Location Advice & General Allocations

[03_179]

I've nearly killed off all my South East of England trains for sight.
GN, SN, SW, GX, TL all done. A couple stragglers on SE.

I'm hoping to expand a little more over the coming months.

So my quickie question is for the following TOCs what is the best location to get many sightings (in or out of service) in a 3 or 4 hour off peak window (I travel up from south of London).

West Midlands Trains

East Midlands Trains

Greater Anglia

Northern

Thanks in advance,

 

[iphone76]

For Greater Anglia I would recommend Bethnal Green (Overground Station). You will get both West Anglia and Great Eastern (plus Crossrail) services. Then if you move to Stratford you will get some of the West Anglia services which start there. (Hertfords and Meridian Water I believe)

 

[03_179]

For Greater Anglia I would recommend Bethnal Green (Overground Station). You will get both West Anglia and Great Eastern (plus Crossrail) services. Then if you move to Stratford you will get some of the West Anglia services which start there. (Hertfords and Meridian Water I believe)

Stratford is always a goo go to. Brothel Green maybe a trip. THe 755 never venture south much. Peterborough for those (and of course Norwich). ?

 

[Kite159]

Probably Ipswich & Norwich for the 755s. Although some of the trains towards Lowestoft do interwork.

West Midlands Trains, I assume you mean the 323s/170/172s. Probably somewhere like Aston or University. Maybe New Street but that isn't the nicest to hang around for long periods

 

[03_179]

Probably Ipswich & Norwich for the 755s. Although some of the trains towards Lowestoft do interwork.

West Midlands Trains, I assume you mean the 323s/170/172s. Probably somewhere like Aston or University. Maybe New Street but that isn't the nicest to hang around for long periods

THank mate, New Street isn't the best.
I'll take a look at the times to/from University and Aston.

I know my best for Merseyrail will be one of two of the centralised stations. Need to check in with the station staff.

 

[Kite159]

For merseyrail probably the best will be Sandhills for the Northern Line. Mainly as it's outdoors and being underground in those tunnels for long periods isn't the nicest.

Maybe Birkenhead North for Wirral line, it's still underground but it's bigger.

 

[D6975]

For Northern, east of the Pennines sit at the West end of Leeds station. You'll also pick up plenty of TPE stuff as well as a few LNER. Keep an eye on RTT for when to take a walk to the east end for the local stoppers that turn round up there.

 

[03_179]

Thanks.
I've Done Leeds in the past and always had a good day.


Are Sheffield, Nottingham, Derby any good anymore ?

 

[Trainfan2019]

Derby is good for East Midlands as etches park depot is nearby. Sheffield has more variety of EMR trains though - 156 / 158 / Meridian. Also at Sheffield you would see plenty of Northern trains. As Sheffield and Derby are only half an hour apart on the train you could possibly fit them both in whilst you're up north.

 

[HS 4000]

Long Eaton /sheet stores/trent east junction is a very good area, regular aggregate , intermodail and aviation fuel trains that use the freight line to Stenson junction , a good selection of test trains as well as R.O.G locos , plenty of EMR intercity services as this is where the MML splits off to go to Nottingham/sheffeild.

 

[NorthWestRover]

For Northern, east of the Pennines sit at the West end of Leeds station. You'll also pick up plenty of TPE stuff as well as a few LNER. Keep an eye on RTT for when to take a walk to the east end for the local stoppers that turn round up there.

West of the Pennines, spend two hours at Piccadilly (at the end of one ofthe Avanti pltforms), then go to Victoria for a couple of hours too.

 

[Devonman2014]

apologies for hijacking this thread but in same vain as above where is best for scotrail 385’s.
I gather Glasgow Queen St is one good spot , any others for other workings not into Queen st ?

 

[50002Superb]

I live in Long Eaton and work in Nottingham.

The ultimate answer is that there is no perfect answer for EMT.

Derby has the Matlock shuttles and LSP to Sheffields. It also has whatever is stabled on Etches Park.

Nottingham has the LSP to Nottingham, Leicester, Worksop, Skegness and Newark routes, as well as the Norwich to Liverpools.

What has surprised me is the freight through Nottingham with the Ratcliffe, Kingsbury and Bostons. There is also regular light engine workings out of Eastcroft and the occasional DATS.

East Mids Parkway is better for the 222s.

 

[Peter Sarf]

apologies for hijacking this thread but in same vain as above where is best for scotrail 385’s.
I gather Glasgow Queen St is one good spot , any others for other workings not into Queen st ?

Recently we did Edinburgh Waverley for the afternoon-evening. Then next day Glasgow Central as less repeats from Edinburgh. Then Glasgow Queen Street and on to Edinburgh. We then took the train out to near Miller Hill and spent a time walking down the outside of the East (a long walk) and West (a shorter more fruitful walk) sides of the depot - we got two 385 there that had not been in use. Overall cleared the 385s in one stint.

 

[warwickshire]

I've nearly killed off all my South East of England trains for sight.
GN, SN, SW, GX, TL all done. A couple stragglers on SE.

I'm hoping to expand a little more over the coming months.

So my quickie question is for the following TOCs what is the best location to get many sightings (in or out of service) in a 3 or 4 hour off peak window (I travel up from south of London).

West Midlands Trains

East Midlands Trains

Greater Anglia

Northern

Thanks in advance,

If its 323s then its Barnt Green a lot easier than Kings Norton or Longbridge or University nice place to get them. Probably best spot on the cross city line.
So local to me as well.
However Stratford is good, but a bit off advice be prepared if there for a long time. MTR staff could ask you to sign so they know you are there. However after that all is okay.
Small Heath 172s and Ecs units Tyseley galore. Rugby freight and class 3502s.
Watford Junction also class 3502s.
Just a few thoughts on what you might need wise etc ie traction classes before the above no longer work the lines.

 

[03_179]

Thanks to All.


I've done Stratford many times in the past. Always a rock steady place to get stuff.

Brum area I've only done New Street and Moor street, the latter only a short while.

Piccadilly was a good day as was Sheffield.

Being London/Surrey based I'm mainly after (to varying degrees):
150s
156s
158s
170s
195s
196s
197s
230s
323s
331s
333s
398s
399s
755s

507/508/777s - I was going go to one or two of the underground stations in the centre but @Kite159 's suggestion sounds good.

334s and other Scotrails
I really enjoyed my 90 mins at Glasgow Central a few years ago. Always sign in there because your pass that you're issued gets you on and off platforms easily with no questions.

 

[Kite159]

Don't forget to have a trip out towards Kirkdale to try and pick up anything on the depot. Likewise towards Birkenhead.

 

[03_179]

For merseyrail probably the best will be Sandhills for the Northern Line. Mainly as it's outdoors and being underground in those tunnels for long periods isn't the nicest.

Maybe Birkenhead North for Wirral line, it's still underground but it's bigger.

Birkenhead North would miss out the Chester/Ellesmere Port units.
What is Hamilton Square or James Street like for photos (and Staff Vs Spotters)?

 

[50002Superb]

Birkenhead North would miss out the Chester/Ellesmere Port units.
What is Hamilton Square or James Street like for photos (and Staff Vs Spotters)?

With Hamilton Square you have to constantly move between two platforms and keep on your toes but once you’re there you see all of the Wirral diagrams quicker than you would James Street.

I quite like James Street for photting, the lighting from the unused platform adds some good colour and never had any issues with staff.

 

[03_179]

Excellent thank you.
I assume it is an island platform at James Street?


Kirkdale ... best view of the depot ?
From the footbridge (if there is one)
From Google maps it looks like Bank Hall station is nearer the Road bridge (Stanley Road).
Can you see over the wall on the bridge?

 

[Kite159]

Excellent thank you.
I assume it is an island platform at James Street?


Kirkdale ... best view of the depot ?
From the footbridge (if there is one)
From Google maps it looks like Bank Hall station is nearer the Road bridge (Stanley Road).
Can you see over the wall on the bridge?

James Street has 3 platforms, the one towards Liverpool is tube like (see photo)

The other 2 are in a wider space, platform 2 isn't used as it leads towards the interchange line [towards Liverpool Central].

 

[03_179]

Thanks mate

 

[50002Superb]

Excellent thank you.
I assume it is an island platform at James Street?


Kirkdale ... best view of the depot ?
From the footbridge (if there is one)
From Google maps it looks like Bank Hall station is nearer the Road bridge (Stanley Road).
Can you see over the wall on the bridge?

You need platform 3 at James Street as you occasionally get ECS workings through platform 2.

Some of my photos are here:

Class 508 508111 awaits departure from Liverpool James Street with the 11:19 to Chester adorning the Beatles Story livery sitting alongside Class 507 507009 having worked ECS into Platform 2 on 27 October 2021

Class 508 508111 awaits departure from Liverpool James Street with the 11:19 to Chester adorning the Beatles Story livery sitting alongside Class 507 507009 having worked ECS into Platform 2 on 27 October 2021

www.flickr.com

 

[03_179]

Sorry for the late reply.

James Street does look good in that photo.
As to Merseyrail wise ... I'm after as many photos and sightings as possible in the shortest space of time. Hence trips also to Sandhills and Bank Hall (for photos over the wall (if possible) of the depot.

 

[50002Superb]

Sorry for the late reply.

James Street does look good in that photo.
As to Merseyrail wise ... I'm after as many photos and sightings as possible in the shortest space of time. Hence trips also to Sandhills and Bank Hall (for photos over the wall (if possible) of the depot.

Yep, those three make sense.

There will be some units stabled at Southport and Birkenhead North, as well

 

[03_179]

Just thought I'd ask this.

Kirkdale Depot.
Where is the best place to get photos of stuff in the depot ?

 

[55002]

Just thought I'd ask this.

Kirkdale Depot.
Where is the best place to get photos of stuff in the depot ?

With your workplace, Id put a call into the depot you may get a trip round.. it’s not the most salubrious of areas. If I recall the station is at far end of depot but there is a road over bridge that looks down on depot if coming from Bank Hall station. On Melrose that runs alongside up to Kirkdale station there are trees on the embankment blocking decent views Aswell as quite a high wall

 

[03_179]

Thanks mate

 

[55002]

Thanks mate

No worries, if making a day of it do Nottingham and Derby in one day for EMR. I would say Nottingham probably better for solely EMR. Derby will have the Matlock units and St Pancras to Sheffield, I think everything else you’d see at Nottingham anyway plus more

 

[03_179]

Looking to do Merseyrail for sight and photo trip on the 16th (Wife off on a girlie family thing with daughter so avoiding that at all costs)

Other locations later in the year.

Also trying to plan an overnight trip to Scotland to do a few Glasgow lines and kill off a few ScotRail units