The first location outside the dock boundary is Derby Road bridge (A565) where you can photograph trains departing the port and crossing Regent Road as they prepare to attack the 1 in 60 climb to Bootle Junction. The best time to photograph is the morning but you could get away with it during early afternoon. The next location for incoming afternoon trains is Millers Bridge (Bootle), which overlooks Bootle Junction and gives a backdrop of the famous Liverpool skyline. The bridge is near to Bootle Oriel Station on the Liverpool - Southport line and a step-ladder is a must! A mile further on, after Westminster Road and Spellow Tunnels, the line emerges at a deep curved cutting under City Road bridge (Walton). This location is ideal for outward trains but is recommended for high summer only. Incoming trains is possible from this bridge also, but best on a bright day only. Clubmoor Recreation Ground is the next location, mid point on the line at the corner of Townsend Lane / Cherry Lane. The line runs on a long embankment and is best for early morning trains (up to approx 10.00hrs) in both directions. It is possible you can get near to the line (looking towards Edge Hill) and keeping on the legal side of the fence (step ladder required!) for some close up shots of incoming trains.
Moving on, the line runs in a cutting up to Bootle Branch Junction and on this 1.5 mile section are five road bridges with good vantage points. Bar one, they lend themselves to head on shots only! The first is Lister Drive, near Newsham Park which is acceptable for morning head-on shots. Prescot Road (A57) bridge is recommended for incoming traffic were the whole train is in view. Edge Lane (end of the M62!) is the most popular bridge, especially for the outgoing afternoon trains. Again the whole train is in view with a backdrop of the Stanley Fruit market and Norton's scrap yard. Incoming trains can be photographed early morning and late afternoon. The next bridge is Binns Road, overlooking Edge Lane Junction (site of) were photographing incoming trains leaving Picko No2 Tunnel is best in the morning only. However, since the reopening of the Olive Mount Chord to the L&M line, there is an afternoon shot for trains crossing Edge Lane Junction heading again for the Docks. The final bridge of the five is Pighue Lane (1), again overlooking Edge Lane Junction but only possible for outgoing trains at most times of day, including with the use of a short telephoto lens for trains heading for Olive Mount Junction. Pighue Lane (2) also crosses the reopened Chord to Olive Mount Junction which is approx 75 yards to the left of the line heading to under Picko No2 Tunnel. This has given the opportunity to photographs in both directions on the single bi-directional line. Unfortunately trains heading to the docks is only ideal for a bright day as it is unlikely the sun will ever get in the shallow cutting due to the high trees on the right but you will the back drop of Olive Mount Tunnel. Trains from the Docks are best obtained during the afternoon especially during Spring & early Summer.