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Location notes
Farington Curve Junction is immediately south of Preston on the West Coast Main Line. It is a complex series of lines comprising of the WCML which is heading north-south, the Ormskirk line which heads west and the Blackburn line which diverges to the west with the Ormskirk line but immediately swings through 130 degrees to cross the WCML at right angles and head east.
There also used to be a connecting line from the Ormskirk to the Blackburn lines at Lostock Hall.
There also used to be a connecting line from the Ormskirk to the Blackburn lines at Lostock Hall.
Railway type and traffic
The Blackburn line usually sees class 142s on the hourly Blackpool South to Colne service and 158s on the Leeds trains. The Ormskirk line has usually has a class 153 shuttling back and forth.
Diversionary trains from Preston north via the Settle and Carlisle line head south from the station and take the Blackburn line.
Diversionary trains from Preston north via the Settle and Carlisle line head south from the station and take the Blackburn line.
Environment
The road is a fairly busy road with the occasional pedestrian.
Road directions
From the M6, Junction 29:
Where it crosses the M65, fork west onto the M65 to its end (signposted Preston South). The end of the M65 curves right and comes to a roundabout, with the A6 to the right and straight on, and the A582 to the left. Turn left and continue to the next roundabout where you turn right towards Lostock Hall. You enter Lostock Hall and pass three sets of traffic light in close succession. Turn left at the third, immediately after KFC on the left, into Coote Lane.
From Preston
Cross the River Ribble on the A59 and take the A582 signposted towards the M6/M65 southbound. The road curves to the right as a dual-carriageway climbing under a bridge (the road here is on the course of an old railway to Southport, the bridge the site of an old station). The road singles just before a roundabout. Second exit continues along the A582. Straight across the next roundabout and after about a mile, turn left at traffic lights which leads you to Coote Lane.
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Farington Curve Junction, Coote Lane map co-ordinates
Where it crosses the M65, fork west onto the M65 to its end (signposted Preston South). The end of the M65 curves right and comes to a roundabout, with the A6 to the right and straight on, and the A582 to the left. Turn left and continue to the next roundabout where you turn right towards Lostock Hall. You enter Lostock Hall and pass three sets of traffic light in close succession. Turn left at the third, immediately after KFC on the left, into Coote Lane.
From Preston
Cross the River Ribble on the A59 and take the A582 signposted towards the M6/M65 southbound. The road curves to the right as a dual-carriageway climbing under a bridge (the road here is on the course of an old railway to Southport, the bridge the site of an old station). The road singles just before a roundabout. Second exit continues along the A582. Straight across the next roundabout and after about a mile, turn left at traffic lights which leads you to Coote Lane.
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Farington Curve Junction, Coote Lane map co-ordinates
Parking
Coote Lane crosses three bridges, east to west being the WCML, the Blackburn line and the Ormskirk line. It is best to park between the Blackburn and Ormskirk bridges, away from the brow of the hill, tucking your car slightly on the pavement, though there are regular pedestrians so leave enough room for them.
Public transport
Fishwick's service 111 operates frequently from Preston to Leyland via Lostock Hall and passes Bee Lane. Service 109 (Fishwick/Stagecoach joint) operates every 30 minutes from Chorley to Preston.
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Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
There are no toilets in the area. The nearest shops and pubs are in Lostock Hall.
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.
Farington Curve Junction, Coote Lane
Streetmap links
Farington Curve Junction, Coote Lane general view map
Farington Curve Junction, Coote Lane close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Farington Curve Junction, Coote Lane
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Farington Curve Junction, Coote Lane
Googly map
Farington Curve Junction, Coote Lane general view map
Farington Curve Junction, Coote Lane close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Farington Curve Junction, Coote Lane
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Photographic notes
Views of the WCML are not really possible due to the catenary.
The Ormskirk line is best from late morning to about 2 pm for Ormskirk bound trains (though as they are units on a single line, rear of train shots are somewhat similar!), after which the light becomes head on.
The Blackburn line is fine for trains heading away from Preston from dinner time onwards until late afternoon due to the sharp curve of the line.
The Ormskirk line is best from late morning to about 2 pm for Ormskirk bound trains (though as they are units on a single line, rear of train shots are somewhat similar!), after which the light becomes head on.
The Blackburn line is fine for trains heading away from Preston from dinner time onwards until late afternoon due to the sharp curve of the line.
General views - All photographs © Mark Bearton unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking south
The Ormskirk line
Fig 2 - Looking north
This shot is no longer available as the tree line in the foreground of this image has grown up and now incroaches on the shot.
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.
