Tracking Down Class 185s

[coxy]

Can anybody please suggest locations where I can spot class 185s working on TPE services.

From the Realtime Trains web site, I can see there are 8 workings an hour through Leeds on weekdays, so I'm assuming 3 hours there will result in 24 units passing through.

Is there another location where the remaining units can be seen ?

 

[yorkie]

Manchester Piccadilly

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Your best bet to see 185s would be Manchester Piccadilly. In Leeds you will miss the Manchester - Blackpool/Barrow/Scotland ones as well as anyhing working Manchester Cleethorpes via Sheffield

At Manchester Piccadilly, you would need to locate yourself at then end of one of the long platforms - 8 & 9 from memory are the best - as some 185s go down the side on the through platforms while others use the dead end ones to reverse as lots seem to come in from Yorkshire before heading to Manchester Airport (and vice versa). Bear in mind that the 185s go all the way to Scotland (from Manchester) so may take ages to show up. Also I am not sure these days whether there is one confined to the Windermere branch.

 

[D6975]

The Windermere ones change over.
Typically they go to Windermere, do a return or two to Oxenholme then go back to Manchester.

 

[nxea321446]

doncaster

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Can anybody please suggest locations where I can spot class 185s working on TPE services.

From the Realtime Trains web site, I can see there are 8 workings an hour through Leeds on weekdays, so I'm assuming 3 hours there will result in 24 units passing through.

Is there another location where the remaining units can be seen ?

It will see 24 movements, but any heading to Scarborough or Hull (though that's usually 170s) will head back through within the 3 hours- so there'll be some duplicates. In fact if you're concentrating on the North Transpennine units you're as well at Huddersfield.

 

[jonesy3001]

Lancaster and carnforth for the barrow,windermere and scotland services.

 

[trickyvegas]

Ardwick would be a good spot, as you would be able to see the Leeds services as well as anything heading to and from Manchester Airport and Sheffield from the one platform and as there are very few services call there you would have the place pretty much to yourself. It takes about 25 minutes to walk there from Piccadilly or a short walk from the bus stops served by the frequent 219 and 201 bus services. You're also in sight of the depot where the 185s are serviced as well.

 

[Geeves]

Plenty through Manchester Victoria if you are around very early or late on ECS, plus route learning the last couple of weeks Stalybridge - Vic - Chatmoss. Even one today in the turn back for a while. 185127.

 

[itsjamierawr]

I would suggest Preston as the service from Barrow/Windermere often terminates there, all the Scottish services stop along with the Blackpool Norths. But for all of them, Manchester Piccadilly is probably best, it's a bit like a hub for Transpennine Express.

 

[43074]

York is good if you want to see the North East 185s, because you have 6 185 movements an hour and there is the occasional ECS from the depot. Most Hull services are 170s anyway so you don't miss those.

Manchester Piccadilly is your best bet though.

 

[SeanG]

Spend a day at Piccadilly.
Most TPE services call at piccadilly and there is also other interest to keep you going should there be a dull moment

 

[DarloRich]

doncaster

Lancaster and carnforth for the barrow,windermere and scotland services.

Wasting your time going to these places to see 185 as yo uwill only see 1 or 2 - i could just as easily suggets Northallerton - if you want to see the largest number get to Piccadilly.

Failing that Leeds or York but Manchetser would be best

 

[coxy]

Thanks for all of the feedback. Looks like I'll be spending a weekday at Piccadilly then.

 

[60163tornado]

York is better, you get the Middlesbrough to Manchester Airport, get the service to Scarborough and also the service to Newcastle and the depot workings, so yeah...!

 

[ainsworth74]

York is better, you get the Middlesbrough to Manchester Airport, get the service to Scarborough and also the service to Newcastle and the depot workings, so yeah...!

No it isn't. Manchester gets services to/from Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Scarborough, Hull, Sheffield, Cleethorpes, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester Airport, Barrow, Windermere, Blackpool and Newcastle as well as depot moves to/from Ardwick. There is literally no place better if you want 185s than Manchester Piccadilly.

 

[Bodie]

At the risk of sounding smug, I cleared the 185's last month

185127 was the little so and so that always managed to dodge me.
Got it at Oxenholme.

My first 185 was 185111 back in April 2006.

I don't know where you are based Coxy but from 2006-2008 I was near Manchester so saw lots of them alot of the time.

Spent the last five years at the other end of the country, so who knows how much quicker I could have cleared the class.

I do usually make it to Manchester at least once a year, so have had a few blasts at trying to clear them.
I would say Manchester Piccadilly is as others have said, the best place to get 185's a plenty.

Good hunting

Bodie

 

[elarchibaldo]

I cleared my fleet in 6 days. Manchester is the place, even if you are roving about on a dayranger.