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Location notes
Gillingham is in the county of Kent, the nearest mainline is the Chatham mainline which goes through the town centre. The footbridge is near the South Eastern depot.
Railway type and traffic
90% of the trains that run past the area are EMUs, the other 10% is freight or railtours.
The depot caters for the classes 465, 466, 376 and 508. And the classes 465/9 and 375 passes the depot and level crossing on services between London and Kent.
Sheerness freights are usually hauled by DB Schenker class 66 (sometimes by a class 60).
The depot caters for the classes 465, 466, 376 and 508. And the classes 465/9 and 375 passes the depot and level crossing on services between London and Kent.
Sheerness freights are usually hauled by DB Schenker class 66 (sometimes by a class 60).
Environment
The area is usually quiet between 10am and 3pm, after 3pm the local school children come out and the older ones can be troublesome. The depot is in a fairly busy road but at night you can see people racing cars up and down the road.
I wouldn't recommend visiting the area on Saturdays when the football is on.
I wouldn't recommend visiting the area on Saturdays when the football is on.
Road directions
From the M2, Junction 4:
Go down the A278 until you see the Bowaters roundabout, take the 1st exit towards Gillingham then turn right when you see the Kwik fit and Barnsole Road. Carry on going down Barnsole Road until you see a small roadabout then take the second exit. You then go down Gillingham Road (then turns into Ingram Road) and find a parking space. From Gillingham Road you can see the level crossing.
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Gillingham Level Crossing map co-ordinates
Go down the A278 until you see the Bowaters roundabout, take the 1st exit towards Gillingham then turn right when you see the Kwik fit and Barnsole Road. Carry on going down Barnsole Road until you see a small roadabout then take the second exit. You then go down Gillingham Road (then turns into Ingram Road) and find a parking space. From Gillingham Road you can see the level crossing.
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Gillingham Level Crossing map co-ordinates
Parking
Windsor Road, Balmoral Road and Franklin Road are now residents-only parking and the Traffic Wardens patrol frequently; Aldi car park is customers only and time-limited (clamping for non-customers and those who overstay). Suggest park Maple Ave., Cavendish Ave. or Granville Road if going by car.
Public transport
From the station get the route 182 (Twydall bound) and get off at Livingstone circus. The level crossing is only a 5 min walk from the bus stop.
Alternatively, instead of catching bus turn right, then right again into Railway Street, out of station forecourt then continue on Railway Street (over Chatham Docks Branch, presently not in use) to T-junction Ingram Road, then turn right and footbridge is a few yards from this junction
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Alternatively, instead of catching bus turn right, then right again into Railway Street, out of station forecourt then continue on Railway Street (over Chatham Docks Branch, presently not in use) to T-junction Ingram Road, then turn right and footbridge is a few yards from this junction
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
There are no toilets in the area unfortunately.
There are a few fish and chip shops along the road that are friendly and cheap. There also a newsagents shop adjacent to the level crossing.
There are a few fish and chip shops along the road that are friendly and cheap. There also a newsagents shop adjacent to the level crossing.
Accommodation
The nearest hotel is the King Charles hotel which is a bus ride away. Get on the route 182 (or 101 in the evenings) from Livingstone circus and get off at King Charles hotel stop.
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.
Gillingham Level Crossing
Streetmap links
Gillingham Level Crossing general view map
Gillingham Level Crossing close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Gillingham Level Crossing
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Gillingham Level Crossing
Googly map
Gillingham Level Crossing general view map
Gillingham Level Crossing close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Gillingham Level Crossing
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The light is good from 12pm, any earlier and the morning sun can ruin pictures of the depot. The trains pass in both directions to and from London. Plus you can see a few depot movements during the day. There is a footbridge near the level crossing which provides excellent view of the depot and the Chatham mainline.
General views - All photographs © Steven Thomas unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west
Fig 2 - Looking east
Fig 3 - Looking east
Fig 4 - The footbridge
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.
