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lympstone_commuter
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« on: July 16, 2020, 19:46:33 » |
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I've just come back from a very pleasant cycle along the old railway between Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton, and it set me thinking:
What stretches of railway have now been closed for longer than they were ever open?
Initially I wondered if Exmouth-Budleigh might be a candidate, but it hasn't got there yet (open for 64 years, 1903 - 1967; closed for 53 years 1967 - 2020). I suppose it will become one in 2031, though!
Can forum members think of any bits of railway now closed for longer than they were open?
(Off the top of my head I reckon I can think of two examples in 'our' area, but won't mention them yet. Partly not to spoil things and partly because I need to double check on wikipedia...)
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« Last Edit: July 16, 2020, 19:53:33 by lympstone_commuter »
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rogerw
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« Reply #1 on: July 16, 2020, 19:55:25 » |
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Fawley branch - for passengers but not freight
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I like to travel. It lets me feel I'm getting somewhere.
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lympstone_commuter
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« Reply #2 on: July 16, 2020, 20:00:52 » |
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Fawley (for passengers) - a good answer, and not one I had thought of.
My two hunches (now verified by wikipedia) are very much completely closed.
(I did have a third hunch, but it won't get there until 2027...)
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grahame
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« Reply #3 on: July 16, 2020, 20:13:31 » |
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Little Somerford towards Malmesbury, 1933 - 1951 (passenger) or 1962 (completely).
Closed longer than open from 1998
Dauntsey towards Malmesbury, 1877 - 1933.
Closed longer than open from 1989.
Section up to Malmesbury from where those two came together, 1877 - 1962,
So not closed longer than open until 2027.
What about stations ... nearest to me, Beanacre Halt only open from 1905 - 1955, so went over in 2005.
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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lympstone_commuter
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« Reply #4 on: July 16, 2020, 20:18:10 » |
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Those Wiltshire answers hadn't occurred to me, Graham!
Gosh, I wonder if there are many more of these than I thought?
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johnneyw
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« Reply #5 on: July 16, 2020, 20:39:49 » |
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There's the Lynton and Barnstaple, opened 1898, closed 1935. Arguably reopened in part from 2004 but still shut for more time than open.
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JayMac
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« Reply #6 on: July 16, 2020, 20:50:33 » |
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Weston, Clevedon & Portishead Light Railway, 1897-1940.
Clifton Rocks Railway, 1893-1934
Yeovil Hendford Station, 1857-1860
Lyng Halt, 1928-1964
Several halts on the S&DJR▸ , 1920s/30s-1950s
Bridgwater North, 1890-1952
Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, 1898-1935 (short section to Parracombe Halt reopened in 2006)
Monkton Combe Halt (aka Titfield from Titfield Thunderbolt film), 1910-1915 & 1923-1925
All dates refer to openings and closures to passenger services.
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« Last Edit: July 16, 2020, 20:58:30 by bignosemac »
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"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
- Sir Terry Pratchett.
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grahame
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« Reply #7 on: July 16, 2020, 20:52:14 » |
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Those Wiltshire answers hadn't occurred to me, Graham!
Gosh, I wonder if there are many more of these than I thought?
There are some very interesting cases around. New Passage Pier to Pilning ... 1863 - 1886 Amesbury to Bulford ... 1906 - 1952 (passenger) 1965 (freight) Lee on Solent branch ... 1894 - 1931 (passienger) 1935 (freight) Weston Clevedon and Portishead ... 1897 - 1940. Beaten on that one Halwill Junction to Meeth ... 1925 to 1965. Hotwells to Sea Mills ... 1865 - 1922 Lynton and Barnstaple ... 1988 - 1935 Beaten to it on that one top |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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lympstone_commuter
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« Reply #8 on: July 16, 2020, 20:55:27 » |
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The WC▸ &P was one of my hunches!
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JayMac
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« Reply #9 on: July 16, 2020, 21:04:40 » |
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New Passage Pier to Pilning ... 1863 - 1886
... and Severn Beach to Pilning, 1928-1964 I've not found a par score yet (same time in years open as closed). Closest I've found is Henbury, 1910-1964. 54 years open, 56 years closed. Had you asked the question in 2018...  |
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« Last Edit: July 16, 2020, 21:10:40 by bignosemac »
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"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
- Sir Terry Pratchett.
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Celestial
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« Reply #10 on: July 16, 2020, 21:18:32 » |
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A variant of this would be lines which have now been reopened for longer than they were closed. The Aberdare branch was closed from 64 to 88, so comfortably now exceeds the period of closure. Also the Maesteg Line. I'm guessing the Melksham line too, (in so far as it had an intermediate passenger service).
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JontyMort
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« Reply #11 on: July 16, 2020, 21:19:32 » |
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I've just come back from a very pleasant cycle along the old railway between Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton, and it set me thinking:
What stretches of railway have now been closed for longer than they were ever open?
Can forum members think of any bits of railway now closed for longer than they were open?
Fawkham Junction to Southfleet Junction ( CTRL▸ 1)? |
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Lee
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« Reply #12 on: July 16, 2020, 21:22:18 » |
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Ive got an "is it or isnt it?" one for you:
Basingstoke and Alton Light Railway.
Opened 1901
Closed 1917
Reopened 1924
Closed to passengers 1932
Closed for freight 1936
However, two short sections were left in place for shunting freight until 1967, and arguably a 100m stub of track still exists west of Basingstoke station...
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lympstone_commuter
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« Reply #13 on: July 16, 2020, 21:26:41 » |
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Wonderful suggestions, all!
The second of my 'hunches' has not been mentioned yet. It is
- in our area
- standard gauge
- carried passengers
- has an unusual characteristic
- closed remarkably early
Any guesses?
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JontyMort
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« Reply #14 on: July 16, 2020, 21:36:57 » |
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I've just come back from a very pleasant cycle along the old railway between Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton, and it set me thinking:
What stretches of railway have now been closed for longer than they were ever open?
Can forum members think of any bits of railway now closed for longer than they were open?
Fawkham Junction to Southfleet Junction ( CTRL▸ 1)? Invergarry and Fort Augustus. Probably a few other obscure Scottish branches too. Kings Sutton to Kingham (1887 to 1951). Not quite Ashendon Junction to Grendon Underwood (1906 to 1966). |
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