Freight on two lengthy lines

[railfan99]

Later this year I would like to travel on the Newcastle (UK, not NSW!) to Carlisle line and stay overnight en route, perhaps at Hexham.

I am also hoping to use the Carlisle-St Bees-Ravenglass-Carnforth coastal line as both will be new trackage.

Is there any freight on either line, and if so from where to where? Do any freights run daily or less frequently, and never at weekends?

Is there any semaphore signalling still in use on these two lines?

 

[30907]

Cumbrian Coast is largely semaphore signalled.
Freight is to and from Sellafield; this is for Wednesday just past, and you need to check on the day whether anything is actually running!
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...5/0200-0159?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=ZZ
BTW freight via Carnforth avoids Barrow by the Park South-Dalton cutoff.
Newcastle-Carlisle is ISTR mainly colour light (but with traditional signalboxes) and the only freight I can see is engineers' or nuclear.
(It's 4-5 years since I was round the coast, but I don't think the signalling has changed.)

 

[railfan99]

Cumbrian Coast is largely semaphore signalled.

Thanks. Stations such as Grange-over-Sands (great name!) look splendid with classy awnings on each platform, and (though I couldn't quickly find a recent photo) semaphores. Amazing in 2023 in a Western nation to have mechanical signalling (but I love it: reminds me of Sri Lanka where I toured by rail in 2015).

 

[Iskra]

Arnside (just over the estuary from Grange) is also worth a visit and of photographic interest as you can get great shots of trains crossing the bridge, it’s also a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty but quite quiet as it is often overlooked for the nearby Lake District by tourists.

The Cumbrian Coast is a stunning route. Also not far away is the West Coast Railways base at Carnforth on the WCML, where you may find more freight and rail interest. You get the odd railtour around the Cumbrian Coast too.

 

[D6130]

IIRC, there are still some semaphore signals at certain locations on the Newcastle-Carlisle line (Wylam, Hexham, Haydon Bridge and Brampton Fell come to mind)....although I haven't been along there since before lockdown, so things may have changed. There are also the historic and very photogenic overtrack gantry-mounted signalboxes at Wylam and Hexham.

 

[Railsigns]

IIRC, there are still some semaphore signals at certain locations on the Newcastle-Carlisle line (Wylam, Hexham, Haydon Bridge and Brampton Fell come to mind)

Semaphore signals remain at Prudhoe, Hexham, Haydon Bridge, Milton (Brampton) and Corby Gates (Wetherall).

 

[Ken H]

Arnside (just over the estuary from Grange) is also worth a visit and of photographic interest as you can get great shots of trains crossing the bridge, it’s also a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty but quite quiet as it is often overlooked for the nearby Lake District by tourists.

The Cumbrian Coast is a stunning route. Also not far away is the West Coast Railways base at Carnforth on the WCML, where you may find more freight and rail interest. You get the odd railtour around the Cumbrian Coast too.

Arnside is nice. Cafes, a nice eat in chippy and views across the estuary and into the lakes. And the rail viaduct.
But it has a bore, like the Severn. A standing wave where the incoming tide meets the water coming down the river Kent. Best on a spring tide when lots of water in the Kent.

There is a round robin ticket for Lancaster-Carlisle. One way via workington, back via west coast. But its a long day out.

 

[railfan99]

Semaphore signals remain at Prudhoe, Hexham, Haydon Bridge, Milton (Brampton) and Corby Gates (Wetherall).

Thanks. They tend to be impossible to photograph from trains or at brief 45 second stops, but at least one knows where to look. Wonderful they're still in use.

Page six of the hardcopy current edition UK Rail Atlas uses the names you've placed in parentheses for the last two stations. Are 'Milton' and 'Corby Gates' older, or alternative, names?

 

[Railsigns]

Page six of the hardcopy current edition UK Rail Atlas uses the names you've placed in parentheses for the last two stations. Are 'Milton' and 'Corby Gates' older, or alternative, names?

Milton and Corby Gates are the names of the gate box and signal box that control the semaphore signals. I put the names of the nearest stations in parentheses to give you an idea of their locations.

 

[Segedunum]

Another recommendation for Hexham and Wylam.

It's a pleasant line (one of my local ones) as is the Cumbrian Coast Line.

It's also improved since my childhood (early 10s) where you'd just have an hourly Pacer - nowadays it's a 156/158 every half hour or so to Carlisle.

 

[NorthWestRover]

Arnside is nice. Cafes, a nice eat in chippy and views across the estuary and into the lakes.

...and the Arnside Bakehouse for very good pies and pasties.

 

[railfan99]

Another recommendation for Hexham and Wylam.

It's a pleasant line (one of my local ones) as is the Cumbrian Coast Line.

It's also improved since my childhood (early 10s) where you'd just have an hourly Pacer - nowadays it's a 156/158 every half hour or so to Carlisle.

Huge thanks: I have booked accommodation at Hexham, and will also be travelling on the Cumbrian Coast line. I've not done these two lines on previous trips: both look attractive. I love being away from the capital, because (as with many nations) that's where you observe the 'real country'.

 

[Iskra]

Huge thanks: I have booked accommodation at Hexham, and will also be travelling on the Cumbrian Coast line. I've not done these two lines on previous trips: both look attractive. I love being away from the capital, because (as with many nations) that's where you observe the 'real country'.

The Cumbrian Coast is a great and very under appreciated line. When are you travelling?

I agree completely about Capital cities, I have a theory that most of them are a bit rubbish compared to the rest of the country they are in (although they are not completely without value).

 

[railfan99]

The Cumbrian Coast is a great and very under appreciated line. When are you travelling?

September 2023. I avoid UK/Europe peak summer season. Winter is interesting if from snowless cities (it is 80 to 200km away from my city), but UK/European attractions closed or on restricted hours/days and (especially in Europe) train frequencies reduced. 'Shoulder seasons' of March/April and perhaps early May, and September to early November are ideal. Avoiding departing Australia during school holidays is best. (For southeast and perhaps northeast Asia, different ball game).

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Do any freight workings operate in or through the Workington area these days?

 

[Iskra]

September 2023. I avoid UK/Europe peak summer season. Winter is interesting if from snowless cities (it is 80 to 200km away from my city), but UK/European attractions closed or on restricted hours/days and (especially in Europe) train frequencies reduced. 'Shoulder seasons' of March/April and perhaps early May, and September to early November are ideal. Avoiding departing Australia during school holidays is best. (For southeast and perhaps northeast Asia, different ball game).

I agree, that’s when I do many of my travels too

 

[railfan99]

I have allowed an hour at Cark and Cartmel because of its historic station buildings that are so wonderfully typical of England. The 'Engine Inn' is allegedly 350 metres away, and on a Saturday arvo may be serving food.

The Arnside suggestion is excellent, but the station has only unattractive bus shelters from photos. Which do I pick, given Arnside probably has more appealing food (shamefully, I enjoy hot chips and the occasional cake)?

 

[Ken H]

I have allowed an hour at Cark and Cartmel because of its historic station buildings that are so wonderfully typical of England. The 'Engine Inn' is allegedly 350 metres away, and on a Saturday arvo may be serving food.

The Arnside suggestion is excellent, but the station has only unattractive bus shelters from photos. Which do I pick, given Arnside probably has more appealing food (shamefully, I enjoy hot chips and the occasional cake)?

Arnside every time
You do know about the 'Close Encounter' tearoom at Carnforth station i assume? Link to their website - https://refreshmentroom.com/

 

[NorthWestRover]

There's a signal box at Arnside (for all I know there might be one at Cark) and one station building but nothing special. And the viaduct also.