Hadrians Wall Line

Tomorrow, my good lady and I are intending to travel the above line in its entirety for the first time.

We're travelling firstly from Carlisle, so what is the best side of the train to sit on to take in the views? Also, is it actually a scenic journey? I'm guessing it will be but what's 'interesting' along the line?

Also, we'll be arriving in Carlisle on the 11:34 arrival from Leeds - the same time the Newcastle train departs, so it's hit and miss as to whether or not we'll make it. However, as it is on the other side of the bay platform, and experience has shown that Carlisle arrivals are generally a few minutes early, so I'm optimistic. Is it 'likely' we'll make it do you think, or it a case of pot luck?

Slightly confused as to why the two trains don't connect, having previously heard fellow passengers on the Leeds-Carlisle train talk about going to Newcastle.

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Lots to see, but not much view of the wall.

Nice viaduct near Wetheral. Bit over the moors past brampton. If your lucky, look to the north here, might get to see some jets attacking the RAF base at spadeadam. You then pass Greenhead (closed) and drop into the South Tyne Valley.
Haltwhistle, watch out for the viaduct on the old alston line. Nice signal box.
Past the one tunnel.
Some small villages (bardon mill and haydon bridge). Good views south. Couple of nice bridges over the Tyne and one over the Allen. As you get closer to Hexham watch out for the piers over the river, all thats left of a line that went from Hexham to Belingham and Kielder (and scotland). Here the rivers North and Souh Tyne join.
Hexham, nice market town. Signal box above the line. Used to be small freight yard serving the chipboard factory, now gone alas.
Line runs close to the Tyne still passing some nice towns and villages. Near Wylam watch out for the Bridge over the tyne. Used to be a line that ran north of the river. impressive bridge (mini tyne bridge). For something different, waltch out near Prudhoe for the kimberly-clarke factory and the huge toilet rolls in the warehouse next to the line.
Once you get towards Blaydon, becomes built up. Views of old terrace housing and lots of scrub land that used be factories, pits and power stations (stella). The line used to cross the river here to Scotswood, but that closed early 80's. Old bridge still there.
Next its the Metro Centre. Shopping heaven, or hell. Depends on your POV. Past some junctions with the ECML. Then its the final, but great view as you cross the King Edwards Bridge into Newcastle Central. (right hand side for the best view).
The end.

sarahj said:

Lots to see, but not much view of the wall.

Nice viaduct near Wetheral. Bit over the moors past brampton. You then pass Greenhead (closed) and drop into the South Tyne Valley.
Haltwhistle, watch out for the viaduct on the old alston line. Nice signal box.
Past the one tunnel.
Some small villages (bardon mill and haydon bridge). Good views south. Couple of nice bridges over the Tyne and one over the Allen. As you get closer to Hexham watch out for the piers over the river, all thats left of a line that went from Hexham to Belingham and Kielder (and scotland). Here the rivers North and Souh Tyne join.
Hexham, nice market town. Signal box above the line. Used to be small freight yard serving the chipboard factory, now gone alas.
Line runs close to the Tyne still passing some nice towns and villages. Near Wylam watch out for the Bridge over the tyne. Used to be a line that ran north of the river. impressive bridge (mini tyne bridge). For something different, waltch out near Prudhoe for the kimberly-clarke factory and the huge toilet rolls in the warehouse next to the line.
Once you get towards Blaydon, becomes built up. Views of old terrace housing and lots of scrub land that used be factories, pits and power stations (stella). The line used to cross the river here to Scotswood, but that closed early 80's. Old bridge still there.
Next its the Metro Centre. Shopping heaven, or hell. Depends on your POV. Past some junctions with the ECML. Then its the final, but great view as you cross the King Edwards Bridge into Newcastle Central. (right hand side for the best view).
The end.

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Many thanks for that, very helpful. I will print this off and use it as a guide for the journey.

Do you know if the 11:34 ex Carlisle is booked as a 142 or a 156 by any chance?

Should be a 156. the 142's are mainly used on the Hexham - Newcastle shuttles these days.

sarahj said:

Should be a 156. the 142's are mainly used on the Hexham - Newcastle shuttles these days.

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But it can be random. A few times in recent weeks I've seen 156s on the Hexham-Middlesbroughs, with 142s on the Carlisle-Newcastles.

The only services where you're pretty much guaranteed a 156 is the through Glasgow-Newcastle joint Scotrail/Northern service. (Only in the event of a serious delay/failure would the Scotrail 156 be substituted by a Northern unit.)

sarahj said:

Should be a 156. the 142's are mainly used on the Hexham - Newcastle shuttles these days.

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Ah OK, good, because as my user name suggests, I'm no fan of them bone shaking cattle truck substitutes for trains, also known as 142's.

Our plan is this...

Wakefield-Leeds
Leeds-Carlisle
Carlisle-Newcastle
Newcastle-Carlisle
Carlisle-Carnforth via Whitehaven and Barrow
Carnforth-Leeds
Leeds-Wakefield

However, this depends on making the 11:34 Newcastle train.

Thanks Sarah for the info, it is gratefully received. I just hope we get to do it!

I used to commute on this line every day from Newcastle to Haltwhistle.

Went from 101's with nice ex first class comfy seats, to 142's rattling in the wind with self changing gear boxes that refused to change, a 47 with mk2's , back to pacers, and then towards the end a 156 with a trolley, sometimes even a 158.

sarahj said:

I used to commute on this line every day from Newcastle to Haltwhistle.

Went from 101's with nice ex first class comfy seats, to 142's rattling in the wind with self changing gear boxes that refused to change, a 47 with mk2's , back to pacers, and then towards the end a 156 with a trolley, sometimes even a 158.

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To be honest, I have seen 142's in Carlisle bound for Newcastle in the last year.

I had a pacer from Carlisle to Newcastle a couple of weeks ago. I actually enjoyed it!!

Get an ex-Glasgow unit if you want to avoid the pacer.

Stops between Brampton-Hexham best for stretching your legs, unless you want shopping, then Newcastle or the Metro Centre.

Although pretty scenic, its nothing compared to the S&C and even more interesting, the West Cumbrian line.

Been probably over a year since I did it but I recall it's decent in places, however it does go on a bit.

Oh, one advantage of Pacers is that they do offer lovely panoramic views of scenic lines...

The 1134 from Carlisle, I believe is formed from the 0926 Newcastle-Carlisle, which has been a Pacer every time I've used it, whereas the one after tends to be a 156, although this can vary. I've gotten used to them, I think i'll be using the line a lot next week, and as they're often the Northern Spirit 142s, they can be quite comfortable if you're sat in the group of 4 seats!

rg177 said:

The 1134 from Carlisle, I believe is formed from the 0926 Newcastle-Carlisle, which has been a Pacer every time I've used it, whereas the one after tends to be a 156, although this can vary. I've gotten used to them, I think i'll be using the line a lot next week, and as they're often the Northern Spirit 142s, they can be quite comfortable if you're sat in the group of 4 seats!

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It was indeed a Pacer, and rammed to the hilt, so we ended up just doing the Cumbria Coast line, which until Ravenglass is pretty grim, especially in the pouring rain.

Cumbria clearly concentrates on its amazing Lake District, because its beaches are nothing short of disgusting!

I still hope to do the Hadrians Wall line soon.

anti-pacer said:

It was indeed a Pacer, and rammed to the hilt, so we ended up just doing the Cumbria Coast line, which until Ravenglass is pretty grim, especially in the pouring rain.

Cumbria clearly concentrates on its amazing Lake District, because its beaches are nothing short of disgusting!

I still hope to do the Hadrians Wall line soon.

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I thought the Cumbrian coast was otherworldly when I travelled it. Clippety claps to Maryport, then strange industrial post apocalyptic landscape which hugs the coast very tightly (awesome views). Awesome little beach side communities south of Whitehaven with their own little halts, and very scenic coastal communities at Seascale, etc. Then Sellafield, the strangest place I've been to date. I stopped at Ravenglass too, and done the miniature railway there too.

I took my bike to so was able to skip a couple of stops, cycling along the coast.....

rg177 said:

The 1134 from Carlisle, I believe is formed from the 0926 Newcastle-Carlisle, which has been a Pacer every time I've used it, whereas the one after tends to be a 156, although this can vary.

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Indeed, the former 09:00 from Sunderland (since truncated to start from Newcastle at 09:26) has been a Pacer for as many years as I can remember. As is the service an hour before it, but the two following the 09:26 are booked for 156s.

The stock allocations along the Tyne Valley aren't random at all with regards to the Newcastle to Carlisle trains especially, they're largely unchanged since even before the frequency down the Durham Coast was cut to accomodate the Metro.
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sarahj said:

The 142's are mainly used on the Hexham - Newcastle shuttles these days.

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Other than the odd service towards the start or end of the day, there's not really such a thing as a Hexham to Newcastle shuttle: The vast majority of these trains continue through to Middlesbrough, and some as far as Nunthorpe. A few diagrams are even 156 worked.

anti-pacer said:

Cumbria clearly concentrates on its amazing Lake District, because its beaches are nothing short of disgusting!

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when I moved to Drigg in 1967, the beaches used to have sand

Is the 0824 Newcastle-Carlisle booked as a 142? I'm set to use it on Tuesday, and haven't used it in three years, it was a 142 back then.

rg177 said:

Is the 0824 Newcastle-Carlisle booked as a 142? I'm set to use it on Tuesday, and haven't used it in three years, it was a 142 back then.

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Yep, still a 142 as far as I know.

It was indeed a 142, 142087. Quite quiet though being a peak train so the cheap advances etc weren't valid.

Sorry to bump an oldish thread but I've got some advances to/from Sunderland on Grand Central (arriving at 12:01, departing @ 17:29). When up North I was considering doing the Hadrians Wall Line.

I was thinking of the 13:23 service from Newcastle to Carlisle, then the 15:28 service back to Sunderland, arriving at 17:14. Is 15 minutes enough 'fudge' time if the Northern service is running late to make the connection to the Grand Central train?

Unless the 15:28 is running more than 15 minutes late, it shouldn't be a problem: The 17:29 Grand Central departure from Sunderland follows the Northern service (as well as slotting in around the frequent Metro services) down the Durham Coast from Pelaw as empty coaching stock, and uses the same platform at Sunderland.

That be good news

Thankies