Chesterfield - the centre of freight. Excellent for variety in terms of locomotives and different types of freight. Class 60's, 66's and 70's are booked traction on the passing freight ranging from cement/stone, departmental, steel, coal and intermodal. Class 20's, 37's, 47's and 56's regularly appear for either GBRF, DRS or DCR. Colas are uncommon here, although light engine moves can occasionally occur from Doncaster. At the time of writing, Colas have won part of a test train contract which may see their 37's appear more frequently. Passenger services are operated by East Midlands Trains, Cross Country and Northern. EMT Class 158's and 222's are guaranteed, EMT HST's are guaranteed before 8am and after 8:30pm. EMT 156's occasionally appear. XC Class 220's/221's and HST's are part of the furniture. For Northern Class 158's are guaranteed, occasionally Class 150's appear and extremely rarely Class 153's and Class 155's appear. Turn up at 06:20 for the 06:26 service and you can seemingly see any Northern unit! 144, 150, 153x2 all noted on this service as of July 2015. Toilets are on Platform 1, a long walk if you decide to position yourself at the south end of Platform 3, which is the most recommended location for photography. Other photographic locations can be found at Tapton Bridge (a 10 minute walk to the north of the station) or at Clay Cross Junction on a roadbridge to the south of the station. Parking isn't free. There is no best day here, one day can be average and the next extremely busy. Pick a good day and the right times (12-5pm is recommended), Chesterfield can be much busier than other nearby hotspots including locations such as Burton On Trent and Swinton and even Doncaster.

There is no doubt that Chesterfield is one of the best locations for freight traffic in terms of variety in the whole of the UK. There is no question that it certainly sits in the overall top 10. Barrow Hill Roundhouse, Doncaster, Toton and Derby are all close locations, therefore ex BR locos are frequent. Class 20's and 37's for example are more common that more modern locos such as Class 67's and 68's. Even though not all the freight companies have booked workings through Chesterfield, they remain common. DB, FL and GBRF have a daily presence with Colas, DCR and DRS also frequently making appearances.

Because of Chesterfield's location, despite lacking wires it is not impossible for electric traction to appear as well as other rare to the area diesel classes! In the 1st 5 months of 2015 locomotive classes 20, 31, 37, 43, 47, 56, 57, 59, 60, 66, 67, 68, 70, 86, 87 and 92 have all appeared! Chesterfield even attracts passenger companies that aren't local. Occasionally (normally Thursday or Friday evenings) ATW and FGW units can be seen heading back home after attention at Doncaster. In 2014 Chiltern and Grand Central made appearances, in 2015 First TPE Class 170's have passed through to Loughborough and SWT Class 458/5's heading to start a new life have passed through!

Finally details of the track layout. All lines are bi-directional except the non platformed UBH which is generally for southbound freight only. Platform 1 is for trains heading northbound, extremely rarely it can be used for southbound trains. The most common occurence for this is when a tamper stables in Chesterfield Down Sidings which can only be accessed via Platform 1. Platform 2 is used for trains heading southbound, rarely it can be used for northbound trains. Platform 3 is generally for northbound trains, but can be used for southbound trains as well if necessary. This is the platform which sees the more frequent bi-directional use.

This is my first visit to the station, and some things seem to have changed since the last review on here.

Firstly parking. The official station car park is extensive and you can park with views through palisade fencing of the track. Parking before 10am is £10 for the day or part thereof but £5 after 10am. There is however a private car park literally a stones throw away which is £3 all day any time of day.

The station is a through station with three platforms. The building is modern and well looked after. Access to platforms 2 & 3 are via a subway which is well light and clean.
There are four tracks through the station. The two fast lines serve platforms 1 & 2 with a steady stream of passenger trains and some freight. Of the two slow lines which take most of the freight, one serves platform 3 which only gets a handful of passenger trains during the day, but it very long and can take up to nine coaches.
The poor visibility mentioned in a previous review must have changed in the intervening years as there are good views now from all platforms. The best place I found was towards the south of the platforms between 2 & 3. Platform 3 also has several waiting shelters along it's length which are fully glassed on all sides, so in inclement weather make excellent places to be without getting wet.

As far as the trains are concerned passenger train operators are East Midlands, Northern, and Cross Country, and based on the couple of hours I spent there with class 222, 221, 220, 158,and HST's.

Freight while I was there were two 66's both Freighliner and a class 60 DBS. Checking with Real Time Trains, there seems to be plenty of freight, Freightmaster also has a Chesterfield table which also shows plenty of freight during the day, and certainly somewhere I will come back to when I can and excellent location for spotting or photography.

Chesterfield can be an infuriating place in the fact that some days are very good for freight,whereas others can be very poor. No two days are the same.Despite the workings being listed in the Freightmaster books,i find that many of the workings don't turn up,or workings that aren't listed DO!
I put this down to workings being ''as required''
That said,several workings are guaranteed during the day,including Freightliner workings.
Virtually any loco type can be seen here,this is due to unusual workings to/from Barrow Hill no doubt. East Midland Trains HST's and DMU's and Cross Country Voyagers are the norm here,with Freightliner,and EWS traction the main freight sightings.
It is not beyond the realms of possibility though to see a stray DRS,GBrf 66 on occasion fetching stuff from Barrow Hill.
They have extended the car park at Chesterfield,and there is always plenty of space to park up with a superb view of the tracks.
The staff do check for parking tickets,but if you are with your car,they tend to leave you alone.( Payment at present is 7 pounds per day)
Catering is good with hot drinks and sandwiches freely available,and there is a newsagent on the stn which stocks all the railway magazines
The town centre is only approximately a mile away past the college up the hill.
Photography can be a bit limited on the stn,as the freight lines run behind a smallish wall,but this has bushes within fencing which can restrict the picture,but they have just moved the Northbound signal on the freight line to right next to the platform lower wall,and if a loco is stopped at this light which it is regularly,then you can grab a superb picture.Tapton bridge is also excellent for photo's,visible approx half a mile north of the stn
Well worth a visit.

Thought I'd update the only current review of Chesterfield...

Was born in Chesterfield area so the station, Tapton bridge (just north of station) and surrounding viewpoints (Hasland, Clay Cross junction) have been the places where the majority of my spotting has been done.

In terms of spotting on the MML, Chesterfield has to be one of the best locations since its four tracks wide at this point and little places elsewhere - two fast to Sheffield and London etc., as well as two slow tracks - freight for the most part.

When I did the bulk of my spotting (only restarted in Oct.2006) - during the late 1980s/early 1990s, on an average day, you could expect to see class 20,31,37,43,47,56,58 and 60 as well as DMUs - 150,156,158. I remember some really unusual sightings through Chesterfield as well and have some fond memories.

During the time when I gave up spotting, things obviously changed a great deal and its got to be said that things are far more predictable now, however, to bring the Chesterfield review up to date, this is what you can expect to see on an average day - 43,56,60 and 66, as well as DMUs - 158,170,220,221 and 222.

In terms of photography, Tapton bridge is obviously a well-known and famous location. The old Hasland sheds are a less well-used location - you can get right next to the tracks and there are a variety of spots on banks overlooking the track for different shots.

Great place to see freight trains,Normal locomotives that are seen are as follows...

20,47,56,57,59,60,66,66/5,66/7,67

Access is provided by Midland Mainline

Both platforms are good for taking pictures

A snack shop is located in the station.