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Road directions
From the North, at M1 Junction 25: Take the Nottingham bound carriageway of the A52, at the first junction (known as Bardills roundabout after the name of the garden centre here) take the 4th exit Toton Lane, signposted Toton and Long Eaton. At the next set of traffic lights at the bottom of the hill take the right hand lane and proceed straight on. After 1/4 mile take a right turn at the traffic lights on the T junction, signposted Long Eaton. After 3/4 mile you drive beneath a railway bridge then over another railway bridge and descend to a mini roundabout, take the 3rd exit into Asda car park.
From the South, leave M1 at Junction 24: Taking the A50 Derby/Stoke road. After 1 1/2 miles take the exit signposted Sawley/Long Eaton, taking the 4th exit from the roundabout at the top of the junction, again signposted Long Eaton. Follow this road all the way to Long Eaton train station, after passing beneath the railway bridge, at the mini roundabout take the 2nd exit, Tamworth road. This road takes you through the middle of Long Eaton and at the end of the road at the roundabout proceed straight across (2nd exit) onto Midland St, there is pay and display parking on the left, or take first right to enter the Asda store car park.
Parking
The Asda store car park provides 2-3hrs free parking, with a short walk to the rear of the store where you pick up the footpath to the bridge.
There is also a small pay and display car park opposite Asda, which is free at weekends, this is accessed off Midland Street. The road which leads from the main roundabout in Long Eaton, which passes between the pay and display car park and the Asda store, Midland Street, goes to the Asda staff car park at the rear of the store. You can drive in here and park next to the line, but beware that signs denote there is a fine of £40 for unauthorised use, therefore if you were sitting train watching you could make an escape should you be challenged, but if you have left the car here to walk to the footbridge, you could well find a nasty surprise on your return. However, I do not know of anyone who has actually been fined for parking there yet.
Public transport
Nearest train station is Long Eaton, read directions above as per road directions from the South. From Nottingham Station, Go to Broadmarsh Bus Station and get the Indigo Bus (every 6-8 mins). Ask to go to Long Eaton Green. It is normally £4 for a adult return. You will then see Asda. Walk up the left of ASDA and then head North West. You will come to a small footpath and go under a railway bridge. Shortly after this is the footbridge.
Amenities
Asda is literally less than 5 mins walk away, being a 24hr store there are food and toilet facilities readily available. Long Eaton itself is only a hundred yards or so further on with take aways and pubs aplenty.
Photographic notes
The footbridge is an excellent vantage point for photography throughout the day, the lines run more or less north-south so in summer the light is head on from the south around 1100-1300, in winter light this is more like 0930-1230 as the light is more harsh. There are 7 running lines passing beneath the bridge, plus 2 lines to the currently disused wagon works have just been lifted in early 2007 but there are plans to reopen this site as a concrete sleeper works later in 2007 with new sidings for loading sleepers onto trains. The furthest West of these lines is the arrival line for Toton north yard and this is tight up against the fence so photography is difficult, trains arriving on this line can be photographed from the Asda staff car park, but by the time you realise a train is being routed onto this line, it is usually too late to get to the car park! There is another vantage point a couple of hundred yards further north on the west side of the line, this is best for northbound trains descending the high level goods line in the afternoon. Scramble up the old embankment next to the footbridge on the west side, walk along the embankment towards Toton yards for approx 600yards and descend towards the track at the side of the viaduct over the River. The location is standing on top of the river bridge abutment, which gives you the height to see over the palisade fencing, but be warned if a train for the yard arrives on the closest track, they often stand waiting acceptance into the yard, and this will totally block your view of all the other lines.
The original 'lattice' footbridge has now been replaced with a 'slab sided' version. The sides on this bridge are quite tall and steps are now required to see over them properly.
