West Coast Main Line Driver's Eye View: Glasgow Central to Manchester Airport

A driver's eye view of the full train journey on the West Coast Main Line from Glasgow to Manchester via Preston on a Class 350 EMU to Carlisle and a new Class 397 EMU for the rest of the journey. The weather was awful throughout - the conditions going down Shap were truly atrocious.
Although the speeds in this video have been checked for accuracy, they are for guidance only and drivers should always use official documentation to ensure they are aware of all line speeds.
Thanks for watching.
Update: Many thanks to my mate Lewis Evans who has done the times and locations for me!
UNIT 350 409 on 20/02/2020
GLASGOW CENTRAL - Depart - 0:38
- Cambuslang - Pass - 8:20
- Newton - Pass - 9:33
MOTHERWELL - Arrive - 15:30 - Depart - 17:15
- Shieldmuir - Pass - 19:26
- Carluke - Pass - 23:59
CARSTAIRS - Arrive - 32:11 - Depart - 34:33
LOCKERBIE - Arrive 1:05:46 - Depart - 1:06:32
CARLISLE - Arrive - 1:23:53
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
UNIT 397 003 on 21/02/2020
CARLISLE - Depart - 1:24:55
PENRITH NORTH LAKES - Arrive 1:38:00 - Depart - 1:39:05
OXENHOLME - Arrive - 2:01:26 - Depart - 2:02:14
- Carnforth - Pass - 2:11:00
LANCASTER - Arrive - 2:15:16 - Depart - 2:16:00
PRESTON - Arrive 2:30:27 - Depart - 2:31:30
- Leyland - Pass - 2:34:47
- Buckshaw Parkway - Pass - 2:36:42
- Chorley - Pass - 2:38:32
- Adlington (Lancs) - Pass - 2:40:31
- Blackrod - Pass - 2:41:47
- Horwich Parkway - Pass - 2:42:45
- Lostock - Pass - 2:44:04
- Bolton - Pass - 2:47:03
- Moses Gate - Pass - 2:49:00
- Farnworth - Pass - 2:49:28
- Kearsley - Pass - 2:49:54
- Clifton - Pass - 2:51:57
- Salford Crescent - Pass - 2:55:00
- Deansgate - Pass - 2:58:15
MANCHESTER OXFORD ROAD - Arrive - 2:58:58 - Depart - 3:00:00
MANCHESTER PICCADILLY - Arrive - 3:01:16 - Depart 3:03:03
- Mauldeth Road - Pass - 3:09:23
- Burnage - Pass - 3:10:05
- East Didsbury - Pass - 3:10:48
- Gatley - Pass - 3:11:46
- Heald Green - Pass - 3:13:07
MANCHESTER AIRPORT - Arrive - 3:19:00

[@DonLuc23]

Great video, thanks for not adding music so that we can hear the natural sounds

[@DBR00]

Agreed. I cannot stand the videos where annoying music is added. Good job!

[@typhoon5445]

Agreed absolutely no need for it

[@Desnorteado021]

After all these years I finally found a type of video on KZbin where the comments section is actually good to read.

[@bannedheretic2971]

Filmed just before the zombie apocalypse/twilight zone

[@goingnowherefastman]

You´re a true wizard, Ben...that truck on the overbridge in Lockerbie, BAM!, just disappeared....Amazing...

[@freddimble7024]

I have only just started watching this type of Journey and already i can tell you at those speeds and with the stress drivers must get they deserve every penny of what they may earn, all my working life was spent behind the wheel of Hgv's and i can tell you when i first started driving it was a pleasure but by the time i finished it was getting pure hell with stress for time deliveries road hold ups and bad management who mainly blamed the drivers even though the problems came from them.

[@sw01ller]

i can promise you mate, HGV drivers deserve more money!! i did 15 years behind the wheel and moved on to trains, HGV driving is way more stressful and much harder work! good luck to ya

[@Habu2]

Bad management.....I can believe it.

[@stevenbiffoni783]

This is an amazing video. Between the variety of equipment, rail facilities, junctions, and urban and rural scenery I would give it a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10. Once again, a great video.

[@geoffcook9518]

I§

[@analiensaturn]

I dont know how you concentrate, after 45 minutes I found it hypnotic.

[@k.c1126]

This is my second time watching this all the way thru, and it's a great show. I'm thinking some of the views on this route must be phenomenal when the weather is fair. Even with the constant rain and clouds the experience was worth it. Thanks for sharing.

[@npr1300A8]

I've ridden our motorcycle around some really spectacular narrow roads around Tebay from Sedbergh. Absolutely love the area.

[@vinm300]

What a lovely smooth start. 2:00 What gorgeous old buildings fronting the line. They look Georgian, like something from Brief Encounter. One could imagine Celia Johnstone and Trevor Howard having a cup of tea in there. Superb film quality.

[@meijiturtle3814]

Without doubt this is up with the best driver eye views. Somehow such videos always look more, how shall I put it, "earthy" in bad weather. Thanks also for keeping the sound track natural. So many of these videos are spoiled by bad music!

[@17thMustang]

Very relaxing, just the remains of a dead bird flashing in front of my eyes several thousand times.. However its great to see this journey from the cab for a change. I recognise so much of it.

[@batphink2655]

I Keon wondering where all the poor birds are vanishing to.....don't forget the G5 cell towers, soon seeing s bird will be a novelty.

[@thomaspenman4101]

I wish i was on the train going to glasgow then to denny where i was brought up great vid ❤❤❤👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@firstfreeone]

Ben A great run weather permitting and also the wiper bird. I loved the hypnotic wiper of the 397.

[@stevieinselby]

Great to see typical Scottish and Cumbrian weather 🌧🌧🌧 It's certainly a good route to see the new Northern Civity trains, diesel and electric!

[@ianker7143]

Thanks for this. Just 31 days later, the last part (Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport) was my last view of England when I finally got a flight back to Australia. Unusually (!) the sun was shining then.

[@JohnRodgers7390]

That was a great watch, Ben, now I have seen both going up and down from both Edinburgh and Glasgow all the way to Manchester airport, thank you for the time taken in these and all the new sounds in class 397's.

[@johnmacdonald3282]

Excellent especially seeing the sleeper coming in. Me and my son watched this until 2am. Hope he got up for school this morning.

[@jezzaqc]

Another awesome video - despite the weather conditions! Thanks so much for creating and sharing it!

[@jbz2079]

Excellent, Thanks, split it into three bits to watch. Interesting weather, we are fed up with it now. time for something else but wind and rain. So, Thanks again Ben, that was a belter.

[@TheFingerman37]

A route I have frequented often. The weather never changes. Great video.

[@wayneruckley7346]

A wonderful vid and beautifully produced. A pleasure to watch Thank you.

[@keninblack]

Outstanding, thanks for posting Ben.

[@RickyNowis]

Wow, this is amazing from Drivers view. Great job to the drivers battling against the weather. Would love to see more of cab rides. Great work :-)

[@jonathanm9200]

I have to spare a thought for the poor sod at 1:59:57 , out there in the driving rain, 6ft away from line speed trains with a £30,000 piece of kit that he'll get done for he slips down the embankment with it.

[@david_rocky_road]

What is it that he’s doing?

[@jonathanm9200]

@@david_rocky_road He's surveying, which is measuring levels and distances. He's likely making sure whatever they're excavating on the right of the track is not causing the track to subside. The equipment he's using is called a Theodolite.

[@andrewjames3908]

@@jonathanm9200 talking of theodolites, my grandather who worked in the S&T workshops at Crewe told me of a man he worked with there - who's first job was an apprentice with a firm in Mancester that made theodolites and the indicating line in the viewer in those days was made from silk from a spider and he used to have to go out on Saddleworth moor to collect the silk as they used it from a specific spider that was only found on the moor

[@jonathanm9200]

@@andrewjames3908 Fascinating, no idea they used to be made with spider silk! Bet that was a fiddly job trying not to break it as they collected it.

[@MetalFan10101]

That is what he is paid to do, don't worry about it!

[@spartan1171926]

Fantastic video. Have fond memories traveling on the WCML. Cheers for posting👍🍻

[@pablorobertodurso8892]

I love how fast this 350 units run , the aceleration .Great video Thanks Ben

[@paulwhitear4983]

Great video Ben. Watched it over two nights. Shame about weather. Very informative. Looking forward to watching another.

[@djguy1897]

Thanks for a Fantastic Video Ben watched from Kilkenny in Ireland and I loved the weather its typical irish weather . Hope ur keeping well Ben and thanks for the upload looking forward to more already

[@anndawson8060]

takes me back to when I used to travel on this route often, love it.

[@brucewilliams8714]

That was a massive trip. I didn't know Manchester airport line was a terminus. In 1977, I was holed up in our Qantas flight at Manchester, diverted from Heathrow, for 2 hours, refuelling to get us back to London. We just sat in the plane. Many thanks for this great video.

[@ShunraCats]

The airport station was built in 1993

[@clivejones5880]

There's something very therapeutic about these videos. I often have them running while I work. Thank you!

[@smogmonster1876]

Great video, even if the weather was awful. Thank you. Thoroughly enjoyed this

[@carmenscialla4855]

Total enjoyment! Thank you.

[@fabiosergioj]

Awesome job on everything. Thank you!

[@peterg957]

An extremely enjoyable video Ben... Thank you my friend...

[@HenrysAdventures]

Brilliant video! Kept me entertained for an evening during lockdown!

[@grahamwalls9379]

A very good & interesting video to watch . Thoroughly enjoyed the whole journey . Look forward to seeing a few more . The video brought back some good memories of places I had been to . Thank you .

[@paulwright6386]

Fantastic video as I love to see what the driver sees. Beautiful scenery through the Lake District.

[@Scottish-girl]

Brilliant video thankyou for sharing them with us.

[@stevejude1067]

Enjoyed this video , and the journey , got used to the wipers after a bit , even the remnants of the bird on the wiper from Carlisle , many thanks for sharing

[@netraxer9729]

Nice journey, thank you for this.

[@rubyait]

Good lord, Ben, you’ve outdone yourself! It will take me a while to get through this, but I will start later tonight. Thanks for the upload.

[@luziapereira6491]

I REALLY APPRECIATED IT , SPECIALLY SCOTLAND AREA . IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL ! THANKS SO MUCH .

[@npr1300A8]

Really enjoying this! We're just going over Tebay. It's nice to see the M6 from a different angle. The rain added to the drama especially over Shap. Thank you for sharing.

[@VishwaNathGummaRaju]

Surprisingly, the windshield wipers were squeaking at the end of each stroke. The Cabin was so quiet! Whizzing past at 90, what a ride!

[@jmac2031]

Wow what a ride and a half, thanks Ben

[@morganroberts5947]

Another great video. Really enjoyed this one. Cheers Ben

[@williamgeorgefraser]

I just can't get enough of these cab-ride videos. I love watching the lines I've travelled on but never seen this way. A big thumbs up from me. Keep up the good work.

[@allthekingshorses7178]

Carlisle is in England

[@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp]

The elevated sections are so cool!

[@MrMoggyman]

Good watch Ben. And now imagine doing this same trip on the exposed footplate of a steam locomotive, with the poor fireman shoveling some five tons of coal for this trip, with your front frying while your back is freezing in the lousy rain conditions hindering the view of what would have been at that time semaphore signals. My uncle Percy could have told you. He was a top link driver of Princess Coronation Class and Royal Scot locos on the expresses of the West Coast Main Line Route (Euston to Glasgow, Glasgow to Euston) for the LMS and later BR. Yes, he had been over these tracks many times. It was so good to see them for myself, as I had been at Strathclyde University in Glasgow and travelled them many times. Instead of going around on the Up Styal though after Manchester Piccadilly that takes you to Manchester Airport, uncle Percy would have continued to Stockport, and then down the line from there to Crewe and on to London. Like this driver they did a crew change at Carlisle, and also at Crewe on that route unless they were on a none stop service. My uncle Ted, senior instructor at British Railways, always said that for comfort, and a proper place to brew up and eat your food, the enclosed cab of a diesel was best BUT for the exhilaration of sheer speed and teamwork nothing could beat a steam locomotive. I wonder if the driver of this locomotive has ever been on the footplate of a steam loco? Maybe would not want to! As Percy once noted, when you have a 150 ton kettle with wheels in front of you, and 400 tons behind you, hurtling along at 100 mph, you had better know what you are doing. Too right!

[@kielkaiser]

love this kind of rainy train trips

[@magicdave93]

Simply amazing and full of atmosphere, I will have to watch this in segments lol. Thank you very much for putting this up my friend. 👍🙂

[@andrewhinds6560]

You're lucky. Imagine having to do that every single day in real time?? It gets boring very quickly.

[@magicdave93]

@@andrewhinds6560 Are you a driver Andrew?

[@worldted]

Nice video, Ben! Big thanks from New York.

[@noyonb1483]

Thanks Ben. Always great to see another video from you. Starting from my old home town! Love watching these, both your skill and knowledge and the relaxing - watching the world go by effect. Keep up the great work! 👍👏

[@None-zc5vg]

On the approach to the Airport platforms from Styal, there's a signal that must be an "L.E.D." model, where the alternate 'aspects' (red and one yellow here) are displayed within the same space, as if to save something (e.g. money): are these 'new' (to me) signals now a common railway feature ? Are they an 'improvement' from the drivers' viewpoint ?

[@ChangesOneTim]

@@None-zc5vg It's becoming more common as signals are renewed - an advantage that comes for free with LED heads because the light source produces red, yellow and green through the same aperture. Only four-aspect signals need an upper aperture for when they have to show double-yellow. One bonus is that all LED aspects can shine at closest possible to driver eye level. In a multi-lens bulb head, only the red aspect can.

[@lolaengelbrecht5199]

Thank you for a wonderful trip. The countryside is so beautiful and green and there are so many old, historic buildings along the way. Best wishes from Andre and Lola Engelbrecht in South Africa.

[@saramcgraw7414]

I loved the spooky disappearing wagon on the bridge at Lockerbie. 😱 John H.

[@phwbooth]

Splendid! Thanks.

[@shirleyellis9708]

Lovely to watch incredible.

[@andrewr2825]

Such an atmospheric video Ben - rain over Beattock and Shap! And Quintinshill - sent shivers down my spine!

[@mrbluesky2050]

. . . and Grayrigg.

[@Patrick-hb7bk]

Bloody hell , I never knew people like you existed .

[@michaelboylin6705]

Ttttttttþ

[@traceylane6631]

Absolutely fantastic

[@raefrater4172]

I have no idea why I'm here but this was strangely calming so, thank you:)

[@7MACHINE100]

Nice relax video.Fields and weather awesome.

[@fortspartahq3767]

Never watched a video like this before i have been having hard time sleeping this did the trick i will sub and watch many more thank you great video =)

[@sonja5191]

There are many real time train journeys on youtube. very restful yes

[@imogenbespokesewing2968]

I'm watching this to fall asleep to , trains are relaxing ! Thanks x

[@ChickenMan-cu7pt]

my train trip in England was cancelled, this is a way to experience them! love u!

[@MartinMiller1]

Excellent video and very informative

[@michaelh7837]

I fell asleep and slept and when i awoke i felt rested! I have not been on a train in 20 years. i traveled accross Europe by rail for too weeks and was able to sleep well with the sounds and rocking of the train.. Its time for a rail trip. thanks very much for posting this!

[@derplovestravel1777]

I were on this train, but at a different time, same route too, but we made an unscheduled stop in Bolton. I discovered that the space outside the disabled toilet near the door is a nice place to stay, cause for some reason train sounds make me relax

[@thathat9528]

Excellent train 🚂 video.

[@amtrakharry]

That was truly amazing Ben !!! That weather was certainly awful !!! I really found it heart warming seeing those network rail people out there in that awful weather working to keep the railway running, hats off to them!!! Thank you for sharing this with us !!! :):):)

[@sapper82]

I've seen this route more than a few times but from a slightly different viewpoint, the dome on MENTOR. In the early days we had to do a commentary of the route and features onto the video reading from what we referred to as "The Song Sheet." Marvelous for getting to know the route!

[@jappychap2003]

Ah. Preston station, where I spent so much time as a boy. That was when it had 12 platforms, today's platform 6 was platform 8, and the East Lancs line went out to the left and over a different bridge. (The bridge is still there but no tracks - now a cycle and walking path).

[@Martin9476]

Glad you picked a sunny day.

[@timosha21]

Choo choo! I'm a train and I approve this video

[@bobby68ify]

Firstly, congrats to you Ben for this video. Thanks for upload, very good. These british railroad tracks are fascinating and the landscapes too. ....btw, typical U.K. weather but it´s ok, no problem.(smile) Best greetings from Germany! bye, Robert.

[@cindy8883]

Couldn't stop watching and I'm only in the Lake District. Will have to continue tomorrow. Thanks for the ride. Hope the weather improves soon.

[@mstevens832]

Lake district very Beutiful. A must visit for me one time LONDON LOCKED

[@neilwatson4461]

Love this route, done it many times, Would love to see Liverpool to Blackpool in full someday

[@ChristosLouridas]

Hi from Greece lived in Plymouth for two years and I miss the trips down there from London, with the train. Dry enjoyable to watch indeed. Thanks for sharing. Subbed. Hope I can do it again at some point.

[@Thomas1980]

Fantastic Video!

[@waynecurtin9420]

Thanks for the video

[@GrandT]

Brilliant! And very useful for what I'm doing, thank you. :)

[@colindavenport2196]

Excellent video. I didn't know that the Preston to Man Piccy, was electrified. Been a while since I was down, for the Lancs. Rly Steam events at Bury. Virgin XC from Aberdeen, was the last time I was down. Pity about the weather, it was appalling all the way down. Thanks for sharing. Stay safe from the C.Virus & best wishes to you and your family Ben.

[@forgetmenotwargravesuk8578]

This has to be one of the best drivers eye view I have seen use to do this run 3 4 times a week on the buffet cars out of Wolverhampton

[@mohammedsharif9416]

Excellent service

[@richardorchard8554]

The dead bird in the windscreen wiper on the second leg was the best part!

[@jamesmiller113]

Excellent work, well done! :)

[@jonathanparry9505]

Nice video thanks for sharing

[@eifion69]

Excellent Video. Obviously lots of work involved with adding captions of locations, line speeds etc. Take my hat off to you Ben. 👍👍👍🥺

[@megatwingo]

Amazing train ride. Thanks for uploading and thumbs up! :) Greetings Mega

[@dodgydruid]

I travelled last saturday down from platform 2 riding Alison the 390 and what a pleasant trip it was, even better when an unscheduled stop saw a bunch of Millwall supporters put on at Wigan and I bumped into ol' muckah's I hadn't seen in 20 odd years and all very well behaved. I intend to go back up and explore some of the abandoned lines around Glasgow as I spotted some lifted stuff on the Gourock side that caught my attention worth a wander. Its all changed as the last time I caught the Euston Clansman it had an 86 as far as Carlisle then 47 into Glasgow and in them days drivers stayed with the loco so mean't several engine changes up and down, miss my PT and the ability to just go anywhere for naff all. Was an 87 usually on the Carlisle pickup and what a beauty them 87s were and I always sat near the engine to hear her howling down WCML.

[@bhseml4052]

I'm always amazed at how quiet it is up front and inside the train, compared to the outside....

[@derrickgreen9020]

Fantastic. Thank you for this. I wish we had more of UK cab rides. Seem to be so many continental ones.

[@robertmiller6255]

Go to Don Coffey of TransPennine Express channel for more UK cab rides

[@carolynrowse2285]

Try Don Coffey, Hastings Diesels and Freight Rambler.

[@iman2341]

The new nothern electrification wires look fantastic!

[@typhoon5445]

yip really enjoyed that...should be more of these

[@rogerlat135]

Very good. Thanks for sharing. Rog

[@rhiannamatthews1897]

This vid so cool I subbed Rarely do that! Well done.AMAZING GRAHPICS

[@DavidChapmanAZ]

Great vid, I watch many cab rides - and the left-of-center view takes a little getting used to. Amazing hi-res all the same.

[@MePeterNicholls]

Yes that disorientated me for a bit

[@metadriveincorporated2313]

I only just thought about it, but those windscreen wipers have to have some serious engineering in them to keep working as intended at these speeds... Terrific video! Subbed.

[@uhegbu]

Shots of road and rail alongside each other on this famous part of the West Coast main line. Grayrigg was the scene of the rail disaster in early 2007, so was Lockerbie in another disaster almost twenty years before it. February 2020 started off sunny during the first part of the week then it turned unsettled for the rest of the month.

[@TheNorfolkThunderbolt]

Excellent viewing!