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Location notes
This Location is between Dartford and Stone Crossing stations on the North Kent Line.
Railway type and traffic
Class 465 and Class 466 Networkers, on the odd occasion Class 375s can be seen on ECS runs/service trains, Class 376s do the occasional turn down to Gravesend.
Sercos with Class 37s usually visit the line every few months or so, you also have freight off Hoo Junction/Cliffe/Grain with Class 59s/66s, however class 60s do make the odd appearance and class 73s as well too with GBRF, you also have one off workings occasionally and Freightliner intermodals too.
Sercos with Class 37s usually visit the line every few months or so, you also have freight off Hoo Junction/Cliffe/Grain with Class 59s/66s, however class 60s do make the odd appearance and class 73s as well too with GBRF, you also have one off workings occasionally and Freightliner intermodals too.
Environment
This location is situated on a bend at a main road which leads from Stone to the A282 and the Dartford Tunnel, the area around is quite mixed with some yards and open fields, there is a pavement on either side of the bridge, the area is ok, but as with anywhere keep valuables out of site!
One thing I find with this location is you do get beeped at and shouted at from silly people in their cars!, but I have had no problems at this location so far.
One thing I find with this location is you do get beeped at and shouted at from silly people in their cars!, but I have had no problems at this location so far.
Road directions
Take the M25 to the junction just before/after the tolls to the south of the river. This road is actually the A282. Take the turn off here for Erith/Swanscombe. Follow the directions to Stone taking the B2228 and you will go over the bridge.
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Cotton Lane Bridge, Stone, Kent map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Cotton Lane Bridge, Stone, Kent map co-ordinates
Parking
The Pavement on the bridge is quite wide, but would not recommend parking on the inside of the bend as people do speed round the corner.
There is a little place with toilets to park your car a little further down on the left hand side of the main road, heading back towards Stone House Hospital.
There is a little place with toilets to park your car a little further down on the left hand side of the main road, heading back towards Stone House Hospital.
Public transport
Go to Stone Crossing station, if your coming from London you will need to cross over the tracks, using the level crossing, controlled by network rail personnel, head up the hill and you will come to some houses in front of you and a pub on your right hand side, it is quite concealed. Turn right at the pub and this is Elizabeth Street which leads into Cotton Lane, walk down this road, you will pass some houses on your right, the pavement only goes so far so you will need to watch for traffic, keep going straight on you will pass a gate to a disused rifle range on your left. Head up the hill and come to the main road then turn right, the bridge is then upon you.
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
Toilets nearby on the left hand side of the main road, heading towards Stone, it is not know if these are manned or closed at certain times. There is a newsagents if you walk back down the main road, you will pass Stone House Hospital on the right, at the end of this main road turn left, you will need to cross the road to get to the newsagents which is a little further on.
There is also a Burger King next to Stone Crossing station and Bluewater is not far either.
There is also a Burger King next to Stone Crossing station and Bluewater is not far either.
Accommodation
There is a Travelodge next to Stone Crossing Station.
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.
Cotton Lane Bridge, Stone, Kent
Streetmap links
Cotton Lane Bridge, Stone, Kent general view map
Cotton Lane Bridge, Stone, Kent close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Cotton Lane Bridge, Stone, Kent
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Cotton Lane Bridge, Stone, Kent
Googly map
Cotton Lane Bridge, Stone, Kent general view map
Cotton Lane Bridge, Stone, Kent close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Cotton Lane Bridge, Stone, Kent
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Photographic notes
The light here can be particularly bad in the evening, especially if your photographing trains coming from London.
The sun is best positioned for photographing trains from London during the day, up till around 17:00.
If your photographing trains coming from London, you will need to be razor sharp with getting your camera turned on as trains come round the blind bend at 40mph, but if your photographing trains going to London you will clearly see these from a distance.
The main road is quite noisy with cars and lorries so not recommended for video.
The sun is best positioned for photographing trains from London during the day, up till around 17:00.
If your photographing trains coming from London, you will need to be razor sharp with getting your camera turned on as trains come round the blind bend at 40mph, but if your photographing trains going to London you will clearly see these from a distance.
The main road is quite noisy with cars and lorries so not recommended for video.
General views - All photographs © James Martin unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking east
Fig 2 - Looking west
Fig 3 - Looking west
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.
