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Location notes
Update March 2017: This crossing has now been closed.
Spondon Foot Crossing is a small, gated crossing on the Midland Main Line, about two miles South East of Derby in the East Midlands of England. The station of Spondon is around half a mile away with services from Matlock to Nottingham/Newark Castle and Nottingham - Birmingham New Street/Cardiff Central.
The crossing is also over a partially disused siding. As the siding is gated off from the crossing.
Spondon Foot Crossing is a small, gated crossing on the Midland Main Line, about two miles South East of Derby in the East Midlands of England. The station of Spondon is around half a mile away with services from Matlock to Nottingham/Newark Castle and Nottingham - Birmingham New Street/Cardiff Central.
The crossing is also over a partially disused siding. As the siding is gated off from the crossing.
Railway type and traffic
There are two passenger operators that serve the line.
CrossCountry: 170s are the most regular of the company. There is a once daily Nottingham - Bournemouth service that has a 220/221 on it and occasional diverts with HSTs too. East Midlands Trains: 153s, 156s, 158s, 222s and HSTs are regular on this line.
There are also some non-passenger services to the likes of Derby Bombardier Litchurch Lane. There is a once/twice weekly aggregate train from Humberstone Road. The freight traction is mostly 66s and the occasional 60. Test Trains are the most plentiful for non-passenger workings to and from Derby RTC and regularly use heritage traction. DCR operate scrap trains through the location utilising 56s and there are also light engine moves.
There are also some non-passenger services to the likes of Derby Bombardier Litchurch Lane. There is a once/twice weekly aggregate train from Humberstone Road. The freight traction is mostly 66s and the occasional 60. Test Trains are the most plentiful for non-passenger workings to and from Derby RTC and regularly use heritage traction. DCR operate scrap trains through the location utilising 56s and there are also light engine moves.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Spondon Foot Crossing
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
There are trees from which you can shelter yourself under. The crossing is underused so the most people you will see there in a day is about 10. Most if not all of these are nice individuals.
Road directions
From the M1, Junction 25:
Follow the A52 towards Derby and follow the brown signs to Alton Towers onto the A5111. Take the exit signed "Service Roads Celanese" and then the first exit at the roundabout onto the East service road. Turn right onto Megaloughton Lane and after the Cemex plan the lay-by is on the left.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Spondon Foot Crossing map co-ordinates
Follow the A52 towards Derby and follow the brown signs to Alton Towers onto the A5111. Take the exit signed "Service Roads Celanese" and then the first exit at the roundabout onto the East service road. Turn right onto Megaloughton Lane and after the Cemex plan the lay-by is on the left.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Spondon Foot Crossing map co-ordinates
Parking
You can leave your car either from the North on a small muddy track or park it in the lay-by right next to the foot crossing entrance on Celanease Road.
Public transport
Amenities
There is a local superstore, ASDA around quarter a mile away in Chaddesden, next to the A52 'Brian Clough Way'. It has toilets, somewhere to eat and also a petrol station.
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.
Spondon Foot Crossing
Streetmap links
Spondon Foot Crossing general view map
Spondon Foot Crossing close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Spondon Foot Crossing
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Spondon Foot Crossing
Googly map
Spondon Foot Crossing general view map
Spondon Foot Crossing close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Spondon Foot Crossing
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Photographic notes
Update March 2017: This crossing has now been closed.
The lighting is best in the summer when the sun is above the trees. As for winter, the traffic heading north is fine for photos as it is basically head-on. You can shoot trains moving in both directions, though the ones heading north generally provide a better outcome. The best angle is to be on the side of the wind turbine.
The lighting is best in the summer when the sun is above the trees. As for winter, the traffic heading north is fine for photos as it is basically head-on. You can shoot trains moving in both directions, though the ones heading north generally provide a better outcome. The best angle is to be on the side of the wind turbine.
General views - All photographs © Tom Cripps unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking east
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.
