20901 Shrivenham (Ashbury Crossing) 5 June 2023

A remarkable working took place on the evening of 5 June 2023, when 20901 worked the 5Q81 18:07 Didcot Fuelling Point to Bristol Kingsland Road, running bonnet first with a single Sentinel SIM14 track and point inspection wagon. This had recently arrived from Holland. Given that they had plenty of opportunity to turn the loco on the triangle at Didcot, I was really surprised that it was bonnet first, but it certainly makes for an unusual picture. It is pictured here passing the Network Rail track access point at the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham. White Horse Hill can be seen in the background, with the outline of the 3,000 year old Uffington White Horse hill figure just visible near the horizon.