Colton Junction

[tucker]

I'm think of doing a trip to Colton Junc.
Has anyone else done it by car?. Is it easy to get too?. Do you have to leave your car and walk or can you sit and see everything from the warmth of your car?
Many thanks
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Oops I've put this in the wrong topic. Can someone on admin put it in the right section for me please
Thanks

 

[Lrd]

A very quick google bought this up...

http://www.docbrown.info/docspics/ArchiveSteam/st_colton_junction.htm

Colton Junction is situated a short walk across the fields on a public bridleway east of the village of Colton south of York in North Yorkshire. The bridleway footpath leads to a footbridge just a short distance north of Colton Junction which offers excellent views north of the double tracked lines from York

 

[D1009]

I bet it'll be busy there around 1220 tomorrow.

 

[Condor7]

Yes it is easy to get to.

The above description is literally to Colton Jn across fields, however it is easy to park and watch nearby.

You do not say which way you will be coming but based on you arriving from the Leeds direction you take the A64. Just before the main York turn off you will see a Premier Inn on your right hand side and a slip road on your left signposted to Colton.

Take the slip road and then go over the top of the A64 and follow what will become Colton Lane. Just stay with that road for a mile or so until you go over the railway line.

This is just a few hundred yards from the junction itself and you can normally park in an elevated position right between the dividing of the two lines. If however there is a steam special or something similar I would imagine parking there would be difficult, but at most other times no problem.

Yes you can see trains on both lines from the comfort of your car, however if you want numbers then good eye sight would be needed, and for the speeding passenger trains almost impossible.

I used to get fish and chips at the shop near the Premier Inn and sit and watch the trains while having my lunch. They are very nice fish and chips as well.

 

[tucker]

Thanks everyone. Condor a bag of chips sounds a great idea

 

[96tommy]

I have lived for the last 20 years a 5 minute drive away from Colton so know the area well.

Colton itself is not well signposted. You need to exit the A64 at Bilbrough Top then follow signs for Colton/Bolton Percy/Appleton Roebuck. Do not enter Colton village itself. You will come to 2 bridges in between of which there is parking for 5/6 cars on your left where you can see trains on both the ECML and the Leeds lines from the comfort of your car. Set the mirror so you can see the lines behind as freight trains easily crawl up unnoticed. There is also parking on your right down a steep hill which leads to Brumber Bridge on the Leeds line.

Facilities wise, Bilbrough Top has Mc Donald's, a petrol station and Scotts Fish and Chip shop, all a 3 minute drive from Colton. Colton village has a pub which serves meals as do Bolton Percy and Appleton Roebuck. Copmanthorpe a little further away has a CoOp and Tadcaster has a Sainsburys.

Getting a space should be easy enough, if there is a special due however, I would advise getting there a bit earlier to ensure a parking spot.

It might be an idea to look at Google Maps street view to look at the area.

 

[DarloRich]

A very quick google bought this up...

http://www.docbrown.info/docspics/ArchiveSteam/st_colton_junction.htm

that is a the footbridge slightly to the north - 96tommy has the gen for the directions to the double bridge accessible by car. The pictures will be better from there

 

[tucker]

thanks 96 Tommy and DarloRich. Very much appreciated info

 

[45135]

Coincidentally I've just chanced across this thread after visiting Colton Junction for the first time this afternoon, thanks to the very rare combination of a work trip out and an hour to spare!

I parked in the layby adjacent to the NR access road (near where the camper van is parked in this view) which offered decent photo opportunities of 'trains in the countryside', particularly when the sun appeared from behind the clouds. It gives a good view of all lines, assisted by Realtime Trains, but a couple of Northbound trains running slightly outside their booked times took me by surprise.

I spent most of my time there outside the car, trying out a few different vantage points, and as well as the excellent advice provided above I'll add that it's quite an exposed location - a cold wind was blowing and I was glad I'd brought gloves.

Oh, and here's a blatant Flickr plug...

 

[55013]

Some nice shots there matey.
I particularly liked the one of the two 91 passing each other and the 66 with the photographer in the foreground.

 

[45135]

Cheers, I haven't done much out in the sticks photography for ages so I enjoyed trying something a bit different. Given the four seasons of weather we've had in the last couple of days it could've been a lot worse!

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Weird coincidence or screaming irrelevance?

One of my great-great-grandmothers was from Appleton Roebuck. I discovered this a couple of years after choosing my username on here....hock:

 

[tucker]

Thanks for the info 45135. Some great pics too

 

[45135]

Weird coincidence or screaming irrelevance?

One of my great-great-grandmothers was from Appleton Roebuck. I discovered this a couple of years after choosing my username on here....hock:

Well, having ancestral connections there is as good a reason to visit as any.

Thanks for the info 45135. Some great pics too

No probs, cheers!