Where best to see class 08

[CalaisFret]

Hi, am looking to see a class 08 shunter working on the national network i.e. Not preserved/heritage. Any advice on the best location for this? Any advice gratefully received.

 

[TheEdge]

You will only see them in depots (the few that still use them). So you need to find depots that use 08s reguarly and can be seen from a public location.

Norwich Crown Point uses them every day and you can see the depot from various roads around it. In fact any depot that uses traditional hauled stock (HSTs, Mk3s, Mk4s) will have 08s, so that'll be Laira, Old Oak Common, Bounds Green, Neville Hill, Craigentinny, you get the idea.

On that note, off I go to Crown Point to drive 08s!

 

[Cowley]

You will only see them in depots (the few that still use them). So you need to find depots that use 08s reguarly and can be seen from a public location.

Norwich Crown Point uses them every day and you can see the depot from various roads around it. In fact any depot that uses traditional hauled stock (HSTs, Mk3s, Mk4s) will have 08s, so that'll be Laira, Old Oak Common, Bounds Green, Neville Hill, Craigentinny, you get the idea.

On that note, off I go to Crown Point to drive 08s!

I mean that sounds like a pretty nice job to have sometimes.

 

[Cowley]

Hi, am looking to see a class 08 shunter working on the national network i.e. Not preserved/heritage. Any advice on the best location for this? Any advice gratefully received.

Whereabouts do you live? Are you in French France?

 

[copernicium112]

Longsight TMD has one, and Arriva Traincare Crewe have a few.

 

[birchesgreen]

The one at Soho depot is usually quite visible from passing trains. Can see some good 08 action quite a lot at Bescot too, visible from Bescot Stadium station.

 

[Failed Unit]

You often see the Bounds Green one from Alexandra palace.

 

[DarloRich]

Two at wabtec in doncaster

 

[Far north 37]

you can see one working every morning at inverness station shunting the sleeper stock

 

[Railsigns]

I saw a little group of three at Polmadie the other day.

 

[TheEdge]

I saw a little group of three at Polmadie the other day.

Whats the collective noun for 08s? A fleetlet?

 

[D6975]

You often see the Bounds Green one from Alexandra palace.

There were 2 at Bounds Green a few weeks ago.

 

[D6975]

Down west there's usually one at Penzance which can be seen from the path along the seafront. There are 2 at Laira, usually visible from the road that runs past the depot. In Bristol there are 2 round St Philips Marsh, one is usually visible from the fence at the back next to the spine Road.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Can see some good 08 action quite a lot at Bescot too, visible from Bescot Stadium station.

Who owns those? I was under the impression that DBS were no longer using any of their class 08s.

 

[91104]

There were 2 at Bounds Green a few weeks ago.

If you stand on Platform 1 at Alexandra Palace station between 1700-2000 you are pretty much guaranteed to see a class 08 in action as we take the sets on maintenance out the shed at Bounds Green and put them into the yard to free up space for the trains coming in for servicing at night. If you go to the south end of the platform you can almost touch them as the line is that close and they will be under full power as they propel the stock uphill into the yard.

 

[Harbornite]

As mentioned above, depots are the best places to see them. Honourable mentions go to Eastleigh Yard, Washwood RMC, Tyseley LMD, Oxley, soton FL depot, and the Ketton cement branch. As you know, there's been a recent cull of the DB ones and places like Bescot, which used to have at least three, aren't as good. If you want to see something a bit different then I recommend Tyseley, where the London Midland 08 is used to shunt a flat wagon loaded with rubbish from the cleaning operations.

 

[CalaisFret]

Many thanks for the advice everyone

 

[noddy1878]

I frequently see them on the move in and around Laira!

 

[Darandio]

You can also often see the Grand Central liveried one at Heaton.

 

[Mr Fizz]

The one at Soho depot is usually quite visible from passing trains.

Yup. I see good old 08805 almost every day!

What is the long arm sticking out the front? Some sort of special coupling?

 

[Muzer]

I was told by an enthusiast at some stage that the sleeper arrival is hauled out of Paddington with an 08. Is this true?

 

[37038]

I was told by an enthusiast at some stage that the sleeper arrival is hauled out of Paddington with an 08. Is this true?

Happens when they're lacking a 57

 

[221129]

I was told by an enthusiast at some stage that the sleeper arrival is hauled out of Paddington with an 08. Is this true?

Out of the last 5 times I have done the beds into Paddington it has been an 08 on the drag twice.

 

[AnthonyRail]

see an 08 outside of the arriva traincare (I think that's what is) as you leave Bristol Temple meads towards Parkway. SPM is a long walk but a good view once there.