Best places to spot in the West Midlands?

[172212]

Just wondering if anyone knew where the best places to train spot in the west midlands were, I'm looking for a few locations

 

[Stephen55a1960]

Just wondering if anyone knew where the best places to train spot in the west midlands were, I'm looking for a few locations

Birmingham New Street, Coventry and Rugby to name but 3.

 

[96tommy]

Here are a few personal favourites

Tamworth
Great for photos and number of trains. You have the Cross Country line on the top and WCML on the bottom. On the top you would see Voyagers, HSTs, 170s plus freight. On the bottom you would also see freight, but also Pendolinos and Virgin Voyagers.

Nuneaton
Great for freight, especially between 4 and 5 (pm). Many pendolinos and voyagers pass through, as well as XC 170's and LM 350's. Once an hour a LM 153 runs to Coventry. Photos can be had but can be difficult, best bet is to do what I do and follow the locals to see where they head too. There are 2 coffee shops on the station as well as a fish and chip shop and a Asda supermarket just outside the station.

Tyseley
A very good location for passenegr trains, as well as freight. You get your LM 172's (with the occasional 153 or 150) here as well as Chiltern 168's and 67 loco hauled stock running from Birmingham - Marylebone. Tyseley TMND is right next door where you get LM 170's as well as the XC variety as this is where they are maintained. You can get photos from passing trains and sometimes they come up to a siding just next to the station where photos can be taken of the unit. Note there is also a 08 in LM livery at the depot as well as heritage stock which can just about be seen from the end of the Birmingham end of the platform.

http://tommysrailwayphotos.smugmug.com/Trains/2012March/West-Midlands-Day-Ranger/21884018_3CBkvd#!i=1744946663&k=ZvKwc49&lb=1&s=M

Kings Norton
I spent a few hours here not long ago and it was great! I saw a few freight including a Class 60 (60099) in TATA Silver livery. You get all your 323's on the Cross City line as well as XC Voyagers, HSTs and 170s going westbound out of Birmingham New Street towards Cornwall and Wales. You also get LM 170's running through with Hereford services.

http://tommysrailwayphotos.smugmug.com/Trains/2012-April/24-West-Midlands-Day-Ranger/22301191_8jdVK4#!i=1781914987&k=VkcJWcz&lb=1&s=M

 

[the sniper]

Water Orton is popular.

 

[Simon11]

I've just moved into my new flat in birmingham with amazing views of the west coast and chiltern lines. Many hours going to be spent enjoying the views in the future

 

[VTPreston_Tez]

Maybe a bit out of the way of the West Midlands, but Crewe is about an hour away from the Midlands as a very good place for spotting a huge variety of trains and recording them as well.
Any station between Wolverhampton and Birmingham New Street will see a lot also.

 

[sprinterguy]

Any station between Wolverhampton and Birmingham New Street will see a lot also.

Not much good for freight though, but then again 172212 never said that they were particularly after freight activity.

My recommendations would be for Tamworth, Water Orton or Stafford.

 

[Stephen55a1960]

I've just moved into my new flat in birmingham with amazing views of the west coast and chiltern lines. Many hours going to be spent enjoying the views in the future

Lucky you - enjoy

 

[Temple Meads]

As you never said you were after freight, I'm going to add Smethwick Galton Bridge to the list, the lower platforms are a great place to see/film Class 390's and Voyager's at speed, stopping 323's too.

A lot of Class 172's on the upper level platforms too.

If it's really freight you're after, Water Orton comes to mind, though it is arguably a bit DBS 66 themed there.

If it's purely numbers you're after, you really can't beat Birmingham New Street