I doubt if you will see many pictures taken at this location. 58002 Daw Mill Colliery passes the derelict remains of Shipton-on-Cherwell Cement Works with the 7M28 19:00 Hinksey to Bescot departmental working on 30 July 1999. It was one of those balmy summer evenings when the sun gets progressively weaker as it merges into high cloud, and although there is still a trace of light on the old silos, the light had virtually gone by the time the 58 came into view. Note that the locos still carries the '1Z58 The Worksop Aberdonian' wording on the front from the railtour that took place over two years before!

58006 passes Thrupp (between Banbury and Oxford) with the 7V44 09:34 Three Spires Junction to Didcot Power Station MGR coal train on 25 April 1986. Although difficult to tell from this picture, the cement works at Shipton-on-Cherwell was still in use at this time, but closed shortly afterwards and has lain derelict for many years, although most of the buildings and the landmark chimney still stands. The bushes on the right have grown considerably, making this view impossible today. Rather than coal from British pits being hauled by a British built loco to Didcot Power Station, nowadays imported coal is transported from Avonmouth Docks by foreign built locos!

58009 passes Cossington with the 6M46 15:35 Fletton to Ratcliffe Power Station flyash empties on 1 June 1985. The disposal of power station ash from both Ratcliffe and West Burton to the former brick pits at Fletton, near Peterborough, for many years used these rakes of CSA Presfo wagons. This was the first picture taken with my newly purchased Pentax 6x7 roll film camera, bought from Jessops in Leicester a few hours previously!

A panoramic view of Toton Yard, with 58020 Doncaster Works leaving with a southbound MGR on 16 October 1986. A shadow of its former self, and with the huge hump marshaling yard closed, Toton was still used extensively for staging MGR coal services such as this during the 1980s. Several Class 20s can be seen in the yard, along with withdrawn DMU vehicles and vacuum braked hoppers in the background.

Class 58s were obviously a common sight on freight trains, but not usually like this! 58020 Doncaster Works & 58002 Daw Mill Colliery pass Galmpton on the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway under a threatening sky on 19 June 1993 with the 13:35 Paignton to Kingswear freight train consisting of a motley collection of preserved goods wagons. Needless to say this was in connection with the line's Diesel Gala.

A very tight location for photography, but it was just possible at Appleford (between Oxford and Didcot) to get a picture of southbound trains passing the signal box. On 12 September 1985, 58022 heads for Didcot Power Station with another load of coal from the Midlands. Unfortunately it is no longer possible to replicate this picture, as not only are there no Class 58s on the national network, but the signal box has been demolished as well.

An unusual duty for a Class 58 on 22 July 2002. 58024 passes Bletchingdon (between Banbury and Oxford) with the 5Z10 16:57 Oxley to Didcot ECS move conveying ex Virgin Mk2 coaches 1204, 1208, 5900, 5975, 5999, 6059, 6061, 6120, 6172, 6184, 9507 & 9522 made redundant with the recent introduction of Class 220 Voyager units. Unusually for such empty stock moves, this was running exactly to time. An industrial estate now occupies Bletchingdon station site and the site of the former yard is now used for storage.

On 1 September 2002 Hertfordshire Railtours ran a railtour to mark the end of Class 58 operations in this country. 58024 is pictured passing Wilsford (between Ancaster and Sleaford) with the 1Z58 10:33 Kings Cross to Skegness 'Bone Idol' with a complete rake of Southern Region green liveried stock. As 58024 only entered traffic in January 1985, its less than eighteen years in traffic does seem rather a waste of resources.

Anglers on the prosaically named South Forty Foot Drain at Hubbert's Bridge take no notice of the historic train that passes them on 1 September 2002. 58024 heads the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z59 15:30 Skegness to Kings Cross 'Bone Idol' railtour - the final Class 58 passenger train, on what was the penultimate day in traffic for the class. Unfortunately the perfect reflection I had hoped for was slightly spoiled by the wind causing ripples just at the wrong moment! Strangely in view of the important nature of the working and the ideal location for a picture, I didn't notice any other photographers in the vicinity. Note the local landmark of St Botolph's Church tower at Boston (the Boston Stump) in the background behind the rear coaches.

With the 'dreaming spires' of Oxford just visible at the rear of the train, 58028 passes Wolvercote with the 6M06 Didcot Power Station to Daw Mill Colliery MGR empties on 10 July 1987. This really dramatic lighting didn't last long of course, as the rain which was falling over the city of Oxford, soon reached this point. This photo was taken from the public footpath crossing on Wolvercote Common, which has subsequently been closed and the whole area is now fenced off.

With the farm buildings of Portway in the background, 58030 heads south with the 7V85 13:58 Toton to Didcot Power Station MGR coal on 15 March 1989. This location just to the north of Tamworth has unrestricted views in both directions, but it also allows for a more adventurous side shot like this by walking down Willow Bottom Lane away from the farm occupation bridge. 

58047 Manton Colliery heads north up the Midland Mainline near Ampthill with the 6A62 18:36 Cricklewood to Forders Shanks & McEwan binliner on 17 July 1996. It will shortly be running round its train at Bedford before heading down the Bletchley line to Forders, where it is due to arrive at 20:15. This traffic has now ceased, as after many years of taking London's rubbish, the former brick pit is now full. Note the 17th century Ampthill Park House just visible in the background on the left.