47002 Sea Eagle pulls away from a signal check at Oxford on 18 July 1990 with the 4M79 16:08 Southampton to Lawley Street freightliner. 47002 was one of a number of Tinsley allocated Class 47s that received unofficial painted names during 1989 and 1990. Note the recently constructed industrial estate in the background on the site of the former Oxford South Yard.

Sporting a Stratford depot silver roof, 47019 passes Hinksey Yard (near Oxford) under a threatening sky with the 1M13 11:50 Paddington to Birmingham New Street service on 5 July 1980. A common question to be asked in the late 1970s and early 1980s at Oxford was "Seen any Stratford 47s?", as the white or silver roofs were just about the only variation to the standard rail blue livery. Nevertheless, with a variety of loco types, plenty of freight and loco hauled passenger trains it was still a golden age compared with today! 47019 was withdrawn in December 1993 and broken up at Eastleigh by staff from M.R.J. Phillips of Llanelly.

47033 stands 'wrong line' with a ballast train on the down line at Ascott-under-Wychwood on 12 April 1987, during track relaying work on the Cotswold Line. Although at the the time this location was thankfully clear of lineside vegetation, it is still rather a nondescript location. With no prospect of the train moving for hours to come, I waited for an photogenic batch of clouds to drift across and then placed the train low in the frame to make a feature of the sky.

An unusual sequence of events took place at Charlbury on 15 May 1988. The Cotswold Line was closed for engineering works during the early part of the day, and 47050 is seen here approaching Charlbury with empty ballast wagons returning from track relaying work at Ascott-under-Wychwood. Little did I expect to see the same loco return from the Oxford direction a couple of hours later with a passenger train! 47050 is wearing the original version of Railfreight grey livery with a white cantrail stripe. It was one of the early repaints and along with 47095 did not have the later standard black window surrounds.

Running over 40 minutes late 47050 arrives at Charlbury station with the 14:00 Paddington to Hereford service on 15 May 1988, the first train of the day over the line on a Sunday at this time. There had obviously been a problem with the train's original loco, as I had earlier seen 47050 heading south at Charlbury with empty ballast wagons from the engineering possession at Ascott-under-Wychwood. So presumably it replaced the errant train loco at either Didcot or Oxford. Non ETH locos were very rare on passenger trains on the Cotswold Line, and I certainly don't ever remember seeing another Railfreight liveried example being used. Note that Charlbury's notoriously short platform was just being lengthened and the car park extended.

Trying to find somewhere different to photograph the many northbound freights on a summer's evening around the Oxford area in the 1980s led to the discovery of this spot near the deserted medieval village of Hampton Gay. 47060 Halewood Silver Jubilee 1988 crosses the bridge over River Cherwell with the 6E30 17:18 Eastleigh to Haverton Hill Speedlink on 11 July 1989. The trackless bridge in the foreground once carried the Woodstock Branch (closed in 1954). The branch ran parallel with the mainline from Kidlington station, but then just past this bridge curved away to the west. This was a very precarious vantage point, trying to get enough height without stepping off the bridge and falling into the river. And no, I did not remove the top rail of the bridge to get a clearer view of the wheels!

During 1984 long stretches of the Cotswold Line were relayed with continuous welded rail, including much of the single track section between Wolvercote Junction and Ascott-under-Wychwood. In this interesting view taken on 8 April 1984, 47085 Mammoth proceeds at less than walking pace between Combe and Handborough, dropping ballast over the newly laid track. The ballast was dropped from each wagon in turn as the train inched forward. Note the cloud of dust around the fourth wagon as it is emptied. This high vantage point was chosen to show the whole sweep of the line right round to Combe station in the far distance.

47105 crosses the Gretton to Prescott road on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway with the 15:00 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service on 24 October 2003, during the line's Diesel Gala. This is on the long straight section of track between Gretton and Gotherington, which offers very few vantage points, as for most of the way it on an embankment, with little chance of a clear view from the surrounding countryside.

Viewed from halfway up Salter's Hill and with the village of Toddington, and the distinctive white house at Didbrook Fields visible in the background, 47105 passes Winchcombe's fixed distant signal with the 10:20 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service on 4 November 2006, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire's Autumn Diesel Gala.

With a little characteristic Sulzer smoke, 47105 passes Hailes with the 12:02 Toddington to Winchcombe freight on 4 November 2006, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Autumn Diesel Gala. This was the site of the former Hayles Abbey Halt (note the different spelling), which opened in 1928 at the same time as a museum at the nearby abbey ruins.

47105 has just reached the end of the long straight between Hailes and Winchcombe on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, and is about to round Chicken Curve with the 12:02 Toddington to Winchcombe freight on 5 November 2006, during the line's Autumn Diesel Gala. It is very doubtful if the wagons in a freight train were ever this clean in BR days!

47105 passes Stanley Pontlarge with the 15:00 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service on 1 April 2007, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Typically, although it was virtually a completely sunny day, just as the train came, a tiny squiffy bit of cloud passed in front of the sun. Luckily the loco is clear of the cloud, but notice how the middle of the train is in its own tiny spot of shadow! Stanley Pontlarge is an appropriate location to photograph a preserved locomotive, as the railway preservation pioneer Tom Rolt used to live just next to the line here.

White out conditions at South Moreton on 9 February 1991. The horizon has disappeared and hedges and bushes in the distance merge with the sky as 47115 kicks up the snow with the 6E50 09:41 Langley to Lindsey oil empties. 47115 was withdrawn exactly two months later, and after spending some time in store at Frodingham, was finally cut up in 1995.

With its previous Stratford allocation indicated by its white roof, 47130 heads an engineers train through the remote countryside between the villages of Stonesfield and Wilcote, on the Cotswold Line on 10 March 1985. It had been engaged in track relaying operations at little further up the line at Fawler. This is on the long single track section between Ascott-under-Wychwood and Wolvercote Junction. Withdrawn almost exactly 3 years after this picture was taken, the loco was finally cut up at MC Metals in Glasgow in October 1990.

47197 runs alongside the River Severn at Gatcombe with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z70 06:26 Crewe to Margam 'Valley Vostock' railtour on 7 February 2004. Anyone tempted to emulate this picture should be aware that there is only room for one photographer at this spot! A footpath crosses the line and immediately drops down into the muddy waters of the Severn.

Now this is how you want to see a Virgin Voyager - with some quality traction on the front! Freightliner Heavy Haul's 47197 was used to move 220011 from Bristol Barton Hill to Central Rivers on Sunday 31 July 2005, due to the unavailability of any of Virgin's 57s. Limited to 40mph, the ensemble was booked in the loop at Spetchley to allow other trains to pass. As 47197 is a clag monster the expected result is shown here as it pulls out of the loop.

On the cold frosty morning of 27 November 1988, 47205 comes off the double track section of the Cotswold Line at Ascott-under-Wychwood with a train of recovered track panels from relaying operations near Evenlode. Interestingly, this train did not proceed on to Oxford as expected, but waited by Ascott-under-Wychwood signal box for a following light engine (47200), which took the train back from whence it came wrong line!

47205 runs alongside the Kennett & Avon Canal near Crofton with a relief to the 4O18 05:17 Lawley Street to Southampton freightliner on 17 February 2001. This train had been diverted off the Reading to Basingstoke line because of engineering works. Unfortunately a slight breeze causing ripples on the canal prevented a hoped for reflection shot!

Numerous Tinsley allocated Class 47s received unofficial painted names during the late 1980s. One such was 47217, which received the name Kingfisher in 1989. It is seen here on 31 March 1990 speeding past Claydon (near Banbury) with the 4O81 Lawley Street to Southampton freightliner. The abutments of the bridge that carried the former Stratford-upon-Avon & Midland Junction Railway over the Oxford Canal can be seen in the background directly above the orange containers. The growth of the lineside vegetation resulted in it becoming invisible by 2007.

47237 speeds past Offord Cluny with the 1Z43 09:06 Sunderland to Kings Cross Grand Central Railways crew training run on 16 August 2007, with 47802 on the rear of the train. The southern section of the East Coast Mainline has very few good photographic locations, this being one of the better ones. In common with all overhead electric lines, virtually all the former viewpoints have been ruined, which is why I tend to avoid these lines if at all possible.

On 19 December 2007, 47237 passes Bretforton (between Evesham and Honeybourne) with the 5Z85 10:05 Gloucester to Long Marston conveying 31437, 31423, 31301 & 31439, along with a rake of Mk2 coaching stock for braking purposes. The train had worked up from the West Country the previous day as the 5Z80 13:25 Meldon Quarry to Gloucester. I had decided to go to this location in preference to Evesham, as I have not used this location previously, and already have numerous pictures at Evesham. This decision turned out to be a mistake, as while the train passed me in cloudy conditions, it was full sun at Evesham.

In miserable light 47237 arrives at Long Marston with the 5Z85 10:05 Gloucester to Long Marston conveying 31437, 31423, 31301 & 31439 on 19 December 2007, along with a rake of Mk2 coaching stock for braking purposes. 47237 still carries DRS blue livery, although it is devoid of any branding, as it has recently been acquired by Cotswold Rail. Considering the gate into the depot at Long Marston (which is just the other side of the bridge that I am standing on) was still closed, the train seemed to be still going at a fair speed, and did indeed stop very close to the gate.

47237 passes Lower Moor on the Cotswold Line with the 6Z45 09:10 (actually departed 10:30) Gloucester to Long Marston on 4 March 2008, with 37898 and four brake force wagons. The large T of the former Transrail livery on the 37 is just visible on what is otherwise an extremely faded and rust streaked loco. This working should have run the previous day, conveying both 37898 and 37704 for storage, but problems with the 37's brakes caused its postponement. There are only a limited number of paths over this single track section, which can cause problems if a fault is discovered on any stock that has to be moved to Long Marston. This photo was taken from a public footpath crossing.

Basking in the late evening light and with a toot from the driver, 47237 passes Claydon (near Ashchurch) with the 6Z71 Cardiff Tidal to Stockton-on-Tees Advenza Freight scrap empties on 13 May 2008. Headboards on freight trains are now relatively common for the minor players such as Advenza. In the case it reads 'The Marauder'. A couple of hours earlier the balancing working had passed the same location heading south. The Cotswold Hills can be seen in the background.

47285 passes through Grateley station with the 6M73 08:32 Quidhampton to Willesden calcium carbonate tanks on 14 November 1991. A fairly lengthy train on this day, as it was not unusual to see this with just a few wagons, occasionally just one! The platform next to the train was formally an island platform, with the other face serving the line to Bulford Camp.

47289 passes Denchworth on 17 August 1992 with the 4V15 Tilbury to Swindon 'butterliner' (containerised Anchor butter from New Zealand). You can clearly see the preparations for relaying the down relief line, with the newly laid ballast reaching just up to the foreground (note the corner of the butyl liner under the ballast). In the background the sleepers have been placed, but the rails have not yet arrived. The down relief line was completed before work on the corresponding up line started. This photo is not taken from the well known Denchworth location (Circourt Bridge), but from the bridge to the east, which also used to offer an excellent vantage point until a huge signal gantry was erected close to the bridge.

A scene that epitomises railways in the Fens in the 1980s. 47292 approaches Chainbridge with the 9H35 11:10 Wisbech to Whitemoor Speedlink trip working on 16 August 1988. The Wisbech branch is all that remains of the former through route from March Kings Lynn. I think this is the only occasion that I have used a polarising filter in combination with the Pentax 6x7 on a railway subject, but here it accentuates the typical big sky of the fenland landscape. The loss of 11/2 stops when using such a filter with ISO 100 film on medium format is no joke, but luckily here the train is slowing on the approach to a level crossing, so a shutter speed of only 1/250 sec could be used.

In dramatic lighting in between heavy showers, 47304 heads north through Oxford with the 6M23 10:12 Fawley to Longport LPG tanks on 22 April 1986. Note the variety of traction visible in the background, with a HST heading towards the station and Class 117 DMU and Class 50 in the carriage sidings. The gate visible by the notices in the foreground is the location of my only sighting of a steam loco in BR service, when as a child I saw Sir Winston Churchill's funeral train en-route to Handborough in January 1965. My memories from that day are less of the train and more of playing on the edge of the stream in the foreground!

Despite the application of sundry alternative liveries, BR blue was still the dominant colour on the national network in mid 1980s. On 27 June 1986 47313 ambles along the Great Western mainline at Compton Beauchamp (between Didcot and Swindon) with a late running Wolverton to Stoke Gifford ARC stone empties.

Wearing the exceedingly unimaginative all over grey engineers livery that predates the 'Dutch' civil engineers colour scheme, 47352 passes Moira West Junction, on the Coalville Line with eastbound ballast empties on 23 October 1989. The switchback nature of the track here is caused by mining subsidence. The line on the right leads to Rawdon Colliery.

47365 Diamond Jubilee passes Tackley with the 6E30 17:18 Eastleigh to Haverton Hill Speedlink on 19 June 1991, less than 3 weeks before the withdrawal of all Speedlink wagonload services in the UK. At 20:20 even in mid June it is difficult to find a location free from shadows, and I was getting worried here as the area of track in sun was rapidly shrinking, but luckily I managed to press the shutter at exactly the right moment as it appears that the sunlit area is exactly the same length as a Class 47!

A very strange working is pictured passing Cholsey on 12 November 2007. 47375 & 47703 are working the 6Z50 11:35 Gloucester Horton Road to Wembley, comprising just a cargowagon and polybulk wagon! The low autumn sun certainly highlights the rather garish Riviera blue livery, which being clean rather shows up the filthy state of ex Fragonset liveried 47703.

47376 Freightliner 1995 has just passed under the Dixton bridge and is pictured approaching Gotherington with the 12:40 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service on 5 November 2006. This was during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Autumn Diesel Gala. Unlike the Saturday, the sunny weather on the Sunday did not last all day. Around midday the clouds started appearing and 47376 is just faintly illuminated by a the last of the sun as it disappears into high cloud.

Locos from the original batch of twenty Class 47s built with ETH were never common on the Cotswold Line in the 1980s by virtue of their Gateshead allocation, but I did see 47402 Gateshead on the line on two separate occasions. On 8 July 1984 it worked the 16:10 Paddington to Hereford service, seen here passing Chilson. Apart from the lack of lineside vegetation, points to note here are the remnants of the steam age railway: bullhead track, platelayer's hut, and a telegraph pole lying just in front of the loco, as it was only a few years previously that they were felled.

47473 approaches the site of Chipping Campden station on the Cotswold Line with the 18:07 Paddington to Hereford service on 2 June 1984. The evening sun was just fading out into high cloud and there was only a trace of brightness when the train came. Chipping Campden station (which did not acquire the 'Chipping' in its name until 1952) was closed in 1966. Although a small country station it boasted two private sidings.

Viewed from a farm occupation bridge near Shorthampton, on the Cotswold Line on 8 June 1984, 47473 heads west with the 17:05 Paddington to Hereford service. This loco had a strange end to its life, inasmuch that it was still recorded on TOPS three months after it had been cut up! It was officially withdrawn in June 1998, even though workers from M.R.J. Phillips of Llanelly had cut it up at Crewe works during March.

47484 Isambard Kingdom Brunel passes Claydon (near Banbury) with the 1M88 06:33 Poole to Manchester Piccadilly service on 2 June 1984. Surprisingly considering this had always been a Western Region locomotive, this was my first picture of this locomotive, and my only picture of it in blue livery (apart from a light engine shot). The following year it was repainted into brunswick green livery in connections with the GWR 150 celebrations. From then on I saw it frequently! If I've only got one picture of it in blue, at least its a good one, with a very lucky patch of sun illuminating just the train, with a background of dark clouds - perfect!

47501 passes Elmswell with the Pathfinder Tours 'Twenty Twenty Vision' railtour on 10 March 2007, now running as 1Z21 Ipswich to Cambridge via Leiston. The cloud which had built up while the tour was on the Leiston branch was now dispersing. The headboard reads: "DRS Anglia on a Mission".

47508 Great Britain arrives at Honeybourne on 14 August 1983 with the 16:10 Paddington to Hereford service. After a brief stop the train set off for Evesham as normal, only to stop a short distance up the line and then reverse back into the station! Apparently somebody had been left behind, but even so, a bizarre move that I have not seen happen since! Note the empty shell of the long closed signal box in the background. This was demolished shortly afterwards.

Viewed from a lofty vantage point that is unfortunately now obscured by trees, 47513 Severn approaches Grintleyhill Bridge at Come with the 08:00 Hereford to Paddington service on 31 January 1987. A bright but cold winter morning with the remains of some snow under the hedges and a light mist obscuring the background slightly. This location is not a total loss now, as pictures can still be taken from the bridge, but even if this 1987 viewpoint could be recreated, the rampant growth of lineside vegetation would hide the train today. Lower Westfield Farm is prominent in the centre of the picture, while on the extreme left Whitehill Bridge can just be seen.

A slightly different viewpoint on a well known photographic location at Oxford. A very tatty 47526 pulls way from Oxford station on 2 October 1991 with the 11:00 Oxford to Paddington Network SouthEast service and passes under the Osney Lane footbridge. In 2007 this bridge was removed for essential repairs, but due to typical Network Rail incompetence was not replaced for many months, causing a severe nuisance to local residents. Shortage of materials was blamed for the delay. I cannot believe that the structure of the bridge detiorated so quickly that it had to be closed before replacement parts were available!

47547 speeds past Heytesbury with the 1O39 10:10 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour service on 14 May 1988. This loco had taken over the service at Bristol Temple Meads, and was a bit of a surprise on the day, as all the other services were being worked by Class 33s on what was their last day on the route. 

There was a double naming ceremony for two Class 47s at Oxford station on 3 October 1990. The Right Honourable Lord Jenkins of Hillhead (Oxford University Chancellor) named 47547 University of Oxford, while Dr Stephen Yeo (Principal of Ruskin College) named 47587 Ruskin College Oxford. After the naming ceremony the two immaculate ex-works Network SouthEast liveried locos made there way back to Old Oak Common light engine, from whence they had come a few hours earlier. 47547 & 47587 are pictured leaving the station. The area behind the locos had just been cleared from its previous use as a scrapyard, and was soon to become a car park.

47560 Tamar approaches Daylesford, on the Cotswold Line with the 1B40 16:10 Paddington to Hereford service on 29 March 1987. Very nearly a complete corporate blue rake, save for the one InterCity coach near the rear of the train. Note also the ex-works BG at the head of the formation, complete with red painted springs. Entering traffic in August 1964 as D1610, this loco was always a Western Region machine, prior to its privatised life with DRS. It was renumbered 47031 in 1974 and then 47560 upon ETH conversion in 1980. The name Tamar was applied at Laira in 1982 and was retained even after renumbering to 47832 in 1989. Unfortunately this pleasant rural location has now been largely obscured by lineside vegetation.

47575 has just passed through Cholsey station on 14 April 1984 with the 09:20 Manchester Piccadilly to Poole service, while Class 117 DMU L402 (51335, 59487, & 51377) pulls out of the station with the 12:35 Oxford to Paddington 'all stations' service. It should not have been possible to get both these trains in the same picture, as the 47 should by this time have been running round it's train at Reading prior to departing south for Basingstoke.

47576 Kings Lynn weaves across onto the down platform line at Oxford with the 18:37 Paddington to Oxford Network SouthEast service on 24 July 1990. 155326 waits in the siding on the right (known locally as the West Midland siding) prior to forming the 20:35 train to Worcester Foregate Street. I would think this view would be difficult today, as high security fencing now hinders access to this point, which is next to the emergency level crossing near to the underbridge on Botley Road.

The sheep take no notice of 47590 Thomas Telford as it passes Wanstrow on the freight only Merehead branch with the Hertfordshire Railtours 'Somerset Secret' railtour on 2 July 1988. The 'secret' referred to was that on the first part of the journey between High Wycombe and Paddington a wedding ceremony took place on board. Keith Webb and Carol Bates got married in one of the Pullman coaches. The tour also visited the Whatley nearby Whatley branch.

Under a threatening sky, 47590 Thomas Telford  approaches Dilton Marsh Halt with the Hertfordshire Railtours 'Somerset Secret' railtour on 2 July 1988. The 'secret' referred to was that on the first part of the journey between High Wycombe and Paddington a wedding ceremony took place on board. Keith Webb and Carol Bates got married in one of the Pullman coaches. Although seemingly insignificant, Dilton Marsh Halt is the subject of a poem by John Betjeman: 'Was it worth keeping the Halt open, we thought as we looked at the sky red through the spread of the cedar tree with the evening train gone by? Yes, we said, for in summer the anglers use it, two and sometimes three will bring their catches of rods and poles and perches to Westbury, home for tea.'

47597 rounds the curve from Sleaford North Junction on 24 August 1991 with the 1D20 09:15 Newcastle to Skegness service. This was one of a number of summer Saturday loco-hauled trains that served the east coast resort at the time. Prior to diverging at the junction (by the signal box that can be seen in the background) the train had been traveling south, it is now traveling west, and will soon turn through nearly 180 degrees to join the Nottingham to Skegness line at Sleaford station. It will then of course be heading east towards Skegness!

A freezing cold, misty day with snow lying on the ground sees 47606 Odin passing Baulking with the 3A12 06:50 Milford to Old Oak Common empty newspaper vans. The date is 19 January 1985 and the first bushes have started to appear on the sides of the formerly neatly maintained cutting. Within a few years it would become increasingly difficult to see the site of Uffington station in the background, which is just discernable here in the mist.

47613 North Star darkens the sky as it leaves Kingham with the 17:02 Paddington to Hereford service on 20 May 1987. This is on the double track section of the Cotswold Line between Ascott-under-Wychwood and Moreton-in-Marsh, the rest of the line being single. At this date the track was still pre-war 95lb per yard bullhead rail. The trees on both sides of the line in the middle distance mark the course of the Banbury to Cheltenham line, which used to cross this line, although the bridge was used virtually exclusively by freight traffic, all passenger trains calling at Kingham station, which can just be seen in the distance.

Another scene from the mid 1980s that it would be impossible to recreate now. 47615 Castell Caerffili / Caerphilly Castle passes the Bremell Sidings oil depot near Purton with the 4M31 17:45 Swindon to Longbridge British Leyland car panel train on 2 July 1985. The oil depot is now closed, British Leyland is no more (although the Swindon plant survives under the ownership of BMW), this train no longer runs, and you would very lucky to see a Class 47 on a freight nowadays! Happily though, this actual loco does still survive (as 47747) albeit at present in store.

Possibly one of the finest pictures I have taken on the Cotswold Line. 47620 Windsor Castle passes Evenlode with the 17:05 Paddington to Hereford service on 29 April 1986 in perfect lighting conditions. Although the view from the bridge was certainly acceptable in 1986, mainly because I kept a nuisance willow bush trimmed, I decided to try something different and went in this field instead. The only problem with that choice was the large area of bland sky in the frame. I needn't have worried however, as so often happens just before the train was due clouds started to build up big time, and I was doubtful of getting it sun. Luckily the sun held on long enough to give this excellent view with the threatening sky forming a perfect backdrop.

47620 Windsor Castle passes through a rain soaked Kemble station on 16 March 1989 with the Paddington to Cheltenham 'Tote Credit Gold Cup Special'. Grey skies and intermittent rain lasted all day, and consequently the best place to photograph the three loco hauled race specials was from under the covered footbridge at Kemble, therefore keeping the cameras dry!

47621 Royal County of Berkshire (later renumbered 47839) has just started slowing down for the approach to Moreton-in-Marsh station whilst working the 17:00 Paddington to Hereford service on 18 June 1986. The loco and first half of the train have found a lucky patch of sun, but despite the otherwise clear sky a cloud has appeared from nowhere, with typical bad timing!

47623 Vulcan passes Oxford North Junction with the 1A10 06:00 Hereford to Paddington service on 13 May 1987. Note the random mix of blue / grey and InterCity liveried coaches typical of the period. 47623 is one of a handful of Class 47s that have carried names for virtually their entire career. As D1676 this loco received the name Vulcan at Cardiff when less than a year old, and retained the name when renumbered to 47090, 47623, and later 47843, although for the latter it was 'renamed' at Old Oak Common Open Day in 2000.

47638 County of Kent passes Standish Junction with the F&W Railtours 1Z39 06:55 Crewe to Nantgarw 'Red Dragon' railtour on 11 October 1986. 47638 started life as D1653, becoming 47069 with the introduction of TOPS. After carrying the number 47639 between February 1986 and November 1989, it was then renumbered as 47845. Note the strange coincidence of the 100 milepost and the 100 mph speed restriction sign on the left.

After photographing 47840 light engine at Uffington on 9 February 2007, I nipped round to the next bridge at Baulking to see 47703 Hermes on the 5Z80 11:30 East Ham to Gloucester Blue Pullman ECS. Unfortunately there was even less snow at this location. Note the green signal on the up line, which had just cleared for a Avonmouth to Didcot coal train which could easily have blocked off this shot.

Network SouthEast liveried 47711 County of Hertfordshire was unusual motive power for the 7M53 14:23 Bridgwater to Sellafield nuclear flasks on 11 September 1997.  A Class 37 was more usual motive power with Class 31s being a possibility, but this was certainly different! The final container has just being loaded and the loco will shortly move forward the short distance into Bridgwater station, before running round and then heading north. 47711 was one of the original Scottish push pull conversions, in which guise it was named Greyfriars Bobby. It was later transferred to NSE and worked on the West of England Line and on Paddington to Oxford services, until displaced by units in the early 1990s.

47773 approaches Goring with the Vintage Trains 1Z57 06:26 Birmingham Moor Street to Portsmouth Harbour 'Pompey Vectis Explorer' railtour on 12 April 2008. Not only did this run unexpectedly on the relief line, resulting a very head on picture, but also the lighting was the worst of all possible combinations - sun out in the background, but not on the train. Not a very good picture, but included for the novelty of seeing a two tone green 47 with TDM cables on the front! Hidden on the rear of this train is 37248.

The hawthorn is in blossom as 47773 (D1755) slowly approaches Oxford with the Vintage Trains 1Z44 06:26 Birmingham Moor Street to Weymouth 'Purbeck & Weymouth Explorer' railtour on 10 May 2008. 50049 Defiance can just be seen on the rear of the train. As the train was running a few minutes early, it was approaching a red signal, as the 08:30 Oxford to Paddington First Great Western 'Turbo' unit had only just pulled into the station from the carriage sidings. Although the sun came out later, unfortunately the day started with very dull and misty conditions.

47787 approaches Linlithgow with the Royal Scotsman 1H85 13:32 Edinburgh to Spean Bridge 'Western Tour' on 5 October 2007. The West Coast Railways loco is one of a number of locos painted maroon to match the Royal Scotsman stock, which is surely much more fitting for this prestige train than the EWS liveried locos that operated it a few years ago. Both Forth Bridges can just be seen in the background.

47787 accelerates away from Bo'Ness Junction and passes Lathallan with the Royal Scotsman 1H85 13:32 Edinburgh to Spean Bridge 'Western Tour' on 5 October 2007. The train had waited in the loop at Bo'Ness Junction for 35 minutes, enabling me to easily get this second picture after seeing it at Linlithgow.

47787 passes Fort William Junction on 6 October 2007 with the Royal Scotsman 1H86 08:23 Spean Bridge to Fort William 'Western Tour'. It was still virtually dark and drizzling with rain, requiring ISO1600 for this picture, in complete contrast to the previous day's sunshine!

47790 worked the 6Z50 08:00 York Works to Reading RHTT tanks on 14 November 2007. It was fairly sunny when I set out, so I decided to go to the footpath crossing near Kings Sutton, which would be one of the few locations between Banbury and Oxford that would be clear of shadows. Of course what happens when the train turned up (half an hour early), a cloud passes in front of the sun at the crucial moment! Although the roadbridge in the background was in partial sun, the foreground definitely wasn't. Normally exposing for the train would have resulted in a completely burnt out sky, so the whole scene was underexposed and with the magic of Photoshop layers the result was corrected, although I resisted the temptation to give it the artificial sun look!

With frost on the ballast and trackside brambles and the last of the autumn leaves on the trees, 47802 passes Compton Beauchamp (between Didcot and Swindon) with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z52 07:33 Paddington to Ludlow 'Ludlow Castle Medieval Christmas Fayre' railtour on 24 November 2007. 47832 can be seen on the rear of the train. The day started with some sunshine, so I decided to go to the spot near the site of Knighton Crossing, which is ideal with the sun out. Naturally, as soon a I stopped the car, the sun went in, so I got straight back in the car and went to this spot instead, which in the autumn and winter is only suitable with the sun in!

Running an hour late, 47802 leads the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z55 07:24 Tonbridge to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Worcester Christmas Fayre' Railtour past Uffington on 1 December 2007, with 47790 on the rear. Five different liveries in an eleven coach rake must be something of a record! When I was notified that the tour had passed Denchworth the sun was behind a cloud and it seemed it was touch an go as to weather it would be sunny, as there was a bank of clouds near the horizon. Luckily just before the train arrived, the sun slowly broke through. The hour's delay also meant that the sun was now fully on the nose - a perfect result!

47804 passes Usan signal box with the 1H79 13:27 Edinburgh to Keith 'Royal Scotsman' luxury train on 5 May 2008. This train was running 14 minutes late, having been delayed by the preceding National Express East Coast HST service and then the 16:41 Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street service, which it had to wait to clear the single line section which is just about to enter. This is day one of a five day land cruise that takes in Kyle of Lochalsh, Boat of Garten and Dundee.

On 13 February 2008, 47805 Talisman worked the 5Z91 11:15 Derby Litchurch Lane to Laira stock move conveying refurbished First Great Western Mk3 HST coaches 41017, 41018, 42202, 42003, 42284, 42285, 44036, 40210, 40205, sandwiched between barrier vehicles 6348 & 6338. Even though it had pulled out of Ashchurch loop two miles previously, it still had full power applied and was clagging well as it passed Tredington running virtually to time. I thought this picture was going to be a write off, as despite it being sunny virtually all the way there, this location was enveloped in thick fog when I arrived, but luckily the sun soon got to work and burnt off the mist in plenty of time!

47810 Porterbrook is pictured near Mortimer (between Basingstoke and Reading) with the 1S49 06:36 Poole to Edinburgh Virgin Cross Country service on 28 July 2001. There wasn't much waiting around here, as I had only just crossed the line via the footpath crossing, when I could see the train coming. So total standing around time at this location, less than a minute!

47812 passes Broken Cross (between Gloucester and Lydney) with the 08:03 Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff football special on 29 February 2004. After not having much luck with the sun for the preceding  07:22 Bolton to Cardiff special hauled by 57601, a brief burst of sunshine provides perfect illumination here. However it was only just in time, as the black clouds were rolling in fast. Note that the field in the background is already partly in shade. The loco is in Virgin Cross Country livery, with the branding painted out and a small Freightliner logo applied under the cab window. 

47812 (showing its original pre TOPS number D1961) takes the Swindon line at Standish Junction with the 5Z65 15:30 Cardiff Canton to Old Oak Common empty coaching stock on 10 September 2006. The train was routed the long way around via Gloucester as the Severn Tunnel was closed. Unbelievably, given the fact that there are only a few locations where the sun would be on the nose for this train, there were no other photographers on this bridge! The train was held at signals just after passing me, as it was right behind the late running diverted 14:30 Swansea to Paddington HST. Five different coaching stock liveries in a ten coach train must be something of a record!

I do not often bother with going away shots, but in this instance it was worth it. 47812 brings up the rear of the 1Z51 12:35 Cardiff to Gloucester rugby special at Snipehill Bridge, near Chepstow on 17 March 2007. These Cardiff to Gloucester trains and another series of Cardiff to Swansea specials were run in connection with the Six Nations Wales versus England match at the Millennium Stadium.

47812 passes Wye Valley Junction with the 2Z59 13:58 Gloucester to Cardiff rugby special on 17 March 2007. The disused Wye Valley Branch (latterly cut back to Tidenham Quarry) can be seen climbing steeply away from the main line. The track although heavily overgrown still remains in situ, and even the connecting point blades and signal are still in place, despite the point crossing being replaced by plain rail. Infuriatingly, although it was mostly sunny, small clouds kept appearing, and one has caught the sun here taking the edge of what would have been a perfect shot.

On 21 August 2006, another rake of off lease stock was moved from Oxley to Long Marston for secure storage. 5Z87 08:20 Oxley to Long Marston is pictured arriving at its destination hauled by 47813 John Peel , with 47828 Joe Strummer dead in tow. Behind them are 87023 & 87003, followed by eleven Mk3 coaches, including a recently refurbished buffet car and a First Great Western sleeper. The shear lunacy of the privatised railways is brought into focus by scenes such as this. Passengers are forced to put up with short, cramped, inferior trains, while high quality rolling stock such as this is stored. This is not an isolated example, Long Marston is full of complete rakes of stock, some freshly refurbished.

In warm autumnal evening light, 47813 John Peel approaches Shrivenham with the 5Z47 14:00 Oxley to Gloucester empty stock working, conveying two Virgin liveried Mk 3 coaches. This train had to go the long way round via Oxford as there were engineering works between Cheltenham and Gloucester. Despite it being a largely sunny day, a large cloud was obscuring the sun when the train was due, and the sun only broke through as the 47 appeared under the footbridge in the background. Had it been a just few seconds earlier it would have been a very different picture! I had popped out specifically for this one train, after I had heard that it had passed Banbury.

47813 John Peel waits at Honeybourne for the passage of 165112 with the 13:25 Oxford to Worcester Foregate Street First Great Western service on 1 November 2006. The 47 has just traversed the single track branch from Long Marston with the 6Z48 12:00 Long Marston to Bescot stock move, running nearly two hours late. The loco had worked up the branch in the morning with a much lengthier train of the same type of IZA wagons. A bizarre situation, where wagons go into and out of store on a weekly basis! Given the limited number of locations that would be relatively free of shadows, I was surprised that I was the only person at Honeybourne to witness this train coming off the branch.

A very unusual working on the Cotswold Line took place on 5 May 2007 when 47813 John Peel worked the 1Z87 18:44 Oxford to Moreton-in-Marsh special with classmate 47818 on the rear. The train was in connection with a 'Street Gig' taking place at Charlbury featuring the group Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly (aka Sam Duckworth). An inspired choice of locomotive, as the late John Peel would certainly have championed such an event. The empty stock originated from East Ham, and would return there via Bristol, and as the passengers all got out at Charlbury, this must rank as one of the highest mileage ECS movements in relation to the minimal passenger mileage (131/4 miles in each direction) in recent years! The train is pictured having just passed the site of the former Yarnton Junction station. Thanks to David for the event gen.

Very much a grab shot, but an interesting passing picture at Kemble on 1 September 2007. While D1015 Western Champion waits for the correct departure time with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z52 05:35 Ealing Broadway to Aberystwyth 'Alliance Cambrian Coast Express' railtour, 47813 John Peel speeds through with the 5Z70 06:30 Gloucester Horton Road to Old Oak Common stock move conveying First Great Western HST power car 43140. The railtour had arrived a couple of minutes early, and I was making my way down the platform to witness the departure, when the 47 unexpectedly came into view. I particularly like the reflection of 47813's front end on the side of the 'Western'.

To mark the end of Class 47s in front line service, First Great Western ran a special train from Paddington to Plymouth on 11 December 2004.  47815 Abertawe Landore is pictured passing Langley Burrell with the 1Z30 07:18 Paddington to Penance, with 47811 dead in tow on the rear. Due to an AWS fault on 47815, the train was worked forward from Plymouth by 47811. Many locations were in dense fog this morning, and I did well here to get a bit of weak winter sunshine, contrasting well with the misty background. This is only half an hour after sunrise, but the fog soon rolled back in again, and by all accounts very few photographers got this train in as good as light as this.

47815 Abertawe Landore approaches Kears Wood near Lydney with the 1Z50 09:35 Cardiff to Gloucester rugby special on 17 March 2007. Classmate 47812 was on the rear. A bizarre mix of the 1960s and the 21st century, with a pair of two tone green 47s on turquoise Arriva Mk 2 coaches. Naturally the sun was out just a few minutes before the train came into view!

47815 Abertawe Landore powers away from Chepstow with the 1Z51 12:35 Cardiff to Gloucester rugby special on 17 March 2007. The bridges in view here are the Mead Farm occupation bridge, Wye Valley Junction bridge, and the short tunnel under the A48 Tutshill bypass. The location is Snipehill Bridge.

The sole remaining Class 47 in Intercity livery, 47826 Springburn passes through Croome Perry Wood with the 5Z01 12:05 Carnforth Steamtown to Bristol Temple Meads inspection saloon on 16 August 2006, running 68 minutes early! It had just been raining, and the air was so still I could hear the level crossing siren at Pirton Crossing nearly a mile away as the train approached. From this spot you can also see for several miles along the long straight towards Abbotswood, although here it is blotted out by the result of 47826's rapid acceleration away from a PW slack.

47828 Joe Strummer & 47813 John Peel provided super power for the Heartland Tours 1Z47 10:29 Gloucester to Westbury 'Festive Mystery Tour' on 16 December 2006. With a load of just five Mk 3 coaches (Virgin, Cotswold Rail, & First Great Western liveries) the tour is seen here passing Naas Crossing at Quedgeley at speed, perhaps trying to make up for the twenty minute late departure. The locos have certainly tried darkening the sky with their exhausts as they opened up a few moments before I took this picture! This once completely open location now has a couple of ash trees causing foreground shadows, hence the use of a 200mm lens.

47828 Joe Strummer & 47813 John Peel pass Shrivenham with the Heartland Tours 1Z47 10:29 Gloucester to Westbury 'Festive Mystery Tour' on 16 December 2006. The tour had traveled via Bath, Newbury and Reading, and would later return to Gloucester via Bath. Having caught up a little time, the tour was now only ten minutes late.

On 19 August 2002, Virgin Cross Country ran their final loco hauled train, prior to total Voyager operation. 47840 North Star (renumbered 47077 for the day) & 47847 Railway World Magazine / Brian Morrison pass Silverton with the 1M56 08:46 Penzance to Manchester Piccadilly service. The headboard reads 'Cross Country Locomotive Farewell'. This was probably about the furthest north that anyone got a picture of this train in the sun, and its only just out here! Even further south there were only a few lucky spots for the sun, so for once I went to the right location!

I felt I could not let the heavy snowfalls on 8 & 9 February 2007 pass without at least some photographic record, but unfortunately once the roads were clear enough to travel the snow was already melting. The sheer dullness of the present day scene is exemplified by the fact that I went out for a blue light engine 47, unthinkable even a few years ago! 47840 North Star passes Uffington with the 0Z77 08:00 Crewe Basford Hall to Old Oak Common, via Hereford, Worcester and Bristol Parkway. Note the forlorn leaning former up loop signal which now has no track to control after the lifting of the loops here a few years ago. When I last checked it was however still illuminated!

On 6 March 2007, In superb crisp early spring sunshine, 47840 North Star passes Badgeworth with the 5Z47 09:30 Derby to Laira empty stock move, conveying a recently refurbished Mk 3 HST set (allegedly 40901, 40904, 44055, 42305, 42304, 42303, 42066, 41160, & 41086, although I did not note the numbers!). The striking new First Great Western livery contrasts markedly with the 'fag packet' livery of the two barrier vehicles. Already running late, this train had sat in the loop at Ashchurch to let several trains past, consequently it was 75 minutes late here.

Running 55 minutes early, 47840 North Star approaches Kintbury with the 5F70 12:08 Laira to Old Oak Common stock move on 2 April 2007, conveying Mk 2 barrier coaches 6427 & 9488, with HST power car 43010 bringing up the rear. Pending its entry into preservation this loco sees a lot of use on such stock transfers.

47840 North Star & 47828 Joe Strummer pass through Croome Perry Wood in the rain on 28 May 2007 with the Heartland Rail 1Z47 08:10 Derby to Minehead railtour taking 47840 to its new home on the West Somerset Railway. It had been repainted into original two tone green a few days earlier and also had its original pre TOPS number D1661 applied. This would be the final main line run for 47840, which as 47077 was one of the earliest Class 47s to be named, in March 1965. 45112 can just be seen on the rear of the six coach train, which incidentally is made up of three different liveries!

47843 Vulcan slowly pulls out of the sidings at Thoresby Colliery Junction with inspection saloon 999506 on 21 February 2007. Running as 2Z02 13:01 Sheffield to Derby, It was touring the Nottinghamshire freight lines, and had just spent 45 minutes parked just out of view behind the signalbox. Thoresby Colliery box is an LNER design and dates from 1926. I was very fortunate with the light here, as a generally dull day had cleared shortly before the 47 was due to leave, only for the sun to sink into a bank of cloud in the west, but luckily not until a few minutes after this picture was taken

47845 County of Kent rejoins the Gainsborough to Retford mainline after completing a circuit of West Burton Power Station with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z36 05:33 Salisbury to Deepcar 'Cottam Picker' railtour on 28 November 1992. Unfortunately the tour did not visit the nearby Cottam Power Station, as planned, so despite the headboard the tour was re-christened 'Gone For A Burton'! The tour also visited Oxcroft (but not as far as the colliery due to a line blockage), Deepcar and Silverhill Colliery.

47847 lays down some clag as it climbs the grade out of the Severn Tunnel and passes through Pilning station with the Cardiff to Kensington Olympia football special on Sunday 7 August 2005. This was one of two trains run in connection with the Chelsea versus Arsenal Community Shield match at the Millennium Stadium. A nice golden glint, but it was getting very difficult to shade the lens, with the sun almost directly behind the train!

The prospect of a couple of Class 47 hauled railtours passing through Cheltenham within a couple of hours on 28 April 2007, plus the perfect weather conditions was too good an opportunity to miss. The Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z30 05:55 Minehead to York 'Eternal City of York' tour was hauled by 47847 & 47815 Abertawe Landore, seen here at Up Hatherley on the outskirts of Cheltenham. This location was selected as it is one of the few spots in the area where the sun is on the front for a northbound train at this time in the morning.

In perfect low winter sunshine, 47847 rounds the curve at Wolvercote Junction (near Oxford) with the 5Z47 10:00 York to Old Oak Common ECS on 10 December 2007. The stock had  been used on the previous day's York to Lincoln railtour, when 47847 worked top'n'tail with LMS 5MT 4-6-0 45407. Note the mismatched patch painting on the loco! The line diverging to the left in this picture is the Cotswold Line, which since 1971 has been single track as far as Ascott-under-Wychwood.

As I was already in the area it seemed a pity not to photograph 47847 with the 5Z47 08:54 Doncaster to Long Marston on 22 January 2008, despite the dull conditions. It occurred to me that the location at Offenham (near Evesham) would be ideal, as the view is from the north side of the line (therefore hopeless if the sun is out), and the short visible gap would ideally suit this three coach train. With Evesham Abbey in the background, and in atrocious light, 47847 puts on the power hauling former GNER Mk3 buffet 40811 sandwiched between barrier vehicles 6344 & 6346. Note that the coach is in the intermediate livery with a white stripe and the GNER branding replaced by National Express East Coast wording - certainly a first for the Cotswold Line!

Shrivenham is the location here, chosen as it would be one of the least backlit spots on the Great Western Mainline between Didcot and Swindon for the 1Z29 07:15 Paddington to Plymouth 'Devonian' railtour on 7 October 2006. Even so, the sun is still well behind the train as 47851 (D1648) Traction Magazine heads west, prior to handing over the tour to LMS 4-6-2 No.46201 Princess Elizabeth at Taunton. 47826 Springburn can just be seen on the rear of the train.

47851 (D1648) Traction Magazine approaches Cheltenham with the Green Express Railtours 1Z79 06:28 Skipton to Bath 'Georgian Bath Explorer' railtour on 28 April 2007, with 47245 hidden by the bushes on the rear of the train. I little thought that when I photographed 47853 at the same location two weeks previously that I would be back so soon! Unfortunately several potential locations that I investigated in the Cheltenham area were either overgrown or not ideal with regard to the angle of the sun. However, it is interesting to note the change in the vegetation in just two weeks.

47853 rounds the curve at Yate on 6 August 1998 with the 1M31 15:55 Plymouth to Manchester Piccadilly Virgin Cross Country service, proving that even as late as 1998 it was still possible to see a complete train made up of InterCity liveried vehicles. The local farmer is obviously taking no chances and has used sheets of corrugated iron to prevent his stock escaping onto the railway.

After nearly a month of dull weather, 23 January 2007 dawned clear and bright, so a trip was made to Evesham to see 47853 Rail Express on the 5Z59 07:30 Chaddesden to Long Marston, conveying four Mk 2 coaches for storage. With a touch of frost on the sleepers and Evesham's austere signal box in view the train is pictured slowing for the token exchange, which now takes place on the station platform.

After working in to Long Marston with four coaches for storage, 47853 Rail Express was booked to take out a rake of wagons as 5Z59 12:35 Long Marston to Chaddesden on 23 January 2007. Initially it looked like just four wagons would be leaving. Then the shunter seen standing on the right added a long rake to the rear of the initial four, and then spent over an hour shunting a couple of wagons out of the middle of the rake! In the end half the train was left behind (seen in the distance). Typically all this happened in full sun, only for the light to dip when the train left. 

47853 Rail Express is pictured passing Broad Marston with the 5Z59 12:35 Long Marston to Chaddesden on 23 January 2007. After protracted shunting at Long Marston, this was running 80 minutes late. After a disappointing picture of the train leaving Long Marston due to the head on angle of the sun, and the fact that it was partly obscured by cloud, a much better picture was to be had here, less than a mile from the depot on the single track freight only branch towards Honeybourne. This locomotive is finished in the XP64 experimental livery that it previously carried in the 1960s, as a forerunner to the corporate blue livery.

47853 Rail Express is pictured here at Honeybourne waiting to gain access to the Cotswold Line seen on the right, with the 5Z59 12:35 Long Marston to Chaddesden working conveying a rake of wagons removed from storage on 23 January 2007. The long lens used here has flattened the perspective, emphasizing the Cotswold Hills in the background.

47853 Rail Express rejoins the Cotswold Line at Honeybourne with the 5Z59 12:35 Long Marston to Chaddesden working conveying a rake of wagons removed from storage on 23 January 2007. Protracted shunting at Long Marston had resulted in some wagons being left behind, presumably due to brake problems, and yet at least two of these wagons were running with their brakes isolated.

47853 Rail Express approaches Cheltenham with the Compass Tours 1Z41 05:59 Preston to Minehead 'West Somerset Express' railtour on 14 April 2007, running 35 minutes late. Here we see two obsolete blue liveries. The loco is painted in XP64 chromatic blue, the forerunner of the BR corporate blue livery that dominated the railways in the 1970s, while the coaches (apart from the two Virgin liveried vehicles half way down the rake) are in the now superceded Anglia Railways turquoise livery. 47847 is on the rear of the train, just hidden by the bushes.

47854 Women's Royal Voluntary Service leaves Basingstoke with the 1S39 09:05 Poole to Glasgow Virgin Cross Country service on 30 August 1998. The train is on the line to Reading, while the main London to West of England line is behind the bushes to the left. The two road bridges are a short distance apart, which has entailed many a mad dash from one to the other whilst photographing at this location!

In superb low winter sunshine, 47854 rounds the curve into Aber station (near Caerphilly) with the 1Z41 14:15 Rhymney to Cardiff Central service on 4 December 2005. This was one of a number of special loco hauled services over the line to mark the impeding end of the Class 37 haulage over the route. The train is just crossing over the Caerphilly to Nantgarw road.

The grey clouds hang over the mountains as 47854 passes Dalnacardoch with the Royal Scotsman 1H82 14:29 Kingussie to Perth portion of the 5 day 'Classic' tour on 10 June 2007. This is a railtour with a difference as each person has paid £3080 for the luxury experience! Although only a short distance from the busy A9, Dalnacardoch feels like the middle of nowhere, with the only buildings visible being Dalnacardoch Lodge (the white building in the distance), and the derelict signal box on the other side of the bridge. The principal traffic over the roadbridge are sheep moving from one field to another!

For a short period during 1988/9 the erstwhile 47561 was renumbered into the departmental series as 97561, before becoming 47973. During this time it was repainted into Midland Counties Railway red livery and named Midland Counties Railway 150 1839-1989 in connection with that railway's anniversary. A week after naming, it is pictured taking the Swindon line at Standish Junction with the BR East Midlands Area 1Z16 07:45 Derby to Bristol 'Avonian' railtour on 30 May 1989.