Good locations to spot trains

[jackj321]

Hi all,

Please forgive me if this has been covered already, but I am relatively new to here. I have recently acquired an interest in taking note of the class numbers i.e. 350, 390, 22x, 395 etc. I have used the national rail station guide but hard to tell with very limited information i.e. their photographs

I would like some advice, so can you recommend where a good location is at the following stations or lines:

WCML - between Watford Junction and Rugby or possibly Crewe/Stoke
ECML - between Stevenage and Newark North Gate/Grantham
HS1 - thinking Ashford or Ebbsfleet
GWML - thinking Bristol Temple Meads or Reading

I do have Rail Staff travel so getting to any location won't be a problem. Also, do any staff at stations get a bit funny with you for taking note of class numbers?

Thank you in advance.

Jack

 

[squizzler]

Locations: http://www.trainspots.co.uk/

I think it safe to assume station staff are au-fait with the concept of trainspotting with the book of numbers, I don't do it myself.

 

[FQ]

For the WCML, between Rugby and Watford, Milton Keynes Central is pretty good. Stafford and Tamworth are also excellent for spotting.

For the ECML between Stevenage and Newark I'd certainly suggest Peterborough.

For HS1 I'd go for Ashford.

For the GWML Reading would be the better out of the two for sheer number, although Temple Meads does give you a lot of stuff that you wouldn't see at Reading.

 

[LAX54]

Locations: http://www.trainspots.co.uk/

I think it safe to assume station staff are au-fait with the concept of trainspotting with the book of numbers, I don't do it myself.

Blimey when was it written ? ! This is what is says for Colchester North Station:

Normal traffic through this mainline station are 321/360 Electric Multiple Units. There are also have a regular 170 Working from Liverpool Street Station to Great Yarmouth during Peak times.
There is also a frequent service to Norwich using either Class 86s or more regularly Class 90s. Occasionally the Class 86/90 will be replaced by 170 units especially during peak times. The Class 86s are being phased out now and will only be in service during October.

The line also has a number of Freightliner and DB Schenker services, as well as the odd DRS Nuclear Flask service.

 

[alex17595]

Blimey when was it written ? ! This is what is says for Colchester North Station:

Normal traffic through this mainline station are 321/360 Electric Multiple Units. There are also have a regular 170 Working from Liverpool Street Station to Great Yarmouth during Peak times.
There is also a frequent service to Norwich using either Class 86s or more regularly Class 90s. Occasionally the Class 86/90 will be replaced by 170 units especially during peak times. The Class 86s are being phased out now and will only be in service during October.

The line also has a number of Freightliner and DB Schenker services, as well as the odd DRS Nuclear Flask service.

I think the vast majority of it is early 2000s

 

[cactustwirly]

Depends if you want to see the trains at speed. If so for the GWML I would recommend a station like Maidenhead or Twyford.

Didcot is also quite good for HSTs and freight.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

....I would like some advice, so can you recommend where a good location is at the following stations or lines:

WCML - between Watford Junction and Rugby or possibly Crewe/Stoke
ECML - between Stevenage and Newark North Gate/Grantham
HS1 - thinking Ashford or Ebbsfleet
GWML - thinking Bristol Temple Meads or Reading....

If it's just class/loco numbers then I'd suggest....

WCML - Stafford, Harrow & Wealdstone, Tamworth.
ECML - Doncaster, Finsbury Park.
GWML - Ealing Broadway, Reading, Bristol Temple Meads, Cardiff Central.

If you want the coach numbers on loco-hauled or HST stock, go to the bigger stations, trains that stop are easier to get numbers from.

There is an element of what you want to see, if you want Great Northern units on the ECML then going to Peterborough would be okay, going to Finsbury Park would be awesome, but going to Doncaster is pointless.

Something you won't see on National Rail station plans is avoiding lines for freight trains. The most well known stations with avoiding lines are Crewe and York, but there are others.

 

[jochta]

Twyford is pretty good for the GWML. I occasionally go there.

Any of the intermediate stations between Reading and Didcot are good too. You'll see all the usual GWML stuff (43s, 180s, 165s and 166s) plus Cross Country 220s and 221s (they are going fast though so can be tricky to get the numbers). Plenty of freight if you go at the right times, mostly 66s but occasional 59s and 60s. You can also see 800s on test runs some days. There's rarely a minute or two between trains. Note that views from most of the overbridges have been ruined with the electrification hardware.

Reading West station is good if you want to see stuff going a bit slower!!

 

[Hartington]

Bristol can get a bit complex. It's probably worth looking at RTT (other websites are available) for Parkway and Filton Abbey Wood as well as Temple Meads. You can get trains coming from Wales, Swindon, Bath and Weston/Taunton and heading off on any one of those routes. Also considewr Yate just before midday to see the (usually) 60 hauled oil trains in and out of the Westerleigh terminal.

Elsewhere on the GWML I'd suggest Didcot on the basis that you get GWR HST. 180 and 16x as well as freights on the Southampton/West Midlands axis.

On the WCML try South Kenton and the footbridge a little further north from the station because from there you can see the Chiltern/Metropolitan as it crosses over the WCML. Further out of London, Cheddington is a bit exposed in bad weather but the sight lines are pretty good to see things approaching from several miles.

Don't totally ignore the MML - the only place I've visited is Harlington and there is a bit of a 222/700 parade but you do get HSTs, freight and 387s.

Don't totally ignore the "Southern Region". Like Didcot, Basingstoke is on the Southampton/West Midlands axis plus some freights continuing up towards London. Clapham Junction is almost all passenger but there is a wide diversity of MUs and as well as the occasional freight you will sometimes see an infrastructure monitoring train.

Finally, although I've been talking about stations there are often places within a short walk of a station where a bridge or a footpath (but be very careful there) can give a good view.

 

[E_Reeves]

On the WCML, Nuneaton is good. You get the regular WCML stuff and also the Birmingham/Leicester and Coventry lines as well. Tamworth is also good for a mix of freight.

 

[Ianno87]

On GWML, try Royal Oak underground station. Sits basically alongside the Paddington throat (last signal gantry to be precise) so is interesting to watch the throat work, and trains are also passing at low-ish speed so taking numbers should be relatively easy. If you're planning to hang around, have a Travelcard in your pocket (rather than Oyster), and check with the LU gateline staff that they don't mind you hanging around.

ECML:
Hitchin is good for 'watching trains go by' (Slow Line platforms have clear view to Fast Lines in middle), and you can watch the junction work
Doncaster is unbeatable for variety of movements, where the 'action' rarely lets up

WCML
Stafford or Crewe. Rugby isn't as 'good' these days in my view.
Further north, Hest Bank Level Crossing (train spotting by the sea, with easy access to Fish and Chips and the local café). Accessible by bus from Lancaster, Bare Lane/Morecambe or Carnforth. Also a good bracing walk along the seafront from Bare Lane or Morecambe.

HS1
Stratford International or the footbridge by Rainham (Essex) station on c2c