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Location notes
B4055 road bridge over the main Bristol - South Wales line in Pilning village, about half way between Pilning Station and the Severn Tunnel east portal. Great views in both directions of a variety of traffic accelerating up the gradient from the tunnel or slowing to enter it.
Looking west, the M4 'new' Severn Crossing offers an interesting backdrop to pictures.
Looking west, the M4 'new' Severn Crossing offers an interesting backdrop to pictures.
Railway type and traffic
FGW HSTs working express passenger services between London and Cardiff / Swansea. Class 143, 150, 158 and 180 DMUs work cross country services mainly between South Wales, Taunton, Southampton and Portsmouth.
Freight services are a mix of stone, oil, coal and departmental trains. DBS provide 59s, 66s, and 60s for it's trains, Freightliner coal trains can also been seen-one is now booked for class 70 haulage.
There are loops in both directions for holding freight trains.
Down trains are often checked here awaiting a path through the Tunnel.
This is also a popular railtour route, so summer specials provide a variety of steam and preserved diesel types.
Occasional diversions bring North/South cross-country Voyagers and freight.
Freight services are a mix of stone, oil, coal and departmental trains. DBS provide 59s, 66s, and 60s for it's trains, Freightliner coal trains can also been seen-one is now booked for class 70 haulage.
There are loops in both directions for holding freight trains.
Down trains are often checked here awaiting a path through the Tunnel.
This is also a popular railtour route, so summer specials provide a variety of steam and preserved diesel types.
Occasional diversions bring North/South cross-country Voyagers and freight.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Pilning village
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 bridge here carries a 'B' class road which is busy but traffic is not incessant.
On the southerly side of the bridge is a pavement, the northerly side has a kerb and room to stand safely off the road. You have a high vantage point over looking four regularly used lines which descend into a shallow cutting. The location is surrounded by open countryside on three sides. It is bordered by a low escarpment to the east, and the M4 Severn Bridge dominates the skyline to the WSW. The road bends on either side of the bridge so care should be taken when crossing the carriageway.
On the southerly side of the bridge is a pavement, the northerly side has a kerb and room to stand safely off the road. You have a high vantage point over looking four regularly used lines which descend into a shallow cutting. The location is surrounded by open countryside on three sides. It is bordered by a low escarpment to the east, and the M4 Severn Bridge dominates the skyline to the WSW. The road bends on either side of the bridge so care should be taken when crossing the carriageway.
Road directions
From the M5, Junction 17:
head north, down the hill through the village of Easter Compton, on the B4055 towards Pilning.Continue past a Y-shaped junction on the right and follow the road round until it rises up and over the railway.
Alternatively, leave the M48 at Junction 1 and head south on the A403 to Avonmouth. At Pilning (after about 2 miles), turn left onto the B4064 to Pilning village, then about 1/4 mile beyond, when the B4064 turns left, go straight on and the bridge is about 1/2 mile beyond.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Pilning village map co-ordinates
head north, down the hill through the village of Easter Compton, on the B4055 towards Pilning.Continue past a Y-shaped junction on the right and follow the road round until it rises up and over the railway.
Alternatively, leave the M48 at Junction 1 and head south on the A403 to Avonmouth. At Pilning (after about 2 miles), turn left onto the B4064 to Pilning village, then about 1/4 mile beyond, when the B4064 turns left, go straight on and the bridge is about 1/2 mile beyond.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Pilning village map co-ordinates
Parking
There is space for about two or three cars by the access gate, but do not block it.
The bridge is next to houses and the area is safe for parking.
The bridge is next to houses and the area is safe for parking.
Public transport
The location is on the Wessex Connect 625 bus route from Severn Beach to Bristol (2-hourly) or about a 1 1/2 mile walk from Severn Beach station. Pilning station only has two stopping services per week (!) so don't rely on the rail service to get you out there.
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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
There is nothing at the location. There is a pub and a general store a few minutes' walk away in the village.
Accommodation
Plenty in the Bristol area.
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.
Pilning village
Streetmap links
Pilning village general view map
Pilning village close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Pilning village
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Pilning village
Googly map
Pilning village general view map
Pilning village close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Pilning village
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The line runs North West - South East, so up trains can be photographed up to late afternoon, after which they become back-lit. Down trains are backlit in the morning but from about 12:00, they can be photographed for the rest of the day. The line is in a cutting, so shadows may be a problem in winter. There is a signal gantry that makes photography of up trains awkward and a good zoom lens is recommended.
Road noise means that video is probably not a good idea here.
Road noise means that video is probably not a good idea here.
General views - All photographs © Richard Allen unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west
Fig 2 - Looking North West - Image © Mark Clothier
Fig 3 - Looking east
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.
