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Location notes
A road over railway bridge next to the small Thornford Halt on the Dorchester West to Yeovil Pen Mill line, situated around a mile outside the village of Thornford and Yetminster.
Railway type and traffic
Traffic is mainly First Great Western Class 150s, 158s and 153s, with First Great Western HSTs starting to operate along the line on summer Saturdays as of 2014.
Steam and Diesel Specials operate throughout the year with occasional test trains.
The nearby Yeovil Railway Centre services steam locomotives on railtours to Weymouth, so ECS movements from Weymouth including light engine moves will operate along this line to and from Weymouth and Yeovil.
Steam and Diesel Specials operate throughout the year with occasional test trains.
The nearby Yeovil Railway Centre services steam locomotives on railtours to Weymouth, so ECS movements from Weymouth including light engine moves will operate along this line to and from Weymouth and Yeovil.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Thornford
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 station is located around a mile west of the village of Thornford, surrounded by lovely Dorset countryside.
Road directions
From the main A37 Yeovil to Dorchester road, turn off at Yeovil Lodge Junction and follow signs for Yetminster. Once you have arrived in Yetminster, pass straight through the village. Once you have departed Yetminster you will see the sign which indicates Thornford Railway Station around a mile after Yetminster.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Thornford map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Thornford map co-ordinates
Parking
There is a small car park around a quarter of a mile from the station. Travelling from Yetminster, pass Thornford station and you will eventually come to a T Junction, turn right and the car park will be on your right. Roadside parking close to the location is difficult due to the narrow roads and should be avoided.
Public transport
Trains stop on request at the station, and there are buses available from the villages of Thornford and Yetminster.
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 are no toilets in the immediate vicinity, but Yetminster has a small shop in the centre of the village and there are pubs in Yetminster and Thornford.
Accommodation
Plenty of B&Bs and Hotels in the nearby towns of Sherborne and Yeovil.
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.
Thornford
Streetmap links
Thornford general view map
Thornford close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Thornford
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Thornford
Googly map
Thornford general view map
Thornford close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Thornford
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The actual station does not offer an inspiring shot. But for photographing southbound workings in the late afternoon/evening the bridge offers and excellent view.
Stand on the right hand side of the line looking south stood on top the embankment alongside the road. You will capture a nice shot of a train approaching the station with the picturesque countryside behind the train.
Stand on the right hand side of the line looking south stood on top the embankment alongside the road. You will capture a nice shot of a train approaching the station with the picturesque countryside behind the train.
General views - All photographs © Jack Haynes unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking south east
Fig 2 - Looking south east
Fig 3 - Looking north west
Fig 4 - Looking south 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.
