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Location notes
A very quiet rural foot crossing near to the village of Tattenhall on the Chester - Crewe line.
Railway type and traffic
This line is the mainline from Crewe - North Wales. Expect to see passenger trains operated by:
Arriva Trains Wales using class 150/153/158/175,
Virgin Trains using class 221/57+390.
Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway trains use this line when the line from Shrewsbury to Wrexham is closed, and for empty stock workings now and again.
Freight is sparse. The daily Crewe-Penmaenmawr and return ballast train will be in the hands of a Freightliner class 66. The Valley-Crewe flasks run this way when they do run. There is not much beyond this though.
Railtours are quite frequent, to and from Blaenau Ffestiniog, Llandudno and Holyhead.
Please note that not all tours go this way though, some go via Helsby to Warrington, as does most freight.
Arriva Trains Wales using class 150/153/158/175,
Virgin Trains using class 221/57+390.
Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway trains use this line when the line from Shrewsbury to Wrexham is closed, and for empty stock workings now and again.
Freight is sparse. The daily Crewe-Penmaenmawr and return ballast train will be in the hands of a Freightliner class 66. The Valley-Crewe flasks run this way when they do run. There is not much beyond this though.
Railtours are quite frequent, to and from Blaenau Ffestiniog, Llandudno and Holyhead.
Please note that not all tours go this way though, some go via Helsby to Warrington, as does most freight.
Environment
You are in a very quiet rural location. There is a canal less than 100yds away, but I did not hear any noise from there, and you cannot see it through trees.
On the way to the location, I walked through a field of cows, but I went back a different (and easier!) way, so you should be fine, as this is the way I will outline below.
The nearest city is Chester, which is about a 20min drive away from the location.
On the way to the location, I walked through a field of cows, but I went back a different (and easier!) way, so you should be fine, as this is the way I will outline below.
The nearest city is Chester, which is about a 20min drive away from the location.
Road directions
From the M6, junction 16:
Take the A500 west towards Crewe, Nantwich and Chester. Follow this road until you come to the A51 just to the north of Nantwich. Now take the A51 towards Chester, through small villages, the last of which will be Alpraham. You will come to a crossroads with traffic lights. At the traffic lights, turn left towards Tiverton and Beeston Castle. Once you reach Tiverton, take the second right 'Huxley Lane' after the '40' speed limit signs, signposted Huxley. If you enter a '30' speed limit area, you are going the right way!
Follow the road through Brassey Green, before turning left at the village of Huxley onto a road sigposted 'Tattenhall' and 'Hargrave'.
At the end of the road, turn left towards 'Tattenhall' again. You will soon come to a small area before Tattenhall village, with a few bus stops, and an industrial area. There is a bridge over the canal and the railway. You should be fine to leave your car on the side of the road, or turn into one of the little cul de sacs and leave it there.
From Chester on the A51:
Drive east on the A51 towards Nantwich, Crewe and Stoke. You will pass through a number of villages, the last of which being Clotton.
You will come to a crossroads with traffic lights. At the traffic lights, turn right towards Tiverton and Beeston Castle. Once you reach Tiverton, take the second right 'Huxley Lane' after the '40' speed limit signs, signposted Huxley. If you enter a '30' speed limit area, you are going the right way! Follow the road through Brassey Green, before turning left at the village of Huxley onto a road sigposted 'Tattenhall' and 'Hargrave'. At the end of the road, turn left towards 'Tattenhall' again. You will soon come to a small area before Tattenhall village, with a few bus stops, and an industrial area. There is a bridge over the canal and the railway. You should be fine to leave your car on the side of the road, or turn into one of the little cul de sacs and leave it there.
The location itself is a foot crossing 15-20mins walk away. You can walk from the main road down a little path to the southern bank of the canal. Walk down the small path, and follow the towpath of the canal for about 10mins heading west. If you pass the marina you are going the wrong way.
You will come to a little stone bridge over the canal, shortly before another marina. Just as you get to the bridge, there is a little path heading up a slope to a small wooded area on your left. Follow this small path up the slope and through the wooded area, and you come out right onto the foot crossing over the railway.
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Tattenhall map co-ordinates
Take the A500 west towards Crewe, Nantwich and Chester. Follow this road until you come to the A51 just to the north of Nantwich. Now take the A51 towards Chester, through small villages, the last of which will be Alpraham. You will come to a crossroads with traffic lights. At the traffic lights, turn left towards Tiverton and Beeston Castle. Once you reach Tiverton, take the second right 'Huxley Lane' after the '40' speed limit signs, signposted Huxley. If you enter a '30' speed limit area, you are going the right way!
Follow the road through Brassey Green, before turning left at the village of Huxley onto a road sigposted 'Tattenhall' and 'Hargrave'.
At the end of the road, turn left towards 'Tattenhall' again. You will soon come to a small area before Tattenhall village, with a few bus stops, and an industrial area. There is a bridge over the canal and the railway. You should be fine to leave your car on the side of the road, or turn into one of the little cul de sacs and leave it there.
From Chester on the A51:
Drive east on the A51 towards Nantwich, Crewe and Stoke. You will pass through a number of villages, the last of which being Clotton.
You will come to a crossroads with traffic lights. At the traffic lights, turn right towards Tiverton and Beeston Castle. Once you reach Tiverton, take the second right 'Huxley Lane' after the '40' speed limit signs, signposted Huxley. If you enter a '30' speed limit area, you are going the right way! Follow the road through Brassey Green, before turning left at the village of Huxley onto a road sigposted 'Tattenhall' and 'Hargrave'. At the end of the road, turn left towards 'Tattenhall' again. You will soon come to a small area before Tattenhall village, with a few bus stops, and an industrial area. There is a bridge over the canal and the railway. You should be fine to leave your car on the side of the road, or turn into one of the little cul de sacs and leave it there.
The location itself is a foot crossing 15-20mins walk away. You can walk from the main road down a little path to the southern bank of the canal. Walk down the small path, and follow the towpath of the canal for about 10mins heading west. If you pass the marina you are going the wrong way.
You will come to a little stone bridge over the canal, shortly before another marina. Just as you get to the bridge, there is a little path heading up a slope to a small wooded area on your left. Follow this small path up the slope and through the wooded area, and you come out right onto the foot crossing over the railway.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Tattenhall map co-ordinates
Parking
You can leave your car on the side of the road, or in one of the small cul-de-sacs towards one of the industrial areas. There is also a car park for the main marina just off the road.
Public transport
The Cheshire Bus number 41/41A passes the location.
Once you are through the village of Hargrave, look out for the canal. Once you are crossing the canal, press the button on the bus, and the driver should stop just beyond the railway bridge. If you reach the village of Tattenhall, coming from Chester, you have gone too far. You need to get off before getting to the actual village, in the industrial area instead.
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Once you are through the village of Hargrave, look out for the canal. Once you are crossing the canal, press the button on the bus, and the driver should stop just beyond the railway bridge. If you reach the village of Tattenhall, coming from Chester, you have gone too far. You need to get off before getting to the actual village, in the industrial area instead.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
The village of Tattenhall has several shops (including a Post Office and a Pharmacy), 3 pubs, 4 restaurants and a doctor's surgery.
However, closer to the location there is the renowned Cheshire Ice Cream Farm (opposite the southern entrance to the new marina) where there is a shop and a cafe. Also, directly south west of the location is the Manor Farm Shop and Old Ma's Coffee Shop on Newton Lane. Continue along this road and you will soon arrive at the hamlet of Gatesheath which has a restaurant, B&B and campsite known as Carriages.
However, closer to the location there is the renowned Cheshire Ice Cream Farm (opposite the southern entrance to the new marina) where there is a shop and a cafe. Also, directly south west of the location is the Manor Farm Shop and Old Ma's Coffee Shop on Newton Lane. Continue along this road and you will soon arrive at the hamlet of Gatesheath which has a restaurant, B&B and campsite known as Carriages.
Accommodation
Gatesheath has a campsite known as Carriages, this is a short distance away on Newton Lane.
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.
Tattenhall
Streetmap links
Tattenhall general view map
Tattenhall close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Tattenhall
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Tattenhall
Googly map
Tattenhall general view map
Tattenhall close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Tattenhall
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Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The south side of the track is best on a sunny day. Between 07:00 and 10:00 you might be ok on the north side looking west, from 10:00-14:30ish the sun is perfect for trains towards Crewe from the south side. From then on, it is better looking towards Crewe, for trains to Chester.
The bridge over the canal has a nice view over the railway, I would imagine it would be a very perfect morning shot of trains travelling towards Crewe.
It is quiet enough that videographers will have no problems.
The bridge over the canal has a nice view over the railway, I would imagine it would be a very perfect morning shot of trains travelling towards Crewe.
It is quiet enough that videographers will have no problems.
General views - All photographs © Alistair Minton unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north east
Fig 2 - Looking south west
Fig 3 - Looking south west
Fig 4 - Looking north east
Fig 5 - A general view of the crossing
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.
