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Swanage Photo Guide

Discussion in 'Photographic Guides' started by PhotoMatt, May 18, 2007.

  1. PhotoMatt

    PhotoMatt Well-Known Member

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    Swanage Photo Guide.

    These are some of the spots I use, I am sure there are plenty of others, but hopefully others can fill in the gaps.

    Location 1

    Just North of Corfe Castle. As you travel along the A351 towards Corfe (from Wareham) , go past the signs for the Norden park and ride. There is a National Trust car park (with the Corfe Castle visitors centre)opposite the castle (maybe a small charge), the entrance for this is on the left hand side. In the corner of the car park, some steps go up a bank.

    You can shoot in either direction, towards Corfe:

    [​IMG]

    Or towards Norden (you can actually see Norden platform…just)

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Location 2

    Corfe Station. A few options here, some from the platform, some from the end of the adjacent pubs garden. There is no parking at the station itself.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    from the other side of the station (morning shot):

    [​IMG]

    Location 3

    After you drive through Corfe (heading for Swanage) the road goes over the railway line, there is a layby where you can park (almost on the bridge). Be very careful as the road is quite busy especially in the summer.

    Here you can get shots of trains leaving Corfe with the Castle in the shot:

    [​IMG]

    Or closer in:

    [​IMG]

    Location 4

    You can leave the car in the same spot and walk down the road that runs adjacent to the line heading towards Swanage. At the end of the road (where it goes round the bend there is a stile. This is a public footpath that runs all the way to Harmans X. There are lots of different spots along the path, I’ll put then in order that you’ll come to them (when walking towards Swanage):

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    Hope it helps!
     
  2. Beaker

    Beaker Well-Known Member

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    Beat me to it !.

    Heres what i had so far

    Norden and Corfe Castle

    At point a on the last photograph , there is a foot crossing witch will produce good photos from both directions eg. Trains from Norden, and Trains from Corfe. With trains from Corfe you will also include the big bridge.

    Train from Corfe:
    [​IMG]

    Train from Norden:
    [​IMG]

    You can easily walk from Norden Station or alternatively park in the National Trust Car Park.
    Photos can be obtained from Corfe Castle bank itself
    [​IMG]


    Place 1 being the National Trust car park, and place 2 being the level crossing

    There is also a hill behind the Castle witch produces this shot
    [​IMG] with the Castle’s hill being seen to the right, you walk through the footpath in the front field to get here

    Photos of Trains departing Corfe to Norden can be taken from this Hill aswell.
     
  3. Tim Cowen

    Tim Cowen Member

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    Heres a few more:
    Just south of Corfe station is a foot crossing, accessed from a public footpath off the main street -
    http://www.steampics.com/html/sr034.html, and
    http://www.steampics.com/html/sr054.html.

    On the road from Corfe towards Swanage, before you get to the bridge mentioned by Matt there is a public footpath on the left [park in the lane right opposite] which leads to a bridge from where you can get this shot of trains leaving Corfe -
    http://www.steampics.com/html/sr080.html.
    [this bridge can be seen in the background of Matt's shots].

    And in Swanage, dont forget the bridge and viewing area by the loco shed -
    http://www.steampics.com/html/sr042.html, and
    http://www.steampics.com/html/sr022.html.

    Any more anyone?

    Tim.
     
  4. MrHillingdon

    MrHillingdon Well-Known Member

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    Tim,
    Your last photo at Swanage looks almost like a lineside shot or is it on a footpath?

    Cheers,

    Paul
     
  5. NDTSDN

    NDTSDN Part of the furniture

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    The last photo by Tim would have been taken from the small viewing area that is opposite the loco shed. Its accessible via a small gate off the road.
     
  6. NDTSDN

    NDTSDN Part of the furniture

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    [​IMG]
    Between Harmans Cross and Herston you can get this shot of trains climbing the bank. (Although there is no clag/smoke in this shot!)

    It was taken on the 31st March this year, however I am unsure how much vegetation will obscure a similar shot in high summer. The shot was taken from a road crossing (accessed via a steep road from the main Corfe / Swanage Road).

    It will be no good for video because of the audible warning.
     
  7. Tim Cowen

    Tim Cowen Member

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    NTDSDN is right, it is from the viewing area by the shed.
     
  8. MrHillingdon

    MrHillingdon Well-Known Member

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    OK thanks guys. I shall be down in that part of the world 2 or 3 times during the summer so I may well be using some of the locations mentioned.

    Thanks again,

    Paul
     
  9. Rumpole

    Rumpole Part of the furniture

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    Wasn't any vegetation there this weekend, and there won't be any in the summer either, got to keep the sight lines for the crossing clear.

    Too many people there don't understand what flashing red lights mean... ](*,) :smt067
     
  10. NDTSDN

    NDTSDN Part of the furniture

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    Thanks.
    I understand the safety aspect to ensure an obstructive view of the crossing, but wasn't too sure about the amount of folage that may be on the trees. When trees are heavily laden with leaves, the branches tend bow and overhang more.
     
  11. Beaker

    Beaker Well-Known Member

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    Corfe station by night may be of interest for those who dabble in non rail shots aswell.....

    [​IMG]
     
  12. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Nice one Beaker, who needs a train to make an interesting railway photo.......
     
  13. johnnew

    johnnew Member

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    deleted by original author - content found to be incorrect.
     
  14. johnnew

    johnnew Member

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  15. Hunt62

    Hunt62 New Member

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    these are some of what i took on my phone on the end of steam weekend

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  16. johnnew

    johnnew Member

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  17. Orion

    Orion Well-Known Member

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    The position at Corfe Town End overbridge is a public footpath but the surrounding land belongs to the National Trust and is a protected water meadow. Please be aware.

    I always park in the NT car park at Corfe (it's reasonably cheap). There is a footpath already mentioned up to the railway. If you cross the railway and turn immediately left on the footpath there is a shot of trains passing with the castle in the background. Nice for video in particular.

    The car park at Harman's Cross can offer nice shots, as can the footway from the lane to the station, but the station garden can get overgrown in the summer. At Quarrs Farm/South Instow there is a nice panning shot, but this is not a public right of way. The farmer is OK with pedestrians but don't block his access road with your car. The hill overlooking Corfe station has a public footpath up it, this offers really good panoramic views of the station area.

    I hope this isn't too self-serving but my video does give a reasonable guide to the Swanage. It doesn't include all possible shots, because I find you can't do them all in one day. Apart from gala events its best to go to the Swanage during the week on yellow timetable days

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a04TXaZJJas

    Regards
     

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