50023 Culham 23 June 1989

50023 Howe passes Culham on 23 June 1989 with the late running 1F68 18:15 Paddington to Oxford Network SouthEast service. 50023 could easily be recognised at a distance at the time by its black window surrounds, which at various times were also carried by 50026 & 50032. Interestingly, I photographed this loco on the same train at this same spot almost exactly a year later, by which time it had received the later version of the NSE colour scheme. Culham was an excellent location to watch northbound trains in the 1980s, but unfortunately now the bushes have grown up spoiling this view. Of course there would be no chance now of a NSE Class 50 on a complete rake of matching stock!