A new mobile site has been ceated. Whilst this page will remain you may find Trainspots mobile better suited to a smart phone.
Road directions
From Reading/M4 you need to get on the A329 towards Oxford, when you reach Streatly you will come to a crossroads with the B4009, turn right into Goring. From Oxford/M40 you need to take the A329 towards Reading, just after the A417 joins you from the right you will enter Streatly where you will reach the crossroads with the B4009, turn left into Goring. You will then cross the River Thames and the railway line, immediately after the railway bridge, turn left (still on the B4009 to Wallingford). You and the railway line which the road parallels are now heading north. The road gently turns away from the railway, go across the crossroads where the left turn goes under the railway. About 1km from here there is a run-down farm building undergoing redevelopment and a sign to the hotel and restaurant at the point where the 30mph speed restriction ends, take the road to the left, following down until you reach the bridge.
Parking
Just before you reach the bridge there is a lay-by to the right, you can pull in here (if you wish to turn round go over the bridge and turn at the small junction). This is often used by Network Rail vans/cars, if it is full go over the bridge and turn round, as you come back up the hill pull in to the left as tight as you can. It is recommend that in both places you fold in your wing mirror on the road side.
Public transport
First Great Western Link run a half-hourly London - Oxford service that calls at Goring and Streatly. It is then a 2 - 2½ km walk from the station.
The Inn can accomodate you if you are arriving by helicopter - to quote 'The grid reference number is: 601-825 for visiting us by helicopter. Our guests will be collected from their landing point on green meadows across the river in a fully solar powered boat to the leatherne bottel. booking is essential.'
Amenities
No amenities as such, Goring back down the road will have the usual assortment of shops and chippies. I suspect you would get turned away if you turned up at the hotel restaurant in spotting clobber!
The line is aligned north/south at this point and mostly flanked with tall trees so is really only suitable for photography from 1000 and 1700, but is best during the summer months. The down main will be best in the morning and the up relief best in the afternoon. I usually use the bridge between 1300 and 1700 for the afternoon's freight workings and then move to a spot such as Manor Farm Chosley for the evening traffic.
The lane at Goring leading to the Leathern Bottle Inn has been 'blessed' with a radio mast - see fig 5. The good news is that this is alongside the Up Relief and has opened up the view looking towards Reading. The plastic sheeting (down in May 2006) should go in due course. The shot is of course into the sun.
