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Location notes
Hexham is a market town on the Tyne Valley, roughly 25 miles west of Newcastle and 40 miles east of Carlisle.
Railway type and traffic
Hexham sees a clock face passenger timetable for the services along the Tyne Valley. There are 2 services from Newcastle (1 of which terminates at Hexham, while the other continues to Carlisle) every hour, while there is 1 service every hour from Carlisle. Most services are run by a Northern Rail Class 142/156 and sometimes a 158. There are also 2 return services run by a ScotRail 156 from Newcastle to Stranraer.
There is also a number of freight movements through Hexham, with DB Schenker, DRS and Freightliner running numerous workings every day. Expect to see anything from the following - 20/37/47/57/60/66.
Because Hexham is on the diversionary route for when the ECML is closed north of Newcastle, many trains will be diverted when the ECML is blocked. National Express East Coast use HSTs along this line, while CrossCountry did use Voyagers along this line. Diversion season is usually on weekends between late September and mid November.
There is also a number of freight movements through Hexham, with DB Schenker, DRS and Freightliner running numerous workings every day. Expect to see anything from the following - 20/37/47/57/60/66.
Because Hexham is on the diversionary route for when the ECML is closed north of Newcastle, many trains will be diverted when the ECML is blocked. National Express East Coast use HSTs along this line, while CrossCountry did use Voyagers along this line. Diversion season is usually on weekends between late September and mid November.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Hexham Station
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
Hexham station is a 5 minute walk from the town centre. The town is situated in rural Northumberland, where pace of life is generally slow. You are not likely to have any bother any time of the year.
Road directions
Take the A69 and follow signs for Hexham (A695). Keep driving past the roundabout (Tyne Green) till you go over the railway bridge. Take a left at this junction. You will see the station from this junction.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Hexham Station map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Hexham Station map co-ordinates
Parking
There is a Pay and Display car park next to the station.
Public transport
Take any Carlisle/Hexham train from Newcastle, or any Newcastle bound train from Carlisle.
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 toilets inside the station, generally kept in good condition. Hexham is only one of the places to be blessed with 4 Supermarkets within 10 minutes of the station (Tesco/Aldi/Waitrose can be reached by coming out the station, cross the road and turning right. Marks and Spencer can be reached by coming out the station, crossing the road and turning left, follow the road up and turn right at the T junction. M&S is atop of the hill behind the chainsaw shop). Plenty of restaurants and Bars in Hexham (Including a Wetherspoons), mostly selling local Ale.
Accommodation
The County Hotel is 5 minutes away from the station on foot, while there is a guest house next to the Old Gaol, which is 30 seconds from the market square. I would not recommend the Station Inn (Opposite the station) to anyone.
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.
Hexham Station
Streetmap links
Hexham Station general view map
Hexham Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Hexham Station
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Hexham Station
Googly map
Hexham Station general view map
Hexham Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Hexham Station
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
Westbound:
The famous photograph of a train coming under the Victorian signal box is only available after 1pm (at the earliest). This shot requires a small zoom. You can either go to the end of the platform, shooting under the small semaphore signal, or, staying on the station, go behind the wooden fence and shoot from where the staff entrance is to the Green Room.
Eastbound:
Zoom either under the road bridge or use a mega wide angle to get the entire footbridge in.
Videographers should not get too much bother. The only thing that poses a threat is the fire station. Its very rare for the alarm to go off at the fire station, and if it does, its not really loud.
BC - Update:
The best shots are actually obtained from the goods dock, immediately east of the station - in fact, the shot of the 66 heading west under the signal box is taken from there, not the end of the platform.
Last time I was there, there was temporary high mesh fencing along the goods dock (it's been there several years now), close to the edge (to stop trespass onto the track), but it was easy to see over using a set of steps. Shots can be taken looking east from anywhere along the goods dock, with the sun on the nose from around 14:00-15:00.
There is also a shot from here looking west (towards the station), featuring the footbridge and the tall semaphore. Again, with the fence in place, step ladders are needed. The sun is on the nose until early afternoon.
The famous photograph of a train coming under the Victorian signal box is only available after 1pm (at the earliest). This shot requires a small zoom. You can either go to the end of the platform, shooting under the small semaphore signal, or, staying on the station, go behind the wooden fence and shoot from where the staff entrance is to the Green Room.
Eastbound:
Zoom either under the road bridge or use a mega wide angle to get the entire footbridge in.
Videographers should not get too much bother. The only thing that poses a threat is the fire station. Its very rare for the alarm to go off at the fire station, and if it does, its not really loud.
BC - Update:
The best shots are actually obtained from the goods dock, immediately east of the station - in fact, the shot of the 66 heading west under the signal box is taken from there, not the end of the platform.
Last time I was there, there was temporary high mesh fencing along the goods dock (it's been there several years now), close to the edge (to stop trespass onto the track), but it was easy to see over using a set of steps. Shots can be taken looking east from anywhere along the goods dock, with the sun on the nose from around 14:00-15:00.
There is also a shot from here looking west (towards the station), featuring the footbridge and the tall semaphore. Again, with the fence in place, step ladders are needed. The sun is on the nose until early afternoon.
General views - All photographs © Josh B unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking east
Fig 2 - Looking east
Fig 3 - Looking east
Fig 4 - Looking west
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.
