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Written by Marcus Dawson - 15 Aug 2007
last update by Mark Bearton - 09 Mar 2009
and by Ross Mayl - 19 Jan 2018
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Location notes
A double tracked section of the Birmingham to Gloucester mainline, along the famous 1 in 37 Lickey Incline. The very popular location is a foot crossing on the south side of a narrow road underbridge.
As of 2017 the line has been electrified and the OLE masts have changed the available angles available at the location.
Railway type and traffic
Frequent Voyager services between Birmingham and the South West. 150s, 158s and 170s on Birmingham to Cardiff, Worcester and Hereford service. Although once electrification is complete the local workings will hand over to electric units.
Freight consists of a couple of coal trains and a few steel workings and a Flask working on selected days.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Lickey Bank, Vigo Bridge
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
Environment
The location is a narrow area on either side of a foot crossing.
Road directions
From the M42, Junction 1:
Follow the B4096 south through Lickey End and towards Burcot. Continue through the village and along the B4096, when you go under the railway line you have reached the loaction.

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Lickey Bank, Vigo Bridge map co-ordinates
Parking
Parking is a problem at this location. There is a short dirt road leading to the location that would accommodate 3 or 4 cars, but given that there is no room to manoeuvre it is very much a 'last in, first out' so some care and good will is required to park at the location. The lane under the bridge may also provide a few passing spots to park but these would not be recommended. Other than that it will be parking a few hundred yards to the west on Alcester Road.
Public transport
Diamond travel service 145 operates approximately every 90 minutes between Bromsgrove, Barnt Green and Kings Norton Station and stops in Burcot village. See Travel Line Midlands for more information.

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Amenities
There are none at the location, but Bromsgrove should have anything you would need.
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.
Lickey Bank, Vigo Bridge

Googly map
Streetmap links
Lickey Bank, Vigo Bridge general view map
Lickey Bank, Vigo Bridge close up map

Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Lickey Bank, Vigo Bridge



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Railway Gen Group
Midlands Gen
Photographic notes
The area on the parking side is quite small so steps would be handy to get you over the gallery that usually assembles when a special is due. On the other side, there is a bit more room and you can head further north-west down the footpath and get a more side on view. The shots of trains descending the bank are nothing spectacular and are harder to obtain due to the bridge parapets and line side signs.
Although the area is open countryside with little noise, due to the large number of photographers that assemble there, video soundtracks will often have photographers voices on them.
The recent (2017) addition of Overhead line mast now makes some angles at the location tighter so if you have not been to the location since electrification allow yourself some extra time to reacclimatize.


General views - All photographs © Marcus Dawson unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking south west - Image �Ross Mayl


Fig 1 - Looking south west - <i>Image ©Ross Mayl</i>

A telephoto shot of a train climbing the bank.

Fig 2 - Looking south west - Image �Ross Mayl


Fig 2 - Looking south west - <i>Image ©Ross Mayl</i>

The wide shot a train climbing the bank from the same position as fig 1.

Fig 3 - Looking south west


Fig 3 - Looking south west

From the other side of the line, but opposite the foot crossing.

Fig 4 - Looking south


Fig 4 - Looking south

From the field opposite the foot crossing.
This shot is unlikely to be 'on' anymore due to the OLE masts.

Fig 5 - Looking south - Image �Ross Mayl



Fig 5 - Looking south - <i>Image ©Ross Mayl</i>

From the field.

Fig 6 - Looking north east - Image �Ross Mayl



Fig 6 - Looking north east - <i>Image ©Ross Mayl</i>

From the same side of the line as fig 1 and 2, a train descending the bank.

Fig 7 - Looking north east



Fig 7 - Looking north east

From the same side as fig 3-5.
A 'going away' shot of a train climbing the bank.

Fig 8 - The Location



Fig 8 - The Location

This view shows the location with the photographers going for the fig 1 and 2 view. As can be seen the space is limited and steps are highly recommended.

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