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Location notes
Helsby is on the Warrington to Chester line at the junction of the branch to Ellesmere Port. The station is unstaffed serving a small village though the station has won awards for the work volunteers do keeping the platforms clean. There is a good selection of Semaphore signals controlled by the Signal Box on the platform.
Railway type and traffic
Passenger services along the line are usually classes 158/175 with class 142s on the infrequent Ellesmere Port trains. Currently there is no loco-hauled North Wales duty passing through but the commuter diagram to Manchester is one that sometimes does provide loco-haulage if the 175s are suffering badly.
There are daily freight services on the line, notably timber trains to Chirk. Any freight or light engines from Warrington towards Newport can be routed this way instead of via Crewe.
There are daily freight services on the line, notably timber trains to Chirk. Any freight or light engines from Warrington towards Newport can be routed this way instead of via Crewe.
Environment
Helsby is a small village strung out along the A56 and is semi-rural on nature.
Road directions
From the M56, junction 14:
Follow signposts for the A56 and head east along it towards Helsby (2 miles). The station is signposted down a small road on the left.
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Helsby map co-ordinates
Follow signposts for the A56 and head east along it towards Helsby (2 miles). The station is signposted down a small road on the left.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Helsby map co-ordinates
Parking
There is a station car park though this does get very full with commuters. Beyond the road to the station there is another small lane on the left by the Railway Inn leading to an over bridge and parking here is easy.
Public transport
Helsby is served by the hourly Manchester to Llandudno trains and there is also a half hourly bus service along the A56 between Runcorn and Chester.
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 a few shops in the village and also two pubs.
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.
Helsby
Streetmap links
Helsby general view map
Helsby close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Helsby
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Helsby
Googly map
Helsby general view map
Helsby close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Helsby
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
Photos can be taken from both the station and the over bridge to the east. Shots of trains heading towards Chester can be a bit restricted and hazy sunshine can be preferred if the sun is not too high due to the trees. Early morning shots are best for trains heading towards Warrington, with the sun swinging round favouring the other direction by about 10am.
Photos by Warren - Helsby
General views - All photographs © Mark Bearton unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west
Fig 2 - Looking east
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.
