WCML interesting things to see

[AeroSpace]

Hi all,

I'm planning a trip soon: 1630 Euston - Glasgow followed by 0540 Edinburgh - Kings Cross. I really enjoy the east coast scenery, but I've never travelled the length of the WCML.

So my question is: what are the major sights to look out for on the run up to Glasgow?

Particular things I'd like to find out: where is it possible to see the literal West Coast i.e. the sea, and which are the tiltiest bits?

But I'm interested in anything of note really, so please wax lyrical.

thanks in advance!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

There's not actually that much south of Lancaster: general greenery, fields, farms, some hills, and of course urban areas like MK, Warrington, Wigan and Preston (though there are several smaller towns). At Crewe, on the left there is Basford Hall Yard, and on the right thereafter the LNWR shed, both with many trains / locos on display.

After Lancaster, you will pass close to Morecambe Bay on the left for maybe ten seconds. Thereafter, you pass Carnforth, where you can see a bit of the famous sheds on the left. After that, you are into stunning Lake District scenery, it is best on the right form Oxenholme to Carlisle.

After Carlisle you pass into Scotland, and in one of the most sparsely populated and stunning areas of the Isles. Sit on any side, beautiful hills, heaths and forests are aplenty. After Carluke you hit urban Scotland: council flats, chavs and tackiness. You never leave the urban scene after Motherwell, and eventually pass over the Clyde into Glasgow

 

[SouthEastern-465]

Well railway wise there's the APT at the Heritage centre when you pass Crewe, and than at Carlisle there's the DRS depot which is interesting to look at. But not everyones an enthusiast!

 

[Liam]

chavs

Neds.

The WCML only meets the coast at Morecambe Bay, to the North of Lancaster and you can see the sea (Solway Firth) to the North of Carlisle.

 

[Mojo]

The container with a pantograph coming out of it between Tring and Cheddington is quite interesting.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

I'll agree with MattE2010 in finding the route north of Morecambe Bay the most interesting and so I'm only going to comment on that northern 150 or so miles!

After Lancaster, there is a good view of the sea to the west but its not until the former Westmoreland that we begin to appreciate the scale of the terrain that the Lake District provides. I enjoy the twists and the climb between Kendal and Shap; it twists out of Oxenholme (S.Kendal) then follows a straight climb from crossing the Lune at Tebay up to Shap Summit - its very barren, exposed and populated only by sheep and dry stone walls (but the odd remnant of a solitary stone chimeny or abandoned quarry reminding us that even these bleak and inhospitable hills and moors were once industrialised. Families actually lived up there!). There's great views eastwards over the Eden Valley towards the western ridge of the Pennines which run from Appleby to the Solway with a few astronomical observatories visible on the skyline. One of the highest of those peaks is called Cross Fell, and tricking out of that one boggy hill-top is the origin of both the River Tyne and the River Tees - yes, rivers that flow across to the east of England!
There are, of course the much more famous peaks of the Lake District to admire on the west.

After the descent into Carlisle there's views of the mud flats that are the Solway Firth and in the distance Chapplecross nuclear power station which sits alongside the remnants of the long-gone railway viaduct crossing over the Solway some 4 or 5 miles further out than any of the current crossings.
North of Carlisle, there's the equally enjoyable climb again up to Beattock as the line jumps from the Annan Valley to the Clyde near Moffat; again it a barren landscape - what you see depends mostly on the weather and angle of sunlight. With more nice sharp bends around Crawford. After Carstairs is the little branch line off to the west. That serves the County town - Lanark. Northwards from there, the industrial history of Central Scotland has a lot of visible remnants, but without the local history it probs doesn't mean a lot; however, I'd recommend looking out to the east side when passing through southern Glasgow - there's: Alexander 'Greek' Thompson 's eccentric and floodlit Caledonia Church, the recently burnt red-stone deco 'Coliseum' Theatre, the massive new road bridge which was slowly slid across the railway last year (linking the M8 and M74) and the pillars supporting a long lost river bridge across the Clyde (similar to those at London's Blackfriars).

I'm hoping someone else will shortly add more detail as there must be so much that I don't know (being an East Coast regular) but would like to know more about.

 

[junglejames]

Immediately before Lancaster, look to your right for a good view of Ashton Memorial. Sitting high up on a hill, overlooking Lancaster.
As mentioned, you only touch the coast once, at the lovely village of Hest Bank, on Morecambe Bay. Hest Bank is the first level crossing after Lancaster, and on trains that dont stop at Lancaster (of which I believe the 1630 is one of them), you can be speeding through Hest Bank about 2 or 3mins after passing Lancaster.
From there on in, stunning scenary all the way to Carstairs.

The only problem being, as your on a pendy, you wont actually see any of it!!
OK ok, Im joking. before the pendy lovers come after me!

 

[Welshman]

Speeding through Rugby at a full 125mph always gives me a thrill after many years of trundling through there because of engineering works.
Then you get chance to experience the tilt on the Trent Valley section between Nuneaton and Stafford.
But I must agree with the others here and say the best section is definitely north of Carnforth through the Fells to Penrith. Having to brake for the speed restriction at Shap summit is still a novelty!

If you're using the 1630 off Euston, do the journey soon, whilst there's still plenty of daylight in this section.

 

[Gathursty]

On your left, immediately after passing Wigan North Western, you can make out the DW Stadium, home to Wigan Athletic and 2011 Challenge Cup Winners Wigan Warriors! :P

Also if you're coming out of Wigan slowly, you can see the Southport and Kirkby branches beneath you.

 

[rmt-driver]

So my question is: what are the major sights to look out for on the run up to Glasgow?

If First Class, the best thing to spot is:

The booze trolly!

The second best is:

The grub trolly!

 

[RichmondCommu]

Cross Fell is the highest point on the Pennine ridge. It also has a bothy just below the summit. I've been up there many times! Happy days!

 

[AlterEgo]

The container with a pantograph coming out of it between Tring and Cheddington is quite interesting.

This has confused me for years!

 

[Boothby97]

The container with a pantograph coming out of it between Tring and Cheddington is quite interesting.

Does someone have a photo of this
Thanks, Sam

 

[33056]

A good section for tilting on the Southern end of the line is Old Linslade:

 

[jonesy3001]

After Lancaster you get to see morecambe bay and the west coast rail yard;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn9AFxKs4Tc

 

[All Line Rover]

If First Class, the best thing to spot is:

The booze trolly!

The second best is:

The grub trolly!

Depending on the OP's age, of course.

I'm also sure that AlterEgo would strongly disagree with the viewpoint that there is nothing interesting to see south of Lancaster.

 

[AeroSpace]

Thanks everyone for your informative replies! I've compiled them into a spreadsheet which I'll upload if there is demand - perhaps we could start a RailUK repository of interesting things to see on the railway?

 

[eastwestdivide]

Don't forget racing the traffic on the M1 between Wolverton and Rugby near the Watford Gap services.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Kings Langley has the old Ovaltine factory (on the left as you go through KL heading North) now turned in to flats

Around the Cheddington area you may be able to catch sight of the Whipsnade White Lion (on the right hand side heading North). It used to be more noticeable at night when it was illuminated but I haven't seen it lit up for some time.

http://www.hows.org.uk/personal/hillfigs/whips/whips.htm

...and of course leaving MK on the right are the famous concrete bovines.

Further on between Wolverton and Rugby is the old Ordnance Depot at Weedon (on the LH side heading North)

http://www.blisworth.org.uk/images/Canal/historyweedon.htm