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Location notes
An over bridge taking a quiet cul-de-sac lane over the main line between Yatton and Highbridge, a few miles from Weston-Super-Mare.
Railway type and traffic
Brent Knoll is on the main line from Bristol to Taunton and the south west. It sees FGW HSTs on services from Paddington routed via Bristol, Cross Country services (currently both Voyagers and HSTs) and FGW local Cardiff-Bristol-Taunton services which, at the time of writing, include 'top and tail' class 67 operations.
Freight is very limited but includes 6V62, the weekly fuel oil working from Fawley to Bristol and Plymouth and DRS nuclear waster traffic to Bridgwater. The line sees excursion traffic from north of Bristol to the West Country, including steam-hauled workings such as the 'Torbay Express' and specials to the West Somerset Railway.
Freight is very limited but includes 6V62, the weekly fuel oil working from Fawley to Bristol and Plymouth and DRS nuclear waster traffic to Bridgwater. The line sees excursion traffic from north of Bristol to the West Country, including steam-hauled workings such as the 'Torbay Express' and specials to the West Somerset Railway.
Environment
The location is a quiet lane that leads only to fields and some stables. 'Traffic' is usually limited to occasional walkers and horse-riders.
Road directions
From the M5, Junction 22:
Take the A38 towards Weston-Super-Mare. After the roundabout for Burnham-on-Sea, watch for a left turn ('Brent Street') signed for Brent Knoll. Pass through the village and at the end of the road, turn left into the A3140, and then left again into Crooked Lane. After about half a mile, the lane rises to cross the main line on a rusting steel bridge with a weight restriction.
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Brent Knoll map co-ordinates
Take the A38 towards Weston-Super-Mare. After the roundabout for Burnham-on-Sea, watch for a left turn ('Brent Street') signed for Brent Knoll. Pass through the village and at the end of the road, turn left into the A3140, and then left again into Crooked Lane. After about half a mile, the lane rises to cross the main line on a rusting steel bridge with a weight restriction.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Brent Knoll map co-ordinates
Parking
With care, it is possible to park on the over bridge itself. Otherwise, park by the verge nearby.
Public transport
Amenities
There is a pub in the village of Brent Knoll, which does food and real ale, and at least one local shop.
Accommodation
There are plenty of of B&Bs at nearby Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge or Weston-Super-Mare.
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.
Brent Knoll
Streetmap links
Brent Knoll general view map
Brent Knoll close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Brent Knoll
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Brent Knoll
Googly map
Brent Knoll general view map
Brent Knoll close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Brent Knoll
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Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The location is best for down trains from lunch-time until mid-afternoon or a little later. Up trains can be captured at a pinch, and subject to vegetation, it is also possible to do down trains in the morning, although the angle here can be a little narrow. The line here is straight and level and heavy trains pulling away from the Weston loop may be working hard to accelerate to line speed making for a good video sequence.
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
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.
