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Location notes
A narrow footbridge between a residential suburb of Wimbledon and a trading estate. Situated on the Waterloo - Woking and Wimbledon - Sutton lines.
Railway type and traffic
Lots of South West Trains (units basically), you will find a lot of Class 450, 455 and plenty Classes 159, 442, 444 a few Class 170 and occasional the Class 458.
The Thameslink services using the eastern most lines are in the hands of Class 319s, while Southern operate peak hour trains over these lines with Class 455 / 456.
The Thameslink services using the eastern most lines are in the hands of Class 319s, while Southern operate peak hour trains over these lines with Class 455 / 456.
Environment
A fairly well patronied suburban footbridge, where it may not be advisable to linger after dusk. The other side of the bridge backs onto an alleyway and light industrial type buildings.
Road directions
It is best to travel by public transport from either Wimbledon Station, due to the extreme difficulty of parking.
It may be possible to find space in the local suburbs but due to the proximity to the centre of Wimbledon it is likely that all local parking is either metered or reserved for permit holders. There is also a privately managed car park in St George's Road close to Wimbledon Station.
Leave the A3 at the A298 junction which is just south of New Malden and head along it towards Wimbledon / Merton. After the road thins to a single carriageway it passes under the railway. From here take the 6th turning on the left (Merton Hall Road). At the end of this road take a left and first right, which is the cul-de-sac with the footbridge at the end (Merton Hall Road).
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Wimbledon, Elm Grove map co-ordinates
It may be possible to find space in the local suburbs but due to the proximity to the centre of Wimbledon it is likely that all local parking is either metered or reserved for permit holders. There is also a privately managed car park in St George's Road close to Wimbledon Station.
Leave the A3 at the A298 junction which is just south of New Malden and head along it towards Wimbledon / Merton. After the road thins to a single carriageway it passes under the railway. From here take the 6th turning on the left (Merton Hall Road). At the end of this road take a left and first right, which is the cul-de-sac with the footbridge at the end (Merton Hall Road).
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Wimbledon, Elm Grove map co-ordinates
Parking
The local streets on the east side of the line are in well to do suburb, however these are almost certainly reserved for resident permit holders. There is a privately managed car park on St George's Road close to Wimbledon Station. Continue about 500m on the A238 after passing under the railway, taking the B285 Hartfield Rd to the left. On reaching the main Wimbledon Broadway, St George's Road is the first turning on the left.
Public transport
By Rail - turn right outside Wimbledon Station entrance along the very busy main road. Turn left to cross at the first set of pedestrian lights and continue in this direction down Worple Road. Take the seventh left turning here into Elm Grove which is the short cul-de-sac at the other side of the line. Distance approx 750m.
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 shops on Wimbledon Broadway around the main railway station. There are also toilets on the station.
Accommodation
There is an abundance of hotels / Bed and Breakfasts in the area, though being London most will be expensive.
Sun Compass
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Wimbledon, Elm Grove
Streetmap links
Wimbledon, Elm Grove general view map
Wimbledon, Elm Grove close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Wimbledon, Elm Grove
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Wimbledon, Elm Grove
Googly map
Wimbledon, Elm Grove general view map
Wimbledon, Elm Grove close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Wimbledon, Elm Grove
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Photographic notes
The footbridge is surprisingly quiet given its location, but there is a steady pedestrian traffic and sometimes noise from the industrial buildings nearby.
There are multiple tracks at this location - looking from west to east they are Up Fast to Waterloo, Down fast, Up Slow, Down Slow and the two Thameslink lines to / from Sutton furthest east.
The line runs south, south-west here, so southbound trains are best until about noon (GMT). From mid-afternoon it is then possible to shoot southbound trains from the west side of the line. In summer an excellent early morning view can be had of up trains.
The location is generally very open, so if the sun is in, it is possible to cover pretty much any angle. Trains heading north off the Sutton branch are a little poor for photography as they are coming off a tight bend.
Unlike most other London area footbridges there is only a low height to the footbridge sides.
There are multiple tracks at this location - looking from west to east they are Up Fast to Waterloo, Down fast, Up Slow, Down Slow and the two Thameslink lines to / from Sutton furthest east.
The line runs south, south-west here, so southbound trains are best until about noon (GMT). From mid-afternoon it is then possible to shoot southbound trains from the west side of the line. In summer an excellent early morning view can be had of up trains.
The location is generally very open, so if the sun is in, it is possible to cover pretty much any angle. Trains heading north off the Sutton branch are a little poor for photography as they are coming off a tight bend.
Unlike most other London area footbridges there is only a low height to the footbridge sides.
General views - All photographs © Wayland Smith unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
From the east side of the line
Fig 2 - Looking south
A train coming off the Sutton line.
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.
