Gen Groups: Wessex Rail Gen [WRGen] - Trainspots (Ver 1.91)

Group Formed

Thursday, 09th December, 1999

Group Description

For members to submit Rail Gen information in the Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire, and Wiltshire areas on Southern England.

Group Link

Go to: Wessex Rail Gen [WRGen]

Geographic Area Covered

Locations within group area

Location Name:

TS851 - Aldermaston Station

Location Notes:

A country location, on the Reading to Newbury line. Aldermaston is a small station with a service from Reading to Newbury every hour.

Railway type and traffic

First Great Western operated Thames Turbos, HSTs on the Plymouth/Penzance routes and the occasional Adelante. There is also a reasonable amount of freight traffic on the route with Class 59s and Class 66s regular performers.

Location Name:

TS550 - Bedhampton, Mill Lane

Location Notes:

A quiet bridge at Bedhampton on the Portsmouth main line, to the west of Havant where the line is joined by the coastal route from Chichester, Bognor and Brighton and to the east of the triangle where the line diverges for Portsmouth Harbour and Southampton.

Railway type and traffic

SWT 444s on Portsmouth - Waterloo services (2 fasts and 1 slow each way an hour). SWT 450s on Basingstoke (or SWT 170s when from Reading) to Brighton (1 each way an hour). Southern 377s on Portsmouth - Brighton (1 each way an hour), Portsmouth - Victoria (1 each way an hour) and Victoria - Southampton (1 each way an hour) services and the very occasional Wessex Alphaline 158 on a Brighton - Bristol service.

On the freight front there are 2 return workings a day: the Mendip Rail 59 hauled Merehead - Chichester - Westbury stone in bogie boxes and the DB Schenker 66 hauled Fawley - Holybourne - Eastleigh Yard bogie tanks.

Location Name:

TS783 - Bedhampton, Staunton Road Footbridge

Location Notes:

A fairly quiet footbridge at Bedhampton on the Portsmouth main line, to the west of Havant where the line is joined by the coastal route from Chichester, Bognor and Brighton and to the east of the triangle where the line diverges for Portsmouth Harbour and Southampton.

Railway type and traffic

SWT 444s/450s on Portsmouth - Waterloo services (2 fasts and 1 slow each way an hour). SWT 450s on Basingstoke (or SWT 170s when from Reading) to Brighton (1 each way an hour). Southern 377s on Portsmouth - Brighton (1 each way an hour), Portsmouth - Victoria (1 each way an hour) and Victoria - Southampton (1 each way an hour) services and the very occasional FGW 158 on a Brighton - Bristol service.

On the freight front there are 2 return workings a day: the Mendip Rail 59 hauled Merehead - Chichester - Westbury stone in bogie boxes and the DB Schenker 66 hauled Fawley - Holybourne - Eastleigh Yard bogie tanks. On alternate Fridays a EurailScout test unit runs in each direction around lunchtime.

Location Name:

TS1228 - Bramley Station

Location Notes:

A small station in a pleasant village, on the line from Basingstoke to Reading.

Railway type and traffic

Passenger:
FGW: Class 165 DMUs on the half hourly stopping service
AXC: Voyagers

Freight:
Freightliner: Plentiful class 66 & 70 hauled Container Trains on workings to and from Southampton.
DBS: Class 66 & Class 67 hauled departmental & engineers trains as well as E.C.S moves of charter stock which is based at Eastleigh Depot.

Location Name:

TS778 - Bramshot

Location Notes:

The site of the former Bramshot Halt, this location is a bridge over the four-track section of mainline from London Waterloo towards Basingstoke.

Railway type and traffic

Very regular fast and slow Class 444 and Class 450 'Desiro' EMUs, in addition to half-hourly Class 159 diesel units on West of England services. In the Summer there are regular steam excursions using mostly classic Southern locomotives.
You may also see freights operated by DB Schenker, Freightliner and GBRf. These are mostly 66s.

Location Name:

TS624 - Brockenhurst Station

Location Notes:

Brockenhurst is a small town on the south coast between Southampton and Bournemouth, in the middle of the New Forest. Southampton is the nearest city around 10 miles away, with Lymington the nearest similar sized town at around 3 miles. The town is served by the Bournemouth - Southampton line.

Railway type and traffic

The line has a regular sequence of 442 Wessex Electrics and 220 / 221 Voyagers, plus 450s on the stopping services to Southampton (2 hourly) and Wareham / Poole (hourly) and the SWT heritage 3 CIGs on the Lymington services.

Location Name:

TS1156 - Brockenhurst Station

Location Notes:

Brockenhurst is a small town on the south coast between Southampton and Bournemouth, in the middle of the New Forest. Lymington is the nearest similar sized town which is around 3 miles away. Southampton is the nearest city around 10 miles away. The town is served by the Bournemouth - Southampton line.

Railway type and traffic

The majority of the traffic is South West Trains Class 444 and 450 Desiro units. Arriva Cross Country Class 220 and 221 Voyagers usually cross at the station on the hour.
Class 158s or 450s operate the shuttle to Lymington Pier.
Freightliner run a sand train to and from Wool using a Class 66 on Mondays and Wednesdays (coming from Wool) and Tuesdays and Thursdays (going to Wool). These usually come through mid afternoon but don't run all the time. There is the occasional stone train to Hamworthy using Class 59's. There are a a fair few railtours during the year using anything from 37's to Steam Locos. There are occasional test trains as well.

Location Name:

TS735 - Buriton, Greenway Lane

Location Notes:

A road bridge over the Portsmouth Direct to/from Waterloo about 4 miles south of Petersfield.

Railway type and traffic

3 trains per hour between London Waterloo and Portsmouth (450/444) as well as the Holybourne - Fawley tank train which runs around 10:30 north and 15:00 south on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Location Name:

TS705 - Colthrop Level Crossing

Location Notes:

Near to Thatcham station, a quiet level crossing which leads into a business park.

Railway type and traffic

Berks and Hants mainline from Reading to Exeter. Expect Intercitys, Adelantes (180s), and Thames Trains 165s.
DB Schenker and Hanson freights.

Location Name:

TS717 - Cosham Footbridge

Location Notes:

Cosham is on the Portsmouth - Southampton/Eastleigh line, it is a well built up area to the north of Portsmouth.

Railway type and traffic

Passenger service consist of:

1 train per hour FGW 158/150 Portsmouth - Cardiff,

1 train per hour SWT 450 Portsmouth and Southsea - Southampton Central stopper,

1 train per hour SWT Portsmouth Harbour - London Waterloo 444,

1 train per hour Southern Brighton - Southampton Central 377,

1 train per hour Southern London Victoria - Southampton Central 377.
also an ECS Voyager which passes at about 2000 Westbound

Freight workings:

The Fawley - Holybourne - Eastleigh Yard tanks (DB Schenker 66) runs east at around 10:00 and west at around 21:50 as required but normally Mondays and Wednesdays.

The Chichester stone train (DB Schenker 66 or Mendip 59) runs as required west at around 1315.

Location Name:

TS701 - Curdridge, Outlands Lane

Location Notes:

A small country road in the sleepy Hampshire of Botley between Fareham and Eastleigh.

Railway type and traffic

There is an hourly Waterloo - Portsmouth Harbour service each way (usually 444s) and an hourly Brighton - Basingstoke service (450s, except on the hours they are extended to Reading when they will be a 170/3).
The only freights are the Fareham - Whatley stone train and the return working of the Holybourne - Eastleigh tanks, both of which run intermittently.

Location Name:

TS115 - Eastleigh Station

Location Notes:

Eastleigh station is on the South Western Main Line Weymouth to London Waterloo in the country of Hampshire . It is also the junctions of the lines to Portsmouth/Brighton and further east to Brighton as well as that to Romsey.

Railway type and traffic

Eastleigh is a busy main line junction with a staple diet of class 158 working Romsey to Salisbury local service and EMU traffic formed of 450 and 444 units every few minutes. Class 220 and 221 Voyagers also pass through here at high speed and roughly hourly intervals with an extra working every other hour during the main part of the day.
There is a reasonable amount of freight to and from the yard north of the station and light engine movements to and from the loco depot south of the station, plus regular north and south bound Intermodals.
Freight trains are hauled by class 66 and 70s from Freighliner. Class 66 from DB Schenker, Class 66/8 and 70/8 from Colas and 66/7 from GBRf.
There is a class 08 which acts as yard pilot with help from 1 or 2 DBS class 66's.

Location Name:

TS898 - Eastleigh, Campbell Road

Location Notes:

A narrow-ish road bridge located to the south of Eastleigh station leading in to the ex-BR Eastleigh Works on the main line from London to Weymouth. Passing under the bridge is the main LSWR lines and the access roads into Eastleigh T&RSMD.

Railway type and traffic

All stopping passenger traffic is in the form of MUs, classes 158, 444 and 450. Also passing (but not stopping) through the station are hourly Virgin Voyager services. Occasionally Classes 159 and 455 will put in an appearance.
Freight traffic is virtually all in the hands of 66s these days, though the wagon loads are variable, anything from Freightliner Containers to ECC Tanks. You will also get the odd 59 on stone services to/from Fareham and Eastleigh Yeoman, these are not easily phottable from this location as the line to Fareham diverges before the bridge and passes behind buildings. But it is possible to get a shot of the Hamworthy working.
There are also occasional railtours through the station often steam, and also on Saturdays when there often is a VSOE with Class 67s to the Eastern Docks.
Locomovments to and from the TMD can also happen while your on the bridge.

Location Name:

TS421 - Egham, Rusham Road

Location Notes:

Egham is located on the line from London Waterloo west towards Reading.

Railway type and traffic

There is a frequent service of Multiple Units on the line, usually comprising a half hourly train to both Reading and Weybridge via Chertsey. There is the occasional freight and engineers working on the line.

Location Name:

TS281 - Fratton Station Bridge

Location Notes:

Fratton is in Portsmouth in the south of England.
It is built up and is in the heart of the city. The line is the Portsmouth to either London, Brighton or the West Country. There are also low fences near the track and station enabling shots of not just the platform area but other places as well.

Railway type and traffic

This is a main line run mostly by South West Train (SWT) using class 159s, 170s, 411s, 412s, 421s, 423s and 444s, 450s.
Southern also run on this line using class 421s, 423s or 377s and Wessex run class 158. There is also one of the SWT's Depots here creating extra traffic. You may see a SWT Class 73 if you are lucky.

Location Name:

TS505 - Goring, Spring Farm

Location Notes:

On the Great Western Main Line between Reading and Didcot Parkway.

As with a lot of Great Western vantage points this bridge is being rebuilt and the view will change. Updated images of both the shot and of the bridge itself would be welcomed to update the page.

Railway type and traffic

First Great Western Link local services to Oxford, two each way an hour- operated by 165s/166s. First Great Western Link express services to Oxford, two each way an hour- operated by 180s. First Great Western Express services to Bristol, Swansea, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Hereford and Worcester, four to five each way an hour, operated by HSTs and 180s. Virgin Cross Country services, two each way an hour. One to/from Reading and One to/from Bournemouth.
Freight consist of a roughly hourly Freightliner, as well as DB Schenker operated Intermodals, Enterprises, Automotive, Departmentals and 'others'. The Freightliner Heavy Haul operated High Output Ballast Cleaner can produced regular trains to and from Hinksey and Appleford for new ballast and to dispose of spoil.

Location Name:

TS734 - Havant, Fairfield Road Level Crossing

Location Notes:

A footbridge/level crossing on the eastern side of Havant where the Portsmouth Direct to Guildford/Waterloo and the Coastway line to Brighton/Victoria diverge.

Railway type and traffic

on/off the Portsmouth Direct:
3 trains per hour London Waterloo - Portsmouth (450/444)

on/off the Coastway Line:
1 train per hour London Victoria - Southampton Central, 1 train per hour London Victoria - Portsmouth Harbour, 1 train per hour Brighton - Portsmouth (377), 1 train per hour Brighton - Basinstoke (450) or Reading (170/158/159)

Location Name:

TS1109 - Hedge End

Location Notes:

The nearest city/town is Eastleigh, and the nearest main city is Southampton. This area is very nice and has a fantastic station.

Railway type and traffic

Normally South West Trains and Southern.

Location Name:

TS567 - Hilsea

Location Notes:

Being an industrial unit car park this location is best avoided during the week.

On the line into Portsmouth, in the northern part of the city.

Railway type and traffic

This is the mainline out of Portsmouth and before the junctions so you get everything that goes into and out of Portsmouth here:

South West Trains 444: 3 trains per hour Waterloo via Guildford and 1 train per hour Waterloo via Basingstoke
South West Trains 450: 1 train per hour Southampton Central
Wessex Trains 158:1 train per hour Cardiff Central
Southern 377: 1 train per hour Brighton and 1 train per hour Victoria

You also get the odd charter, engineers or test train. But there will be no freight.

Location Name:

TS993 - Hook Station

Location Notes:

The line is the former LSWR. Hook is in between Winchfled and Basingstoke in North Hampshire. The nearest town is Basingstoke.

Railway type and traffic

The station is 2 platforms on the outside of 4 lines, 2 fasts and 2 slows.
Passenger services are all Desiros and 159s. The stopping services are mainly 450s and the fast trains are 444s and 159s.
There are also frequent charters which, during the summer months, can be steam hauled.
Freight is mainly 66 hauled but there is the occasional 59. There are Freightliner intermodals, DB Schenker intermodals, GBRf Gypsum, DB Schenker Departmental, DB Schenker Enterprise (Containers, 4-wheel tanks and covered cars), and Yeoman/MRL Stone. Freight services are about 1 and a half hourly.

Location Name:

TS576 - Horton Bridge, West Drayton

Location Notes:

As of April 2013 the original bridge has been demolished and has been replaced with a new metal structure a few yards west of the original bridge. Although the shots will not have changed much steps are now essential as the new bridge sides are about 6-7 foot high.

On the Great Western Main Line between Slough and Hayes and Harlington.

Railway type and traffic

FGW passenger services operated by HSTs, IETs and Class 165/166 Turbos and 387 Electrostars.
There is quite a large amount of freight with that on the mainline consisting of the Mendip Stones to/from Merehead, Whatley and Westbury to Acton Yard and South London. Also DBS hauled stone trains to/from South Wales. You also get the freight coming off the Colnbrook branch which consists of Freightliner hauled Bardon stone trains and the DBS Lindsey - Colnbrook bogie tanks.

Location Name:

TS490 - Kintbury

Location Notes:

A rural station on the Berks and Hants line between Newbury and Hungerford.

Railway type and traffic

Berks and Hants mainline from Reading to Exeter. Expect Intercitys, Adelantes (180s), and Thames Trains 165s.
DB Schenker and Hanson freights.

Location Name:

TS1007 - Lee Bridges

Location Notes:

A pair of road bridges (Coldharbour and Lee Drive) located close to the village of Lee, just south of Romsey, with a view over the Wessex Main Line from Salisbury to Southampton (not Chandlers Ford).

Railway type and traffic

Passenger services are in the hands of SWT 158s and FGW 153/158s, with the odd 150 as well. Freight is limited during the week, though a few notable workings include the Quidhampton tanks which run Wednesday and Friday and the Chichester stone train. There is no booked freight on weekends, but if the lines at Basingstoke are shut, as happens quite often, you can expect to find several diverted container trains. All freight will be in the hands of 59s or 66s with the occasional 60.

Location Name:

TS242 - Lower Basildon, Thames Valley

Location Notes:

In line with the GWML Electrification this bridge has been rebuilt (2012).
Lower Basildon is a small village next to Basildon Park.
What better way to spend an afternoon. Drop the family and kids off to enjoy the delights of the excellent National Trust and gardens whilst you, the railway observer or photographer takes a stroll down to this excellent vantage point.

As with a lot of Great Western vantage points this bridge is being rebuilt and the view will change. Updated images of both the shot and of the bridge itself would be welcomed to update the page.

Railway type and traffic

Passenger trains are mostly HSTs, 180s, 165s and Voyagers.
Of most interest will probably be the various freights winding their way from the London and Southampton areas to western and midland locations. These can be anything from Freightliner, Intermodal, Departmental. MOD, stone, Enterprise and car trains to name a few. However genuine stone trains only run this way if diverted off the Berks and Hants. As a rule of thumb, Tuesdays to Fridays are the busiest. Mid morning and mid to later afternoon being the best times.

Location Name:

TS413 - Maidenhead, Breadcroft Lane

Location Notes:

Update March 2007:
The location has now been 'upgraded' with Palisade fencing along the width of the bridge, See Fig 7. This has effectively rendered the location unusable, unless your lens will fit through the gaps in the fence.

On the Great Western Main Line between Maidenhead and Reading.

Railway type and traffic

Frequent FGW services operated by HSTs and Class 165/166 Turbos.
Generally light freight traffic but a bit busier around lunchtime and early afternoon, mostly Mendip Rail stone trains, various DBS, Freightliner stone/cement and the GBRF scrap sleeper train.

Location Name:

TS114 - MHR, Ropley

Location Notes:

Between Alton and Alresford on the Mid Hants Railway in Hampshire. This is the general area around Ropley station and the loco shed alongside. There are several good vantage points. Please remember to pop a small donation in the box at Ropley station as they are always willing for people to visit and take pictures but a small donation will help them carry on running a great line.

Railway type and traffic

The Mid Hants is an excellent preserved railway. There always seems to be something going on here, not just steam wise. In recent months I've witnessed Deltic 9016 in Porterbrook livery, a pair of Fragonset class 33 locos stabled and most recently a pair of Fragonset class 73 locos. This is in addition to the class 47 and Desiro unit that were resident here for a while in 2003 for testing purposes. The railway has an excellent set of events throughout the year and a very good website that gives details of all of these and more - The Watercress Line

Location Name:

TS1259 - Micheldever Station

Location Notes:

A railway station between Basingstoke and Winchester and just off the A303, It is on the main line northbound from Southampton towards Basingstoke.

Railway type and traffic

It is a very busy main line, the majority of traffic is SW Trains EMU sets, with Cross Country Voyagers running an hourly service too.
There are regular Freightliner trains in and out of Southampton, also Car Carriers to the docks too. Occasional light engine movements and a few engineering trains too. Mostly Class 66s on the freights, but the odd Class 70 too. Other classes turn up, including 73s and 37s.

Location Name:

TS1171 - Millbrook Station

Location Notes:

Millbrook station is very close to Southampton city centre and is on the Southampton to Bournemouth main line.

Railway type and traffic

You will see 444s and 450s running from Poole and Bournemouth, 158s on Southampton to Sailsbury and Portsmouth to cardiff Central, Cross country services.
There is a Freightliner depot visible from station, this services the docks and is usually home to a few 66s and the odd 70. Freightliner and DB Schenker workings from the docks can be viewed here.

Location Name:

TS260 - Milley Bridge

Location Notes:

On the Great Western Main Line between Maidenhead and Reading.

Railway type and traffic

Location Name:

TS1229 - Mortimer Foot Crossing

Location Notes:

A foot crossing surrounded by fields just to the north of Mortimer Station on the Reading to Baisingstoke line.

Railway type and traffic

Location Name:

TS1230 - Mortimer Station

Location Notes:

A small station on the Reading to Baisingstoke line.

Railway type and traffic

Location Name:

TS1168 - Newbury Railway Station

Location Notes:

Newbury is a delightful town in Berkshire. It is on the Berks and Hants line in the south of England and is a very friendly place.

Railway type and traffic

Newbury is a very busy main line station. There are normally First Great Western 125s going through every 15 minutes on the two express lines, along with the sprinter services from London all the way down to Bristol and Plymouth.
There are numerous freight trains through the day, mostly with the Hanson class 59 with a stone train.

Location Name:

TS397 - Northam, Mount Pleasant Crossing

Location Notes:

A footbridge next to a level crossing in the suburbs of Southampton. On the LSWR mainline from Waterloo to Weymouth. Between Eastleigh and Southampton and next to the Siemens SWT Desiro depot.

Railway type and traffic

Passenger services are worked by Southwest Trains 400 series, 442, 444, 450, 159 and 170; Southern 377 Electrostars
Freight is powered by DB Schenker 60 and 66; Freightliner 66 hauled 'Liners and the daily Ford Car train.

Location Name:

TS601 - Petersfield, Bedford Road Bridge

Location Notes:

A footbridge over the railway line just to the south of Petersfield Station. The bridge joins a housing estate with a light industrial area.

Railway type and traffic

Passenger services are in the hands of SWT, predominantly 444s with the odd 450, two fast trains each way per hour and one stopping train each way per hour.
The only freight is the Fawley - Holybourne tanks, which go north around 1015 and return at around 1515.

Location Name:

TS574 - Petersfield, Kingsfernsden Lane Crossing

Location Notes:

On the Portsmouth Direct mainline just to the north of Petersfield.

Railway type and traffic

Location Name:

TS1260 - Portchester Station

Location Notes:

Portchester is on the West Coastway/Portsmouth - Southampton/Eastleigh line, it is a well built up area to the north-west of Portsmouth. It a suburb of the town of Fareham.

Railway type and traffic

Mainly passenger trains, 1 train per hour FGW Portsmouth - Cardiff can be worked by either 158 or 150 but can be a double unit formed of 1 of each class or 2 of the same, 1 train per hour SWT Portsmouth and Southsea - Southampton Central stopper usually worked by a 450, 1 train per hour SWT Portsmouth Harbour - London Waterloo can be worked by 444 or 450 in 4, 8 & 12 car formations for 450's & 5 & 10 car formations for 444, also seen but vary rare a 9 car formed of a 444 & a 450 coupled together, 1 train per hour Southern Brighton - Southampton Central always formed of 377 unless there has been a major issue then a 313/2 can stand in but this is rare, 1 train per hour Southern London Victoria - Southampton Central always formed of a 377.
The Fawley - Holybourne - Eastleigh Yard tanks (DB Schenker 66) runs east at around 0930 and west at night.
The Chichester stone train (DB Schenker 66 or Mendip 59) runs as required west at various times.

Location Name:

TS551 - Portsmouth, Farlington Junction

Location Notes:

Summer 2011 - Due to vandalism in the area this bridge has been earmarked for a 'cage' enclosing the structure.

David Wood writes (25/03/08): It is correct that access to the bridge has been blocked from the Railway Triangle end but a friend mentioned to me that the Station Road entrance is still open, so I took a trip the long way round to check up and found out that this is indeed the case. There is a gate at the entrance, but its latch is missing, so it remains open. On the face of it, I suppose they only need to have one barrier to make the bridge unusable as part of a through route. This means that you can access the bridge but it is not accessible from the Hilsea direction. In fact, from the point of view of the photographer or videographer, the situation is improved by reason of there no longer being any noise or vibration caused by passing pedestrians.

A little used footbridge in the middle of an industrial estate just to the north of Portsmouth. On the east side of the triangle formed by the line from Portsmouth diverging to the west to Southampton / Eastleigh and to the east to Havant / Guildford / Brighton and the bit 'across the top'. The bridge only spans the Southampton line, but photographs of trains on the Portsmouth line can be obtained.

Railway type and traffic

SWT 444s on Portsmouth - Waterloo services (2 fasts and 1 slow each way an hour). SWT 450s on Basingstoke (or SWT 170s when from Reading) to Brighton (1 each way an hour). Southern 377s on Portsmouth - Brighton (1 each way an hour), Portsmouth - Victoria (1 each way an hour) and Victoria - Southampton (1 each way an hour) services and the very occasional Wessex Alphaline 158 on a Brighton - Bristol service.
On the freight front there are 2 return workings a day: the Mendip Rail 59 hauled Merehead - Chichester - Westbury stone in bogie boxes and the DB Schenker 66 hauled Fawley - Holybourne - Eastleigh Yard bogie tanks.

Location Name:

TS249 - Potbridge

Location Notes:

Potbridge is an attractive location on the LSWR mainline between Hook & Winchfield.

Railway type and traffic

Most current 3rd rail electric trains - 450 Desiros and the remaining slam door stock along with class 159 and 170 diesel units.
There are also a few freights:
Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays see Fawley-Holybourne tanks. There is the daily Hoo to Eastleigh engineers train along with a dusting of Intermodal & Enterprise trains supplimented by occasional stone/ballast train. If freight really is your thing you will find more activity west of Worting Junction.

Location Name:

TS188 - Reading

Location Notes:

A junction on the GWML, with many converging and through routes. Lines from Reading go to Farnborough, Basingstoke and Eastleigh, the Berks and Hants towards Westbury and Didcot, Bristol and the west.

Railway type and traffic

South West Trains operate services using Mk.1 slammers, 458s and 170s. First Great Western Link operate services using 165s, 166s and soon to be 180s. First Great Western use HSTs and 180s. Virgin Voyagers also use the station as a through route to Brighton or Turn around to Bournemouth.
Plenty of Freight, mainly 59s, 60s and 66s.

Location Name:

TS614 - Reading, Duffield Road, Sonning

Location Notes:

On the Great Western Mainline between Twyford and Reading.

Railway type and traffic

First Great Western services operated by HSTs, Class 165/166 and Class 180s. Occasional Voyagers plus freight and the odd appearance by the Network Rail Track Measurement HST set.

Location Name:

TS615 - Reading, Warren Road

Location Notes:

Quite high up above the Great Western Main Line between Twyford and Reading.

Railway type and traffic

Good variety of traffic with First Great Western HSTs, Class 180 Adelantes, Class 165/166 Turbos and freight traffic as well.

Location Name:

TS802 - Redbridge Flyover, Redbridge side

Location Notes:

The line here runs from Southampton to Bournemouth and onwards to Weymouth. The line here crosses over the Solent estuary on a low level bridge. Just to the east is Southampton docks and to the west is Totton Station. A mile or so east is Southampton Maratime Freightliner terminal.

Railway type and traffic

Passenger traffic consists of SWT 444s to Weymouth and 158s. Virgin Voyagers also pass going to Poole.
Freight wise there are:
DB Schenker trains for the Fawley refinery, and MOD trains from Marchwood.
Freightliner trip workings to Marchwood and the FLHH to Wool also passes this location.

You may also notice units heading up towards Romsey from Redbridge.

Location Name:

TS801 - Redbridge Flyover, Totton Side

Location Notes:

The line here runs from Southampton to Bournemouth and onwards to Weymouth. The line crosses over the Solent estuary on a low level bridge.
Just to the east is Southampton docks and to the west is Totton Station. A mile or so west is the junction where the line to Fawley and Marchwood splits.
The location is the footpath section of a road bridge over the line.

Railway type and traffic

Passenger traffic consists of SWT 444s to Weymouth and 158s. Virgin Voyagers also pass going to Poole.

Freight wise there are:
DB Schenker trains for the Fawley refinery, and MOD trains from Marchwood.
Freightliner trip workings to Marchwood and the FLHH to Wool also passes this location.

You may also notice units heading up towards Romsey from Redbridge.

Location Name:

TS716 - Redbridge, Test Lane

Location Notes:

A footpath crossing, off a quite lane, west of Redbridge on the outskirts of Southampton, on the Southampton - Romsey line.

Railway type and traffic

Normally the only trains running here are the hourly FGW Portsmouth - Cardiff services (158s/150s) and Cardiff/Bristol/Westbury - Southampton trains (150s/153s) which have no regular pattern!
The Chichester - Merehead empty stone (runs as required) which goes north mid-morning is the only booked freight this way!

But this spot is good for when part of the Didcot - Reading - Basingstoke - Eastleigh - Southampton route is closed for engineering works etc, and trains from the North are diverted via Swindon, Westbury and Salisbury.

Location Name:

TS558 - Romsey, Crampmoor Crossing

Location Notes:

A small branchline with a crossing and fence put up as a tactical place for photos. Near the town of Romsey, Southampton, Hampshire.

Railway type and traffic

Mainly 170s or 158s with services running at every quarter to the hour and on the hour.

There is about 5 freights a day headed with either 66s or 60s and the odd track machine.

Location Name:

TS257 - Ruscombe (Southbury Lane)

Location Notes:

On the Great Western Main Line between Maidenhead and Reading.

Railway type and traffic

Location Name:

TS210 - Shottesbrooke Farm

Location Notes:

On the Great Western Main Line between Maidenhead and Reading.

Railway type and traffic

Location Name:

TS533 - Southampton Footbridge

Location Notes:

A footbridge just to the west of Southampton Central station.

Railway type and traffic

Passenger traffic includes hourly Virgin Cross Country Voyagers to and from Bournemouth, a half hourly SWT express (442) to Poole or Weymouth and an hourly Romsey - Totton SWT 170. Wessex trains services to and from Cardiff , Penzance, Bristol, Westbury, Swindon, Southampton and Portsmouth Harbour will provide Wessex 'Alphaline' 158s and various advertising livery 153s. In addition to this you will also get Waterloo and Victoria - Southampton Centrals reversing in the sidings under the footbridge providing 450s, 444s and 377s.

Freight wise there is all the freightliner traffic out of Southampton, as well as a GBRf gypsum, DB Schenker Intermodals and stone workings.

Location Name:

TS113 - Southampton Maritime

Location Notes:

A busy Freightliner terminal and loco stabling point. Located on the south west side of the Southampton to Bournemouth main line between Millbrook and Redbridge stations.

Railway type and traffic

The main line has frequent EMU and DMU services and there is also some passing freight. The main interest is the Freightliner terminal traffic and the Freightliner locos stabled between duties.

Location Name:

TS777 - Southwood

Location Notes:

Located between the towns of Farnborough and Fleet, Southwood lays on the main four-track section of mainline between London and Basingstoke.

Railway type and traffic

Class 159s diesel units operate half-hourly express services between London, Salisbury and the West Country, whilst Class 444 and Class 450 electric units operate the London to Basingstoke, Southampton and South Coast services. Typically trains will pass by around every 5 minutes. In the summer months in particular there are usually a number of steam tours that will pass by.
There is also a variety of freight services operated by DB Schenker, Freightliner and GBRf.

Location Name:

TS880 - Steventon

Location Notes:

A narrow foot crossing over the main line between Basingstoke and Southampton.

This location is now no longer available. Hampshire County Council closed access to this crossing around May 2009 and anyone wishing to cross the line to the North side, now has to make an approx 1 mile detour via a farm track and underbridge to the west of the rail crossing. As there is no longer access to the lineside (the path only leads to a house on the North side of the line), this vantage point is no longer valid.

Railway type and traffic

SWT Units 444, 450, 159, 158
Freightliner - 66
DB Schenker - 59, 60, 66, 67.
Occasional steam

Location Name:

TS568 - Taplow Station

Location Notes:

Located in Berkshire, on the Great Western Mainline, Taplow Station is approximately 2 miles west of Slough.

Railway type and traffic

Taplow is on one of the busiest stretches of the Great Western Mainline, and sees several HSTs & Class 180 'Adelantes' passing at very high speeds on the fast lines. There are occasional Class 165 / 166 services using the fast lines, but the majority of this class stop.
Taplow also sees various freight services, including a fairly regular Class 59 in the mornings.

Location Name:

TS500 - Theale Business Park

Location Notes:

On the Berks and Hants portion of the GWML between Reading and Newbury. The location is gated crossing in Theale Business Park, approximately 1/4 mile on the Reading side of Theale station.

Update from Howard Osiransky 02-12-2006

Please note the crossing has now had palisade fencing erected, with a high locked gate. It is not possible to gain entry. However, the gate position has been move dcloser to the line and it possible to photograph by poking camera through the fence. Photos in both dierections will be on the opposite side to the sun.

Railway type and traffic

Great Western Main Line - Berks and Hants.
Mostly FGW HSTs, and Thames Turbos.
There is a daily cement flow headed by Freightliner 66s from Theale to Earles (Hope Sidings) in the morning. Several stone trains to/from Merehead using 59s or 60s, and some DB Schenker workings using 66s.

Location Name:

TS606 - Tilehurst Station

Location Notes:

Tilehurst local station about 3 miles west of Reading on the Great Western Main Line towards Didcot.

Railway type and traffic

Tilehurst is a busy station with around 6 to 8 express passengers passing an hour (HSTs, 180s, Turbos and Voyagers) and local stopping service which is twice an hour each way from London Paddington to Oxford or Banbury.
Tilehurst is also a busy freight location with up to around 4 freights and hour, at busy times which is normally in the afternoon. Freight seen here is Freightliner trains to or from Southampton, Freightliner Ballast trains to or from the new Reading Yard about a mile east of Tilehurst station and lots of DB Schenker traffic from the South or London heading north or west and in the other direction. The Theale Murco Tanks train also runs 3 times a week which is one of the last 60 worked trains and anything else is expected to be worked by a 66.

Location Name:

TS433 - Trumps Mill Lane, Virginia Water, Surrey

Location Notes:

A quite vantage point on a quiet dead end lane (leading to a large private house). You will occasionally bump into other rail-nuts there. The spotmight be busy on steam hauled railtour days.

Railway type and traffic

South West Trains class 450 Desiros, mainly on the Weybridge to Waterloo via Hounslow service. Until recently this line was a stronghold for class 458's and slam door stock. Several steam hauled railtours take this back-door out of London. Keep and eye on UK Steam Info for dates and timings.
There are about half a dozen of so freight workings a day, featuring departmental, Enterprise and Intermodal working.

Location Name:

TS779 - Westacott Way

Location Notes:

Very close to Breadcroft Lane which has now been destroyed by the Palisade fencing. Near to a small business park.

Railway type and traffic

First Great Western Express services operated by HSTs and Class 180s - five each way an hour. First Great Western Link services operated by 165s,166s, 180s - seven each way an hour. Also the odd Voyager.
Light freight traffic from mid morning onwards, busier in the afternoon between 1300 and 1500; stone trains - mainly Mendip Rail but also DB Schenker and Freightliner hauled workings. Also a late evening car train and two Enterprises as well as occasional miscellaneous workings.

Location Name:

TS243 - Westbury Lane, Purley on Thames

Location Notes:

A farm road bridge over the Great Western Main line between Didcot and Reading.

Railway type and traffic

Passenger trains are mostly HSTs, 165s and Voyagers.
Of most interest will probably be the various freights winding their way from the London and Southampton areas to western and midland locations. These can be anything from Freightliner, Intermodal, Departmental. MOD, stone, Enterprise and car trains to name a few. However genuine stone trains only run this way if diverted off the Berks and Hants. As a rule of thumb, Tuesdays to Fridays are the busiest. Mid morning and mid to later afternoon being the best times.

Location Name:

TS231 - Winchester, St Cross Bridge

Location Notes:

A bridge over the LSWR between Basingstoke and Southampton, about 2 miles south of Winchester city center.

Railway type and traffic

SWT Units 444, 450, 159, 170
Freightliner - 66
DB Schenker - 59, 60, 66, 67.
Occasional steam

Location Name:

TS575 - Windsor, Black Potts Bridge

Location Notes:

Located about 15 minutes walk from Windsor Riverside Station, which is the terminus of a line from Waterloo.

Railway type and traffic

Dominated by South West Trains Desiros every 30 minutes. There is the odd rail tour and serco test train on occasion.

Location Name:

TS983 - Woodcroft Farm

Location Notes:

A footbridge in rural Hampshire over the Portsmouth Direct line.

Railway type and traffic

3 trains per hour between London Waterloo and Portsmouth (450/444) as well as the Holybourne - Fawley tank train which runs around 10:30 north and 15:00 south on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Location Name:

TS225 - Worting Junction

Location Notes:

Just outside Basingstoke in Hampshire. The junction of the LSWR main line from Waterloo to Weymouth, and the Salisbury and Exeter line. Battledown Flyover gives excellent photogenic opportunities.

Railway type and traffic

The main line from London to Weymouth and Salisbury. Passenger services operated by South West Trains services both diesel and electric:
444, 450, 159, 158 plus 455 on as required ECS to/from Bouremouth Depot.

Freight to and from Eastleigh and Southampton and the south west:

Freightliner - 66, 67

DB Schenker - 59, 66, 67

Hanson - 59

Colas - 66, 70

GBRf - 66/7, 73

Disclaimer

Back to the top

All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.

The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.

This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavor to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.

Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.

Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.

The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window.

Please enjoy this guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.