86239 L. S. Lowry races past Hartshill (between Nuneaton and Atherstone) with the 11:45 Euston to Glasgow service on 9 March 1985. This loco was written off in a collision with some derailed wagons at Rickerscote on 8 March 1996, whilst working the Coventry to Glasgow TPO. In 1985 it was still possible, whilst not actually trespassing, to get some good shots from near track level prior the dreaded palisade fencing being erected at most such vantage points.

86607 & 86610 pass Brock with the 4M74 13:00 Coatbridge to Crewe freightliner on 6 May 2008. It always seems a little strange seeing a pair of 4040 hp electric locos hauling freightliners, while on other routes a single 3200 hp Class 66 handles a similar length train. Although this looks like a pleasant rural location, it is in fact incredibly noisy, as the M6 motorway is just behind the trees on the right, paralleling the railway for some miles north of Preston.

I don't normally bother with light engine moves, and certainly not with going away shots, but this working is just so unusual that it had to be recorded. I presume 25kV electric locos have been dragged through Oxford before, but other than en-route to various open days, I can't recall when. 37038 tows 87022 Cock o' the North as the 0Z87 11:46 Oxley to Wembley on 2 January 2008, seen here passing Hinksey Yard. The wording on the wreath reads: '87 WCML 87 gone but not forgotten'.

I do not normally take many pictures on overhead electrified lines, mainly due the lack of suitable photographic locations. However I have included this view from the Rail Blue era showing 87024 Lord of the Isles speeding past Cathiron (near Rugby) with the 09:31 Carlisle to Euston service on 20 October 1984. Note the mix of Mk1, Mk2 & Mk3 stock.

The unique Class 89 89001 entered service in July 1988 and was put to work on the ECML initially working the 07:00 Peterborough to Kings Cross and 17:36 return workings. It proved outstandingly reliable, but its non-standard design caused problems in later years due to shortage of spare parts. After withdrawal in 1992 it was bought for preservation, only to re-enter service a few years later with GNER, until more problems with sourcing components led to its withdrawal again. The 'Flying Badger' is pictured here passing Abbots Ripton at the full line speed of 125 mph with the 07:00 Peterborough to Kings Cross service on 16 August 1988. Directly behind the loco is converted HST driving trailer 43013.

With the locomotive and the complete train wearing the obsolete One Railways livery, debranded and with a subtle National Express East Anglia logo added to the white stripe, 90001 passes Swainsthorpe with the 18:30 Norwich to Liverpool Street National Express East Anglia service on 12 May 2008.

The EWS livery of 90028 contrasts markedly with the debranded former One Railways livery of the stock, as the 19:00 Norwich to Liverpool Street National Express East Anglia service approaches Swainsthorpe at speed on 12 May 2008.

Taking pictures of Class 91 electrics is hampered by the fact that they are normally on the north end of the train on the East Coast Mainline, with the DVT at the south end, therefore most of the time they are coming out of the light. 91026 speeds past Claypole (between Grantham and Newark) with the 12:30 Kings Cross to Edinburgh service on 24 August 1991.

On 14 February 1998, 92001 Victor Hugo passes through Lenham station (between Maidstone and Ashford) with the 6O58 09:10 Wembley to Dollands Moor Connectrail service, which later forms the 4408 13:09 Dollands Moor to Lille international service via the Channel Tunnel. Lenham station seems to have survived reasonably intact from the days of steam, with all its original buildings including in the former goods yard on the left.