Á la recherche du chemin du fer perdu

Or looking for the lost railway in Bridport.

Axed in 1975, and spured on by a diary entry of 1976 saying "Went to Bridport, someone had nicked the station." I decided to have a look at what remains.









This bit of track is now an allotment, wonder if they steam their vegetables.



Much of the track is now a cyclepath.



Although the main station is now a supermarket, the West Bay terminal survives as a café

 

Interesting stuff Zigs.

Old railway lines make excellent cycle paths or walks, being traffic free and, by definition, having no steep hills either.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if all the old disused railway lines closed in the past 50 years or so could be re-opened as traffic free cycling and walking routes? I know there are many instances around the country where this has already happened, but there are many more old disused railway lines which remain closed.

Wonder what it would cost? And how would that cost compare to, say, the amount spent on building new roads I wonder?

 

Ta Trunk

It would be good, trouble is, like here, part of the old route has been replaced by roads already, Yeovil is the same.

 

Why the double rails on photo 2 and 3 , reminds me of the old tram lines ?
Lots of old railway lines have been utilised as walking / cycling / bridleways . I know a few people who have cycled the Trans Pennine Trail , coast to coast from Southport to Hornsea near Hull . I think by using canal towpaths and converted railway lines you rarely touch a main road.

 

Because that bit was the level crossing Harry, they needed to infil between the tracks so the extra rail stops the tarmac going right up to the inside rail

 

That was all I could find Our Mandy Although while talking to a few folk along the way I did meet a couple who'd been on the very last journey on the line

 

Funily enough, they were on the platform at West Bay

 

It's a shame to see the old railways disappear. Most of ours have gone but they are preserved as country walks. The station just two minutes walk away from where I live is now a retained fire station.

 

Always wondered why they had double rails in some areas - bloomin' obvious now I've been told !
Most rural/minor stations are now not manned , and act as bus stops only . The two near us are the classic Victorian type of station , and are probably graded buildings . They are now converted into pubs and coffee shops .
In fact from Manchester to Yorkshire there is a trans-pennine station pub crawl using 8 station pubs . I presume you travel out and call at the pubs on the return - 16 stops and pints may be a touch to much !
http://www.realaletrail.net/

 

Is that the one near Keswick? (I amost went to work for Sustrans many years ago).

 

Found a video which shows that actual level crossing gate being shut