Grandstand views of the railway?

[eastwestdivide]

Any suggestions for somewhere to watch the trains go by this summer, away from a station, probably out in the country, with a wide/long grandstand view of the trains coming and going? Preferably on a reasonably busy line or one with a variety of traffic.
Something like Colton Junction south of York, or up the top of Lose Hill in the Hope Valley, although it doesn't have to be up that high.
Thanks.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Something like Colton Junction south of York, or up the top of Lose Hill in the Hope Valley, although it doesn't have to be up that high.
Thanks.

Not a bad shout that. Just about anywhere from Mam Tor along the Great Ridge towards Lose Hill will, on a decent day, normally have decent "grandstand" views down towards Edale station and the Hope Valley line.

Most of the rail traffic, last time I was up there, seemed to be 6 car TPE trains, but hopefully you'll also see EMR, Northern and the occasional cement or stone train workings as well.

During the day, there's usually something passing through the valley every 15 minutes or so (each way).

 

[eastwestdivide]

Thanks. I should have made it clearer that those were two examples that I'd already visited, and I was looking for others!

 

[jp4712]

Where in the country are you thinking, what radius from home would you consider? I'm guessing you're somewhere not too far from either Hope Valley or York, in which case one of my favourites is the overbridge just north of Milford tunnel on the Midland main line north of Derby, pretty busy railway but a nice quiet area to watch trains.

East Midlands Trains 222 003, Milford tunnel, Derbyshire, March 2019 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

 

[D6130]

West Highland Line from the A82 or West Highland Way at the South end of the Horseshoe Curve, between Upper Tyndrum and Bridge of Orchy.

Settle-Carlisle from the summits of Whernside, Ingleborough or Penyghent....or the lower slopes thereof - or from the Mallerstang ridge.

Settle-Carlisle and Bentham lines from Castleberg Crag above Settle.

Skipton-Leeds from Rombalds Moor above Bradley or Silsden.

Cumbrian Coast line from the summit of Black Combe behind Millom.

Calder Valley line from the hillsides above Gauxholme Viaduct between Todmorden and Walsden....and from the hillsides North and South of Mytholmroyd.

West Coast Main Line from the Howgill Fells between Grayrigg and Tebay....and from off the M6 between Tebay and Shap Summit.

Trans-Pennine Main Line from the hillside above Marsden station.

The castle keep in Newcastle.

Either end of Calton Tunnel in Edinburgh - at the East end of Waverley station.

South Queensferry or North Queensferry for the Forth Bridge.

Kinnoull Hill outside Perth for the line towards Dundee.

Langstone Rock between Dawlish and Dawlish Warren

....and many more.

 

[xotGD]

The top of Embsay Crag gives a panoramic view of the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway

 

[Bertie the bus]

Old Alder Lane, Winwick is probably the WCML's equivalent of Colton Junction. You can sit in your car and watch trains approaching from both directions. If you time it right there are a few freights at certain times of the day.

If you're not bothered about sitting in your car then Humble Lane, Cossington on the MML is a decent location.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Thanks for all the suggestions people. Time to get planning.

 

[Ken H]

Furness line from Arnside prom or Grange prom.

 

[Shimbleshanks]

Up on the hills overlooking Purley - somewhere like Montpelier Road or Kingsdown Avenue. Trains are mostly electric units but we do get the occasional steam special, pullman specials and there are a few Class 66-hauled freights.