Pathfinder Railtours ran their final tour on 20 December 2025, after 52 years of running trains to all parts of the UK. D1015 Western Champion is pictured passing Badgeworth with the 1Z52 05:50 Salisbury to Lostock Hall Junction 'Pathfinder Finale'. The headboard, which incorporates the original F&W Railtours Vulture logo, reads: 'F&W Railtours Pathfinder Finale 1973-2025 52 years of fun'. It was fortunate that this was running a few minutes late, as at the booked time there was no sun at all. The Cotswold Hills were shrouded in fog, and a large bank of fog and clouds were blocking the sun, To the relief and surprise of the assembled photographers, this superb light suddenly appeared as the train came into view. It was completely foggy all the way on the 30 mile drive home! 57314 is bringing up the rear. The loco that had worked the train from Salisbury to Gloucester was 57008, which as Class 47 1644, had worked F&W's fist tour in June 1973.

Running 20 minutes early, 37800 Cassiopeia approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 19 December 2025 with the 5Q57 07:35 Alexandra Docks Junction to Derby Litchurch Lane, conveying former South Western Railway EMU 455723. A month earlier the unit had travelled in the opposite direction, also behind 37800 Cassiopeia. However, before it could be cut up, Unimetals Recycling went into administration.

60055 Thomas Barnardo runs along the up relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 19 December 2025 with the 6A02 07:04 Tytherington to Appleford Sidings stone train. This was running exactly one hour early, adfter missing out two booked stops in the Swindon area.

37713 approaches Goole station on 15 November 1997 with the 6D99 08:15 Hull Saltend to Immingham. Three tanks may look like a small load, but this actually a very healthy load for this train. Most other times I saw it with just a single tank! In the background is a piece of retail history. Netto was a chain of discount supermarkets that operated in the UK between 1990 and 2016

37711 passes Millbrook on 15 April 1997 with the 6V62 13:34 Fawley to Tavistock Junction tanks. The fuel oil and bitumen tanks for Tavistock are mostly hidden at the rear of the train. The empty bogie tanks near the front are destined for Holybourne, and would be detached at Eastleigh. This easily gave enough tome to get another picture the remainder of the train in the Wylye Valley.

150131 approaches Stenson Junction on 16 October 1986 with the 08:40 Crewe to Grantham Provincial Railways service. I deliberately chose a wide view in order to include the trackwork leading to Willington Power Station, which was still active at this time. Needless to say this view would not be possible now, due to the uncontrolled vegetation now occupying the site of the demolished power station.

150124 runs through the Derwent Valley near the village of Milford on 11 September 1990 with the 13:18 Matlock to Derby Provincial Railways service. In a few hundred yards the unit would enter the 856 yard long Milford Tunnel.

66143 passes the site of the now closed Mill Lane level crossing at Islip on 17 December 2025 with the 4M60 09:27 Southampton Maritime to Northampton Gateway intermodal. This is my first picture of a revenue earning freight train on this line since it reopened as a through route to Milton Keynes. It is almost like the old days, as back in the1980s the Stoke Gifford to Wolverton ARC stone trains used this line.

8P 4-6-2 71000 Duke of Gloucester passes Islip on 17 December 2025 with the Steam Dreams 1Z71 08:18 Southend Central to Oxford 'Essex to Oxford or Bicester Village' railtour. The loco change at Southall had taken longer than planned, and the train was nearly an hour late as it joined the Chiltern Line. Some spirited running meant it was just 25 minutes late here.

57311 The Institution of Mechanical Engineers brings up the rear of the Steam Dreams 1Z71 08:18 Southend Central to Oxford 'Essex to Oxford or Bicester Village' railtour at Islip on 17 December 2025. BR 8P 4-6-2 71000 Duke of Gloucester is at the front of the train.

Hydroflex bi-mode unit 799201 passes through Finstock station on 16 December 2025 with the 5Q98 09:43 Long Marston to Swindon mileage accumulation run. I almost missed this, as I was sitting in the car waiting for it to appear on Realtime Trains. When it should have been approaching nearby Charlbury there was still no indication on Realtime Trains, so I was beginning to think it had been cancelled, just like the previous week's booked working. I then happened to look at the map on Open Train Times, and noticed that the route was set through Charlbury, so quickly walked up to the bridge with less than a minute to spare. Only after it had passed me did the Realtime Trains timings appear!

Castle Class 4-6-0 5029 Nunney Castle passes Ardley on 19 April 1992 with the Paddington to Stratford-upon-Avon 'William Shakespeare' railtour. the 'Cambrian Coast Express' headboard is a bit out of place! At this time the Chiltern Line was a single track secondary line.

322483 passes underneath the road bridge at the east end of Weeley station on 26 August 1991 with the 13:00 Liverpool Street to Clacton Network SouthEast service. The Stansted Express branding is a slightly out of place here! The small fleet of Class 322s were withdrawn in 2022, and they have all now been scrapped.

There was a derailment on the Cotswold Line on 30 November 1984, when the 1A20 07.05 Hereford to Paddington service came off the track near Stoulton. A broken fishplate was the cause. This is the scene on the following day, 1 December 1984, showing a pair of Mk2 coaches waiting to be lifted back onto the track by Cowans Sheldon 76 tonne diesel crane ADRC96704.

D1924 (47810) Crewe Diesel Depot passes Ufton Nervet in superb winter light on 13 December 2025 with the Statesman Rail 1Z46 05:05 Hull to Bath Spa 'Bath Christmas Statesman' railtour. Hidden by the overhead electfrication mast at the rear of the train is D1935 (47805) Roger Hosking MA 1925 - 2013.

Passengers from London to the small stations west of Newbury (Kintbury, Hungerford and Bedwyn) usually have to change trains at Reading, Sometimes it is worse, and they have to change at Newbury as well! 387145 passes Ufton Nervet on 13 December 2025 with the 2K38 12:12 Reading to Newbury GWR service.

57315 passes Ufton Nervet on 13 December 2025 with the Northern Belle 1Z59 11:20 Paddington to Castle Cary 'Christmas Lunch' railtour. 57313 Scarborough Castle is bringing up the rear. This was the second luxury dining special to pass this way in less than an hour.

47427 passes Wolvercote Junction on 23 November 1985 with the 1O03 06:50 Liverpool Lime Street to Poole service, which it worked between Coventry and Reading. This loco entered service (as D1535) in August 1963. It received its TOPS number in March 1974, and was withdrawn with fire damage in November 1989. It was broken up at MC Metals, Springburn, in April 1992.

37701 runs along the up main line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 5 October 1999. The loco is in severe need of a repaint, but it didn't get one, as it was withdrawn a couple of months later. It was stored at Old Oak Common for a number of years, before being broken up in 2008.

56015 pulls away from a signal check as it approaches Oxford from the south on 29 October 1982. Due to line capacity issues, trains frequently stopped at this signal in the 1980s. The train is the early running 6M56 11:40 Didcot Power Station to Daw Mill Colliery MGR empties.

Lots of rusty track at Hinksey Yard on 18 April 1988. This was before the former Second World War marshalling yard was converted into a ballast stockpile and centre for engineer's train. 56020 passes by with the 6M28 14:25 Didcot Power Station to Kingsbury Coal Sidings MGR empties.

66518 passes Uffington on 8 December 2025 with the 6Z12 08:28 Stoke Gifford to Appleford stone train. I had chosen this location as the lineside trees here retain their leaves well into the winter, adding a bit of colour to the scene.

Plasser & Theurer Unimat 09-4x4/4S Dynamic Tamper DR75011 Andrew Smith passes Uffington on 8 December 2025, running as the 6Q59 09:55 Reading Triangle Sidings to Gloucester Horton Road. The bridge in the background marks the site of Uffington Junction station (closed in 1964).

Superb but very brief lighting at Uffington on 8 December 2025. 802018 heads towards London with the 1L70 10:03 Cheltenham Spa to Paddington service. GWR's timekeeping is well known for being very poor, and this was no exception, but at least this one was 'only' 13 minutes late!

With the end of the Rail Head Treatment Train season in early December 2025, the RHTT sets were moved back into storage for another year. Class 57s had been used on the Wiltshire and Somerset diagrams. 57303, 57305 & 57306 are pictured passing Uffington on 8 December 2025 with the 3Z56 08:50 Taunton Fairwater Yard to Tonbridge West Yard, which was running a few minutes late, as it has been held at Swindon because of a late running GWR IET.

43092 heads north at Culham on 13 May 1992 with the 1M41 16:17 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly service. This view has long since disappeared, with uncontrolled vegetation now covering both sides of the cutting. The few gorse bushes seen here have now been augmented by lots of much larger bushes and small trees.

165118 runs along the up relief line at South Moreton (Didcot East) on 28 October 2003 with the 10:33 Oxford to Paddington 'all stations' Thames Trains service. This livery seemed a little unusual at the time, but considering some of the bizarre colour schemes that came later, it now seems quite restrained!

47799 Prince Henry approaches Ystrad Mynach on 18 March 2000 with the 2D09 14:06 Cardiff Central to Bargoed service. 47306 The Sapper is bringing up the rear. With several Class 47s and 37s working passenger trains up the Rhymney Valley, there were numerous photographers out to record what was in effect a mainline diesel gala!

47705 passes South Moreton on 18 August 1991 with the 1F07 12:45 Paddington to Oxford Network SouthEast service. This was running 40 minutes late, a delay which is fairly common now, but which was much more unusual in BR days. It has been pointed out to me that there is no brake vehicle in this train, and as there are only six coaches, it seems likely that the last minute removal of a coach may have caused the delay.

The level crossing barriers at Bramshall start to rise, after the passage of the 15:11 Derby to Crewe Provincial Railways service on 12 August 1989. The unit is actually a Class 150/2 & 150/1 hybrid, with the rear vehicle being one half of 150129. Around this time there were several mixed Class 150 formations, whilst modifications were being made to certain 150/1 vehicles.

150204 leaves Abergele & Pensarn station in the rain on 2 April 1988 with the 10:02 Bangor to Hull Provincial Railways service. Pensarn is the small settlement that grew up around the railway. The much larger town of Abergele is situated nearly a mile further inland.

A panoramic view of Kingham station, showing just how open and clear of vegetation it was in the 1980s. 150275 calls at the former important junction station with the 2A76 15:23 Great Malvern to Oxford Provincial Railways service. At the time the Cotswold Line didn't have anything like the level of service that it has today, although what it did have normally ran to time, unlike today. This picture was taken at 16:25, and the station lights are already on, yet this was the first southbound train of the day on a Sunday! The former Banbury & Cheltenham platforms can be seen on the right. The view here now is completely hemmed in by tall trees.

37138 approaches Coytrahen on 28 July 1991 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z81 06:28 Liverpool Lime Street to Onllwyn 'Vulcan Valley Venturer' railtour. The train has just visited Llynfi Junction (Maesteg), and is passing the large Bridgend Paper Mill.

47359 heads north past Wolvercote on 6 October 1979 with MGR empties from Didcot Power Station. This going away shot gives a good view of the once numerous HAA coal hoppers, and clearly shows the very severe marks on the side of the wagon bodies, caused by rubber tyred wheels that were used to move rakes of wagons at certain loading points.

165121 is just a few hundred yards into its journey, as it approaches Little Bedwyn on 3 December 2025 with the  2T14 11:58 Bedwyn to Newbury GWR service. The 15th century stone spire of Little Bedwyn church can be seen in the distance.

56045 & 56103 pass Little Bedwyn on 3 December 2025 with the 6V23 10:34 Willesden DC Rail Sidings to Merehead Quarry stone empties. Not a particularly scenic location, but at least the sun angle is ideal, and more importantly for a picture taken at this time of year, there are no intrusive shadows. 

Pictured between Little Bedwyn and Great Bedwyn, 165121 nears journey's end on 3 December 2025 with the 2T15 12:20 Newbury to Bedwyn GWR service. The unit would spend the entire day shuttling backwards and forwards on the 13 mile journey.

60028 passes Hungerford Common on 2 December 2025 with the 6M02 07:04 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead HS2 stone train. Normally this would be travelling slowly here, as it is booked to enter Hungerford loop, to allow the 1A76 06:40 Truro to Paddington GWR service to pass. However that was running late, so the 60 wasn't looped.

Running 12 minutes late, 802107 passes Hungerford Common on 2 December 2025 with the 1A76 06:40 Truro to Paddington GWR service. The drab dark green livery almost looks presentable in this superb low winter light.

802101 approaches Hungerford Common on 2 December 2025 with what should have been the 1C75 09:34 Paddington to Paignton service. GWR trains are often cancelled or delayed, so it was no surprise that this train had started at Reading instead of Paddington, and was running 45 minutes late here. Things did not improve, and it arrived ar Paignton nearly an hour late.

Looking superb in the low winter light, 8P 4-6-2 71000 Duke of Gloucester approaches Hungerford Common on 2 December 2025 with the Saphos Trains 1Z31 05:57 Rugby to Bath Spa 'Bath Christmas Market Express' railtour. Hidden by the bush at the rear of the train is 47593 Galloway Princess. Most trees in the area had lost their leaves, except for this conveniently positioned oak tree, which makes an excellent frame for the picture.

Deputising for the booked HST, 47810 Porterbrook passes Waverton on 16 August 2003 with the 1A62 13:35 Holyhead to Euston Virgin Trains service. This is the site of the first Waverton station, which was originally called Black Dog station, after a local pub. It closed as early as 1898, to be replaced by a new station half a mile to the west.

43174 passes Manningford Bruce on 9 August 2007 with the 1A84 05:05 Penzance to Paddington First Great Western service. This is one of those very rare UK railway locations that has actually got less overgrown in recent years, as the bushes on the left have all been removed.

Having just brought the 5F35 08:02 Paddington to Oxford ECS from London, 50033 Glorious runs round its train at Oxford on 21 October 1988, before heading back to London as the 1F35 09:25 non-stop Network SouthEast service to Paddington. Most of the Oxford Class 50 diagrams in 1988 started as early morning passenger workings to London. This train, along with the 5F05 04:50 Old Oak Common to Oxford, arrived at Oxford with empty stock.

66067 arrives at Healey Mills on 24 May 2000 with the 6M05 09:20 Roxby to Northenden empty GMC Binliner. The former Horbury & Ossett goods shed (since demolished) can be seen in the background. Horbury & Ossett station (which closed in 1970) was situated on the other side of the road bridge.

45120 passes Stoke Orchard on 21 July 1984 with the 1V88 13:11 Manchester Piccadilly to Paignton service, which the loco worked between Birmingham New Street and Paignton. I'm not quite sure why I went for this close up view, but at least the bright day, Kodachrome 64, and 1/1000sec shutter speed all ensure that there is plenty of detail visible.

37902 arrives at Aberthaw on 8 November 1996 with the 6B89 13:11 Cardiff Tidal to Aberthaw Power Station oil tanks. Like most coal fired power stations, Aberthaw used a small quantity of fuel oil for boiler start up purposes. This was a really dull day, but at least that allowed a picture to be taken from the north side of the line, giving a much better view of the train. Barely visible through the mist in the background is the Bristol Channel.

37800 Cassiopeia passes Grove on 28 November 2025 with the 5Q57 09:51 Alexandra Docks Junction to Derby Litchurch Lane, taking former South Western Railway EMUs 455703 & 455872 on an unexpected journey away from the scrapyard! With Unimetals Recycling being placed into administration, the withdrawn units are getting a very brief reprieve. 455703 has clearly been visited by the vandals whilst in store at Newport.

57003 Freightliner Evolution passes Manningford Bruce on 17 February 2001 with the diverted 4O14 06:52 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton freightliner. With nearly unbroken sunsgine, and several diverted freight trains, the Berks & Hants line was busy with photographers on this Saturday.

47834 Fire Fly approaches Aynho Junction on 6 August 1991 with the 1O66 07:18 Manchester Piccadilly to Brighton service. Whenever I visited this location, the lower quadrant semaphore signal in the background always seemed to drop to this extreme angle.

08830, pictured at Westbury on 5 August 1991. The collection of sheds in the field behind the loco disappeared in the early 2000s, and then after lying empty for nearly two decades, the site succumbed to the inevitable housing development in 2022.

Plasser & Theurer GP TRAMM (Track Renewal And Maintenance Machine) DR98221 passes Lower Basildon on 8 April 1990. These permanently coupled maintenance vehicles were built in several batches between 1982 and 1988.

Bagnall 0-6-0ST 2655 Byfield No.2 leaves Winchcombe on 8 December 1991, as it heads back to Toddington with one of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 'Santa Specials'. The train is crossing the B4632 Winchcombe to Toddington road. An architectural salvage yard now occupies the foreground field.

With a solitary coach in the then new InterCity livery, the 1A43 11:53 Manchester Piccadilly to Euston service passes Cathiron on 20 October 1984, led by 87001 Royal Scot. Introduced into traffic in May 1973, 87001 was the first of a class of 36 locomotives. It was named Stephenson in January 1976, and then renamed Royal Scot in July 1977, then back to Stephenson in June 2003. After being preserved at the National Railway Museum, it now carries both names, one on either side!

One clean and one not so clean Class 117 DMU at Hinksey on 3 March 1984. L408 (51385, 58495 & 51343) & L418 (51397, 59507 & 51355) near journey's end with the 2A18 11:01 Paddington to Oxford service. It's been many years since the view of the allotments and lake was as clear as this!

66227 passes Battledown Flyover on 19 October 2000 with the 7O26 10:12 Didcot to Eastleigh engineer's working, which on this occasion is made up of two wagons of concrete sleepers, followed by a lengthy train of steel rails.

B432 (51370, 59522 & 51412) leaves Charlbury station on 13 October 1984 with the 2C68 09:07 Didcot to Hereford service. The car park is mostly empty, but in later years traffic levels increased enormously, and the grassy bank in the foreground then disappeared, to be replaced by a much needed car park extension.

37669 & 37706 head down the Stroud Valley at St Mary's Crossing on 22 November 2025 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z42 06:30 Oxford Parkway to Blackburn 'Chester Christmas Explorer' railtour. This was Pathfinder's penultimate tour, and to mark the end of 52 years of railtouring, 37669 is carrying both Pathfinder and F&W Railtours (the original name) headboards. Although most of the autumn leaves had fallen, I wanted to photograph this in the Golden Valley, from what used to be a well known photographic location in steam days, but now seems to be little visited. This is the site of St Mary's Crossing Halt, and the bridge abutment on the right marks the site of the infilled bridge over the Thames & Severn Canal. Some idea of just how dark this was can be judged by the brightness of the cab lights, especially on the second locomotive.

800028 slows down on the approach to Evesham station on 21 November 2025, as it heads east along the Cotswold Line with the 1P30 13:16 Worcester Shrub Hill to Paddington GWR service. Yet another Class 800/0 that has lost its white edges to the door openings, following a recent repaint.

37407 Blackpool Tower passes Evesham on 21 November 2025 with the 5Q09 09:47 Wembley DB Cargo Fan A and B Sidings to Long Marston, conveying former London Northwestern Railway EMUs 350253 & 350236 for storage. Note the green signal on the left. This means that the 1W02 11:52 Paddington to Hereford GWR service was not far away. With typical Cotswold Line punctuality this was running 24 minutes late, and was then cancelled at Great Malvern.

800030 Lincoln Callaghan passes underneath the rebuilt Dunstall Bridge, as it accelerates away from Moreton-in-Marsh station on 21 November 2025 with the late running 1P04 13:18 Hereford to Paddington GWR service.

Golden autumn tractor! 37407 Blackpool Tower passes underneath Dunstall Bridge, near Moreton-in-Marsh, on 21 November 2025, running as the 0A10 14:47 Long Marston to Wembley Loco Sidings light engine. The loco had earlier taken a pair of Class 350 EMUs to Long Marston for storage.

Early diesel preservation days at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. 20137 stands in Toddington yard on 5 November 1995. The loco was fully operational, but still in its tatty BR Railfreight livery, complete with the ghost outline of the former Thornaby depot Kingfisher logo. In the background is 37215, also in as bought from BR condition, but at the time not yet operational.

37410 Aluminium 100 arrives at Bridge of Orchy station on 24 May 1999 with the 6Y45 06:36 Mossend to Fort William Enterprise service. It would stop here briefly to exchange RETB tokens. Note the pair of sidings on the left at a higher level.

Golden late evening lighting at Culham on 22 June 1990. 47851 heads north with the 1M31 17:16 Folkestone Central to Manchester Piccadilly service. An interesting mix of vehicles: Three blue and grey Mk2s, an InterCity liveried Mk1 buffet, InterCity Mk2 air-con, and InterCity Mk2 air-con first brake.

47829 pulls away from Rhyl station on 11 August 1991 with the 1D54 08:40 Birmingham New Street to Llandudno service. The station has seen considerable rationalisation. The rough ground on the right was once covered by sidings.

A Pacer and Sprinter combination at Mostyn on 11 August 1991. 142028 & 150249 join forces to work the 16:28 Holyhead to Manchester Oxford Road service. There were loads of photographers out on the North Wales coast on this Sunday, as there were numerous special trains running (both steam and diesel), but I bet I am the only person that photographed this!

37800 Cassiopeia passes Shrivenham on 17 November 2025 with the 5Q76 10:35 Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings to Alexandra Docks, taking former South Western Railway EMU 455723 on what should have been its final journey. Unimetals Recycling went into administration before it could be cut up, so a month later it headed back in the opposite direction! This was running 34 minutes late, which was good, as I wasn't in the area at the booked time. I arrived with only a few minutes to spare.

59004 Paul A Hammond passes Shrivenham on 17 November 2025 with the 6C48 12:50 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties. This was running 35 minutes late, after a longer than normal wait at Challow. It was however back on time when it reached Westbury.

66660 passes Shrivenham on 17 November 2025 with the 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. Coincidentally, I saw this loco on the same working several years earlier. The only differences being: a different headcode, a different loco number (before it was re-geared), and most importantly, no annoying overhead wires!

The 3J41 14:02 Swindon Transfer to Swindon Transfer (via Westbury) Rail Head Treatment Train passes Shrivenham on 17 November 2025. 66549 on the rear has had its cab cleaned, but the leading loco (66167) is completely covered in RHTT grime. This was running 22 minutes late. It's a good job that it wasn't any later, as the foreground shadows were rapidly approaching the tracks.

66415 You Are Never Alone passes Woodborough on 17 November 2025 with the 6A40 08:40 Merehead Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop stone train. On the left 59101 Village of Whatley waits in the down loop with the 6C31 10:14 Theale to Whatley Quarry stone empties. This had left Theale over three hours early, and was sat in this loop for well over two hours.

60028 passes Woodborough on 17 November 2025 with the 6M02 07:04 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead HS2 stone train. On the left 59101 Village of Whatley waits in the down loop with the 6C31 10:14 Theale to Whatley Quarry stone empties. This had left Theale over three hours early, and was sat in this loop for well over two hours.

Paddington heads to Paddington! 'Paddington in Peru' liveried 802106 passes Manningford Bruce on 17 November 2025 with the 1A77 08:35 Plymouth to Paddington GWR service. The bush in the foreground may be adding a bit of autumn colour, but it is starting to become a bit too intrusive.

59203 & 66594 NYK Spirit of Kyoto pass Manningford Bruce on 17 November 2025 with the 6A50 10:26 Whatley Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop stone train. This was moving very slowly, as it had just exited Woodborough loop.

56045 & 56103 pass Manningford Bruce on 17 November 2025 with the 6V23 10:35 Willesden DC Rail Sidings to Merehead Quarry stone empties. This is an excellent location for photography at this time of year, as there is nothing to cast a shadow in the low late autumn light. The fact that you can park right next to the bridge is a bonus!

With the Alton Barnes White Horse dominating the background, 56045 & 56103 pass Beechingstoke on 17 November 2025 with the 6V23 10:35 Willesden DC Rail Sidings to Merehead Quarry stone empties. The train is accelerating away from its booked stop in Woodborough loop. The Alton Barnes chalk hill figure is one eight white horses in Wiltshire. This one was cut in 1812.

56044 Cardiff Canton passes Cogan on 19 April 1997 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z63 07:02 Crewe to Cwmbargoed 'Welsh Wizard' railtour. 56118 is on the rear of the train. The bridge in the background crosses the River Ely. Blocks of flats have now replaced the corrugated iron industrial buildings in the background.

56118 brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z63 07:02 Crewe to Cwmbargoed 'Welsh Wizard' railtour, as it passes through Cogan station on 19 April 1997. 56044 Cardiff Canton has already disappeared around the corner, taking the train towards Barry.

Having just reversed at Barry No.2 Dock, the Pathfinder Tours 1Z63 07:02 Crewe to Cwmbargoed 'Welsh Wizard' railtour passes Cadoxton on 19 April 1997 with 56118 leading, and (hiding behind the industrial buildings) 56044 Cardiff Canton bringing up the rear.

56044 Cardiff Canton brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z63 07:02 Crewe to Cwmbargoed 'Welsh Wizard' railtour at Cadoxton on 19 April 1997. 56118 is leading, having just brought the train back from a reversal at Barry No.2 Dock.

After a mostly dull morning, the sun finally bursts through the clouds, as 56044 Cardiff Canton brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z63 07:02 Crewe to Cwmbargoed 'Welsh Wizard' railtour at Craig Fargoed on 19 April 1997. The train is climbing up the Taff Bargoed valley, led by 56118.

The Pathfinder Tours 1Z63 17:40 Cwmbargoed to Crewe 'Welsh Wizard' railtour descends the Cwmbargoed branch at Trelewis on 19 April 1997. 56118 is bringing up the rear. In the distance, at the front of the train, is 56044 Cardiff Canton. Note the sudden change of gradient.

37701 passes Middlesbrough on 15 November 1999 with what is presumably the 6D78 12:07 Redcar to Scunthorpe loaded coke train. I say presumably because although this passed at exactly the booked time, and the loaded HEA wagon is correct, there was usually a lot more than just one wagon! The Middlesbrough Goods branch is in the background.

158871 passes over frost covered tracks at Hawkeridge Junction on 29 December 1999, as it prepares to call at Westbury with the 1F07 06:25 Carmarthen to Portsmouth Harbour service. This was operated by Wales & West, but ran under the Alphaline brand, a name which had originated a few years earlier, under Regional Railways.

158871 approaches Bradford-on-Avon on 13 August 1994 with the 2E03 06:00 Carmarthen to Waterloo Regional railways service. In 1994 this was an easy picture to take, by just looking over the railway fence. Judging by satellite pictures, three decades later the view is completely blocked by trees.

Instantly recognisable because of its non-standard yellow window modification. L414 (51350, 59502 & 51392) passes Hinksey Yard on 1 August 1991 with the 2C41 13:15 Banbury to Reading Network SouthEast service.

37698 & 37712 approach Lostock Junction on 12 April 2003 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z37 06:12 Reading to Knowsley Freight Terminal 'Wizard Express' railtour. The train is running alongside Middle Brook, a tributary of the River Irwell. The Grade II listed Croal Mill can be seen in the background. This impressive building was built in 1908 for the Croal Spinning Company. Although it closed in 1967, it escarped demolition, and is now used as a mail order warehouse.

47781 Isle of Iona passes Narborough on 23 November 1996 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z29 06:25 Swindon to Sleaford 'Fenland Streaker' railtour. The 47 was replaced by LNER A4 4-6-2 60009 Union of South Africa at Peterborough.

A rainy day at Oxford on 24 March 1984, but a now historic view of the remains of Oxford Shed (81F). 31260 is parked next to a section of brick retaining wall, that is all that remained of the original Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton Railway shed. The only other major feature of Oxford's steam shed in the 1980s was the water tower seen on the left. At this time the site of the shed was still used as a fuelling point, hence the fuel oil tanks. All of this has now disappeared. On the right, on the opposite side of the main lines, a pair of DMUs are stabled in the up carriage sidings, with a Class 119 unit nearest the camera.

The 09:32 Victoria to Brighton Connex South Central service passes Earlswood on 9 August 1997. Class 421 4-CIG 1803 leads an unidentified Class 421 4-BIG (note the buffet car). This location is just south of Redhill, part of which can be seen in the distance.

158909 calls at Newton-le-Willows station on 28 July 1992 with the 10:27 Liverpool Lime Street to York (via Halifax) service. The unit is wearing the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive 'Metro Train' livery, as applied new to 158901 - 158910.

47489 Crewe Diesel Depot Quality Approved brings up the rear of the Hertfordshire Railtours 1T32 07:30 Euston to Morecambe 'Lune Ranger' railtour, as it passes Salwick station on 15 February 1992, led by 20081 & 20016. The island platform once had a large station building with an impressively wide roof. The building was demolished in the mid 1970s, but strangely the roof remained for several more years!

800005 passes Minety on 8 November 2025 with the 1L74 12:03 Cheltenham Spa to Paddington GWR service. A fine display of autumn colours behind the train, but unfortunately the bushes on the left are causing a few shadow problems.

Running 21 minutes early, 67027 passes Minety on 8 November 2025 with the 3S32 10:50 Cheltenham Lansdown Loop to Swindon Transfer Rail Head Treatment Train. This is really just a continuation of the pervious evening's 3S31 21:42 Swindon Transfer to Cheltenham Lansdown Loop working. As usual, 67023 Stella is bringing up the rear.

67023 Stella brings up the rear of the 3S32 10:50 Cheltenham Lansdown Loop to Swindon Transfer Rail Head Treatment Train at Minety on 8 November 2025. There is a lot more cloud in this view looking east, compared with the picture I took a few seconds earlier of 67027 at the front of the train.

50013 Agincourt approaches Moreton-in-Marsh on 31 December 1983 with the 1A07 08:05 Hereford to Paddington service. This is my only photo of Moreton's up home signal, when it was still a GWR lower quadrant semaphore. It was replaced by a colour light a few years later. I think this is also my only photo taken from this particular spot. Although there is a pavement on the other side of the very busy road, and I have taken many pictures of trains heading north from the station, unfortunately there is nowhere to stand safely on this side of the bridge.

47193 passes Kings Sutton on 19 May 1998 with the 4M99 15:30 Southampton to Trafford Park freightliner. The loco had been running around in this tatty debranded grey livery for a couple of years, but would receive Freightliner's then new green livery the following year.

156488 leaves Althorpe station on 23 May 2001 with the 14:23 Sheffield to Scunthorpe Northern Spirit service. Keadby Bridge dominates the picture, and the houses on the western edge of Scunthorpe can be seen in the background.

Sub-zero temperatures, but some welcome sunshine amid the clouds, as 43033 passes the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham, on 29 December 1985 with the 1B08 08:50 Paddington to Port Talbot InterCity service.