Best Places in UK for trainspotting classics?

[austin]

Hello! I am planning a visit to the UK in February for around 2 weeks, and I'm looking forward to doing a bit of transpotting while I'm there. I'd like to see some of the 'classic' UK diesels, like for example Class 20's. 31's, 37's, 43's, 47's, as they're what I'm most familiar with. I'll be focused mainly around London and Manchester.

Thanks,
Austin

 

[Halish Railway]

When around Manchester your best bet may be to go to Leeds to see a CrossCountry Class 43 HST on a day when a railtour, potentially hauled by the likes of Class 37s, 47s and 57s passes through. You can find these railtours on this website, although they haven’t uploaded the 2023 tours yet. http://www.railtourinfo.co.uk/

Generally HSTs call at the station, working the 09:11 and 11:11 to Plymouth, Mondays to Saturdays.

 

[birchesgreen]

Spend some time at Derby and you'll probably see some 37 hauled test trains.

 

[zwk500]

If you go when there are railtours on, Crewe can get some classics.

 

[Envoy]

https://www.railwayherald.com/railtours has details of special rail tours and these sometimes are classic diesel hauled.

 

[1D54]

All of the above can be seen at the UK Rail depot at Leicester.

 

[NorthWestRover]

Carnforth has a long line of 37s and 47s.

 

[D6968]

All of the above can be seen at the UK Rail depot at Leicester.

And up the road in Burton.

 

[austin]

Alright, thanks everyone for the info!