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Location notes
Townsendfold is on the outskirts of Rawtenstall (the northern most point of the ELR), trains take only about 2 minutes to reach there from Rawtenstall (Southbound) and no more than 3 minutes from Irwell Vale (Northbound)
Railway type and traffic
The East Lancashire Railway is a Heritage line. Most traffic is confined to Saturday and Sunday although the line does operate a summer timetable which includes running on some weekdays. For timetable and special events details look at the ELR Website.
Environment
Townsendfold is a road/rail crossing with a signal box. On one side there are fields (private land) and on the other industrial units and public access road.
Road directions
From Rawtenstall station car park, exit next to the station building and turn right (onto Bury Road). Follow the road up for just short of a mile, on your way you will pass The Railway pub (right hand side) and Rossendale Motor Show (right hand side). Having passed the car showroom take the next major right turn (before the Whitchaff Inn pub) onto Holme Lane and follow the road down and over the railway line.
NB Townsendfold is effectively a Cul-de-Sac if you are in a car. The only way out is the way you have come
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
ELR, Townsendfold Crossing map co-ordinates
NB Townsendfold is effectively a Cul-de-Sac if you are in a car. The only way out is the way you have come
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
ELR, Townsendfold Crossing map co-ordinates
Parking
Do not park in either the K-Steels or Rossendale Combining car parks as you might just get locked in!!
During The week parking may be limited by HGVs although using a bit of common sense there isn’t usually a problem. Weekends are usually fine.
During The week parking may be limited by HGVs although using a bit of common sense there isn’t usually a problem. Weekends are usually fine.
Public transport
Local bus services from Rawtenstall to Bury or Bolton (ask for the stop before the Whitchaff Inn pub) also probably only a £3.00 journey by taxi from Asda in Rawtenstall or walk able in about 25 minutes from Rawtenstall either by road or via the River trail.
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
Local Pub, The Whitchaff Inn on the Main Road. No other shops or amenities.
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.
ELR, Townsendfold Crossing
Streetmap links
ELR, Townsendfold Crossing general view map
ELR, Townsendfold Crossing close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
ELR, Townsendfold Crossing
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
ELR, Townsendfold Crossing
Googly map
ELR, Townsendfold Crossing general view map
ELR, Townsendfold Crossing close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
ELR, Townsendfold Crossing
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Photographic notes
The Best shots are from the Signal Box side of the line in both directions. Good shots can be obtained from the crossing gates (either direction) and from opposite the home signal (southbound trains). It is worth noting that Southbound (to Bury) trains are usually under power at the crossing but will be coasting Northbound (to Rawtenstall) unless stopped by a signal check.
Links to photographs at this location
The BR Diesel Web
General views - All photographs © Andy Slater unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - Looking south
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.
