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Location notes
A road under bridge approximately 3 miles west of Castle Cary on the Berks and Hants main line.
Railway type and traffic
Regular First Great Western HSTs and since December 2004 also Class 180 Adelantes.
A little freight, notably the 6O92 Exeter - Dollands Moor on Monday morning and the 6V62 Fawley to Tavistock Yard oil on Tuesday and Friday evenings. Occasionally used by daytime engineers trains to / from Westbury.
The line is also used by many railtours, and the daily Penzance - Portsmouth Wessex Class 158 doing an out and back working.
Environment
Lovington is a truly rural location with little traffic using the road under the railway line. Photographs are taken from a grass verge / lay-by area by this road. Footpaths also lead out into the field looking back towards Castle Cary, but this is usually populated by livestock!
Road directions
From the A371 at Castle Cary Station, take the B3153 turning adjacent to the bridge over the railway line. Head west for 2.5 - 3 miles and take the left turn for Lovington which should be signed anyway. This road soon passes under the line and the photographs are taken from the south side of the line.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location Lovington, Somerset map co-ordinates
Parking
It is possible to park very close to the bridge in a lay-by.
Public transport
It is possible to walk from Castle Cary station by the same route as driving. However some sections of the B3153 have tight bends and it can be quite a busy, fast road.
The distance is around 3 miles in all and will taken not much less than an hour to walk.
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Amenities
There are no amenities in Lovington. There is a pub on the B3153 just west of the turning for Lovington and the bridge. Otherwise the closest shops are in Castle Cary, on the B3152 in the town centre.
Accommodation
Clanville Manor guest house is about 2 miles from Castle Cary.
It is likely there is other Bed and Breakfast accommodation in the town.
Sun Compass
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Lovington, Somerset
Googly map
Streetmap links
Lovington, Somerset general view map
Lovington, Somerset close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Lovington, Somerset
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Photographic notes
The line passes over the road on a reasonably high but, very clear cut embankment. At this location is is running roughly West - South - West. Down trains are generally best in the early afternoon, up trains in the morning. There is little photography possible where the sun goes around to the north of the track in the late evening in summer.
Because of the height of the embankment, down trains are better photographically although both directions are perfectly reasonable. There is very little background noise, though animals are often kept in the adjacent field!
There may be limited warning of approaching trains, although there is so little noise it is usually possible hear trains before seeing them.
General views - All photographs © Wayland Smith unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking east
Fig 2 - Looking west
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