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Location notes
The village of Great Bowden is a suburb of Market Harborough. The Midland Mainline runs through here, and is about half way between Leicester and Wellingborough.
Railway type and traffic
The line sees regular East Midlands Trains services, currently a half hour service in each direction, so plenty of opportunities to photograph HSTs and Meridian units here.
There is also plenty of freight traffic on the line, although in daylight hours, this mainly consists of northbound workings.
There is also plenty of freight traffic on the line, although in daylight hours, this mainly consists of northbound workings.
Environment
This is a footbridge on the outskirts of the village, with a park on one side, and fields on the other. The footbridge is of an arched latticed design and would not require steps for anyone to get a view.
Road directions
This is not too far from Market Harborough station.
Exit the station, and turn right up Great Bowden road. Keep following this road which will soon cross the railway lines. Shortly after passing 'Madeline Close' on your left, look for some signs pointing the way to 'Recycling bank' and 'Tennis club' as you will need to take this footpath to the footbridge. You will be able to see the base of the footbridge from the park.
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Great Bowden map co-ordinates
Exit the station, and turn right up Great Bowden road. Keep following this road which will soon cross the railway lines. Shortly after passing 'Madeline Close' on your left, look for some signs pointing the way to 'Recycling bank' and 'Tennis club' as you will need to take this footpath to the footbridge. You will be able to see the base of the footbridge from the park.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Great Bowden map co-ordinates
Parking
The park was a car park that is open from 08:00 to 19:00 (summer) or 16:30 (winter). If this is closed then just park considerately at the roadside.
Public transport
Woods Coaches (service 33) offer an hourly service from the Market Hall, in Market Harborough, to Great Bowden, except on Sundays.
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
The park has a set of public toilets open from 08:00 to 19:00 (summer) or 16:30 (winter). The village has a couple of handy shops: Bowden stores, and Weltons, the latter also serves teas, and coffees, and if it is a hot day, home made ice cream!
There are also a couple of pubs within walking distance, and staggering distance back to Market Harborough station!
There are also a couple of pubs within walking distance, and staggering distance back to Market Harborough station!
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.
Great Bowden
Streetmap links
Great Bowden general view map
Great Bowden close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Great Bowden
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Great Bowden
Googly map
Great Bowden general view map
Great Bowden close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Great Bowden
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Photographic notes
Shots can be had from both sides of the footbridge. However, the line runs North-South here, so the location is best for southbound workings, preferably in the afternoon.
General views - All photographs © Jason Rodhouse unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - Looking north - Picture © Victoria Rodhouse
Fig 3 - Looking south - Picture © Victoria Rodhouse
Location Video
Video by Victoria Rodhouse
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.
