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Location notes
A footbridge which spans the junction where the Derby to Birmingham line diverges towards Uttoxeter and Crewe.
This general location is often referred to as Stenson Junction - although Stenson Junction is approx 1 mile north.
This general location is often referred to as Stenson Junction - although Stenson Junction is approx 1 mile north.
Railway type and traffic
Cross Country workings from Derby to Birmingham, East Midlands Trains operate services from Derby to both Birmingham and Crewe.
Freight services mainly operated by DB Schenker and Freightliner.
Serco test trains and movements from Brush works to the West coast will also often pass here.
Freight services mainly operated by DB Schenker and Freightliner.
Serco test trains and movements from Brush works to the West coast will also often pass here.
Environment
A quiet footbridge on a little used footpath. To the north is a small field bordered by the Trent and Mersey Canal and to the south is a large waste land left after the demolition of the Willington Power station, only the cooling towers remain.
Road directions
From the A38 / A50 junction:
This is the junction for Toyota, follow the B5005 Etwall Road towards Willington. After you cross the railway either:
Turn left by the Green Man public house. Continue past the Rising Sun public house and immediately turn left into a car park just before the bridge under the railway line. This car park is indicated as the 'station' car park, from here follow the public transport directions.
Or turn right up Findern Lane and park in Mercia Marina.
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North Stafford Junction map co-ordinates
This is the junction for Toyota, follow the B5005 Etwall Road towards Willington. After you cross the railway either:
Turn left by the Green Man public house. Continue past the Rising Sun public house and immediately turn left into a car park just before the bridge under the railway line. This car park is indicated as the 'station' car park, from here follow the public transport directions.
Or turn right up Findern Lane and park in Mercia Marina.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
North Stafford Junction map co-ordinates
Parking
You have a number of options:
Park in the Mercia Marina car parks. From here follow the canal side footpath under the road and continue across the newly pathed wetlands area towards the Trent Canal foot bridge. Cross the bridge and turn right walking along the tow path untill you reach a footpath through the hedge which leads to the bridge.
Or park in the area opposite the Nadee Indian Restaurant just off the Buckford Lane, opposite Stenson Junction. From here follow the canal towpath, NOT the small road was as this will lead you to a domestic residence and you'll have to turn around and come back. Once you have passed a black and white footbridge across the canal you will reach a footpath through the hedge which leads to the bridge.
Park in the Mercia Marina car parks. From here follow the canal side footpath under the road and continue across the newly pathed wetlands area towards the Trent Canal foot bridge. Cross the bridge and turn right walking along the tow path untill you reach a footpath through the hedge which leads to the bridge.
Or park in the area opposite the Nadee Indian Restaurant just off the Buckford Lane, opposite Stenson Junction. From here follow the canal towpath, NOT the small road was as this will lead you to a domestic residence and you'll have to turn around and come back. Once you have passed a black and white footbridge across the canal you will reach a footpath through the hedge which leads to the bridge.
Public transport
Trent Barton buses operate a service from Barton-Upon-Trent to Derby which calls at Findern and Willington.
If using the railway get a train from either Derby or Birmingham to Willington. Then exit the station and turn right and walk past the Green Man and then the Rising Sun Public Houses and turn left just before the railway bridge up towards the 'station' car park. From the car park head towards the canal towpath and follow the canal in the Derby direction (opposite direction from the road bridge that crosses the canal). Follow the canal towpath and after 5-10 minutes you will pass under the Crewe line. Keep going under this bridge and round the corner and you will approach a wooden footbridge that crosses the canal. Just before this bridge on the right is a gap in the hedge. This leads you down to the bridge. Walking time is around 15 to 20 minutes.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
If using the railway get a train from either Derby or Birmingham to Willington. Then exit the station and turn right and walk past the Green Man and then the Rising Sun Public Houses and turn left just before the railway bridge up towards the 'station' car park. From the car park head towards the canal towpath and follow the canal in the Derby direction (opposite direction from the road bridge that crosses the canal). Follow the canal towpath and after 5-10 minutes you will pass under the Crewe line. Keep going under this bridge and round the corner and you will approach a wooden footbridge that crosses the canal. Just before this bridge on the right is a gap in the hedge. This leads you down to the bridge. Walking time is around 15 to 20 minutes.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
There are the Willow Tea Rooms at the nearby Mercia Marina. But Willington is the nearest village and this has a local shop, chip shop and a couple of very good pubs.
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.
North Stafford Junction
Streetmap links
North Stafford Junction general view map
North Stafford Junction close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
North Stafford Junction
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
North Stafford Junction
Googly map
North Stafford Junction general view map
North Stafford Junction close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
North Stafford Junction
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Photographic notes
This location offers numerous different shots with the better ones being north bound from both the Birmingham and Crewe lines. Southbound shots are good for the Crewe line but can be a little tight for trains in the Birmingham direction depending from where you take the photograph.
For video road noise can be heard from the nearby A38 but should not interfere too much, especially when a train is passing. But if you are planning to use a tripod the bridge parapets are quite high and the bridge itself will vibrate with passing trains. It would be better to position yourself on the steps up to the bridge.
For video road noise can be heard from the nearby A38 but should not interfere too much, especially when a train is passing. But if you are planning to use a tripod the bridge parapets are quite high and the bridge itself will vibrate with passing trains. It would be better to position yourself on the steps up to the bridge.
General views - All photographs © Stuart Benson unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - Looking south
Fig 3 - Looking north
The Crewe line
Fig 4 - Looking south
The Crewe line
Location Video
Video by Andy Appleton
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.
