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Location notes
Potters Bar is on the East Coast Main Line, just north of the Greater London - Hertfordshire boundary.
Railway type and traffic
Passenger:
East Coast Inter-City services using class 91 + MkIV coaches (loco usually on north end), HSTs; First Capital Connect inner and outer suburban services using class 313, 317 and 365 EMUs; and Hull Trains class 170 DMUs.
Freight:
Almost none during day light hours - the limited freight workings usually go via Hertford North. However, in the autumn there are usually daytime water cannon trains this way.
East Coast Inter-City services using class 91 + MkIV coaches (loco usually on north end), HSTs; First Capital Connect inner and outer suburban services using class 313, 317 and 365 EMUs; and Hull Trains class 170 DMUs.
Freight:
Almost none during day light hours - the limited freight workings usually go via Hertford North. However, in the autumn there are usually daytime water cannon trains this way.
Environment
A tarmaced public footpath running parallel to the railway line north from central Potters Bar. This location is close to the Cranmore Road industrial estate, on the edge of the town. You will encounter people using the footpath.
Road directions
To reach central Potters Bar, leave the M25 at junction 24 and take the A111 north (signed Potters Bar); at the traffic lights this becomes the B556. After passing over the railway line, continue straight ahead at the next traffic lights (turning right takes you to the station) and after about 0.75 miles turn right near a school, signed for an industrial estate (I think). This road eventually reaches the railway, which is on a slight embankment. From here the footpath heads south towards the station and also northwards. There are shots from both sections.
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Potters Bar map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Potters Bar map co-ordinates
Parking
Park at the side of the road near the railway line.
Public transport
Walk from Potters Bar station (lots of trains and buses) along the footpath, which is on the west side of the line. The location is about 0.75 miles from the station. Either stop as the footpath begins to descend to the industrial estate or continue further and onto the next section of path as it climbs up again.
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
There are plenty of facilities in central Potters Bar.
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.
Potters Bar
Streetmap links
Potters Bar general view map
Potters Bar close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Potters Bar
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Potters Bar
Googly map
Potters Bar general view map
Potters Bar close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Potters Bar
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Photographic notes
The best shots are looking north. Steps are useful to see over the palisade fencing.
The line runs NNW-SSE, and the sun is on the correct side from about 11am. There are four tracks (from west to east: down slow, down fast, up fast, up slow) and it is possible to photograph all trains heading south. Shots of northbound trains are possible, but not as good, although going away shots of trains on the down fast are fine. The sun would not be on the nose of northbound trains until very late in the afternoon.
There is also a footpath leading south which has good over views of the track. Leave the station via the main booking hall and look right, you will see an office block on the right of this office block is the pathway that leads up to Mutton Lane. I have not been there for many years but is was another spot to take good photos. - Chris Marrable 20-9-06
The line runs NNW-SSE, and the sun is on the correct side from about 11am. There are four tracks (from west to east: down slow, down fast, up fast, up slow) and it is possible to photograph all trains heading south. Shots of northbound trains are possible, but not as good, although going away shots of trains on the down fast are fine. The sun would not be on the nose of northbound trains until very late in the afternoon.
There is also a footpath leading south which has good over views of the track. Leave the station via the main booking hall and look right, you will see an office block on the right of this office block is the pathway that leads up to Mutton Lane. I have not been there for many years but is was another spot to take good photos. - Chris Marrable 20-9-06
General views - All photographs © Brian Carter unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
From the northern section of the footpath, taken at around midday in November. The train is on the up slow line. Note some shadows encroaching on the track, which would not be a problem in summer.
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.
