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Written by Glen Batten - 07 Apr 2008
last update by Glen Batten - 10 Jan 2015
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Location notes
Update Jan 2015: Vegetation growth has made this location unusable for the time being.

Freshford is the first station south of Bath on the line to Westbury. It is a small village in a green and rural setting close to the River Avon and the Kennet and Avon Canal.
Railway type and traffic
The line sees frequent FGW DMU services comprising classes 143, 150, 153 and 158 plus SWT class 159 sets.
Freight includes coal from South Wales to Westbury cement works, engineer's workings, fuel tanks to St Phillip's Marsh and a few stone workings.
At weekends when the Badminton and/or Box routes are closed for engineering work, the line may also see diverted HSTs and additional freight including coal from Portbury to Didcot power station and 'Murco' bogie fuel tankers from Theale to South Wales. Regular motive power comprises classes 66, 59 and 60. Voyagers also use the line on diversion when the main line south of Bristol is closed.
Environment
Freshford is a quiet, quaint and affluent rural village. The best view of the railway is from the station approach road which serves the small station car park and a few residences nearby.
The locals are friendly and non-threatening, including the sheep in the adjacent meadow!
Road directions
Freshford is best reached from the A36, and is signposted from The Viaduct and Limpley Stoke. The station is signposted from within the village.

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Freshford map co-ordinates
Parking
There is a very small car park at the station used by rail travellers, commuters on weekdays, and anglers. If it is full, parking is possible in the village itself, only a short walk from the station.
Public transport
Freshford is served by trains on the Bristol-Westbury-Portsmouth and Weymouth routes. It is a request stop.

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Amenities
No toilets. There is an ancient pub, The Freshford Inn, at the south end of the village but it does not open all day.
Accommodation
Best to stay in Bath or perhaps Bradford-on-Avon.
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.
Freshford

Googly map
Streetmap links
Freshford general view map
Freshford close up map

Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Freshford



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Photographic notes
Update Jan 2015: Vegetation growth has made this location unusable for the time being.

The best spot (for both still photos and videos) is from the station approach road looking at northbound trains approaching around the curve rom Avoncliff. The sun is right from early afternoon until the evening when shadows start to creep to far into the meadow.
Southbound trains can be photographed from the station footbridge from first light in the morning.


General views - All photographs © Glen Batten unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west


Fig 1 - Looking west

Update Jan 2015: Vegetation growth has made this location unusable for the time being.

Fig 2 - Looking west


Fig 2 - Looking west

Update Jan 2015: Vegetation growth has made this location unusable for the time being.

Fig 3 - Looking west


Fig 3 - Looking west

Update Jan 2015: Vegetation growth has made this location unusable for the time being.

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