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Location notes
The East Midlands test centre is a private facility owned by Alstom. It is the base for any company wishing to use the Old Dalby Test track and is a covered facility for storing rolling stock. There is a set of offices and small sidings at Old Dalby.
Railway type and traffic
The location is the long term base for stock tesing on the Old Dalby Line. Previously Virgin commissioned the Pendolino fleet on the line. But now the line is being used to commission both new London Underground Stock and the IEP Trains.
There are also trips to the line by Serco test trains.
There are also trips to the line by Serco test trains.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Asfordby
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
Rural Leicestershire just outside Melton Mowbray, lots of green fields, hills and open spaces
Road directions
From the A6006 Melton Road roundabout to the west of Asfordby Village
Heading east along the A6006 there is a side turning directly after leaving the roundabout onto a road running parallel with the main road. If you miss the turning from the roundabout there are other opportunities to join this residential road. Continue along the side road and take the third turning on the left into Brook Crescent. If arriving in Asfordby Valley from the east the turning is opposite the Asfordby Valley village sign on the right.
Continue up this road, passing under the test track, for about 1/2 a mile and you will see a lay by on the right just before a sharp left turn in the road. There are pieces of concrete pipe and sort metal poles at the road side. Park here.
Walk up the footpath and you will come to the bridge over the line.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Asfordby map co-ordinates
Heading east along the A6006 there is a side turning directly after leaving the roundabout onto a road running parallel with the main road. If you miss the turning from the roundabout there are other opportunities to join this residential road. Continue along the side road and take the third turning on the left into Brook Crescent. If arriving in Asfordby Valley from the east the turning is opposite the Asfordby Valley village sign on the right.
Continue up this road, passing under the test track, for about 1/2 a mile and you will see a lay by on the right just before a sharp left turn in the road. There are pieces of concrete pipe and sort metal poles at the road side. Park here.
Walk up the footpath and you will come to the bridge over the line.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Asfordby map co-ordinates
Parking
There is a lay by at the side of the road easily big enough for one, perhaps two cars.
Public transport
Arriva service 5A operates every 20 minutess from Leicester Bus Station via Syston Station and onto Melton Mowbray. Buses stop on the main A6006 road. From there walk up Welby Road. About 500 meters up the road there is a side road on the left which, via the footpath, leads to the bridge.
Alternatively West End Travel's number 23 bus operates from Melton Mowbray to Asfordby. This service also stops on the Welby Road. But check with the operator as the service only runs at certain times of the year.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Alternatively West End Travel's number 23 bus operates from Melton Mowbray to Asfordby. This service also stops on the Welby Road. But check with the operator as the service only runs at certain times of the year.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
None specific to Asfordby as it is a woodland site. The actual test centre is a private facility and access is not allowed to unauthorised visitors.
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.
Asfordby
Streetmap links
Asfordby general view map
Asfordby close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Asfordby
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Asfordby
Googly map
Asfordby general view map
Asfordby close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Asfordby
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
This site is a private facility and there are no other legitimate viewing locations in the area. The security gates at the other end of the site are about half a mile away form the shed, so there is no view there.
The bridge has a full cage to stop people jumping off and on to the 25KV lines but there are gaps cut in it through which a lens can be poked. Also the side furthest from the centre provides a good eye level view of the track.
Binoculars are required to see if there are any vehicles in the centre although some are parked out side the shed or on the sidings down the side of the line.
The bridge has a full cage to stop people jumping off and on to the 25KV lines but there are gaps cut in it through which a lens can be poked. Also the side furthest from the centre provides a good eye level view of the track.
Binoculars are required to see if there are any vehicles in the centre although some are parked out side the shed or on the sidings down the side of the line.
Links to photographs at this location
Rail-net - The Pendolino Test Track
The Old Dalby Test Track - then and now
General views - All photographs © Marcus Dawson unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 -The sidings
The storage sidings can be seen here in the centre of the picture
Fig 2 - The buildings
The left hand road coming out of the shed is the only one that is not obstructed by the large OL Mast
Fig 3 - The reverse angle off the bridge
Since the left hand line is not electrified you can get some nice shots of stock without wires in the way
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.
