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Location notes
Bow Brickhill is located on the Bedford - Bletchley line, between the stations of Fenny Stratford and Woburn Sands, on the southern outskirts of Milton Keynes. The platforms are staggered either side of the crossing, with those for Bletchley bound traffic to the west of the crossing. There is a small waiting shelter on platforms which can provide shelter from sudden downpours.
Railway type and traffic
The Bedford Bletchley line is operated by London Midland trains that run a mostly hourly service between the two stations, with all trains stopping at all of the stations on route, Monday to Saturday. Trains stop by request at Kempston Hardwick. There are no scheduled passenger trains on Sunday. These are operated by a small fleet of sprinter 150/1 units.
There are a number of freight workings, the most numerous being DB Schenker departmental workings to and from Forders Virtual Quarry (just to the east of Stewartby station). These workings serve locations on both the WCML and MML.
There is also a Tuesday and Friday, at the time of writing, morning Bletchley to Peak Forest stone empties, which leaves Bletchley between 10:20 and 10:40 - although earlier and later timings have been noted.
There are a number of freight workings, the most numerous being DB Schenker departmental workings to and from Forders Virtual Quarry (just to the east of Stewartby station). These workings serve locations on both the WCML and MML.
There is also a Tuesday and Friday, at the time of writing, morning Bletchley to Peak Forest stone empties, which leaves Bletchley between 10:20 and 10:40 - although earlier and later timings have been noted.
Environment
This small station is on the very southern outskirts of Milton Keynes, with most of the housing and light industry hidden behind trees to the north, and open fields to the south. Few people use the station, as Milton Keynes is the land of the car. There is a small waiting shelter on the platforms which can provide shelter from sudden downpours.
Road directions
From the A5, take the exit sign posted for Denbigh North and Caldecotte, also signed posted for the A4146. Take the 3rd exit on the roundabout, from the south, or 1st from the north, and continue eastwards along the H10 "Bletcham Way". At the first roundabout, named "Walton Park", head south down V10 "Brickhill Street". Go straight across the next roundabout, and you should see the modern crossing barriers installed at this location.
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Bow Brickhill Station map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Bow Brickhill Station map co-ordinates
Parking
There is a little used car park on V10 "Brickhill Street" just before the crossing barriers that is free for use. There is little other parking in the area. You will not be able to see you car from the station.
Public transport
By far the easiest way to this location is to use the rail service from either Bletchley or Bedford. There are numerous buses serving the location from either the main Milton Keynes station or shopping centre. These include: 8, 11, 18, 33 - See the Milton Keynes website for more information.
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 no amenities on the station or in the local area, the nearest being the water sports club in Caldecotte, or pub/hotel in Walton Park. There are many varied shops in the centre of Milton Keynes, and both Bletchley and Milton Keynes stations have several shops.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
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Bow Brickhill Station
Streetmap links
Bow Brickhill Station general view map
Bow Brickhill Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Bow Brickhill Station
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Bow Brickhill Station
Googly map
Bow Brickhill Station general view map
Bow Brickhill Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Bow Brickhill Station
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Photographic notes
The Bedford Bletchley line is running mainly east-west, but slightly south-east to north-west at this point. Photography is probably best in the morning for east bound traffic, and best in the afternoon for west bound traffic. The trees to the north can make a nice backdrop, and due to the lack of trees to the south, the location is quite light, with little shadow trouble. There is quite a sharp curve to both ends of the station, which prevents whole train shots of the freight along the line.
The barriers closing and attendant buzzer indicates the arrival of trains. The road these barriers protect can be quite busy at times, and the drivers in the area aren't known for their patience, so videoing may include the sound of revving engines.
The barriers closing and attendant buzzer indicates the arrival of trains. The road these barriers protect can be quite busy at times, and the drivers in the area aren't known for their patience, so videoing may include the sound of revving engines.
General views - All photographs © Richard Tearle unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west
This is the west facing view from the end Bletchley bound platform, clearly showing the curvature of the line in the near distance.
This freight service, returning EMU translator vans to Bedford, finished in early 2005.
This was taken in February at 12:30 with a 50mm lens.
Fig 2 - Looking east
This is the east facing view from the middle of the Bletchley bound platform, showing the modern barriers, with the sprinter blocking the view of the Bedford bound platform. Again, the curvature of the line is clearly visible.
This was taken in February at 12:30 with a 50mm lens.
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.
