New Mobile Site
We have just launched a new mobile version of this site - m.trainspots. This page will use your smart device's GPS to loctate you and guide you to locations that are close to your present location.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Freshford map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
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.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
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
Streetmap links
Freshford general view map
Freshford close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Freshford
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Freshford
Googly map
Freshford general view map
Freshford close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Freshford
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
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.
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
Update Jan 2015: Vegetation growth has made this location unusable for the time being.
Fig 2 - Looking west
Update Jan 2015: Vegetation growth has made this location unusable for the time being.
Fig 3 - Looking west
Update Jan 2015: Vegetation growth has made this location unusable for the time being.
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
