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Location notes
The bridge straddles the Brighton main line roughly half way between the Ouse Valley viaduct and Haywards Heath station. The junction takes a freight only line to Ardingly stone terminal, and will hopefully one day also host Bluebell Railway steam trains. The locations is very rural, and is on a country lane so infrequent road traffic.
Railway type and traffic
The line is frequented by regular 377s from Southern and 319s from First Capital Connect (formerly Thameslink) at roughly 5 - 10 minute intervals for most of the day. There are also two daily Voyager workings in each direction from Brighton, and one on Saturdays. There are also infrequent MUV movements.
The freight is in the form of an ARC stone train from the Mendips to Ardingly and return. This is a weekly working, and usually arrives at Haywards Heath at around 08.30. The freight will pass the location behind (usually) a class 59 on the main line, then reverse back up the freight only line and round a sharp bend. It returns usually a few hours later off the spur, runs round at Haywards Heath and returns on the main line in the mid to late afternoon.
The freight is in the form of an ARC stone train from the Mendips to Ardingly and return. This is a weekly working, and usually arrives at Haywards Heath at around 08.30. The freight will pass the location behind (usually) a class 59 on the main line, then reverse back up the freight only line and round a sharp bend. It returns usually a few hours later off the spur, runs round at Haywards Heath and returns on the main line in the mid to late afternoon.
Environment
The bridge has a few houses on the Haywards Heath side, and is surrounded by forest. Traffic is infrequent and there is not much background noise except for bird song.
Road directions
From A23 / M23 / M25:
Turn off at the Warninglid junction on A23 and head west. At the T juntion, turn right and follow this road. At the roundabout, turn right and then left at the next small roundabout. This road takes you to a T junction, from where you turn left toward Balcombe. After Borde Hill gardens, turn right at a junction with a steep hill toward Ardingly and the bridge is beyond the houses.
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Copyhold Junction map co-ordinates
Turn off at the Warninglid junction on A23 and head west. At the T juntion, turn right and follow this road. At the roundabout, turn right and then left at the next small roundabout. This road takes you to a T junction, from where you turn left toward Balcombe. After Borde Hill gardens, turn right at a junction with a steep hill toward Ardingly and the bridge is beyond the houses.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Copyhold Junction map co-ordinates
Parking
There is space for up to three cars in lay-bys either side of the bridge, and also further back by the houses.
Public transport
The nearest bus stop is in Cuckfield, using a bus from Haywards Heath station. Cuckfield is about 3 miles walk away.
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 in the immediate area. There is the petrol station and a few small shops in Cuckfield, otherwise all the major amenities are in Ardingly or Haywards Heath, including a supermarket here.
Accommodation
All these are in Ardingly or Haywards Heath. A list of places can be found at
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.
Copyhold Junction
Streetmap links
Copyhold Junction general view map
Copyhold Junction close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Copyhold Junction
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Copyhold Junction
Googly map
Copyhold Junction general view map
Copyhold Junction close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Copyhold Junction
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Photographic notes
Angles good through out the day, although photography can be tricky during winter due to low sun, and as such early morning and late afternoon are best avoided. The sun does not feature too much as line runs north - south at his point. Best to stand either side of the main line, and much more scope for this on western (Ardingly) side of the line.
For the freight on the spur it is best to stand over the main lines to get background countryside in the shot. Trains can be seen from a distance either side, and signals and horns also alert you as to when a train is imminent.
For the freight on the spur it is best to stand over the main lines to get background countryside in the shot. Trains can be seen from a distance either side, and signals and horns also alert you as to when a train is imminent.
General views - All photographs © Christopher Ward unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - Looking north
Fig 3 - Looking south
Fig 4 - Looking south
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.
