Most "Comfortable" Stations to Phot and Spot

[overtonchris]

Hi Folks!
I hope you've not had this one before (I've searched, mods, but found nowt!)....but I'd like to throw into the ring ....What UK railway stations people have found most "comfortable" to carry out their hobby - whether it be Spotting, Photographing, Changing for Haulage Bashing etc.....AND WHY if poss.

This could include having seats with a good view of the action, shelters out of the British elements...again where you've got a good view.....above average nosheries....not too medieval loos....unobtrusive / friendly staff etc. etc.

I would like to nominate ...

1) Edinburgh Haymarket.....Little waiting room on the East end of the "middle platform"....sorry...Great views for spotting, chatty cleaners / dispatch staff / warm!

2) Basingstoke....West end plats 2&3....benches well away from the madding crowd / cracking picture opportunities with variety and regularity....

3) Bethnal Green.....leaning only - but on a nice warm day in a London rush hour a great place to be (if you like units and 91s!!)

There's got to be so many more better than mine!!!!

 

[alex17595]

Birmingham Moor street has the room next to the toilet that is heated. Nice change from the cold.

 

[nxea321446]

when i go to stratford i tend to go behind the lift of platforms 9 and 10 there i get a good view of the freight coming off the nll

 

[Peter Mugridge]

3) Bethnal Green.....leaning only - but on a nice warm day in a London rush hour a great place to be (if you like units and 91s!!)

I think you mean 90s? The 91s are all still on the ECML.

 

[overtonchris]

Mybad!!!!! Thanks for the kick up the proverbial!!!!!!

 

[MK Tom]

Cheddington is brilliant for the almost complete lack of human activity.

 

[coxy]

I've spent a couple of warm, barmy summer days at Ditcot Parkway and really enjoyed it there.

The platform staff are quite used to enthusiasts, and from my experience are more than happy to talk about interesting workings they are aware of. There also seems to be a "hard core" of regulars who appear to have the WTT stored in their heads (most likely an android phone in their pocket running RTT !)

Most enthusiasts congregate at the London end of platforms 2/3 or 4/5. Additional seating has been provided for when the legs start to get a bit tired There's a waiting room on 4/5, whilst on 2/3 you have a buffet (does good business from enthusiasts with Bite Cards) and free to use toilets.

 

[47802]

Usually any station which is OK with Enthusiasts, which in terms of the bigger stations I would be likely to visit would be, York, Doncaster, Carlisle, Preston and Crewe which of course also happen to be open stations, well at least for the moment.

 

[Alistair G.]

Pudding mill lane is a favourite of mine for photos, it's a DLR station but a great view of the eastern (class 90's + stock, 360's, 315's, 321's....)

London bridge for spotting is great, although with all the work at the moment it's not quite so brilliant, but a mix of Southern, FCC, South Eastern and a number if different units, plus the fact at rush hour u can literally see them stacked outside the station, it's just a precession on units.... And to too it all off it has a mcdonalds about 2mins maximum from the station which is generally quite quiet compared to most others I've used in the capital

There are so many others as well that I enjoy but the last one ill mention is leicester. All diesel but a mix of HST's, meridians (222), 156's, 158's, XC 170's and a ton of freight as well, but most importantly, the staff are excellent. It's barriers at Leicester but the staff in my experiance have always been very welcoming of enthusiasts.... Not something I can say for all stations.

 

[GatwickDepress]

On the Great Northern, I quite like Alexandra Palace and Hadley Wood.

I've spent many an afternoon at Doleham or Rye, reading or writing while the Turbostars grumble by. Not much of interest for spotters though, possibly for photters.

Another plus for Cheddington. Wolverton can also get quite quiet on Sundays or at off-peak times, but Cheddington has that ideal atmosphere.

 

[168lover]

Saunderton in Buckinghamshire is great for fast 168s and 67s

 

[pitdiver]

Cheddington is brilliant for the almost complete lack of human activity.

I'd go along with MKTom, in the middle of nowhere, WCML's version of Berney Arms. Worked there once in the booking office. Did one shift finished at 1030 then went to Buzzard for rest of shift.

 

[MK Tom]

Saunderton in Buckinghamshire is great for fast 168s and 67s

Haddenham and Thame Parkway offers the same but is a bit easier to get to without a car.

Cheddington is almost like a station built for an enthusiast. Four empty platforms miles from anywhere complete with shelters slap-bang in the middle of full speed WCML.

Biggleswade is great for a similar experience on the ECML. I was photting there on Saturday...

 

[Southwest]

Sandy (one up or down from Biggleswade, depending which way you are travelling) is also excellent. When it's 'manned' they even announce the approach of steam excursions.

 

[Crossover]

When I was at Didcot the other week, there were a few people whose camera popped out when something materialised (which is fairly regular!) I see why that end of the platform is good, as you also get the avoiding stuff going on to Oxford

I have to mention Stafford in this - generally busy location on passenger traffic and has busy pockets of freight activity too. Staff there are welcoming of enthusiasts and I think some of the staff are enthusiasts too (I'm told there are the occasional staff members who keep a camera on them for those occasional workings :P)