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Location notes
Thurston is a small thriving village a few miles east of the market town of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. Thurston Grove Farm is a position a few miles east of the station situated between the top and bottom of the steady incline that trains have to climb heading towards Bury St Edmunds.
This location is situated on the main cross country route for freight between Ipswich and Peterborough.
Railway type and traffic
There is an hourly service weekdays from Ipswich to Cambridge and 2 hourly service to Peterborough mainly formed of local Norwich based units from class 153/156/170 in One/Anglia liveries.
Amongst the many freight services run by DB Schenker/Freightliner/GBRF and others, DRS locos often appear on various movements on this line but its a growing arterial route for cross country freight and with future loading gauge clearances and line improvements is set to get even busier.
Environment
Grove Farm is situated by an single track over bidge in the middle of the open countryside and is a very pleasant spot to be.It is a narrow country lane and care should be taken even though it is very quiet to keep off the road and if going by car by parking in a sensible place nearby as its very restricted for space to park up.
Road directions
From Thurston station turn left outside the car park left again after going under the railway then left at when you reach the set of crossroads. Carry on over the railway brdige then turn next right and carry on up this road for a few miles. On the fourth right turn head for Tostock down a narrow country lane, be careful there are very few passing places and some blind bends to. After half a mile you should go over the railway bridge where the photos were taken.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location Thurston, Grove Farm map co-ordinates
Parking
Very limited parking places ,it may pay to park further down the road and walk to this bridge but be very considerate of other motorists if you park up on the edge of the road. It is a safe area to be.
Public transport
Amenities
Not any nearby facilities head west to Bury St Edmunds and there are plenty of places there.
Accommodation
Plenty of local Bed and Breakfast, Guest houses and Hotels in Bury, a few near to Thurston like Thurston Grange or Ravenwood Hall Hotel at Rougham just off the A14.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Thurston, Grove Farm
Googly map
Streetmap links
Thurston, Grove Farm general view map
Thurston, Grove Farm close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Thurston, Grove Farm
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Photographic notes
Good for photos both directions the sun can be head on first and last thing in the day but most of the day is on the south side giving great shots of trains.Great place if you enjoy the country air! Great for video to.
General views - All photographs © Geoff Tibble unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking east
Fig 2 - Looking west
Fig 3 - Looking east
The long straight climb to the bridge.
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