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Location notes
In rolling Suffolk countryside on the edge of the busy village of Elmswell, between Bury St. Edmunds and Stowmarket on the Cambridge / Ely to Ipswich line.
Railway type and traffic
There is an hourly service weekdays from Ipswich to Cambridge and 2 hourly service to Peterborough mainly formed of local Norwich based units from class 153/156/170 in One/Anglia liveries [Now Greater Anglia].
Amongst the many freight services run by DB Schenker/Freightliner/GBRF and others, DRS locos often appear on various movements on this line but it is a growing arterial route for cross country freight and with future loading gauge clearances and line improvements is set to get even busier. There are occasional steam excursions.
Amongst the many freight services run by DB Schenker/Freightliner/GBRF and others, DRS locos often appear on various movements on this line but it is a growing arterial route for cross country freight and with future loading gauge clearances and line improvements is set to get even busier. There are occasional steam excursions.
Environment
On a public bridleway close to a busy road in and out of the village, Elmswell Hall farm and B&B is a couple hundred yards or so away under the railway bridge at the end of Parnell Lane. A good torch would be needed after dark.
Road directions
Turn off the A14 trunk road at Junction 47 (the A1088 signed Ixworth) and at the roundabout take the Elmswell exit onto Church Road. Immediately beyond the church and almshouses turn left into School Rd. and the single-lane Parnell Lane is about 2/10ths mile off to the left on a sharp bend.
Parking at the site is very limited and it may be better to drive beyond the bend in the road and walk back.
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Elmswell Hall map co-ordinates
Parking at the site is very limited and it may be better to drive beyond the bend in the road and walk back.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Elmswell Hall map co-ordinates
Parking
Parking at the site is very limited and it may be better to drive beyond the bend in the road and walk back.
Public transport
Galloways bus service 384/5 runs through the village between Bury St. Edmunds and Stowmarket. However, Elmswell station is only about 1/2 mile away. (From the station turn right into Station Road and opposite the Co-op turn right again into School Road. Parnell Lane will be found on the right. As a point of interest, Hawks End Lane and Rose Lane mark the course of a former narrow-guage railway from Elmswell to brickworks at Woolpit).
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
No public toilets; however, such facilities for customers exist in the Railway Tavern (open midday till late) just up School Road toward the village centre. This pub does not serve food but contains an interesting collection of railway memorabilia, prints etc. Opposite the pub are the Elmswell Chinese Take-Away open from 17:00 except Mondays) and the Elmswell Fish & Chip shop (01359 244672 ~ closed Sun. Mon. but generally open lunch & evening I believe). In the centre of the village is a busy well-stocked Co-op and Post Office. Outside the station is the Fox pub, serving food lunchtime & evening (but closed Mondays) and with good views of the level crossing, line and station and all rail traffic.
Accommodation
Elmswell Hall is a farmhouse B&B just at the end of Parnell Lane.
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.
Elmswell Hall
Streetmap links
Elmswell Hall general view map
Elmswell Hall close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Elmswell Hall
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Elmswell Hall
Googly map
Elmswell Hall general view map
Elmswell Hall close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Elmswell Hall
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Photographic notes
The line is embanked at this point so good views can be had from below. Others prefer the top of Parnell Lane where a wider view can be obtained.The line is to the north so light is rarely a problem. Not really suitable for videography as the clip would be rather short.
General views - All photographs © Howard Innpictime unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west - Image © Geoff Tibble
Fig 2 - Looking east - Image © Geoff Tibble
From the fence line, just to the east of the crossing. The main crossing is around the end of the train.
Fig 3 - Looking east - Image © Geoff Tibble
Fig 4 - Looking north
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.
