The first train of the morning (unless you count the one just after midnight) prepares to call at Culham on 10 July 2002. Didcot Power Station dominates the background as 165118 slows down for the Culham stop whilst working the 06:00 Reading to Oxford Thames Trains service. A deliberately more side on view was used here to include all the cooling towers, a ploy that will obviously only work with a short train such as this, especially with a short telephoto lens.

165118 arrives at Moreton-in-Marsh on 15 August 2009 with the 10:21 First Great Western service from Paddington. Ordinarily this would continue through to Hereford, but as the line between here and Evesham is being prepared for redoubling, buses would ferry passengers from here onwards. This would explain the high number of First Great Western employees who can be seen wandering about the station. Unfortunately the litter on the track is an all too common problem nowadays, as presumably nobody has done a risk assessment on the dangers of somebody going down onto the track to remove it!

165118 leaves Moreton-in-Marsh heading empty stock to Oxford on 15 August 2009, after arriving earlier with the 10:21 First Great Western service from Paddington. As the line from here to Evesham was closed for engineering works in connection with redoubling the line, it gave the opportunity to photograph trains using the little used crossover at Moreton. The Turbo is seen here about to regain the up line after leaving 'wrong line' from the down platform. Normally I would be glad of this brief burst of sunshine on a generally cloudy day, but due to the time of day the side of the train is virtually completely in shadow - never satisfied!

Mill Lane Level Crossing in Islip has been threatened with closure at various times, with the proposal for just the retention of the footpath crossing. Islip already has two road bridges and this user operated crossing is little used. 165118 approaches with the 09:27 Oxford to Bicester Town First Great Western service on 5 September 2009. Although difficult to see at this angle, note the small blue Islip sign on the gate in the foreground.

Viewed from Ascott-under-Wychwood signal box, 165119 comes off the double track section of the Cotswold Line on 22 February 2003 with the 09:43 Worcester Shrub Hill to Oxford Thames Trains service. Ignore the Moreton-in-Marsh destination blind, as the train has already passed through that station! Ahead is 14 miles of single track all the way to Wolvercote Junction. 165119 retained its Network SouthEast livery until very near the end of the Thames Trains franchise and ironically once repainted into that company's colour scheme spent longer being operated by the successor company (First Great Western) again in the wrong livery. Always one step behind in terms of livery!

In freezing cold weather, with frost on the trees and tracks, and the sun barely struggling to burn through the mist, 165119 slows down for its stop at Heyford station with the 06:38 Paddington to Banbury Thames Trains all stations service on 16 December 2003. This location (like so many) has become progressively more grown up over the years.

In superb late evening light, 165119 slows down for the stop at Tackley whilst working the 19:16 Oxford to Banbury First Great Western service on 23 May 2009. I had only visited this location two days previously. I don't normally return to a location quite so quickly, but for a late evening northbound shot on what is now termed the 'Oxford Canal Line', this takes some beating.

A final look at one of my formerly most frequented Cotswold Line locations prior to the redoubling of the track. 165119 passes Chilson on 24 June 2009 with the 2E92 06:50 Worcester Foregate Street to Oxford First Great Western service. The village of Ascott-under-Wychwood can just be seen in the distance, with Ascott Mill alone in the fields on the right. This train is the only up service to call at Ascott-under-Wychwood station, but because it runs so early in the morning it is only in mid summer than shadow free pictures can be taken from most locations.

Just before dawn on 19 September 2009, 165119 heads north out of Banbury station after arriving with the 06:16 Oxford to Banbury First Great Western service, FGW's first train of the day on the route. A short distance north of the station it will cross over and return to the station in order to work the 07:02 train back to Oxford, the company's first southbound service. A pair of Chiltern Railways Class 165 units (165024 nearest) are parked in the bay platform, while in the background a Loram rail grinder can be seen parked in the yard.

165119 approaches the ungated level crossing at Oddington on 24 May 2010 with the 07:09 Didcot Parkway to Bicester Town First Great Western service. This quiet backwater will soon be completely transformed, with the single track vintage bullhead rails replaced by a double track of continuously welded rail, and the level crossing replaced by a bridge. All this work is in connection with Chiltern Railway's ambitious project to create an alternative Oxford to London service via Bicester. This of course will also see FGW Turbos replaced on the route by Chiltern Railway units.

165119 runs alongside the Oxford Canal as it rounds the curve into Heyford station with the 16:00 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service on 20 June 2010. This was running a little late, as 168217 had stolen its path down the Cherwell Valley line with the diverted 1V50 15:10 Birmingham Snow Hill to Oxford Chiltern Railways service!

Perfectly framed between an ash tree and a blossom covered hawthorn bush, 165119 speeds past Yarnton on 4 May 2011 with the 2L47 15:07 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service. This is one of the local stopping services on the route, which has now acquired the branding 'The Oxford Canal Line'. Surprisingly, the forecast cloudy afternoon had not materalised, although the perfect blue sky here is a little deceptive, as some thin high cloud was staring to appear to my left.

On a fine summer's evening, a remarkably clean 165120 speeds past the public footpath crossing at Churchill Heath, on the Cotswold Line between Bruern and Kingham. The date is 27 June 1993 and it is working the 17:35 Oxford to Great Malvern Network SouthEast service. This is one of the few occasions prior to First Great Western taking over services on the Cotswold Line that I have photographed a late running train (20 minutes late in this case). Unfortunately late running has now become the norm. Note the pre war bullhead track that was still in place on the down line at this location. The rails may vintage but 165120 was less than a year old at this time.

165120 arrives at Heyford with the 15:05 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service on 9 June 2008. The boats on the Oxford Canal form a perfect background to this picture, which is taken from the station's footbridge. The houses in the background are in the village of Lower Heyford. The village of Upper Heyford (once synonymous with the now closed USAF airfield) lies a mile away to the north. This picture has subsequently been used in the North Oxford Canal Partnership's leaflet about what is now branded the 'Oxford Canal Line'.

In lovely soft evening light, 165120 approaches Moreton-in-Marsh with the 17:31 Oxford to Worcester Foregate Street First Great Western service on 20 April 2009. A bit of an oddity this one, as it is the only Cotswold Line service that starts from Oxford rather than Paddington.

165120 slows down for the Heyford stop, as it works the 2L43 11:02 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service on 10 December 2011. The train is just about to cross over the River Cherwell, which it does no less than eleven times in its short journey.

165121 calls at Kings Sutton station with the 2L47 15:07 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service on 28 May 2010. Although this train was running to time, having only originated a few miles up the line, all trains from further north were running approximately half an hour late due to signaling problems.

If the plans to reopen Kidlington station had to fruition, this unit would be slowing down to stop there as part of the 'Oxford Canal Line' local service. As it hasn't been reopened, 165121 is in fact heading south past Thrupp at the full line speed of 90mph on 7 March 2011 with the 2L47 15:07 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service.

165121 arrives at Ascott-under-Wychwood on 6 June 2011 with the first train to call at the brand new up platform. It is the 2E92 06:51 Worcester Foregate Street to Oxford First Great Western service - the only train of the day to use the station. This was the inaugural day for the section of reinstated double track between here and Charlbury. The commencement of the new trackwork can clearly be seen by the transition from old to clean ballast in the background. In addition to the new platform, the level crossing barriers have been replaced and better access has been provided to the original platform (on which I am standing to take this picture). Also, for the first time a proper car park is being provided.

165121 arrives at Wargrave station on 1 May 2013 with the 2H21 09:01 Henley-on-Thames to Twyford First Great Western service. I have very few pictures of the Henley branch, partly because it is so unphotogenic. However, I wanted a record of Wargrave before the wires go up, and with what has now almost become 'heritage' stock!

165122 passes Wolvercote on 10 April 2010 with the 09:57 Bicester Town to Oxford First Great Western service. It has just emerged from the 155 yard long Wolvercote Tunnel, which is a cut and cover construction to accommodate the Oxford ring-road roundabout. FGW's purely local Bicester to Oxford shuttles is set to be replaced by a frequent Oxford to London service operated by Chiltern Railways. Although Wolvercote Tunnel is clearly built for double track (as indeed the line was originally), the reinstatement of double track on the route is set to end on the other side of the tunnel, leaving this short section towards Oxford single. However, pictures of FGW Class 165s at this location will soon be history, being replaced by Chiltern Railways Class 168s.

165122 heads south through the Oxfordshire countryside near Upper Heyford on 23 March 2011 with the 2L47 15:07 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service. These two car units provide the 'all stations' service on this route, calling at Kings Sutton, Heyford and Tackley. Longer distance trains are provided by CrossCountry.

165122 approaches Didcot North Junction on 20 October 2011 with the 2P36 08:36 Oxford to Paddington First Great Western service. It looks like the unit's front end has suffered a recent graffiti attack. A Red Kite can be seen in the background scanning the trackside for breakfast. Once rare, these birds of prey are now widespread in the Thames Valley.

The early morning sun is just beginning to burn off the freezing fog as 165122 passes Yarnton on 14 January 2012 with the 2L39 09:02 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service. The bizarre shape reflected in the windscreen is the nearby footbridge. The A44 roadbridge can just be seen in the background.

165123 accelerates away from its stop at Heyford station on 19 May 2007 whilst working the 09:02 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service. This spot is just a short walk along the canal towpath from the station, and although ideal for a southbound train, there is no chance of taking picture if anything of interest comes the other way!

The site of Bletchingdon station continues to see industrial use and on 14 March 2011 the site is crammed full of loaded pallets. Obviously the contents are all the same, as I hate to think the boss would say to one of the fork lift operators "I want the one out from the back"! 165123 passes by with the 2L47 15:07 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service.

The crossing of the Turbos at Radley on 25 June 2003. 165124 arrives with the 17:31 Oxford to Reading service, just as 165134 departs with the 16:59 Reading to Bicester Town train. Note the equipment enclosure on the left, which indicates the presence of a very tall radio mast, which ruins pictures taken from the bridge in the background.

165124 calls at Aldermaston with the 2K47 10:13 Newbury to Reading First Great Western service on 8 May 2008. Aldermaston station, along with nearby Theale, Midgham and Thatcham survived the Beeching closures and now have a frequent local service operating as far as Newbury. This is in addition to the services that operate to Bedwyn, which generally only call at Theale and Thatcham. Judging by the full car park the service is well patronised.

With the long lens compressing the perspective and bringing up the houses of Charlbury in the distance, 165124 approaches Shorthampton with the 17:31 Oxford to Worcester Foregate Street First Great Western service on 9 June 2008. This is the only down train to call at all stations on the Cotswold Line. The bridge, which forms an ideal photographic frame for this short train is a farm occupation bridge linking fields on either side of the line.

165124 passes over the ungated level crossing at Oddington on 7 March 2011 with the 2L09 10:30 Bicester Town to Oxford First Great Western service. Note the clear light displayed to train drivers to indicate that the automatic lights at the crossing have operated correctly. This crossing will be replaced by a bridge a little further along the line when the line is upgraded for through running to London via Bicester. As a prelude to this, Chiltern Railways will soon take over these local workings.

On 7 March 2011, during the final months of First Great Western operations on the Oxford to Bicester route, 165124 approaches Oddington with the 2L11 11:30 Bicester Town to Oxford service. Chiltern Railways will acquire the route and after extensive modifications it will become part of their through route from Oxford to London.

The pre-assembled point that will mark the end of the Ascott-under-Wychwood to Charlbury redoubling of the Cotswold Line was delivered to site over the 2011 Spring Bank Holiday weekend. It is seen here just to the south of Charlbury station waiting to be installed during the line's total shutdown from 28 May. 165124 passes by and prepares to stop at Charlbury station with the only down 'all stations' train on the route - the 2E95 17:31 Oxford to Worcester Foregate Street First Great Western service. This is usually the only train that relies on a two car Class 165, rather than a three car Turbo or HST. This is one of the few occasions that I have had to resort to adding a x1.4 converter to my Canon 200mm f2.8L lens. It's lucky that the heat haze of the previous week has given way to some much clearer air!

The Oxford to Bicester line reopened to passengers in 1987 (after closing in 1968) and was initially operated by Network SouthEast. This naturally morphed into Thames Trains and then First Great Western. However, from 28 May 2011 Chiltern Railways will take over the route. On a cloudless 4 May 2011, 165124 passes the oilseed rape fields at Wendlebury with the 2L08 10:00 Oxford to Bicester Town service.

165124 passes underneath the M40 motorway at Wendlebury whilst working the 2L09 10:30 Bicester Town to Oxford First Great Western service on 4 May 2011, just a few weeks away from the takeover of the route by Chiltern Railways. Although Chiltern eventually hope to upgrade the line with reinstated double track and a chord to link it to the Marylebone Line at Bicester, there will however be one slight downside. Note the yellow band above the windows at the front of 165124. This of course indicates the first class section, a facility not available on Chiltern Railway's Class 165/0 units. Photo taken from a public footpath crossing.

165124 trundles past Northfield Farm, Water Eaton on 4 May 2011 with the 2L11 11:30 Bicester Town to Oxford First Great Western service, just a few weeks before the route is taken over by Chiltern Railways. The bridge just behind the train carries the line over the River Cherwell.

Running over thirty minutes late, 165124 & 165114 pass South Moreton on 7 May 2013 with the 2N44 14:27 Paddington to Oxford First Great Western service. This train is formed from the units that work the 1K61 12:38 Bedwyn to Paddington, and the 2P51 13:18 Reading to Paddington. This obviously could give rise to late running, although it was not the cause in this case.

165125 passes the semi-derelict Banbury Road Sidings site at Water Eaton on 6 August 1998 with the 15:40 Bicester Town to Oxford Thames Trains service. Although still used as a stone terminal, a lot of the infrastructure was built in connection with the former Second World War grain silo (just out of view to the right). This whole area could soon be dramatically transformed with the construction by Chiltern Railways of Water Eaton station. This would form a traffic interchange with the nearby Water Eaton park and ride, and would result in the purely local train pictured above, being replaced by a fast and frequent Oxford to London service, that will connect with the Chiltern mainline at Bicester.

165125 passes Aldermaston on 23 November 2007 with the 10:11 Reading to Newbury First Great Western service. This is a good location for photography, with clear views in both directions, but is unfortunately situated on a very narrow and busy road.

The use of a long lens compresses the perspective and makes Colthrop signal box appear much closer, as 165125 approaches Brimpton on 23 November 2007 with the 11:13 Newbury to Reading First Great Western 'all stations' service. The unit is just about to cross one of the culverts that drains nearby Midgham Marsh.

165125 scuttles along the West of England Mainline near Brimpton on 23 November 2007 with the 12:11 Reading to Newbury First Great Western service. These purely local 'all stations' trains are interspersed with semi-fast services which continue past Newbury to terminate at Bedwyn.

Against a backdrop of dead trees, 165125 heads south near Tackley on 19 March 2009 with the 2L47 15:07 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service. The use of a very long lens has compressed the perspective, bringing up the hedgerows in the background. What appears to be a hedge just above the unit is in fact the line of the Oxford Canal.

Neatly framed by a pair of lineside trees, 165125 passes Rousham on 2 April 2009 with the 2L47 15:07 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service. This view clearly shows how much the track is canted at this point, as the line traverses the curves south of Heyford station.

165125 heads north through the densely wooded cutting at Chineham with the 2J22 10:07 Basingstoke to Reading First Great Western service on 1 August 2009. A dull day with intermittent drizzle, which is probably just as well considering how much shade this lot would cast if the sun was out!

165125 rounds the curve between Shorthampton and Chilson on 6 May 2011 with the 2E95 17:31 Oxford to Worcester Foregate Street 'all stations' First Great Western service. A very convenient gap in the tall lineside hawthorn bushes has allowed this viewpoint of Ascott-under-Wychwood's newly installed down distant signal. This and the recently re-laid up line in the foreground have yet to be commissioned. I had hoped that there was just enough of a gap here to fit a two car unit in without obscuring the trackside tree or All Saints Church, Spelsbury, which can just be seen in the distance. As the church is visible right behind the rear of the train, I obviously guessed correctly!

"What do you mean we shouldn't have turned right at Didcot?" During the brief period when First Great Western used Class 165 Turbo units to operate an Oxford to Bristol Temple Meads service, 165126 encounters problems at Compton Beauchamp whilst working the 17:58 train from Oxford on 29 May 2002. The fault was not with the unit, but some unexplained (presumably signaling) fault further towards Swindon that was causing all westbound services to be held at this signal and then allowed to proceed at reduced speed.

A location I had been meaning to visit for sometime is Rousham, on the Banbury to Oxford line. It does however require rather a long walk, but I was near the spot on 16 February 2008, and I realised that the 09:02 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service would be the ideal short train not to obscure Rousham church visible in the distance on the right. 165126 passes a field of long grass covered in frost in perfect low winter early morning light.

165126 leaves Kings Sutton station on 23 April 2009 with the 15:07 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service. At this location it also possible to see the other Class 165 sub-class (165/0), working trains for Chiltern Railways. Shortly before, 165013 had called en-route between Stratford-upon-Avon and Marylebone.

165126 is just the right size to fit in the gap between the bushes near Thrupp, as it heads south with the 15:07 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service on 7 May 2009. May blossom and a super abundance of fresh green vegetation immediately indicate the time of year.

How many Turbo units can you get in one picture? Answer - eight, plus an interloper Class 168 Clubman! This is Oxford on Sunday 13 June 2010. On the right, 165126 heads north along the bi-directional relief line with the 10:56 Oxford to Bicester Town First Great Western service. It is passing the carriage sidings which as usual for a Sunday contain a full compliment of trains. The units nearest the camera are (from left to right) 166215, 165127, 165104 & 166213. In the background can be seen a most unusual visitor to Oxford - Chiltern Railways 168216, which has just moved into platform 2, after a brief wait in the down carriage sidings. It had worked in with the diverted 1V26 09:10 Birmingham Snow Hill to Oxford service, and would shortly be heading back north with the 1G22 10:58 Oxford to Birmingham Snow Hill train.

The rooks in field are undisturbed by the passing of 165126 near Tackley on 2 January 2012, as it heads south with the 2L45 13:02 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service. The unit is crossing over the River Cherwell. This is the fifth time this train has crossed the river since leaving Banbury, with another six crossings to go before it reaches Oxford!

A few passengers (and a Golden Retriever!) wait to board 165126, as it arrives at Ascott-under-Wychwood station on 25 July 2012 with the 2E92 06:53 Worcester Foregate Street to Oxford First Great Western service. As this is the only up train of the day to call at Ascott-under-Wychwood, the recent construction of a new platform is purely for a handful of passengers each day. Note that after just one year, weeds have already started to colonise the ballast at the foot of the platform.

165127 passes the flooded fields near Tackley as it crosses the River Cherwell bridge with the 12:38 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service on 17 December 2008. First Great Western provide the local stopping service on this route, calling at Heyford and Tackley.

165127 passes through the recently trimmed cutting near Steeple Aston on 18 April 2009 with the 10:16 Oxford to Banbury First Great Western service. With the trees bursting into leaf, it won't be long before the vegetation has reverted to its former dense state at this location!

Competing forms of transport at Yarnton on 7 January 2012. 165127 speeds past the RH Transport bus storage yard, as it heads south with the 2L39 09:02 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service. Yarnton Lane Level Crossing can be seen in the background. Close inspection of the full size image reveals an unintentional self portrait in 165127's windscreen. The dark area is a reflection of the A44 roadbridge, whilst the little spike visible above the driver's head is me!

Culham station still retains an Isambard Kingdom Brunel designed station building. Although no longer in railway use (or any use at all judging by the sign), its future seems assured, as it is grade II listed. A slightly more modern footbridge completes the scene here, as 165127 races through with the 2P40 09:36 Oxford to Paddington First Great Western service on 9 August 2012.

Locations between Banbury and Oxford that are free of shadows for an early morning southbound picture are at a premium. On 22 September 2012, I investigated a spot between Sandy Lane and Yarnton Lane Crossings at Kidlington. Amazingly I had never visited this location before, and although nothing spectacular, it does offer an unobstructed view. 165127 passes by with the 2L39 09:02 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service. Sandy Lane Crossing can just be seen in the background.

165128 has just passed under the M40 motorway near Wendlebury on 27 November 1993, whilst working the 13:48 Bicester to Oxford Network SouthEast service. Either there was a lot less traffic on the motorway in those days, or I was exceedingly lucky not to have a lorry growing out of the top of the train. Therefore I have not had to resort to Photoshop to remove any vehicles from the view! The picture is taken from a farm occupation crossing.

165128 passes the snowy fields at Bourton with the 10:00 Bristol Temple Meads to Oxford service on 29 December 2000. This short lived service was very poorly patronised principally because apart from the novelty of being able to travel from Bristol and Swindon to Oxford without changing trains it was of little practical use, as it merely duplicated other trains on the same route. If some local stations in the Vale of White Horse had been reopened it would have been of more benefit. There was a campaign to reopen Wantage Road which would have helped enormously, but the sheer inertia and difficulty of getting anything positive done on the railways delayed that plan either indefinitely or certainly until after these trains had stopped running!

Complete with headboard to announce the new enhanced Oxford to Bicester Town service, 165128 leaves Oxford with the 09:27 train to Bicester on 23 May 2009. A fair chunk of First Great Western's Turbo fleet can be seen stabled in the background, along with a couple of HSTs. The train on the up main is the 1P31 07:10 Hereford to Paddington, with 43021 at the rear.

Now this is something you don't see very often - a Turbo unit with a headboard. 165128 approaches Oxford on 23 May 2009 with the 09:57 Bicester Town to Oxford First Great Western service. The headboard is advertising a new enhanced service which has been introduced by FGW, which is very commendable. Hhowever a little proof reading of the timetable would have helped, as the Saturday Bicester to Oxford times are shown as Oxford to Bicester! 165136 can be seen in the background working the 10:16 Oxford to Banbury train.

165128 passes Wolvercote on 10 April 2010 with the 2L23 09:02 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service. Note the recently upgraded up relief line on the right, which had until recently to make do with track that was last relaid in 1942!

165128 passes Mickleton on 26 March 2012 with the 1W32 12:21 Paddington to Great Malvern First Great Western service. Rapid tree growth on the recently cleared cutting side is likely to see this viewpoint disappear again shortly.

More by luck than judgment, 165128 is perfectly framed beneath the farm occupation bridge at Dorn as it heads south on 26 March 2012 with the 2Y84 15:22 Great Malvern to Didcot First Great Western service. I had set up this shot with exactly this result in mind, but without a trial run, I could only guess that the back of the unit would be visible.

165128 & 166220 pass Ruscombe at speed on 22 July 2012. This is not quite what it might appear at first sight, as it is in fact the 1Z50 09:25 Oxford to Paddington First Great Western special service, booked to run non-stop throughout. Although running with a 1Zxx headcode, it is shown as an ECS working, so I'm not quite sure what is going on here. Slightly out of the ordinary, but not as interesting as the previous day's train running under the 1Z50 headcode, although in infinitely better light!

New Year's Day 1 January 2013 saw a modified service in operation in the Thames Valley. 165128 passes Hinksey Yard with the 2Z21 13:06 Oxford to Didcot Parkway First Great Western service, which is replacing the normal 2P54 13:07 Oxford to Paddington. These hourly Z headcode shuttle services operated throughout the day, resulting in the much more frequent appearance of lone two car Class 165/1s on the line than would normally be the case.

No this is not the normal level of patronage at Radley station! 165129 arrives with the 15:25 Bicester Town to Reading service on 12 June 1994, whilst spectators throng the down platform waiting to see GWR 4-6-0 5029 Nunney Castle with a special train to mark the 150th anniversary of the Didcot to Oxford line.

In perfect evening lighting, 165129 arrives at Shipton on the Cotswold Line with the 17:00 Reading to Moreton-in-Marsh service on 13 May 1996. This was one of only a handful of trains to call Shipton at this time, and even then it was a request stop! Note the combination of materials used in the former Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton Railway bridge, with stone being used for the arch and parapet, and brick being used for the retaining wing walls.

165129 ambles through the Oxfordshire countryside near Bruern with the 06:50 Worcester Foregate Street to Oxford First Great Western service on 10 August 2007. This was the only up service to call at all stations on the Cotswold Line at the time, hence the use of a 2 car Class 165, rather than a more usual Class 180, which would be too long for some of the platforms. This train was running to 'Cotswold Line Standard Time' (in other words, late!)

Running thirty minutes late, 165129 gathers speed after calling at Kings Sutton station with the 05:57 Reading to Banbury First Great Western service on 28 April 2008. The majority of FGW's trains to Banbury originate from Oxford, and so are purely local shuttle services. Obviously the longer journey for this train has given it amble opportunity to incur some delays.

Strange hand gestures from the driver of 165129 at Walton Well Road, Oxford on 5 May 2012. The unit is working the 2L39 09:02 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service. Note the green signal and feathers on the right for 165014 with the 2L08 09:28 Oxford to Bicester Town Chiltern Railways service.

The sheep in the field at Lyneham pay no attention to 165129 as it passes by with the 2E94 15:22 Great Malvern to Oxford First Great Western service on 28 June 2012. Unfortunately this location now suffers from that photographer's curse - lineside bushes. However, there is a sufficient gap for a two car unit.

165130 calls at Radley station on 4 July 2002 with the 06:48 Reading to Oxford 'all stations' Thames Trains service. Despite appearances, the unit is not showing an uncharacteristically smoky exhaust. Hidden behind the train, the cooling towers of Didcot Power Station are responsible for spoiling the otherwise completely blue sky.

165130 passes the site of Bletchingdon station on 23 April 2011 with the 2L49 17:23 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service. The bridge just behind the unit spans both the Oxford Canal and the River Cherwell, which at that point are just a few yards apart.

165130 pulls away from Tackley station on 3 October 2011, after calling with the 2L47 15:08 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service. Despite appearances, the car on the left is not waiting to cross the line, but is merely parked. The crossing was in fact closed as a vehicle crossing several years ago.

165131 passes under the M40 motorway at Wendlebury on 13 March 1995 with the 10:19 Bicester to Oxford service. This was during the transitionary period between the demise of Network SouthEast and the formation of Thames Trains. Although still running in NSE colours, this service was being operated by First Great Western Link. The motorway (which had been open for less than five years when this picture was taken) obviously carried less traffic in those days, or else I was very lucky not to have some brightly coloured vehicle spoiling the picture!

165131 pulls away from Tackley station with the 17:22 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service on 21 May 2009. There is a dispenser on the station with leaflets for what is now branded the 'Oxford Canal Line' (a rather odd back handed compliment to a an earlier form of transport). I'm not sure if it will increase patronage, but I was quite pleased to see my picture of 165120 at Heyford in this North Oxford Canal Partnership publication!

165131 passes Wolvercote on 2 August 2011 with the 2L45 12:42 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service. Still no air conditioning on FGW's 165s (except for the driver), hence the open hopper windows on this hot summers day.

In a surprising patch of weak sunshine on an otherwise dull day, 165132 arrives at Islip station on 2 December 1994 with the 11:51 Bicester Town to Oxford Network SouthEast service. This route is shortly to be dramatically transformed from what is effectively a branch line from Oxford (as far a passengers services go), into part of a through route to London, courtesy of Chiltern Railways. While it does seem a little perverse to leave Oxford in a northerly direction to go to the capital, the timings to Marylebone via a new curve at Bicester are promised to be comparable with the more conventional route via Didcot. Islip station, which was re-opened in 1989 will be rebuilt with two platforms.

The only train in the up direction to call at Finstock on the Cotswold Line during the 1990s was the 07:02 Worcester Foregate Street to Oxford service. On 19 August 1996 165132 calls to pick up two passengers, one of whom is going to test the Turbo unit's limited storage capacity for bikes. It is hard to believe now that until the mid 1980s, Finstock's [platform was on the other side of the track, underneath the bushes on the right. Although Network SouthEast was defunct by this time, not only does the unit still carry the livery, but the lamposts have had a fresh coat of red paint!

165132 passes Kings Sutton on 3 March 2010 with the 12:39 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service. This local service, which in addition to calling at nearby Kings Sutton (also served by Chiltern Railways trains), serves Heyford and Tackley stations, runs every three hours. The majority of the passengers trains on the route being operated by CrossCountry.

There is a fine crop of beans in the field next to the line at Bruern, as 165132 passes by on 23 June 2010 with the 06:51 Worcester Foregate Street to Oxford First Great Western service. This is the only up train of the day to call at all the smaller stations (Shipton, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Finstock & Combe) and consequently is usually the only train on the Cotswold Line to utilise a two car Class 165. Shipton alone out of these stations has the luxury of one additional service, but platform length at the other stations precludes the use of a three car set.

165132 is probably travelling at or near its top speed of 90 mph, as it speeds past Radley on 30 January 2013 with the 2P56 13:37 Oxford to Paddington First Great Western service. This location is unfortunately compromised by the ash tree on the left, which despite Network Rail's vegetation clearance, still intrudes into the picture for a slightly wider view such as this. However, I guessed that there would be just enough room to fit this two car unit in the available gap.

165133 passes Souldern with the 09:38 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service on 15 August 2008. To get to this remote location requires a walk of nearly a mile along the towpath of the Oxford Canal, and then involves crossing one of the distinctive lifting bridges. Ironically I arrived at this bridge just as a narrowboat with just one person on board was negotiating the bridge, which naturally took some time. I only saw one other boat on the move on this quiet section of canal during my walk both there and back!

165133 approaches Oxford North Junction on 13 June 20109 with the 10:00 Oxford to Banbury First Great Western service. A brief sunny interlude on an otherwise generally dull day. The line of willow trees hides Port Meadow from view. Both the Aristotle Lane footbridge that this picture is taken from and Walton Well Road bridge in the background are popular access points to this large area of common land.

In the very last light of a fine autumnal afternoon, 165133 approaches Tackley on 19 November 2010 with the 2L47 15:07 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service. The late autumn colours are mainly provided by red hawthorn berries, but there are still a surprising amount of leaves on some of the trees (especially the oaks). The shadows were rapidly advancing across the field in the foreground, and just a few minutes after I took this picture the track itself had been engulfed in shadow. 

Watched by a couple of rabbits in the field, 165133 heads south past Upper Heyford on 23 March 2011 with 2L49 17:22 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service. The farm buildings on the horizon are actually near the village of Somerton. The long lens needed at the end of the day to avoid the advancing shadows has compressed the perspective somewhat.

A solitary passenger waits to board 165134 as it arrives at Ascott-under-Wychwood with the 07:00 Worcester Foregate Street to Oxford service on 25 July 1995. This was one of only two up passengers services to call at this station at the time. The low morning sun and the inclusion of the solitary figure makes this one of my favourite Cotswold Line pictures. The train has just joined the long single track section to Wolvercote Junction, the end of the double track section can just be seen in the background. A siding was retained at Ascott until the 1980s, surprisingly surviving the track singling in 1971. It was principally used for the infrequent coal deliveries to the small yard, but I only ever saw it used once for the storage of a tamper unit. The remains of the end loading dock can be seen on the left.

165134 passes Shorthampton in hazy spring sunshine on 4 March 2013. This is not quite the everyday scene that it appears to be, as this train is a last minute substitution for a train that failed earlier on its journey. The errant train was the 1W32 12:21 Paddington to Great Malvern First Great Western service, which failed at Reading. Presumably this was one of the still not totally reliable Class 180s. Showing commendable quick thinking and surprising initiative given the lack of flexibility on today's railway, someone managed to arrange for this two car Class 165 to form the special 1Z32 13:25 Oxford to Worcester Foregate Street. Given the circumstances it is hardly surprising that it was running 20 minutes behind time when it passed me.

Not a variation of Network SouthEast livery with a reincarnation of the old style 'whiskers', but the result of driver using the screen washers. 165135 accelerates away from Kings Sutton station on 12 September 2003 with the 15:18 Paddington to Banbury Thames Trains service.

For a while during 2006 & 2007, First Great Western Turbo unit 165136 wore 'Back the Bid, London 2012 Olympics' vinyls. It is seen here passing Waltham St Lawrence with conventionally liveried classmate 165109 with the 11:45 Paddington to Reading First Great Western service on 27 July 2007. Unfortunately this is the only picture I managed to get of this unique and quite obviously unrepeatable livery.

165136 passes Kidlington on 4 June 2009 with the 15:07 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service. Although Kidlington has a population of over 14,000 it does not have a railway station. The original station closed in 1964 and although the village has grown considerably since then, it seems a little odd that this train has called at Kings Sutton, Heyford and Tackley, all of which retained their stations despite being much smaller settlements even in 1964. The bridge in the background carries the Kidlington to Thrupp footpath.

A scene soon to be transformed beyond all recognition. 165136 passes the Banbury Road stone terminal near Water Eaton on 7 October 2010 with the 2L11 11:30 Bicester Town to Oxford First Great Western service. This will be the site of the new Water Eaton Parkway station, which will be a major calling point on the proposed Chiltern Railways Oxford to London (via Bicester) service. To accommodate this, the stone depot will be shifted, and of course the units that pass this way will be in a different livery!

165137 passes Yarnton with the 09:02 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service on 2 February 2008. This was one of those days when the weather forecasters promised sun virtually all day, instead after a bright start high cloud rapidly developed, so that shortly after this picture was taken the sun disappeared, only to reappear briefly during the rest of the day.

In the pouring rain, 165137 pulls away from Aldermaston station with the 09:12 Reading to Newbury First Great Western service on 1 August 2009. This all stations train generally runs hourly, with another hourly train to Bedwyn slotted in to give Theale and Thatcham the luxury of a half hourly service.  Only a couple of passengers wanted to travel to Newbury this particular morning.

165137 passes Chilson on 4 May 2011 with the 2E92 06:51 Worcester Foregate Street to Oxford 'all stations' First Great Western service. This view makes an interesting comparison to the scene two years previously, when 165119 was pictured on the same train. The reinstated, but as yet unballasted track is here on the up side of the current running line, switching to the opposite a little further along at Shorthampton. The building on the right is Ascott-under-Wychwood Mill, situated some way from Ascott village, which can just be seen in the distance behind the train.