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Location notes
This location is the B4114 road bridge, the Saltley Viaduct, within the inner city of Birmingham on the Birmingham to Derby/Nuneaton Line, between Washwood Heath and Landor Street Junction. From the bridge you can see the main running lines and the approaches to Landor Street Junction.
Railway type and traffic
All sorts pass through here. Passenger wise, CrossCountry are the only operator, with Class 43s, 170s, 220s and 221s passing at regular intervals. VT Voyagers also pass the location running ECS to Central Rivers.
Regarding freight, almost every operator uses the route through the location:Freightliner: services working from Lawley Street to Felixstowe/Southampton can usually be seen to the right hand lines looking south (at the western end of the bridge); services between Leeds and Southampton use the main lines (to the east). Sometimes a few Washwood Heath-Bescot sleeper runs take place. Traction: 66s/70s.
DB Cargo: Steel to and from Margam, Cement from Avonmouth and various other oddments. Traction: 66s. DRS: The as required Bridgwater-Crewe nuclear flask trains pass through here, en route to the WCML via Sutton Park. Traction: usually 68s. The Daventry-Wentloog southbound Tesco liner runs through here on weekdays, and usually has a 66 up front. GBRf: Mainly ballast trains from Eastleigh/Westbury to Mountsorrel/Cliffe Hill Stud Farm. Traction: 66s.
Regarding freight, almost every operator uses the route through the location:
Environment
The location is a very busy road bridge, with cars, buses and lorries in plentiful supply. These can come over the bridge like the clappers, so use of the traffic lights is highly recommended.
You might want to use steps at the bridge to get a better view looking over as the parapet is about 6 foot high, though the western end looking south has a gap, and part of the north end has a missing section of parapet. Space for steps is a problem here as the paths are quite narrow, and a lot of people walk over it at all times of day.
If going, company is highly recommended, as Saltley is, sadly, not known for being a crime-free area.
You might want to use steps at the bridge to get a better view looking over as the parapet is about 6 foot high, though the western end looking south has a gap, and part of the north end has a missing section of parapet. Space for steps is a problem here as the paths are quite narrow, and a lot of people walk over it at all times of day.
If going, company is highly recommended, as Saltley is, sadly, not known for being a crime-free area.
Road directions
Parking
There are a few local roads (Devon Street, Mainstream Way, Alderflat Place, among others), which look like like they have parking, however details of how busy it gets are unconfirmed.
Public transport
The nearest station would be Duddeston. From there, walk north along the B4132 (Melvina Road) until the roundabout with the A47, then turn east along the A47 (Saltley Road), following it until the next roundabout. From there, walk up to the B4114 on the viaduct.
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Accommodation
The nearest accommodation would be in Birmingham City Centre.
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.
Saltley Viaduct
Streetmap links
Saltley Viaduct general view map
Saltley Viaduct close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Saltley Viaduct
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Saltley Viaduct
Googly map
Saltley Viaduct general view map
Saltley Viaduct close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Saltley Viaduct
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Photographic notes
Zoom lenses are highly recommended for traffic at Landor Street Junction. The south west corner of the bridge offers a decent aperture to most looking south.
General views - All photographs © Cosmo Graham unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - Looking south
Fig 3 - 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.
Bewdley Tunnel and Black stone nature reserve
