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Road directions
Two places to go. Come out of Westerligh Village on the B4465 at the traffic lights and turn right. Up the road there is a left turn marked up as the Murco Railhead and to an abattoir. Its a lane that forks into a left side road. The entrance is marked as 'private road, visitors only'. Thats the road down to the rail head. Initially I parked and walked using a public footpath using an OS map. However several photographers were already down there parked up; also a public footpath cuts right across the road and over a public level crossing. So long as you do not photograph the depot infrastructure further down the road there should be no problem at all.
Back in the Village theres a very good vantage point at a public crossing that crosses the line. Drive into the village centre, past the pub and war memorial. As you come out of the village theres some Car repair places on the right and a DIY/come ironmongery type store with a sign resembling a pub. Opposite is a blue sign showing a man on foot/bike symbol stating 'Coalpit Heath' Cycle/Railway path. Follow that down the track and the crossing is a 1 minute walk.
The Railhead is on the B4465 just outside the village
The public path is off the main road through the village
Parking
You can drive easily almost up to the railhead but security is tight in the area. Road is wide but be aware of road tankers constantly coming up and down the road. Either park in Westerleigh (the path starts there over the road from a DIY shop called 'Nic Nacs'; or the other end is the hamlet at Ram Hill. Both are very safe.
Public transport
Westerleigh is served by buses to Yate
Amenities
Westerleigh is very sparse; there are a few pubs but almost no shops. Nearest town is Yate about 4 miles away.
With the line at the footpath crossing running roughly north-south the shot should be well lit for most of the day. But trees on the inside, western side, of the curve and to the south limit this shot to a morning to very early afternoon shot. The railhead is a busy terminal and care should be exercised at all times, especially when around the road as the lorries are moving at speed and not necessarily expecting to see people standing on the wrong side of the road. Both locations are quiet, with the exception of the lorries, and should provide interesting videos. Especially of departures from the terminal with starting off of the long trains.
If you cross at the crossing; once you have finished with the Murcos on the branch, follow the 'railway path'. This is a long path that leads to Ram Hill and basically follows the main GW mainline along the embankment to the right of you. On most days this line carries Theale-Robeston Murco tank trains, FL/DB coal services to Stoke Gifford/Portbury/Avonmouth, Freightliner trains to Southampton and odd Engineering trains. It is possible to stop along the path and take fairly good shots of trains heading towards Bristol in certain locations. If you fancy a 20 minute walk, follow the path all the way to Ram Hill hamlet, turn right and you'll see Ram Hill Colliery on the right. In front of you is Ha'Penny Bridge; a pedestrian bridge that goes across the line to a field. You can get good views here of both the up and down lines.
