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Location notes
A recently constructed road bridge leading to the new station on the Midland Main Line. A few miles to the north of the location three lines converge from Derby, Sheffield and Nottingham and then all head south towards Leicester.
This shot was originally from the A453 bridge, but this bridge has been constructed a few hundred feet to the north of that road.
This shot was originally from the A453 bridge, but this bridge has been constructed a few hundred feet to the north of that road.
Railway type and traffic
Plenty of East Midlands Trains 222 Meridians and HSTs on expresses from London to places like Leicester, Derby or Leeds. Local EMT services with 158s or 156s.
Freight is predominantly in the hands of DB Schenker and Freightliner, with the odd GBRf working passing through.
There will also be, from time to time, Serco test trains, including the NMT passing the location as they head from the Serco Railtest in Derby. Also stock moves and new unit deliveries will, often, pass this location on their way from Derby Litchurch Lane to the south.
Coal traffic to the power station will not pass this location. The northbound track having been lifted so only south bound workings can enter the power station.
Freight is predominantly in the hands of DB Schenker and Freightliner, with the odd GBRf working passing through.
There will also be, from time to time, Serco test trains, including the NMT passing the location as they head from the Serco Railtest in Derby. Also stock moves and new unit deliveries will, often, pass this location on their way from Derby Litchurch Lane to the south.
Coal traffic to the power station will not pass this location. The northbound track having been lifted so only south bound workings can enter the power station.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link East Midlands Parkway
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
Environment
The area is mainly open with fields and marinas in the area, with no residential areas close by. There is, of course the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station that tends to dominate the skyline.
The station is a parkway facility for the nearby East Midlands Airport and planes will be seen at low altitudes coming in to land from here.
The station is a parkway facility for the nearby East Midlands Airport and planes will be seen at low altitudes coming in to land from here.
Road directions
From the M1, junction 24:
Take the A453 north east from the junction and the station will be signposted. But it is basically along the road and left at the traffic lights.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
East Midlands Parkway map co-ordinates
Take the A453 north east from the junction and the station will be signposted. But it is basically along the road and left at the traffic lights.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
East Midlands Parkway map co-ordinates
Parking
East Midlands Parkway has a very large car park, or there are a number of building site turn ins where you could leave a car. But park off the road as a number of buses use this route.
Public transport
East Midlands Park way is served by East Midlands Trains from places like Derby and Leicester.
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 station has a set of basic facilities, but little in the way of food and drink. For this you would need to travel up to Long Eaton.
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.
East Midlands Parkway
Streetmap links
East Midlands Parkway general view map
East Midlands Parkway close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
East Midlands Parkway
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
East Midlands Parkway
Googly map
East Midlands Parkway general view map
East Midlands Parkway close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
East Midlands Parkway
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The main shot at this location is one with the cooling towers dominating the skyline. For this you will need a wide angle lens around 20-24mm on a Digital SLR. But as this shot is facing north then it will be well lit from mid morning to quite late in the day. Steps will be required to see of the the bridge sides as they are over 7ft high, but the sides views are just road side crash barriers.
The approach to the station is in a cutting that slopes down as it goes away from the bridge but should not cause much problem with shadows.
The northbound shot is not really much to speak of and there are far better locations a short journey away.
The approach to the station is in a cutting that slopes down as it goes away from the bridge but should not cause much problem with shadows.
The northbound shot is not really much to speak of and there are far better locations a short journey away.
General views - All photographs © Marcus Dawson unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - Looking north
Fig 3 - Looking north
Taken with a DSLR at 60mm this view shows the signals that are located at a prime position to obscure the shot!
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.
