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Location notes
Just west of the hamlet of Beck Foot, the West Coast Main Line curves sharply as it changes direction from east-west to north-south to enter the Lune Valley.
Railway type and traffic
About 60 trains a day between 05:00 and 22:00. Of these, about 3 /4 are Virgin West Coast or Cross Country services. All Cross Country trains are Voyagers. West Coast trains are worked by Pendolinos.
Most freight trains run in the evenings or overnight. Daytime services mainly comprise intermodals and coal.
Most freight trains run in the evenings or overnight. Daytime services mainly comprise intermodals and coal.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Beck Foot
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
This 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
From the south
Leave the M6 at junction 37 (Sedbergh), and turn right onto the A684 towards Sedbergh. After 200 yards, turn sharp left into an un-numbered minor road and follow this for just under 3 miles to the point where the WCML runs alongside.
From the north
Leave the M6 at junction 38 (Tebay) and take the A685 towards Kendal. After 4 miles bear left onto the B6257 towards Sedbergh. After passing under the M6 at Lowgill, turn right onto the un-numbered minor road that leads to the A684 and follow if for half a mile until the WCML is alongside.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Beck Foot map co-ordinates
Leave the M6 at junction 37 (Sedbergh), and turn right onto the A684 towards Sedbergh. After 200 yards, turn sharp left into an un-numbered minor road and follow this for just under 3 miles to the point where the WCML runs alongside.
From the north
Leave the M6 at junction 38 (Tebay) and take the A685 towards Kendal. After 4 miles bear left onto the B6257 towards Sedbergh. After passing under the M6 at Lowgill, turn right onto the un-numbered minor road that leads to the A684 and follow if for half a mile until the WCML is alongside.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Beck Foot map co-ordinates
Parking
Parking on the roadside at the location.
Public transport
Amenities
None at the location, the nearest ones are the Tebay services on the M6.
Accommodation
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 Foot
Streetmap links
Beck Foot general view map
Beck Foot close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Beck Foot
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Beck Foot
Googly map
Beck Foot general view map
Beck Foot close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Beck Foot
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The main attraction of this location is head-on shots of trains sweeping round tight curves.Palisade fencing, albeit green, has been erected along the top of the bank, whilst not too intrusive this may put some off for this shot. This will also mean that steps will be required at this location to get a view over the fence.
NB Northbound trains arrive from under the M6 without warning.
The noise from the nearby M6 is incessant, this also prevents you from hearing northbound trains.
NB Northbound trains arrive from under the M6 without warning.
The noise from the nearby M6 is incessant, this also prevents you from hearing northbound trains.
General views - All photographs © Andrew Naylor unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west
A northbound Voyager charges from under the M6 overbridge.
Fig 2- Looking east.
A southbound service is propelled through the reverse curves by a class 87.
Fig 3 - Looking west - Image © Colin Prosser
Fig 4 - Looking east - Image © Colin Prosser
This view shows how the new green palisade fencing interfaces with the shot.
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.
