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Location notes
A double tracked section of the Birmingham to Gloucester mainline, along the famous 1 in 37 Lickey Incline. The very popular location is a foot crossing on the south side of a narrow road underbridge.
As of 2017 the line has been electrified and the OLE masts have changed the available angles available at the location.
As of 2017 the line has been electrified and the OLE masts have changed the available angles available at the location.
Railway type and traffic
Frequent Voyager services between Birmingham and the South West. 150s, 158s and 170s on Birmingham to Cardiff, Worcester and Hereford service. Although once electrification is complete the local workings will hand over to electric units.
Freight consists of a couple of coal trains and a few steel workings and a Flask working on selected days.
Freight consists of a couple of coal trains and a few steel workings and a Flask working on selected days.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Lickey Bank, Vigo Bridge
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
Environment
The location is a narrow area on either side of a foot crossing.
Road directions
From the M42, Junction 1:
Follow the B4096 south through Lickey End and towards Burcot. Continue through the village and along the B4096, when you go under the railway line you have reached the loaction.
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Lickey Bank, Vigo Bridge map co-ordinates
Follow the B4096 south through Lickey End and towards Burcot. Continue through the village and along the B4096, when you go under the railway line you have reached the loaction.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Lickey Bank, Vigo Bridge map co-ordinates
Parking
Parking is a problem at this location. There is a short dirt road leading to the location that would accommodate 3 or 4 cars, but given that there is no room to manoeuvre it is very much a 'last in, first out' so some care and good will is required to park at the location. The lane under the bridge may also provide a few passing spots to park but these would not be recommended. Other than that it will be parking a few hundred yards to the west on Alcester Road.
Public transport
Diamond travel service 145 operates approximately every 90 minutes between Bromsgrove, Barnt Green and Kings Norton Station and stops in Burcot village. See Travel Line Midlands for more information.
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 none at the location, but Bromsgrove should have anything you would need.
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.
Lickey Bank, Vigo Bridge
Streetmap links
Lickey Bank, Vigo Bridge general view map
Lickey Bank, Vigo Bridge close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Lickey Bank, Vigo Bridge
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Lickey Bank, Vigo Bridge
Googly map
Lickey Bank, Vigo Bridge general view map
Lickey Bank, Vigo Bridge close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Lickey Bank, Vigo Bridge
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The area on the parking side is quite small so steps would be handy to get you over the gallery that usually assembles when a special is due. On the other side, there is a bit more room and you can head further north-west down the footpath and get a more side on view. The shots of trains descending the bank are nothing spectacular and are harder to obtain due to the bridge parapets and line side signs.
Although the area is open countryside with little noise, due to the large number of photographers that assemble there, video soundtracks will often have photographers voices on them.
The recent (2017) addition of Overhead line mast now makes some angles at the location tighter so if you have not been to the location since electrification allow yourself some extra time to reacclimatize.
Although the area is open countryside with little noise, due to the large number of photographers that assemble there, video soundtracks will often have photographers voices on them.
The recent (2017) addition of Overhead line mast now makes some angles at the location tighter so if you have not been to the location since electrification allow yourself some extra time to reacclimatize.
General views - All photographs © Marcus Dawson unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking south west - Image ©Ross Mayl
A telephoto shot of a train climbing the bank.
Fig 2 - Looking south west - Image ©Ross Mayl
The wide shot a train climbing the bank from the same position as fig 1.
Fig 3 - Looking south west
From the other side of the line, but opposite the foot crossing.
Fig 4 - Looking south
From the field opposite the foot crossing.
This shot is unlikely to be 'on' anymore due to the OLE masts.
Fig 5 - Looking south - Image ©Ross Mayl
From the field.
Fig 6 - Looking north east - Image ©Ross Mayl
From the same side of the line as fig 1 and 2, a train descending the bank.
Fig 7 - Looking north east
From the same side as fig 3-5.
A 'going away' shot of a train climbing the bank.
Fig 8 - The Location
This view shows the location with the photographers going for the fig 1 and 2 view. As can be seen the space is limited and steps are highly recommended.
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.
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