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Location notes
Ely is a hub at the centre of the Cambridge to Kings Lynn mainline, about 12 miles north of Cambridge.
The Ely avoider is a small freight loop to the north of the city.
The Ely avoider is a small freight loop to the north of the city.
Railway type and traffic
The curve does not see any passenger traffic, but there are three booked freights a day. Also the majority of empty coaching stock moves from Norwich to the Midlands will use this line.
Environment
The location is on a public foot path the skirts the Ely Sailing Clubs lake. At the location there are road gates and styles to negotiate. The area is tree lined and is generally used by farmers and walkers.
Road directions
From the A10 heading north into Ely:
At the first roundabout take the 3rd exit and follow the road to the second roundabout, you will pass the station and Tescos on your right. At the roundabout turn right (3rd exit) and go under, or over if you fancy the railway. Take the next left and follow the road up to Queen Adelaide, you will go under the line to Norwich/ After passing under the railway turn left and follow the road round back towards Ely. You will pass over the levels crossings for the Kings Lynn and Peterborough lines and over the avoider line. Look for the Sailing club sign on your left.
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Ely, Avoiding curve map co-ordinates
At the first roundabout take the 3rd exit and follow the road to the second roundabout, you will pass the station and Tescos on your right. At the roundabout turn right (3rd exit) and go under, or over if you fancy the railway. Take the next left and follow the road up to Queen Adelaide, you will go under the line to Norwich/ After passing under the railway turn left and follow the road round back towards Ely. You will pass over the levels crossings for the Kings Lynn and Peterborough lines and over the avoider line. Look for the Sailing club sign on your left.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Ely, Avoiding curve map co-ordinates
Parking
If you ask nicely then you may be allowed to park in the sailing club. Failing that there is roadside parking near the houses a little further on.
Public transport
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.
Ely, Avoiding curve
Streetmap links
Ely, Avoiding curve general view map
Ely, Avoiding curve close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Ely, Avoiding curve
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Ely, Avoiding curve
Googly map
Ely, Avoiding curve general view map
Ely, Avoiding curve close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Ely, Avoiding curve
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The line is a quite tight curve and trains will be moving quite slowly along the line. Given the tree lined nature of the location the sun will often cast shadows onto the line. It would probably be a better location for video than stills. There is nothing in the area to make noise!
General views - All photographs © Marcus Dawson unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - Looking north
Fig 3 - Looking south
Fig 4 - 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.
