Photographic
Locations Gen – Bedford area
The
following notes are worth considering when using this “gen”. Where known, I
have added local
bus
information, although Stagecoach.co.uk, may give you some alternatives. I would
also recommended
consulting
either an Ordnance survey map or Streetmap.co.uk. which would also give more
information
before
visiting for a first time.
A
village located just off the A6, around three miles north of Bedford, or by bus
51,
Bedford
– Clapham – Oakley circular, (every 20 minutes from Bedford bus station).
Four
locations, all within a ten minute walk of one another.
Car
parking available in any of the side streets. “Top field” is best place for
early morning. Update Nov 07 nasty pallisade fencing now blights this area.
sunny
shots of southbound trains. Station Road field or “Cottages Bridge” best for
afternoon
shots, sun best late afternoon.
The
field opposite Station Road, runs parallel with the railway. Use the entrance
by the garage
opposite
Reynes Drive. A good view of northbound slow line, a bit “head on” for fast
line,
but
o.k., walking a bit further down the field gives a reasonable view of the up
lines.
I
have never had a problem walking round this field, the farmer leaves a wide
border,
and
plenty of the “locals” use this to walk
their dogs!
Can
be a “veg risk” in high summer, so steps may be recommended.
“Cottages
Bridge”. A bridge over the line, just north of the old station building,
serving some
cottages
on the up side of the line, minimal traffic. Access off Station Road just north
of the garage.
Good
views of slow lines, southbound fast
o.k., not too good for northbound fast.
Highfield
Road Bridge. Road bridge over the line, fair amount of traffic.
Good
views of southbound trains, northbound trains viewed in the cutting.
“Top
field”. From Highfield Road, cross the line as if heading away from village,
find
the public footpath entrance, located between two houses on north side of road,
before
you get to the roundabout. The footpath leads into the field behind the houses.
Good
views of southbound lines.
Around
eight miles north of Bedford, signposted off the A6. Two buses an hour, the M50
which goes to Kettering,
or
the 124/125/126 which serves the local villages. Templers Way bridge ok for southbound
late morning sunny shots.
The
farmers bridge also ok late afternoon for northbound slow line sun.
Templers Way crosses the line at Sharnbrook Junction, minimal traffic, good views of
southbound lines,
reasonable
views of northbound lines.
“Farmers
Bridge”. Looking north from Templers Way , you can see another bridge over
the line.
To
get to this bridge, you follow the public footpath, close to the pub on the
north side of the road.
This
footpath goes along the side of a field, before heading towards the farm.
When
you get close to the farm, another path, on the right, leads across another
field towards the railway.
Better
views than Templers Way bridge, but can be a muddy walk.
Three
miles north of Sharnbrook, access either via the A6, or via Sharnbrook High
Street,
which
then becomes the Souldrop road. Bus 124/125/126 from Bedford,
which
only serve Souldrop every two hours! Three locations.
The
Sharnbrook – Souldrop road crosses the line, good views of southbound,
northbound on a curve,
slow
line o.k., fast line very “head on”.
Can park in lay-by, just past the bridge.
Back
Lane Bridge. Go into Souldrop village. Back Lane is a left turn just past the
pub, leads down a
narrow
track and crosses the line about a quarter of a mile north of previous bridge.
Parking
available on right hand side just after driving over railway line.
Good
northbound view and southbound fast line, no good for southbound slow line.
Souldrop
Foot Crossing. Park car as above, and you will see an public footpath on
opposite side of
the
road. This leads around the side of the field, a short way down the field, it
leads up the side of
the
embankment and crosses the line. Pay attention to safety notices!
Not
many options, due to overhead wires. Other than those listed, you could try
Flitwick station,
good
for southbound shots, Leagrave Station, good for both ways or Harpenden
station, good
for
northbound slow line.
On
the B530 (Ampthill road) from Bedford, turn right for Millbrook, just by the
farm.
Before
you cross the railway, you will see a public footpath on the right hand side,
heading
towards the railway, along the side of a field. This gives a reasonable
southbound shot,
no
northbound shot. Also where this road crosses the railway, there is a
reasonable
southbound
shot, again no northbound shot.
Station
Road industrial estate, off the A507, close to the Ampthill / Flitwick
roundabout.
The
road turns left and follows the railway. Drive down to virtually the end of
this road,
and
you will see a public footpath on the right hand side. This footpath crosses
the line,
gives
a good view of the northbound slow line, reasonable view of both southbound
lines,
but
no northbound fast line shot.
Bedford
– Bletchley line “the branch”
Most
of the stations offer reasonable views but a few other locations are:
A
footbridge over the line between Ampthill Road and Elstow Road. Head out of
Bedford
down Ampthill Road, and the path down to the bridge is by the car
showrooms
on the left hand side. Best place for parking would be Miller road, and
access
the footbridge for the other side of the line.
Down
side platform has famous chimney backdrop best for pm up traffic.
New
up side platform has more typical rural branch views on a long straight section
Best
am.
A
foot crossing over the line between the industrial estate and the retail park,
close
to
the A421 bypass. Parking available in the industrial estate, by the end of
Wolseley Road,
by
the Lund-Conlon warehouse.
The
A421 by-pass bridge gives a good view of the Bedford bound line.
Lots
of road traffic and nowhere to park.
The
Marston – Lidlington road crosses the line between Millbrook and Lidlington
stations.
This gives a good view of Bedford bound
trains, sun ideal mid morning for
6H55
10.36 Bletchley – Peak Forest on a Saturday.
Leave
the station by the Bletchley bound platform. Follow the road parallel with the
line,
which
becomes a dirt track and then a footpath. This path follows the line up the
bank
heading
from Ridgmont. There are two foot crossings over the line, both of which offer
good
views.
Woburn
Sands
There
is a foot crossing Bedford side of Woburn Sands station, good views of Bedford
bound
trains.