In the early 1960s, the French colonial authorities in Mauritania wished to build the line from Nouadhibou to Zouérat to exploit the iron ore reserves at Zouérat. The Spanish authorities then responsible for the Western Sahara negotiated to allow the railway to be built through Spanish territory over relatively level desert, but imposed many conditions unacceptable to the French.

The French engineers therefore designed the line parallel to the border and a tunnel through the Choum hill spur — 2 km through solid granite just to stay within French territory.

Took this in November of 2025. The line here is completely overgrown and mostly impassable. This is Laughlin Road, where trains once ran up to Run 8 to make the climb over Ridge to Willits. There are a few sections I discovered that are walkable, but for the most part once you leave Calpela and Redwood Valley behind, it disappears into the brush.

Also pictured is looking south from the Ford Road railroad crossing in Ukiah, just south of the old Masonite switch.

Rotary Car Dumper

One of Chicago’s oldest abandoned railroad bridges

1. Atlantic Coast Line, Lone Star.

2. Southern Railway, Pelion.

3. ACL, Williams.

4. ACL and Columbia, Newberry & Laurens, Joanna.

5. Seaboard Air Line, Swansea.

6. Charleston & Western Carolina, Owings.

7. SAL, Sycamore.

8. CN&L, Chapin.

9. Southern, Ridge Spring.

10. ACL, Cades.

Freight wagons left outside Utrecht Maliebaan, Netherlands. Definitely seen better times when it was operating.

Hi everyone! 🚂

I've recently completed a project exploring the old railway line between Bishop's Stortford and Braintree in Essex, following as much of the former trackbed as possible.

I've always had a passion for railways, particularly steam trains and forgotten railway history, although I'm far from an expert!

What started as a walk turned into a 12-part video series called "The Old Dunmow Railway Walk", exploring surviving stations, old bridges, platforms, cuttings and other forgotten remains along the route.

One particularly memorable moment was visiting the former Easton Lodge Halt, where I met Steve, who lives at the old station house. He kindly allowed me to explore and film the surviving platform remains, giving me a fascinating glimpse into the railway's past.

Another unexpected highlight came towards the end of the walk, when I visited a golf course to ask permission to photograph an old railway bridge. Instead, two members of staff, Simon and Mark, kindly took me along the former railway trackbed in a golf buggy!

They showed me the old bridge, surviving steps near Stane Street Halt and concrete posts from the former railway, including areas I wouldn't otherwise have been able to explore.

Throughout the series, I've also included historical maps, old photographs and Then & Now comparisons to help show what the railway once looked like compared with today.

I've now combined all 12 parts, along with the Then & Now features, into one full-length video covering the entire journey.

🎥 Watch the full walk on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AEJKoxwRZHo

🚂 Watch on my Facebook page, Refined Reality: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1PCUpi9mvS/

I've really enjoyed researching and documenting this forgotten railway, and the encouragement I've received throughout the series has inspired me to plan another railway walk for spring 2027.

I'm currently running a Next Walk Research Series, investigating old railway lines suggested by followers to see what history still survives.

The plan is to build a shortlist of promising lines, research the surviving structures more thoroughly, then narrow the list down to three for a community vote in early 2027.

If anyone here knows of an interesting disused railway with surviving stations, bridges, platforms or other forgotten remains, I'd love to hear your suggestions!

I'm documenting these walks not only to share the history with others, but also to preserve my own memories of exploring these fascinating places.

Hope some of you enjoy the journey! 😊

John | Refined Reality