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Road directions
From the west (and north and south from the A19): Use the A66 through central Middlesbrough. At the third roundabout turn left - this road leads over the 'new road bridge' referred to below (location 2). To reach the 'old bridge' (near South Bank station), turn left at the roundabout and then turn first right; take the second left into the spur of the road over the old bridge (you will clearly see the old bridge), which is almost opposite the Asda supermarket, and park here (keeping the road clear for lorries). To reach the line side footpath, turn left at the roundabout and then second right (just before climbing up to the new bridge); park in the dead-end road on the left at the right hand corner, from the 'new bridge' access the footpath from the main road beside the bridge.
Parking
Details given above and below. I have heard of no problems with parked cars in this area.
Public transport
Trains call at South Bank station. The local bus operator is Arriva Teesside, but no buses cross the railway line.
Amenities
There is an Asda supermarket (with toilets but no café) and a few shops (including a café) close to the 'old bridge'. Asda also has a petrol station. At the second roundabout on the A66 is a McDonalds, while there is very likely to be a fish and chip shop close by in the residential area. Otherwise, there are plenty of facilities in central Middlesbrough.
Accommodation
Nearest accommodation is probably in central Middlesbrough, although there will be Bed and Breakfasts in Redcar, a few miles to the east.
There are three locations here, all a few minutes walk from each other.
1. Old road bridge, close to South Bank station.
This bridge was closed to road vehicles when the new bridge (to the west) was built in the late 1980s. It has since been closed off completely, and it is not possible to get onto it at all. Park in the road leading to this bridge (on the south side of the line), but keep the road clear for the many lorries which use this short length of road. Walk past the road block up towards the bridge.
There is only a view west here as there are too many trees on the east side of the bridge. The light is right for shots for much of the day, with the sun on the nose until just before midday. The shot features the Tees Transport Bridge. Shooting video should be no problem, although there may be some background noise from the industrial premises at the bottom of the road and the film would be short. There is very little warning of approaching trains - they just appear under the new road bridge to the west.
2. New road bridge to the west.
Park in the side road on the south side of the bridge. There is a superb view east, with the South Bank coke ovens and steelworks dominating the skyline. Using a telephoto lens (up to about 200mm is good) pulls in the industrial backdrop. The light is right until late afternoon, with the sun on the nose from around midday. On summer evenings it is possible to photograph from the north side of the line. The view to the west is poor. Videoing is possible, although there will be some noise from passing traffic, which is not heavy.
3. From the line side.
A footpath runs parallel to the railway line for several miles from Middlesbrough to Redcar. It is possible to photograph from it in several places, and one of these is between the two bridges described above. You can park close by, at the opposite side of the waste land.
Photographs can be taken in both directions for much of the day; the sun is on the nose for eastbound trains until about midday, and after that for westbound trains. Having a set of steps is useful to allow you to see over the fence and any line side vegetation. Choosing your spot carefully allows the inclusion of various bits of industrial landscape, and prevents them growing out of the roof of the train. Photos taken here using steps look as though they have been taken from the wrong side of the fence.
