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Location notes
Situated slightly North of Stowmarket. This is where the Mainline to Norwich meets the branch line to Bury St. Edmunds/Cambridge/Peterborough. Located along the Great Eastern Main Line.
Some Historical notes from Paul Kidger:
Before remodelling in about 1971, Haughley Junction used to have 4 platforms. The Bury branch appears from layout drawings to have diverged from the main line, actually on the level crossing.to reach the platform on the left (when viewed from the crossing). On the extreme right, was a bay platform for the Mid Suffolk Light Railway or Middy (last train in 1952). Within the concrete works and visible from the road, there are some concrete buffer stops probably marking the end of the Middy.
If you go along Haugh Lane you come across the bridge abutments where the Middy crossed this road, before going under the Norwich line then the Bury & Cambridge branch.
If you go from Old Newton towards Bacton, the road makes 2 right angle bends. Just after the second, on the left is a red painted bungalow. This was the crossing keepers cottage and the Middy went off on the right beside what is now a pig farm.
There are many relics of the Middy still around such as earthworks, and odd 'flats' in the road at the site of crossings.
January 2015: The last remnants of the old Haughley Junction station have now been renovated and are in use as offices for a local building and decorating company. Until electrification in the late 1980's, they were in use as the junction signalbox from which the signalman would come out and open/close the gates.
Some Historical notes from Paul Kidger:
Before remodelling in about 1971, Haughley Junction used to have 4 platforms. The Bury branch appears from layout drawings to have diverged from the main line, actually on the level crossing.to reach the platform on the left (when viewed from the crossing). On the extreme right, was a bay platform for the Mid Suffolk Light Railway or Middy (last train in 1952). Within the concrete works and visible from the road, there are some concrete buffer stops probably marking the end of the Middy.
If you go along Haugh Lane you come across the bridge abutments where the Middy crossed this road, before going under the Norwich line then the Bury & Cambridge branch.
If you go from Old Newton towards Bacton, the road makes 2 right angle bends. Just after the second, on the left is a red painted bungalow. This was the crossing keepers cottage and the Middy went off on the right beside what is now a pig farm.
There are many relics of the Middy still around such as earthworks, and odd 'flats' in the road at the site of crossings.
January 2015: The last remnants of the old Haughley Junction station have now been renovated and are in use as offices for a local building and decorating company. Until electrification in the late 1980's, they were in use as the junction signalbox from which the signalman would come out and open/close the gates.
Railway type and traffic
This part of the line sees all of the passenger trains to and from Ipswich - Class 90s/DVTs class 170/153/156).
Also freight traffic, to and from, the port of Felixstowe.
Also freight traffic, to and from, the port of Felixstowe.
Environment
You will find your self along the road connection between Old Newton and Haughley. Go towards Old Newton and on to the B1113 road which connects Stowmarket to rural villages. The place is reasonable safe even after dark. There is an Automatic Half Barrier crossing and a grain storage facility to the side of the road with surrounding fields.
Road directions
Travel from Stowmarket along the B1113 towards Finnigham and Rickinghall. The first village you come into after a slight hill is Old Newton travel along that road to a set of cross roads with a pub on the right hand side, turn left down a road called Station Road travel along that road about 1/2 a mile down that road and the crossing is visible.
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Haughley Junction map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Haughley Junction map co-ordinates
Parking
The grain silo, which could be seen for miles, has now been demolished and the site is now a concrete works making concrete sections for grain stores. Consequently, the entrance is now in regular use and not suitable for parking. The best place is currently the road in the entrance to a field or at the corner of the road to the east of the crossing.
Note: The Railway Tavern has been sold recently (October 2013). It is being renovated so parking outside is no longer advisable.
Note: The Railway Tavern has been sold recently (October 2013). It is being renovated so parking outside is no longer advisable.
Public transport
There is a bus stop about 50 yards from the crossing going towards Haughley. Passenger wishing to get off a bus in the opposite direction should be able to.
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
Old Newton has a shop but the pub has closed and is now a Chinese Take Away. Haughley is a village with good facilities. There is a co-op food shop, a traditional bakers and a pub which serves food (The King's Arms). There is even a good restaurant The Old Counting House.
Accommodation
If you are really keen, the farm near the junction (Red House Farm) does B&B and has pitches for touring caravans and possibly camping.
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.
Haughley Junction
Streetmap links
Haughley Junction general view map
Haughley Junction close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Haughley Junction
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Haughley Junction
Googly map
Haughley Junction general view map
Haughley Junction close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Haughley Junction
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Photographic notes
The best time is afternoon where the sun is not in such a bad place you can photograph both ways then.
In the Morning I would say take photographs looking towards Norwich because the sun would make your photo look over exposed.
this spot is good for videos as well as i have done some videos which have turned out really well!!!
The only negative side to this Automatic Half Barrier's continuous siren.
In the Morning I would say take photographs looking towards Norwich because the sun would make your photo look over exposed.
this spot is good for videos as well as i have done some videos which have turned out really well!!!
The only negative side to this Automatic Half Barrier's continuous siren.
General views - All photographs © Luke Putland unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking south
Fig 2 - Looking north
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.
