Trainspotting at Leicester Station and other locations in the Leicester area

Good locations for contemporary trainspotting and photography places for railway enthusiasts

1. Leicester Station and Swain Bridge

2. The yard of Leicester UK Rail Leasing

3. Blaby Road bridge over the railway at Wigston

4. Trainspot locations and train class links

My Main Railways Index

Nostalgic Steam Train Photos from the 1960s

Email: chem55555@hotmail.com

Leicester station Trainspot: Leicester station is a good spot for photographing trains with a variety of trains and locomotives to photograph. Railway photography is now practiced by many train spotting enthusiasts including locations like Leicester station.   I'm an old trainspotter from the 1950s and early 1960s but only recently have I become a contemporary 'train spotter. These days I come armed with a digital camera rather than a notebook and pencil and happy to spend time at Leicester station in the spirit of a rejuvenated railway enthusiast. Leicester station is a good place for trainspotting, Leicester station is one of the best train spotting locations, Leicester station is a good trainspot. Leicester station is a great train spotting location, Leicester station is one of my favourite train spotting locations.

1. Leicester Station and the Swain Street Road Bridge

Leicester main-line railway station is in the city of Leicester in Leicestershire, England. The station is managed by East Midlands Railway (a company franchise) but owned by Network Rail. Leicester station is served by CrossCountry and East Midlands Railway services.

Leicester London Road main-line station - the present day Network Rail station

Trainspotting Leicester Station: The proud initials of the Midland Railway, carved in stone from the wall opposite Leicester Station entrance in London Road.

Trainspotting Leicester Station: The first station was built in 1840, but after several rebuilds the present buildings date mainly from 1894 and is one of the best preserved late Victorian buildings in Leicester with its grand 'DEPARTURE' and 'ARRIVAL' arches.

Trainspotting at Leicester Station: Some rather nice brickwork in the entrance foyer!

Trainspotting Leicester Station: On the left some details of the fine brick and stone architecture of the front facade of Leicester Station in London Road. Just down the road from the station is a statue of Thomas Cook (1808-1892), the Victorian founder of the famous travel agency who ran his first excursion train from Leicester station in 1841. The travel company he founded was continued by his son to become one of the largest holiday companies in the UK.

Class 170 DMU unit Class 170/3 170398 entering Leicester station with an East Midlands Railway service from Stansted to Birmingham (Trainspotting Leicester March 2023)

A DMU Class 170 unit leaving Leicester station with an East Midlands Railways service to Lincoln (trainspotting Leicester, March 2023)

The footbridge at the NE top end of Leicester station is a good place for taking photographs in either direction.

Trainspotting Leicester stations is extremely busy and pleasing to note that railway public transport is well used in the area. A few examples are the East Midlands Trains - Railway Company running trains from the Midlands to London from or via, Sheffield, Nottingham, Loughborough and Leicester and the Crosscountry (Cross-Country) franchise organisation runs trains from Birmingham to Leicester, Cambridge and Stansted Airport via the stations of  Water Orton, Coleshill Parkway, Nuneaton, Hinckley, Narborough, South Wigston, Melton Mowbray, Oakham, Stamford, Peterborough, Whittlesea, March, Manea, Ely and Audley End.

In the latest livery, DMUE Class 222 with an EMR London St Pancras to Sheffield service standing Leicester station (Trainspotting March 2023)

EMR Class 222 with a London St Pancras to Sheffield service, leaving Leicester (trainspotting March 2023)

Photograph taken from the Leicester station footbridge as the train passes under the Swain Road bridge.

A Class 222 DMU entering Leicester station with a 4 carriage East Midlands train for London, St Pancras (Trainspotting June, 2017).

Class 92 electric locomotive hauled SE through Leicester station  by a Class 50 diesel locomotive displaying numbers 50007 and a temporary designation of 50034 (Trainspotting at Leicester March 2023).

A Class 170 DMU at Leicester Station with a CrossCountry service from Birmingham to Stansted Airport Service (Trainspotting December 2016)

Photograph looking SW from Swain Bridge, just NE of Leicester station.

Trainspotting a Meridian Bombardier Class 222 DMU set 222015 with an East Midlands express train leaving Leicester station with a London St Pancras to Sheffield. Photograph looking NE from Swain Bridge, just NE of Leicester station.

Trainspotting a Express DMU Class 222  standing in Leicester Station with an East Midlands train for London St Pancras.

Trainspotting by the UK Rail Leasing yard, Leicester, a Class 222 DMU East Midlands express trains approaching Leicester station with trains from Sheffield and Derby for London St Pancras.

Class 43 locomotive at the rear of a Leicester - St Pancras East Midlands service (Trainspotting 08/03/17) The Class 43 diesel locomotive hauled passenger trains have long since gone from the Midland line from London St Pancras to Nottingham.

Leading power car Class 43 43061 with an East Midlands Trains express passenger service leaving Leicester station with a London St Pancras to Nottingham train, Trainspotting on April 20th 2016.

Trainspotting a Class 43 diesel 43075 entering Leicester station with an East Midlands express train for London St Pancras station.

Trainspotting a class 222 DMU passing by the old Leicester diesel depot, once a servicing and stabling point, now the base of UK Rail easing, with its new compliment of Class 56 diesel locomotives (and two Class 37s) for lease, an EMU East Midlands express train leaving Leicester with a London St Pancras to Sheffield.

Trainspotting at Leicester: Chiltern Railways operated Class 68 diesel locomotive passing north through Leicester station with a Network Rail stone train from Crewe Basford Hall S.S.M. to Mount Sorrel Sidings.

A Class 70 diesel locomotive at Leicester station on a training run from Crewe to Peterborough and return (Trainspotting April 20th 2016)

GBRf Railfreight EMD locomotive Class 66/7 66758 (blue/yellow livery) hauling a CEMEX cement train passed the yard of UK Rail Leasing at Leicester, a pair of Class 20 diesels on the right (Trainspotting Leicester Nov 2021)

Freightliner EMD Class 66/5 diesel 66564 passing the Leicester yard of UK Rail leasing with an intermodal freight train (Trainspotting Nov 2021)

GBRf Class 66 diesel  hauling a Network Rail train of ballast wagons north-east through Leicester station heading for Whitemore recycling plant (Trainspotting 18/01/17)

Freightliner Class 66 diesel passing southwest through Leicester station with a freight train of sleepers from Parkeston SS GBRf  to Washwood Heath R.H.C. (Trainspotting 08/03/17)

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2. The yard of Leicester UK Rail Leasing

The very visible yard, always full of a variety of locomotives can be viewed from the Swain Road Bridge, just NE of Leicester Station.

There is also a road below the bridge on the west side which runs parallel to the mainline tracks and that of the UK Rail Leasing yard, from which many of the locomotives can be viewed.

Trainspotting Leicester: You see regularly see Class 20, Class 37, Class 47, Class 50, Class 56, Class 58, Class 60 locomotives in the yard of Leicester UK Rail Leasing.

Various diesel locomotives in the yard of UK Rail Leasing, from left to right, the front locomotives are from Classes 56, 37, 321 and 58

Various diesel locomotives in the yard of UK Rail Leasing Depot and workshops, near Leicester station (Trainspotting on a dull day in February 2023)

Europhoenix operated Class 37 (sub-class 37/6) diesel locomotive 37608 ANDROMEDA exiting UK Rail Leasing yard at Leicester Station (Trainspotting Feb 2020)

Rail Operations Group Class 47 diesel 47813 named "Jack Frost", Leicester UK Rail Leasing Depot (Trainspotting May 2019)

A grubby Class 50 diesel locomotive 50008 "Thunderer" (Ex D408) Leicester UK Rail Leasing Depot (Trainspotting July 2019)

Class 43 diesel-electric power unit 43054 in the yard of UK Rail Leasing Leicester. Railway Testing & Consultancy (Trainspotting Nov 2021)

In DC Rail Freight livery Class 56 diesel locomotives 56091 and 56103 leaving the Leicester yard of UK Rail Leasing (Trainspotting Jan 2020)

Class 56 (sub-class 56/3) diesel locomotive 56301 Leicester UK Rail Leasing Depot (July 2019, next to Class 56 56312)

In mainline blue livery, Class 58 diesel locomotive 58023 in the yard of UK Rail Leasing Leicester (Trainspotting Feb2020).  I don't know who owns Class 58 locomotive 58023, The Battlefield Line ?,  OR is it owned by UK Rail Leasing Locomotives at Leicester where it may be used on hire to Heritage Railways?  Class 58 locomotive 58023 has carried the name Peterborough Depot

Class 58 58016 was photographed in the yard of UK Rail Leasing, Trainspotting in Leicester in May 2017 and still in Fertis grey livery.

3. Photographs from the Blaby Road bridge over the railway at Wigston, Leicester

Class 66 diesel-electric locomotive 66563 in green Freightliner livery, surrounded by green trees!, travelling north-est light at Blaby Road Bridge, Wigston, southwest of Leicester (Trainspotting May 10th 2022).

Trainspotting a Class 66 diesel locomotive heading north towards Leicester with a Network Rail freight train of hopper wagons of gravel-ballast passing Wigston South Junction. Trainspotting by part of a triangle of lines that loops round from north to west towards South Wigston Station.

Blaby Road Bridge, Wigston, southwest of Leicester, Class 180 DMU express with an EMR service from Nottingham to London (Trainspotting May 10th 2022).  One of the Class 180 sets now working East Midlands Railway services between Nottingham and London St Pancras stations.

My Archive Steam Photos from the 1960s

docspics images of Leicester station photos of Leicester station photographs of Leicester station pictures of Leicester station © Dr Phil Brown * Treyn Railway Holidays to France, Italy and Spain from Leicester station Booking tickets for Great Railway Journey luxury Rail Trip holidays Train travel in Europe Rail holidays from Leicester station to the USA & Canada luxury train through the Rocky Mountain Canadian rail railway holidays through the Rockies US Cities by train from Leicester station  Continental rail holidays to France Germany Italy Austria Switzerland Glacier Express Treyn Holidays from Leicester station from Eurostar to Paris Brussels Avignon Turin Turino Rome Roma Florence Firenze TGV fast trains Railway travel holidays special steam excursions from Leicester station great steam heritage line and offers luxury Pullman coach dining trains Leicester station Travelling by train always seems a pleasure, especially if through wonderful scenery  to Leicester station in England, Scotland, Wales or on holiday in the rest of Europe! The railway trip from Leicester station involves seeing or travelling behind a 'real' steam locomotive in action and there is nothing like the sight and sounds of a steam train to invoke feelings of nostalgia in some of us to Leicester station even more luxury by having a special trip out on a steam dining train! England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland top class hotels in Leicester station dining out travel tours top tourist destinations tourist information on Leicester station weekend breaks mini-breaks family holidays restaurants touring coach trips from Leicester station continental tours cruise ships pleasure cruises summer breaks spring breaks continental winter breaks European winter holidays spring holidays summer holidays European Rail tours Railway travel holidays special steam excursions from Leicester station A great steam heritage line and offers luxury Pullman coach dining trains European Rail tours US and Canadian Railway travel holidays special steam excursions to Leicester station A great steam heritage line and offers luxury Pullman coach dining trains Travelling by train from Leicester station always seems a pleasure, especially if through wonderful scenery either in England, Scotland, Wales or on holiday in the rest of the railways of Europe! The railway trip involves seeing or travelling behind a 'real' steam locomotive or heritage diesel in action on a special trip from Leicester station Booking Eurostar Continental Rail Travel Tour Tickets Stuttgart Brussels Eurostar Brussels from Leicester station by TGV to Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International Stratford International, St Pancras International Paris Gare du Nord Paris Gare de Lyon Paris Gare de L'est Paris Gare Montparnasse by Eurostar from Leicester station London to Paris, Eurostar London - Brussels Eurostar London to Lille deals bargain city breaks Leicester station Great Railway Journey holidays in Italy, Spain and France by TGV booking from Leicester station Booking Eurostar Continental Rail Travel Tour Tickets to the Continent  eg Paris Brussels Avignon or railway tours across France, Holland, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Russia, Asia or China for a travel spectacular Leicester station

Good trainspotting 'TRAINSPOTS' Good trainspotting and photographic locations  Barnetby Station, North Lincolnshire  *  Carlisle Station  *  Clapham Junction Station, London  *  Colton Junction, south of York  * Coventry *  Crewe Station  *  Doncaster Station, South Yorkshire  * Grantham * Hellifield station - Carlisle to Settle line * Lancaster station  * Leicester station * Newcastle Station  *  Northallerton Station  *  Nuneaton Station  * Peterborough *  Sheffield Station  *  Stratford Station, East London * Tamworth * Warrington Bank Quay station * Wigan North Western - WCML *  York Station

See other TOPS classes * Class 01 * Class 02 * Class 03 * Class 04 * Class 08 * Class 09 * Class 10 * Class 11 * Class 14 * Class 20 * Class 24 * Class 25 * Class 26 * Class 27 * Class 31 * Class 33 * Class 35 * Class 37 * Class 40 * Class 43 * Class 44 * Class 45 * Class 47 * Class 50 * Class 52 * Class 55 * Class 56 * Class 57 * Class 58 *  Class 60 * Class 66 * Class 67 * Class 68 * Class 70 * Class 71 * Class 73 * Class 76 * Class 77 * Class 86 * Class 87 * Class 88 * Class 90 * Class 91 * Class 92 * Derby Lightweight * Class 101 * Class 108 * Class 114 * Class 117 * Class 120 * Class 121 * Class 122 * Class 127 * Class 141 * Class 142 * Class 144 * Class 150 * Class 153 * Class 155 * Class 156 * Class 158 * Class 159 * Class 165 * Class 166 * Class 170 * Class 172 * Class 175 * Class 180 * Class 185 * Class 195 * Class 220 * Class 221 * Class 222 * Class 252 * Class 313 * Class 315 * Class 317 * Class 319 * Class 320 * Class 321 * Class 322 * Class 323 * Class 325 * Class 331 * Class 332 * Class 333 * Class 334 * Class 350 * Class 357 * Class 360 * Class 365 * Class 373 * Class 375 * Class 376 * Class 377 * Class 378 * Class 379 * Class 380 * Class 387 * Class 390 * Class 395 * Class 414 * Class 423 * Class 442 * Class 444 * Class 450 * Class 455 * Class 458 * Class 460 * Class 465 * Class 466 * Class 489 * Class 507/508 * Class 700 * Class 755 * Class 800 * Class 801 * Class 802 * Class 803 * Class 3000 *

INDEX of My IMAGES OF PRESERVED STEAM LOCOMOTIVES

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