31178 passes Stenson Junction on 2 June 1984 with the 4M78 11:09 Leeds to Rugby freightliner. Just a single freightliner five wagon set here, but another would be added at Bescot, and once the train reached Rugby, it would connect with a service from Manchester, and then proceed on to Tilbury. This was an ideal train for photographers, as it was a Saturday working, and ran at a convenient time. It was usually Class 31 hauled, although 45s and 47s did sometimes appear.

85026 passes Basford Hall Junction on 3 July 1985 with an unidentified southbound working. Due to the Crewe station remodelling, all trains were being diverted over the avoiding lines. The train is just rejoining the mainline, after bypassing the station. At this time the Class 85s were nearing the end of their working lives, and a failure whilst hauling a parcels train in May 1990 was enough to see 85026 withdrawn. It was cut up three years later.

Livery transition time at Fairwood on 11 September 2007. 43151 is in the then new version of First Great Western's blue colour scheme, while the coaches are still in the previous version of the livery. The train is the 1C82 11:05 Paddington to Plymouth service, which at the time was branded in the timetable as 'The Mayflower'. The Westbury White is clearly visible in the background.

56047 passes Hay Lane, on the western edge of Swindon, with the 6V38 11:52 Wolverton to Stoke Gifford ARC stone empties on 16 June 1983. The brick arch bridge which formerly carried a minor road, had been bypassed when the road was realigned during the building of the nearby M4 motorway in the early 1970s. It was demolished when the line was electrified in 2016.

47148 passes Hay Lane, near Swindon, on 16 June 1983 with a westbound engineer's train. Just visible in the misty background on the left is the Anchor butter factory. This was a major Swindon employer, until its closure in 2002. 47148 was withdrawn in July 1987, and after periods in store at Tinsley, March, Wigan Springs Branch and Mossend, it was finally cut up at MC Metals, Springburn in October 1989.

60021 Pen-y-Ghent runs alongside the Stainforth & Keadby Canal at Crowle on 12 March 1998 with the 6D78 12:14 Redcar to Scunthorpe, conveying coke in HEA hoppers. Note the first signs of development in the field on the right. First of all a caravan park, and later a housing estate appeared, changing the view forever.

On the final day of Class 33 operations on the route, 33211 passes Heytesbury on 14 May 1988 with the 1V54 10:10 Portsmouth Harbour to Swansea service, which it worked between Portsmouth Harbour and Bristol Temple Meads.

The 'Tamworth Terminator'! D306 Atlantic Conveyor & 47510 pass Castor on 1 March 2008 with 1M50 14:30 Peterborough to Wansford service, during the Nene Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. Both locos are in green livery, the Class 40 in BR green, and the 37 partly in green primer!

158771 approaches Wickwar on 30 January 2008 with the 2O76 10:42 Gloucester to Weymouth First Great Western service. Behind the unit is a little used farm occupation bridge, with the houses of Charfield in the distance.

221131 approaches Goring on 12 April 2008 with the 05:45 Crewe to Bournemouth CrossCountry service. Before electfrication this was an excellent location for southbound trains in the morning, but only if they were on the fast line, as here!

221115 passes Bishop's Itchington on 15 April 2008 with the 06:44 Newcastle to Bournemouth service. CrossCountry had just taken over the franchise from Virgin, and although the Virgin logos have been removed, this unit has yet to have the new operator's graphics applied, so it is seen here minus any form of branding.

Superb late afternoon light at Tredington on 10 October 2008. 170105 heads south with the 1V34 14:00 Nottingham to Cardiff Central CrossCountry service. This is the view from the level crossing on the very quiet minor road from Gotherington to Tredington.

170101 passes Ashchurch on 23 August 2008 with the 1V04 06:58 Nottingham to Cardiff Central CrossCountry service. Disappearing into the heat haze in the background is the 1M92 07:45 Cardiff Central to Nottingham train. The long lens has compressed the perspective. The bridge behind the DMU in the distance is actually nearly two miles away.

Still wearing Central Trains livery, but now operated by CrossCountry, 170639 passes Severn Tunnel Junction on 20 September 2008 with the 1M60 09:45 Cardiff Central to Nottingham service. This was always a pleasant spot to spend a few hours, on the virtually traffic free road bridge to nowhere. The replacement high sided bridge and the electfrication of the route means it is no longer a spot worth visiting!

37042 & 37372 pass Winterbourne on 8 June 2002 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z37 07:03 Crewe to Portbury Automotive Terminal 'Post Festive Freighter' railtour. A location that I only visited once, and which involved climbing through a jungle of trees in an old quarry. The growth of the trees and the electrification of the route means that this view is no longer possible.

37170 passes County March Summit on 28 April 1998 with the 7D54 11:54 Fort William to Coatbridge aluminium ingots. This is a very easy location to access, as it is right next to a convenient lay by on the A82 road between Bridge of Orchy and Tyndrum.

43027 Westminster Abbey passes the MoD exchange sidings at Ashchurch on 23 April 1988 with the 1E36 06:17 Bristol Temple Meads to Leeds service. At the time this was the first northbound inter-regional train of the day.

59202 Pride of Ferrybridge passes Kintbury on 8 September 2025 with the 6A40 08:40 Merehead Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop stone train. This location is getting very overgrown, and a tall stepladder was required for this picture. There is now no possibility of a picture in the other direction.

60055 Thomas Barnardo rounds the curve at Kintbury on 8 September 2025 with the 6M02 07:04 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead, taking another load of Gloucestershire stone to be used in the construction of HS2. After a completely sunny start to the day, the clouds were now building up rapidly.

57305 approaches Charlbury on 8 September 2025 with the Branch Line Society 1Z66 08:57 Kidderminster Severn Valley Railway to Oxford 'Cotswold Crusader' railtour. 66719 Michael Portillo is bringing up the rear. If I had looked round just before this appeared, I would have seen the signal was green, and therefore wouldn't have been so surprised at how fast it was going! It should have been travelling slowly here, prior to stopping in the station for 15 minutes, to allow the 1W25 12:52 Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street GWR service to clear the single line from Wolvercote Junction. However, as that was running late, and the tour was running early, they let it run.

37240 & 37418 An Comunn Gaidhealach pass Blanchworth on 6 September 2025 with the Vintage Trains 1Z43 06:04 Birmingham New Street to Plymouth 'Mayflower' railtour. I had gone to this location as it is one of the few spots in the area where the sun would be on the front (just!) at 07:30. Unfortunately the weather forecast was totally wrong, and the early morning sun was nowhere to be seen! The 37s would be replaced at Bristol by GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 7029 Clun Castle & LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 45596 Bahamas.

Castle Class 4-6-0 7029 Clun Castle & Jubilee 4-6-0 45596 Bahamas pass Lympsham on 6 September 2025 with the Vintage Trains 1Z43 06:04 Birmingham New Street to Plymouth 'Mayflower' railtour. Unfortunately the forecast sunny morning was a little late in putting in an appearance, but at least it was gradually getting brighter, and there was now almost a hint of sun. I had intended to photograph this train from the bridge in the background, but the road was closed and the bridge inaccessible, as Network Rail were carrying out repairs. That explains the white plastic sheeting.

220005 & 220027 pass Lympsham on 6 September 2025 with the 1V44 06:11 Leeds to Plymouth CrossCountry service. At least it is a pair of units, but it's still hardly an adequate substitute for the HSTs that used to work this train until 2023!

47712 (running as 47711 Greyfriars Bobby) passes Lympsham on 6 September 2025 with the Saphos Trains 1Z49 05:44 High Wycombe to Kingswear 'English Riviera Express' railtour. 57311 The Institute of Mechanical Engineers is bringing up the rear. I never saw the real 47711 in ScotRail livery, so this is an acceptable substitute, even if it is in Somerset! The famous local landmark of  the partially ruined Old Church of St Nicholas, Uphill, can be seen on the horizon.

800016 passes Lympsham on 6 September 2025 with the 2C69 09:00 Cardiff Central to Exeter St Davids GWR service. This is the view from Cripp's Bridge, looking towards Batch Bridge, which can be seen in the background, shrouded in plastic during Network Rail maintenance.

After working the Vintage Trains 1Z43 06:04 Birmingham New Street to Plymouth 'Mayflower' railtour between Birmingham and Bristol, 37418 An Comunn Gaidhealach & 37240 followed the tour to Devon as the 0Z45 09:37 Bristol East Depot Down Goods Loop to Plymouth light engines, running an hour behind the tour, which was steam hauled from Bristol by GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 7029 Clun Castle & LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 45596 Bahamas. The colourful pair are pictured passing Lympsham.

A GWR and LMS combination at Tackley on 5 September 2025. Castle Class 4-6-0 7029 Clun Castle & Jubilee 4-6-0 45596 Bahamas head south with 5Z41 09:50 Tyseley Steam Trust to Bristol St Philips Marsh, conveying a pair of support coaches, in preparation for the following day's railtour to Plymouth.

165118 approaches Tackley on 5 September 2025 with the 2V27 11:33 Banbury to Didcot Parkway GWR service. There are a pair of crossovers here, but as can be seen from the rusty rails of the diverging line in the foreground, they see very little use. They would only normally be used for emergency single line working.

66748 St. Michael's Mount passes through Kingham station on 4 September 2025 with the Belmond 1Z96 05:50 Honeybourne Staff Hut to Victoria 'Britannic Explorer' luxury charter. This was running 16 minutes late, and as can be seen from the passenger with his umbrella waiting for the following train, it had just started to rain. Luckily what turned out to be a period of very heavy rain only started once I got back to the car! Despite the atrocious light, this was worth recording, as it is the first visit to the Cotswold Line of the prestigious light blue liveried train.

20185 & 20148 approach Markham Colliery Junction on 1 September 1991 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z38 02:35 Worcester Shrub Hill to Bolsover Colliery 'Bolsover Balladeer' railtour. This view is just to the west of the M1. A quick change to the other side of the motorway resulted in a much better picture of the train returning from the Bolsover Coalite plant.

A solitary passenger waits to board the 06:57 Liverpool Lime Street to York train at Micklefield on 12 May 1990. 156444 has more than enough capacity! At this time the platforms were staggered, with thus picture being taken from the end of the opposite platform, Since then the platforms have been extended, and there is now some overlap.

The sun almost breaks through the clouds at Micklefield on 12 May 1990, as 156451 heads east through the station with the 07:52 Liverpool Lime Street to Scarborough service. Unfortunately this was the brightest it got all day!

43093 approaches Pilning on 8 September 2006 with the 1B42 14:15 Paddington to Cardiff Central First Great Western service. The train is on a brief section of level track, between the falling gradient from Patchway Tunnel, and the longer descent into the Severn Tunnel. The steep 1 in 68 section of the bank can be seen above the rear of the train. The removal of Pilning station footbridge and the electrification of this route means that this view is no longer possible.

43185 Great Western passes Compton Beauchamp on 8 September 2006 with the 07:30 Weston-super-Mare to Paddington First Great Western service. Note that this is a nine coach formation, with an additional catering vehicle at the front of the train.

60024 Elizabeth Fry passes Compton Beauchamp on 30 August 1991 with the 6B23 12:45 Colnbrook to Waterston aviation fuel empties. This was running nearly two hours late, which was excellent, as the lighting would have been hopelessly head on at the booked time.

47530 approaches Wolvercote Junction on 28 August 1990 with the 1F40 16:50 Paddington to Banbury Network SouthEast service. A journey from Paddington to Banbury would now involve a change of trains at Oxford, so anyone travelling from London to Banbury would probably now go via the Chiltern Line, while in 1990 going via Oxford was still a realistic option.

A historic picture of Honeybourne station, featuring some very unusual rolling stock. Class 47s may once have been common here, but Southern Region EMUs certainly were not! 47640 University of Strathclyde arrives with the 5Z94 10:33 Strawberry Hill to Long Marston on 26 March 1996. The train comprises Class 416 2-EPB 6213, Class 414 2-HAP 4308, Class 416 2-EPBs 6308, 6309 & 6402, & Class 414 2-HAP 4311. Since this picture was taken the station has been completely rebuilt, with the foreground platform brought back into use, to serve the redoubled line. Also, trees now hide the caravan site from view, and a housing estate has been built on the waste ground behind the loco.

In the 1990s withdrawn life expired EMUs occasionally arrived at Long Marston for storage, rather than brand new ones! 47640 University of Strathclyde passes underneath the road bridge at the entrance to the site on 26 March 1996 with the 5Z94 10:33 Strawberry Hill to Long Marston special, conveying Class 416 2-EPB 6213, Class 414 2-HAP 4308, Class 416 2-EPBs 6308, 6309 & 6402, & Class 414 2-HAP 4311.

Class 414 2-HAP 4311 brings up the rear of the 5Z94 10:33 Strawberry Hill to Long Marston, as it arrive at its destination on 26 March 1996. The rest of the train comprises: Class 416 2-EPBs 6402, 6309 & 6308, Class 414 2-HAP 4308 & Class 416 2-EPB 6213. The whole ensemble was being hauled by 47640 University of Strathclyde.

66561 approaches Little Bedwyn on 29 August 2025 with the 6V50 14:21 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Merehead Quarry stone empties. Ten minutes later the 6V60 14:43 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Whatley Quarry passed by in similar dramatic lighting. The trains were very similar, with the loco number being different by just one digit, and both trains having two different coloured wagons (albeit different colours) at the head of the train.

66531 approaches Little Bedwyn on 29 August 2025 with the 6V60 14:43 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Whatley Quarry stone empties. This was just ten minutes after the almost identical looking 6V50 14:21 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Merehead Quarry train.

66748 St. Michael's Mount approaches Little Bedwyn on 29 August 2025 with the Belmond 1Z10 15:48 Victoria to Bishops Lydeard 'Britannic Explorer' luxury charter. Hidden by the bushes at the rear is 66744 Heart of Wales. After numerous cancellations due to faulty door locking on the coaches, this is the first revenue earning trip, over a month after the first aborted run.

66744 Heart of Wales brings up the rear of the much delayed inaugural run of the 'Britannic Explorer' luxury sleeper train at Little Bedwyn on 29 August 2025. 66748 St. Michael's Mount is leading the Belmond 1Z10 15:48 Victoria to Bishops Lydeard, the first leg of a four day tour to Cornwall.

A friendly wave from the driver of 802018, as it approaches Collins Lane level crossing, Purton, on 25 August 2025 with the 1G23 16:33 Paddington to Cheltenham Spa GWR service. With typical GWR reliability, the following train was cancelled.

The 2T11 14:36 Hayes Knoll to Swindon Mouldon Hill service leaves Blunsdon station on 25 August 2025. The DMU is made up of all three surviving Class 119 vehicles. DMBC 51073 & DMSL 51104 from former set L594, are joined by DMBC 51074 from set L595. 51073 arrived at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway from the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway in December 2024, and so allowed the use of a three car Class 119 for the first time in preservation, albeit with a driving vehicle substituting for the centre trailer.

A comparison between the Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Co. and BR Derby's version of the first generation low density DMU. Class 119 51073, 51104 & 51074 waits at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway's Blunsdon station on 25 August 2025 with the 2H12 14:57 Swindon Mouldon Hill to Hayes Knoll service. On the adjacent track is Class 114 DTCL 56047.

In desperate need of rust repairs and a repaint, 56047 is pictured at Blunsdon station on 25 August 2025. the vehicle, one half of former Tyseley set TS022, arrived at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway from the Strathspey Railway in January 2025. The aim is to restore in to operational condition and use it with one of the line's Class 119 DMBC vehicles, forming a Class 114/119 set.

The 2T13 15:21 Hayes Knoll to Swindon Mouldon Hill service passes Blunsdon Signal Box, and arrives at Blunsdon station on 25 August 2025. The DMU is made up of all three surviving Class 119 vehicles. DMBC 51073 & DMSL 51104 from former set L594, and DMBC 51074 from set L595. The original centre trailer from set L594 (59435) was unfortunately scrapped in 1995.

If you want to see a Class 119 DMU, the place to go is the Swindon & Cricklade Railway, as now all three surviving vehicles are resident on the line. 51074 (from set L595) leads 51104 & 51073 (both from set L594) on 25 August 2025, as the unit approaches Blunsdon station with the 2H14 15:42 train from Swindon Mouldon Hill. On the left is the boiler from Southern Railway Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35011 General Steam Navigation.

166209 passes Blanchworth on 25 August 2025 with the 2O74 09:08 Gloucester to Weymouth GWR service. Photo taken from one of two local public footpath crossings. The other one can just be seen in the background.

Most CrossCountry services were cancelled on Bank Holiday Monday 25 August 2025, due to industrial action by the RMT union. One of the few trains that did run was the 1V46 07:51 Derby to Plymouth, seen here passing Blanchworth, with 221134 doing the honours.

45118 The Royal Artilleryman passes Blanchworth on 25 August 2025 with the InterCity 1Z55 07:22 Crewe to Cardiff Central 'Western Wanderer' railtour. Rather than visit one of the usual locations (Standish Junction for example), which I knew would be crowded, and which I have photographed railtours at on numerous occasions, I opted for somewhere different, and more off the beaten track. I couldn't really make the view looking down the farm track to this spot work, but this view, with the hedge on the left, and the stubble field in the foreground does make a good picture.

Colas Rail Plasser and Theurer USP 5000 RT Ballast Regulator DR 77901 passes Blanchworth on 25 August 2025, running as the 6Q10 09:57 Gloucester Horton Road to Westbury. A sunny morning, but note the large area of unexpected cloud in the background.

D213 Andania passes Gossington on 25 August 2025 with the InterCity 1Z55 07:22 Crewe to Cardiff Central 'Western Wanderer' railtour. 45118 The Royal Artilleryman is bringing up the rear. We were very lucky here, as just a few seconds later the sun disappeared behind a bank of cloud. So it was extremely fortunate that the train was running a couple of minutes early!

66429 Charlie Birse passes Shrivenham on 25 August 2025 with the diverted 4V44 10:40 Daventry to Wentloog Tesco liner. Photo taken from the now truncated road that formerly crossed the railway at Ashbury Crossing.

50008 Thunderer descends the steep gradient between Bicester South and Gavray Junctions on 23 August 2025 with the UK Railtours 1Z49 06:13 Princes Risborough to Bromley North 'The Kent Conundrum' railtour. 50049 Defiance is bringing up the rear of the train, which is the London Underground red liveried Class 438 4-TC set 428. This was only 35 minutes after sunrise, although some thin cloud luckily prevented what would otherwise have been a very backlit picture.

50049 Defiance brings up the rear of the UK Railtours 1Z49 06:13 Princes Risborough to Bromley North 'The Kent Conundrum' railtour at Gavray Junction on 23 August 2025. The train, which is utilising the London Underground red liveried Class 438 4-TC set 428, is being led by 50008 Thunderer. This is on the edge of Bicester, with the parish church just visible in the background.

70002 passes Yarnton on 22 August 2025 with the 4O99 11:14 Leeds to Southampton Maritime freightliner. This wasn't what I went here for, but it was the only thing that passed in full sun! Admittedly the forecast was for much more cloud.

Freshly painted Heidelberg Materials liveried 66791 Settle & Carlisle 150 passes Yarnton on 22 August 2025 with the 6X01 10:18 Scunthorpe Trent Traffic Centre to Eastleigh East Yard rails. The loco had been named the previous day at Horton-in-Ribblesdale quarry.

Almost a picture of passing diverted GNER trains at Stockton Cut Junction on 3 April 1999. 43120 heads south with the 1E12 09:55 Aberdeen to Kings Cross 'Northern Lights' service, while the 1S24 12:00 Kings Cross to Inverness 'Highland Chieftain' disappears into the distance. Both trains were diverted away from the East Coast Mainline due to engineering works near Darlington. Houses now occupy the waste ground seen in the background.

325016 leads an unidentified classmate past Crawford on 23 October 1998 with the 1M90 13:22 Shieldmuir to Willesden Royal Mail parcels. Definitely not the best location, but some unexpected sunshine whilst waiting for a railtour coming from the opposite direction.

47531 passes Duffryn on 15 August 1987 with the 2V56 05:50 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central service. These trains would go over to Class 155 Sprinter operation the following year, but in 1987 it was mostly Class 33s or 47s, with occasional Class 31s, 37s or even Class 50s. With hindsight I should have taken more pictures of these inter-regional workings.

86242 James Kennedy G.C. passes Castlethorpe on 26 March 1995 with the 08:30 Manchester Piccadilly to Euston service. This is the site of Castlethorpe Water Troughs, the water tower for which still survives, It is just out of view to the left of this picture.

In the early 1990s 47834 Fire Fly was usually kept in immaculate condition, often with silver buffers, as it was used on special and Royal Train duties. However, it is looking a little shabby here, as it passes the site of Bletchingdon station on 3 February 1990 with the 1O12 07:50 Glasgow Central to Southampton service.

37888 passes Stone (between Gravesend and Dartford) on 7 May 1998 with the 7L33 14:25 Hoo Junction to Temple Mills ballast. I hadn't started out with the intention of visiting Kent, but first of all went to the Southminster branch in Essex with the intention of photographing the nuclear flask train, but as that didn't run, I crossed over the Thames for plan B!

37906 & 37905 pass Healey Mills on 12 December 1998 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z47 13:40 Sheffield to Reading 'The Blade & Owl' railtour. Although various freight traction was used on the tour, it was the use of a pair of 37/9s that was the highlight of the day. The 37s were booked to join the train at Wakefield Kirkgate late on the afternoon of what was becoming a very dull day. Unfortunately by the time they appeared at Healey Mills they were running 25 minutes late, and it was nearly dark! This explains the terrible quality of this picture. However, it was worth recording, as this was billed as the last passenger working for the subclass, in fact 37905 had been specially reinstated to work this train!

Framed by the B4078 road bridge and a fine collection of semaphore and repeater signals, 47105 approaches Winchcombe station on 17 August 2025 with the 12:15 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway service.

50021 Rodney passes Dixton on 17 August 2025 with the 12:15 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway service. Surprisingly there wasn't the usual crowd of photographers here, so I took the opportunity to include the lichen covered bridge parapet in the picture. A viewpoint that would not have been possible had there been more people around.

50021 Rodney passes Dixton on 17 August 2025 with the 14:10 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service. Due to the prolonged hot weather and dry lineside vegetation, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway was not running any steam trains. The visiting Class 50 was spending the day working the booked steam operated diagram, with 47105 working the diesel turn.

47105 runs through the cutting at Dixton on 17 August 2025 with the 14:05 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. 47105 has now been at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway for longer than it was in service with BR!

50021 Rodney passes Bishop's Cleeve on 17 August 2025 with the 15:20 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. This was the visiting loco's final day of operation on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, and it was spending the day deputising for one of the line's steam locos, as due to the hot weather, all trains were being diesel hauled. Although there didn't seem to be many photographers around earlier in the day, a small crowd had gathered here, as this was the obvious spot to photograph the last southbound train, with a perfect lighting angle.

47105 passes Didbrook on 17 August 2025 with the 10:55 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway service. The well used footpath runs parallel with the railway from Toddington station, through the village of Didbrook, to Hailes.

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway was operating an all diesel service on 17 August 2025, due to the high temperatures and fire risk. Visiting 50021 Rodney is pictured passing Didbrook with the normally steam worked 10:55 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway train. This distinctive tree has been dead for some time, and I am amazed that it hasn't collapsed, or at least lost some of its branches. However, while it stands it adds an excellent foreground feature to the view. The cows were added bonus, as they wandered into view to drink at the water trough shortly before the train appeared.

My first picture of 66720 Wascosa in its new livery. It is seen here heading north at Great Bourton on 15 August 2025, running as the 0Z75 12:21 Great Missenden to Bescot Up Engineers Sidings light engine, which had actually started from Princes Risborough.

The train may be empty, but it can still cover the countryside in dust! 66745 passes Great Bourton on 15 August 2025 with the 4H33 14:45 Banbury Reservoir Tarmac to Small Heath Caledonia Yard stone empties. A short while later a loaded train arrived from the north. Because there isn't room for two trains in the yard at Banbury, the other train is booked to stay in Fenny Compton loop for over an hour.

66705 Golden Jubilee passes Great Bourton on 15 August 2025 with the 6G99 06:46 Tunstead Sidings to Banbury Reservoir Tarmac stone train. This had to wait for over an hour in Fenny Compton loop, until the 4H33 14:45 Banbury Reservoir Tarmac to Small Heath Caledonia Yard stone empties had left Banbury.

68020 passes Great Bourton on 15 August 2025 with the 5Q86 11:31 Longsight to Eastleigh stock move. The former TransPennine loco and Mk5 coaches are destined for a new life with Chiltern Railways. There was a lot more cloud than forecast, and unfortunately this happened to pass during one of the lengthy cloudy periods!

168323 & 168216 pass Great Bourton on 15 August 2025 with the 1H62 15:45 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Although still a reasonably open location, even here there are more trackside bushes than a few years ago.

The 0O01 10:05 Doncaster Up Decoy to Eastleigh East Yard light engine convoy passes Great Bourton on 15 August 2025. 66722 Sir Edward Watkin, 66748 St. Michael's Mount & 66726 Sheffield Wednesday were running 15 minutes early. As the ultra luxurious 'Britannic Explorer' railtour programme has been abandoned, the light blue liveried 66748 sees itself employed on more mundane duties, becoming just another member of the GBRf fleet.

70004 The Coal Industry Society had a slightly inappropriate name for a Freightliner loco when it was named in 2011, and it's even more inappropriate now! It is pictured here passing Great Bourton on 15 August 2025 with the 4O17 15:52 Lawley Street to Southampton Maritime freightliner.

'On Track for a Greener Future' liveried 68014 passes Great Bourton on 15 August 2025 with the 1R51 17:37 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street Chiltern Railway service. Photo taken from a public footpath crossing.

Golden evening light at Great Bourton on 15 August 2025. With a horn fanfare from the driver, 68015 Kev Helmer accelerates away from Banbury with the 1J53 18:07 Marylebone to Stourbridge Junction Chiltern Railways service.

With the wooded slopes of the Cotswold Hills dominating the background, 50021 Rodney passes Southam on 13 August 2025 with the 10:15 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. Rodney was the star attraction at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's July Diesel Gala, and was also rostered for the use on several days during August.

50021 Rodney is just a few hundred yards into its northbound journey on 13 August 2025, as it passes Southam with the 11:35 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway service.

50021 Rodney passes Stanton on 13 August 2025 with the 11:35 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service. This section of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is laid with continuously welded flat bottom rail.

50021 Rodney passes Stanton on 13 August 2025 with the 12:55 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway service. The lighting is a little head on here, but at least that means the shadows from the trees on the right are no longer across the track!

Token exchange at Winchcombe on 13 August 2025. 50021 Rodney arrives with the 12:55 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service, while 47105, one of two Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway resident Class 47s, waits to proceed with the 12:55 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway train.

50021 Rodney slowly pulls into Winchcombe station on 13 August 2025 with the 14:30 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's exhibition and model railway coaches are parked in the bay platform. The flag commemorates the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.

47105 arrives at Winchcombe station on 13 August 2025 with the 14:25 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. This was not one of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's booked diesel turns, but the 47 was substituting for steam because of the extremely hot and dry weather.

50021 Rodney leaves Winchcombe station on 13 August 2025 with the 14:30 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway service. The open rear cab door is the 1960s version of air conditioning!

50021 Rodney passes Stanton on 13 August 2025 with the 15:40 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway service. The train has just passed under a combined footbridge and aqueduct.

50021 Rodney passes Hayles Abbey Halt on 13 August 2025 with the 15:40 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway built the halt in 2017 on the site of the original Great Western Railway halt.

165123 arrives at Radley station on 12 August 2025 with the 2V43 15:35 Banbury to Didcot Parkway GWR service, during one of the numerous heatwaves of the summer of 2025. This viewpoint has changed considerably since the 1980s!

66415 You Are Never Alone passes through Radley station on 12 August 2025 with the 4O99 11:14 Leeds to Southampton Maritime freightliner. This was running 20 minutes late. All trace of Radley station's former role as a junction for the Abingdon branch have now disappeared.

A Turbo meeting at Radley station on 12 August 2025. 165127 comes to a stop with the 2E14 17:04 Didcot Parkway to Evesham GWR service, just as 165131 arrives at the other platform with the 2L47 17:05 Oxford to Didcot Parkway train. These units shouldn't have passed here, as 165131 was running four minutes late. Although 165127 was running to time, this is the dreaded 2E14, so as is often the case, it was cancelled at Oxford!

Former TransPennine 68032 passes through Radley station on 12 August 2025 with the 5Q86 12:34 Long Marston to Eastleigh (via Birmingham), taking two Mk5 sets for repainting into Chiltern Railways colours. 68029 is bringing up the rear. This should have been the second of two interesting trains to pass through the station within 15 minutes, but the other one, the 5Q76 16:18 Bicester MoD to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings Class 701 EMU move was cancelled. Instead, the loco, 69009 Western Consort, went via the new line to Milton Keynes as the 0Z04 18:45 Bicester Village to Leicester light engine!

68029 brings up the rear of the 5Q86 12:34 Long Marston to Eastleigh Mk5 stock move at Radley on 12 August 2025. 68032 is leading the train, which comprises two sets of former TransPennine vehicles, heading for a new life with Chiltern Railways.

66518 passes South Marston on 11 August 2025 with the 4L33 09:59 Wentloog to London Gateway freightliner. Note the 'feathers' on the signal directly above the first container. This controls access from the bi-directionally signalled up line, into the disused South Marston Euro Terminal.

Running a few minutes late, 66561 passes South Marston on 11 August 2025 with the 6F02 11:36 Hinksey to Hallen Marsh Junction, conveying 20 JNA wagons, most of which (at least towards the rear of the train!) are loaded with ballast.