50031 Hood passes Puriton on 2 July 1990 with the 6C55 14:37 Bristol East to Taunton Riverside departmental working. The unmistakable landmark of Brent Knoll can be seen in the background, and if you look carefully in the bushes between the hill and the Class 50, the rusting remains of the branch line serving the MoD depot at Puriton can just be seen. This line has since been lifted. The junction with the mainline can also just be seen in the background. It is probably just as well that this working no longer operates with Class 50s, as I would cover an awful lot of mileage traveling down to this line every available sunny day!

50031 Hood passes Flax Bourton with the 6C55 14:37 Bristol East to Taunton Riverside departmental working on 21 September 1990. This loco had been a regular around the Oxford area until May 1990, latterly in the NWRA Network SouthEast pool. After eight months working on undemanding engineers jobs such as the one pictured whilst in the DCWA pool, it was to finish its career back with NSE, this time in the NWXA West of England pool. Even then it always seemed to appear when I was out photographing on that line, so it was almost a case of 'Oh no, not 31 again!'

50031 Hood is pictured at Kidderminster on the Severn Valley Railway on 6 August 1994 while GWR 2-6-0 7325 leaves the station with the 10:25 service to Bridgnorth. Hood is parked on the connecting line that leads to the Railtrack (as it was then) main line, which can be seen on the right. At this time the loco was painted in the variation of 'large logo' livery with a blue roof, which during the class's main line career was only ever carried by 50010 for a short while during 1983.

Viewed from the other side of the valley, 50031 Hood passes Brithdir with the 1Z10 09:55 Rhymney to Treherbert service on Sunday 9 August 1998. Cardiff Railways ran these additional services on three weekends to tap into the heritage traction enthusiast market. Numerous vantage points were available along the valley, but I chose this spot to place the train directly below this distinctive group of houses, with a telephoto lens used to bring up the mountain in the background.

I doubt if you will see many pictures taken from this location, and no I didn't arrange to have all the trees cut down to open up the view! It requires a long walk from the nearest road to get to this spot near Urchfont (between Westbury and Pewsey) and it is only of any use late in the afternoon and is even then backlit. However, on 13 April 2002 that hardly mattered as it was a very dull day, although there must be some light in the sky to the west to highlight the loco and coach roofs. 50031 & 50049 (running without names as 431 & 449) head east with the 1Z92 16:40 Westbury to Paddington railtour. This was in connection with a steam hauled Birmingham to Paddington railtour.

50031 Hood rounds the curve at Cheney Longville, on the approach to Craven Arms with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z50 11:05 Gloucester to Worcester via Shrewsbury and Hereford 'Christmas Diner' railtour on 16 December 2003. Hardly a railtour in the normal meaning of the word, as apart from pathing stops it didn't stop anywhere. As the name suggests it was purely a chance to enjoy a meal and watch the scenery go by!

With what seemed like all the chasing photographers crammed on the rock outcrop overlooking Loch Nan Uamh Viaduct, 50031 Hood catches a little sun during a shower of rain as it returns from Mallaig to Fort William with the Pathfinder Tours 'Monarch of the Glen' railtour on 5 March 2005. Note the rainbow in the top right corner of the picture. The tour was now running as the 1Z23, originally booked to leave Mallaig at 12:36, but now retimed to 13:27 due to the delays earlier in the day.

50031 Hood rounds the curve between Loch Eilt and Glenfinnan with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z23 'Monarch of the Glen' railtour on 5 March 2005, with 50049 Defiance on the rear. Luckily the road closely follows the line here, and various excellent vantage points can be had with only a short walk from the car, which is ideal when chasing a railtour! This spot is particularly good, as the sharp curve means the rear loco can clearly be seen.

50031 Hood passes Lochyside, on the approach to Fort William with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z23 'Monarch of the Glen' railtour on 5 March 2005, returning from Mallaig. Although a little brighter here, the sun was only out for short periods during the day, and usually while waiting for the train, rather than when it was actually in view!

Catching the very last rays of the setting sun at 17:40 on 6 March 2005, 50031 Hood powers past Murie (between Dundee and Perth) with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z24 10:30 Fort William to Dalmuir 'Monarch of the Glen' railtour. Not a particularly inspiring location, but with the sun at such a low angle the main criteria was finding somewhere that wouldn't be completely in shade.

I don't often bother with going away shots, but the snaking curves and changing camber of the train in this case makes a particularly interesting picture. 50031 Hood brings up the rear of the  Pathfinder Tours 1Z27 05:58 Cardiff Central to Redmire 'Redmire Rambler' railtour on 25 March 2006, as it passes Harmby on the Wensleydale Railway. 50049 Defiance can just be seen at the front of the train heading for Redmire.

50031 Hood is pictured near the quaintly named village of Ainderby Steeple on the little used Leeming Bar to Northallerton section of the Wensleydale Railway with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z28 14:20 Redmire to Cardiff Central 'Redmire Rambler' railtour on 25 March 2006. Note the vintage milepost and the poor state of the track (some sleepers had virtually rotted away).

My first chosen location for the Pathfinder Tours mammoth Scottish Class 50 'Orcadian' railtour of 2006 was the small farm bridge between Blackford and Gleneagles, which considering it is an excellent location within easy reach of the A9 (seen here in the background), I assumed would be heaving with photographers. Not so! I was the only person here to witness the passage of 50031 & 50049 (masquerading as scrapped 50028 Tiger & 50012 Benbow respectively). This was Friday 16 June 2006, and at this point the train was running as 1Z27 06:40 Swindon to Inverness.

After over a two hour break in Perth, 50031 Hood & 50049 Defiance with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z27 06:40 Swindon to Inverness 'Orcadian' railtour approach Pitlochry on 16 June 2006. As it does for much of the way between Perth and Inverness, the railway runs close to the A9 here. A long lens was used here to bring up the hills in the background, and to be honest to clear an awkward bush in the foreground! Just before the train came the late evening sun came out, and as can be seen there is nothing on the right side of the line to cast shadows. Unfortunately I wasn't that lucky, and the only sun when it came was on the trees in the background.

The marker lights in the former headcode box give an indication as to how dark it is, as the Pathfinder Tours 1Z27 06:40 Swindon to Inverness 'Orcadian' railtour passes Slochd on 16 June 2006. At not far short of 22:00, even in Scotland it was virtually dark, necessitating an exposure of 1/500sec f2.5 at ISO1600. In the previous couple of hours the 50s had tackled two of the most fearsome gradients on the national network, the over six miles of continuous 1 in 70 to Drumochter Summit, followed by the 1 in 60 and 1in 70 climb to Slochd Summit.

The avalanche shelter near Attadale looked to be a good vantage point to see the Pathfinder Tours 1Z19 18:00 Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness 'Orcadian' railtour on 17 June 2006. Unfortunately I couldn't see any way to climb up onto the top of it, so had to resort to this slightly lower vantage point half way up the bank on the approach to the shelter. 50031 Hood winds along between the A890 (yes, that really is a main road!) and Loch Carron, with Bad a Chreamha in the background. 50049 can just be seen on the rear of the train. Although by this time it had stopped raining, there was no prospect of the sun coming out.

The landscape at the top of Scotland is surprisingly featureless, and there are very few good locations between Wick and Georgemas Junction. 50031 Hood crosses the low embankment near the head of Loch Watten at Quoynee with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z21 13:15 Wick to Thurso section of the 'Orcadian' railtour on 18 June 2006. There was almost a little sun here before the train came, but the grey clouds are a portent of the heavy rain that was to follow shortly.

50031 & 50049 (masquerading as long scrapped 50028 Tiger and 50012 Benbow respectively) cross Slochd Viaduct with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z23 08:15 Inverness to Swindon 'Orcadian' railtour on 19 June 2006. The weather was miserable, but at least the thick fog that I encountered on the A9 south of Inverness was beginning to lift a little. Note the Highland Stag emblems on the cab side of each loco.

Even allowing for the poor weather conditions, I was surprised I was the only person at this spot near Drumochter to witness 50031 Hood & 50049 Defiance pass with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z23 08:15 Inverness to Swindon 'Orcadian' railtour on 19 June 2006. Considering the location is a lay-by next to the A9, allowing chasing photographers to just stand next to their car to take the shot, I would have thought someone would be there!

Gleneagles station is a very grand design considering its remote location. Previously accustomed to wealthy patronage in connection with the world famous golf course, and formerly a junction for the Crieff branch (note the old platform on the left), it now sees very little use, but still retains all its original fittings. On 19 June 2006, 50031 Hood & 50049 Defiance speed through with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z23 08:15 Inverness to Swindon 'Orcadian' railtour.

Not a particularly good picture, but my only one showing 50032 Courageous in unrefurbished condition. It is pictured approaching Circourt Bridge, Denchworth with the 09:10 Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington service on 20 October 1979. Whereas most railway locations tend to get more grown up over time, the reverse has happened here. Note the bushes on the left, which like the still extant ones on the right were situated next to shallow ponds, which presumably were excavated to provide material for the bridge embankments. The pond on the left has long since been filled in and the bushes removed. Note also the abundance of mainly dead elm trees in the distance.

50032 Courageous takes a break from front line passenger work on 28 July 1983, when it works what is presumably the 6A50 13:56 Bicester to Morris Cowley Speedlink trip, seen here passing Hinksey Yard, near Oxford. I say presumably because 31233 which can be seen in the distance is also a likely candidate for that working! This was certainly a busy five minutes for freight traffic, as the 31 which is in the up loop was surprisingly let out in front of 56070 on a MGR coal train for Didcot Power Station which can just be seen standing on the up main line in the background. This then followed directly behind the 31. This kind of activity (to say nothing of traction variety!) would be unheard of today.

50032 Courageous rounds the curve at Wolfhall on 2 July 1985 with the 13:40 Paddington to Penzance service. Note the embankment of the former Midland & South Western Junction Railway (closed inn 1961) which crossed over the Great Western main line at this point. There was formerly a pair of junctions here, allowing traffic to head south over the MSWJR from either direction off the GWR line, a facility that was used extensively during the Second World War.

50032 Courageous is still wearing the original version of Network SouthEast livery, albeit in extremely scruffy condition as it passes Willand with the 6C55 Bristol East to Exeter Riverside departmental working on 1 August 1990. At the time It was the only member of the DCWA fleet to wear this inappropriate livery. Just beyond the bridge in the background is the site of Tiverton Junction, where the branches from Tiverton and Hemyock joined the main line. The station remained open after the branch lines closed but was finally closed in 1986 and replaced by new station a few miles to the north close to the M5 called Tiverton Parkway.

The setting sun gives a golden glow to 50033 Glorious as it passes Claydon with the 1V90 14:15 Edinburgh to Cardiff Central service on 1 July 1986. The 50 would have taken over from an electric loco at Birmingham New Street, and as is often the case with these long distance trains, was running 35 minutes late at this point.

50033 Glorious accelerates away from Ascott-under-Wychwood with the very last up loco-hauled 1A18 07:00 Hereford to Paddington 'Cathedrals Express' service. The date is Saturday 9 May 1987, and HSTs took over the service on the following Monday. The train is gaining speed after coming off the double track section of the Cotswold Line, which finishes by the signal box and level crossing which can just be seen in the background.

50033 Glorious passes St Dennis Junction en-route to Newquay with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z37 00:30 Manchester Piccadilly to Newquay 'Valiant Thunderer' railtour on 23 November 1991. The sidings on the right are the truncated remains of the Meledor Mill branch. Out of sight round the corner in the gorse of Tregoss Moor, 50015 Valiant & 50008 Thunderer were on the rear of the train (hence the tour's name).

In typical Settle & Carlisle weather, with the clouds hanging low over the fells, 433 (50033) & 400 (50050) cross Smardale Viaduct with the 1Z42 Class 40 Appeal 06:58 Birmingham New Street to Glasgow Central 'Midland Scotsman' railtour on 2 February 1994. This was one of numerous Class 50 hauled railtours in early 1994, just before the class was finally withdrawn from traffic.

50034 Furious is surrounded by Cotswold dry stone walls as it passes Coates (between Stroud and Kemble) with the 09:15 Gloucester to Swindon parcels on 30 April 1983. Despite the line having been converted to colour light signalling many years before, the steam age telegraph poles still survived into the 1980s at this location.

In superb late afternoon lighting, 50034 Furious speeds underneath the road bridge at Evenlode with the 16:10 Paddington to Hereford Network SouthEast service on 5 April 1987. 50034 was an early recipient of the original Network SouthEast livery, but this was my first sighting of it in its new colour scheme. It retained this livery until the autumn of 1989 when inevitably it was repainted into the somewhat less flamboyant revised NSE colours. Evenlode was one of my favourite Cotswold Line locations in the1980s, with good views from the bridge and the nearby fields. Unfortunately most of these viewpoints have now been lost due to uncontrolled tree growth.

In dull foggy autumnal conditions that were so bad that it was only just about possible to take the picture on Kodachrome 200 (hence the poor quality!), 50034 Furious & 50035 Ark Royal approach Woodborough at high speed with the 08:25 Paddington to Newquay special on 4 October 1987. This advertised was the final local hauled train to Newquay, as track rationalisation would later remove the passing loop. Amazingly two 'ordinary' passengers had boarded this train by mistake at Reading thinking it was going to Paddington! They therefore ended up traveling from Reading to Paddington via Exeter! It was certainly a weekend for taking pictures of railtours in poor light, as the previous day's Class 45 tour also ran in poor conditions.

In sub zero conditions, 50035 Ark Royal passes under the signal gantry at Hinksey North, as it accelerates away from Oxford with the 1F33 13:00 Oxford to Paddington Network SouthEast service on 17 January 1987. Despite the terrible weather conditions there appears to be a Class 50 basher risking frostbite by hanging out of the window of the leading Mk 1 coach to enjoy the sound. Just standing around waiting for the train to appear was bad enough, I certainly wouldn't want to be leaning out of an open window once the train got up to speed! Despite the snow lying on the ground acting as a reflector, the light level was very low, as indicated by how bright the marker lights in the former headcode box are.

50035 Ark Royal weaves through Harbury cutting with the 10:10 Birmingham New Street to Paddington service on 25 April 1987. It was a fine warm day, but as it typical with settled high pressure, it was very hazy with a very flat look to the lighting. At least the original Network SouthEast livery on 50035 is in clean condition and adds a spot of colour to the otherwise drab scene.