LOW LEVEL LINE (Ditton Junction to Warrington Arpley via Fidlers Ferry).
The Low Level line in 8A RAIL's opinion is the best in the area were there is huge potential for some classic train shots. With Fidlers Ferry Power Station (FFPS) dominating the skyline from which ever angle you shoot from, there is a variety of different locations which include signal boxes, signals, road crossings, canal's, urban, industrial and landscape backdrops. Unfortunately, one part of the line does suffer from sparse traffic movements which is the section between Ditton and Fidlers Ferry Signal Box. However, when there is traffic (i.e. Allerton 'trippers' & occasional Coal) on this section, you will get your just rewards. The remainder of the line is heavily used by the regular Coal trains to & from the power station. To obtain the optimum light conditions, most of the line is best in the morning and early afternoon regardless of time of year. The key words to successful shots on any part of the Low Level line is "time and patience". Keep these words in mind and you will be rewarded accordingly. To put it in perspective, it has taken the photographer numerous years to get most traffic / locations on film but there are still some that keep eluding him!
Starting from Ditton Junction, the section of line up to the A533 Widnes - Runcorn road overbridge is inaccessible which includes the entrances to both O'Connor and AHC sidings. The first location is the aforementioned road bridge which overlooks the former site of Widnes West Deviation Signal Box. Looking west up to about mid afternoon, there are reasonable shots to be had with the backdrop of the ex LNWR line climbing towards Runcorn. In the opposite direction, next to the former 'auto' sidings (of years gone by) and with the backdrop of industrial Widnes including FFPS it is possible to obtain westbound trains, again until about mid afternoon but extremely difficult during the summer due to trees!. During the summer it is possible to obtain early AM / late PM shots from the 'other' side of the bridge but the problem is knowing when a train is coming at those times! Approx, 500 yds on from the A533 bridge is the site of the Widnes 'South' station were amazingly almost both of the platforms are still present! Along side the former station, a new dual carriageway (A533 'slip' road) has been built which has provided the opportunity to photograph east and west bound trains. The eastbound shot lends itself well to obtain a reasonable of a complete Coal train! From this location you will be able to see various signal posts in the distance which is were Tanhouse Lane Sidings are located. The sidings was until 2000 the recipient of the ex Earles Sidings 'cement' trains before being transferred to Weaste. Unfortunately, there is no official access to this location.
The next photographic location is around the site of Carterhouse Junction Signal Box which is accessed via Tanhouse Lane. There is a public footpath across the line at this point which leads on to the St Helens canal 'towpath' known as the Mersey Way and runs along the side line for the next 3 miles towards Warrington. Around the site of the signal box, you will find a number of angles to photograph the trains in either direction. It is probably best looking across the canal during mid afternoon with westbound trains. Carterhouse from the north side of the foot crossing is OK for westbound trains during the summer evenings. Taking the towpath eastwards towards FFPS, you will across numerous locations were you be able to photograph trains in both directions with the canal in the foreground. The ideal shot is really about 400 yards from Carterhouse were again during mid afternoon you will be able to photograph a westbound coal train with still reflections in the canal and the full view of the power station. Obviously best on a still mid winter sunny day (not asking for much, but it IS possible!). While walking along the towpath you will note a bridge crossing the line which is the access road from the power station to the fly ash lagoons. Unfortunately access to this bridge is not possible without official permission from the owners S&SP. Also I would point out that there is definitely NO unofficial access to the bridge from the tow path either. For 200 yds either side of the fly ash bridge, it is virtually impossible to photograph any trains what so ever.
Midway on the Low Level line you will locate Fidlers Ferry Signal Box, (& signals) which generally is not easy to photograph with or without trains. Access to this area is best from Tannery Lane / Station Road (off the A562) in Penketh and follow the road to the small yacht marina which crosses both the railway and the canal. Parking in this area is generally OK and walk westwards for about 150yds. Alternative way to the signal box is via Marsh Lane but unfortunately there is no access at this point nor any public right of way across the line! Around Fidlers Ferry yacht marina and along the towpath, it is possible although with some degree of difficulty of obtaining both train and boats in the shot. The main problem tends to the lineside bushes which obscure the loco bogies etc. At the bottom of Station Road, there is a small car park and a foot crossing which take you to the Fidlers Ferry public house. This was also the site of Fidlers Ferry station which bar the former station masters house which is in private hands, nothing remains of the station. At this point you will note footpaths on both sides of the railway and canal heading towards Hall Hook crossing, Penketh. Generally speaking, the footpath on the north side of the line is the best place to obtain photographs for trains in either direction but really ideal on a summers evening when the sun is in the north west and you finish off the evening in the nearby pub! (paradise?). At Hall Hook crossing, you do get the opportunity to photograph an empty eastbound coal train with the full backdrop of the power station, a shot worth having but best early morning. After this location for approx one mile, it is virtually impossible to obtain any worthwhile shots!
The next photographic location is the site of Sankey Bridges station which is next to the St Helens canal and access is from Old Liverpool Road. There is a public footpath that crosses the line which heads temporary in a south east direction and you will note a number of opportunities to photograph trains in both directions from late morning until approx 17.00hrs. There was scope to include the canal (reflections?) but a metal fence has been erected along side the tow path was has now precluded this. However, it is still possible to photograph the 18ft distant signal and the north side platform of the old station at this location for eastbound trains. Car parking, shops and a chippy is also nearby. Virtually within sight of Sankey Bridges, you will note Barnard Street bridge where it is possible to obtain a west bound train but without the backdrop of the River Mersey transporter bridge which is now hidden by new houses! In high summer, looking through a valley of trees and on a sweeping r/h curve, eastbound train shots are possible
After Barnard Street bridge, you are approaching the centre of Warrington were the remainder 1.5 miles of the line is full of interest with 4 signal boxes, road crossings, numerous signals and bridges, with an industrial backdrop to boot. First of the signal boxes is Monks Sidings, access via Beaufort Street. There are number of shots possible at this location, including an early summer evening westbound train approaching the box. Unfortunately the embankment which resided west of the signal box has now disappeared and a green mesh fence has taken its place which precludes any photography. On the other hand, a normal wire fence has been placed from the south east side of the crossing going towards Littons Mill S/Box which has now opened up "legal" shots of east & westbound trains passing the signals. A fence I suspect that is to our benefit just for a change? Looking east and within 200yds, Litton's Mill Signal Box is noted, there is another public crossing were although tight is possible to get trains passing the box. It was at Litton's Mill in December 2000 when one of the large warehouses was burnt to the ground. The result of this incident has opened the location to the sun and with the help of a stepladder, it is possible to photograph an eastbound train with very industrial backdrop and the signal box in the background. I must admit this will not be everybody's cup of tea but never the less a challenging shot. A public footpath runs along side the railway at this point and allow's access to Crosfields Signal Box. The signal box is actually in the heart of the Crosfields Chemical Works (formerly ICI) complex and IF the public footpath is open, you will be able to obtain one or two very interesting industrial shots with the inclusion of the signal box and signals for eastbound trains. However, if open, please do NOT stray off the path and please be aware that the security police are very sensitive to photographers - it may be advisable to make them aware of your intentions or risk being moved on! From here the line runs under Warrington Bank Quay station (hence the 'Low Level' name) and approaches the "DB Schenker" North West admin offices at Arpley.
Most enthusiasts should be familiar with the area around Bank Quay station and Slutchers Lane bridge which crosses the Low Level line. Looking west from the bridge, you will note Bank Quay station and on the left DB Schenker 'Arpley' sidings. At this location from early AM until approx 15.00hrs it is possible to photograph eastbound trains coming under WCML and passing the site of Arpley station. Looking east from Slutchers Lane bridge, trains are either heading to Arpley sidings or FFPS with Arpley Signal Box in the background. Depending on which direction the train is going, this is best from mid afternoon onwards. During the late summers evenings it is possible with the aid of a step ladder to obtain a shot from the car park off Wilson Patten St (next to the signal box) of trains departing from Latchford run round sidings. The line from Arpley to Latchford runs over the Mersey via a box type girder bridge. Either side of this bridge is a public footpath which can be access from Arpley Road (off A5061). On the south side of this bridge and with an aid of a step ladder it is possible to photograph eastbound trains approaching the River Mersey bridge with Arpley Signal Box & signals in the frame. The final location on the Low Level line is the A5060 (Chester Road) bridge. Looking west and ideally around April (11.00hrs?), it is possible to photograph a Coal train approaching Chester Road bridge which is framed in a nice bracket signal. However, it is a tight location and only possible to get a loco and one wagon in the shot. On the other side of the road bridge, you are looking towards Latchford run round sidings which is best from 11.00hrs onwards. If you are lucky you may get the opportunity to photograph two Coal trains at the same time using a 200mm lens. However other lenses are possible but be aware of the trees on the left hand side.