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Written by Steve Revill - 07 Jul 2004
last update by Steve Revill - 14 Sep 2010
and by Peter Lovell - 22 May 2012
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Location notes
A farm road bridge over the Great Western Main line between Didcot and Reading.
Railway type and traffic
Passenger trains are mostly HSTs, 165s and Voyagers.
Of most interest will probably be the various freights winding their way from the London and Southampton areas to western and midland locations. These can be anything from Freightliner, Intermodal, Departmental. MOD, stone, Enterprise and car trains to name a few. However genuine stone trains only run this way if diverted off the Berks and Hants. As a rule of thumb, Tuesdays to Fridays are the busiest. Mid morning and mid to later afternoon being the best times.
Environment
A single track road bridge, used by some pretty large farm machinery at times so you have to be prepared to move all your kit!
Road directions
The location is directly off the A329 on the west side of Purley on Thames

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Westbury Lane, Purley on Thames map co-ordinates
Parking
Parking is limited - about 3 cars max (without obstructing the road) unless you are prepared to walk for a minute or two from the nearby housing estate. During the day, the limited parking space may be occupied by railway personnel vans.
Public transport
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Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Westbury Lane, Purley on Thames

Googly map
Streetmap links
Westbury Lane, Purley on Thames general view map
Westbury Lane, Purley on Thames close up map

Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Westbury Lane, Purley on Thames



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Railway Gen Group
Wessex Rail Gen [WRGen]
Photographic notes
There is very little shade on bridge and the shadows can be harsh in the cutting depending on time of day and whether sun out of course. Shots west are almost directly into the sun on summer evenings. To the west is relatively open and flat so you can shoot almost until the sun sets.
Update: Shots of trains approaching from the West are starting to become restricted due to overhanging branches of trees on the South bank.

Another of the bridges in the Reading area that has been re-built and raised for the electrification of the GWML. Re-opened in 2012 with the bridge sides about 5ft high, a small stepladder or similar is now recommended. The combination of the raised bridge and higher sides will mean that shots are now 3-4ft higher than in the past.


General views - All photographs © Steve Revill unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west - Image � Peter Lovell


Fig 1 - Looking west - <i>Image © Peter Lovell</i>


Fig 2 - Looking east - Image � Peter Lovell


Fig 2 - Looking east - <i>Image © Peter Lovell</i>


Fig 3 - Looking west


Fig 3 - Looking west


Fig 4 - Looking west


Fig 4 - Looking west


Fig 5 - Looking east



Fig 5 - Looking east


Fig 6 - Looking east



Fig 6 - Looking east


Fig 7 - Looking east



Fig 7 - Looking east


Fig 8 - Looking east



Fig 8 - Looking east


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