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Author Topic: Cool List: The Best [South Western] Railway Journeys  (Read 5309 times)
eightonedee
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« Reply #15 on: February 25, 2019, 21:36:11 »

Again, depending on how widely you interpret "the South West", could I put in a word for the Golden Valley line between Shapperton Tunnel and Stonehouse?
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grahame
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« Reply #16 on: February 25, 2019, 22:12:25 »

Again, depending on how widely you interpret "the South West", could I put in a word for the Golden Valley line between Shapperton Tunnel and Stonehouse?

Here's TravelWatch SouthWest definition of the South West (meeting details {{here}})



The Coffee Shop also takes in the Thames Valley and South Wales and looks like



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JayMac
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« Reply #17 on: February 25, 2019, 22:39:22 »

Well, based on the second map I'd like to add Smallbrook Junction to Wootton to the list of best railway journeys in the south and west.
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MVR S&T
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« Reply #18 on: February 26, 2019, 00:00:40 »

If Waterloo to Weymouth is included, then the whole route from MI6 to seaside at Weymouth, on a rather 'cool' class 444.

My thoughts are going round to the top ten WORST bits of the south west rail network, if there are any.
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grahame
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« Reply #19 on: February 26, 2019, 05:57:41 »

My thoughts are going round to the top ten WORST bits of the south west rail network, if there are any.

My thoughts went through there too; many towns might have their short sections that are less than beautiful. The stretch that goes behind the outside of the yard behind the out of town departure store, past the back of modern mid-rise housing that's blocked off from station access, noting the industrial materials dumped by the old good shed which is historic but clad in protective corrugated iron to stop it collapsing before pulling into a station that's utilitarian where once there was a building of beauty and great historic interest. Pulling out after our stop, we pass immediately behind a modular building built on the old platform - so close to the edge that the platform can no longer be used for passenger trains and past the decayed and fenced off steps up to the main road - a lost station access. We pass under the bridge and behind some warehouses of little architectural merit, behind the car park of the local supermarket and past the sewerage farm before starting to come into the countryside ... note the low sheds which I suspect are a battery chicken farm; not sure if it's still operational.
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jamestheredengine
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« Reply #20 on: February 26, 2019, 07:15:56 »

My thoughts are going round to the top ten WORST bits of the south west rail network, if there are any.
Plymouth North Road has to be a strong contender.
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SandTEngineer
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« Reply #21 on: February 26, 2019, 07:48:18 »

My thoughts are going round to the top ten WORST bits of the south west rail network, if there are any.
Plymouth North Road has to be a strong contender.

Well, make the most of it because its all going to be redeveloped soon.  That should transform it Roll Eyes
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CyclingSid
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« Reply #22 on: February 26, 2019, 08:11:32 »

Not the worst, but always intriguing the number of cemeteries by the railway. Presumably because the dead didn't complain about the noise.
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Umberleigh
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« Reply #23 on: March 16, 2019, 17:27:17 »

Going back to the unmissable journeys in the South West, I took a sunny Sunday in June trip up to Umberleigh last year. The countryside was in its prime along the route, with a magnificent bed of wild watercress along side the track bed at Copplestone. Umberleigh itself such a picturesque and peaceful station, and after my walk I got to relax on a platform bench seemingly stuck in time...

Also, all the other Devon & Cornwall branches, the Dawlish route, the Okehampton Sunday trip and, as previously stated, Salisbury to Exeter for its intriguing geology.. the Cornish mainline on a bright and breezy Summer’s day... Pretty much all the network, then.
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TonyK
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« Reply #24 on: March 17, 2019, 13:05:44 »

Parson Street to Bedminster. (I should get out more...)
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rogerw
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« Reply #25 on: March 17, 2019, 13:55:34 »

 Roll Eyes Grin Roll Eyes
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Witham Bobby
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« Reply #26 on: March 18, 2019, 12:29:00 »

Campden Bank, through the tunnel and on to Moreton-in-Marsh, and gradually descending through the Evenlode Valley to Wolvercote Junction always, whetever the time of year, is full of interest and beauty

West Somerset Railway, particularly the view of the Quantocks which is on the left, as you climb from Williton towards Stogumber

S'nerth - S'nives

Parts of Gunnislake Branch, particularly Bere Alston to Gunnislake

Exeter to Newton Abbott

Trowbridge to Castle Cary (possibly continuing towards Dorchester, but I'm not all that familiar with it)

and

Castle Cary on towards Taunton, over the flatland and Athelney (for sheer spookiness, to my mind)

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