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Location notes
Newbury is a delightful town in Berkshire. It is on the Berks and Hants line in the south of England and is a very friendly place.
Railway type and traffic
Newbury is a very busy main line station. There are normally First Great Western 125s going through every 15 minutes on the two express lines, along with the sprinter services from London all the way down to Bristol and Plymouth.
There are numerous freight trains through the day, mostly with the Hanson class 59 with a stone train.
There are numerous freight trains through the day, mostly with the Hanson class 59 with a stone train.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Newbury Railway Station
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
Newbury is a very busy location, one that has very little youth activity. There is a very low crime rate in Newbury, and the police patrol the area regularly. You are very unlikely to be mugged as it is a loud and vibrant town, with plenty of action.
Road directions
When you reach Tot Hill Services on the A34, turn off and head down towards Newbury. When you reach the first roundabout, turn left 1st exit onto the A339. Follow the road round until you reach station road, where you turn into Newbury Station.
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Newbury Railway Station map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Newbury Railway Station map co-ordinates
Parking
Free parking for 2 hours is available along part of the Western end of Station Road but pay and display nearer the station.
Public transport
Newbury is very well served with First Great Western trains and there is a bus service to the station every 15 minutes.
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 toilets are very clean and there is a friendly waiting room with numerous vending machines and a small shop/cafe. Around the corner, there is a host of restaurants for you.
Accommodation
There are numerous B&Bs in Newbury - they all range in price.
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.
Newbury Railway Station
Streetmap links
Newbury Railway Station general view map
Newbury Railway Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Newbury Railway Station
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Newbury Railway Station
Googly map
Newbury Railway Station general view map
Newbury Railway Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Newbury Railway Station
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Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The light is generally good. In the spring and early summer, the sun can play havoc with your camera shot. The sun is through the footbridge, which can be known to reflect light. For the rest of the day, the sun is fine and there is plenty of shelter for you to go under if the rain comes.
On platform 1, in the evening, the sun is low and so can go into the camera lens. I recommend that you go there if the train is going either way. It is a choice between a long curve and a straight track that leads down to Newbury Racecourse station. I have only shot steam and diesels from the curve. Platform 1 is the best, right down the end of the platform, heading towards London. It gives you an unrivalled view across the whole station. I like Newbury as they give you information like no other station. If you were unsure whether a special was coming through, the staff at Newbury can often explain if the train is on its way. The PA is very good, as he will often say what locomotive it is, with which stock, and a detailed, but not too boring history of the train. Three liveries of class 59 can be encountered on stone trains: Aggregate Industries, Hanson, and DB Schenker, there is also an occasional GBRF 66 working and regular DBS 66 workings.
A new covered footbridge between the platforms at the west of the canopies opens in April 2018. The 1906 Great Western covered footbridge will then be demolished to allow clearance for electrification. Both Platforms 1 and 2 have OpenTrains style real time displays for staff information and can be consulted by anyone on the platforms so you can see what is on the line between Pewsey and Theale.
On platform 1, in the evening, the sun is low and so can go into the camera lens. I recommend that you go there if the train is going either way. It is a choice between a long curve and a straight track that leads down to Newbury Racecourse station. I have only shot steam and diesels from the curve. Platform 1 is the best, right down the end of the platform, heading towards London. It gives you an unrivalled view across the whole station. I like Newbury as they give you information like no other station. If you were unsure whether a special was coming through, the staff at Newbury can often explain if the train is on its way. The PA is very good, as he will often say what locomotive it is, with which stock, and a detailed, but not too boring history of the train. Three liveries of class 59 can be encountered on stone trains: Aggregate Industries, Hanson, and DB Schenker, there is also an occasional GBRF 66 working and regular DBS 66 workings.
A new covered footbridge between the platforms at the west of the canopies opens in April 2018. The 1906 Great Western covered footbridge will then be demolished to allow clearance for electrification. Both Platforms 1 and 2 have OpenTrains style real time displays for staff information and can be consulted by anyone on the platforms so you can see what is on the line between Pewsey and Theale.
General views - All photographs © James Corben unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west - Image © Russ Burrows
Fig 2 - Looking west
Location Video
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.
