50011 Oxford 2 July 1985

A classic mid 1980s rail blue scene featuring two very different forms of heritage traction. 50011 Centurion moves slowly away from Oxford station on 2 July 1985 with the 1A18 07:00 Hereford to Paddington 'Cathedrals Express', while Class 119 L574 (51095, 59115 & 51056) waits in the siding for its next turn of duty. The inclusion of the GUV behind the locomotive was standard practice on the Cotswold Line at the time. I expect some of the Mk 2 coaches survive, but neither 50011 or L574 exist today, and neither does this view in anything like this form. The sidings in the foreground have long been replaced by a car park, and Oxford station has subsequently been rebuilt, complete with covered footbridge.