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
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 Pendolinos worked.
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.
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.
Scout Green map co-ordinates
Scout Green map co-ordinates
Parking
Parking on the roadside at the location.
Amenities
None at the location, the nearest ones are the Tebay services on the M6.
Where on the map
Sun Compass
Open this Image in a new window and use as a sun compass with the links below.
Streetmap links
Scout Green general view map
Scout Green close up map
Multimap links
Scout Green on new multimap
Scout Green general view map
Scout Green close up map
Scout Green aerial view (where available)
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Scout Green
Some areas not available at all zoom levels,.
Helpful location information
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.
If you do find this information useful then please feel free to mention how you 'found' the location on your website or magazine submission.
If you do find this information useful then please feel free to mention how you 'found' the location on your website or magazine submission.
Offical Guidelines for Railway Enthusiasts
British Transport Police Guidelines for rail enthusiaist
Network Rail Guidelines for rail enthusiasts
ATOC/National Rail Guidelines for rail enthusiasts
If you see anything suspicious the British Transport Police can be contacted on their crime telephone number:
0800 405040
Help all us railway enthusiasts get a better name by helping the British Transport Police catch the cable thief's and vandals.
Network Rail Guidelines for rail enthusiasts
ATOC/National Rail Guidelines for rail enthusiasts
If you see anything suspicious the British Transport Police can be contacted on their crime telephone number:
0800 405040
Help all us railway enthusiasts get a better name by helping the British Transport Police catch the cable thief's and vandals.
Links to photographs at this location
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.
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 endeavor 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. 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.
Please enjoy this 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 endeavor 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. 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.
Please enjoy this guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
