Lines That Have Closed Since 1970

[Rugd1022]

Rugby to Marton Junction and Southam Cement Works, closed in 1985, the last service to run on the branch being the weedkilling train!

 

[Wavertreelad]

The Edge Hill Circular route and Edge Hill Gridiron, all electrified as part of the 1960's WCML electrification both closed in 1970's before being largely demolished, landscaped or built on in by the 1980's.

Olive Mount curve from the Chat Moss Line to the Bootle Branch, which closed in 1987 and subsequently by then reopened in 2008.

Liverpool Outer Loop line closed in 1972.

 

[Richard1960]

March to Wisbech.
Wymondham to Dereham.March to Spalding.
Lincoln St.Marks (and the Lincoln avoiding line?)

Although closed Wymondham to Dereham is still connected to the main line a few years ago East Midland trains did some specials from Norwich to Dereham direct as part of a weekend of specials.

Usually though only Wymondham Abbey to Dereham is operated by Mid Norfolk Railway.

 

[Cheshire Rover]

Is this the same line that once had two railway stations upon it:-
Manley
Helsby and Alvanley

Yes, that's the one.

 

[kevconnor]

I don't know if it has been officially closed as such but the Trafford Park Railway is certainly unusable and I don't think has seen any trains running on it since the early 90's.

 

[73001]

The short sections closed in Liverpool to Liverpool Central High Level (1972) and from Sandhills to Liverpool Exchange (1977).

 

[jamieintercity]

Bridgeton central in Glasgow closed in the mid 80s

 

[Controller1701]

Not seen mentioned the following

Fareham - Priddys Hard / Bedenham

The link lines into Betteshangher Colliery and Richborough Power Station

With regards to the sidings at Folkestone, the three lines used by boat trains reversing at 'The East' are technically "Train Roads" rather than carriage Sidings, the latter are located the 'coast-ward' side of the train roads and were only accessible from the Harbour branch.

Paul

 

[Juniper Driver]

Bow Road,must have been closed in the late 60's remember walking along it in the 70's,track was still there.Remember the last days of Broad Street and visiting it in the late 70's.

Little bits of track,coming from Chertsey there was a triangle there although no more,same with Branksome Depot.(plus a few other places Putney bridge from Wimbledon used to be two track.)Something at Farnborough,probably linking with the low level line.Up RD.

 

[matchmaker]

Stirling - Dunfermline closed early 1970s, but of course partly reopened 2008!

 

[najaB]

Stirling - Dunfermline closed early 1970s, but of course partly reopened 2008!

In the same vein, didn't the Airdrie to Bathgate line close as late as the mid 1980's, to be reopened in 2010?

Was just looking on Google Maps and came across visual evidence of the fact that it was a recent reopening - follow the line to the right and you can see the construction in progress..

 

[swt_passenger]

Mention of the Fareham area (in the post a few above here) reminds me that the remaining single track of the Fareham tunnel avoiding line, (used by up trains I think), was still there in 73 or 74?

 

[ac6000cw]

The original Bedford St. Johns (when the trains from Bletchley were diverted into Bedford Midland). The current station is on a different site.

The freight line to the docks at Kings Lynn. Also the line to Ipswich Docks closed relatively recently.

 

[Class 170101]

Broad Street to Dalston Jn closed 1986, now except Dalston Jn east curve and Broad Street itself now returned to use.
Bathgate Station closed and re-sited upon opening of A2B
Stratford to North Woolwich closed 2000s now part of DLR Stratford to Canning Town, Connaught tunnel to be used by Crossrail services.

 

[Cletus]

Not sure about the Folkestone East sidings - remember reversing in them in the early 90's with a lot of condemned EPB stock stored there.

There are sidings still in use near Folkestone East next to the Martello Tunnel entrance.

Further to an earlier post, digging for a Channel Tunnel was also started by Shakespeare Tunnel in 1974/75.

 

[TBY-Paul]

Scarborough Falsgrave tunnel to Manor Road bridge (freight only). Closed c 1984?

The line, which was the last remains of the Whitby branch, was only kept open for Gallows Close goods yard and once that closed it was finished. It featured the headshunt to Manor Road which was actually simply a remnant of the Whitby branch. A train/loco running right up to the buffers was a rarity, though I believe it was done once or twice for fun.

So sad, so very sad.

You've just reminded, Back in 1979-81, I worked for a company who hired space in the goods Yard to store a delivery vehicle. I vaguely remember they used to unload Bus/Coach chassis off the trains. These Chassis' amounted to Chassis, Wheels, Seat & Steering Wheel and nothing else. These would then be driven to the Plaxtons factory to be fitted with the Coach bodywork. I only ever covered the delivery route in the winter, so it would be quite strange to see a bloke dressed like a Michelin man driving around in Rain, sleet & Snow.

 

[RPM]

Tuffley loop & Gloucester Eastgate, 1975
Cheltenham - Honeybourne - Stratford 1976 (?)
High Wycombe - Bourne End 1973 (?)
Princes Risborough - Thame 1990-something.

 

[Buttsy]

A couple in Oxfordshire:
Abingdon branch (1980?) - closure of the MG factory
Wallingford branch (1982?) - now Cholsey & Wallingford Railway.

Northampton - Market Harborough (1981?) - now in part the Lamport railway.
Also, I think there have been a few freight line closures around Northampton.
Kidderminster - Foley Park Sugar Works (1981?) - now part of the SVR.
The curve from Bradford-upon-Avon that linked onto the Trowbridge - Melksham line.
Colnbrook - Staines West - M25 built over it.

 

[ac6000cw]

Is that the part of the former Midland Railway mainline route north of Sheffield to Leeds that suffered from lots of subsidence?

In peace

Adam

I'm not an expert on the area, but my memory is:

Back in the early 1970s, it was the Swinton and Knottingley Joint line (via Moorthorpe and Pontefract Baghill) which had subsidence problems - this had been the standard 'express' route Sheffield-York/Sheffield-Leeds (reached via a connecting curve at Moorthope to the Doncaster-Leeds line). The subsidence problems on the S&K led to the revival of the original Midland route as an express route - it was the 'least worst' option, basically.

Later on (early 80's maybe?) the Sheffield-York routing became mostly 'via Doncaster' and the Leeds trains reverted to the S&K routing. With the closure of the coal mines along it, and maybe subsidence problems of it's own it became redundant.

 

[Philip C]

Someone mentioned Sheffield to Hadfield and was corrected. What did close was the Deepcar to Penistone line.

Also Rose Hill Marple to Macclesfield closed in 1971. As that was my local line I was pretty sad to see that one go.

I think you will find that Rose Hill Marple to Macclesfield closed in January 1970 - the exact date is given earlier in this thread. At the same time the New Mills Central to Hayfield line lost its services, although a stub end at New Mills was retained for reversing trains for some time. Also on that first weekend of the 1970s passenger services were withdrawn from the Hadfield to Penistone section with full closure occurring in 1981.

As I was home from University at the time, there was a melancholy choice as to where to take photographs over that snowy weekend.

 

[steamybrian]

1970s closures
Bourne End to High Wycombe closed 1970
Newbury to Welford Park closed completely 1973
Brighton to Kemp Town closed completely 1971
Okehampton to Crediton closed regular passenger service in 1972
Ilfracombe to Barnstaple closed 1970
Staines West to Colnbrook closed completely 1981..?



Sections of lines now form part of Croydon Tramlink
Elmers End-Addiscombe closed 1997
Woodside-Selsdon closed 1983
West Croydon to Wimbledon via Mitcham closed 1997

Stratford- North Woolwich closed 2007

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Manchester Victoria to Rochdale via Oldham was closed and given over to Metrolink operation. Certain sections were diverted, particularly the line through the original Oldham Mumps and Oldham Werneth stations.

 

[SussexMan]

Part of the Denver to Stoke Ferry branch didn't shut until 1982. It was kept open to Abbey Station to serve the nearby sugar beet factory.

 

[3141]

1970s closures
Bourne End to High Wycombe closed 1970
Newbury to Welford Park closed completely 1973
Brighton to Kemp Town closed completely 1971
Okehampton to Crediton closed regular passenger service in 1972
Ilfracombe to Barnstaple closed 1970
Staines West to Colnbrook closed completely 1981..?



Sections of lines now form part of Croydon Tramlink
Elmers End-Addiscombe closed 1997
Woodside-Selsdon closed 1983
West Croydon to Wimbledon via Mitcham closed 1997

Stratford- North Woolwich closed 2007

I was just going to add Barnstaple to Ilfracombe but you've beaten me to it!

But didn't it close in January 1971 on the same day as Norton Fitzwarren to Minehead? (See post 51.)

I thought Stratford to North Woolwich heavy rail closed earlier than 2007 - I'd have said 1990s (as someone has earlier in the thread). I used to work overlooking Stratford Low level station and my recollection is that Silverlink had stopped running south of there before the Jubilee Line extension opened.

 

[Class 170101]

I thought Stratford to North Woolwich heavy rail closed earlier than 2007 - I'd have said 1990s (as someone has earlier in the thread). I used to work overlooking Stratford Low level station and my recollection is that Silverlink had stopped running south of there before the Jubilee Line extension opened.

No was definitely open in 1999 when Jubilee opened. West Ham had interchange between two former BR lines for a period of time (NLL and c2c) and that opened in 1998.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Stratford LL-North Woolwich closed 09 December 2006. One of the first trips I can remember by rail is doing that before it shut.

Oddly enough the first I can remember is the Barkston Curve that went back in 2004-05 IIRC, another recent closure. Did allow Kings Cross-Leeds to go half-hourly though.

 

[Y961 XBU]

Dont think its been Officially Closed yet but the St Helens Central - St Helens Junction Link Line was used for Freight until 1990s? I know the Local Green Party are currently fighting to get it re-opened tho

 

[jonty14]

I can remember the coal trains running past Murton on the Ryhope to Hawthorn freight line in County Durham. Trainload coal 37s and 56s. Happy times. I suppose all colliery lines can be included.

 

[83G/84D]

- haltwhistle to Alston
- Sheffield to Hadfield
- Weymouth Quay
- Cambridge to St Ives (Fenstanton)
- Egginton to Mickleover

Has Weymouth Quay line officially closed? A while but last time I checked it was still connected to the lines at Weymouth station. Closures in the West Country are Marsh Mills clay works (Plymouth),Drinnick Mill,Nanpean Wharf,St Dennis Jn tip sidings,Pontsmill branch,Turnchapel branch (Plymouth).I'll try to think of some more.

 

[yorksrob]

Has Weymouth Quay line officially closed? A while but last time I checked it was still connected to the lines at Weymouth station. Closures in the West Country are Marsh Mills clay works (Plymouth),Drinnick Mill,Nanpean Wharf,St Dennis Jn tip sidings,Pontsmill branch,Turnchapel branch (Plymouth).I'll try to think of some more.

Alas, I believe it has quite recently. Shame, walked a lot of it quite recently and it was pretty much intact.