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This list give direction to a number of vantage point which overlooks depots and depot yards. Please note that some give directions onto railway land.
| TRESPASSING ON THE RAILWAY IS A SERIOUS OFFENCE WHICH AT PRESENT CARRIES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF £200. THIS PAGE IS ONLY A GUIDE AND GIVES NO AUTHORITY TO VISIT ANY OF THESE LOCATIONS. |
Usual classes: 08, 31, 37, 47, 143, 153 and 158.
Rating: *****
Turn left outside the station into Saunders Road and then left into Wood Street follow this road over the river into Tudor Street and Ninian Park Road. Turn left into De Croche Place. A footbridge at the end of the road leads to the depot. The bridge passes over the running lines and the depot yard. Binoculars will be useful.Ken Wilson added:
There is now a gate at the entrance to the footbridge, with a notice warning trainspotters off.
Usual classes: 08, 37 and 47.
Rating: ****
Turn right outside Crewe station into Nantwich Road and right at the roundabout. The depot can be seen from the waste land on the right hand side of this road, using binoculars.
Usual classes: 08, 43, 47 and LHCS
Rating: ***
From A1 (South) continue straight on (passing over ECML) towards Portobello into A199 "Sir Harry Lauder Road." At the next roundabout turn left into A1140 Portobello Road. Take 4th turning on the left (a narrow road called "Fish Wives' Causeway") depot/main line can be viewed over the wall from this road with binoculars. [Ben Williams]
Usual classes: 08, 37 and steam locos (summer)
Rating: ***
The depot can be best viewed with binoculars from the top of the highest hill overlooking the yard which has a monument on top. The freight marshalling yard, the sidings into Alcan works and movements on both passenger lines can be viewed from here as well (if it's not too wet/misty). [Ben Williams]
Usual classes: 37, 47
Rating: **
From the J39 on the M1 take the A636 towards Denby Dale. After about 2 miles turn right along the unclassified road towards Netherton. Turn right at the end of this road into the B6117. Turn right into the A642 and after crossing the cannel turn right immediately into Bridge Road. Take a left into Storrs Hill Road and follow this road passing over a railway bridge. On the left a drive leads to the depot. Park in the car-park and cross onto the public footpath which runs along side the depot. Binoculars are needed.
Usual classes: 37, 58 and 60
Rating: ***
A path leads to the depot from the south end of platform 4. Locomotives can be seen from the car parks in the depot.
Usual classes: 08, 37, 47, 56, 58 and 60
Rating: ****
From A180 (east) turn onto A160 towards Immingham. After nearly 3 miles turn right at the roundabout onto the A1173 and after a further 1 mile turn left along the road signposted Grimsby (A180) At the end of this road continue straight on into King's Road and after 0.3 miles turn left along road signposted Docks East Gate. Depot entrance is at the end of a short cul de sac on the left a bit further along. Locos can be viewed at this end. Walk alongside the depot/freight line by the side of a ditch/stream where large oil pipelines also run. Further along it is possible to climb onto these pipes and view the yard with binoculars. [Ben Williams]
Usual classes: 08, 47, 56
Rating: ****
Leave the M62 at Junction 33 and take the A1 northbound. At the next junction join the A645 towards Goole/Knottingley. Turn right at the traffic lights in Knottingley into Headlands Lane. Past the railway station and turn first left into Spawd Bone Lane. Just after the junction is some waste ground on the left. From here using binoculars you can see the depot yard.Further along the road is the depot entrance. If you enter into the access road and turn left along a dirt track it is possible to walk behind the building to see more of the depot yard.
NOTE: At this point you are on private railway property.
Usual classes: 56, 58 and 60.
Rating: ***
Exit the station via the north end footbridge into the car park and bear right out of the car park and onto the bridge over the railway. Cross the road and the bridge, then turn left immediately the bridge ends onto a pedestrian walkway enclosed in green steel mesh. If you don't mind the passing pedestrians, the whole depot can be seen from above, as well as the main lines, the yard throat and the main repair building as usually the door is open during the day with a 37 inside. The green cage probably prevents photting, but last time I was there there was the odd hole to be found in the mesh.The depot yard can be also be seen from the end of the station platforms or from the end of the station car park.
Usual Classes: 08, 09, 37, 47, 56 and 60
Rating: ****
From A1 (South) take junction with A6095 Newcraighall Road in a westerly direction, and then turn left towards a new shoping centre into Whitehall Road. Continue along this road about 1 mile to the end (passing over the railway) the depot entrance is on the right. At present the depot can be viewed with binoculars from an adjacent coal yard if there are no diggers etc. working. [Ben Williams]
Usual Classes: 08,09, 37, 47, 56, 60, 86, 90 and 92
Rating: ****
The yard/train movements can be viewed down a short driveway off the A775 Holytown Road next to the bridge over the main railway line. Binoculars useful. The locomotive stabling point can also be viewed at the end of another driveway (Cardean Road); travelling towards Holytown, take the first turn on the left after the railway bridge, pass a scrap yard on the left and continue straight on up a small hill and over a level crossing (new single track line into distribution warehouse). [Ben Williams]
Usual Classes: 08, 09, 37, 47, 56 and 60
Rating: ****
The depot can be viewed from the B&Q DIY superstore car park on one side of the depot/main line near the main depot entrance with binoculars. It is also partially visible with binoculars on the opposite side through a new housing estate, although the new houses built in the last few months (July - Aug '98) are making this more difficult as more become occupied. [Ben Williams]
Usual Classes: 08, 43, 141, 144, 155, 156, 158 and coaching stock.
Rating: ****
On the A64 heading into Leeds City Centre pass Asda and the Little Chef. Turn left into Osmondthorpe Lane opposite to "The Shaftbury" pub. Turn right into Richardson Road just before the depot entrance. Along this road is a park. The parks runs parallel to the depot, several hills in the park also other units to be seen. Binoculars are needed.
Usual Classes: 08, 09, 37 and 47
Rating **
The main depot can be best viewed by walking along the towpath of the Grand Union canal. Take A4000 Old Oak Lane away from Willesden Junction station to the south - this road crosses over this canal - take towpath towards the left. The main yard can also be partially viewed from Old Oak Common Lane which turns off from this road on the left. Binoculars needed. [Ben Williams]
Usual Classes: 08, 09, 37, 47, 58 and 60
Rating: ***
The main entrance to the depot/container terminal is off Temple Mills Lane, but the depot can be visited on foot from the station by taking the underpass towards the furthest platform 12. The foot tunnel to the depot turns off to the right about half way along. (This foot tunnel has been diverted from its original course which used to emerge at the front of the station building) Follow this winding tunnel until you emerge on the far side of the railway tracks . A signposted footpath leads to the depot. (Tunnel and path is railway property) Binoculars needed.
Note: extensive building work for the Jubilee Line Extension at this station may mean the above directions change in the near future. [Ben Williams]
Usual Classes: 37, 47
Rating: **
From the A638 heading into Doncaster turn left at the F1 Hotel. The road is well signed. Follow this road along and enter the depot car park. From the car park it is possible to view several stabled locomotives.
NOTE: At this point you are on private railway property.
Usual Classes: 08, 09, 37, 47, 56, 58 and 60
Rating: ****
As well as viewing from the main Middlesbrough Road that passes the depot entrance, there is now a new road bridge which passes over the line at the east end of the depot. It is possible to take the road on the next left and walk on top of the new "screening" earth bank to view the depot shed/yards from the far (north) side with binoculars. [Ben Williams]
Usual Classes: 08, 31, 37, 47, 56, 58, and 60
Rating: *****
From Junction 25 on the M1, take the A52 towards Nottingham. When you reach the roundabout next to the garden-centre turn left down Stapeford Lane. At the traffic lights turn right into Banks Road, passing the Vauxhall car dealership. Follow this road until your reach the bus turning loop, when you should turn left into Bridgenorth Way. Then turn left into Hampton Close. Park your car here and take the footpath at the end of the road. Turn right at the junction of footpaths. You will be on a hill which overlooks the depot and the yard. You will need binoculars.
Usual Classes: 31, 37, 47, 56, 58, and 60
Rating: ***
Leave the station and walk straight on passing the Railfreight centre. Turn first right into the road which leads up to the bridge over the railway. Follow the road over this bridge and again over another bridge. The waste ground on the left run parallel the stabling point. There is a dirt track from the road through the waste ground.
Usual Classes: 08, 86, 97 and 90
Rating: *****
Leave the station at turn left passing the bus turning loop. Pass under the railway bridge. From the depot car park parts of the depot yard can be seen.
From the station, turn right across car park and follow road from former freight depot to main road. Cross road by railway bridge. Private road to EWS Worksop WRD runs to the left of bridge. Go under bridge turn left and follow road to Tesco's. Loco stabling sidings can be viewed from the recycling area. There are often 2 to 4 locos present. On Sundays up to 6 locos can be found elsewhere stabled with their trains. Walk past the Tesco buildings to view the other end of the sidings other locos and the repair shed. The two shunters can usually be found here. It is often difficult to get numbers because of the large number of wagons. [Mervyn Perry]