York Station Spotting

[d1015fan]

In York for around 45 mins this saturday as part of the Cracoe Jack Tour. Not been to York before where is the best place to be to photograph trains. so where is your best "Spot-Spot"? Sorry had to say it

 

[4SRKT]

With only 45 mins to spare it's a bit restrictive. Otherwise getting down to the footbridge south of Holgate Junction is a winner, but it's about 15 minutes walk away. Closer to the station, if there is a Scarborough train due (and you don't despise 185s as much as I do) you could go down to the river bank and get a shot of it going over the Scarborough bridge. This is less than 5 mins away if you use the footpath off Leeman Road down the side of the Royal Mail sorting depot, and parallel to the old platform 4 (old Scarborough line bay and now filled in as car parking). Go out of the station from the exit at the end of the bridge by platforms 10/11 towards the NRM, turn right and go through the pedestrian tunnel under the station. Immediately at the end of the tunnel cross the road and take the snicket leading down the side of the Royal Mail depot. Also a possibility is from the car park next to the original NRM building, giving a good view of the ECML as it passes the site of York TMD near the current Siemens 'traincare depot' (revolting phrase).

 

[d1015fan]

thanks a very detailed response. I will defo use that next time I go to York for the day. Like you say the time is restrictive and probably going to stay on the platform and try and get some of those nice platform shots.

Is there a good platform where everything can be seen easily?

Don't mind the 185's I know a lot dislike the modern traction scene but I find them to be good units, and they do seem to be reliable. use them a lot when travelling in the NW visiting friends from Uni

 

[Darandio]

All depends really, you can choose a north or south vantage point.

At the north end, I would stand on platform 5 as that gives you coverage of the whole station throat as it veers away past the museum and would allow you to see things to/from the Scarborough line, from platform 8 to Harrogate but you would miss everything in bays 6 & 7.

For the south end I would probably do platform 5 again and this gives coverage of the above bays, 6 & 7, as well as bay platform 1. If zoomed in, to the right of Holgate Bridge you will see freights on the avoider line as well. The only thing you really miss here is the usual doubled up 150 out of platform 8.

 

[d1015fan]

thanks. so platform 5 seems to be the place to be then just a lot of tooing and frowing. but will get loads of new spots so worth it

 

[John Webb]

Another potential spot is the viewing platform on the first floor of "The Works" at the NRM - gives a good view of traffic at the North end of the station but you would miss out on the avoiding line and the 6/7 bays.

This was complimented by the signalling display inside which had screens showing the station and approaches as viewed from the York signalling centre, but these were being stripped out when I was last at the NRM about a year ago. The viewing platform also used to have an arrivals screen and a feed from the station announcer, but these have been inoperative for several years - a great shame!

 

[YorkshireBear]

The viewing platform at york has working arrivals screen but does not have station announcer

There's the signal screens from york centre are there they were working fully last two times ive been (in last month)

 

[4SRKT]

thanks a very detailed response. I will defo use that next time I go to York for the day. Like you say the time is restrictive and probably going to stay on the platform and try and get some of those nice platform shots.

Is there a good platform where everything can be seen easily?

Don't mind the 185's I know a lot dislike the modern traction scene but I find them to be good units, and they do seem to be reliable. use them a lot when travelling in the NW visiting friends from Uni

I don't dislike all modern traction, but there's something especially cheap and nasty looking about 185s.

 

[142094]

I don't dislike all modern traction, but there's something especially cheap and nasty looking about 185s.

A sign of things to come - they do lack character.

 

[yorksrob]

Yeah, there's something a bit sterile about them for sure. They are quite comfortable though. Lot's of room in the airline seats which is quite nice.

 

[142094]

Always good when the priority seats are free, although the journey is a bit boring on one. Will have to do a 142 bash soon to have a real journey!

 

[John Webb]

The viewing platform at york has working arrivals screen but does not have station announcer

There's the signal screens from york centre are there they were working fully last two times ive been (in last month)

Glad to hear these have been reinstated - I was concerned last year that they were removing them entirely. (Couldn't get to the NRM this year while in West Yorkshire recently due to weather and other factors.)

 

[snbower]

The old screens (CRT and horribly flickering) have been replaced by a bank of TFTs nice

 

[d1015fan]

Always good when the priority seats are free, although the journey is a bit boring on one. Will have to do a 142 bash soon to have a real journey!

you'll have to come down to sunny devon and do the 142's along the dawlish sea wall.

 

[4SRKT]

you'll have to come down to sunny devon and do the 142's along the dawlish sea wall.

I spent several happy childhood summers in the camping coaches by Dawlish Warren station. This was an enthusiast's dream come true! No 142s then: local services were 118s or 33s hauling short rakes of mk Is.

 

[142094]

you'll have to come down to sunny devon and do the 142's along the dawlish sea wall.

Will make a change of scenery to up north! Just need time to do it, next opportunity seems to be summer 2011 unfortunately.

 

[d1015fan]

well 142's will be back up your way by then but defo if you are down next summer just let me know