Out of use lines where track remains

[David Dunning]

How many places are there in the UK where you have lines out of use but the track is still there .
And are these lines used by walkers either legally or illegally .

I can think of one example , the Hamble Oil line nr Southampton . Also up until 2004 the Wensleydale Line was used by walkers with the blessing of Railtrack. I think there were some legal notices to stop it becoming a right of way though.

 

[ainsworth74]

Leamside Line up in the North East still has track along most of it's length, there is at least one quite large section that has been lifted by metal theives but on the whole it's mostly still there.

As for walking it I'm not sure if it's officially allowed but there are various photos on the internet from people who have walked it so I suspect the authorities don't care/mind.

 

[4SRKT]

Antrim > Lisburn is still in situ, maintained at huge cost 'just in case' by the NI Govt c/o Translink.

 

[northwichcat]

This might be of interest to some people: http://www.cumbrialife.co.uk/viaduct-walkers-warned-1.782715?referrerPath=2.7602

 

[Wyvern]

I think the Little Eaton branch north of Derby still has track, but you'd have a job to get through the undergrowth.

 

[The Planner]

Round Oak - Dudley - Walsall still has tracks down. Brownhills branch. Longbridge hasn't been ripped up yet ?? Silverdale colliery still has tracks but cut off at Madeley. Caldon branch still has tracks I think. Pensnett branch. Oswestry branch. Amlwch. Parkandillick ? Heathfield ? Bicester to Bletchley still has tracks. Sudbrook does but is cut off at Caldicot. Caerwent. Tidenham Quarry. Id imagine a few in South Wales too.

 

[Tim B]

At least some of the Dunstable - Luton line. But watch out for another guided busway

 

[RichmondCommu]

I think the Little Eaton branch north of Derby still has track, but you'd have a job to get through the undergrowth.

Yes, there is track still in place up to the Kilburn cross roads level crossing and possibly beyond (in fact there is a set of points the other side of the crossing).

Incredibly, around three or four years a go when they resurfaced the road at the main Coxbench level crossing (there are three in total) they didn't remove the rails which must have cost the county council a fortune. Not only that but up until the last year or so Network Rail could been seen working on the line! What a waste for a line which now has no purpose!

 

[DavidBrown]

The Heathfield Branch is still fully tracked but is now very overgrown in places.

Another bizarre one is the Weymouth Harbour line. It has been well known for a while that the line seemingly has no future, and its removal is imminent. However, Commercial Road had major resurfacing last year (which would have easily allowed the rails to be removed), yet they were left in place.

 

[Oracle]

Is there anything in the undergrowth still either side of Hamble Lane? I photographed track just to the north of Hamble Lane where it used to cross the road into the terminal, a few years ago [adjacent to new houses]. There was quite a bit of track left with points but last time I went past it was all overgrown. The terminal side of the road was virtually immaculate with track clearly visible and looking in good shape.

There used to be track as a branch off of the old Gosport branch at Bedenham just before it crosses the road into the RN base. I suppose that's gone now as well?

 

[Holly]

Birkenhead docks to New Ferry.

I suspect there is no rail passenger service to 12 Quays because boat trains would complete with, and further damage, rail service to Holyhead.

If and when electrification to Chester is completed this equation may change and New Ferry may once again receive medium distance trains.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Yes, there is track still in place up to the Kilburn cross roads level crossing and possibly beyond (in fact there is a set of points the other side of the crossing).

Incredibly, around three or four years a go when they resurfaced the road at the main Coxbench level crossing (there are three in total) they didn't remove the rails which must have cost the county council a fortune. Not only that but up until the last year or so Network Rail could been seen working on the line! What a waste for a line which now has no purpose!

Forget that, apparently track lifting has started this week!

 

[Wyvern]

You could see the tracks of the old Melbourne line where it crossed Wilmore Road in Derby until quite recently. There still seem to be gates in the fence.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

[The Little Eaton branch] Forget that, apparently track lifting has started this week!

They must have heard about plans to reopen it.

 

[Twoonthebuzzer]

Yate - Tytherington Quarry still has a full track yet IIRC there hasn't been any freight over there for ages now!!

Beechgrove sidings and Quidhampton MOD sidings still gave full track too but haven't been used for years!

 

[Class172]

Round Oak - Dudley - Walsall still has tracks down. Brownhills branch. Longbridge hasn't been ripped up yet ??

South Staffs Line: isn't that protected or something for future use? As far as I know the Longbridge branch is still there. Also isn't there a short stretch south of Lichfield towards Walsall, or is that the Brownhills branch?

 

[First class]

Aintree - Bootle still has the track in place, though disused.

 

[londonmidland]

Does the Coalville line, PAST BARDON HILL, still get used?

 

[Maxfly]

The track for the Giffen branch from lugton is still there although no longer connected to the GBK.

 

[50010 Monarch]

Yate - Tytherington Quarry still has a full track yet IIRC there hasn't been any freight over there for ages now!!

Beechgrove sidings and Quidhampton MOD sidings still gave full track too but haven't been used for years!

Hasn't Yate to Tytherington recently been re-activated for regular traffic?

With regard to out of use lines with track, I assume that the line from Letterston Junction on the Fishguard line to Trecwn is still intact. In fact the undergrowth on this line was cleared back in 2006 due to an expected return to use but unfortunately I don't think anything actually materialised. I would think that five years later nature is again taking over.

 

[bILLOO]

Northampton to Brackmills, complete with 2 level crossings (both in quite a bad state)!

 

[The Planner]

Does the Coalville line, PAST BARDON HILL, still get used?

It isnt marked as out of use so if something wanted to then it could use it.

 

[Harbon 1]

It isnt marked as out of use so if something wanted to then it could use it.

I think that the underground trains from Derby use/did use the line because they are out of guage, so they have to use as many freight lines as possible.

 

[Hydro]

Yate - Tytherington Quarry still has a full track yet IIRC there hasn't been any freight over there for ages now!!

I went up Tytherington about 9 months ago, it's all still very much in place. A very odd little line with rough rock lined narrow tunnels leading up to the quarry.

 

[Crimson_Quiff]

Two lines near to where I live -

Poulton-Le-Fylde - Burn Naze
and
Preston - Deepdale

There are plans to get the old Poulton - Fleetwood line running again in Pres but the Preston - Deepdale line is severed from the mainline, although the track along the branch is still there.

 

[route:oxford]

Bletchley to Claydon is a bit gappy.

I believe the Akeman Street branch is still intact, albeit no longer connected.

Menstrie branch?

Isn't there a former narrow gauge railway nr Fort William where track was left on bridges/viaducts.

 

[DarloRich]

How many places are there in the UK where you have lines out of use but the track is still there .
And are these lines used by walkers either legally or illegally .

I can think of one example , the Hamble Oil line nr Southampton . Also up until 2004 the Wensleydale Line was used by walkers with the blessing of Railtrack. I think there were some legal notices to stop it becoming a right of way though.

I doubt VERY much it was with the blessing of Railtrack as the Wensleydale line remained "open" throughout that period and was used for some MOD services i think (Redmire being handy for Catterick)

 

[Cletus]

From the old Folkestone East station down to Folkestone Harbour still has track.
I suppose you could walk down it, probably illegally though!


http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=51.086677,1.189978&spn=0,0.02738&z=16&layer=c&cbll=51.086161,1.189898&panoid=MZgM0pzw9J_19fnEL2U15A&cbp=12,219.97,,0,0

 

[David Dunning]

I doubt VERY much it was with the blessing of Railtrack as the Wensleydale line remained "open" throughout that period and was used for some MOD services i think (Redmire being handy for Catterick)

Maybe "blessing" isnt the right word , but i can certainly remember notices at level crossing gates with legal wording regarding rights of way and at your own risk . It did look more like a bridlepath by the mid 90s, very overgrown.
And prior to 2004 the local media ran public service announcements to inform people that the railway was reopening and no longer available to walk on.
Anyway fascinating to read of all the other examples too .

 

[NSEFAN]

The Croxley Green branch.

 

[sprinterguy]

Isn't there a former narrow gauge railway nr Fort William where track was left on bridges/viaducts.

The Puggy Line, which ran from Fort William to Loch Trieg. There are indeed a few trestle viaducts that still have rails running across them, the rest of the alignment is totally abandoned though.