Hidden Gems (stations , viaducts etc)

[bramling]

Ok I am totally biased but when the Hayle River is at High Tide and the wind is low and the sun shining, there is nothing better than to sit at Lelant station for a couple of hours. I know many will say the views from Porthkidney Sands to St Ives is much better and yes,in some ways it is, but I think many would miss that picture of the Hayle river basin in full tide and the picture of peacefulness soon, thank goodness to be disturbed more regularly by trains stopping at the station all day and every day. Yipee!

Glan Conwy offers a similar experience on a fine day.

 

[Mikey C]

Not sure it counts a "hidden gem" but the Dollis Brook Viaduct (on the Northern Line Mill Hill East branch) really stands out, 60 ft above the ground it's quite unexpected rail architecture for London!

 

[RichJF]

The area around East Grinstead (my local station) has a number of railway gems hidden away. Given that there used to be four directional lines until the 50s/60s there's evidence of them all.
Imberhorne Viaduct is quite a surprise to anyone unfamiliar with the area

Just north of East Grinstead is Cookspond Viaduct which is quite spectacular given the surroundings

In fact both of the lines to East Grinstead/Uckfield south of Oxted are quite pretty imo

 

[Cosmicismsx]

Slough station exterior.

 

[yorksrob]

Very nice on a rainy day when there’s plenty of water flowing through all the various rivers and becks, at full speed on a pacer over the jointed track with windows open!

Indeed. A 3 carriage 144 is probably the best eventuality.

 

[sw1ller]

The memorial to William Huskission near Parkside junction on the Chat Moss.

That’s got to be a hidden gem as I miss it most times I go past and I have the best view of it!

Other not so hidden ones are Cyfn & Chirk viaducts between Wrexham and Shrewsbury.

 

[urbophile]

Cressington (Merseyrail Northern Line). Listed building dating from 1871; seen from the road it is a rather grand Victorian house, in a suburban estate of similar grand houses; from the platforms, one floor lower, it is an impressive piece of railway architecture. With a (sadly no longer functioning) drinking fountain on one platform. Hunts Cross is a similar design though no longer in railway use (replaced by a 1970s brick shed).

 

[DanTrain]

The New Mills Central - Manchester line is mostly quite dull but has one or two very nice viaducts along it which always seem to come out of nowhere. Same with New Mills itself which has some really nice railway and non-railway viaducts too!

 

[LUYMun]

When departing Watford High Street heading in the direction of London, look over to the right and you can see, going under a bridge, the abandoned Croxley Green branch line which closed in 1996. Plans for extending the Metropolitan line from Croxley over the disused line to Watford Junction almost came to building it, but recently funding issues caused the project to drop a few years ago.

 

[_toommm_]

Dinting Viaduct is amazing IMO - great to see (and hear) the 323s go over it, watching from the tip of Dinting Station

 

[Megafuss]

The Shin Viaduct over the Kyle of Sutherland. Very quiet and what a view

 

[Highlandspring]

Aultnaslanach trestle - https://goo.gl/maps/mr52t91tj2tsBYY16 (you might need to spin round)

 

[LUYMun]

Not sure it counts a "hidden gem" but the Dollis Brook Viaduct (on the Northern Line Mill Hill East branch) really stands out

Sticking to the Mill Hill East branch, at the end of the line and if you look beyond the buffers, the line used to continue to Edgware (LNER) until 1954, and would've gotten the Northern line's extension to Bushey Heath - if it weren't for the Green Belt!

 

[AlanFry1]

Bodmin Parkway surely?!

 

[yorksrob]

Difficult to single out one as there are so many.

Cannington Viaduct on the old Lyme Regis branch seems difficult to find and is (according to photos) quite impressive.

 

[bramling]

Difficult to single out one as there are so many.

Cannington Viaduct on the old Lyme Regis branch seems difficult to find and is (according to photos) quite impressive.

If we’re going for viaducts, I’d possibly nominate Healey Dell Viaduct on the former Rochdale to Bacup branch. Crosses more of a ravine than a valley, and normally a pretty peaceful spot.

There’s also a rather nice viaduct on the former Bala to Blaenau Ffestiniog line in the middle of nowhere. This has a few miles of walkable line adjacent to it, as well as over the viaduct itself, which forms one of the best railway walks going. Not being heavily advertised, and not being hard surfaced, this keeps people away, meaning it’s quite possible to walk from one end to the other without seeing anyone. Definitely no irritating bike bells here! Just magnificent views, perfect solitude, and the sound of cuckoos near and far.

 

[Sprinter107]

Cressington (Merseyrail Northern Line). Listed building dating from 1871; seen from the road it is a rather grand Victorian house, in a suburban estate of similar grand houses; from the platforms, one floor lower, it is an impressive piece of railway architecture. With a (sadly no longer functioning) drinking fountain on one platform. Hunts Cross is a similar design though no longer in railway use (replaced by a 1970s brick shed).

Yes. I'd have to agree. Cressington station is a real gem. Lovely old station.

 

[Sprinter107]

Maxwell Park on the Cathcart Circle is also a gem, with the sandstone tenements on one side and parkland on the other.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Scenery-wise, the Penistone line is underrated (north of Barnsley at least). A plethora of impressive viaducts (Penistone, Denby Dale, Lockwood and Paddock/Longroyd Bridge) with amazing views up the valleys. If only there were more pubs in close proximity to the stations, there'd probably be a well-established Ale Trail along the line. As it is, there's really only Huddersfield, Lockwood, Shepley and Denby Dale with suitable watering-holes!

 

[njamescouk]

As it is, there's really only Huddersfield, Lockwood, Shepley and Denby Dale with suitable watering-holes!

Station hotel at Silkstone Common. spread eagle in penistone but a bit of a walk from the station. plus Old no. 7 et al in Barnsley.

 

[yorksrob]

If we’re going for viaducts, I’d possibly nominate Healey Dell Viaduct on the former Rochdale to Bacup branch. Crosses more of a ravine than a valley, and normally a pretty peaceful spot.

There’s also a rather nice viaduct on the former Bala to Blaenau Ffestiniog line in the middle of nowhere. This has a few miles of walkable line adjacent to it, as well as over the viaduct itself, which forms one of the best railway walks going. Not being heavily advertised, and not being hard surfaced, this keeps people away, meaning it’s quite possible to walk from one end to the other without seeing anyone. Definitely no irritating bike bells here! Just magnificent views, perfect solitude, and the sound of cuckoos near and far.

I suppose that outside of urban approaches, viaducts are by their nature, quite impressive.

One gem that's relatively unimposing is the original waiting shelter on the up side at Burgess Hill. I read somewhere that it's one of the few surviving buildings from the opening of the line in 1841.

 

[LUYMun]

Loads more from the London Underground. When travelling on a Metropolitan line train between Moor Park and Croxley, at the beginning of the Watford South Curve where you branch away from the Amersham/Chesham tracks, on the right hand side a large empty space was used to be part of "Croxley Tip" - a landfill site made for dumping waste whilst demolishing the Neasden Power Plant until the mid-1980s. The ex-GWR Pannier Tank would normally travel there (requires running around at Watford because it can only be entered southwards), before being replaced by the battery-electric locos.
Here's a map where Croxley Tip was:

The entrance is visible from a nearby bridge.

 

[bramling]

Loads more from the London Underground. When travelling on a Metropolitan line train between Moor Park and Croxley, at the beginning of the Watford South Curve where you branch away from the Amersham/Chesham tracks, on the right hand side a large empty space was used to be part of "Croxley Tip" - a landfill site made for dumping waste whilst demolishing the Neasden Power Plant until the mid-1980s. The ex-GWR Pannier Tank would normally travel there (requires running around at Watford because it can only be entered southwards), before being replaced by the battery-electric locos.
Here's a map where Croxley Tip was:View attachment 61774

The entrance is visible from a nearby bridge.
View attachment 61775

A couple more from London Underground:

~ The 1890 C&SLR depot incline at Stockwell. Part of this survives, hidden away in a network of what are now ventilation and cable tunnels. Nearby is the disused station tunnel cavern, with some old tiling visible in places if one knows where to look.
~ Weston Street signal cabin, between the tunnels mid-way between King's Cross and Angel
~ The Embankment loop, most of which survives intact, although over half of it lying beneath the river is permanently sealed off. The remaining accessible section has some rather fine stalagtites.

All these features are very much hidden from view!

For those into impressive structures, some of the 1960s "cathedral" crossover caverns on the Victoria Line are also slightly awe-inspiring, along with some of the tunnel works associated with mundane structures like ventilation shafts and the like. Ironically the more modern lines can be more impressive in this respect, the Jubilee has some impressive features too, both on the 1970s section and the JLE, as well as the Heathrow part of the Picc Line.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Speaking of LU, Westminster station on the Jubilee and District always takes my breath away.

 

[LUYMun]

At Acton Town, if you stand on Platform 4 (District line eastbound), a wall opposite barricades the former platform 5, which District line shuttle services formerly served South Acton until 1959, only having a single carriage (nicknamed "The Ginny") and thus the old platform was only a carriage or two long.
But good news!
In January 2019, the hoarding was removed and therefore you can now see the old platform again!

Here it was previously:


And 2019:

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Scenery-wise, the Penistone line is underrated (north of Barnsley at least). A plethora of impressive viaducts (Penistone, Denby Dale, Lockwood and Paddock/Longroyd Bridge) with amazing views up the valleys. If only there were more pubs in close proximity to the stations, there'd probably be a well-established Ale Trail along the line. As it is, there's really only Huddersfield, Lockwood, Shepley and Denby Dale with suitable watering-holes!

What about the pubs at Brockholes (The Rock) and Stocksmoor (not sure what its called)? I do agree that the Penistone Line having a good foundation of having an Ale Trail, lets hope that the Penistone Line Partership will eventually introduce one which is similar to those Ale Trails in Devon and Cornwall whereby you get a sheet stamped and once fully stamped you send the thing off and claim a T Shirt. Maybe something that the PLP could do with the University of Huddersfield.
https://greatscenicrailways.co.uk/great-days-out/rail-ale-trails/

Speaking of which, I'd say scenery wise The Riviera Line especially between Exeter and Starcross with the Exe estury opening out as you head south (as most simply think of just the Dawlish section), there's also the Looe Valley Line as the line sweeps down to Looe and I'd include the section of the Heart of Wessex Line between Limpley Stoke and Westbury from vast Wiltshire countryside to the urban spralls of Bradford on Avon (the station reminds me of a slightly posher version of Hebden Bridge), Trowbridge and Westbury, the latter where the famous white horse emits like a beacon on the hillside of the town.

Heading back to Yorkshire the section of Pontefract Line between Pontefract Tanshelf and Goole is scenic in the sense that its betwen two urban centres with an industrialised rural bit in the middle (what with the three power stations of Ferrybridge, Eggborough and Drax providing an excellent backdrop which isn't replicated elsewhere).

 

[DLJ]

Yes. I'd have to agree. Cressington station is a real gem. Lovely old station.

It was my local station when I was growing up so I'm bit biased, but yep, it is lovely.

 

[Poolie]

The Waterfall (Slapewath) viaduct is now clearly visible from the A171 near Guisborough. A hidden gem for years unseen due to trees and undergrowth it is literally 20 yards from the road but was totally invisible

 

[billio]

I think this viaduct near Harrogate across the Crimple valley is something special :
https://goo.gl/maps/6mS7HhMrGGvvPYuJA
Originally built in 1848 as part of the the Church Fenton to Harrogate line. You can't get very close by car, but you can walk under it on a footpath. Also a good view from the train.
At Newton Kyme another fine viaduct on this line has been thoroughly renovated with a cycle path across it. You have to walk from Newton Kyme village or Thorpe Arch.

 

[Bookd]

How about Windmill Bridge near Southall (also known as the three bridges). One of Brunel's last projects this has the Brentford branch line at the foot, crossed on an aquaduct carrying the Grand Junction Canal, all topped by a road bridge (with severe width and weight restrictions) carrying Windmill Lane.
This is a scheduled historic monument and has a viewpoint - there are some pleasant canalside walks in the area.