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Location notes
On the ECML, just south of Hitchin station.
Railway type and traffic
Standard south end ECML traffic, ie class 91s, HSTs, Hull Trains 222s, class 313, 317, 365 EMUs and some freight. Hitchin goods yard is served by both incoming stone trains and outgoing scrap, typically twice a week for each traffic type, using Freightliner 66s. Pway trains can often be seen at weekends but their movements are unpredictable. RHTT trains trains are also to be seen here in the autumn.
Environment
Footbridge linking two residential areas. Quiet and unlikely to get any hassle from the locals.
Road directions
From Hitchin, take the A505 towards Letchworth. Immediately after passing under the ECML take the next right at the roundabout (St Michael's Road). Go along this road for about 1/4 mile until you see an unmarked road on the right (opposite Gibson Close). Turn right and you can park here, making sure you do not block the footpath to the bridge or the railway access gates.
From the Letchworth direction, take the A505 until you get to the same roundabout (which is just after North Hertfordshire College) and turn left, thence as above.
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Hitchin, Benslow Lane Bridge map co-ordinates
From the Letchworth direction, take the A505 until you get to the same roundabout (which is just after North Hertfordshire College) and turn left, thence as above.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Hitchin, Benslow Lane Bridge map co-ordinates
Parking
Space for about three or four cars; just make sure you do not obstruct either the path itself or the railway access gates. Unlikely to be any problem with parking the car here.
Public transport
From Hitchin station, go down the approach road to the main road, turn right, pass under the ECML and the directions are the same as by car. Walking time about 10 minutes.
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. Nearest facilities are at Hitchin station and in the town centre (about 3/4 mile away)
Accommodation
There are hotels available in Hitchin and Letchworth.
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.
Hitchin, Benslow Lane Bridge
Streetmap links
Hitchin, Benslow Lane Bridge general view map
Hitchin, Benslow Lane Bridge close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Hitchin, Benslow Lane Bridge
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Hitchin, Benslow Lane Bridge
Googly map
Hitchin, Benslow Lane Bridge general view map
Hitchin, Benslow Lane Bridge close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Hitchin, Benslow Lane Bridge
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The line runs NW-SE; the location is best before about 1000-1030 as the east side of the line is quite open and you can see the goods yard in the foreground. With a good zoom lens, you can get shots of trains in the goods yard (locos are mainly Freightliner 66s). Up trains can be photographed from the west side of the line but down trains can only be photographed from the east side, owing to the presence of trees. As a result, the location is only good for photographing up trains after about 1000-1030. Electrification structures are OK for up trains but do slightly obstruct views of down trains.
The location is quiet, so videoing should be OK; you do not, however, get much warning of up trains although the down starting signals at Hitchin station (visible in the distance) give warning of the approach of down trains.
The location is quiet, so videoing should be OK; you do not, however, get much warning of up trains although the down starting signals at Hitchin station (visible in the distance) give warning of the approach of down trains.
General views - All photographs © Richard Allen unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - Looking north
Fig 3 - Looking south
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.
