Tyne Valley Diversions
Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th September 2026
You’ve probably noticed the placeholder in the 1Z10 events calendar for a Tyne Valley Weekend in September, so it’s about time we turned that into a proper plan. RealTimeTrains (RTT) is now showing a full weekend of LNER diversions via the Tyne Valley, so the dates are confirmed as Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th September 2026. If previous years are anything to go by, this has all the ingredients to become one of the photographic highlights of the year. There really are few better places to photograph modern trains than the wonderfully preserved Tyne Valley, where sleek LNER Azumas pass historic signal boxes, semaphore signals and classic North Eastern Railway architecture in some truly stunning scenery.
The Tyne Valley is one of those rare lines where almost every station offers something different. From the elevated signal boxes at Wylam and Hexham to the semaphores at Prudhoe, the beautiful station buildings at Haltwhistle and the spectacular viaduct at Wetheral, there is photographic interest around every corner. Add the River Tyne, the Pennines, the approach to Carlisle and some wonderfully open landscapes and there’s enough variety to keep everyone inspired throughout the weekend. Alongside the diverted Azumas we’ll have the regular Northern services and, with a bit of luck, perhaps the odd engineering train to add even more variety.
Our plan is to start Saturday towards the Carlisle end of the route before gradually working east towards Newcastle, making good use of the A69, which provides excellent access to much of the line. For anyone keen to squeeze in a little extra mileage, there are a couple of optional breakaway ideas first thing on Saturday, including the possibility of Class 90 freight on the West Coast Main Line or catching the diverted Azumas north of Carlisle before joining the main group. On Sunday we’ll concentrate on the eastern end of the line, taking a more relaxed approach as we explore the famous signal boxes, semaphores, station architecture and some of the Tyne Valley’s best photographic locations.
We’ll finish Saturday at the Premier Inn, Metro Centre, with the Holiday Inn and Travelodge right next door for anyone who prefers an alternative. It’s an ideal location, giving us easy access to the eastern end of the route without the hassle of staying in Newcastle city centre. We’ll arrange a Saturday evening meal so everyone can unwind, enjoy a proper 1Z10 catch-up and compare the day’s photographs. No doubt someone will also explain why stopping for “just one more shot” added another hour to the journey!
A huge thank you goes to Stephen Veitch, who has once again generously shared his local knowledge by allowing us to use his excellent Tyne Valley Guide which you can view here. If you’ve never explored the route before, it’s an invaluable companion, packed with suggested locations and viewpoints from west to east. I’d also strongly recommend spending a little time browsing Stephen’s Tyne Valley Flickr album. Take your time looking through the photographs – they really capture the atmosphere of this remarkable railway. I still think I only scratched the surface last year and that’s probably the biggest compliment I can pay the line. If you’ve been looking for an excuse to rejoin a 1Z10 weekend away, this is a very good one.
The Tyne Valley really is a railway photographer’s dream and, with a full weekend of LNER diversions, opportunities like this don’t come along very often. I’d also recommend another look at my Tyne Valley video if you need a little inspiration. Looking ahead, the March Durham Coast diversions and these September Tyne Valley weekends are becoming regular fixtures on the railway calendar, so perhaps they should become regular fixtures on the 1Z10 calendar too. Until then, no excuses – you know you want to come along! It would be fantastic to see as many familiar faces as possible for what promises to be another memorable weekend.