Long Potential Extensions

Which preserved railways have the longest potential extensions? I'm not saying it should be done - I'm just interested to learn which railways are connected to lengthy undisturbed track beds. I enjoy looking on satellite maps at preserved railways and seeing how long they could (with unlimited funds) potentially extend to.

 

Bar the branch is the track bed free all the way to Stratford? That's incredible if so - surprised nobody has turned that into a cycleway (or have they?)

 

That's a very subjective question if funds were unlimited anything is possible.
If we're talking track bed and funds, there's many, and with increasing numbers of lines looking at the mainline as an extension potential is fantastic.

Unfortunately might and men are bound by cash and politics.

You could go York toWhitby, minehead to Taunton orBristol, Manchester to Rawtenstall, most of the S&D, Waverley routes are there, North Norfolk could be a huge circle, nene valley could go a long way

Even if cash, men and machines were no object there's no barriers like politics and even if that's overcome, you still need money and passengers to run it.

 

The Strathspey could go all the way to Forres (estimate about 30 miles).

 

Bath Green Park to Bristol. It was originally called the The Bristol Suburban Railway Society, when Green Park was just a car park in between the platforms, at track level.

Buxton to Matlock. Northampton to Market Harborough. Boscarne to Padstow.
Exeter to Plymouth (might actually happen) if not, Tavistock to Plymouth and Exeter to Okehampton. Ashburton to Buckfastleigh. Others no doubt.

 

GCR?

 

Padstow to Colebrooke with branches to Bude, Barnstaple and Bere Alston.

 

Except the OP said intact track beds so a lot of the above fall by the wayside as the track bed is built on at some point or bridges are missing e.g. Bristol - Bath, Somerset and Dorset etc.

 

Cromford & High Peak? There's a small bit of track with a wagon on it and another with a couple of brake vans, so technically that would be an extension.

Yes, I know, not really in the spirit of the original question!

 

I thought the track bed through Wadebridge had been built over? - and (I may be wrong here) but an alternative way through the town was recently built on too?

 

Wensleydale Redmire to Hawes Junct?

 

Pontypool and Blaenavon railway both ways.

 

The Taunton to Barnstaple has about 1/3 of the total length under the A361, this is from Barnstaple to South Molton and a section around Milverton as well under a road.

 

Gwili has ownership of land and LRO in place north of present limit for 4 miles to Llanpumsaint so "just" a question of finding the money....

Beyond that the trackbed is relatively undisturbed to about Pencader

 

The South Tynedale - almost all the way back to Haltwhistle (broken by the A69)
A Welsh one might be Bleanau to Bala, but I think some roads and water are in the way.

Border Railway back to Carlisle ? nope, I think some that's been built on.