A Day of Trainspotting in Preston: My Experience

A few months back, I set off with high hopes for a day of trainspotting in Preston—but Merseyrail threw a wrench in the plans. Service to Ormskirk was completely down, and my rail adventure came to a screeching halt before it even began.

Fast forward to last week—I had a midweek day off, the weather was on my side, and I decided it was time for a second attempt. This time, everything clicked into place. Trains were running smoothly, and before long, I was standing on the platform at Preston station, surrounded by the familiar rumble and rhythm of a busy rail hub.

Northern Trains dominated the scene, but the real highlights were the sleek Avanti West Coast Pendolinos gliding in like silver bullets, and the vibrant TransPennine Nova units adding splashes of color and variety to the flow. The hours flew by as I soaked in the energy of the station—an ever-changing canvas of motion, sound, and steel. A proper railfan’s paradise!