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Location notes
Two over bridges near the village of Cossington.
There is currently (15-4-2012) a notice declairing that Footpath 163 is to be extinguished (closed), this is the crossing at this location. Objections are to be recieved by 27th April 2012.
There is currently (15-4-2012) a notice declairing that Footpath 163 is to be extinguished (closed), this is the crossing at this location. Objections are to be recieved by 27th April 2012.
Railway type and traffic
A busy four track mainline. Passenger traffic is intense and is formed of Central Trains Sprinters and Turbostars and EMT 222s and Turbostars.
A lot of freight traffic can be seen here mostly consisting of stone trains to and from Mountsorrel.
Update 14-3-2012 - Bob Young
In addition to stone trains, there are two cement trains that pass from Earles to West Thuurock and Theale. The photographers here were after the Colas Class 47 on the Boston to Washwood Heath steel.
A lot of freight traffic can be seen here mostly consisting of stone trains to and from Mountsorrel.
Update 14-3-2012 - Bob Young
In addition to stone trains, there are two cement trains that pass from Earles to West Thuurock and Theale. The photographers here were after the Colas Class 47 on the Boston to Washwood Heath steel.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Cossington
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
Environment
Open countryside east of the village of Cossington.
Road directions
Take the A46 north from Leicester and turn left just north of Syston (signposted A607). Soon after leaving the A46 there is a roundabout, turn left here and the road immediately crosses the railway on an overbridge (location 1). To get to location 2, carry on for another approx 600 yds and turn right into the village of Cossington. Take the first right turn in the village and follow this twisty road until you come to the railway overbridge.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Cossington map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Cossington map co-ordinates
Parking
There is road side parking near the location.
Public transport
Kinchbus service 2 operates every 30 minutes between Leicester Bus Station and Loughborough via Sileby. Alight by the pub in Cossington village, walk through the pub car park onto the lane at rear, turn left and follow the lane until it crosses the railway bridge.
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
None in the immediate area. The nearest shops including a chip shop can be found in the centre of Sileby about 1 mile to the north of Cossington. The Thurmaston retail park is about 2 miles away and has some fast food outlets.
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.
Cossington
Streetmap links
Cossington general view map
Cossington close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Cossington
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Cossington
Googly map
Cossington general view map
Cossington close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Cossington
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
Still Photography Notes:
At both locations clearances on the roadside verges are tight so you will have cars and lorries passing very close behind you.
Location 1
Known to the locals as the 'Commercial Bridge' as it is close to a lorry park called Cossington Commercials. Parking here is limited, but this is the best place to be for a southbound train on the slow line (note: all trains to or from the Peterborough line at Syston Junction will be on the slow lines at Cossington. The slow lines are the two easternmost tracks).
The southbound morning shot is good from first light until approx 10am when the sun comes in line. It is possible to take northbound trains in the morning, but there is a colour light signal in the way and the northbound shot suffers from shadows in the winter. The sun does not get on the front of northbound trains here. After the sun has moved round, it is possible to photograph southbound trains here on both the fasts and the slows. It is also possible in high summer to photograph northbound trains from this bridge with sun on the nose from around 4pm, though you will need a long lens if you do not wish to have colour light signals in your picture.
Update 14-3-2012 - Bob Young
The location is very busy with road traffic and its very difficult to park. Best location for video, but the traffic noise is deafening.
Location 2
Known to locals as Humbles Lane bridge. The morning shot is good for trains on the fasts, but a little tight for trains on the slow lines as it is rather bushed up on the eastern side of the track. As per location 1, the sun is coming in line with the track after approx 10am. In the afternoon there is a good shot of southbound trains on the slow line although southbound trains on the fast have to be taken a little head on due to vegetation. Northbound trains will get sun on the nose from about 4pm in the summer and good shots can be taken of northbound trains on both the fast and the slow. The northbound shot gets the sun until approx 90 minutes before sunset.
Video Photography Notes:
Both bridges are good for video although you will be far more at risk from traffic noise on the 'Commercial' bridge. It is not possible to do pan shots on either bridge, but long zoom shots are possible.
Special Note:
For any train taking the Peterborough line at Syston Junction, it is possible to chase the train to the Syston bypass bridge for a second shot by heading back to the roundabout near the Commercial bridge and then taking the A607 towards Melton. This road will take you straight to the Syston bypass bridge where it is possible to park on the grass verge near the bridge. Update 14-3-2012 - Bob Young
Officially known as Cossington Bridge Back Lane. Go over the bridge and park your car in Blackberry Lane on the left. The back lane road leads into Humble Lane and at the bottom, you can park here as well.
At the bottom of Humble lane, you are parallel with the line. Here you can walk to the wooden boarded crossing that goes over the main lines. This seems to be a public footpath with a stile like wooden gates both sides. I saw 3-5 photographers here during the day to catch the stone and steel trains that pass.
At both locations clearances on the roadside verges are tight so you will have cars and lorries passing very close behind you.
Location 1
Known to the locals as the 'Commercial Bridge' as it is close to a lorry park called Cossington Commercials. Parking here is limited, but this is the best place to be for a southbound train on the slow line (note: all trains to or from the Peterborough line at Syston Junction will be on the slow lines at Cossington. The slow lines are the two easternmost tracks).
The southbound morning shot is good from first light until approx 10am when the sun comes in line. It is possible to take northbound trains in the morning, but there is a colour light signal in the way and the northbound shot suffers from shadows in the winter. The sun does not get on the front of northbound trains here. After the sun has moved round, it is possible to photograph southbound trains here on both the fasts and the slows. It is also possible in high summer to photograph northbound trains from this bridge with sun on the nose from around 4pm, though you will need a long lens if you do not wish to have colour light signals in your picture.
Update 14-3-2012 - Bob Young
The location is very busy with road traffic and its very difficult to park. Best location for video, but the traffic noise is deafening.
Location 2
Known to locals as Humbles Lane bridge. The morning shot is good for trains on the fasts, but a little tight for trains on the slow lines as it is rather bushed up on the eastern side of the track. As per location 1, the sun is coming in line with the track after approx 10am. In the afternoon there is a good shot of southbound trains on the slow line although southbound trains on the fast have to be taken a little head on due to vegetation. Northbound trains will get sun on the nose from about 4pm in the summer and good shots can be taken of northbound trains on both the fast and the slow. The northbound shot gets the sun until approx 90 minutes before sunset.
Video Photography Notes:
Both bridges are good for video although you will be far more at risk from traffic noise on the 'Commercial' bridge. It is not possible to do pan shots on either bridge, but long zoom shots are possible.
Special Note:
For any train taking the Peterborough line at Syston Junction, it is possible to chase the train to the Syston bypass bridge for a second shot by heading back to the roundabout near the Commercial bridge and then taking the A607 towards Melton. This road will take you straight to the Syston bypass bridge where it is possible to park on the grass verge near the bridge. Update 14-3-2012 - Bob Young
Officially known as Cossington Bridge Back Lane. Go over the bridge and park your car in Blackberry Lane on the left. The back lane road leads into Humble Lane and at the bottom, you can park here as well.
At the bottom of Humble lane, you are parallel with the line. Here you can walk to the wooden boarded crossing that goes over the main lines. This seems to be a public footpath with a stile like wooden gates both sides. I saw 3-5 photographers here during the day to catch the stone and steel trains that pass.
General views - All photographs © Jason Cross unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Location 1
Taken in the morning
Fig 2 - Looking north
Location 1
Taken in the afternoon.
Fig 3 - Looking south
Location 2
Taken in the morning.
Fig 4 - Looking south
Location 2
Taken in the afternoon.
Fig 5 - Looking south
Location 2
Taken in the evening
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.
