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Location notes
Petts Wood is between Bromley and Orpington in Kent. A complex collection of lines here, with lines to Victoria, Charring Cross, towards Chatham, and down to Tonbridge.
Railway type and traffic
Most passenger trains are operated by South Eastern Trains, featuring 375, 465 and 466.
Most freight workings are in the hands of DB Schenker 66 and 92s, although other workings can often provide a nice surprise!
Most freight workings are in the hands of DB Schenker 66 and 92s, although other workings can often provide a nice surprise!
Environment
The location itself is a set of useful footbridges crossing the lines.
Road directions
From Petts Wood station, bear left down Woodland Way. This leads into a built up housing area. You will shortly notice Manor Way on your right. Keep going. You should then notice Silverdale Road to your right. Ignore this, and keep going and the road should bear to the right. Look out for 'Little Thrift' on the left, and pull in here. There is a public footpath on your left which takes you to the southern bridge, and a path on your right which takes you to the northern bridges.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Petts Wood Junction map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Petts Wood Junction map co-ordinates
Parking
Park considerately in the nearby streets.
There is also a large car-park at the end of Tent Peg Lane' which is just off 'Crest View Drive'
There is also a large car-park at the end of Tent Peg Lane' which is just off 'Crest View Drive'
Public transport
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.
Petts Wood Junction
Streetmap links
Petts Wood Junction general view map
Petts Wood Junction close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Petts Wood Junction
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Petts Wood Junction
Googly map
Petts Wood Junction general view map
Petts Wood Junction close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Petts Wood Junction
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Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
There are several options here, with many different angles to choose from to suit different sun positions throughout the day. However, trees can be troublesome at the northern bridges. The best shooting spot is from the southern bridge. Here, you can get good shots of southbound trains up unto the afternoon, and in the summer, good northbound shots can be had in the evenings.
The best bridge, referred to as the 'southern bridge' in the text has now been turned into a giant cage, and as a result, taking photos from the bridge that spans the lines is an almost impossible task.
The best bridge, referred to as the 'southern bridge' in the text has now been turned into a giant cage, and as a result, taking photos from the bridge that spans the lines is an almost impossible task.
General views - All photographs © Jason Rodhouse unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north west - Photo by Victoria Rodhouse
From the first bridge.
One of only two views which can now be had.
Fig 2 - Looking south
From the first bridge.
Taken from halfway down the steps, and was taken by holding a camera through some barbed wire.This is the best one can make of what is now a bad situation
Fig 3 - Looking west - Photo by Victoria Rodhouse
From the second bridge.
Fig 4 - Looking east - Photo by Victoria Rodhouse
From the second bridge.
Visible in the background is a new fence, workmen were erecting 'miles' of this new fencing at the time these pictures were taken.
Fig 5 - Looking east
From the third bridge.
This is the only possible shot from the top of the bridge, and even then was taken with great difficulty, and probably would not be worth the effort. Small steps would be helpful if anyone did want to try for such a shot.
Fig 6 - Looking west - Photo by Victoria Rodhouse
From the third bridge.
This shot is almost passable, but those trees to the right are getting a bit out of control at the moment.
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.
