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Location notes
Kirkham and Wesham is on the Preston to Blackpool line at the point where the lines to Blackpool North and South divide. There also used to be a third, more direct, line to Blackpool Central, and it is on the track bed of this where until the 1980s used Ballast was deposited.
The footbridge here spans both the formation of this line at the western end of the disused sidings, and the still operational route to Blackpool North.
The footbridge here spans both the formation of this line at the western end of the disused sidings, and the still operational route to Blackpool North.
Railway type and traffic
The line to Blackpool North has regular services, usually comprising each hour:
1 to Manchester Airport (usually class 175),
1 to Buxton (Class 150/156),
1 to Liverpool (Class 142/150/156) and
1 to York (Class 156/158).
The daily 'club' train working using class 31s now seems to have finished from the start of the 'Northern' franchise.
1 to Manchester Airport (usually class 175),
1 to Buxton (Class 150/156),
1 to Liverpool (Class 142/150/156) and
1 to York (Class 156/158).
The daily 'club' train working using class 31s now seems to have finished from the start of the 'Northern' franchise.
Environment
The footbridge is in the middle of farmland and whilst on a public footpath I have never yet seen anyone else use it.
Road directions
From the M55, Junction 3:
Head south along the A585 towards Kirkham. Just after the B5192 diverges to the left towards Wesham, take next road on the right towards Weeton. From Preston, take the A583 towards Kirkham, and turn right at a roundabout onto the A585. After crossing the railway, turn first left onto the road to Weeton.
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Kirkham Tip map co-ordinates
Head south along the A585 towards Kirkham. Just after the B5192 diverges to the left towards Wesham, take next road on the right towards Weeton. From Preston, take the A583 towards Kirkham, and turn right at a roundabout onto the A585. After crossing the railway, turn first left onto the road to Weeton.
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Kirkham Tip map co-ordinates
Parking
There is a small area to park on the left just over the brow of a hill about half a mile along the road. The place is fairly exposed and would certainly not recommend leaving a car there overnight, but should be fine during the day.
The farm gate by the parking area leads to a public footpath leading down the hill across the field (you can see the footbridge in the distance to the right). At the bottom of the first field, the footpath heads across the field diagonally to the right (not obvious), head for the bushes in the far south-western corner. There is a small stream in the bushes and a small footbridge crossing it. After this, there is another field and keep in the same general direction, the footpath becomes separated from the field by a fence some way east of the footbridge. This can be quite overgrown in summer.
The farm gate by the parking area leads to a public footpath leading down the hill across the field (you can see the footbridge in the distance to the right). At the bottom of the first field, the footpath heads across the field diagonally to the right (not obvious), head for the bushes in the far south-western corner. There is a small stream in the bushes and a small footbridge crossing it. After this, there is another field and keep in the same general direction, the footpath becomes separated from the field by a fence some way east of the footbridge. This can be quite overgrown in summer.
Public transport
Kirkham and Wesham station would be about a 30 minute walk from the Parking area, with a further 10 minutes across the fields. Turn right out the station, and where the road bends to the right, take the left hand fork. Cross the main road almost straight over onto the road to Weeton.
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 no amenities near the location, Kirkham being the nearest town.
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.
Kirkham Tip
Streetmap links
Kirkham Tip general view map
Kirkham Tip close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Kirkham Tip
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Kirkham Tip
Googly map
Kirkham Tip general view map
Kirkham Tip close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Kirkham Tip
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Photographic notes
The light is good here most of the day, the sun being side on just after dinner to early afternoon. The morning would be best for trains from Blackpool, the afternoon for trains towards Blackpool North.
General views - All photographs © Mark Bearton unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking east
Fig 2 - Looking west
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.
