New Mobile Site
We have just launched a new mobile version of this site - m.trainspots. This page will use your smart device's GPS to loctate you and guide you to locations that are close to your present location.
Location notes
Located on the Ipswich to Felixstowe branch line this location is a road over bridge. The line serves Felixstowe, Suffolk's, and indeed England's, largest port complex. Which is located at the coastal tip of a flat peninsula bordered by the Rivers Deben and Orwell and the North sea, with the county town of Ipswich on its northern inland edge. By road the port is about 10 miles west of Ipswich.
The entire line between Trimley and Westerfield is scheduled for doubling in the next few years.
The entire line between Trimley and Westerfield is scheduled for doubling in the next few years.
Railway type and traffic
A rural passenger service but mainly freight from the nearby port of Felixstowe.
Usual motive power is the ubiquitous class 66 from either DB Schenker, Freightliner or GBRf. But Freightliner 70s also appear.
Usual motive power is the ubiquitous class 66 from either DB Schenker, Freightliner or GBRf. But Freightliner 70s also appear.
Environment
The location is a road over bridge. There is little near the location other than fields and a 'research station' a short distance down the road.
Road directions
From the A14:
After crossing the Orwell Bridge continue along the A14 for about 3 miles. Passing one junction, going under the railway and then under a road bridge and then come off at the next junction. Take the third exit towards Nacton and drive for about 400 yards until the road bends. There is a turning on the left, take it and follow this road to the location. When the road becomes a short dual carriage way look out for the bridge on your right and take the road, apptly named 'Bridge Road' to the location.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Levington, Felixstowe Branch map co-ordinates
After crossing the Orwell Bridge continue along the A14 for about 3 miles. Passing one junction, going under the railway and then under a road bridge and then come off at the next junction. Take the third exit towards Nacton and drive for about 400 yards until the road bends. There is a turning on the left, take it and follow this road to the location. When the road becomes a short dual carriage way look out for the bridge on your right and take the road, apptly named 'Bridge Road' to the location.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Levington, Felixstowe Branch map co-ordinates
Parking
On the northern side of the bridge is a very wide strip of grass that will accommodate a number of cars.
Public transport
The First no 77 bus stops at the end of the road to this location. You can see the location from the bus stop.
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
Nothing in the area. There are plenty of shops and facilities in Felixstowe Town which is only a few miles drive away, or a few basic shops in Trimley which is about a mile and a half to the east.
Accommodation
Plenty of holiday type accommodation in Felixstowe.
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.
Levington, Felixstowe Branch
Streetmap links
Levington, Felixstowe Branch general view map
Levington, Felixstowe Branch close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Levington, Felixstowe Branch
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Levington, Felixstowe Branch
Googly map
Levington, Felixstowe Branch general view map
Levington, Felixstowe Branch close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Levington, Felixstowe Branch
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The primary shot here is for trains heading towards Felixstowe Docks. The line is running south east at this point and as such is well lit for all the morning and a good part of the early afternoon. Trains can be seen approaching from about a mile away and they appear from behind a big oval shaped tree (well it was last time I was there! - ed) and continue round a sweeping curve to the bridge. If you want to shoot from the south west side of the bridge, in the early afternoon, then be warned there is a bush growing up that will obscure trains before long.
The bridge parapets are quite high and steps would be required to see over them. Fortunately the bridge edges are waist height 'armco's' and can easily be seen over.
The shot of trains coming from Felixstowe is nothing to write home about and you would be better walking to another location to get that shot.
This also makes the location very difficult for videographers wishing to use a tripod.
Although the Trimley RTT page shows all workings on the branch you can simply list workings in one direction only by looking at:
Levington Signal Co617 for Felixstowe bound workings is the most appropriate for this location.
Levington Signal Co622 for workings bound for Ipswich and beyond
Update October 2015:
The bushes on either side of the line are now beginning to obscure the wider angles. This, combined with the height of the bridge parapets mean that steps are now almost essential for this location.
The bridge parapets are quite high and steps would be required to see over them. Fortunately the bridge edges are waist height 'armco's' and can easily be seen over.
The shot of trains coming from Felixstowe is nothing to write home about and you would be better walking to another location to get that shot.
This also makes the location very difficult for videographers wishing to use a tripod.
Although the Trimley RTT page shows all workings on the branch you can simply list workings in one direction only by looking at:
Levington Signal Co617 for Felixstowe bound workings is the most appropriate for this location.
Levington Signal Co622 for workings bound for Ipswich and beyond
Update October 2015:
The bushes on either side of the line are now beginning to obscure the wider angles. This, combined with the height of the bridge parapets mean that steps are now almost essential for this location.
General views - All photographs © Marcus Dawson unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north west
Fig 2 - Looking north west - Image © Gary Thomas.
Taken with a telephoto lens and steps.
Fig 3 - Looking north west - Image © Keith Halton.
From the opposite side of the bridge to fig 1
Fig 4 - Looking north west
The yellow line shows the rough route of the track approaching the location.
Fig 5 - Looking south east
The shot of Ipswich bound trains is both unimpressive and blocked by over hanging trees.
Fig 6 - The location
The bridge parapets are about 6 ft high. The place to park is at the end of the 'armco' on the left hand side of this picture.
Location Video
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.
