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Location notes
Just north of Ferrybridge and Knottingley and about 10 miles south of Colton Junction. This is off the A162. The nearest village is Monk Fryston in North Yorkshire. The line runs from Milford Junction to Castleford.
Railway type and traffic
The location has 4 lines in total. Most of the traffic is freight and you are likely to see the usual mix of 66s. 56s from DCR can also be seen as they run to Kellingley Colliery. The Shunter from Milford often trips crippled wagons down this line to the nearby Knottingley TMD.
During summer you will also see tours being pulled by Heritage Traction units and Steam Engines from time to time.
During summer you will also see tours being pulled by Heritage Traction units and Steam Engines from time to time.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Hillam Gates Level 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
A small village in rural North Yorkshire. This Level Crossing is unmanned and is in the middle of nowhere, literally. The crossing is illuminated and you will often find enthusiasts parked up doing 'overnighters'. The lowering of the crossing barriers and the sirens give plenty of warning of approaching trains.
Road directions
From the M62, junction 33 (Ferrybridge services):
Take the A1 northbound. After about 2 miles take the A162 turn to South Milford. Continue along the road. You will pass over the railway and under some overhead power lines, the turning (Betteras Hill Road) is next right. This leads you to the location.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Hillam Gates Level Crossing map co-ordinates
Take the A1 northbound. After about 2 miles take the A162 turn to South Milford. Continue along the road. You will pass over the railway and under some overhead power lines, the turning (Betteras Hill Road) is next right. This leads you to the location.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Hillam Gates Level Crossing map co-ordinates
Parking
Road side parking at the location for one or two cars but given that the location is a level crossing the it is not recommended to park too close to the crossing.
Public transport
There are bus services that will get you to Monk Fryston but from there you would have to walk from there into Hillam and then to the location. The service 402/403 from Selby to Leeds and vice versa pass through Monk Fryston every 30 minutes.
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
The Post Office in nearby Monk Fryston does wonderful and inexpensive, freshly made sandwiches and other refreshments, whilst the village also has a couple of useful pubs.
Not too far away is Squire Bikers Cafe which is well worth a visit. Squires can be found on the B1222 at Newthorpe near Sherburn in Elmet in West Yorkshire. It is just off Junction 42 on the A1(M). Postcode LS25 5LX
Not too far away is Squire Bikers Cafe which is well worth a visit. Squires can be found on the B1222 at Newthorpe near Sherburn in Elmet in West Yorkshire. It is just off Junction 42 on the A1(M). Postcode LS25 5LX
Accommodation
There nearby pubs in Monk Fryston and Hillam to provide accomodation. Or for the really well heeled among you there is the very upmarket Monk Fryston Hall Hotel.
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.
Hillam Gates Level Crossing
Streetmap links
Hillam Gates Level Crossing general view map
Hillam Gates Level Crossing close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Hillam Gates Level Crossing
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Hillam Gates Level Crossing
Googly map
Hillam Gates Level Crossing general view map
Hillam Gates Level Crossing close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Hillam Gates Level Crossing
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The line runs North/South so shooting North would not be a problem for most of the day as the light would be on your back. Shooting South is ok too as the view south has a large bank of Fir Trees that block the light a little so giving a nice backdrop to images.
As you are shooting over a level crossing a tripod would be more of a hindrance here I would imagine. As it's not on a busy road there is room for you to stand in the road and take photo's with no real problem, just use your eyes and ears.
As you are shooting over a level crossing a tripod would be more of a hindrance here I would imagine. As it's not on a busy road there is room for you to stand in the road and take photo's with no real problem, just use your eyes and ears.
Links to photographs at this location
53a Pics
General views - All photographs © John Turner unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
The view towards Milford.
Fig 2 - Looking south
The view towards Castleford or Ferrybridge.
Fig 3 - Looking east - Image ©Mick Evans
Location Video
During the day.
During the night.
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.
