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Location notes
A road overbrige or field location on the Great Eastern Main Line a few miles south of Ipswich.
Railway type and traffic
Express passenger service between London and East Anglia, also freightliners to/from the port of Felixstowe.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Belstead Bank, GEML
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
Depending on the location you are either on a minor road bridge over the railway or in fields close to the bridge.
Road directions
From the A14, Junction 56:
Follow the A137 south for about a mile. You will pass some large radio aerials on your right. When you come to a staggered cross roads take the right turn, signed to Belstead and Pinewood. Continue up this road for about another mile and you will reach the road bridge.
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Belstead Bank, GEML map co-ordinates
Follow the A137 south for about a mile. You will pass some large radio aerials on your right. When you come to a staggered cross roads take the right turn, signed to Belstead and Pinewood. Continue up this road for about another mile and you will reach the road bridge.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Belstead Bank, GEML map co-ordinates
Parking
There is a small lay by just to east of bridge where you could tuck your car in. You could also on bridge, but there is only a little room there.
Be considerate, and aware, that large farm vehicles use this road.
Be considerate, and aware, that large farm vehicles use this road.
Public transport
This would require a long walk from the nearest
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
Nothing available at the location.
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.
Belstead Bank, GEML
Streetmap links
Belstead Bank, GEML general view map
Belstead Bank, GEML close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Belstead Bank, GEML
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Belstead Bank, GEML
Googly map
Belstead Bank, GEML general view map
Belstead Bank, GEML close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Belstead Bank, GEML
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
For southbound trains, from the bridge itself. Need to choose position to minimise effect of OHL. Possibilities from both sides of line.
Also, from public footpath or field edge north of the overbridge. Public footpath starts about 100 yards west of bridge and runs along unsurfaced farm track. After 300 yards it crosses another public footpath which runs across the field to the railway, and crosses the line on a footpath. Depending on the state of crops, there are various possibilities from the path, and also along the fence line.
Warning: Do not stand inside the railway fence at the crossing. If crossing the line take great care. This is a 100 mph line with limited visibility at the crossing.
There are also possibilities from the edge of the field on the east side, depending on the state of the field.
The line is in a shallow cutting and folding steps are an advantage.
The sun is on the east side until mid afternoon. Best time for photography on west side is therefore later afternoon or summer evenings.
An alternative stretch of line is accessible via a footpath which leaves the road about 450 yards east of the overbridge, at the corner of a wood. There is space for a couple of cars at the starting point of the path. The path follows the edge of the wood, to the next overbridge south, which is a half mile walk. There is a possibility for a southbound photo here from west side of line. For northbound trains, go along the field edge southwards from this bridge.
At all these locations, vegetation can be a problem between May and November.
Also, from public footpath or field edge north of the overbridge. Public footpath starts about 100 yards west of bridge and runs along unsurfaced farm track. After 300 yards it crosses another public footpath which runs across the field to the railway, and crosses the line on a footpath. Depending on the state of crops, there are various possibilities from the path, and also along the fence line.
Warning: Do not stand inside the railway fence at the crossing. If crossing the line take great care. This is a 100 mph line with limited visibility at the crossing.
There are also possibilities from the edge of the field on the east side, depending on the state of the field.
The line is in a shallow cutting and folding steps are an advantage.
The sun is on the east side until mid afternoon. Best time for photography on west side is therefore later afternoon or summer evenings.
An alternative stretch of line is accessible via a footpath which leaves the road about 450 yards east of the overbridge, at the corner of a wood. There is space for a couple of cars at the starting point of the path. The path follows the edge of the wood, to the next overbridge south, which is a half mile walk. There is a possibility for a southbound photo here from west side of line. For northbound trains, go along the field edge southwards from this bridge.
At all these locations, vegetation can be a problem between May and November.
General views - All photographs © Keith Halton unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - 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.
