The view is taken from Hadleigh Road bridge and just behind the photographer is Suffolk junction. The buildings in the back ground are part of the Harris bacon factory. The new Felixstowe link line now runs across here, called 'Bacon Factory Curve'.
Richard Staines says Seeing this wonderful picture of the Ipswich-Norwich line and showing Harris Bacon Factory has made my evening! The first eighteen years of my life was lived at 150 Hadleigh Road (1945 - 1963) and I spent hours gazing in wonder as a child at the steam, later diesel trains that tore under the Hadleigh Road rail bridge in the 50s. I recall the 'Norfolkman' thundering past at twenty minutes past midday every day and squeal of pigs in the vans entering the factory. In the winter when fog was rampant, explosives would be laid on the line and I can recall - just - the noise they made. I remember the home and distant signal sharing the same post on the down line visible in the scene. And there was a magnificent gantry, which isn't shown, on the up line right next to the bridge. I had forgotten that 2 pylons crossed the line by the factory on their way to West End Road substation. This picture was very much part of my early life and it is absolutely wonderful! As someone who, as a child, found getting out of bed extremely difficult, my mother would enter my bedroom and say, 'Come on, the bull has gone'. Harris's summoned their employees by this method. It would go off at 7.20 and 7.30am, later at 12.30pm, then 1.20pm and then finally at 4.30pm. How's that for memory!?