Steam Train Photography
Discussion
The thread with amazing steam images has prompted me to resurrect my plans to do the same...
I'm in the UK at the end of August, at the same time as the Seaside Express is rolling out of Bristol Temple Meads bound for Weymouth.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I could go to guarantee some great shots?
Would like to manage some station shots as well as some moving images if possible.
I'm in the UK at the end of August, at the same time as the Seaside Express is rolling out of Bristol Temple Meads bound for Weymouth.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I could go to guarantee some great shots?
Would like to manage some station shots as well as some moving images if possible.
If it helps, this was the route of the 2013 tour:
http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t13/t0811n.htm
This years route will probably be the same, but check on http://www.uksteam.info/tours/trs14.htm before you go.
http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t13/t0811n.htm
This years route will probably be the same, but check on http://www.uksteam.info/tours/trs14.htm before you go.
Come down to Somerset to the west somerset railway (longest working line in England)
they have the late summer special weekend august 30th-31st.
http://westsomersetrailway.vticket.co.uk/product.p...
it's good for photography because the start of the line is very green and rural then the end is all coastal , they do a pass where your allowed onto the line to film but there are pretty good places to take photos without getting the pass. Actually scrap that you have to do a course now £50 before getting the pass.
Let me know if you plan on going and i'll take you around a few places at the start of the line.
All these are taking on the west somerset railway:
http://www.donbishop.co.uk/store.php?section=1&...
they have the late summer special weekend august 30th-31st.
http://westsomersetrailway.vticket.co.uk/product.p...
it's good for photography because the start of the line is very green and rural then the end is all coastal , they do a pass where your allowed onto the line to film but there are pretty good places to take photos without getting the pass. Actually scrap that you have to do a course now £50 before getting the pass.
Let me know if you plan on going and i'll take you around a few places at the start of the line.
All these are taking on the west somerset railway:
http://www.donbishop.co.uk/store.php?section=1&...
Edited by egor110 on Sunday 8th June 18:53
Edited by egor110 on Sunday 8th June 18:57
To get back to the substantive point, if you are still in or near Melksham you could do worse than the Avon Valley, especially around Avoncliff or Freshford.
For shots which make it look like there is still some railway around in the UK, you could head for Westbury.
The West Somerset Railway is of course another good idea, but the Bristol to Weymouth trains don't go that way!
fine body of people the WSR - they stock my books in their shops
For shots which make it look like there is still some railway around in the UK, you could head for Westbury.
The West Somerset Railway is of course another good idea, but the Bristol to Weymouth trains don't go that way!
fine body of people the WSR - they stock my books in their shops
If he's in wiltshire though Somerset is close enough to do both, especially if he's flying in to England.
The seaside express is cancelled however he could do the dorset coast express on 28th then either on 1st sept do the royal duchy bristol-par cornwall or the torbay express bristol - kingswear devon.
If he wants his steam fix he could cram loads into a long weekend and all in the south west.
The seaside express is cancelled however he could do the dorset coast express on 28th then either on 1st sept do the royal duchy bristol-par cornwall or the torbay express bristol - kingswear devon.
If he wants his steam fix he could cram loads into a long weekend and all in the south west.
Edited by egor110 on Sunday 8th June 21:28
Thanks for all the advice so far.
Sadly I am literally in the UK for a couple of days, so that Bristol to Weymouth train is my only chance without driving to the other end of the country....
So far I have Google Earthed the lines between the stations that I know are calling points and I have found decent access at Bathford (51.398132, -2.314717)
From there I shall Hightail it to Westbury Station and hopefully catch her steaming out on the next part of the journey.
After that, I'd like to do one more spot somewhere on the route but I don't know that part of the country at all so any exact location suggestions greatfully received.
Sadly I am literally in the UK for a couple of days, so that Bristol to Weymouth train is my only chance without driving to the other end of the country....
So far I have Google Earthed the lines between the stations that I know are calling points and I have found decent access at Bathford (51.398132, -2.314717)
From there I shall Hightail it to Westbury Station and hopefully catch her steaming out on the next part of the journey.
After that, I'd like to do one more spot somewhere on the route but I don't know that part of the country at all so any exact location suggestions greatfully received.
K50 DEL said:
Thanks for all the advice so far.
Sadly I am literally in the UK for a couple of days, so that Bristol to Weymouth train is my only chance without driving to the other end of the country....
So far I have Google Earthed the lines between the stations that I know are calling points and I have found decent access at Bathford (51.398132, -2.314717)
From there I shall Hightail it to Westbury Station and hopefully catch her steaming out on the next part of the journey.
After that, I'd like to do one more spot somewhere on the route but I don't know that part of the country at all so any exact location suggestions greatfully received.
The classic place for photography on that route is between Dorchester and Weymouth, around Bincombe Tunnel. Engine working very had at that point (particularly northbound I think - RS will confirm).Sadly I am literally in the UK for a couple of days, so that Bristol to Weymouth train is my only chance without driving to the other end of the country....
So far I have Google Earthed the lines between the stations that I know are calling points and I have found decent access at Bathford (51.398132, -2.314717)
From there I shall Hightail it to Westbury Station and hopefully catch her steaming out on the next part of the journey.
After that, I'd like to do one more spot somewhere on the route but I don't know that part of the country at all so any exact location suggestions greatfully received.
I don't know if the Torbay Express is also running that day. A couple of years back there seemed to be almost as many steam workings as diesel at BTM on some summer Sundays.
Yertis said:
The classic place for photography on that route is between Dorchester and Weymouth, around Bincombe Tunnel. Engine working very had at that point (particularly northbound I think - RS will confirm).
RS will indeed confirm The train coming northbound Weymouth to Dorchester, somewhere around Bincombe tunnel or Upwey & Broadwey station would be good. But as, when we last met (K50DEL that is) you were living in Melksham, I assumed you might be heading there.
Good Heavens Robin, when did we last meet, I reckon it's got to be ten years ago hasn't it?
Though I was living in Gastard then rather than Melksham so if you remember Melksham then I may have got my dates wrong!
Given I don't know the area at all, any chance of some GPS coordinates that I can check out, I have no issue driving that far to take some images, just need to know for sure where to go.
Though I was living in Gastard then rather than Melksham so if you remember Melksham then I may have got my dates wrong!
Given I don't know the area at all, any chance of some GPS coordinates that I can check out, I have no issue driving that far to take some images, just need to know for sure where to go.
K50 DEL said:
Good Heavens Robin, when did we last meet, I reckon it's got to be ten years ago hasn't it?
Though I was living in Gastard then rather than Melksham so if you remember Melksham then I may have got my dates wrong!
It was when we had a bee in our bonnets about Wiltshire's use of mobile camera vans on the M4 which then led to the M4 protest that Paul Smith also supported.Though I was living in Gastard then rather than Melksham so if you remember Melksham then I may have got my dates wrong!
April 2005
K50 DEL said:
Given I don't know the area at all, any chance of some GPS coordinates that I can check out, I have no issue driving that far to take some images, just need to know for sure where to go.
And I'm no good with GPS coordinates, because I don't use a Sat Nav!Here's a Street View image of Upwey station car park https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.648609,-2.466312...
The footbridge on the station would be a good place (if you can find any room up there on the day of course). If you go back to Google Maps from that image you should be able to get your bearings. Matters have been a little complicated in recent years because the new Dorchester to Weymouth road bypasses Upwey and the northern suburbs of Weymouth - Upwey used to be on the main road.
As regards photography from that footbridge, here, as they say, is one I prepared earlier. 29th May 1967 to be precise
https://www.flickr.com/photos/93122458@N08/8690016...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/93122458@N08/8690016...
Excellent... that looks good.
I also found the Bincombe Tunnel that was mentioned earlier, but there doesn't seem to be any easy access to the South End of it, short of walking the West Coast Path and then diving through the hedge!
I can't see any access to the North end at all.... am I missing something or looking in the wrong place?
And Robin..... policing not fleecing wasn't it !! (that and Coppers not Cameras)
I also found the Bincombe Tunnel that was mentioned earlier, but there doesn't seem to be any easy access to the South End of it, short of walking the West Coast Path and then diving through the hedge!
I can't see any access to the North end at all.... am I missing something or looking in the wrong place?
And Robin..... policing not fleecing wasn't it !! (that and Coppers not Cameras)
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