Planning a trip to the UK

[QMcDuck]

Hello All... I am a retired railroader in the U.S. I would like to take a trip next year to do Train Watching (Spotting) in the UK and Europe. Can forum members suggest some locations where I will see great train action? I will likely have a month to stay. Also... What time of year might be best? I really enloy reading your forum posts.

Thanks..

Q.

 

[Lrd]

Depends what you want to see?

Intercity/Suburban/Freight?

Most of the year sees a regular timetable so anytime of the year is good, although you get longer days in the Summer.

 

[steamybrian]

I agree plan for the summer time (May- September) when the weather is better (hopefully!)

Further ideas- Do you want to see steam, heritage railways, London tube (Subway ) system, Driverless Docklands Railway, scenic lines such as Settle and Carlisle.
What discounts can you get on our National Rail system.
I am also a retired BR employee.

 

[wintonian]

and importantly which part of the country are you planning on visiting?

We wouldn't want to send you up to the scenic Kyle of Lochalsh line in Scotland if your in down in Cornwall in the southwest.

 

[telstarbox]

Welcome to the forum

If you're staying for up to a month, a BritRail pass may be of use if you intend to do a lot of travelling: http://www.britrail.com/passes

This map shows the validity of each pass, and all the main railway lines in Britain and Ireland.

 

[northwichcat]

and importantly which part of the country are you planning on visiting?

Indeed. What airport the OP is arriving at might also be useful. I think there's only Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester offering transatlantic flights. Clapham Junction might be a good place if it's a Gatwick flight, while Manchester Piccadilly platforms 13/14 might be a good place if it's a Manchester flight.

 

[NSE]

Indeed. What airport the OP is arriving at might also be useful. I think there's only Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester offering transatlantic flights. Clapham Junction might be a good place if it's a Gatwick flight, while Manchester Piccadilly platforms 13/14 might be a good place if it's a Manchester flight.

I believe Stansted does one flight a day. I remember the news announcing it when it started. Not sure if it still runs.

 

[class26]

I believe Stansted does one flight a day. I remember the news announcing it when it started. Not sure if it still runs.

It was very short lived.

Airports with direct US links are -

Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow.

 

[PFX]

It was very short lived.

Airports with direct US links are -

Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow.

Belfast, Dublin

 

[Alfie1014]

London City, though only BA Business Class

 

[Charlie2555]

Clapham Junction in West London is Britain's busiest station with hundreds of trains passing through although almost all of these are passenger trains. The London Underground is great to do although if you want to do photgraphy, you might wish to do it above ground as some of the stations are pretty dark!
As you probably know, there are a rang of TOCs (Train Operating Companies) which run trains around the UK and each have different liveries and a variety of trains. We also have trains in the South which run off 750V DC but most of the rest of the electrified lines in Britain run off 25 kV AC overhead wires.
There are a lot of preserved heritage railways around the country which run steam and old diesel trains along some attractive routes.
There is a distinct lack of locomotive- hauled trains with most passenger trains being multiple unit. The best places to see locos are on the heritage railways or if there's a railtour going on.
Hope you enjoy your trip!

 

[LexyBoy]

Offtopic much?

Since OP is planning to visit for around a month, I would imagine that being near to an airport is probably not important and that he'll be travelling around at least a little.

Can't speak for best spotting places, but as I'm sure you know it's passenger rather than freight which dominates UK rail - coming from the US you'll probably not be very impressed by our tiddly freight trains! Most passenger trains are multiple unit rather than locomotive hauled. I'd say somewhere on the WCML for a mix of fast passenger (390, 221), regional (350, 220/221) and freight (mostly diesel hauled with EMD Class 66, though a few GE 70s and a bit of electric (86, 90, 92).

You could visit Didcot on the GWML (taking in Oxford too for non-rail tourism purposes) where you'll get more freight (66s), the odd bit of shunting (switching?) in the adjacent goods yard, along with some vintage action from Didcot Railway Centre with a collection spanning the mid-19th century to the 1980's, and from HSTs, which pass at full speed.

Most of the London stations are worth a look in, with plenty of traffic and some nice architecture - I'd recommend Paddington, Kings Cross, St Pancras (beautiful station but awful to use) and Waterloo. Clapham Junction is also quite impressive just in terms of number of trains!

In terms of lines to travel, I'd recommend the usual suspects of Settle-Carlisle & West Highland, though you'll not see that much rail traffic on these. I find the WCML London-Glasgow interesting in terms of the variety of landscapes, towns and railway sights on the 4h30 journey (make sure you get a seat with a window though!). The line from Exeter to Penzance is also very nice.

If you do plan to travel much by rail, bear in mind that there are various products available to tourists which are much cheaper than can be obtained within the UK - you have to purchase these before arriving. Even if you just plan the odd trip you may be able to save some money - try our Fares forum if you're interested, and bear in mind that for long distance journeys it can be (but isn't always) worth booking in advance.

 

[QMcDuck]

Wow.... Lots to consider. I was imagining spending a week to ten days in the UK and then moving on to Europe. In the US train watching is usually centered around regional or geographical locations such as mountain territory, or the midwest, or the large metro hubs etc.

There are places here where you can plant yourself at a hub location and catch trains and motive power from several railroads at one place.

I would like to find spots where I could see a variety of train types including freight, passenger, electric, diesel, old steam.. etc.

One thing that is a must see is the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch.

I am looking forward to talking to you through this forum as I work on this plan.

Thanks...

Q.

 

[Eagle]

You may have thought of this already, but if you plan on travelling around the country a lot during the month (and why not, Britain's only about 700 miles end to end ), you should consider getting a BritRail pass, which offers unlimited travel on all passenger rail services in GB. Priced at US$800 standard/$1200 first for one month (except during November to February, when it's 20% cheaper).

 

[wintonian]

A trip to Reading and Basingstoke possibly popping into Clapham Junction would fit in most of what you would like with the added benefit of seeing third rail and overhead electrification if you go to Reading from Paddington and do Basingstoke. This can be done on a single ticket if you don't go Britrail.

 

[telstarbox]

How much are you prepared to spend on tickets QMcDuck?

 

[LE Greys]

If you have the time, head for York. The National Railway Museum is based there, and the station has a nice mix of trains going through. It also happens to be one of the most amazing pieces of archetecture in the country. There's a good chance of some main line steam in the summer, times and dates are available from www.uksteam.info (although check them the day before just to make sure).

 

[Bedpan]

Thinking of the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway which you mentioned, I'd recommend also considering the Festiniog and Welsh Highland Railways which are also steam narrow gauge but run up into the mountains in North Wales. They both join up in Porthmadog. Have a look at http://www.festrail.co.uk

 

[FireStationKid]

You mention Europe as well as UK. Paris Gare de l'Est and Gare de Lyon are superb for TGVs
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
In England, Barnetby in north Lincolnshire has 40% of our freight going through to Immingham docks and refineries. There.s also a local guest house that caters for rail enthusiasts.

 

[starrymarkb]

If you are doing the continent then Haute Picardie might be worth a look (though check the train times carefully as not many stop!) if you want to see TGVs/Eurostars/Thalys at full speed (300km/h)

 

[merlodlliw]

Hello America, welcome to Rail Forums.

Do try & get to the Llangollen Railway(standard gauge) , it runs by the river Dee & is an excellent stepping stone to the small gauge steam railways of North Wales. http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/page.php?id=1

At Chirk near Llangollen, also see the twin rail & canal aqueducts & the UN World heritage site of Telfords http://www.pontcysyllte-aqueduct.co.uk/

Bob