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Location notes
A rural location, on the outskirts of Bedford. The A421, the road bridge from which you shoot, is currenlty undergoing major road works.
Railway type and traffic
The Bedford Bletchley line is operated by London Midland trains that run a mostly hourly service between the two stations. Trains stop by request at Kempston Hardwick. There are no scheduled passenger trains on Sunday. These are operated by a small fleet of either 150 or 153 units.
Frieght is currently sparse along the route, but it frequently used by workings heading from the Midland Main line traveling to the south, cutting across to Bletchley.
Frieght is currently sparse along the route, but it frequently used by workings heading from the Midland Main line traveling to the south, cutting across to Bletchley.
Environment
This location is a bridge carrying the busy A421 over the railway.
Road directions
From the M1, Junction 13:
Take the A421, signposted for Marston Moretaine, the Bedford to Bletchley line will be on your right along this road. When you approach Kempston, after 7 or so miles, the A421 turns right at a roundabout. Park around here and walk along the A421 to the bridge location.
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Kempston Hardwick map co-ordinates
Take the A421, signposted for Marston Moretaine, the Bedford to Bletchley line will be on your right along this road. When you approach Kempston, after 7 or so miles, the A421 turns right at a roundabout. Park around here and walk along the A421 to the bridge location.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Kempston Hardwick map co-ordinates
Parking
Given the current roadworks situation it would be best to park in the Interchange Retail Park, just to the east of the location, and walk back.
Public transport
The nearest bus services to this location are Stagecoaches services 1/2 from Bedford to Hastings Road in Kempston, which run every 6 minutes.
You would then need to walk along Harter Road onto Woburn Road (the A5134) then south to the roundabout where it meets the A421, thence along that road to the bridge. This walk would take about 15 minutes.
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You would then need to walk along Harter Road onto Woburn Road (the A5134) then south to the roundabout where it meets the A421, thence along that road to the bridge. This walk would take about 15 minutes.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
None at the location. Bedford is close by. There is a Little Chef westbound on the A421.
Accommodation
Bedford offers a variety of places to stay. Some local farms do Bed and Breakfast.
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.
Kempston Hardwick
Streetmap links
Kempston Hardwick general view map
Kempston Hardwick close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Kempston Hardwick
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Kempston Hardwick
Googly map
Kempston Hardwick general view map
Kempston Hardwick close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Kempston Hardwick
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
This line runs north / south so each end of the day is best assuming the sun appears. You can only shoot one way that is trains heading north, unless you enjoy going away shots.
General views - All photographs © Ken Brunt unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - Looking north - Image © Marcus Dawson
This shot, taken in August 2009, shows the roadworks taking place under the current bridge. It is expected that there will be a new bridge built here. But, access notwithstanding, this should be a very similar shot to fig 1.
Currently you will need a minimum of a 70mm lens to 'get over' these works.
Fig 3 - Looking south west - Image © Marcus Dawson
To reach this shot from the A421 roundabout.
Enter the industrial estate and follow the road to the end (it will bear right) Park there and there is a foot path that continues on behind the fence round the units which leads you to a foot crossing which is the location.
This shot will be best suited to the winter months as the greenery at the side will grow to an intrusive height during the summer.
Fig 4 - Looking north west - Image © Marcus Dawson
Same position as Fig 3. The current bridge for Fig 1 is in the background. It is also possible to walk to that location from here following the grass area and climbing a reasonably steep bank up to the A421.
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.
