Most underrated scenic rail lines

[HowardGWR]

Good thread. I am wedded to the GWR Avon Valley from Foxes Wood to Twerton tunnel. It's where one spent one's childhood that often defines one's favourite landscape.

The now-closed Bridport branch was special too.

 

[urbophile]

Scenic does not necessarily mean rural. I find the approach to Manchester Piccadilly via Deansgate and Oxford Road on the CLC line fascinating; viaducts, trams, canals, warehouses... As, in a very different way, the alternating tunnels and rock-hewn cuttings between Edge Hill and Liverpool Lime Street.

 

[Clansman]

Sheffield to Doncaster via Rotherham Central - scenic for the wrong reasons but still underrated

 

[Poolie]

Bear with me, but yes, the Durham coast. The viaducts over the Dene's, the view out to the North Sea and inland to the legacy of the mining heritage of the area.

 

[HLE]

Ely - March

Seconded although I'd extend it to the stretch from Melton Mowbray - Ely (minus a couple of places in between though)

Wherry Lines would be a good shout - no hills though (well if you call the 'climb' up to Lingwood a hill...) but still scenic and some lovely views.

 

[DarloRich]

I would suggest the Cumbrian Coast line or I also like the north wales coast on a sunny day. btw with some of the suggestions it is clear that some of you look but don't see

The WCML. Much, much nicer than the tedious, flat ECML.

don't be silly now. The WCML serves such wonderful places as Dudley, Wolverhampton, the toilet duck factory that is Warrington BQ and the decaying carcass that was once Crewe .......................

Darlington to Saltburn?

Yes the view of the Redcar coking ovens and the section between South Bank and Grangetown is alluring

Actually when the steel works were going full tilt it was an interesting journey as there was often interesting work going on around you. Now it is simply ( like the Durham coast) a trip through the Thatcherite post industrial waste land that is much of the north east. ( sigh )

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I went to the end of the Neilston branch once, and was surprised how high it was, with sweeping views over the lower Clyde and towards the Argyll hills and Arran.
Never seen it mentioned in despatches.
The line originally went on to Ardrossan.

Another scenic line is/was Buxton-Ashbourne, which I did once on an excursion train before it was closed completely south of Hindlow (still in use north of there).
It's also very high with a summit of 1267ft at the end of the branch at Hindlow.
The closed section is now the Tissington Trail.
You can still see sections of the Cromford & High Peak route in the area, on part of which the Ashbourne line was built.

I used to be impressed travelling over the Crane St viaduct south of Wolverhampton, above the working furnaces of the steel works (especially at night!).
But the site is now completely derelict and ransacked.
It would be a good time for NR to straighten out the sharply-curving route there, but the opportunity is passing them by.

 

[DarloRich]

I went to the end of the Neilston branch once, and was surprised how high it was, with sweeping views over the lower Clyde and towards the Argyll hills and Arran.
Never seen it mentioned in despatches.
The line originally went on to Ardrossan.

You are quite right and yet still so close to Glasgow. I also quite like the section of line along the coast at Saltcoats although Ardrossan harbour must be the overall winner

 

[anti-pacer]

The LTS beyond Benfleet is very pretty. Albeit being a seaside line with a massive fence and OHLE but other than that it is still very pretty. Also Davy Down viaduct is quite nice.

I was also thinking the same thing, especially around Leigh.

 

[AY1975]

Hurst Green-Uckfield, Hastings-Ashford, Faversham-Ramsgate-Dover, Guildford-Redhill, Horsham-Arundel Jn, Manningtree-Harwich Town, Derby-Matlock, Barnsley-Huddersfield, Stockport-Buxton, Edinburgh-North Berwick, Edinburgh-Tweedbank, Cardiff-Rhymney.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

The most overrated (or at least mis-sold) line is the North York Moors Railway, most of which is in a valley with very few views of the moors.

I like the trip from Chester to Machynlleth via Llandudno Junction, Blaenau Ffestiniog, the Ffestiniog railway and Portmadog (returning to Minffordd to change). The circle can then be completed less scenically via Shrewsbury.

Arriva Trains Wales advertise a Ffestiniog Round Robin at £39-£44 on their website

https://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/RoversRangers/

However this, surprisingly, is rather isn't properly indexed listed on the National rail website, even though it is there at

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/pr9ef8ea0d8240bfae38accb393ae920.aspx

 

[Bletchleyite]

don't be silly now. The WCML serves such wonderful places as Dudley, Wolverhampton, the toilet duck factory that is Warrington BQ and the decaying carcass that was once Crewe

But while those are not pretty, they are interesting, they are part of the UK's rich industrial heritage.

I still maintain that if you travel on the WCML end to end, particularly if the northern end is Edinburgh, you are told a story of the UK simply by the view out of the window, and you see pretty much every type of scenery the UK has to offer (even if the actual coastal bit is brief ). But the ECML is mind-numbingly tedious except the last 45 minutes or so northbound.

If a tourist asks West Coast or East - West, without question.

 

[jon91]

The line from Lincoln to Newark is quite nice. I used to travel on it a lot and enjoyed seeing the farmland change through all the seasons, just peg your nose before the train goes past the sewage works at Newark...

The Copy Pit line also gets my vote.

 

[GW43125]

If a tourist asks West Coast or East - West, without question.

As long as they're not taller than 5ft...

 

[pitdiver]

Although there is no way it could be described as scenic the route out of any of the "Southern Region" termini in London I always find interesting. The way they seem to thread their way through all the new developments. Also as someone has said before the routes from Norwich to Gt Yarmouth/ Lowestoft are interesting. As a regular visitor to Norfolk the bleakness of the route as seen on the DOVs on Youtube always impress me if impress is the right word.

 

[anti-pacer]

Although there is no way it could be described as scenic the route out of any of the "Southern Region" termini in London I always find interesting. The way they seem to thread their way through all the new developments. Also as someone has said before the routes from Norwich to Gt Yarmouth/ Lowestoft are interesting. As a regular visitor to Norfolk the bleakness of the route as seen on the DOVs on Youtube always impress me if impress is the right word.

It's funny you mention the Norwich to Yarmouth DOV videos on YouTube. I watched that route 2 nights ago (via Berney Arms) and fell asleep!

I lived at one point in Gorleston so thought it might be of interest.

 

[pitdiver]

It's funny you mention the Norwich to Yarmouth DOV videos on YouTube. I watched that route 2 nights ago (via Berney Arms) and fell asleep!

I lived at one point in Gorleston so thought it might be of interest.

Perhaps you have to be a fan of Norfolk to appreciate the county's landscape. It's bleakness is what attracts me and the wife to Norfolk plus the Broads of course. Which we visit at least twice a year.

 

[mike57]

Hull - Scarborough especially North of Bridlington.

To add to this for those of you unfamiliar with the line:

Good views of Beverley Minster as you approach the station.
The flat countryside of Holderness between Beverley and Driffield
Views of the Wolds and Burton Agnes between Driffield and Bridlington.
As you leave Bridlington sea views toward Flamborough Head
Cross the Wolds from Bridlington to Hunmanby
Filey, a small seaside town
Open country towards Scarborough, and the approach to Scarborough at the foot of Olivers Mount.

A lot of variation in a 50 odd mile journey

 

[anti-pacer]

Perhaps you have to be a fan of Norfolk to appreciate the county's landscape. It's bleakness is what attracts me and the wife to Norfolk plus the Broads of course. Which we visit at least twice a year.

I lived there and love Norfolk. The Broads are lovely, and I love the North Norfolk Coast. I'm not a huge fan of the flat lands between Acle/Reedham and Yarmouth, but if you haven't seen this, I can recommend watching the sun going down from Burgh Castle. It makes them flat marshes look amazing, especially with reflections off Breydon Water.

I loved my 2 years in Gorleston and would go back in a heart beat of employment opportunities weren't so bad.

 

[yorksrob]

The Bittern line to Sheringham is absolutely charming as well.

 

[Groningen]

Sheffield - Manchester

 

[anti-pacer]

The Bittern line to Sheringham is absolutely charming as well.

Agreed. Anywhere that has Cromer on its line is a winner with me.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

The LTS beyond Benfleet is very pretty. Albeit being a seaside line with a massive fence and OHLE but other than that it is still very pretty.

You mean that bit......

http://www.train-photos.net/picture/show/13631/Another-357

 

[185143]

Scenic does not necessarily mean rural. I find the approach to Manchester Piccadilly via Deansgate and Oxford Road on the CLC line fascinating; viaducts, trams, canals, warehouses... As, in a very different way, the alternating tunnels and rock-hewn cuttings between Edge Hill and Liverpool Lime Street.

Sticking with my local-Warrington to Widnes is very nice! (Although Widnes is a bit of a S-hole)

 

[markindurham]

Darlington to Newcastle is scenic - especially the views across the city of Durham, with the Cathedral & Castle towering over it, as you come onto the viaduct. Then there's pleasant views in the Wear valley as you get towards Chester-le-Street, with the cricket ground and Lumley Castle visible. Then you cross Chester-le-Street viaduct before passing Tyne Yard, with the remains of the Hump still visible. On the other side is the Angel of the North, & then all too soon, you slow for the curve onto the King Edward Bridge, with fabulous views of the Tyne and its assorted bridges, before curving round again and entering Newcastle station.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

(Although Widnes is a bit of a S-hole)

The Ethelfleda rail bridge could be considered scenic

(a Wires fan as opposed to a Chemic ?)


http://www.train-photos.net/picture/show/19044/Ethelfleda-Bridge-East-Side

 

[aylesbury]

Wendover to Rickmansworth on the Chiltern Line good views of our lovely woods and streams plus some rather nice houses.

 

[D365]

Sheffield to Doncaster via Rotherham Central - scenic for the wrong reasons but still underrated

That's a good shout actually, the section between Swinton and Doncaster offers reasonable views of its own. Though I imagine not the kind that you're implying

 

[Essexman]

The Stranraer line is very scenic - coast & hills. I don't know if you'd say it was underrated or just forgotten.

 

[dk1]

Very boring landscape to some, but I find it fascinating. The arrow straight roads running next to the dykes, villages separated by a dyke running through the middle, and big wide skies.

On the Ely-March section I would think more of Welney Washes. You could think you where at sea when the land is flooded November-April then the rest of the year it's dried out with cattle grazing.