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Location notes
Brandon is on the Ely - Norwich line, west of Thetford. The town is in Suffolk but the station is in Norfolk (the county boundary is the stream just south of the station).
Railway type and traffic
Passenger:
Central Trains Liverpool - Norwich (hourly) and Greater Anglia Cambridge - Norwich (hourly), both usually with class 170 DMUs (but some Central Trains services are still 158s).
Freight:
Very limited - Mountsorrel - Trowse (Norwich) Lafarge stone train 2 or 3 times a week (runs early afternoon at present - perfect for this location), operated (at October 2004) by DB Schenker using class 66 locos (but rumours abound of a Freightliner Heavy Haul takeover), plus occasional short term contract stone trains to Eccles Road (usually Freightliner) and the seasonal 'sugar stone' to Trowse (DB Schenker).
Central Trains Liverpool - Norwich (hourly) and Greater Anglia Cambridge - Norwich (hourly), both usually with class 170 DMUs (but some Central Trains services are still 158s).
Freight:
Very limited - Mountsorrel - Trowse (Norwich) Lafarge stone train 2 or 3 times a week (runs early afternoon at present - perfect for this location), operated (at October 2004) by DB Schenker using class 66 locos (but rumours abound of a Freightliner Heavy Haul takeover), plus occasional short term contract stone trains to Eccles Road (usually Freightliner) and the seasonal 'sugar stone' to Trowse (DB Schenker).
Environment
On Brandon station, at the edge of the town. The station is unstaffed.
Road directions
From Brandon town centre head north on the A134. Just after crossing the level crossing turn right into the station car park.
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Brandon map co-ordinates
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Brandon map co-ordinates
Parking
Use the station car park, which is free. Alternatively, park in the lane on the south side of the line, adjacent to the up platform. However, this is used for access to the Lignacite concrete products works, so must be kept clear for lorries, and you will also need to reverse part of the way down it to get out again.
Public transport
Some Central Trains services and, from December 2004, 'one' Anglia trains call at Brandon. The local bus operator is First Eastern Counties, and buses pass the station.
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Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
Toilets and shops (including a small Co-op supermarket) in the town centre, 5-10 minutes walk away. There is also a fish and chip shop, while the pub next to the station serves food.
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.
Brandon
Streetmap links
Brandon general view map
Brandon close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Brandon
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Brandon
Googly map
Brandon general view map
Brandon close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Brandon
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The line runs east-west, and shots can be had of trains in both directions. Advance warning of trains is given by the lowering of the level crossing barriers by the signaller followed by the clearing of semaphore signals.
The best shots are of eastbound trains, approaching or crossing the level crossing. There is a signalbox and semaphore signals (see photo below). The shots are taken from the up (westbound) platform, and I prefer a telephoto lens as it allows the train, signalbox and shunt dolly to be brought closer together without the train obscuring the box.
It is also possible to shoot from the footbridge, although the platform lights get in the way a bit. The light is right for this shot until mid afternoon (it is great in the morning); the sun moves off the nose at about 1-2pm.
Looking east the shots are not as easy to do as they were 10 or 15 years ago, due to the growth of trees and bushes.
Going away shots of eastbound trains are excellent from the up (westbound) platform, framed by the footbridge (again I prefer a telephoto lens).
From the footbridge shots of approaching trains are quite head on but possible, and if the sun is not out you can shoot from the down (eastbound) platform. In the background are some fine semaphore signals, but I can not see any way of getting closer to them. The sun comes onto the nose for westbound trains at about 1-2pm, and should get round onto the north side of the track by late evening in the summer.
It is possible to get shots of westbound trains from the old goods dock, but again the view is hampered by bushes. This involves entering the Lignacite yard, and, if you can find someone to ask, permission is usually granted provided you stay on the railway side of the yard.
Videoing is great from the station platforms or footbridge.
The line is quite straight to the east of the station, and it is possible to pan round when on the platform. There may be some noise from the Lignacite works (but it is closed at weekends).
The best shots are of eastbound trains, approaching or crossing the level crossing. There is a signalbox and semaphore signals (see photo below). The shots are taken from the up (westbound) platform, and I prefer a telephoto lens as it allows the train, signalbox and shunt dolly to be brought closer together without the train obscuring the box.
It is also possible to shoot from the footbridge, although the platform lights get in the way a bit. The light is right for this shot until mid afternoon (it is great in the morning); the sun moves off the nose at about 1-2pm.
Looking east the shots are not as easy to do as they were 10 or 15 years ago, due to the growth of trees and bushes.
Going away shots of eastbound trains are excellent from the up (westbound) platform, framed by the footbridge (again I prefer a telephoto lens).
From the footbridge shots of approaching trains are quite head on but possible, and if the sun is not out you can shoot from the down (eastbound) platform. In the background are some fine semaphore signals, but I can not see any way of getting closer to them. The sun comes onto the nose for westbound trains at about 1-2pm, and should get round onto the north side of the track by late evening in the summer.
It is possible to get shots of westbound trains from the old goods dock, but again the view is hampered by bushes. This involves entering the Lignacite yard, and, if you can find someone to ask, permission is usually granted provided you stay on the railway side of the yard.
Videoing is great from the station platforms or footbridge.
The line is quite straight to the east of the station, and it is possible to pan round when on the platform. There may be some noise from the Lignacite works (but it is closed at weekends).
General views - All photographs © Brian Carter unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west
A train approaching the level crossing, taken in August at about midday using 135mm lens.
The working is a Wembley - Norwich Crown Point ECS, hauled by Cotswold Rail 47316 and 47200.
Fig 2 - Looking east
An eastbound Central Trains service calls at the down platform. This was taken in August at around 2pm, using a 135mm lens. The station building is faced in flint.
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.
