Location notes
A road overbridge which overlooks Wigston South Junction and the site of the former Wigston Magna station.
Railway type and traffic
The junction of the Midland Main Line and Wigston South curve. Midland Mainline services are formed of Turbostars and HST's. There is a limited amount of freight traffic mostly stone traffic to and from the quarries at Croft, Bardon Hill and Mountsorrel.
Environment
A busy road overbridge in the middle of Wigston.
Road directions
From M1 Junction 21 take the Leicester outer ring road (A563) towards Oadby. Follow this road until you reach the 'Pork Pie Island' (it has a library situated upon it which looks like a pork pie!). At this roundabout turn right towards South Wigston and follow this road right to the end (about 1.5 miles). At the end of this road there is a mini roundabout, turn left here into the centre of Wigston. Follow this road through the centre of Wigston for about 1 mile and you will come to the overbridge.
Wigston South Junction map co-ordinates
Wigston South Junction map co-ordinates
Parking
There is limited parking in side streets on the opposite side of the bridge.
Public transport
The nearest station is South Wigston which is served by hourly trains between Leicester, Nuneaton and Birmingham and is a 5-10 minute walk away.
Arriva services 47/48 operate a circular route every 15 minutes in each direction and cross the bridge. From Leicester the 47 is slightly quicker.
Arriva services 47/48 operate a circular route every 15 minutes in each direction and cross the bridge. From Leicester the 47 is slightly quicker.
Amenities
Plenty of shops in the centre of Wigston about 400 yards from the bridge. There is also a small newsagents shop if you turn left at the mini roundabout on the east side of the overbridge (about 50 yards from the bridge).
Where on the map
Sun Compass
Open this Image in a new window and use as a sun compass with the links below.
Streetmap links
Wigston South Junction general view map
Wigston South Junction close up map
Multimap links
Wigston South Junction on new multimap
Wigston South Junction general view map
Wigston South Junction close up map
Wigston South Junction aerial view (where available)
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Wigston South Junction
Some areas not available at all zoom levels,.
Helpful location information
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
Still Photography Notes:
Southbound trains can be photographed in the morning until about 10:30am from the east side of the bridge. It is possible to photograph trains on the up fast, bi-directional slow (the third track across - most likely for a southbound freight) and trains coming off the Wigston curve. Northbound trains are very difficult to photograph at this time of day due to shadows from some large trees except in high summer, but even then, northbound trains will be backlit.
When the sun moves round in the afternoon there is a very good shot of southbound trains on the up fast, but trains heading south on the bi-directional slow and coming off the Wigston curve will be very head on.
In the evening, the sun will be on the nose of northbound trains and it is possible to photograph any train that uses the down fast. This shot is on from about early March until late October (the shot of the 60 below was taken at about 4pm at the beginning of March), though the area next to the down fast can get a little overgrown in high summer which can obstruct the shot. There is no shot of northbound trains on the slow line as it is lined with bushes.
It should also be noted that any freight booked to go round Wigston curve will use this track, together with any northbound freights that need to be looped, so if you want a picture of a northbound freight here, it is a bit of a lottery and you could be disappointed.
Video Photography Notes:
Good for video in both directions though you will have to compete with the road noise. Southbound Midland Mainline HST's normally apply power as they come off Wigston North Junction and this can make for good video. By contrast, northbound trains are normally coasting here as they are slowing down for the Leicester stop.
If you do find this information useful then please feel free to mention how you 'found' the location on your website or magazine submission.
Southbound trains can be photographed in the morning until about 10:30am from the east side of the bridge. It is possible to photograph trains on the up fast, bi-directional slow (the third track across - most likely for a southbound freight) and trains coming off the Wigston curve. Northbound trains are very difficult to photograph at this time of day due to shadows from some large trees except in high summer, but even then, northbound trains will be backlit.
When the sun moves round in the afternoon there is a very good shot of southbound trains on the up fast, but trains heading south on the bi-directional slow and coming off the Wigston curve will be very head on.
In the evening, the sun will be on the nose of northbound trains and it is possible to photograph any train that uses the down fast. This shot is on from about early March until late October (the shot of the 60 below was taken at about 4pm at the beginning of March), though the area next to the down fast can get a little overgrown in high summer which can obstruct the shot. There is no shot of northbound trains on the slow line as it is lined with bushes.
It should also be noted that any freight booked to go round Wigston curve will use this track, together with any northbound freights that need to be looped, so if you want a picture of a northbound freight here, it is a bit of a lottery and you could be disappointed.
Video Photography Notes:
Good for video in both directions though you will have to compete with the road noise. Southbound Midland Mainline HST's normally apply power as they come off Wigston North Junction and this can make for good video. By contrast, northbound trains are normally coasting here as they are slowing down for the Leicester stop.
If you do find this information useful then please feel free to mention how you 'found' the location on your website or magazine submission.
Offical Guidelines for Railway Enthusiasts
British Transport Police Guidelines for rail enthusiaist
Network Rail Guidelines for rail enthusiasts
ATOC/National Rail Guidelines for rail enthusiasts
If you see anything suspicious the British Transport Police can be contacted on their crime telephone number:
0800 405040
Help all us railway enthusiasts get a better name by helping the British Transport Police catch the cable thief's and vandals.
Network Rail Guidelines for rail enthusiasts
ATOC/National Rail Guidelines for rail enthusiasts
If you see anything suspicious the British Transport Police can be contacted on their crime telephone number:
0800 405040
Help all us railway enthusiasts get a better name by helping the British Transport Police catch the cable thief's and vandals.
Links to photographs at this location
General views - All photographs © Jason Cross unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking south
The site of the former Wigston Magna station.
Fig 2 - Looking north
Wigston south junction.
Fig 3 - Looking north
Wigston south junction.
Disclaimer
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.
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.
