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Location notes
Located almost in the middle of nowhere on the infamous climb from Beattock village to the summit on the incline heading north. Nearest inhabitancies to the south is Beattock village and to the north Crawford village.
Railway type and traffic
Situated on the old Caledonian Railway route which is now known as The West Coast Main Line. Do not believe the politicians when they tell you there are no available paths on the WCML as sometimes you can wait a couple of hours before there is anything to phot!
Virgin units, electric and diesel, with still a few Euston to Glasgow's loco hauled at the time of writing. DB Schenker electric and diesel hauled freights, DRS activity and Freightliner workings both electric and diesel including boxes, FHH hoppers and automobile traffic. Network Rail's yellow HST normally passes by once a week.
Virgin units, electric and diesel, with still a few Euston to Glasgow's loco hauled at the time of writing. DB Schenker electric and diesel hauled freights, DRS activity and Freightliner workings both electric and diesel including boxes, FHH hoppers and automobile traffic. Network Rail's yellow HST normally passes by once a week.
Environment
Very rural location with little shelter other than your own transport. Unlikely to encounter many travellers other than the local farmers and the odd tourist many of whom stop to find out what you are waiting for and usually go away disappointed that there is no steam engine on the way.
Road directions
From the south:
Leave M74 at junction 15 and take the B7078 (was the old A74 before the motorway). Head north with the motorway on your right and the railway on your left until you reach the B719. Turn right onto this road which crosses over the motorway, turn right again at the junction at the end of the bridge.
From the north:
Leave the M74 at junction 14 (Crawford) and join the A702 for Beattock at the next roundabout the Beattock road changes into the B7078, follow this road up and over the motorway and then the railway passing Beattock Summit on your left. Continue under the railway at Harthope Viaduct, entering Dumfries and Galloway district, until you reach the B719. Turn left onto this road crossing over the M74 and right at the junction at the end of the bridge.
then.....
There are a number of suitable locations on this road as it climbs the side of the valley.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Beattock Bank, Greenhillstairs map co-ordinates
Leave M74 at junction 15 and take the B7078 (was the old A74 before the motorway). Head north with the motorway on your right and the railway on your left until you reach the B719. Turn right onto this road which crosses over the motorway, turn right again at the junction at the end of the bridge.
From the north:
Leave the M74 at junction 14 (Crawford) and join the A702 for Beattock at the next roundabout the Beattock road changes into the B7078, follow this road up and over the motorway and then the railway passing Beattock Summit on your left. Continue under the railway at Harthope Viaduct, entering Dumfries and Galloway district, until you reach the B719. Turn left onto this road crossing over the M74 and right at the junction at the end of the bridge.
then.....
There are a number of suitable locations on this road as it climbs the side of the valley.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Beattock Bank, Greenhillstairs map co-ordinates
Parking
There are at least two lay by areas where the car can be safely parked.
Public transport
There is no public transport to this remote 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
Abington service area lies to the north of the location, shops closer are in Beattock and Crawford villages.
Accommodation
Bed and Breakfast can be obtained in Moffat, Beattock and Crawford plus the Where to stay web site.
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.
Beattock Bank, Greenhillstairs
Streetmap links
Beattock Bank, Greenhillstairs general view map
Beattock Bank, Greenhillstairs close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Beattock Bank, Greenhillstairs
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Beattock Bank, Greenhillstairs
Googly map
Beattock Bank, Greenhillstairs general view map
Beattock Bank, Greenhillstairs close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Beattock Bank, Greenhillstairs
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
Sunlight to your advantage early to mid morning. Your choice of lens is critical as a standard 50mm lens leaves you to far away. You can shot in both directions with plenty of warning for northbound but the southbounds appear a little quicker and you need to stay alert during periods of inactivity.
You are shooting over the motorway so road noise can be a problem. But given the wide nature of the shot this might be acceptable.
You are shooting over the motorway so road noise can be a problem. But given the wide nature of the shot this might be acceptable.
General views - All photographs © Peter Kellett unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
This shot was taken in 2001. The electricity pylons have since been moved to the other side of the railway to accomodate the motorway. For shots such as this copious layers of clothing and a large flask containing hot liquid is recommended. :-)
Fig 2 - Looking south
Fig 3 - 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.
