Window gazing!

Shapstormer · Post by **Shapstormer** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 1:23 am

Erm, time for another one of my late night tabloid polls.

Britians most scenic/best loved line?

phill70 · Post by **phill70** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 8:49 am

it has to be the west highland line

isambardkingdombrunel · Fri Dec 06, 2002 9:58 am

Heart of Wales Line.

Fodda · Post by **Fodda** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 12:14 pm

Well I'm afraid I haven't travelled on a lot of those, so I can only go by experience, and I love the Exeter-Plymouth (or return) journey. Dawlish, then Dartmoor... wonderful.

johndibben · Post by **johndibben** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 12:25 pm

Godda be Devon and Cornwall m'dears

Exedder, Exedder all change ....

Kevo00 · Post by **Kevo00** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 4:01 pm

Well narrowly the S&C, if only because its had to demonstrate how well loved it is in the past, although the attempted withdrawral of the West Highland sleeper caused a rumpus too. But I would also have to mention the NYMR and the Middlesborough - Whitby line, the Newcastle - Carlisle, the Windermere branch - and yes Edinburgh - Dundee - Aberdeen, and Glasgow - Perth - Dundee, both much under rated routes - even the WCML north of Carlisle is good.

Stooopidperson · Post by **Stooopidperson** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 4:04 pm

I didn't know there was a WCML route! Where can I download it? I can't find it in the file library here.

Shapstormer · Post by **Shapstormer** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 6:07 pm

I think it depends. I voted for the West Highland because it is simply breathtaking, where the scenery truly dwarfs the trains. Not very quick though - And I do tend to get worried if the train derails on the Loch Treig stretch - those who have travelled know what I mean. On travelled it on a snowy day hoping to get to Fort william, but the train ran late so I bailed out at Roy bridge...Hoping that an up train was on itâ€™s way! The Snow was so deep that the drivers ran the 156 units in, deliberately overshot the platform sending snow everywhere! Then reversed back into the platform! The snow over Rannoch Moor made the scene look like the artic...you could hardly see out and there was nothing but snow! Must admit it was quite worrying...

The Highland main line (Perth-Inverness) is a favourite on mine. Quite different from the west Highland. For a start many stretches are cleared for 100mph - at least for the daily HST â€˜The Highland chieftainâ€™. It tends to run through deep glens and across moors. The summit Drumochter is the Highest summit on the UK rail network at some 1484 ft. The signalling is mostly colour light, especially North of Aviemore...although they are battery powered at there is no local supply. The signals remain dark if there is no train signalled. Remember being looped somewhere between Aviemore and Inverness (Tomatin I think), our HST proceeded slowly into the passing loop, the lone colour light there only light in view and the unforgettable smell of fresh fir trees. The Euston sleeper drummed by on the up, and we dropped down to Inverness...which BTW you see far below in the distance as your drop down past Culloden.

Now the WCML north of Preston is pretty good. Fast and electrified. Although through those curves at the edge of the lake district the train always feels like if it went any faster it would come off. Shap summit it the highest point at just over 900 feet.

And of-course west of Exeter....a summer one that! Nothing like Dawlish in the summer! The whole line is very tightly curved (and hence low speed)...but at least it gives you more of a view of the Devon and Cornish countryside. Between Plymouth and Penzance there are more viaducts per any other mile of railway in the UK and still plenty of lower quadrant semaphore signals!

The S&C is worth a look. Pretty slow speed and lots of semaphores still. The box at Blea moor always looks a funny place to work...bang in the middle of nowhere. Then thereâ€™s the rumours about the tunnel!

Kevo00 · Post by **Kevo00** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 6:45 pm

Stooopidperson wrote:I didn't know there was a WCML route! Where can I download it? I can't find it in the file library here.

I thought he meant real routes. To expirience the WCML one must pay ones cash and get on a real train!

peterdore · Post by **peterdore** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 9:16 pm

its got to Be the good old Somerset and Darset

pete

johndibben · Post by **johndibben** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 9:34 pm

peterdore wrote: its got to Be the good old Somerset and Darset

pete

I'm too young Pete .... honestly

RobindeJones · Post by **RobindeJones** » Sun Dec 08, 2002 12:05 am

Obvious, Esk Valley - when the bridges are intact!

Robin

Zackybong1 · Post by **Zackybong1** » Sun Dec 08, 2002 8:57 pm

Whats going on???!!!

Has none of you travelled between Startford and Gidea Park?
Gorgeous.

eddief · Post by **eddief** » Sun Dec 08, 2002 9:18 pm

Its got to be the West highland Line. Having spent numerous years when I was very young in the 1980's up there and recently this summer to see K1 62005 pulling the steam service (and hopefully next year on the support crew

) there is no other line to match it for scenery, most of the photos I have taken up there either involve scenery as a wonderful backdrop or have a train as an extra bonus in it.

salopiangrowler · Post by **salopiangrowler** » Mon Dec 09, 2002 11:26 pm

oooh the west highland and the highland mainline and absolutely gorgeous, just put a few 37's up there and i might even move. As i've experience the west highland and the highland main by 37's only (im only 23) and really think its worth it on a 156, 158 or a 170 aswell then its an amazing achievement. Ok ill put you outta your misery, I am 23 i have only been up the west highland and highland ain behind 37's i must admit i cheated a bit.

For Â£169 for 3 days i had 37401+409 from carstairs to inverness to Kyle of lochalsh

and for Â£179 for 3 days i had 37430 from motherwell to fortwilliam and mallaig and return

Both trips where the Highlander and the Monarch of the Glen tours very expensive but worth every penny hauled by 47's from bristol or birmingham once a year good food good hotels friendly staff. what more could you want especially up the most scenic railway the UK offers

Atomic Systems

Window gazing!

Which is the UKs most scenic line?

Window gazing!