Bluebell Photo tour 1.1 By stepney60

Lineside permits for Bluebell off website or at SP / HK booking offices.

Sheffield Park - good for yards and run rounds using bridge, and south facing locos arriving

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p21837796.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p21837770.html

Between SP and HK - Freshfiled Halt and bank are popular locations, as is 3 Arch bridge and the field just up from there

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p21837784.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p21837788.html

Horsted - station good for both, plus embankment on west of line (when open) and bridge at far end of car park

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p21837761.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p21837767.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p25144405.html

Between HK and tunnel - NO GO AREA

Tunnel - Kingscote - foot crossing at old West Hoathly site good, and New Coombe bridge as well

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p25144393.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p25144390.html

Kingscote - OK for arrivals, not great for departures or run rounds

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p21837755.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p21837757.html

 

Thanks Admin, I'll add to it when I discover new places to go over time if anyone so wishes

 

I've only visited the Bluebell once (distance prevents more frequent) and was wondering why HK-Tunnel is out of bounds, didn't seem to be any obvious reason i can remember.

 

Three real reasons here;

1 - the area is not easily accessible without walking up from HK past the stabled goods wagons or through the tunnel itself (which is a big no-no anywhere you go)

2 - the area is heavily wooded making vision difficult for both photters and loco crews

3 - there are fairly steep banks up each side which if you fall off of, you go onto the track, and that is a safety hazard.

And also, you don;t get as good a photo there than you do anywhere else. SP - HK is easily the best part of the line with a permit

 

The viewing area at the end of platform 1 also provides good views of trains departing platform 2, although this is not common except for galas and the Arrow, and of trains heading away from the station

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p26310299.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p26310298.html

The view from Station Approach looking over the platforms at HK before entering the station is good, but can be scuppered if a long down train is in platforms 4&5 and you want to get the arrival into another platform from the south

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p26310284.html

Just north of 3-Arch bridge there is a handy ridge about 6 feet above track level and 15 metres from the track, which during the morning provides good shots

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p26310281.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p26310283.html

The curvature of the platform at Kingscote means an engine running round a train in platform 2 is easy to photo from platform 1, and platform 2 is good for trains leaving platform 1

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p26310296.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p26310293.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p26310292.html

The yard restrictions at SP are anoying, but you can still photo the main working area of the yard, and the row of engines behind platform 2, from the end of the shed

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p26310301.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p24648035.html

 

Additions

The bridge over Freshfield Bank is a great place to see locos working hard uphill or coasting downhill, it is on a public footpath but note to acces to / from lineside, and mind the cows, they can get very...um...interested in your presence

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p33335958.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p33335959.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p33335960.html

Just north of the bridge on the lineside there is a rise on the east side of the line toward the bridge (other side is covered in trees)

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p33335954.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p33335955.html

Follow the footpath east off the bridge and turn right and you will walk alongside the line

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p33335961.html

Further north, on the other side of the road bridge, you come accross a bend toward a removed bridge, which gives a good view of trains in either direction, plus some good sound effects and plenty of pre-warning of an approaching train

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p33335965.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p33335970.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p33335976.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p33335972.html

 

Sheffield Park footbridge can provide good shots looking north in winter, and either way during summer

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p36067946.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p36067910.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p36067909.html

For the arrival of shorter trains into Sheffield park platform 1, the bottom of the slope at Platform 2 provides a good shot, and also looking towards the yard

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p36067942.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p36067941.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p36067943.html

 

For those without lineside passes - what are the recommended photo locations with easy access please

Thanx

 

The most obvious locations would be West Hoathley station site (road access easiest), any of the stations, the footpath over the bridge and fields around Freshfield Bank and the section between 3 Arch Bridge and Horsted Jeynes (the fields either side of the line)

 

Sheffield Park - two new locations for you. The footbridge is of use for photographing trains arriving from Horsted Keynes, and also leaving if you're after a more unusual angle. Also, the southern end of platform 1 presents oppportunities to frame engines with the footbridge.

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p42149128.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p42149124.html


Horsted Keynes - on special event weekends it is possible to use the board walk over the up yard sidings (used for access to the viewing field) to gain views of trains to the north of the station from ground level. Also, it is possible to frame engines within the station itself, but only really works if it is a small engine. Go to the ticket barrier on platform 5 and look accross

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p42149078.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p44047795.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p44047793.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p44047788.html


With a lineside pass it is possible top walk south from Kingscote station and use the small grassy rise between station and signal cabin. This gives good long views along a straight of approaching up trains, as well asgood shots of trains arriving at and leaving the station

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p44047759.html

http://christopher.digimig.co.uk/p44047758.html