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Location notes
Toton is near to Long Eaton in Derbyshire, approx half way between Nottingham and Derby. The lines that run beneath the footbridge are the Erewash valley main line which runs from Trent East Junction through Toton yards to Trowell and on to Clay Cross. And the high level goods lines which diverge at Toton Junction, which run to Trent South Junction on the MML, approx half way between Toton Junction and Trent South there is Meadow Lane Junction where a spur connects to the Trent East to Nottingham route.
Railway type and traffic
Passenger trains are very infrequent.
DB Schenker, Freightliner freight workings, both passing and entering the yards.
Trains entering the Up Yard from the South will proceed past the yard and back in. The Down Goods line is no longer in place north of Toton, so most freight departs to the south.
DB Schenker, Freightliner freight workings, both passing and entering the yards.
Trains entering the Up Yard from the South will proceed past the yard and back in. The Down Goods line is no longer in place north of Toton, so most freight departs to the south.
Environment
The location is an old lattice girder footbridge spanning the railway at the south end of Toton yards. The path to the west side of the line leads to Long Eaton town centre and the nearby Asda superstore, the path is unlit for a couple of hundred yards until it reaches the environs of Asda and the location is not recommended for after dark train watching. The path to the east side of the footbridge leads onto paths across former railway yards and into a nature reserve.
Road directions
From the North, at M1 Junction 25:
Take the Nottingham bound carriageway of the A52, at the first junction (known as Bardills roundabout after the name of the garden centre here) take the 4th exit Toton Lane, signposted Toton and Long Eaton. At the next set of traffic lights at the bottom of the hill take the right hand lane and proceed straight on. After 1/4 mile take a right turn at the traffic lights on the T junction, signposted Long Eaton. After 3/4 mile you drive beneath a railway bridge then over another railway bridge and descend to a mini roundabout, take the 3rd exit into Asda car park.
From the South, leave M1 at Junction 24:
Taking the A50 Derby/Stoke road. After 1 1/2 miles take the exit signposted Sawley/Long Eaton, taking the 4th exit from the roundabout at the top of the junction, again signposted Long Eaton. Follow this road all the way to Long Eaton train station, after passing beneath the railway bridge, at the mini roundabout take the 2nd exit, Tamworth road. This road takes you through the middle of Long Eaton and at the end of the road at the roundabout proceed straight across (2nd exit) onto Midland St, there is pay and display parking on the left, or take first right to enter the Asda store car park.
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Toton Junction Footbridge map co-ordinates
Take the Nottingham bound carriageway of the A52, at the first junction (known as Bardills roundabout after the name of the garden centre here) take the 4th exit Toton Lane, signposted Toton and Long Eaton. At the next set of traffic lights at the bottom of the hill take the right hand lane and proceed straight on. After 1/4 mile take a right turn at the traffic lights on the T junction, signposted Long Eaton. After 3/4 mile you drive beneath a railway bridge then over another railway bridge and descend to a mini roundabout, take the 3rd exit into Asda car park.
From the South, leave M1 at Junction 24:
Taking the A50 Derby/Stoke road. After 1 1/2 miles take the exit signposted Sawley/Long Eaton, taking the 4th exit from the roundabout at the top of the junction, again signposted Long Eaton. Follow this road all the way to Long Eaton train station, after passing beneath the railway bridge, at the mini roundabout take the 2nd exit, Tamworth road. This road takes you through the middle of Long Eaton and at the end of the road at the roundabout proceed straight across (2nd exit) onto Midland St, there is pay and display parking on the left, or take first right to enter the Asda store car park.
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Toton Junction Footbridge map co-ordinates
Parking
The Asda store car park provides 2-3hrs free parking, with a short walk to the rear of the store where you pick up the footpath to the bridge.
There is also a small pay and display car park opposite Asda, which is free at weekends, this is accessed off Midland Street.
The road which leads from the main roundabout in Long Eaton, which passes between the pay and display car park and the Asda store, Midland Street, goes to the Asda staff car park at the rear of the store. You can drive in here and park next to the line, but beware that signs denote there is a fine of £40 for unauthorised use, therefore if you were sitting train watching you could make an escape should you be challenged, but if you have left the car here to walk to the footbridge, you could well find a nasty surprise on your return. However, I do not know of anyone who has actually been fined for parking there yet.
The road which leads from the main roundabout in Long Eaton, which passes between the pay and display car park and the Asda store, Midland Street, goes to the Asda staff car park at the rear of the store. You can drive in here and park next to the line, but beware that signs denote there is a fine of £40 for unauthorised use, therefore if you were sitting train watching you could make an escape should you be challenged, but if you have left the car here to walk to the footbridge, you could well find a nasty surprise on your return. However, I do not know of anyone who has actually been fined for parking there yet.
Public transport
Nearest train station is Long Eaton, read directions above as per road directions from the South.
From Nottingham Station, Go to Broadmarsh Bus Station and get the Indigo Bus (every 6-8 mins). Ask to go to Long Eaton Green. It is normally £4 for a adult return. You will then see Asda. Walk up the left of ASDA and then head North West. You will come to a small footpath and go under a railway bridge. Shortly after this is the footbridge.
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From Nottingham Station, Go to Broadmarsh Bus Station and get the Indigo Bus (every 6-8 mins). Ask to go to Long Eaton Green. It is normally £4 for a adult return. You will then see Asda. Walk up the left of ASDA and then head North West. You will come to a small footpath and go under a railway bridge. Shortly after this is the footbridge.
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Amenities
Asda is literally less than 5 mins walk away, being a 24hr store there are food and toilet facilities readily available. Long Eaton itself is only a hundred yards or so further on with take aways and pubs aplenty.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
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Toton Junction Footbridge
Streetmap links
Toton Junction Footbridge general view map
Toton Junction Footbridge close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Toton Junction Footbridge
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Toton Junction Footbridge
Googly map
Toton Junction Footbridge general view map
Toton Junction Footbridge close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Toton Junction Footbridge
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Photographic notes
The footbridge is an excellent vantage point for photography throughout the day, the lines run more or less north-south so in summer the light is head on from the south around 1100-1300, in winter light this is more like 0930-1230 as the light is more harsh.
There are 7 running lines passing beneath the bridge, plus 2 lines to the currently disused wagon works have just been lifted in early 2007 but there are plans to reopen this site as a concrete sleeper works later in 2007 with new sidings for loading sleepers onto trains. The furthest West of these lines is the arrival line for Toton north yard and this is tight up against the fence so photography is difficult, trains arriving on this line can be photographed from the Asda staff car park, but by the time you realise a train is being routed onto this line, it is usually too late to get to the car park!
There is another vantage point a couple of hundred yards further north on the west side of the line, this is best for northbound trains descending the high level goods line in the afternoon. Scramble up the old embankment next to the footbridge on the west side, walk along the embankment towards Toton yards for approx 600yards and descend towards the track at the side of the viaduct over the River. The location is standing on top of the river bridge abutment, which gives you the height to see over the palisade fencing, but be warned if a train for the yard arrives on the closest track, they often stand waiting acceptance into the yard, and this will totally block your view of all the other lines.
The original 'lattice' footbridge has now been replaced with a 'slab sided' version. The sides on this bridge are quite tall and steps are now required to see over them properly.
There are 7 running lines passing beneath the bridge, plus 2 lines to the currently disused wagon works have just been lifted in early 2007 but there are plans to reopen this site as a concrete sleeper works later in 2007 with new sidings for loading sleepers onto trains. The furthest West of these lines is the arrival line for Toton north yard and this is tight up against the fence so photography is difficult, trains arriving on this line can be photographed from the Asda staff car park, but by the time you realise a train is being routed onto this line, it is usually too late to get to the car park!
There is another vantage point a couple of hundred yards further north on the west side of the line, this is best for northbound trains descending the high level goods line in the afternoon. Scramble up the old embankment next to the footbridge on the west side, walk along the embankment towards Toton yards for approx 600yards and descend towards the track at the side of the viaduct over the River. The location is standing on top of the river bridge abutment, which gives you the height to see over the palisade fencing, but be warned if a train for the yard arrives on the closest track, they often stand waiting acceptance into the yard, and this will totally block your view of all the other lines.
The original 'lattice' footbridge has now been replaced with a 'slab sided' version. The sides on this bridge are quite tall and steps are now required to see over them properly.
General views - All photographs © Paul Robertson unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - Looking north
Fig 3 - Looking south
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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.
