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Location notes
Husborne Crawley is located on the Bedford-Bletchley line, between the stations of Aspley Guise and Ridgmont, quite near M1 junction 13. There is no shelter should the weather turn nasty, although the only parking space available is quite close. This site provides west viewing shots only.
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 foot crossing in the middle of fields. The railway is quite tree lined at this point to the west, but open to the east. The track is very straight in both directions. You will be visible to any photographers using the A507 over bridge.
Road directions
From the M1, Junction 13:
Exit and head south on the A507. Just before the bridge over the railway on the left is a small parking space. The location is on the other side of the road, on the bank down towards the line.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Husborne Crawley, A507 Bridge map co-ordinates
Exit and head south on the A507. Just before the bridge over the railway on the left is a small parking space. The location is on the other side of the road, on the bank down towards the line.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Husborne Crawley, A507 Bridge map co-ordinates
Parking
On the M1 side of the bridge is an old field entrance with plenty of space for several cars. (i.e. if you're the "first", try to park all the way to the bottom.)
Do not park in what looks like a lay-by - it's what the HGV's use to turn out of the services.
Traffic police will make you move on if they pass by and see you parked there (ed 07-07).
Do not park in what looks like a lay-by - it's what the HGV's use to turn out of the services.
Traffic police will make you move on if they pass by and see you parked there (ed 07-07).
Public transport
The nearest station to the bridge is Ridgmont which has hourly trains from Bedford and Bletchley.
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 but there is a public house and the usual range of village shops in both Aspley Guise and Husborne Crawley. Also the truck stop behind you often has burger vans and snack cafes.
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.
Husborne Crawley, A507 Bridge
Streetmap links
Husborne Crawley, A507 Bridge general view map
Husborne Crawley, A507 Bridge close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Husborne Crawley, A507 Bridge
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Husborne Crawley, A507 Bridge
Googly map
Husborne Crawley, A507 Bridge general view map
Husborne Crawley, A507 Bridge close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Husborne Crawley, A507 Bridge
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Photographic notes
The bridge is on a busy road, with HGV services on the other side of the road, so it can be quite loud at times. This shot is east facing only, but is the only bridge over the line that has a good shot east facing, and can be a popular location. There are shots to both the north and south of the bridge, but in sunny weather, the sun would be on the wrong side of the line for the north shot. The line is quite straight here and very open.
General views - All photographs © Richard Tearle unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west
This is the west facing view from the northern side of the line, showing the straight length, and some of the trees in the area. The foot crossing is just visible towards the end of the train.
This was taken in August at 10:30 with a 160mm lens.
Fig 2 - Looking west
This is the west facing view from the southern side of the line at the foot of the bank.
This was taken in January at 10:50 with a 35mm lens.
Fig 3 - Looking west
This is the west facing view from the southern side of the line at the top of the bank. Even though the line is clear, at this time of year shadows can still be a problem.
This was taken in January at 09:30 with a 50mm lens.
Fig 4 - Looking west
From the southern side of the line, a morning shot (July 09:00) using a Dslr @100mm
Fig 5 - Looking west
From the southern side of the line, a morning shot (July 09:00) using a Dslr @28mm
Location Video
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.
