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Location notes
Elford is located north of Tamworth on the line between Birmingham and Derby.
Railway type and traffic
Cross Country workings from Derby to Birmingham, East Midlands Trains operate services from Derby to Birmingham.
Freight services mainly operated by DB Schenker and Freightliner.
The line at this point is double-track though there is also a goods loop for southbound trains.
Freight services mainly operated by DB Schenker and Freightliner.
The line at this point is double-track though there is also a goods loop for southbound trains.
Environment
The village of Elford is about a mile away and the bridge carries a rural road and is situated in open farmland. Although traffic on the road is sparse it can be travelling at reasonable speeds.
Road directions
From the M6 Toll, Junction T4 - near Lichfield:
Take the A38 north towards Burton-upon-Trent. At Alrewas, turn right onto the A513 heading back towards Tamworth. The road passes beneath the railway twice. At this second bridge, a three arch structure, you should see the over bridge to the south. Turn left onto a small single-track lane immediately after the bridge and this leads you alongside the railway. Turn left at the end to the over bridge.
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Elford map co-ordinates
Take the A38 north towards Burton-upon-Trent. At Alrewas, turn right onto the A513 heading back towards Tamworth. The road passes beneath the railway twice. At this second bridge, a three arch structure, you should see the over bridge to the south. Turn left onto a small single-track lane immediately after the bridge and this leads you alongside the railway. Turn left at the end to the over bridge.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Elford map co-ordinates
Parking
There is plenty of room to park your car on the verge approaching the bridge.
Public transport
Buses 787/804, provided by Acorn Coaches of Tamworth, operate at a roughly hourly frequency from Tamworth Bus Interchange to Elford. Some journeys terminate in Elford village, others continuing to Harlaston passing the location.
See Travel Line Midlands for more information.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
See Travel Line Midlands for more information.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
There is a pub and some local shops in the village of Elford.
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.
Elford
Streetmap links
Elford general view map
Elford close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Elford
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Elford
Googly map
Elford general view map
Elford close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Elford
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The light is best from late morning onwards for trains heading towards Birmingham. The line to the north is elevated above the fields though it enters a low, wide cutting at the bridge so afternoon views of northbound trains will be into the sun.
You can photograph from on the bridge itself, but there is also a gate leading to the field which gives almost line-side views.
You can photograph from on the bridge itself, but there is also a gate leading to the field which gives almost line-side views.
General views - All photographs © Mark Bearton unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - Looking north
Fig 3 - Looking south
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.
