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Location notes
Located on the West Coast Main Line on the 1 in 75 Shap incline, two and a half miles south of the summit. This whole stretch of line has been famous for railway photography since steam days, and is still popular.
Railway type and traffic
The majority of the passenger trains are Virgin Pendolinos or Voyagers, along with an hourly First TransPennine in each directions currently class 185's but changing to class 350's in March 2014.
There is plenty of freight both day and night including frequent one off movements of both freight and charters.
There is plenty of freight both day and night including frequent one off movements of both freight and charters.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Scout Green
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
Environment
Shap is hill farming country. There is no right to roam: visitors should keep to the public footpaths. The farmers have a sixth sense for strangers on their land, and will tackle trespassers. They particularly resent damage to property, especially walls and fences, and so-called ‘gardening’ by photographers seeking to clear viewpoints. Culprits can expect police action.
Weather - Shap has a notoriously high rainfall and is very exposed to the elements. Come prepared!
Weather - Shap has a notoriously high rainfall and is very exposed to the elements. Come prepared!
Road directions
There is a minor road signposted Scout Green off the B6261 Shap-Orton road. The B6261 can be joined from either M6 junction 38 (Tebay) or 39 (Shap); junction 39 is quicker to Scout Green.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Scout Green map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Scout Green map co-ordinates
Parking
Parking on the roadside at the location.
Public transport
Amenities
The nearest toilets are in Orton about a mile away, which also has an excellent general store and Post Office. Otherwise Tebay services can be accessed without going onto the motorway which has all the services you should need with an excellent large award winning farm shop. Wifi is also available.
Accommodation
The George Hotel in Orton is the nearest, but the Westmorland at Tebay services is also nearby.
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.
Scout Green
Streetmap links
Scout Green general view map
Scout Green close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Scout Green
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Scout Green
Googly map
Scout Green general view map
Scout Green close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Scout Green
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The line runs broadly North-South so light favours west facing shots in the morning and east facing shots in the afternoon. However, photography is tricky from west of the line. The land drops down to the Birk Beck, so cameras have to be pointed upwards and it can be hard to avoid lorries crawling up the northbound M6 immediately behind the line.
General views - All photographs © Andrew Naylor unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking south
This picture looks south from the minor road between Scout Green and the B6261 at the point where it runs between the WCML and the M6. This is where lineside parking is possible. In the top right corner, the minor road from Greenholme to Roundthwaite can be seen.
Fig 2 - Looking south - Image © Stephen Mourton
Fig 3 - Looking south - Image © Stephen Mourton
Location Video
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.
