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Location notes
The location is an over bridge carrying a green lane over the Bath to Bristol line a short distance from the western portal of Twerton Tunnel.
The spot is about 2 miles from the centre of Bath.
The spot is about 2 miles from the centre of Bath.
Railway type and traffic
Traffic is mainly HSTs on the Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington route and class 143, 150, 153 and 158 diesel units on the route to Westbury and other points south.
The line carries a good number of loco-hauled charter services to Bath, including the atractive VSOE, en-route to and from Bristol for stabling.
Regular freight includes the weekday Bath and Bristol 'Binliner', coal to Westbury cement works, weekly fuel oil to St Philip's Marsh depot and ballast from Machen quarry to Westbury.
Other freight is often diverted this way at weekends (including 6B33, the 'Murco' tanks from Theale and Didcot coal).
The line carries a good number of loco-hauled charter services to Bath, including the atractive VSOE, en-route to and from Bristol for stabling.
Regular freight includes the weekday Bath and Bristol 'Binliner', coal to Westbury cement works, weekly fuel oil to St Philip's Marsh depot and ballast from Machen quarry to Westbury.
Other freight is often diverted this way at weekends (including 6B33, the 'Murco' tanks from Theale and Didcot coal).
Environment
The location is just beyond the western extremities of Bath and is rural in aspect. The green lane is home to an encampment of 'New Age Travellers' living in superannuated vans but the residents, and their dogs!, are friendly enough and there is rarely any other traffic on the lane itself. There is a bowling green and a sports field nearby.
Road directions
Head west along the A36 Lower Bristol Road away from Bath and through Twerton. Just beyond the built-up area, a set of traffic lights control the junction with the A4 which joins from the right. Immediately before the lights a track heads left, south, towards the railway line.
Either drive along the track or continue and park in the lay-by on the dual carriageway towards Bristol and walk back.
If using the track, be very careful as drivers tend to race the lights and will not expect turning traffic.
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Twerton Tunnel map co-ordinates
Either drive along the track or continue and park in the lay-by on the dual carriageway towards Bristol and walk back.
If using the track, be very careful as drivers tend to race the lights and will not expect turning traffic.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Twerton Tunnel map co-ordinates
Parking
There is limited parking on the bridge itself. Alternatively, use the lay-by just after the main road crosses over the railway.
Public transport
Buses on the Bristol to Bath route stop nearby - ask for Newbridge.
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
There is a McDonalds on the Lower Bristol Road at Twerton and decent pubs at Newbridge (The Boat House) and Newton St Loe (The Globe) which serve food.
There is a pub or two in Bath as well, apparently!
There is an excellent and inexpensive curry house in nearby Oldfield Park!
There is a pub or two in Bath as well, apparently!
There is an excellent and inexpensive curry house in nearby Oldfield Park!
Accommodation
There are plenty of places to stay in Bath but prices reflect the city's popularity with tourists.
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.
Twerton Tunnel
Streetmap links
Twerton Tunnel general view map
Twerton Tunnel close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Twerton Tunnel
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Twerton Tunnel
Googly map
Twerton Tunnel general view map
Twerton Tunnel close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Twerton Tunnel
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Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The location is best for down trains leaving the gothic-portalled Twerton Tunnel in the afternoon or early evening. There is also a good shot looking the other way in the mornings with Kelston Hall visible on the hill in the background. In cloudy conditions shots can be taken from either side of the line in both directions. The one drawback is that you need to stay alert as trains can appear suddenly from the tunnel or from beneath the A4 road bridge.
General views - All photographs © Glen Batten unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west
Fig 2 - Looking west
Fig 3 - Looking east
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.
