A freight photo tour?

[palmersears]

I'm looking for a bit of advice folks. I've got next week off work and want some ideas for interesting locations for freight photography. I live around Peak Forest, so ideally looking a bit further afield. I'm excluding Scotland (wee Nicola won't let me in), but anything else would be considered, either as day trips, or potentially a couple of overnight stays if there are two areas I could combine. I drive, so remote locations are very much doable.

I'm not massively in to steam, and units are a no, but anything diesel loco related is fine by me, particularly anything quirky/unit drags/not a bloody freightliner shed that's scheduled for next week.

Essentially I want somebody to plan a 5 day freight photo tour for me please!

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[xotGD]

Arnside, for nuclear flask trains crossing the bridge. Then back to the WCML for whatever freight it has to offer, plus any WCRC workings to or from Carnforth.

37s on test trains pop up in different places each week, so worth figuring out where they'll be running.

Passenger rather than freight, but you've got the 3 TPE 68 ddiagrams on the Scarborough branch every day.

 

[Techniquest]

You've got the Colas log trains to/from Chirk, pretty sure they're reliably 70s but I'm not up to date with Colas. I think the northbound passes through Hereford after 7pm, but I don't have anything better time wise at present for you.

There's still 60s working tank trains from Robeston, always a guaranteed bit of deep 60 noise on the eastbound trains

Aside from that, I can't think of anything more immediately obvious

 

[LA50041]

There is a Railtour over 4 days next week.

If you like odd formations on Friday there should be a double headed DRS 37 + DB 66 leading down the S&C with another 66 on the back and on Sunday there is a section which will be T&T 37’s with a class 70 leading from Guide Bridge to Basford Hall

 

[_toommm_]

The Summer Syphons may be interesting - it’s a BLS tour running from Friday to Monday:

BLS Fixtures List

 

[D6130]

Essentially I want somebody to plan a 5 day freight photo tour for me please!

You could do worse than spend a day or two in the Calder Valley: We have GBRf 60s and 66s on the Liverpool-Drax biomass trains and various stone trains, DB cargo 66s on the Knowsley-Wilton binliners, Colas 70s (and sometimes pairs of 56s) on the Lindsey-Preston bitumen tanks, and every so often one or more Freightliner 90s being hauled dead by a shed between Crewe Basford Hall and Leeds Midland Road or vice-versa for tyre turning. If you're here a week today - Thursday 8th July - a pair of West Coast 37s will be passing through in both directions on the Scarborough Spa Express, which will produce great thrash on the approach to Copy Pit Summit, in Settle & Carlisle-like surroundings. Add to the mix superb scenery, excellent vantage points, great walking, unspoilt villages and wonderful pubs and you're onto a winner. Look forward to meeting you if you come and I would be happy to show you around!

I'm excluding Scotland (wee Nicola won't let me in),

Why won't she let you in? Do you live in Greater Manchester?