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Location notes
This is on the busy WCML just to the south of Northampton. The 4 tracks split here, with two lines diverting via the Northampton Loop, while the 'main' lines avoid Northampton, heading north via Weedon.
Railway type and traffic
Lots of Pendolinos can be seen here, often interrupted by class 321s and 350s on local passenger duties.
The location is also very busy on the freight front, with regular DB Schenker, Freightliner and GBRf workings amongst others. Freight usually takes the Northampton Loop.
The location is also very busy on the freight front, with regular DB Schenker, Freightliner and GBRf workings amongst others. Freight usually takes the Northampton Loop.
Environment
These quiet bridges are on the outskirts of Roade, next to open countryside. Neither bridge will carry road traffic and both are grass green lane type ways, but you might get a farm vehicle on very rare occasions.
Road directions
From the M1, junction 15:
Head south on the A508 towards Stoke Bruerne. After a couple of miles, you will reach Roade. You need to take the first turning on the right into Bailey Brooks Lane. This turning is also marked by a 'bottle bank/village hall' sign. Follow this road to the end, and park up by the private road / footpath. Walking up the 'private road' on the left after the last house is a gate which leads to the southern bridge. Although you can go straight on over style/gap in fence which leads up field to the middle bridge and classic shot, this is not a footpath, just field edge. So it is better to use the southern bridge to cross the line and walk up the footpath to the northern bridge.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Roade Cutting map co-ordinates
Head south on the A508 towards Stoke Bruerne. After a couple of miles, you will reach Roade. You need to take the first turning on the right into Bailey Brooks Lane. This turning is also marked by a 'bottle bank/village hall' sign. Follow this road to the end, and park up by the private road / footpath. Walking up the 'private road' on the left after the last house is a gate which leads to the southern bridge. Although you can go straight on over style/gap in fence which leads up field to the middle bridge and classic shot, this is not a footpath, just field edge. So it is better to use the southern bridge to cross the line and walk up the footpath to the northern bridge.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Roade Cutting map co-ordinates
Parking
Park considerately on the roadside in Bailey Brooks Lane.
Public transport
Amenities
There is a pub in the village on Stratford road just by the roundabout. There are a couple of small stores in the village and a Chinese/Fish and Chip shop on 'The Ridings'.
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.
Roade Cutting
Streetmap links
Roade Cutting general view map
Roade Cutting close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Roade Cutting
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Roade Cutting
Googly map
Roade Cutting general view map
Roade Cutting close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Roade Cutting
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Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
This location is difficult for photography, but may present a challenge for some!
The tracks are deep down in the cutting here, so you can expect very long shadows at certain times of the year. There is also no easy way of avoiding the overhead catenary here, but it does at least offer a different perspective. Given the deep nature of the cutting light will be better towards the middle of the day when the sun is high in the sky.
The tracks are deep down in the cutting here, so you can expect very long shadows at certain times of the year. There is also no easy way of avoiding the overhead catenary here, but it does at least offer a different perspective. Given the deep nature of the cutting light will be better towards the middle of the day when the sun is high in the sky.
General views - All photographs © Jason Rodhouse unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking North
Workings off the Northampton Loop.
Fig 2 - Looking north
Fig 3 - Looking south
Fig 4 - Looking north
A shot with the sun on the 'wrong' side. This is the main line.
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.
