As for Bromsgrove Station platform 1 is brilliant for views of both north & southbound trains. If taking photographs be warned that units seem to pick the most inappropriate times to pull in front of you!

Platform 2 isn’t very good at all for photography unless you're photographing a train heading out of the freight loop. Otherwise the view is poor.

Bromsgrove station is between Ashchurch & Barnt Green or Droitwich Spa & Barnt Green depending on whether or not you take the mainline. It only has the capacity for 3 car units to stop there. Though there has been speculation that it is to be revamped to accommodate Virgin trains it seems that a brand new station is the prefered option.

The Nottingham to Cardiff & return are the most common services through the station.

To get to Bromsgrove Town Centre

Up station Drive you will come to a mini roundabout, if you head straight over & down the other side of the hill you will come to a set of traffic lights. You are now on New Road

In the 1960s Bromsgrove had an extensive track layout which has been drastically reduced since the demise of the wagon works & less intricate banking requirements. The up yard was replaced by the GATX oil storage plant. This itself closed in the 1990s & now the tracks lie overgrown.

The Midlands goods shed still stands though derelict through disuse. A tablet stone can still be found in the wall in memory of a late station master.

A little further south of the station the bankermens huts can be found. The old ones since demolished to make way for new unused huts surrounded by a spiked fence. These are better seen from Garringtons/Bankers bridge.

The station itself was without a 2nd platform for some time after realignment of the tracks. This was to allow trains to approach the incline at a greater speed. The down platform has since been replaced with the addition of a new footbridge.

The road bridge that passes over the back end of the station has been replaced by a more sturdy (yet ugly) concrete bridge. The up platform has not escaped modernisation itself. It has been moved forward to create less of a bend. Part of the old platform 1 can be seen at the right end along the fence.

The freight loop is directly south of platform 1 which gives a great view of trains being banked from a standing start.

Bromsgrove Station is due to be replaced in 2008 with a brand new design further south of the original structure.

CHIPSHOP BRIDGE
For obvious reasons this bridge takes its name due to the Golden Fry Chip Bar at the end of the street. This bridge leads to a housing estate thats built on the old wagon works site.
O.k for above shots of the station in winter but mainly covered by greenery most seasons.Very poor for southbound photo's.

FINSTALL BRIDGE/CEMETARY
This road bridge has recently received a make over by Railtrack to enable electrification should it ever become an option.This meaning high wall sides that eliminate what used to be a decent shot.
A footpath leads down along side the track back to the Chipshop bridge but once again shrubbery puts pay to that once photo friendly shot.
The cemetary holds fond memories for me as i remember seeing 50008 at the head of a rescue train after 37197 derailed on the catch points under Finstall bridge while banking. A recently erected 6ft metal fence obscures the once brilliant view from the cemetary.

PIKES POOL LANE
There is a whole host of positions on farm land around the lineside up here.
It must be remembered however that this land is owned by the farmer & they have the right to ask you to leave. I personally have had no problems.
Pikes Pool Lane runs alongside the track for a while before branching off to the left.
Follow the narrow lane to a T junction.Turning right here you will pass under the railway bridge,directly on your right is a long drive that takes you to the trackside known as Vigo Bridge.

VIGO/BURCOT
Here there is a right of way across the track.Please ensure you cross safely & close the gate when visiting.
The view from here is first class.You have the line stretching all the way from Bromsgrove station to your feet.
Southbound shots are good too.
The one downfall about Vigo in my experience is too many photographers spoil everyone elses shot.It can get crowded there when a steam excursion is due northbound!

BLACKWELL
The area where Blackwell station once stood is now privately owned.
The station itself was closed to passengers on 18th April 1966.
Unless invited or to ask politely i suggest finding an alternative position.
Further up the line is the golf course but due to a housing estate built on the northbound side this decreases positions for photography.
Blackwell of course is where the banker will drop off the back of the freights.

BARNT GREEN
This station was opened in 1844.It once branched off to Redditch,Studley,Evesham & Ashchurch. Now the branch only reaches Redditch where the line ends. Studley & Astwood bank station still stands in all its Midland railway glory complete with goods shed and weigh bridge opposite the popular Studley carboot site.
Barnt Green is where electrification starts on to Birmingham onwards.The overhead wire's start at Redditch.