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Post by danny1962 on Sept 2, 2014 15:02:57 GMT -5
Sunday morning, I went up to Swanscombe Marshes near Dartford for an explore and to get some photos of the super-tall pylons of 400kv Thames Crossing. I was where some of the empty looking white bits are at the eastern edge of the London A-Z. It's not pretty, but there's still plenty to see and appreciate. It's remarkably lonely out there. Location scouts for East End gangster movies would like some of these spots, there is an atmosphere about them. I enjoy the peace and the remoteness. My route is here (best place to park is the car park behind Swanscombe shops, which is where I parked. Or you can go to Swanscombe by train). gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_3929687.html Pylon photos are here plus.google.com/photos/110055669501444994025/albums/6053785805034200337and my general photos of the area are here www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=50967098 I'd sure love to climb all the way up ZR11 (using the stairs of course!), but I don't know how I would go about getting permission.
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Post by poshbakerloo on Sept 3, 2014 7:57:12 GMT -5
Without sounding thick...Why are pylon river crossings always so high?
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Post by danny1962 on Sept 3, 2014 15:29:04 GMT -5
I was always told it was so that ships can get underneath without touching the high voltage lines. You'll notice from the photos that the lines "sag", they don't go across at the same height all the way. So the lowest point on the lines has to be significantly higher than the very highest point on the biggest possible ship at the very highest possible tide. I don't know what those heights and clearances actually are, though.
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Post by caldridge on Sept 4, 2014 10:09:25 GMT -5
Nice pictures, I might like to takes some photos of the Thames Crossing, they're somewhere near London right. I suppose I could see if I can take some photos of the Severn Crossing which is a bit similar only they are in a L3 route rather than an L2 one.
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naughtyhorse
Full Member
Life sucks - get a helmet
Posts: 173
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Post by naughtyhorse on Sept 5, 2014 5:52:26 GMT -5
The Thames crossing is a few km east of the QE2 bridge. and very nice it is too :-)
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Post by danny1962 on Sept 6, 2014 12:11:31 GMT -5
The Thames Crossing is between Dartford and Gravesend on the Kent side of the river.
Access on the Kent side is not at all difficult if you are well shod and capable of walking a few miles there and back. There isn't an official riverside path going past the pylon but there are distinct tracks used by local dog walkers and by maintenance crews, and nobody seems to mind if you wander off the designated public footpaths. You do need to be cautious going off the path altogether though, the grassy surface is uneven and if you sprained or broke a leg it could be a while before anyone came by and found you. An official public footpath runs almost all the way there from the George and Dragon pub near Swanscombe Railway Station and it's fairly well surfaced. You can't park any closer than the car park for Swanscombe shops -- whilst it is theoretically possible to park on Manor Road I believe it's a private road so personally I wouldn't chance it in case I got clamped. The link to mapometer on my original post shows more. Also, look on geograph.org.uk at the photos for squares TQ6075 and TQ6076 for a general idea of the terrain.
I can only speak for the Kent side as far as access is concerned, however for the Essex side the Geograph site has photos of ZR12 in square TQ5876 so I'm guessing it should be possible to get quite close.
ZR10 and ZR11 welcome photographers! Come on down and meet them.
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