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Location notes
Beck Houses is in Cumbria on one of the most scenic sections of the West Coast Main Line.
Railway type and traffic
Regular passenger services operated by Virgins Voyagers and Pendolinos and also Trans Pennine Expresses 185s.
Freight is varied with DBS and DRS intermodals, DBS and Freightliner Departmentals and Coal trains. More sporadic workings include ECS working for WCRC to/from Carnforth, special trains and Network Rail test trains.
Freight is varied with DBS and DRS intermodals, DBS and Freightliner Departmentals and Coal trains. More sporadic workings include ECS working for WCRC to/from Carnforth, special trains and Network Rail test trains.
Environment
The location is on a public footpath across a field which usually contains sheep.
A stream at the bottom of the dip has slowly diverted itself over the last few years so the bottom can get a bit waterlogged. If you are wanting to take a northbound shot then stout boots are recommended.
A stream at the bottom of the dip has slowly diverted itself over the last few years so the bottom can get a bit waterlogged. If you are wanting to take a northbound shot then stout boots are recommended.
Road directions
From the M6, junction 37: At the top of the slip road head east on the A684 towards Sedburgh. There is a minor road on the left signposted Lambrigg. Follow this road for 1 mile parallel to the M6 and turn left again onto another road signposted Lambrigg Head and Docker. You will cross the motorway and follow this lane for about another mile until you come to a lane on your right hand side. To help you identify the correct turning there is a bench tucked away on the right hand side bank directly opposite. Go down this single track lane and where the a crossing lane forms a X shaped crossroads take the left hand fork and this will bring you down to a railway bridge. Park in the parking area on the left before the bridge.
Take the public footpath over the style on the opposite side of the road to the parking area. At the top of this field you will see the location with the southbound shot being from this side of the valley and the northbound shot from the other.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Beck Houses map co-ordinates
Take the public footpath over the style on the opposite side of the road to the parking area. At the top of this field you will see the location with the southbound shot being from this side of the valley and the northbound shot from the other.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Beck Houses map co-ordinates
Parking
There is a reasonably large parking area on the left hand side immediately before the bridge.
Public transport
The nearest public transport is an irregular bus service that runs between Kendal and Penrith along the A685. It would be about a 20-25 minute walk from the bus stop in Grayrigg village to the location.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
There are no amenities in the area.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Beck Houses
Streetmap links
Beck Houses general view map
Beck Houses close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Beck Houses
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Beck Houses
Googly map
Beck Houses general view map
Beck Houses close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Beck Houses
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
As the line runs east-west at this point it is one of the few places on the West Coast Main Line where shots can be had of northbound trains until dinner time.
The location is straddling a valley so unless you know what is coming next it is only possible to shoot in one direction at once, it will take you a minute or two to get from one side to the other. However recent pruning of the forestation has left it possible for now an ineteresting shot of southbound workings from the east side of the valley with a range of tree stumps included.
There is little noise hear, depending on the wind a slight amount of sound can be heard from the M6 about a mile away, but this should not intrude on videos significantly.
The light is generally best for northbound trains until around dinnertime after which it will be OK for southbound workings until late afternoon.
The location is straddling a valley so unless you know what is coming next it is only possible to shoot in one direction at once, it will take you a minute or two to get from one side to the other. However recent pruning of the forestation has left it possible for now an ineteresting shot of southbound workings from the east side of the valley with a range of tree stumps included.
There is little noise hear, depending on the wind a slight amount of sound can be heard from the M6 about a mile away, but this should not intrude on videos significantly.
The light is generally best for northbound trains until around dinnertime after which it will be OK for southbound workings until late afternoon.
General views - All photographs © Mark Bearton unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west
Fig 2 - looking east
Fig 3 - Looking east
Fig 4 - Looking east
Fig 5 - Looking west
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
