Location notes
Lea Marston is a village to the east of Birmingham, and is on the triangle of lines between Water Orton and Kingsbury.
Please note that not all freight that is scheduled to pass here actually does! Freight can often be diverted via Whitacre Junction, which is on the other edge of the triangle.
Please note that not all freight that is scheduled to pass here actually does! Freight can often be diverted via Whitacre Junction, which is on the other edge of the triangle.
Railway type and traffic
The location sees much passenger use, with 156, 158 ,170 and Voyagers busying themselves.
The location is very good for it`s selection of freight, with DB Schenker, Freightliner, and Fastline services can be seen daily, including class 56, 60, 66 and 67 on a regular basis.
The location is very good for it`s selection of freight, with DB Schenker, Freightliner, and Fastline services can be seen daily, including class 56, 60, 66 and 67 on a regular basis.
Environment
This particular location is a large road bridge, but it is reasonably quiet here. There is only pavement on the north east side with the other being just a short grass kerb area.
Road directions
From the M42, Junction 9:
Head south on the Lichfield Road (A446) then take the first left at the roundabout down Faraday Avenue (Dual carriageway). You need to take the first left which will take you to the village itself. In the centre of the village, you need to bear right onto the road which leads to Whitacre Heath. As you leave the village of Lea Marston, you will pass over the railway, and this is the location.
Lea Marston map co-ordinates
Head south on the Lichfield Road (A446) then take the first left at the roundabout down Faraday Avenue (Dual carriageway). You need to take the first left which will take you to the village itself. In the centre of the village, you need to bear right onto the road which leads to Whitacre Heath. As you leave the village of Lea Marston, you will pass over the railway, and this is the location.
Lea Marston map co-ordinates
Parking
You can park just beyond the bridge by the side of the road. There is also room to park off-road on the left hand side at the bottom of the hill before the bridge.
Public transport
Stagecoach in Warwickshire operate route 717 every hour Monday - Saturday between Nuneaton and Birmingham International Airport. The bus does pass over the bridge itself and you need to alight in the village itself and walk to the bridge, this however should take no more than 5 minutes.
A timetable for the 717 route can be found, in pdf format, here.
A timetable for the 717 route can be found, in pdf format, here.
Amenities
There are plenty of amenities in nearby Water Orton, There are also at least a couple of pubs at Whitacre Heath.
Accommodation
There is a large hotel to the north of the village down Haunch Lane. You could always try the Railway Guest House in Whitacre Heath itself.
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
Lea Marston general view map
Lea Marston close up map
Multimap links
Lea Marston on new multimap
Lea Marston general view map
Lea Marston close up map
Lea Marston aerial view (where available)
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Lea Marston
Some areas not available at all zoom levels,.
Helpful location information
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
Good shots of southbound workings can be had here until the early afternoon, although Northbound workings are really only suited to a morning shoot. This location can get very busy if something unusual is due, and though not essential, steps may be an advantage, if only to get above other photographers heads!
A shot can also be had from within a little opening in the hedge within a stones throw to the south of the bridge.
If you do find this information useful then please feel free to mention how you 'found' the location on your website or magazine submission.
A shot can also be had from within a little opening in the hedge within a stones throw to the south of the bridge.
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.
General views - All photographs © Jason Rodhouse unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking south west
Fig 2 - Looking north east
Fig 3 - Looking north east - Image © Marcus Dawson
Fig 4 - Looking south west - Image © Marcus Dawson
Taken with a DSLR @ 80mm. Bushes in the foreground of this shot are growing quite tall and will encroach on shots with shorter focal lengths.
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.
