The South Wales Main Line, viewed looking west from Pilning station in South Gloucestershire - the last station in England before the Severn Tunnel.
An FM Rail Class 31 diesel locomotive, possibly 31128, running light engine towards the Severn Tunnel can be seen waiting at a red signal before exiting the westbound goods loop west of the station.
The large bridge in the background is the eastern viaduct of the Second Severn Crossing, completed in 1996, carrying the M4 motorway over the estuary of the River Severn. The new bridge takes a similar alignment to that followed by the Severn Tunnel, built between 1873 and 1876, that takes the South Wales Main Line railway under the river. Vertically between the two bridges on the left photograph is the large blue motorway sign that marks the roundabout at junction 22 of the M4 which marks the northern end of the M49.
Photo by Chris McKenna 15/05/2006.
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