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Location notes
Ely is located 12 miles north of the city of Cambridge. It is an important railway junction on the mainline London to Kings Lynn route. Other routes from the junction head north east to Norwich, south east to Ipswich and Felixstowe, south to Cambridge and London, north-west to Peterborough and the East Coast mainline.
Railway type and traffic
Trains are mainly DMUs operated by Anglia Railways and Central Trains and EMUs run by First Capital Connect.
There are a number of daily freight trains from DB Schenker, Freightliner and GBRf passing Ely at all times of the day.
There are a number of daily freight trains from DB Schenker, Freightliner and GBRf passing Ely at all times of the day.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Ely, Riverside
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 riverside location is on a public footpath running from the marina at Ely in the general direction of Queen Adelaide, a village about two miles north near Ely North Junction. The ground is often wet and soggy, so welly boots are essential unless you visit on a baking hot summer day. There is no seating in the area so a deckchair may be needed!
Road directions
From the A10:
Once at the southern side of Ely take the A142 (signposted Newmarket) to skirt round the southern end of town toward the station. Go straight over at the roundabout by Tesco’s and turn left at the next to head into town. After about 150 yards turn right onto Broad Street, see below:
From the A142:
From the A142 from Newmarket direction pass into Ely under the railway bridge, past the station entrance and Tesco’s. At the mini-roundabout, take the second exit to head into town and turn right after about 150 yards onto Broad Street.
Once on Broad Street:
Continue along it passing the chip shop and two free parking areas. There is a 90 degree left turn with a junction off to the right, take this turnoff and take the first left, and then the first right. Follow this road down to the marina, along to the trackside and it will lead you to the parking area. From here, the rest of the journey is on foot, walking back out of the parking area and turning right along the boarded pathway under the railway bridge and out onto a raised footpath beside the river. It is along this path that you should choose your photo spot, see Photographic Notes for more details.
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Ely, Riverside map co-ordinates
Once at the southern side of Ely take the A142 (signposted Newmarket) to skirt round the southern end of town toward the station. Go straight over at the roundabout by Tesco’s and turn left at the next to head into town. After about 150 yards turn right onto Broad Street, see below:
From the A142:
From the A142 from Newmarket direction pass into Ely under the railway bridge, past the station entrance and Tesco’s. At the mini-roundabout, take the second exit to head into town and turn right after about 150 yards onto Broad Street.
Once on Broad Street:
Continue along it passing the chip shop and two free parking areas. There is a 90 degree left turn with a junction off to the right, take this turnoff and take the first left, and then the first right. Follow this road down to the marina, along to the trackside and it will lead you to the parking area. From here, the rest of the journey is on foot, walking back out of the parking area and turning right along the boarded pathway under the railway bridge and out onto a raised footpath beside the river. It is along this path that you should choose your photo spot, see Photographic Notes for more details.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Ely, Riverside map co-ordinates
Parking
See the road directions.
Public transport
From Ely station:
Head out of the station parking area, turn left at the exit and cross over using the pelican crossing. Bear right at the mini roundabout, keeping on the same footpath. Shortly after the roundabout you’ll find a road called ‘Annesdale’ leading off to the right. Go down here to find yourself at the Marina with the Cutter pub in front of you. Keep forward, following the riverside path. When you get to the Private Access bridge leading to the boat storage area, walk round the bottom of the ramp and you’ll see the path continuing between bridge and nearby buildings. The path leads up to the railway over bridge (with parking area to the left) and out into the marshy riverside area, through the middle of this marsh is the raised footpath from which the photos are taken.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Head out of the station parking area, turn left at the exit and cross over using the pelican crossing. Bear right at the mini roundabout, keeping on the same footpath. Shortly after the roundabout you’ll find a road called ‘Annesdale’ leading off to the right. Go down here to find yourself at the Marina with the Cutter pub in front of you. Keep forward, following the riverside path. When you get to the Private Access bridge leading to the boat storage area, walk round the bottom of the ramp and you’ll see the path continuing between bridge and nearby buildings. The path leads up to the railway over bridge (with parking area to the left) and out into the marshy riverside area, through the middle of this marsh is the raised footpath from which the photos are taken.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
There is the Cutter Inn on the waterfront at Ely for drinks and food, as well as a number of cafes. Alan’s Chip Shop can be found on Broad Street, a short walk away, and is right beside the access to Ship Lane parking area.
You can find toilets in the free parking area at Ship Lane.
You can find toilets in the free parking area at Ship Lane.
Accommodation
The Cutter Inn offers accommodation, tel: +44 (0) 1353 662713.
Ely Online lists other hotels and guest houses.
Ely Online lists other hotels and guest houses.
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.
Ely, Riverside
Streetmap links
Ely, Riverside general view map
Ely, Riverside close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Ely, Riverside
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Ely, Riverside
Googly map
Ely, Riverside general view map
Ely, Riverside close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Ely, Riverside
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The traditional view here is a three-quarter front view of northbound trains with the Cathedral as the backdrop, facing south-west so you’re limited in opportunities if you like a nice arty picture. To achieve this I stand well back from the track and use a telephoto lens, which makes the cathedral fill the frame. Walking the path and checking the view is the best way to find a shot that suits you. If you’re closer to the rail bridges then you can get photos of southbound trains by facing north-west, but you won’t have the cathedral background, similarly if you go further from the bridge to get the classic view the shots of southbound trains are compromised.
The best time for photographing here is the early morning around 8am to 1pm when the sun is behind you, later in the afternoon it ends up over the marina making the classic northbound train shot very difficult to achieve. Unfortunately most freights in the early morning are southbound, returning north in the early evening; however I reckon if the conditions were right and a suitable spot picked, a spectacular silhouetted shot of the classic view could be achieved.
Speeds of trains is fairly limited, there’s a restriction over the river bridges (35mph for units, 20mph everything else).
Videographers shouldn’t have any problems filming, the area is open grassy marsh with the occasional fisherman and dog walker. However, if nearby RAF bases Lakenheath and Mildenhall decide to send out the heavy planes, as they often do, then things do get noisy.
MD: Just to the north of the marsh is an automatic crossing. This can be heard in the distance and gives ample warning of approaching trains.
The best time for photographing here is the early morning around 8am to 1pm when the sun is behind you, later in the afternoon it ends up over the marina making the classic northbound train shot very difficult to achieve. Unfortunately most freights in the early morning are southbound, returning north in the early evening; however I reckon if the conditions were right and a suitable spot picked, a spectacular silhouetted shot of the classic view could be achieved.
Speeds of trains is fairly limited, there’s a restriction over the river bridges (35mph for units, 20mph everything else).
Videographers shouldn’t have any problems filming, the area is open grassy marsh with the occasional fisherman and dog walker. However, if nearby RAF bases Lakenheath and Mildenhall decide to send out the heavy planes, as they often do, then things do get noisy.
MD: Just to the north of the marsh is an automatic crossing. This can be heard in the distance and gives ample warning of approaching trains.
Links to photographs at this location
Rail-net - A few hours at Ely
General views - All photographs © Ben Cannell unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking south west - Image © Mark Tassell
The classic view from the footpath composed with the cathedral as an impressive backdrop.
Fig 2 - Facing north west - Image © Mark Tassell
Fig 3 - Facing south west - Image ©Mark Tassell
A closer zoom on the train and the cathedral in the background.
Fig 4 - Looking south west - Photo by Marcus Dawson.
From the classic location. This view shows the locations proximity to the river. The unit in the picture has just come off the bridge.
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.
