East Lancs Photospots

I'm hoping to get up to ELR on Sat or Sun for their gala, where are the good places for photography?

 

Burrs Country Park is the classic ELR location. Other favourites with the Photters are around Irwell Vale and Ramsbottom stations. Scott Cooper has demonstrated that you can get some interesting shots at Heywood too!

http://scott164.fotopic.net/

If you want a quiet spot, try by Townsend Fold SB. Not many Photters seem to get up there.

Do you need NGRs? Let me know & I will provide them.

I am not a real Photter - just a point and shoot merchant, so don't take my word for it. Also, bear in mind that the ELR does not issue Lineside Passes, so all snapping should be done from public areas.

For anyone travelling by Public Transport, please bear in mind that the Metrolink will be shut down between Manchester Victoria and Bury on Sunday 29th Oct with a replacement bus service running.

 

The Caravan site there now has comprised some photting angles but others are still availible if you look around a bit.

Ewood Bridge just north of Irwell vale isn't too bad either.

 

Diamond Gaz,

There are more than enough Photo Spots along the line I would of said, but I dont know the exact directions to these places. Examples:

A Footpath that comes off the main road opposite the station, walks along the line at Rawtenstall station:
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p28162517.html

Rawtenstall Crossing:
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p27833239.html

There is a bridge that is just South of Rawtenstall Station:
http://www.steamingthroughbritain.co.uk/6201.jpg

Small spot just south of Townsendfold Crossing:
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p25595035.html
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p23136519.html

Just by the River, short distance South of Townsendfold, Horncliffe:
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p25595424.html
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p33618591.html
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p33618626.html

Ewood Bridge, which is sign posted on the main road out of Rawtenstall Station:
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p23131616.html
http://www.steamingthroughbritain.co.uk/5596A.jpg

A bit of a Walk up the Hill just South of Irwell Station:
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p23131619.html
http://henrysgallery.fotopic.net/p33888754.html

The Hill just opposite Irwell Vale Station, simply cross the crossing at the North End of Irwell Vale Station:
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p27782327.html
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p28162515.html

Short walk on a Footpath, South of Irwell Vale Station:
http://richsoft.fotopic.net/p11394629.html

Easily accessed Footpath from the Main Road, just by Rammy Station, which follows the line by the Picnic Area:
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p23134581.html
http://www.steampics.com/html/elr092.html

The Footpath Entrance, can be seen just to the Right of Duke and 76079:
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p33618604.html
http://www.steampics.com/html/elr090.html

The small grass area, which can be accessed by the Road that just runs behind Ramsbottom Station on the Factory Thing Side, not the Kwick Save Side:
http://www.steampics.com/html/elr094.html

If you want photos looking down on the locos, you can climb the Top of Brooksbottom Tunnel, on the Summerseat end of the tunnel:
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p24467759.html
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p29791328.html
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p28131194.html
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p23134587.html
http://www.steampics.com/html/elr119.html

You can also go down by the Line at the Summerseat end of the Tunnel:
http://www.steampics.com/html/elr121.html

If you get off the train at Summerseat, and follow the Road into Summerseat Village, you come to Summerseat Hotel I think its called which has a small Picnic Area outside:
http://www.steampics.com/html/elr100.html
http://www.steampics.com/html/elr117.html

If you follow the Road Round under the Railway, on the other side, it comes out like this (Notice Summerseat Hotel? were the photos taken up above) :
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p33627357.html

Foothpath that crosses the line just South of Summerseat Station:
http://steamtrains.fotopic.net/c928837.html

Burrs of Course!: On the Right Hand Side of the Line:
http://www.steampics.com/html/elr082.html
http://www.steampics.com/html/elr083.html

Burrs on the Left Hand Side of the Line:
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p28131205.html
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p23134579.html

And a bit further down on the Left Hand Side:
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p27776841.html

And on each sides of the line, on the footpath which crosses the line:
http://www.steampics.com/html/elr084.html
http://www.steampics.com/html/elr085.html
http://www.steampics.com/html/elr073.html
http://www.steampics.com/html/elr074.html
http://www.steampics.com/html/elr025.html
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p23158120.html

Two Bridges that are at Little Burrs, just South of Burrs Country Park:
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p27776846.html
http://steamgalore.fotopic.net/p25432230.html
http://steamgalore.fotopic.net/p25432214.html

The small bank by the sharpe curves just before the Ski Jump:
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p25636634.html

The car park opposite the Ski Jump on the Bury Side:
http://www.steampics.com/html/elr130.html

By the Lineside on the Heywood Side of the Ski Jump:
http://www.steampics.com/html/elr130.html
http://www.steampics.com/html/elr059.html
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p26469157.html

Not sure how to get to it, but produces some excellent Photos at Roche Viaduct:
http://teamhotosbyeilarvey.fotopic.net/p25595031.html

You can also walk the Other side which come out just as good, there is a Example Photo in Steam Railway Feb 24th- March 23rd, issue Number 320 with 44422 on the Front and 'Diesel for Bluebell!' in big letters on the Front, and theres a Picture of 76079 on Roche Viaduct on the opposite side of the above Picture, with the Sun setting, which is on either Page 11, 12, 13 or 14, not sure which one.

And lastly when you get to Heywood Station, if you get off, go through the Car Park and up the Road Bridge and you get Photos like this:
http://www.steampics.com/html/elr048.html
http://www.steampics.com/html/elr106.html
http://www.steampics.com/html/elr049.html

Hope it helps, James

 

Correction to Q1 - the ELR does issue lineside passes - but only once you have passed a Safety Course with the line's Safety Officer; looking at mine as I write this post it is valid until August 2008 so I presume that someone has been giving you false info.

In fairness to your posting it does not issue day passes as far as I am aware and I assume this to be the fact that you were trying to impart. [/i]

 

Can someone please give me directions to Burrs Country Park (and tell me if there is a car park anywhere near by).

 

From where?

NGR is SD798127 at the end of Woodhill Road by the Brown Cow Pub

 

Thanks

 

Unfortunately the location on the Heywood side of the "ski jump" is no longer accessible without a lineside pass. I tried it yesterday and there is now a huge steel fence at the end of the street [South Bank Road I think its called] so you can't get round the end of the houses. A pity that, as it was a good spot.

 

Being new to this forum and a working member of the elr I would like to clarify a post by mr Kerr some months ago. The east lancashire Railway do not issue any lineside passes for the purpose of taking photographs.

The pass to wich fred eludes is for members who wish to work on the railway and is in respect of having undertaken a basic safety course.

It is not and I Repeat not a lineside photographic pass.

 

ok then as this will take some time I will do it in sections and try to describe all lineside photographic locations on the elr, starting first with Bury to Burrs. the first thing to remember is when taking pictures on the elr any steam engines that face north, that is to say chimney towards rawtenstall will be "backlit" in the winter months mainly. That is to say the front end of the engine will be quite dark. Anyway here we go, sorry no pics but my computer skills are not up to much.

BURY STATION.

With a north facing engine the sun will be on your right hand side as you look at the engine and in winter will not come round enoght for a decent shot from the end of platform 2 until approx 10.00 am. After that you can shhot away until at least 12 noon without the sun being to strong in your lens. after this time the "glint" down the side of the loco is massive and will lead to severely dark pictures unless you are able to manually control your camera. In winter after about 1 pm the sun is to far to the west for really godd photographs in paltform 3 and the station canopy puts most of the train in shadow. However if you want to try something very arty then try and go on platform 3 for any trains that are coming from heywood into platforms 2 or 3 and try practically hiding the sun with the exhaust.

If an engine faces south, that is to say chimney to Heywood then you can take pictures well into the afternoon on various platforms, try for example framing an engine under the superb signal gantry.

Also at Bury station there is a viewing galley at the north end of platform 2, again only really any good until about 12 noon as the sun swings round to far. hope this is not boring anybody but will carry on.

If you leave Bury station and go across the car park it will take you into castlecroft yard. From there bear to your right to the far corner and again there is a viewing area to watch the trains departing from bury north tunnel. However be warned this is also the diesel running shed and there may be engines being worked upon that could obscure your view. on a sunny day this vantage point is only any good in the afternoon as otherwisi#e you will be against the sun.

For a morning shot of engines leaving bury an excellent vantage point is to go down the footpath that runs round the back of tescos on the retail park just outside of bury. This location can be quite easily be walked to frombury town centre and as you approach the main entrance to tescos go to your right hand corner and you will easily see the footpath.

The next public point along the line that you can photograph north or south facing engines in the morning is to go down the footpath that is at the back of the seedfield centre which is off the a56 between bury and ramsbottom and is sign posted on the main road.This takes you beside the line but you are not actually on the lineside as there is fencing between you and the running line There are some very nice winter steam pictures that can be taken here especially on the first trains of the morning from about 930 onwards. the north bound shot is only on so to speak for about an hour only, but southbound trains will be "shut off" and will not be producing much exhaust as a norm. Southbound trains can be photographed at this location for most of the morning until about mid day.

Then of course you come to the famous burrs country park. With the caravan site now having been built there is not as much scope as there once was. however for morning shots the best thing to do now is to go lower down in the field in order to shut out the caravans etc. Again you do not have to on the side of the line to obtain superb pictures at burrs but be warned wellington boots or some similar kind of stout foot wear is highly recomended as this field gets very boggy. To access burrs it is well signed out of bury and has been described elsewhere as to how to get there. Southbound shots are available from this field on the east side of the ine untill approx 10.30in the winter but by then be warned only the smokebx will be lit by the sun at that time. For afternoon shots there is no need to cross the line or indeed walk along it to the embankment where you will have seen a lot of shots published. With the caravan park now having been built one of the better shots is to stand with your back to the fence, one word however please respect other photographers that may be behind you. there is absolutely no need for you to wear hi visibility clothig in the midle of a field, you will look a pratt!!!!. Also try not to wear anything that is bright red as it may indicate to forrplate crews a sign of danger. As the sun starts to set you are again advised to possibly cross over the line via the public foot path and try a sillhoutte of engines working either north or south but again bear in mind there is not likely to be much exhaust from a south facing engine. There are various shots available from within the country park of the line without you having to go on the linesside. I know a lot of people do go on the lineside and i can not condone this.

Anway will carry on further with this giude asap with more palces that you can photograph from which is publc access. did not raelise it would take me this long just for this bit

 

A couple to add around Irwell Vale, my favorite place for getting shots around the East Lancs probably as its the most rural and nearby locations are inaccessible to cars so are less frequented and quieter (also I can walk the dog with photting trips as a good reason to).

Ewood Bridge (Location A) a great spot and the hill south of the station (location B) have already been mentioned and are excellent spots.

Of course there's the classic view opposite the station in the field; (Location C)



Best in the morning here though as in the afternoon you are usually facing directly into the sun unless its cloudy.

Just South of Irwell Vale via a footpath past Lumb Viaduct and one of the locations pointed out by James is this location. To get here you climb past one of the weird Irwell sculpture trail thingies and from the hillside you get a good shot of trains leaving the Vale southbound; (location D)



This location is also good for northbound trains arriving, if the loco is the other way round!

And near by if you continue down the old formation of the Accrington line towards Stubbins, from the viaduct you can still walk over you get a good shot of northbound trains on the lower bridge (location E)



But in this case it caught me out tender first, and you have to be quick with the shutter for a good shot between the trees!

Map-



The old trackbed is accesible from Irwell Vale below the viaduct and the road off to the right alongside the river (same side of river as ELR) as you approach the station.

 

Reply to LMS James

A belated reply to LMS James' very lengthy and comprehensive post above, using pictures taken by (mostly) other photographers, including me.

I'd just like to say thanks for using my photos - I wondered why my Fotopic "hit rate" had recently-ish gone up!

I also hope the right person (ie. someone willing and able) reads the following request:

Given that there's this massive gala coming up in April at Llangollen that everyone's getting very excited about, can someone please do a "phot-spot" guide to Llangollen? I for one have never been and would like to know where and how to get to the shots. Thanks in advance.

Regards
Neil Harvey
aka CopyPit

 

Re:

What are the shots like from here now? I mean with tree growth?

And, what would people say to video down by the river, a short distance from Townsend Fold, Horncliffe as i notice theres that busy road near by?

Also how do i get to the footpath which is near to Summerseat Station? This looks to be a rather nice spot.

Also how do i get to the shots at Roche Viaduct, this also looks to be a fantastic shot?

And also a bit confussed as to how to get to Burrs.

Hoping to attend to the Autumn Gala, so any help will be highly grateful.
Simon

 

Footpath from Summerseat going south; go out of the station and turn right under the railway, then immediately left and follow the road and look for the foot crossing over the railway on your left.
This path if followed correctly will eventually take you to Burrs cutting/Burrs Country Park.

For Burrs, if in a car, make for Burrs Country Park, it is signposted. (SATNAV - Tom Tom under POI's)

Below is some photos with suggested locations. Google Earth co oridinates in the descriptions:

Steam Gala 2014 around Summerseat, Irwell Vale & Burrs.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66957213@N00/sets/72157639980112723/

Diesel Gala 2013 around Summerseat & Burrs
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66957213@N00/sets/72157634531173385/