SVR Photo Guide

Is Oldbury Viaduct ( http://clive-hanley.fotopic.net/p34414663.html ) accessible without a lineside pass?

 

Depends - there is a field with a footpath through it so you can get a side on view, but not the front three-quarters view.

 

So is the photo I linked to a lineside pass only photo?

 

Yes - that's a photo pass situation.

 

Thought i would rescue this topic from demise. There is a nice spot at Eardington Holt from in the car park if the train is going north or on the platform if it is going south, there is also a beautiful shot at the summit of Eardington bank ( if the sun is in the right place) if you have a lineside pass.


Simon

 

To resurect this, now i know i will definetly be spending a fair amount of time at the SVR later in the year, does anyone have places that are in public areas, that they could give photographic links to, preferably with maps :S

Sorry to be a pain

 

Should be even better when the line reopens as there has been a massive amount of clearance work done in conjunction with the repairs.

Regards Dave

 

A lot depends on the sort of picture you are after. Re the SVR I go to Kidderminster Station/Railway Museum a lot on Autumn/Winter/Spring season Saturdays as that is where we hold our SLS Midland Centre meetings. Due to time constraints I therefore take a lot of photos in Kiddie'. It sounds trite and boring but you can get plenty of good shots without moving far from the station/car park area and the footpath overbridge immediately to the south of the station. If videoing, unless you want the crowd noise & PA etc, pick a day when the Harriers are playing away. Other advantages of the town location are the railway and museum shops, cafe and toilets. Rural and remote is not always best.

 

Do you have to walk all the way round to that footbridge at Kiddy or is there an easier way to get onto it?

Highley is best i think. The new engine house will allow good views of trains going south. "In station" shots are easy to get and a short walk gives oppurtunities for trains working north, up highley bank.

 

I haven't been up onto the bridge for a while but if you start at the station there is a track and alleyway behind the SVR car park which comes out in the small pay and display car park opposite the footy ground. It can be awkward to find the first time but the route was all still open last time I needed it. Load Google maps and search for Kidderminster. Track/alley way starts at the south end of the T shaped Comberton Place, continues behind the houses in Ray Mercer Way and comes out into Stadium Close.

The footbridge walk over the railway station throat runs from the footy ground through to Chester Road South. The outlet into Chester Rd is adjacent a corrugated iron fence, easily spotted if you are driving north. Parking ok there on non-footy match days but popular spot for fans to park on match days. Best thing to do is download Google Earth & Maps and zoom in on Kidderminster station in the aerial photo view and from those pictures you can clearly see the local street layout. The aerial photo quality on Google Earth is degrees better than those on MultiMap.

 

Some spots that may be of use to you around the Kidderminster area are as follows:

Falling Sands viaduct (from the canal).
Hoo Road & Worcester Road Bridges.

There is also Oldbury viaduct, near Bridgnorth. Plus you can now photography trains leaving Highley from the viewing gallery of 'The Engine House'.

 

I try and not to for stock SVR shots. Especially since most SVR shgots you see are from The Engine House. It is a good shot but every body and his wife has that photo now. I tend not to be around the Kidder area that much, 1 because of lineside clearance, and very limited shots between Kidder and the tunnel. ! day I will try the shot off the canal.

 

Hi,
Thinking of heading down to SVR for a winter steam 'fix' whilst they are running santa specials. Does anyone know where the best shots around the tunnel and Northwood Lane are from NON LINESIDE pass locations?

 

The tunnel mouth is a great spot, walking up the field with the runway is normally fine with the landowner, giving great views of trains running in both directions



Higher up in the fields also gives you great vistas


There's also a small crossing on Northwood Lane which offers great views


Victoria Bridge at Arley is also a great location

http://teenagesteamphotography.fotopic.net/c1900808.html

Lewis

 

Thanks Lewis. Do you have a lineside pass, out of interest?

 

Nope, i'm too young...have to be 18 for a pass

Lewis

 

Thanks. As for other locations around Foley park I've tried there is also 'Sandy Lane':
http://rasdvphotos.fotopic.net/p67377434.html
and
http://rasdvphotos.fotopic.net/p68340319.html

 

This might be a big ask but I don't suppose anybody could put together a small compilation of the best photo spots using flickr pics? I should be headed there this coming week and haven't been for a long time so I really don't know where the best spots are. I'd like to find a few locations which are easily accessible on foot from the stations and ideally feature an uphill gradient... thanks in advance for any help!

 

I created one on SteamTube:

Starting from Bridgnorth, you have the station which offers many views which are easily accessible: http://flic.kr/p/aqCMcD http://flic.kr/p/aqjbhY
Moving south, there is a location just before the Viaduct at Daniel's Mill which is accessed via a field from the road to the east of the railway at a 'layby': http://flic.kr/p/9X399M. A couple of hundred yards down the road and you reach Daniel's Mill, which offers this view: http://flic.kr/p/bncChf
Continuing South on the B4555, Eardington is the next best option - the location providing excellent photos all day. The left turn into a narrow road which crosses the railway (sometimes gated) south of Eardington village is here: http://flic.kr/p/aeKm8t http://flic.kr/p/aWj4Qt. Eardington station (open on Gala days is also a good morning location): http://flic.kr/p/aqgGqV. Following the road past the station...a large layby can be found on the right hand side of the road which is ideally suited to the location at Sterns, accessed via the left turn just before the road diverges underneath the railway: http://flic.kr/p/btaDiA http://flic.kr/p/9YxNtZ
The riverside footpath can also be accessed here by following the road down into a fisherman car park. The footpath leads all the way to Hampton Loade with views across to the railway: http://flic.kr/p/aqgPaH. Waterworks crossing is also a good place that can be reached by the footpath: http://flic.kr/p/b9DbAc
Once at Hampton Loade, the cycle way to Highley alongside the river path which (via Country Park Halt: http://flic.kr/p/9AvDgm) runs parallel to the railway and offers lots of views: http://flic.kr/p/9X5PRs.
Back on the River path after Highley towards Arley, the railway is high up and so good views can be obtained in the morning from the path or the many others which criss cross the railway: http://flic.kr/p/9AswUP
Continuing through Arley after crossing the river, on the footpath, Victoria Bridge is reached: http://flic.kr/p/9N6SVb. This footpath leads all the way to Bewdley and is a nice walk going past Trimpley Reservoir and alongside Northwood Lane. Northwood Lane also offers many good views at various places, like here just south of Northwood halt: http://flic.kr/p/bB38cv
Bewdley station is a great station for a few hours and many Urban photos can be obtained from the streets below.
The main photo location around Bewdley is the area alongside Safari Park curve which is accessed via the B4195 out of Bewdley towards the A456. A right turn will lead you to a small car park, which has good access to the length of line. Once parked, cross the road and follow the lane in the Kidderminster direction (sign posted as a cycle way). Go under the old railway line and turn left up a bank which leads to here: http://flic.kr/p/aYJjxT
Following the lane still, these views can easily be obtained: http://flic.kr/p/aPPGkn
Staying on the right side of the railway, you reach Bewdley 'Airport'. A gallery of photographers can normally be seen at the top of the field for these views: http://flic.kr/p/bp8bB4 http://flic.kr/p/aQabrF
I hope this has been a help. It is by no means an in depth guide, but it gives you the jist. All my photos on flickr have a place marked on the map on the top right corner, so if this hasn't been detailed enough, just look there. Of course whilst in all fields act respectively, and if possible gain the farmer's permission.

Thanks,
Lewis

 

That's way beyond what I expected! I really appreciate it, ta very much!