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Location notes
Briar Hill is an estate to the South of Northampton Castle Station, and the line which runs past here is the 'Northampton loop' of the West Coast Main Line.
Railway type and traffic
The line sees mainly multiple units running between London Euston and Birmingham New Street on a regular basis. Some Virgin services also pass here.
Most WCML freight traffic uses the loop, including DB Schenker and Freightliner workings.
Most WCML freight traffic uses the loop, including DB Schenker and Freightliner workings.
Environment
Although normally quite quiet, care should be taken at all times, although the canal stretch normally only sees anglers and the occasional resident walking their dog.
Road directions
From the M1, Junction 15:
Head north towards Northampton on the A45. Continue until you reach the junction where you need the A45 West (Mere Way).
Keep heading west, turning right (4th exit) at the next large roundabout. You will soon pass a playing field on your right. Here you need to look for a left down Rothersthorpe road. Follow this road, going straight over a small roundabout, and you will soon come to another roundabout, at which you need the third exit down Ringway. Follow this road to the end and park. On the opposite side from the houses, you should notice a footpath which crosses the old railway line which has recently been lifted (2005?) With only a few steps, you will soon be at the canal. Follow the canal to the right for one of the shots which can be had here, or follow the path over the bridge to your right, and this will take you to the other shots.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Northampton, Briar Hill map co-ordinates
Head north towards Northampton on the A45. Continue until you reach the junction where you need the A45 West (Mere Way).
Keep heading west, turning right (4th exit) at the next large roundabout. You will soon pass a playing field on your right. Here you need to look for a left down Rothersthorpe road. Follow this road, going straight over a small roundabout, and you will soon come to another roundabout, at which you need the third exit down Ringway. Follow this road to the end and park. On the opposite side from the houses, you should notice a footpath which crosses the old railway line which has recently been lifted (2005?) With only a few steps, you will soon be at the canal. Follow the canal to the right for one of the shots which can be had here, or follow the path over the bridge to your right, and this will take you to the other shots.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Northampton, Briar Hill map co-ordinates
Parking
There is plenty of room to park at the bottom of Ringway, but do remember to lock up, and use crook locks etc if you use them.
Public transport
Amenities
Nothing in the immediate area, but Briar Hill estate does have some local shops, including a fish and chips shop. However, I prefer to go elsewhere.
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.
Northampton, Briar Hill
Streetmap links
Northampton, Briar Hill general view map
Northampton, Briar Hill close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Northampton, Briar Hill
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Northampton, Briar Hill
Googly map
Northampton, Briar Hill general view map
Northampton, Briar Hill close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Northampton, Briar Hill
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Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
Update Fed 2017:
Now the forested area in view from the satellite picture, where most access would be available, is now regarded as private land, with a sign from NCC. The canal view and that from the footpath are still available.
Very limited these days due to excessive growth of the line side shrubbery. However, a few shots can still be had here. The best shots are of southbound trains which can be photographed from the eastern side of the line in the mornings, and these can be had until early lunchtime. This shot can be had from the canal side, and a similar shot from between the canal and the river.
Now the forested area in view from the satellite picture, where most access would be available, is now regarded as private land, with a sign from NCC. The canal view and that from the footpath are still available.
Very limited these days due to excessive growth of the line side shrubbery. However, a few shots can still be had here. The best shots are of southbound trains which can be photographed from the eastern side of the line in the mornings, and these can be had until early lunchtime. This shot can be had from the canal side, and a similar shot from between the canal and the river.
General views - All photographs © Jason Rodhouse unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - Looking north
Fig 3 - Looking north east
Fig 4 - Looking north east
Fig 5 - Looking west
Fig 6 - Looking west
Fig 7 - Looking east
From the footbridge crossing the river.
Fig 8 - Looking east
From the canal
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.
