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Location notes
Millbrook station is location on the Bedford-Bletchley line, between the stations of Lidlington and Stewartby, just on the edge of the village it serves, and to the north of the famous Millbrook Vehicle Proving Ground. The platforms are both to the east of the level crossing at this station, and there is a small shelter on the Bedford bound platform should the weather take a turn for the worse.
Shots are possible from the station platform, but there is a better shot to be had from a foot crossing to the north east of the station, and there is a footpath from this station almost along the line to Stewartby where some shots can be had.
Shots are possible from the station platform, but there is a better shot to be had from a foot crossing to the north east of the station, and there is a footpath from this station almost along the line to Stewartby where some shots can be had.
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 Saturday 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 Saturday 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 is a little used station and foot crossing, and therefore is quite a quiet location.
Road directions
From the M1, Junction 13:
Exit and follow the A421 towards Bedford. Follow this road until you come to the roundabout just before Marston Moretaine (just before the road becomes a dual carriageway), and turn right into the village of Marston Moretaine. At the end of this road turn left, and then turn right out of the village. Take the next left, and this brings you to Millbrook Station. There are signs from the A421 to both the station and the Vehicle Proving Ground.
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Millbrook map co-ordinates
Exit and follow the A421 towards Bedford. Follow this road until you come to the roundabout just before Marston Moretaine (just before the road becomes a dual carriageway), and turn right into the village of Marston Moretaine. At the end of this road turn left, and then turn right out of the village. Take the next left, and this brings you to Millbrook Station. There are signs from the A421 to both the station and the Vehicle Proving Ground.
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Millbrook map co-ordinates
Parking
There is limited parking near the station, in front of some houses just beyond the station. If parking here, be considerate and do not block any drives.
Public transport
By far the easiest way to this location is to use the rail service from either Bletchley or Bedford.
Once you have arrived or parked at the station, head south down the road (that has just crossed the railway), and just as the road turns to the right there is a footpath heading northwards. Follow this footpath which leads to a crossing, where there are shots for both directions on both sides of the line. Crossing over the line, this footpath continues to Stewartby with the footpath close to the railway at numerous locations.
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Once you have arrived or parked at the station, head south down the road (that has just crossed the railway), and just as the road turns to the right there is a footpath heading northwards. Follow this footpath which leads to a crossing, where there are shots for both directions on both sides of the line. Crossing over the line, this footpath continues to Stewartby with the footpath close to the railway at numerous locations.
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Amenities
There are no amenities in the immediate area but there is a public house and the usual range of village shops in Marston Moretaine itself. Back on the A421 there are services, including a fast food outlet and a hotel.
Sun Compass
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Millbrook
Streetmap links
Millbrook general view map
Millbrook close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Millbrook
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Millbrook
Googly map
Millbrook general view map
Millbrook close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Millbrook
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Photographic notes
The Bedford Bletchley line is running mainly east-west, but here the line is slightly more south-east to north-west. Photography is probably best for west bound traffic, in the morning for the nearside of the line, and afternoon for the far side. The line curves sharply just past the station to the south, but it's possible to get a full unit shot, and curves more gently to the north, with the added bonus of the brickwork chimneys in the distance.
General views - All photographs © Richard Tearle unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north east
Taken from the southern side of the line, with a 50mm lens on a bright sunny April morning, at around 10. The brickwork chimneys at Stewartby are just visible in the background.
Fig 2 - Looking south west
Taken from the southern side of the line, with a 60mm lens on a bright sunny April morning, at around 10:20. Millbrook station is visible just behind the unit.
Fig 3 - Looking north east - Photo © John Patston
From the northern side of the line.
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.
