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Location notes
The location is on the outskirts of Gainsborough in Lincolnshire. The nearest city is Lincoln.
The location is on an over bridge which crosses the Gainsborough to Lincoln railway line from a farm track on the main A156 road to Lea.
The location is on an over bridge which crosses the Gainsborough to Lincoln railway line from a farm track on the main A156 road to Lea.
Railway type and traffic
The railway is double track and sees both passenger (Central Trains Lincoln to Doncaster and Northern Trains Sheffield to Lincoln services)
Staple freight flows include Selby to Felixstowe intermodal (GBRf) fly ash from West Burton Power Station (DB) coal from Immingham (DB) ballast from Mountsorrel to Doncaster (Freightliner) scrap metal from Lincoln to Healey Mills (DB) and gypsum from West Burton Power Station to Hotchley Hill (GBRf).
However, please bear in mind that most freight trains travel via Gainsborough Central on Saturdays.
Staple freight flows include Selby to Felixstowe intermodal (GBRf) fly ash from West Burton Power Station (DB) coal from Immingham (DB) ballast from Mountsorrel to Doncaster (Freightliner) scrap metal from Lincoln to Healey Mills (DB) and gypsum from West Burton Power Station to Hotchley Hill (GBRf).
However, please bear in mind that most freight trains travel via Gainsborough Central on Saturdays.
Environment
The location is in a cutting adjacent to Warren Wood. The area is rural but there are no farm animals nearby and is within 400metres of a main road on the outskirts of Gainsborough.
Road directions
Take the A156 Lea Road out of Gainsborough passing Lea Road station on the right and then going underneath the railway bridge. Follow the road until passing Mayflower Close on the left. The track is immediately after this (left) and is designated Causeway Lane.
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A156 Lea Road, Gainsborough map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
A156 Lea Road, Gainsborough map co-ordinates
Parking
Roadside parking on the A156 may be possible, but I suggest that cars are parked on the track itself.
Public transport
Bus:
Stagecoach Lincolnshire services 100, 105, 106, and 107 from Lincoln to Gainsborough drop off along the A156.
Rail:
Central Trains Lincoln to Doncaster and Northern Trains Sheffield to Lincoln services. The nearest station is Lea Road.
It is a 10-15 minute walk (south) from Lea Road station.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Stagecoach Lincolnshire services 100, 105, 106, and 107 from Lincoln to Gainsborough drop off along the A156.
Rail:
Central Trains Lincoln to Doncaster and Northern Trains Sheffield to Lincoln services. The nearest station is Lea Road.
It is a 10-15 minute walk (south) from Lea Road station.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
There are no nearby toilets. There is a general store on the corner on Mayflower Close and the A156 selling confectionery, drinks, ready made sandwiches etc. There is also a telephone box nearby.
Further facilities including fish and chip shops and other places to eat can be found in Gainsborough town centre, a short drive or about a 25-30 minute walk away.
Further facilities including fish and chip shops and other places to eat can be found in Gainsborough town centre, a short drive or about a 25-30 minute walk away.
Accommodation
Bed and Breakfast facilities can be found in both Gainsborough and Lincoln.
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.
A156 Lea Road, Gainsborough
Streetmap links
A156 Lea Road, Gainsborough general view map
A156 Lea Road, Gainsborough close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
A156 Lea Road, Gainsborough
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
A156 Lea Road, Gainsborough
Googly map
A156 Lea Road, Gainsborough general view map
A156 Lea Road, Gainsborough close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
A156 Lea Road, Gainsborough
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Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The line effectively runs in a north to south direction and lies in a cutting with trees on both sides. Therefore, on sunny days this can restrict photography options.
However, the parapet wall of the bridge is at a nice convenient height, and for the patient photographer some good shots (especially using a zoom lens) can be obtained. There is a particularly good shot looking south which includes semaphore signals.
In late afternoon the sun lights up the line looking south, thus giving good shots of freight trains running toward Lea Road station.
Due to the cutting and trees it may be difficult to correctly guess aperture settings, particularly when the sun is hidden behind the trees, which creates a distinct light and shade effect.
Conversely, if the sun is not out then the location can seem rather dull and uninspiring photography wise!
However, these problems aside the location does offer some good shots, although photography would be more successful with an SLR camera with all the 'mod cons'.
However, the parapet wall of the bridge is at a nice convenient height, and for the patient photographer some good shots (especially using a zoom lens) can be obtained. There is a particularly good shot looking south which includes semaphore signals.
In late afternoon the sun lights up the line looking south, thus giving good shots of freight trains running toward Lea Road station.
Due to the cutting and trees it may be difficult to correctly guess aperture settings, particularly when the sun is hidden behind the trees, which creates a distinct light and shade effect.
Conversely, if the sun is not out then the location can seem rather dull and uninspiring photography wise!
However, these problems aside the location does offer some good shots, although photography would be more successful with an SLR camera with all the 'mod cons'.
General views - All photographs © Dr. John Binch unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
This photograph was taken from the overbridge in question and looking north towards Lea Road station. It also highlights the potential photographic problems associated with a cutting setting of this nature.
Fig 2 - Looking south
The overbridge described is visible in the distance. The bridge seems closer than it actually is due to the distortion caused by the zoom lens. The bridge visible beyond should not pose too many problems regarding photgraphy of trains from the ovebridge.
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.
