| Grain Branch, Stoke Road
Written by Jonathan Makepeace - 14 Aug 2007 |
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Take the A228 towards Grain and before crossing the Grain Branch turn right at the roundabout towards Kingsnorth Power Station (Roper's Lane). Take the first left at the T-junction and then first left again after Beluncle Farm into Stoke Road. Cross over the Grain branch and continue for about 2 km until the road reaches a sharp left hand bend where it meets the railway. Just beyond the bend is rough track on the right leading down to the railway line.
You can park by the electricity pylon provided the fly tippers have left any space.
There is the Arriva 191 and 796 bus service to Grain via Allhallows-on-Sea, roughly one bus per hour on weekdays. You will need to get off at Lower Stoke and walk the rest of the way.
There is a pub in Middle Stoke with further amenities, including public toilets, over 2 km away in Lower Stoke.
The line runs roughly from west to east so trains can be photographed at most times of the day usually from the south side of the line. However because of the vegetation and pylons you may need to explore a bit to find a good view and try experimenting with different focal length lenses.
The line is a challenge for photographers being largely flat (bring stepladders!), much line side vegetation and a proliferation of electricity pylons at some locations. Also for the majority of trains one is shooting into the light with biggest challenge being the evening Fastline Class 56 service to Thamesport which is only possible to photograph on the branch in midsummer.
