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Location notes
An over bridge over the main lines from London to Gatwick and Brighton. The cutting the lines are in is very deep, and consequentially you get a very high angle. The fast and slow lines are in separate cuttings at this point having split at Stoats Nest Junction. The slow lines being, at this point, on the west.
Railway type and traffic
Frequent electric multiple units belonging to Thameslink and South Central Trains.
Either class 319s, and newer Electrostars. Also the frequent Gatwick Express shuttle is handled mainly by class 460s.
Either class 319s, and newer Electrostars. Also the frequent Gatwick Express shuttle is handled mainly by class 460s.
Environment
The bridge is high up. There is a parapet along the bridges, this is well over head height, but the parapet stops in the middle allowing a good view of the lines below.
Road directions
From the M25, Junction 7:
Join the M23 and head north. This road soon become the A23, continue along the road through the village area and you will notice a new looking bridge on your right at some traffic lights. This is Netherne Drive, which is the location.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Quarry Tunnels (North End), Hooley map co-ordinates
Join the M23 and head north. This road soon become the A23, continue along the road through the village area and you will notice a new looking bridge on your right at some traffic lights. This is Netherne Drive, which is the location.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Quarry Tunnels (North End), Hooley map co-ordinates
Parking
The pavements are quite wide across the bridge on the north side, so it should be possible to park here off the road.
Public transport
Coulsdon South station is about a mile and a half north of the location, it should be possible to walk down the pavements of the A23 from there.
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
There are a couple of petrol stations within a short walk of the location.
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.
Quarry Tunnels (North End), Hooley
Streetmap links
Quarry Tunnels (North End), Hooley general view map
Quarry Tunnels (North End), Hooley close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Quarry Tunnels (North End), Hooley
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Quarry Tunnels (North End), Hooley
Googly map
Quarry Tunnels (North End), Hooley general view map
Quarry Tunnels (North End), Hooley close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Quarry Tunnels (North End), Hooley
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
Given the height of the cutting the sun will need to be very high in the sky to reach down to track level. The lines are pretty much south facing, so this will be pretty much any time from around 11:00 to 13:00, depending on the time of the year.
The bridge parapet is above head height, so it would be advisable to have steps or something if you are planning on going when the location might be busy.
There are more bridges to the south of this location offering similar shots, they have lower parapets but they have a safety caging/fencing that restricts the views.
For shots of north bound trains on either the slows or fasts a slightly longer lens would help to get 'over' the pipeline that runs just next to the bridge.
Road noise might be a problem from the A23 that runs parallel to the location.
April 2007: Due to a large number of land slips at this location network rail has undertaken bank strengthening works here. The fitting of this metal grid along the length of the cutting has required the stripping back of all the line side vegetation, thus cleaning up the shot.
The bridge parapet is above head height, so it would be advisable to have steps or something if you are planning on going when the location might be busy.
There are more bridges to the south of this location offering similar shots, they have lower parapets but they have a safety caging/fencing that restricts the views.
For shots of north bound trains on either the slows or fasts a slightly longer lens would help to get 'over' the pipeline that runs just next to the bridge.
Road noise might be a problem from the A23 that runs parallel to the location.
April 2007: Due to a large number of land slips at this location network rail has undertaken bank strengthening works here. The fitting of this metal grid along the length of the cutting has required the stripping back of all the line side vegetation, thus cleaning up the shot.
General views - All photographs © Marcus Dawson unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
The fast lines.
Fig 2 - Looking north
In this enlarged view, of the fast lines, you can see the dive under for the slow lines.
Fig 3 - Looking south
The fast lines
The bridge to the south provides a similar shot but has protective fencing blocking the view.
Fig 4 - Looking north
The slow lines
Fig 5 - Looking north
This enlarged view of the slow lines shows the fasts on a bridge over the top. It should be possible to run from the slow lines bridge to the fast lines bridge and grab a shot if you are prepared to move, but you would have to be quick if the train was running quickly!
Fig 6 - Looking south
This view of the slows also shows the pipe line that runs level with the bridge. A longer lens will get your shot past this.
Fig 7 - Location overview
Taken from the eastern edge of the bridges. The bridge over the fast lines is closest, with the slows in the distance. Unless you have steps you will need to stand at either end of the bridge parapets as they are around 7 foot high.
Also of note is the width of the southern (left) pavement although wide enough to stand it there is not a lot of room.. Between the bridges and also at the edges is a crash barrier that provides a good 'lift'.
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.
