A Day by the East Coast Main Line, North East England - March 12th 2023

[armyairforce]

I've not done any rail modelling for some time, but on Sunday 12th March, I spent most of the day next to the East Coast Main Line in the North East of England. While I've visited several preserved railways over the last few years, it's been a long long time since I watched modern trains. I discovered that UK rail companies have installed miles and miles of tall metal fencing along their tracks, making finding a spot to watch quite difficult. I did lots of searching on Google Earth and found a few potential spots within a few miles drive of home. One area was two stone road bridges, a second was a level crossing and the third, a public footpath. The fencing made the last one impractical, but the other two worked out.

Below is a video and some still pictures of a number of the trains that I saw during the day, but one surprise was this 1960's Class 37 loco. Several have been modified to connect to modern coaches and are operated to move rolling stock around the country when needed. The picture below is a crop from the video capture.

#37884 "Cepheus"

The videos were all shot close to Hett village in County Durham, Northern England. There were no freight trains during the day, so I suspect most of the freight runs during weekdays. The passenger services came by every 10 to 15 minutes.

Class 220 & 221
#220006 & 2#21135

#220???

Class 800
#800101

#800110

Class 801
#801203

#801224

Class 802
#802201

#802213

Class 803
#803001

#803005

 

[Smudge617]

I've not done any rail modelling for some time, but on Sunday 12th March, I spent most of the day next to the East Coast Main Line in the North East of England. While I've visited several preserved railways over the last few years, it's been a long long time since I watched modern trains. I discovered that UK rail companies have installed miles and miles of tall metal fencing along their tracks, making finding a spot to watch quite difficult. I did lots of searching on Google Earth and found a few potential spots within a few miles drive of home. One area was two stone road bridges, a second was a level crossing and the third, a public footpath. The fencing made the last one impractical, but the other two worked out.

Below is a video and some still pictures of a number of the trains that I saw during the day, but one surprise was this 1960's Class 37 loco. Several have been modified to connect to modern coaches and are operated to move rolling stock around the country when needed. The picture below is a crop from the video capture.

#37884 "Cepheus"

The videos were all shot close to Hett village in County Durham, Northern England. There were no freight trains during the day, so I suspect most of the freight runs during weekdays. The passenger services came by every 10 to 15 minutes.

Class 220 & 221
#220006 & 2#21135

#220???

Class 800
#800101

#800110

Class 801
#801203

#801224

Class 802
#802201

#802213

Class 803
#803001

#803005

Looks like you had a great day, the fencing thing is a pain tho' but there are too many idiots either trespassing on the line or worse, think derailing a train would be a "good" idea.
Love the '37, I've several of those.

 

[Sirfoldalot]

STEPHEN - Good to see you again! Have missed your modeling -- These photos are great: Very good shots of entire trains.

 

[santafewillie]

Stephen - Echoing what Sherrel posted, good to see you after a long absence. I see from your video, that they even drive trains on the wrong side like autos!

 

[Chrιstιαη]

I see from your video, that they even drive trains on the wrong side like autos!

Here we go again !

 

[Smudge617]

Stephen - Echoing what Sherrel posted, good to see you after a long absence. I see from your video, that they even drive trains on the wrong side like autos!

Don't start that again.

 

[wombat457]

I see from your video, that they even drive trains on the wrong side like autos!

Um - you mean they drive them on the "CORRECT SIDE" like autos

 

[Smudge617]

Um - you mean they drive them on the "CORRECT SIDE" like autos

We've had this discussion before.

 

[wombat457]

We've had this discussion before.

Evidently it didn't sink in then ......

 

[Smudge617]

Evidently it didn't sink in then ......

It's very simple, right is right and left is wrong, but others disagree.

 

[wombat457]

Um actually it is:

Right is wrong and Left is Right and everyone else can remain confused

 

[Smudge617]

Um actually it is:

Right is wrong and Left is Right and everyone else can remain confused

No, wheels on the right, which is right, your is on the left, which is wrong

 

[wombat457]

@armyairforce

If you like watching trains then you'd love where I live then:

This taken from my side yard about 30' from my front porch:

Or this:

 

[wombat457]

No, wheels on the right, which is right, your is on the left, which is wrong

Ohh sorry, thought you were talking about the side of the road they drive on here - notice I said "THEY DRIVE ON" ......... I'm still an Aussie no matter where I go

 

[Chrιstιαη]

Right or left, what's the problem ? We pay for all the road as far as I know.

 

[wombat457]

Right or left, what's the problem ?

Driving into really REALLY BRIGHT tail lights that seem to get closer to you at night is wheely wheely scary

 

[KriegslokBR52]

Well there's just one way to settle this:

 

[NorthBrit]

The mention of tall metal fencing.

At Newton Hall just outside Durham City (U.K.) there was very little of a fence. A good spot to watch trains. Then some idiots began to trespass on the tracks at Peterborough as Flying Scotsman was approaching?

Within two days tall metal fencing appeared everywhere.

What should have been a picture of FS 'close up' I managed to photograph this.

David

 

[armyairforce]

That type of fencing has appeared everywhere. Next time I'm going where there's fencing, I'll take a small set of steps so I can see over properly.