ?

I recall a DMU service from Lime St to Sheffield via the Hope Valley on a Sunday morning in the 1970s doing all sorts of diversionary routes in the Manchester area, including going via Woodhead.

 

[blue87]

Travelled on the Brum-Nuneaton West Coast drags which one Sunday back in the late 90s were routed via Lifford curve-Camp Hill due to engineering work.
Travelled Brum - Bristol via Oxford.

 

[Lewisham2221]

I've been on a train that's done Stafford - Crewe - Stoke - Macclesfield. It's not one that they seem too keen on using though