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Location notes
Fairwood Junction is the point on the Reading-Taunton Line west of Westbury where the main line into Westbury Station and the Westbury Avoider converge. The road bridge above the junction offers views to the west, and on both routes to the east; the eastern view also boasts the Westbury White Horse on the hill above the town.
Railway type and traffic
Passenger traffic usually consists of Great Western Railway HSTs on Intercity services, and Sprinters (of Classes 150, 153, & 158) on local/regional traffic. These are due to be replaced in this area with IETs (mainly Class 802) and Networker Turbos (Classes 165/166) in the coming months.
SWR 159s also occasionally make an appearance.
Freight traffic mainly consists of aggregates trains. The "Jumbo" aggregate trains to/from the Mendip Quarries (Whatley, Merehead etc.) comprise the majority of aggregate traffic, with a Class 59 (operated either by Aggregate Industries, Hanson or DB Cargo) being the main motive power. Some smaller aggregate trains, operated by DB Cargo Class 66s, also make an appearance every so often.
Departmental trains to Taunton Fairwater Yard and beyond also use this route, with Freightliner & Colas providing most of the motive power for them.
SWR 159s also occasionally make an appearance.
Freight traffic mainly consists of aggregates trains. The "Jumbo" aggregate trains to/from the Mendip Quarries (Whatley, Merehead etc.) comprise the majority of aggregate traffic, with a Class 59 (operated either by Aggregate Industries, Hanson or DB Cargo) being the main motive power. Some smaller aggregate trains, operated by DB Cargo Class 66s, also make an appearance every so often.
Departmental trains to Taunton Fairwater Yard and beyond also use this route, with Freightliner & Colas providing most of the motive power for them.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Fairwood Junction, Westbury
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 location is on a stone bridge on the western outskirts of Westbury, accessible by a gravel farm track off Fairwood Road. There are a few fields near by containing farm animals, so disruption would be unwise.
Road directions
From the south:
Take the first turning on the left after Fairwood Lakes Luxury Lodges, then follow the track to the bridge.
From the north:
Take the first turning on the right after Fairwood House (marked with a grand entrance gate); the track is just before a house with a red roof.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Fairwood Junction, Westbury map co-ordinates
Take the first turning on the left after Fairwood Lakes Luxury Lodges, then follow the track to the bridge.
From the north:
Take the first turning on the right after Fairwood House (marked with a grand entrance gate); the track is just before a house with a red roof.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Fairwood Junction, Westbury map co-ordinates
Parking
At the southern end of the bridge, there is a small gravel lay-by to park cars. In summer, the lay-by is quite shady, so is a good spot for a picnic in between a lull in traffic.
Public transport
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.
Fairwood Junction, Westbury
Streetmap links
Fairwood Junction, Westbury general view map
Fairwood Junction, Westbury close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Fairwood Junction, Westbury
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Fairwood Junction, Westbury
Googly map
Fairwood Junction, Westbury general view map
Fairwood Junction, Westbury close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Fairwood Junction, Westbury
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Photographic notes
You can shoot in either direction at the bridge, but shots facing west are better in the morning and shots facing east are better in the afternoon. Using a telephoto lens with a lens hood can help mitigate the worst of the sun if facing it.
General views - All photographs © Cosmo Graham unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking east
Fig 2 - Looking west
Fig 3 - Looking 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.
