least toured railway line?

[4SRKT]

Did it, I had no knowledge of it doing so - certainly nothing from my sources down south mentioned anything of it.

Pity because if I did have knowledge of it, I most certainly would have tried to get photos or a video of it.

It definitely did, and was running pretty late by the time it got to Stevenage - God knows what disruption this caused! It was totally dark when it left the Cross, limiting photo ops.

http://cfpsnews.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/preston-to-kings-cross-151108.pdf

 

[theblackwatch]

It definitely did, and was running pretty late by the time it got to Stevenage - God knows what disruption this caused! It was totally dark when it left the Cross, limiting photo ops.

http://cfpsnews.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/preston-to-kings-cross-151108.pdf

I can confirm that 4SRKT is correct, the tour definately went (or staggered!) via the Hertford loop.

 

[Aictos]

I can confirm that 4SRKT is correct, the tour definately went (or staggered!) via the Hertford loop.

I'm not doubting you guys, just the opposite - in fact I'm pretty much kicking myself, I knew the charter ran but I just guessed that it would automatically go via Welwyn Garden City.

 

[route:oxford]

Oxford to Aylesbury via Calvert?

 

[yorksrob]

Probably many branches that don't get charters. That's why Buffer Puffer 7.0 is running at night, as there are no available paths for charters during the day.

Yes, I'd have thought the St Ives (Cornwall) branch comes into this category. It would be ideal for railtours but I'd fail to see how they could fit one in - at least during day time.

 

[SWT Driver]

North Downs Line (Reading-Guildford-Redhill-Tonbridge)
Portsmouth Direct
Coastway West
Epsom-Dorking-Horsham/Arun Valley)
Fareham-Netley-St Denys (Weight problems!)
Salisbury-Romsey-Southampton via Chandlers Ford or Nursling.

 

[jopsuk]

Looe branch?

 

[SWT Driver]

Looe would be virtually impossible as it needs two reversals (Liskeard & Coombe), I also suspect that the RA of 4 on it would prevent the visit of almost all locomotives & rolling stock, the platform lengths are also miniscule, the longest being around 40, so just enough to accomodate a two car train, let alone a railtour.

 

[33056]

Yes, I'd have thought the St Ives (Cornwall) branch comes into this category. It would be ideal for railtours but I'd fail to see how they could fit one in - at least during day time.

St Ives was done in March 2007 as part of Past Time's "Devon & Cornwall branch week". I was on this and don't think that many people managed to get out (if anybody) due to the short time there and the length of the platform.

 

[furryfeet]

Sinfin branch !

P.S. does this still nominally have a passenger "service" ?
even though I think that it was a taxi, which was summoned if anyone wanted it, from Derby station.

 

[Snapper]

Southport was visited by 66957 and 60004 on a railtour late last year, but I agree about the local lines around Liverpool.

Southport also had some golf specials visiting a couple of years ago - as did the Ormskirk line:

http://paulbigland.fotopic.net/c1546615.html

 

[jopsuk]

Looe would be virtually impossible as it needs two reversals (Liskeard & Coombe), I also suspect that the RA of 4 on it would prevent the visit of almost all locomotives & rolling stock, the platform lengths are also miniscule, the longest being around 40, so just enough to accomodate a two car train, let alone a railtour.

Knew most of that, thought the rest would be something along those lines, which is why I suggested it!

 

[Wyvern]

Sinfin branch!
P.S. does this still nominally have a passenger "service" ?

Finally closed in 1998. It was originally the Melbourne branch which went through Chellaston and intersected the Stenson/Sheet Stores loop. You could the lines crossing Wilmore Road until quite recently.

I see they've also fenced off Little Eaton crossing on the Ripley branch.

Still, all being well, this time next year you will be able to take a trip up the Wirksworth branch.

 

[yorksrob]

Inverness - Aberdeen?
Cardiff Bay branch
Marshlink

Cheers to those answering my previous posts

I think Hastings Diesel's next tour to Cambridge will be travelling via the Marshlink due to engineering works on the main line on 5th Dec.

Quote - SWT Driver “Portsmouth Direct
Coastway West
Epsom-Dorking-Horsham/Arun Valley)”

The Sussex Slammer did the Arun Valley and part of the Coastway West lines in 2005 whilst the Coming of Age did the Portsmouth Direct in 1991 - both by the Southern Electric Group.

 

[Chester025]

Cardiff Bay branch

I don't know if this would count as a tour or not: http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/050612at.htm

 

[Waddon]

Has anything ever gone to Marlow? The reversing space at Bourne End looks like it would only take three or four coaches

 

[starlightEXPRESS]

North Downs Line (Reading-Guildford-Redhill-Tonbridge)

The steam-hauled VSOE Surrey Hills Luncheon special, which runs roughly every month is routed along the North Downs Line between Guildford and Redhill. The train stops at Shalford for around a quarter of an hour to take on water (at one of the few remaining water towers on the Southern) and also to allow FGW services to overtake using the bidirectional down line between Shalford Jnc and Shalford station. Normally Clan Line or Tangmere are the locos used.

Plenty of photos and videos available just by putting 'Surrey Hills VSOE' into YouTube or Google.

 

[33056]

Back in the past, but surely the rarest line of all to have would have been the Kidwelly / Burry Port to Cwmmawr line; you couldn't even get a full sized 08 down there (though somebody did try once hock.

The only tour that I can find that went down there was this one .

Another gauge restricted line was the one between Markinch and Auchmuty in Fife though, looking on Six Bells Junction, there have been a couple of tours as far as the offending overbridge.

 

[Adamtorbyaexpres]

Exmouth Branch?!?!?

 

[SWT Driver]

The steam-hauled VSOE Surrey Hills Luncheon special, which runs roughly every month is routed along the North Downs Line between Guildford and Redhill. The train stops at Shalford for around a quarter of an hour to take on water (at one of the few remaining water towers on the Southern) and also to allow FGW services to overtake using the bidirectional down line between Shalford Jnc and Shalford station. Normally Clan Line or Tangmere are the locos used.

Plenty of photos and videos available just by putting 'Surrey Hills VSOE' into YouTube or Google.

A couple of corrections.

1/ No water tower there, water's bought in either by fire brigade or large lorry.

2/ Down line is only bi-directional for trains starting and terminating there, you cannot run a train from Guildford over Shalford Junction & into the down platform, it's not a signalled route.

When that train runs, it either pauses at Guildford to allow the xx:04 (xx:30 ex-WAT) WAT-PMH & xx:10 (xx:34 ex-RDG) RDG-GTW to pass then goes on to Shalford to get water & get out of the way, it also has to wait there because of the long signal sections on the line.

TBQH that train right pain in the bum as it buggers up the normal platforming arrangements.

 

[CosherB]

HS1 (Channel Tunnel Rail Link)?