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Location notes
A rural location mid-way between Witham Friary and Bruton on the Westbury to Taunton line. Strap Lane is the name of a former halt which once served the nearby village of Upton Noble and is near the summit of Brewham Bank, with gradients of 1 in 81 from the west, and 1 in 107 from the east.
Railway type and traffic
The location sees a regular diet of FGW HSTs on the 'direct' route from Reading to Taunton, plus DMUs (and top-and-tail 67s on Summer Saturdays) on the services to and from Weymouth.
Regular daylight freight is now very limited - just ballast from Meldon Quarry to Westbury and PW traffic. Note that the location is west of East Somerset Junction and thus does not see any Mendip stone traffic.
The line does, however, get it's fair share of excursion traffic, including loco-hauled extras in connection with the Glastonbury Festival in June.
Regular daylight freight is now very limited - just ballast from Meldon Quarry to Westbury and PW traffic. Note that the location is west of East Somerset Junction and thus does not see any Mendip stone traffic.
The line does, however, get it's fair share of excursion traffic, including loco-hauled extras in connection with the Glastonbury Festival in June.
Environment
The location is an over bridge carrying a quiet country lane over the railway. Take care driving in the vicinity as the roads are frequented by horse-riders.
Road directions
The location is best reached from the A359 between Bruton and Frome.
Several turnings are signposted to Upton Noble but don't worry as they all funnel into one lane which snakes its way downhill to the over bridge.
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Strap Lane, Upton Noble map co-ordinates
Several turnings are signposted to Upton Noble but don't worry as they all funnel into one lane which snakes its way downhill to the over bridge.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Strap Lane, Upton Noble map co-ordinates
Parking
There is a lay-by (often muddy) just to the south of the over bridge. Do not even think about parking on the bridge itself: the road is just too narrow and you will be forced to move when the next tractor comes along!
Public transport
There is no public transport to Upton Noble as far as I am aware.
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
The nearest place to eat and drink is the pub in Wanstrow, and others in Bruton and Frome. A visit to the area might also take in the East Somerset Railway at nearby Cranmore: the ancient-looking Strode Arms near the station does high-quality pub meals.
Accommodation
One option would be the new Premier Inn at Berkley near Frome (look out for the 'Frome Flyer' on the A362) which just happens to be close to another good lineside location.
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.
Strap Lane, Upton Noble
Streetmap links
Strap Lane, Upton Noble general view map
Strap Lane, Upton Noble close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Strap Lane, Upton Noble
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Strap Lane, Upton Noble
Googly map
Strap Lane, Upton Noble general view map
Strap Lane, Upton Noble close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Strap Lane, Upton Noble
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Photographic notes
The location is only really any good, photographically, for 'down' trains. The sun is right from about mid-morining through to early afternoon. It then gets too 'head on' until mid-afternoon or so when it becomes possible to shoot from the 'north-west' side of the bridge.
Vegetation is a problem for longer trains but it is currently, late-2008, possible to get a whole HST in. The 'Meldon' ballast train, however, tends to disappear into a hedge at the far end!
Videographers will appreciate the audio opportunities as trains can be heard tackling the bank from Witham Friary a mile and a half away to the east.
The rolling Mendip hills provide an attractive backdrop while abundant rosebay willowherb offers some nice foreground colour in summer.
Vegetation is a problem for longer trains but it is currently, late-2008, possible to get a whole HST in. The 'Meldon' ballast train, however, tends to disappear into a hedge at the far end!
Videographers will appreciate the audio opportunities as trains can be heard tackling the bank from Witham Friary a mile and a half away to the east.
The rolling Mendip hills provide an attractive backdrop while abundant rosebay willowherb offers some nice foreground colour in summer.
General views - All photographs © Glen Batten unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - Looking north
Fig 3 - Looking north
Fig 4 - Looking south
Fig 5 - Looking south
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.
