D8001 is pictured at work with an overhead wiring train on the partially completed Channel Tunnel Rail Link at Calehill Heath (near Charing) on 19 July 2002. There is something ironic about such a vintage locomotive being used on the most prestigious railway construction project in the country. Various privately owned Class 20s were employed on these trains, with the more prosaic Class 66s being used for the heavier ballast and permanent way workings.

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.

20021 & 20085 come off the Ironbridge branch and rejoin the mainline at Madeley Junction on 15 August 1988 with another rake of empty HAA coal hoppers heading back to Silverdale Colliery from Ironbridge Power Station. Although once a common sight, I have relatively few pictures of Class 20s working MGR coal trains, as they were principally concentrated in the Midlands and Scotland and only very rarely ventured as far south as my local power station at Didcot, and even that was before I started taking pictures.

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.

20041 & 20082 are hardly struggling as they pass Appleford Signal Box (since demolished) with the 6V19 06:32 Bescot to Didcot Speedlink on 12 September 1985. This train often only traveled as far as Oxford, where the bulk of the traffic ended up. However, sometimes military stores were conveyed, continuing on to Didcot, often with a featherweight load such as this single VEA van. Class 20s were surprisingly common on this working and by 1985 very nearly the only chance of seeing the type in the Oxford area.

A group of track workers take a short break to watch 20045 & 20142 move slowly out of Toton Yard on 16 October 1986 with a rake of MGR empties. A couple of other Class 20s can be seen in this view, which now looks quite historic, especially with the lines of withdrawn vacuum braked hoppers stored in the distance.

20048 needs all of its 1,000hp as it tackles the gradient at Heap Bridge on 3 July 2011 with the 2J72 12:46 Rawtenstall to Heywood service, during the East Lancashire Railway's Diesel Gala. Although Class 20s wouldn't have got to haul Mk2 coaches very often, this is nevertheless a superb recreation of the rail blue era, fortuitously helped by the rearmost two maroon coaches being hidden by the bushes!

20048 rolls down the gradient at Heap Bridge on 3 July 2011 with the 2J81 13:55 Heywood to Rawtenstall service, during the East Lancashire Railway's Diesel Gala. Strictly speaking the two white discs being displayed here indicate a 1xxx working rather than a 2xxx (although after 1977 with the general abandonment of headcodes, this would have been used). It should really be displaying just the upper white disc for this particular working.

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.

For a while during the mid 1980s Class 20s worked the heavy limestone trains in the Peak District, replacing Class 25s and 40s, but before the introduction of Class 37s. Indeed in 1986 a batch of Class 20s were renumbered into the 203xx series to denoted that they had been specially modified for these workings. Prior to this, on 19 June 1984, 20077 & 20172 are seen passing Chinley with the 6F41 08:12 Tunstead to Oakleigh ICI limestone.

20081 & 20016 pass Salwick No.1 Signal Box on 15 February 1992 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1T32 07:30 Euston to Morecambe 'Lune Ranger' railtour. It is pictured here in a welcome patch of sunshine, en-route to Poulton-le-Fylde and Burn Naze. 47489 can just be seen on the rear of the train.

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!

On a miserably dull 7 January 1995, D8110 passes Riverford Bridge, on the South Devon Railway. As the loco is based on the line, this could be an everyday scene, but look at the length of the train and the headboard. This is in fact the Pathfinder Tours 1Z61 06:46 Wolverhampton to Buckfastleigh 'Teign Dart' railtour, seen here retuning as the 14:25 from Buckfastleigh. The tour, which arrived from the Midlands behind 31417, also visited the nearby Heathfield branch.

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!

A branch off of a branch! 20118 & 20169 pass the junction for the short lived private siding to the BP oil terminal at Rhosgoch on the Isle of Anglesey on 11 September 1993. They are working the Pathfinder Tours 1Z18 'Anglesey Odyssey' railtour, at this point running as the 14:32 Amlwch to Cardiff Central. This long winding branch line from Gaerwen Junction to Amlwch was closing due to Associated Octel's decision to transfer the sole remaining freight traffic to road haulage. The line has remaining intact but increasingly overgrown ever since.

20118 & 20169 pass the creamery at Llangefni on 11 September 1993 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z18 14:32 Amlwch to Cardiff Central 'Anglesey Odyssey' railtour. Just visible in the bushes at the rear of the train are 37075 & 37225, which had worked the tour from Cardiff (the 20s being attached at Llandudno Junction). The branch was about to close with the cessation of Associated Octel's rail operations. Previously various chemicals had been handled, including chlorine, ethylene dibromide and bromide. Extra nasty chemicals to be added to the overburdened road network!

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!

20131 Almon B. Strowger & 20118 pass Whiteball on 2 May 1994 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z20 08:33 Paddington to Exeter St Davids 'Big E' railtour, one of a number of tours run in connection with the Exeter Rail Fair. It was running 45 minutes late, due to being re-routed via Bristol instead of Castle Cary, owing to a freight train failure.

Still looking reasonably smart in its ex BR Railfreight red stripe livery (if you ignore the rust patches!), 20137 passes Stanley Pontlarge on 10 August 1995 returning from Far Stanley and bound for Toddington, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Tom Rolt, the railway and canal preservation pioneer lived a few yards from the location.

20137 passes a fine show of Rosebay Willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium) near Hailes on 11 August 1995, whilst working the 13:00 Toddington to Far Stanley freight. This was one of a number of demonstration freights run during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railways Diesel Week. Although very rare in the later days, such as depicted here by the Railfreight livery, short freights headed by a single Class 20 were relatively common in the early days of the class.

20137 emerges from Greet Tunnel on 11 August 1995 with the 15:00 Toddington to Far Stanley service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Given the excellent weather and the prospect of photographing a Railfreight red stripe Class 20 on this scenic route, I was surprised at how few photographers there were around.

Prior to its repainting into green livery, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 20137 (D8137) was used during the line's 1996 Autumn Diesel Gala in red undercoat. It makes a striking and very unusual sight as it heads down the long straight from Hailes on 9 November 1996 with the 10:50 Toddington to Far Stanley service.

20137 emerges from Greet Tunnel on 9 November 1996 with the 12:05 Far Stanley to Toddington service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. It was halfway through its transformation from Railfreight liveried 20137 to green liveried D8137, and worked the gala trains in this striking red undercoat. As I have numerous pictures of it in both its Railfreight guise, and even more in its subsequent green colour scheme, this striking 'livery' makes an interesting comparison.

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, D8137 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.

D8137 passes Hailes on 2 October 2010 with the 11:10 Toddington Distant Signal to Gotherington service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. The Class 20 had taken over from 37248, which had worked the train for the first ¾ mile across Stanway Viaduct and into Toddington station.

D8137 passes Southam with the 10:00 Winchcombe to Cheltenham Racecourse service on 9 July 2011, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. The wooded slopes of the Cotswold Hills form the backdrop to this picture.

A conveniently placed patch of Rosebay Willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium) brightens up the dull day at Southam on 9 July 2011, as D8137 passes by with the 10:35 Cheltenham Racecourse to Winchcombe service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Cheltenham Racecourse station is hidden by the trees directly above the first coach.

D8137 leaves a rain soaked Winchcombe station on 9 July 2011 with the 15:00 service to Cheltenham Racecourse, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. A moderate wideangle was used in order to include the Great Western lower quadrant signal in the foreground.

20142 was in use during the Llangollen Railway's Diesel Gala on 20 May 1995. It is seen here pulling away from Berwyn station with the 12:00 Llangollen to Glyndyfrdwy service, with the River Dee in the background. It would shortly lose its tatty BR blue livery in favour of green, which it retained until recently (with either full yellow ends or small warning panel), until reappearing again in blue.

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.

20167 & 20153 approach Bearley on a blisteringly hot 14 August 1983 with the D.A.A. Railtour Society's 1T06 09:20 Euston to Butterley 'Butterley Bulldog' railtour. This was before my railtour chasing days, so I don't have any pictures of the other array of motive power that was used on the train throughout the day, including another pair of 20s, a pair of 37s, and two different pairs of Class 31s. That doesn't include the preserved traction that was used on the Midland Railway Centre line!

20189 stands at Leeming Bar station on 5 September 2004, attached to a rake of Wensleydale Railway branded ballast hoppers. Obviously this remote area of Yorkshire is on a busy flight path, judging by the number of vapour tails in the sky! 20189 is a well travelled locomotive, having visited several preserved lines as well as seeing use on the construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and frequent use on London Transport specials.

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.

I have never bothered much with depot photography, but here is the exception that proves the rule. The sight of 20191 parked bonnet first with nothing else in the way obstructing the view was too good to miss at Buxton depot on 19 June 1984. Withdrawn three years later, 20191 was cut up at Vic Berry's, Leicester.

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.

20214 & 20121 come off the Goole line at Gilberdyke on 20 July 1992 with the Pathfinder Tours 05:25 Swindon to Scarborough 'Two Roses Voyager' railtour. Obviously with a name like that it was not going to be a direct route, and although the outward run to the Yorkshire coast was fairly conventional, the return leg did of course involve a trip across the Pennines into Lancashire. The 20s were of course the highlight of the day, but 47823 was employed on the more mundane part of the journey to and from Sheffield.

20301 Max Joule 1958-1999 leads the 3S14 11:14 Grimsby to Malton Rail Head Treatment Train past Tilts on 24 November 2008, with classmate 20302 bringing up the rear. The severe gradient is required to allow the line to cross the East Coast Mainline, the bridge over which can just be seen in the background. Fortunately there was a north wind on this day, as the farmer had just started a bonfire of hedge cuttings and chicken feathers right next to the line. This made an unbelievable amount of smoke, which luckily was being blown away from the railway (and me)!

20302, 20306, 20310 & 20307 pass Brock with the 6K73 15:38 Sellafield to Crewe nuclear flasks on 6 May 2008. The use of four locomotives on this train is not as ridiculous as it looks, as the train splits into two portions at Crew, serving individual power stations. This was one of those annoying occasions when the sun went behind a cloud just at the critical time, however careful use of Photoshop has insured that the correct amount of detail is retained in the sky area, instead of the dreaded blank sky that normally results from such conditions.

20302 & 20305 pass Asfordby in the gloom on 23 November 2011 with the 7X09 11.42 Asfordby (Old Dalby) to Amersham London Underground S-Stock move, with sister locos 20304 & 20301 bringing up the rear. This particular new unit, fresh from testing at Old Dalby, comprises vehicles 21059, 22059, 24059, 24060, 23060, 22060 & 21060. The spire of St Peter's church, Kirby Bellars can be seen behind the train.

20303, 20301 Furness Railway 150 & 20302 pass Nethertown with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z37 15:40 Workington to Bristol Temple Meads 'Cumbrian Coaster' railtour on 1 June 1996. The Irish Sea is just out of the picture to the left. 20301 had only just had its Furness Railway 150 nameplates unveiled an hour or so earlier at Workington station by the local mayor and Max Joule, the managing director of Direct Rail Services.

It may seem strange that the Rail Head Treatment Train runs through the East Anglian Fens, an area notable for the virtual total absence of trees. However, once past Thetford, the line passes through several areas of forests, and here at Eccles Heath the cause of the problem can be appreciated. Although the silver birches in the background have lost their leaves, the oaks were still showing some autumn colour on 27 November 2006, when a filthy 20307 passed with the 1Z63 13:35 Wymondham to Colchester RHTT running 75 minutes early. Classmate 20312 was on the rear. This line is rich in steam age infrastructure, including semaphore signalling, and as seen here still used telegraph poles.

It was barely light when 20308 & 20309 set off with the Spitfire Railtours 1Z37 06:07 Gloucester to Penzance 'Kernow Voyager' railtour on 25 June 2011. Here they are a few miles into the journey, passing Little Haresfield in terrible light. The forecasters had correctly predicted poor weather, but the prospect of this pair of 20s, plus the bonus of 2 x 37s and 2 x 31s, all on railtours to the Mazey Day celebrations, made it virtually essential to venture out for the heritage traction feast.

20309 & 20311 sit in the loop at Spetchley on 29 April 1999 with the late running 7M53 13:58 Bridgwater to Sellafield nuclear flask. Some unexplained problem caused the train to remain in the loop for 40 minutes, resulting in the delay increasing to over two hours by the time it finally left.

20309 & 20308 accelerate away from Nuneaton on 5 March 2011 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z83 06:01 Crewe to Norwich 'Norfolk Broadsman' railtour. Unfortunately the previous day's brilliant sun had been replaced by mist and dark clouds. Despite this, I wasn't going to miss out on the now very rare chance to get a picture of a pair of 'Choppers' working a passenger train. 37667 can just be seen in the gloom, bringing up the rear of the train.

Believe it not both these locos and the wagons are blue!. Over a month's use on the Rail Head Treatment Train has taken its toll on the DRS Class 20s, as an absolutely filthy 20310 leads classmate 20311 on the 1Z63 13:35 Wymondham to Colchester RHTT as it approaches Shippea Hill station on 29 November 2006, running its customary 70 minutes early. Although apparently not so good further west, in East Anglian it was a completely sunny day with not a cloud all day.

20310 Gresty Bridge & 20307 slow down for the approach to Oxford, as they pass Wolvercote with the Spitfire Railtours 1Z30 05:29 Crewe to Weymouth 'Wey-farer' railtour on 19 April 2008, running 6 minutes late. 57601 was on the rear of the train providing ETH. Note the up goods relief line on the right and the wide area on the left where there was a formerly a down goods relief line as far as Wolvercote Junction, which is just out of sight around the corner in the distance. The bridge visible in the background is the A34 Oxford bypass.

DRS 20311 & 20309 are pictured high in the Peak District at Edale on 28 March 1999 with the Eagle Railtours 'High Peak Explorer' from Worcester Shrub Hill to Buxton. Despite the somewhat open nature of the landscape it proved difficult to find a location for this train that wasn't partly shaded. It was also one of those days when the sun kept disappearing into high level cloud. Thankfully the sun was out reasonably well when the 20s came into view under the bridge.

The bright sunny morning of 29 November 2006 sees 20311 approaching Shippea Hill station with the 1Z61 09:10 Stowmarket to Trowse Rail Head Treatment Train, with 20310 on the rear. Needless to say I was glad the train was moving slowly as the 170 unit on the 09:57 Norwich to Liverpool service seen receding into the distance could very easily have blocked the view, as both trains came into view at the same time.

20311 (recently named Class 20 Fifty) & 20315 storm past Great Hale (between Sleaford and Boston) with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z20 08:15 Barrow Hill to Skegness 'Jolly Fisherman' railtour on 29 August 2007, the first Class 20 hauled passenger train to the east coast resort for 14 years. Yet again, a sunny start to the day was rapidly giving way to full cloud cover. The train was running 30 minutes late at this point. It was lucky it was no later, as a couple of minutes after this picture was taken the sun disappeared. 

20312 approaches Lakenheath station with the 1Z61 09:10 Stowmarket to Trowse Rail Head Treatment Train on 27 November 2006, with 20307 bringing up the rear. There was considerable hooting before the train came into view, as the signalman hadn't closed the crossing gates and consequently the signals were at danger, in fact, the signal had only just been pulled off and the train was down to walking speed when I took this picture. It did mean however, that I then enjoyed some Class 20 thrash as they opened up through the station!

20313, 20315 & 20314 pass Haughley Green with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z20 05:30 Crewe to Ipswich 'Twenty Twenty Vision' railtour on 10 March 2007. The tour was running a very respectable 15 minutes early at this point, and in fact it kept well to time all day. Considering the excellent vantage point for eastbound trains at this location, and the perfect angle for the sun, I was surprised that only one other local photographer joined me on the bridge.

20313, 20315 & 20314 approach the level crossing at Knodishall Green on the Leiston branch with the Pathfinder Tours 'Twenty Twenty Vision' railtour on 10 March 2007, now running as 1Z21 Ipswich to Cambridge via Leiston. 47501 had been attached to the rear of the train at Ipswich, which then became the lead loco as it went down the Leiston branch. Unfortunately by this time the weather had deteriorated, but it started to brighten up a little as the 20s returned from Leiston, only for the sun to come out a few minutes later! The branch is normally only used by nuclear flasks trains, appropriately hauled by these very locos.

While the Pathfinder Tours 1Z21 Ipswich to Cambridge via Leiston 'Twenty Twenty Vision' participants were enjoying a photo stop at Saxmundham on 10 March 2007, I was searching for a location south of the town, after having seen the tour on the Leiston branch. Every location I looked at was shaded by bushes or trees, and in two cases were down such narrow lanes, that I had to reverse back out to the main road! With time running out I settled on this spot in a field near Campsey Ash, although the sun was much more head on than I would have liked. 20313 is seen here leading sister locos 20315 & 20314. It was only on the way back to the car that I saw where the footpath was, not at all straight across the ploughed field which was the shortest route from the village!

Very unusual motive power for the Cotswold Line. 20901 Nancy passes through Kingham station with an Old Oak Common to Hereford Hunslet Barclay weedkilling train on 4 September 1996. Sister loco 20904 Janis can just be seen on the rear of the train. Surprisingly this is not the only picture of Class 20s I have at this location, as five years before I had photographed a railtour from this spot. The vantage point is from the abutment of the former flyover bridge carrying the little used Banbury to Cheltenham direct line across the Cotswold Line. When that line was open, most trains called at Kingham, so did not use the flyover, but reversed in the station. I was lucky with the sun here, as this superb evening light disappeared just after the train!

On 20 March 2009, 20901 & 20905 were used to move three withdrawn Class 37s from Barrow Hill to Long Marston for long term storage. 37412 & 37672 have clearly seen better days and are in a terrible external condition, but the rear loco, 37029 was until recently in use with DRS and would presumably be suitable for further use. The convoy is pictured here at Norton running as 6Z37 09:30 Barrow Hill to Long Marston, the four wagons added for brake force at the rear presumably changing it from the originally allocated 0Z37. The train was by this point running approximately 45 minutes late and had consequently lost its original booked path down the single track Cotswold Line.

In near darkness on 23 November 2011, 20901 leads the 3S21 14:53 York Works to Gilberdyke Rail Head Treatment Train towards Milford Junction, with equally grubby 20905 bringing up the rear. Luckily it was running exactly to time, as the light level was dropping by the minute! The bridge in the background carries the Leeds to Selby line.

Most unusual traction for the Cotswold Line! With the houses of Lower Moor visible in the background, HNRC owned Class 20s 20905 & 20096 make a fine picture in the low winter sunshine as they approach Fladbury (between Pershore and Evesham) with the 5Z22 08:52 Gloucester to Long Marston stock move on Saturday 17 December 2005. The "mini HST" rake includes former Virgin Cross Country power cars 43121 & 43158 en-route from MoD Bicester for slightly less secure storage in the former Army depot at Long Marston.