20020 & 20106 approach Scropton on 12 August 1989 with the 16:11 Derby to Crewe service. For a few weeks in 1989 pairs of 20s were used on this service due to a shortage of Class 150 units. As the stock was Mk 1 coaches without any air conditioning, and it was summer therefore in theory no heating was required, Class 20s were ideally suited for these trains, given that at the time there were some surplus locos, due to their replacement on various freight duties by Type 5 power.

20032 & 20039 race through Havenhouse station with the 1E07 07:10 Sheffield to Skegness service on 14 June 1986. Class 20s were used regularly on these Summer Saturday trains to the coast from the mid 1970s until 1993. It wasn't just the Class 20s either, there were numerous other loco hauled trains to the east coast resort during the summer peak, as well as multi unit DMU lash-ups. Also, in the mid 1980s, despite the interesting traction on offer to places like Skegness, there were few other photographers about to record the scene. At that time the line between Sleaford and Skegness boasted much steam age infrastructure, including several Great Northern Railway somersault signals, as seen here.

20061 & 20093 pilot 47444 University of Nottingham on the 1E11 12:42 Carlisle to Leeds service on 25 November 1989, seen here crossing Ribblehead Viaduct. The addition of the Class 20s was purely to attract the haulage enthusiasts (and of course photographers!). It was certainly a worthwhile trip to the S&C on this occasion, not only for the interesting diesel traction in superb light, but also the bonus of 'Black Five' 5407 coming from the other direction on a railtour.

Although far from common, Class 20s did make occasional appearances at Oxford in the mid 1980s, usually on the morning Speedlink trip working from Bescot. However, on 22 October 1985, 20065 & 20072 are pictured passing Hinksey Yard with a train of gravel, presumably (in view of the traction) from the Midlands. Ironically the wagons in the foreground are what any 20s in the area would usually have dealt with, being MoD containers from Bicester. Note the Royal Corps of Transport branding.

20075 & 20131 pass Staveley on the Windermere Branch with one of the Pathfinder Tours 'Lancastrian Mini Excursion' on 23 May 1993. This was the 1Z46 08:30 Crewe to Preston (via Windermere). 37708 & 37801 can just be seen on the rear of the train, about to cross the level crossing. Note the discreet white backed logos visible on the Class 20 bodysides. These were proclaiming ownership by BRT, and prior to their repainting in the striking BRT white livery.

20075 & 20131 pass Saxondale with the 1E86 08:12 Leicester to Skegness service on a miserably dull 21 July 1993. This was the last year of regular Class 20 haulage to the east coast resort. Mixed rakes of coaches were common at this time, but here we have the odd combination of exactly half the train formed of Regional Railways Mk 2s, while the other half is made up of InterCity liveried Mk 1s. Note the remnants of the recently lifted track on the left, the last vestiges of this former four traction section, latterly used for test purposes including at one point a section of continuous paved track.

20096 & 20905 leave the former Army depot at Long Marston on 17 December 2005 and head back to Gloucester, after arriving with the two former Virgin Cross Country HST power cars (43121 & 43158) and two Mk3 coaches which can be seen in the background. The state of the track in the depot must be giving cause for concern, as the locos took the line between the HST and the stored coaches (necessitating two more reversals) rather than using the extreme left hand track when running round. In addition to this there was a problem with the point on the exit from the yard, and the locos were shut down for a period until someone arrived with a point clip, the previous attempts at kicking the point over were deemed not to be sufficient!

D8098 arrives at Quorn & Woodhouse on the Great Central Railway with the 2C27 13:40 Loughborough to Rothley service on 12 September 2009, during the line's Diesel Gala. 37314 is on the rear of the train and will the 2D09 14:00 return train.

D8098 passes Woodthorpe with the late running 2C32 14:50 Loughborough to Rothley service on 12 September 2009, during the Great Central Railway's Diesel Gala. Gold ochre liveried Class 31 D5830 can be seen on the rear of the train.

20106 & 20020 pass Bramshall on 12 August 1989 with the 14:47 Crewe to Derby service. For a few weeks in 1989 pairs of 20s were used on this service due to a shortage of Class 150 units. 2000 hp for 3 coaches is certainly adequate, and with no requirement for ETS, Class 20s were exactly right for the job. Nowadays I'm sure that these trains would be run in top'n'tail formation, or more likely just cancelled!

The driver climbs back onboard 20115, and the passengers make their way back to the train at Gloucester Docks on 30 June 1985, as the F&W Railtours 1Z60 'Severncider 2' railtour pays a visit to this unlikely location for a passenger train. 08836 is partially hidden by the poles at the other end of the train, waiting to take the tour back to Over Junction. Most of this is now history. 20115 was withdrawn in 1987 and cut up the following year, and the track has been lifted and is now a footpath. At least the headboard survives, and now belongs to me!

Apologies for the poor technical quality of this image, which has been included here after numerous requests. In near darkness, 20128, 37207 & 31439 North Yorkshire Moors Railway storm up the 1 in 37 Lickey Incline with the A1A Charters 1T70 15:39 Worcester Shrub Hill to Preston 'Jewel In The Crown' railtour on 24 February 1996. This amazing combination of English Electric motive power with a Class 20 unbelievably leading the ensemble bonnet first is almost certainly a unique occurrence and had to be photographed whatever the weather! Although nearly dark, the sun was occasionally trying to peek out through gaps in the clouds. This was not good, as this viewpoint is straight into the sun. Note the glint on the tops of the two lead locos.

In golden evening lighting 20131 & 20128 slow down for the almost 120 degree curve at Firsby with the last ever Class 20 hauled Skegness summer passenger service, the 18:12 Skegness to Leicester on 3 September 1993. The train carries the 'Jolly Fisherman' headboard, which at various times was the semi-official name for the Class 20 hauled trains to the Lincolnshire resort. The passengers are obviously aware of the historic nature of the event, as they are seemingly all leaning out of the windows to watch the bizarre spectacle of the train suddenly changing direction in the middle of nowhere!

D8137 is pictured halfway between Hailes and Winchcombe on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on 4 November 2006 with the 11:30 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service. This was during the line's Autumn Diesel Gala, which saw an intensive service on this section of line, as in between the Cheltenham trains such as this, there were additional local passenger and freight trains running as far as Winchcombe.

D8137 is pictured just to the north of Toddington station, on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on 4 November 2006. During the line's Diesel Gala freight trains were worked between Toddington and Winchcombe, and due to capacity problems resulting from the intensive train service, these trains started from the newly laid extension towards Stanway Viaduct. D8137 is moving off with the 13:12 freight to Winchcombe, which was brought in earlier from Winchcombe by 37324 which can be seen in the background. The 15 arch Stanway Viaduct is just around the corner behind the 37.

Token exchange at Toddington, as D8137 arrives with the 13:25 freight train from Winchcombe on 4 November 2006, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Obviously the 1V60 headcode is not appropriate to this train, which should really be a 6 or 7 headcode. Nevertheless, a picture of a Class 20 working bonnet first is always welcome.

In glorious late afternoon autumn light, D837 passes Bishops Cleeve with the 15:00 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service on 4 November 2006, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. An effort had to be made to take some pictures on the southern end of the line, even though only a third of the trains went beyond Winchcombe during the gala!

A superb glint effect and a perfect end to an excellent day's photography on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway during the Diesel Gala on 4 November 2006. D8137 accelerates away from Cheltenham Racecourse with the 15:50 service to Toddington., with buildings of the racecourse prominent in the background. Despite the use of a deep lens hood, it was necessary to take this picture one-handed, with the other hand used as an additional shade to stop the setting sun reaching the lens.

An excellent choice of location to photograph the 10:52 Toddington to Winchcombe freight on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway during the Diesel Gala on 5 November 2006. D8137 and its short train just fit in the gap between the bushes at Didbrook, with Toddington's home signal visible in the background. Recent vegetation clearance means that this view is simply taken from the side of the road.

D8137 approaches Greet with the 11:52 Toddington to Winchcombe service on 5 November 2006, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. The train is just approaching the so-called 'Chicken Curve', which marks the end of the long straight from Hailes.

D8137 passes Hailes with the 13:12 Toddington to Winchcombe freight on 1 April 2007, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Recalling the early 1960s pick up freight era, with a motley collection of wagons behind a single Class 20 running bonnet first. A perfect recreation, apart from a very slightly inappropriate headcode!

D8137 has just emerged from Greet Tunnel on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway whilst working the 10:45 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service on 5 April 2009, during the line's Diesel Gala. Note the large clumps of mistletoe growing in the tree directly above the locomotive's bonnet.

At least one passenger on board the 11:50 Cheltenham Racecourse to Toddington train wonders what on earth I am doing lying down in the grass near 'Chicken Curve' at Greet on 5 April 2009. The answer is to get a sufficiently low angle to frame D8137 with the overhanging branches of the tree. D8137 was the only non rail blue loco taking part in the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala.

With a spectacular carpet of Rosebay Willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium) in the foreground, D8137 & 20154 pass Dixton on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway with the 12:50 Cheltenham Racecourse to Winchcombe service on 10 July 2009, during the line's Diesel Gala. The Winchcombe to Toddington section of the line had been given over to shunter hauled services for the day.

D8137 ambles through the cutting at Dixton, on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, having just passed the yet to be commissioned Gotherington down distant signal. It is working the 13:30 Toddington to Gotherington service on 11 July 2010, during the line's Diesel Gala. Because of a landslip just the other side of Gotherington station, all trains were being working in top'n'tail mode, and 37248 can just be seen on the rear of the train.

The first train of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Summer 2009 Diesel Gala was this recreation of the late 1960s with a pair of headcode box fitted Class 20s in faded green livery. Visiting 20154 & the line's resident D8137 pass Hailes on 10 July with the 09:30 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service. This was the only through working of the day, before the line was effectively divided into two with shunters operating between Toddington and Winchcombe and mainline locos between Winchcombe and Cheltenham.

20189 approaches Rickmansworth with the 11:58 Amersham to Harrow special train during the London Transport Museum's Heritage Day on 14 September 2008. Hidden out of view on the rear of the train is Metropolitan Railway electric loco 'Sarah Siddons'. Even at this head on angle the bizarre teak effect livery of the coaching stock is plainly visible.

20189 accelerates away from Amersham station with the 13:58 special train to Watford, during the London Transport Museum's Heritage Day on 14 September 2008. Tucked out of view on the rear of the train is the former Metropolitan Railway electric locomotive Sarah Siddons. Two trains of Metropolitan Line A60 stock can be seen in the station in the background.

20197 & 20082 move slowly through the coal loader at Bickershaw Colliery on 12 March 1990 as their train is loaded with yet another trainload of coal for Fiddlers Ferry Power Station. As no run round facilities existed at Bickershaw, this train required another pair of 20s (20071 & 20063) at the other end of the train to bring the empties in. They are just out of sight in the background. Surprisingly these regular workings of four Class 20s on one train caused little excitement at the time. The same could not be said if it happened today! Bickershaw Colliery closed in 1992.