Post-Beeching Closures

[4SRKT]

When was the Glasgow - Airdrie line wired up?

Ages ago. In the 60s sometime I think.

 

[ess]

i think there used to be an occasional train to a station between normanton and woodlesford - i can't remember the name though

 

[4SRKT]

i think there used to be an occasional train to a station between normanton and woodlesford - i can't remember the name though

Altofts and Whitwood. It lost its passenger services sometime in the 90s, although the line remained open for freight. The line now has a half hourly service between Leeds and Sheffield on it.

 

[tbtc]

Ages ago. In the 60s sometime I think.

So were there diesel services though to Edinburgh at the same time?

(before my time)

 

[WL113]

Another important line: Kingswinford Junction South to Pensnett and Oxley via Bromley Basin.....

Last used 1994.

 

[richw]

i live about 1/2 mile from the old gwinear road station and junction where the old helston branch line used to leave the mainline from!

 

[furryfeet]

ashburys to phillips park no 1
jan 1994

also ashton moss north to denton jn, although in this case, this is still used occaisionally used for diversions when Man Picc is blockaded for engineering work.

there was even ashton moss south to OAGB jn which was re-opened to passengers for about 10 days when Guide Bridge was remodelled as part of the conversion of the Glossop / Hadfield line from 1500v DC to 25kv AC in Dec 1984.

 

[4SRKT]

So were there diesel services though to Edinburgh at the same time?

(before my time)

Freight only I suspect. While Airdrie > Edinburgh may have been closed in 1982, it certainly didn't have passenger services on it at that time.

 

[CarterUSM]

Freight only I suspect. While Airdrie > Edinburgh may have been closed in 1982, it certainly didn't have passenger services on it at that time.

I think it closed to passenger services around about the early 60's. It is amazing to think the line was shut, re-opened to Bathgate a few years later, and is now being returned to full use again!

 

[Mex]

I think it closed to passenger services around about the early 60's. It is amazing to think the line was shut, re-opened to Bathgate a few years later, and is now being returned to full use again!

A bit earlier than that... according to the local records it was closed to passenger services in 1956. Between 1956 and 1982 it relied on coal and car freight to keep going but was finally shut down and the track lifted in 1982.

And to answer an earlier question, I believe the Glasgow - Airdrie line was electrified in 1961 or so.

At work just now so can't spend any time looking things up, sorry

Will be very satisifed to see this re-open again (this December allegedly).

 

[CarterUSM]

A bit earlier than that... according to the local records it was closed to passenger services in 1956. Between 1956 and 1982 it relied on coal and car freight to keep going but was finally shut down and the track lifted in 1982.

And to answer an earlier question, I believe the Glasgow - Airdrie line was electrified in 1961 or so.

At work just now so can't spend any time looking things up, sorry

Will be very satisifed to see this re-open again (this December allegedly).

Thanks, I had a feeling I was a little off. Yes, it will be great to see it reopen, hopefully on time or thereabouts.

 

[AJP62]

The Carlisle avoiding lines south/east to north closed in the early 80s I think after a bridge was destroyed by a run away freightliner wagon set.

These would probably be very useful these days for the number of coal trains that need to run from the north to the S&C or Newcastle lines crossing the passenger lines in the process. Prior to the closure very little freight went through Citedal station.

During the Penmanshiel closure the avoiding lines were used for at least one of the overnight trains diverted from the ECML at Newcastle through Carlisle to Scotland.

 

[LE Greys]

The Carlisle avoiding lines south/east to north closed in the early 80s I think after a bridge was destroyed by a run away freightliner wagon set.

These would probably be very useful these days for the number of coal trains that need to run from the north to the S&C or Newcastle lines crossing the passenger lines in the process. Prior to the closure very little freight went through Citedal station.

During the Penmanshiel closure the avoiding lines were used for at least one of the overnight trains diverted from the ECML at Newcastle through Carlisle to Scotland.

I don't know Carlisle, so I'm not sure if this is really possible, but I reckon that the avoiding lines are just about reinstatable. Looking at overhead imagery, there is some development in the way, but nothing residential and a lot is merely car parking. There is one troublesome road, but that could probably be diverted.

 

[W-on-Sea]

In Greater London, off the top of my head:

Coulsdon North, and Elmers End - Bingham Road - Coombe Road - Selsdon - Sanderstead both closed in the early 80s (a fair bit of the latter, albeit in some cases with different alignment, but including quite a lengthy tunnel, is now part of the Croydon Tramlink).

The Graham Road curve (linking the line out of Liverpool Street near Hackney Downs with the North London line) opened when Broad Street closed (1986 I think), and closed itself in 1992 (not surprising given that the journey by this route was so much longer than that which it replaced).

Holborn Viaduct (replaced by City Thameslink 1988)
Various tunnels around Kings Cross linking the "widened lines" (i.e. to Moorgate) with the line towards Finsbury Park (incl. York Road station) closed I think late 1970s

The line between Upper Holloway and Kentish Town closed to passenger traffic 1982 (?) and later lifted (passenger services from Barking diverted to Gospel Oak instead). But this rules out any potential revival of St Pancras to Southend summer specials or St Pancras to Tilbury boat trains (even before Tilbury Riverside closed - although the western side of the triangle there still has tracks, as well as the northern part in regular passenger use)

East Brixton station closed mid 70s. Kentish Town West also (after a fire) - but "rebuilt", or at any rate re-opened in mid 80s.

 

[4SRKT]

I've got a 1970 Western Region timetable here which, in addition to the already mentioned Barnstaple > Ilfracombe (5 daily trains each way), and Bourne End > High Wycombe (7 trains), there is also Maiden Newton > Bridport (8 trains), Paignton > Kingswear (12 trains) and Taunton > MInehead (10 trains). Stratford on Avon also appears in the station bank of the Oxford > Worcester/Hereford table (the modern table 126). There are no trains, but a note next to the Stratford and Honeybourne stations saying 'service withdrawn'. If this appears in a 1970 timetable, it suggests that the service had only recently been taken off, and therefore survived Beeching.

 

[Bittern]

Anyone know of any rail closures that occured 1970s onwards... looking for curves/yards/SBs/platforms not just lines and stations?

Between Newton and Carmyle there was a line which lost it's passenger services buring Beeching, but was retained for freight purposes between Cambuslang and Carmyle. The line crossed the River Clyde with the help of Westburn Viaduct. Freight services ceased and the line closed in 1983.

Westbrn Viaduct, while no longer connected to a railway, still spans the Clyde to this day. It's an impressive looking structure, though not easy to get to in days like today when there's billions of migies around. Beleive me, I tried about 12 hours ago. This was the best picture I got.

<-- Click for bigger version.

 

[sheff'd victoria]

The former Midland Railway line from Wath to Oakenshaw North Junction closed on 1st June 1987

 

[ess]

what happened to the line between stalybridge and stockport? i used to take that line a lot about 20 years ago

 

[4SRKT]

what happened to the line between stalybridge and stockport? i used to take that line a lot about 20 years ago

When NTPE services transferred to Piccadilly instead of Victoria it was run down. It was essentially run as a service to allow people from North East England and Yorkshire to reach destinations south of Manchester without having to traipse between stations.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Between Newton and Carmyle there was a line which lost it's passenger services buring Beeching, but was retained for freight purposes between Cambuslang and Carmyle. The line crossed the River Clyde with the help of Westburn Viaduct. Freight services ceased and the line closed in 1983.

Westbrn Viaduct, while no longer connected to a railway, still spans the Clyde to this day. It's an impressive looking structure, though not easy to get to in days like today when there's billions of migies around. Beleive me, I tried about 12 hours ago. This was the best picture I got.

<-- Click for bigger version.

Thats not a bad photo mate. here's one in Cumbria. Bit off-topic, it closed in the 60s and nothing remians, but it is the undisputed king of viaducts

http://www.cumbria-railways.co.uk/belah_blackpool_newcastle_1955.jpg

 

[sprinterguy]

The Haltwhistle-Alston branch survived until 1976 until the upgraded "all weather" road was opened, prior to that the railway had proved to be a necessary link for local communities during harsh winters.

Gateshead central freight depot, round the corner from the TMD, closed in 1990.

On the subject of the Carlisle freight avioiding line, the alignment at the south end where it diverges from Bog Junction and near Currock is still unimpeded to beyond the first river crossing (which is the location of the bridge that was demolished by the runaway Freightliner in 1986, closing the route). There's no hope of reinstating the line though, as there are new office developments across the site of Canal yard (towards the north end of the avoiding line) that would stop any rail development.

 

[bnsf734]

The Nuneaton avoiding line from Abbey Junction to Midland Junction was closed and lifted in the late 80s/early 90s. Part of the route (The bridge over the WCML) was used for the alignment to the new platforms 6 and 7 and the rest lifted. Incidentally one of the steel road bridges was repainted this year so there must still be a reason for its retention especially as it is low and gets hit by high vehicles occasionally.

Calvin

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

Whilst green park and the rest of the line closed to passengers in 1966, the Mangotsfield and Bath line only closed to freight in 1971. Seems like the Mangotsfield-Westerleigh section closed the previous year, though a short spur still exists to the oil depot. Probably be worth its weight in Gold now, seeing how built up the area now is. Predictably the council want to turn it into a guided busway.

 

[Bevan Price]

On the subject of the Carlisle freight avioiding line, the alignment at the south end where it diverges from Bog Junction and near Currock is still unimpeded to beyond the first river crossing (which is the location of the bridge that was demolished by the runaway Freightliner in 1986, closing the route). There's no hope of reinstating the line though, as there are new office developments across the site of Canal yard (towards the north end of the avoiding line) that would stop any rail development.

In the unlikely event that some future government decided that this (or any other) line needed to reopen, then buildings would be subject to compulsory purchase and demolished - as happened when the Croydon tramway was built .

Bevan

 

[AJP62]

On the subject of the Carlisle freight avioiding line, the alignment at the south end where it diverges from Bog Junction and near Currock is still unimpeded to beyond the first river crossing (which is the location of the bridge that was demolished by the runaway Freightliner in 1986, closing the route). There's no hope of reinstating the line though, as there are new office developments across the site of Canal yard (towards the north end of the avoiding line) that would stop any rail development.

After Bog Junc the line split at Rome Street Junc - one line went direct to Canal Yard and the other looped back round to the WCML just north of Citedal station alongside Carlisle Castle. The direct one to Canal Yard shut in the 60s and has been built on but the one to the Castle was the one closed by the Freightliner and I think this is still clear of obstruction though there has been a lot of building alongside the route. I think the siding from Bog Junction to the old Metal Box directly to the west of Citedal station survived after the accident as it didn't require the bridge that was destroyed.

 

[Drsatan]

In the former Southern Region:

Fareham - Gosport closed to freight traffic in 1969 (passenger services had been withdrawn in 1953). A stub serving Bedenham armaments depot lasted until the late 1980s. The trackbed as far as Bedenham is still in situ (although heavily overgrown); south of there a cycle path occupies the trackbed. The alignment's now blocked by an industrial estate. Plans to build a tramway along the trackbed (with a tunnel under Portsmouth Harbour and a loop serving Fareham town centre) were scrapped a couple of years ago and the government now wants to build a guided busway. As discussed in another thread legal action to prevent its construction has failed.

Winchester - Alton closed in 1972, despite its value as a diversionary route whenever the SWML was closed. During electrification of the SWML in 1966-7 express trains were routed over the line. Alresford-Alton's now the Mid Hants Railway (otherwise known as the Watercress Line). Extending the line to Winchester would be very expensive now that the M3 lies across the trackbed.

The Weymouth Quay tramway ceased to be used from 1989 when BR stopped running boat trains to Weymouth Quay to connect with cross-channel ferries. The line was last used in 1999 by a charter service, and it probably won't be used in the future since some of the rails have gone out of alignment, and given that the line would be very infrequently used NR decided it would not be viable to dig up the road surface and relay the trackbed. There was talk of running a Parry People Mover (or a similar lightweight vehicle) from Weymouth station to Weymouth Quay during the summer but Weymouth Borough Council lost interest in the idea, and the aforementioned track problems preclude this. The line's still part of the National Rail network but officially mothballed.

 

[4SRKT]

Two passenger services I missed from my 1970 Western Region timetable were Treherbert > Maesteg > Bridgend, and Exeter > Yeoford > Okehampton.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

In the former Southern Region:

Fareham - Gosport closed to freight traffic in 1969 (passenger services had been withdrawn in 1953). A stub serving Bedenham armaments depot lasted until the late 1980s. The trackbed as far as Bedenham is still in situ (although heavily overgrown); south of there a cycle path occupies the trackbed. The alignment's now blocked by an industrial estate. Plans to build a tramway along the trackbed (with a tunnel under Portsmouth Harbour and a loop serving Fareham town centre) were scrapped a couple of years ago and the government now wants to build a guided busway. As discussed in another thread legal action to prevent its construction has failed.

Winchester - Alton closed in 1972, despite its value as a diversionary route whenever the SWML was closed. During electrification of the SWML in 1966-7 express trains were routed over the line. Alresford-Alton's now the Mid Hants Railway (otherwise known as the Watercress Line). Extending the line to Winchester would be very expensive now that the M3 lies across the trackbed.

The Weymouth Quay tramway ceased to be used from 1989 when BR stopped running boat trains to Weymouth Quay to connect with cross-channel ferries. The line was last used in 1999 by a charter service, and it probably won't be used in the future since some of the rails have gone out of alignment, and given that the line would be very infrequently used NR decided it would not be viable to dig up the road surface and relay the trackbed. There was talk of running a Parry People Mover (or a similar lightweight vehicle) from Weymouth station to Weymouth Quay during the summer but Weymouth Borough Council lost interest in the idea, and the aforementioned track problems preclude this. The line's still part of the National Rail network but officially mothballed.

yeah, the railway is due to be ripped up in time for the sailing at Weymouth at the Olympics 2012... got it all photographed already.

 

[Drsatan]

The sailing events will be held at Portland, yet the roads around Portland aren't going to accomodate the extra traffic for the Olympics. I can imagine huge traffic jams on the main road to Portland in 2012 which will result in sailors not being able to get to their yachts, and other forms of chaos. Cue widespread derision from the rest of the world at Britain not being able to plan ahead.

Seriously, the line from Weymouth to Portland was closed in 1951, so to take cars off the road why not reopen it?

 

[TheExmoorBeast]

Because if you have a look there's a slight problem in that a lot of the line has been obliterated & bridges are missing & the A353 takes its alignment in Weymouth itself.

Anyway I don't see that the sailing events are going to be over popular anyway, well at least not with everyday folk, of course you'll get the snobs & hooray henry's go, but that's about it and afterwards, Weymouth and Portland will go back to their normal states, namely boring dumps.