The Calder Valley Line is a gem of Northern rail travel, known for its winding route through deep, green valleys and historic mill towns. But on June 1st, 2024, it offered up a sight rail enthusiasts rarely, if ever, get to see: a TransPennine Express (TPE) train from Manchester Victoria to Saltburn roaring through the valley floor at Brearley (near Luddendenfoot).
The Unexpected Visitor
Typically, the TPE services that run between Manchester and Saltburn use the main Leeds and York routes. These are the fast intercity links, and the local, slower-paced Calder Valley Line is usually reserved for Northern services.
However, due to scheduled engineering works elsewhere on the network—the inevitable weekend maintenance that keeps the UK rail network running—this particular TPE service had to take a detour. And what a magnificent detour it was.
I was positioned above the line at Brearley, near the historic stone retaining walls, with the lush, vibrant greenery of the valley providing a perfect frame. The sun, dappled by the clouds, illuminated the scene, making the purple rhododendron blossoms on the embankment pop against the deep forest green.
When the train appeared, it was a blur of blue and yellow against the landscape. The TPE livery is a familiar sight at major stations, but here, in the secluded valley, it felt like an interloper—a high-speed express briefly slowing its pace to appreciate the West Yorkshire scenery.
Capturing the Moment
I had my Nikon D3300 ready. Capturing a moving train in a forested valley is a classic photography challenge, especially when you want to convey the sense of motion against a stationary, beautiful backdrop.
To achieve that wonderful blur on the train while keeping the surroundings relatively sharp, I used a technique called panning. It involves:
Setting a Slower Shutter Speed: Around 1/125th or 1/160th of a second was perfect to blur the wheels and the carriages just enough.
Tracking the Subject: As the train approached, I smoothly moved my camera, keeping the main engine or a specific carriage door exactly in the same spot in the viewfinder.
The Shot: Firing the shutter while still panning.
The result is a photograph where the train appears to stretch and streak, emphasising its speed and momentum, while the detail of the surrounding trees and purple flowers remains a sharp frame for the action. The motion blur on the train perfectly contrasts with the solidity of the valley.
This wasn't just a photograph of a train; it was a snapshot of a railway story—a fleeting moment where operational necessity created a beautiful, one-off photographic opportunity.
The Beauty of Brearley
The location itself, near the village of Luddendenfoot, is a photographer’s dream. The Calder Valley is one of the most rugged and rewarding sections of the Pennine route, carving its way through what was once a powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution. Today, it’s a tranquil scene of stone-built villages nestled into the hillside, with the railway tracing the ribbon of the River Calder below.
For anyone looking to capture the romance of British railways, the Calder Valley Line—even on an ordinary day—offers endless compositions.
But seeing that big TPE heading to Saltburn on these tracks? That's one for the logbook! Always remember to keep your eyes open, because sometimes the best photo opportunities are the unexpected diversions.
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