66009 passes Gunstone Mill (between Crediton and Yeoford) on 14 May 2000 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z36 08:11 Crewe to Meldon Quarry 'Torbay Quarryman' railtour. This used to be my default photographic location in the area, with uninterrupted views in both directions. By the new millennium bushes were starting to intrude, and although I haven't been back since, judging by Google Earth, things have now got a lot worse!

56033 catches the last of the evening light, as it passes Compton Beauchamp on 16 May 1988 with the 6V84 14:00 Allington to Stoke Gifford ARC stone empties. As usual, the train is made up from three different variations of the PGA four wheel hopper.

Having just crossed the Forth Bridge, 150262 approaches Dalmeny station, running 'wrong line', on 25 October 1998 with the 12:15 Edinburgh to Edinburgh (via Kirkcaldy) ScotRail service. The iconic bridge was undergoing maintenance, hence the scaffolding.

156426 passes the site of Horsemoor Siding (near March) on 16 August 1988 with the 10:41 Birmingham New Street to Norwich Provincial Railways service. The semaphore signals were removed a few months later, and Horsemoor Signal Box (visible in the background) became redundant.

Viewed from the end of Kingham's down platform, 47455 approaches the station on 17 April 1982 with the 1A51 16:03 Worcester Shrub Hill to Paddington service. This was shortly before most of the loco hauled trains on the Cotswold Line were replaced by DMUs. This loco entered service at Gateshead in April 1964 as D1575. It received the TOPS number 47455 in February 1974, and carried that number right up to withdrawal in 1990. It was scrapped five years later.

D1015 Western Champion emerges from the mist at White Waltham on 20 April 2002 with the Past Time Rail 1Z52 08:39 Paddington to Paignton (for Kingswear) 'Western Sunrise' railtour. This was D1015's second railtour since its return to the mainline, and the only one that it operated in 2002 that did not feature a headboard.

155316 approaches Westbury on 5 August 1991 with the 1F17 13:12 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour Regional Railways service. Like most of the Class 155s, this DMU had a very short life as a two car unit. A year after this picture was taken it was converted into a pair of Class 153s, becoming 153316 & 153366.

37254 approaches Clink on 5 August 1991 with a rake of vacuum braked ballast hoppers. This is a very ordinary working for the DCWA allocated loco, but just five days later it performed a much more unusual duty, when it assisted the failed 1C27 10:30 Paddington to Penzance HST from Lavington to Penzance. Unfortunately I don't have a photo of that, as back in the 1990s I wouldn't have known anything about it!

37416 arrives at Crianlarich station in the rain on 12 April 2000 with the 1Y11 04:50 Edinburgh (ex Euston) to Fort William ScotRail sleeper. THE MBA wagons in the sidings were for the then buoyant timber traffic. Most log trains that I saw in Scotland used the earlier open sided OTA wagons.

A fine display of blackthorn blossom at Cornbury Park, near Charlbury, on 24 March 2026. Chiltern Railways Mk5a driving trailer 12808 leads the 5Q86 11:40 Long Marston to Eastleigh down the Cotswold Line, with 68019 providing the power at the rear. This was running nearly an hour late. I was almost on the point of giving up, because as usual there was no report on Realtime Trains until it got to Moreton-in-Marsh.

68019 provides the power at the rear of the late running 5Q86 11:40 Long Marston to Eastleigh at Cornbury Park, near Charlbury, on 24 March 2026. Mk5a driving trailer 12808 is leading. It was almost like the good old days of Class 50s on the Cotswold Line, as this loco could clearly be heard for several miles, as it approached from the Ascott-under-Wychwood direction.

The UK's most successful locomotive, and the country's most over hyped one! The 5Z43 09:21 Alton to Kings Norton On Track Plant Depot passes Daylesford on 23 March 2026 with Rail Adventure HST power car 43423 leading and 43467 bringing up the rear. Between the two is LNER A3 4-6-2 60103 Flying Scotsman, along with its support coach. If Flying Scotsman had been on its own I wouldn't have bothered to go out for it, but with the addition of a pair of shabby looking HST power cars, it was definitely worth a picture. Flying Scotsman had been visiting the Mid Hants Railway, and was on its way back to the National Railway Museum at York.

43467 brings up the rear of the 5Z43 09:21 Alton to Kings Norton On Track Plant Depot at Daylesford on 23 March 2026. Equally in need of a repaint, 43423 is leading the train, which is taking LNER A3 4-6-2 60103 Flying Scotsman back to the National Railway Museum at York, after its visit to the Mid Hants Railway.

The first train of the day on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on 21 March 2026. 28xx 2-8-0 2807 passes Didbrook with the 10:00 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service, which was running 15 minutes late.

The blackthorn is in full bloom at Didbrook on 21 March 2026, as W55003 heads south with the 10:55 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway service. The vintage DMU had recently re-entered service, after an extensive overhaul.

One of the most scenic locations on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is the panoramic view from the public footpath above the west end of Greet Tunnel. W55003 approaches the tunnel on 21 March 2026 with the 12:15 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service. The large flat area of ground with the recently planted trees is the site of a former navvy camp, in use during the construction of the line.

28xx 2-8-0 2807 pulls away from Toddington station on 21 March 2026 with the 12:50 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. Although the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's principal station is always busy with people taking photos, there is usually a clear view of departing trains.

W55003 leaves Toddington station on 21 March 2026 with the 12:15 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service. I opted for this departing shot, as by the time the unit returned with the 14:05 train from Broadway, the shadows would be much more intrusive.

W55003 approaches Toddington station on 21 March 2026 with the 14:05 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. If only Network Rail's cuttings were as neat and tidy as the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's immaculately maintained lineside!

W55003 leaves Toddington station on 21 March 2026 with the 14:05 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's station is painted in the Great Western Railway light and dark stone colour scheme.

28xx 2-8-0 2807 passes milepost 7¼ near Laverton on 21 March 2026. The train is the 15:20 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's last southbound steam hauled train of the day.

W55003 passes Laverton on 21 March 2026 with the 15:25 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service. There was no possibility of decent conventional picture of this train, as it would have been exceedingly backlit, so I decided on a broadside view, with the western escarpment of the Cotswold Hills rising up in the background.

Superb late afternoon spring light at Laverton on 21 March 2026. W55003 heads south with the 16:40 Broadway to Toddington service. The foreground shows evidence of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's recent lineside vegetation clearance.

66004 passes Wolvercote Junction on 20 March 2026 with the 4O21 08:20 Trafford Park to Southampton Western Docks intermodal. Although the appearance of this lime green loco was a bonus, I had really gone here for the 5Q86 11:32 Banbury Depot to Eastleigh Class 68 top'n'tail Chiltern Railways stock move. Unfortunately that ran a staggering 281 minutes late, long after I had given up and gone home!

800015 leaves the single track Cotswold Line at Wolvercote Junction on 20 March 2026 with the 1P24 11:58 Great Malvern to Paddington GWR service. This was only a few minutes late here, but in true GWR tradition, it managed to be 28 minutes late by the time it got to London!

66424 Driver Paul Scrivens 1969-2021 passes Defford on 19 March 2026 with the 4V44 10:42 Daventry to Wentloog Tesco liner. Mid March is nearly always a good time for photography, as the blackthorn is in bloom, and there is usually a spell of fine weather.

950001 passes Defford in glorious spring sunshine on 19 March 2026 with the 2Q08 09:12 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road Network rail test train. The unit had just visited Long Marston, and would later traverse the Tytherington branch.

221116 passes Defford on 19 March 2026 with the 1Z54 13:12 Birmingham New Street to Plymouth CrossCountry service. This was a short notice replacement for the 1V54 08:08 Edinburgh to Plymouth train, which was terminated at Birmingham, when it eventually arrived nearly an hour late. Due to a bus striking a bridge in Cheltenham, this replacement was also 20 minutes late.

A wave and a toot from the driver of 165106, as it passes Hungerford Common on 18 March 2026 with the 2T10 09:54 Bedwyn to Newbury GWR service. It is accelerating away from Hungerford station, which can just be seen in the distance.

66559 & 59102 Village of Chantry pass Hungerford Common on 18 March 2026 with the 6A40 08:40 Merehead Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop stone train. A completely cloudless day, so for once there was no need to keep checking the sky to see if the picture would be in the sun!

60099 Ben More Assynt passes Hungerford Common on 18 March 2026 with the 6M51 09:45 Merehead Quarry to Quainton Railhead HS2 stone train. This was running seven minutes early, which was lucky, as the 6V17 10:34 Willesden DC Rail Sidings to Merehead Quarry stone empties was due here at exactly the same time. I was taking a risk that I might not get a picture, but not only was this train early, but the other train was a few minutes late. Potential crisis averted!

60029 Ben Nevis passes Hungerford Common on 18 March 2026 with the 6V17 10:34 Willesden DC Rail Sidings to Merehead Quarry stone empties. It's now several years since the lineside was cleared of vegetation here, and it won't be long before most of the cleared viewpoints disappear once again.

180112 passes Fladbury on 16 August 2006 with the 12:55 Great Malvern to Paddington First Great Western service. This was during the first period of Class 180 operation on the Cotswold Line. They disappeared from the route in 2009, only to reappear (in a different livery) three years later.

66588 passes through the tree lined cutting near Steeple Aston on 21 September 2013 with the 4O29 08:14 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton freightliner. This is probably one of the least visited locations on the Cherwell Valley line, due mainly to the long and often muddy walk required to get here.

800006 passes through Ascott-under-Wychwood station on 13 March 2026 with the 1P18 08:56 Great Malvern to Paddington GWR service. Although this station uses the village's full name, the neighbouring station in Shipton-under-Wychwood is just called Shipton.

47812 passes through Ascott-under-Wychwood station on 13 March 2026 with the Northern Belle 1Z25 08:13 Paddington to Evesham 'Gold Cup Special', taking racegoers to the final day of the Cheltenham Festival. The train was moving slowly, as it had been held for a couple of minutes just outside the station. 57314 is bringing up the rear. The Gold Cup was won by Gaelic Warrior.

57314 brings up the rear of the Northern Belle 1Z25 08:13 Paddington to Evesham 'Gold Cup Special' at Ascott-under-Wychwood on 13 March 2026. 47812 is at the front of the train, accelerating the Cheltenham Festival race special away from a signal check.

66710 Karen Harrison passes Goole on 11 March 2026 with the 6D09 09:17 Hull Coal Terminal to Ferrybridge gypsum. Luckily this was held in the station for a few minutes. The sun was behind a very large cloud, and only reappeared as the loco slowly came into view.

170473 approaches Goole station on 11 March 2026 with the 1W42 09:57 Sheffield to Scarborough Northern service. The signal box in the background controls the adjacent Boothferry Road level crossing. Goole station is mostly hidden by the bushes on the right.

950001 slowly negotiates Goole Up Goods Loop on 11 March 2026 with the 2Q08 06:25 Doncaster Carriage Holding Sidings to Doncaster West Yard (via Hull) Network Rail test train. It would come to a stand a few hundred yards further on for its booked stop of over half an hour at the southern end of the loop. This 1987 purpose built test train has had something of a reprieve, as it was originally scheduled to be withdrawn in late 2024.

A misty morning at Goole on 9 March 2026. Rail 200 Exhibition Train liveried 66710 Karen Harrison slowly approaches the town with the 6D09 09:17 Hull Coal Terminal to Ferrybridge gypsum. The gypsum is used to make plasterboard in Lafarge's new factory on the site of the former Ferrybridge B Power Station.

50049 Defiance emerges from the fog at Gayton on 8 March 2026 with the UK Railtours 1Z50 08:42 Watford Junction to Derby one way positioning 'Derby Express' railtour. It should have been double headed with 50008 Thunderer, but that was declared a failure on the previous day's 'East Lancashire Railway' railtour, and was removed at Leicester

Not many revenue earning freight trains run on a Sunday, but here is one. 66090 Maritime Intermodal Six passes through Willington station on 8 March 2026 with the 6D68 10:11 Kingsbury to Humber Oil Refinery empty oil tanks.

50049 Defiance passes through Willington station on 8 March 2026 with the UK Railtours 1Z50 08:42 Watford Junction to Derby one way positioning 'Derby Express' railtour. After some earlier late running, this train was now back on time, due to some generous timings in the Coventry and Birmingham area.

Chiltern Railways in the Cotswolds! 68026 passes through Kingham station at high speed on 6 March 2026 with the 5Q86 11:40 Long Marston to Eastleigh ECS. This was running three minutes early. It's a good job it wasn't four minutes early, as 800030 would have been in the way, as it called at the station with the 1W21 10:53 Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill GWR service. This was definitely worth a picture, despite the dull weather, as once the Class 68s and Mk5a sets settle into full operation out of Marylebone, they probably will not appear on the Cotswold Line again.

There were major signalling problems in the Marylebone area on 5 March 2026, which resulted in very late running and some cancellations in the morning. A short notice Oxford to Bicester train ran during the morning peak. 168328 & 168325 are pictured passing Oddington with the 2Z02 09:41 Bicester Village to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. The units had earlier ran 'wrong line' with the 2Z01 09:15 Oxford to Bicester Village special working. 

50050 (D400) Fearless passes Oddington on 5 March 2026 with the 0Z80 07:51 Crewe to Oxford route learner. This was running ten minutes early, as there wasn't anything else in the way, as signalling problems near Marylebone was causing a distinct lack of Chiltern Railways trains!

D400 (50050) Fearless passes Oddington on 5 March 2026 with the 0Z81 11:10 Oxford to Milton Keynes Central route learner. The pond behind the loco was dug after the line was upgraded in 2015, in the small parcel of land between the old a new roads.

A wave from the driver of 165028, as it passes Oddington on 5 March 2026 with the 1T23 10:40 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. It was running ten minutes late. This wasn't too bad, as earlier trains had been nearly an hour behind time, due to signalling problems near Marylebone.

50050 (D400) Fearless sweeps round the curve at Islip on 5 March 2026 with the 0Z82 12:08 Milton Keynes Central to Oxford route learner. Only a light engine, but an immaculate loco, in perfect light, with the flowering blackthorn bushes proving that spring is here!

165001 passes Islip on 5 March 2026 with the 5M92 12:30 Bletchley High Level to Oxford route learner. Chiltern Railways run lots of crew training trains, but although the new line from Bicester to Milton Keynes has been complete for well over a year, there are still no passenger trains.

50050 (D400) Fearless passes Islip on 5 March 2026 with the 0Z83 13:10 Oxford to Crewe route learner. The footbridge in the background replaces the former Mill Lane level crossing, which was closed when the line was upgraded in 2015.

Platinum Jubilee liveried 67007 passes the site of Mill Lane level crossing, Islip, on 5 March 2026 with the 5Z55 13:35 Oxford Parkway to Hinksey Sidings (via Bicester) ECS. The train had just worked the British Belmond Pullman 1Z55 10:00 Victoria to Oxford Parkway luxury VSOE charter. 67006 Royal Sovereign is out of sight on the rear. Note the gap in noise barrier in the foreground. A nearby sign explains how Network Rail workers can access the track through the gap, something which seems totally obvious, and not worth mentioning on a sign!

67006 Royal Sovereign brings up the rear of the British Belmond Pullman 5Z55 13:35 Oxford Parkway to Hinksey Sidings (via Bicester) ECS at Islip on 5 March 2026. 67007 was leading the train, which was running six minutes late.

Third time lucky! After being cancelled twice earlier in the week, the 5Q70 14:42 Long Marston to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings finally ran on 5 March 2026, with 57303 hauling South Western Railways EMU 701045. I wasn't in a position to photograph it in the Worcester area, but after wasting petrol attempting to photograph in on the two previous attempts, I wasn't going to miss it a third time. Once I had noted that the loco had successfully run round the train at Worcester, I ventured out to Compton Beauchamp for this record shot. Luckily it was running a few minutes early, which made all the difference in the gathering darkness.

66425 Nigel J Kirchstein 1957-2021 passes Pirton on 4 March 2026 with the 4V44 10:42 Daventry to Wentloog Tesco liner. Recently Class 68s have appeared semi regularly on this working, but unfortunately not today!

A pair of Class 170s in CrossCountry's striking new livery pass Pirton on 4 March 2026. 170112 & 170114 are working the 1V09 12:07 Nottingham to Cardiff Central service. In early 2026 getting a pair of these units in the new colour scheme is still a novelty.

66750 Bristol Panel Signal Box passes Pirton in perfect early spring sunshine on 4 March 2026 with the 6V84 07:45 Clitheroe Castle Cement to Avonmouth Hanson Siding cement tanks. This is the site of Pirton Siding.

800022 passes Upper Moor on 4 March 2026 with the 1W27 13:50 Paddington to Great Malvern GWR service. I had gone here to photograph the 5Q70 15:42 Long Marston to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings Class 701 EMU stock move. However, for the second time in a week the train was cancelled, despite the loco (in this case 57303) having coupled up to the train, after coming down light engine especially for this from Leicester. The Class 701s may be electric, but they have used a lot of diesel being dragged backwards and forwards to Long Marston and Bicester, especially as it involves lots of needless light engine workings.

This is definitely not the picture I intended to take at Honeybourne on 2 March 2026! What should have been the 5Q70 14:42 Long Marston to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings, conveying a pair of Class 701 EMUs, turned out to be this light engine move. 69009 Western Consort had arrived at Long Marston on time as the 0V70 08:49 Leicester Loco Inspection Point to Long Marston, but when eventually the loco reappeared at Honeybourne 42 minutes late, the small group of photographers on the bridge were not impressed to see there was no train! Presumably there was some problem coupling up, or releasing the brakes, as has often happened before. The loco stabled in Honeybourne Sidings, and then went back from whence it came the following morning as the 0Z69 09:30 Honeybourne Sidings to Leicester Loco Inspection Point. What a complete waste of time and diesel!

Having dropped ballast in a nearby Sunday engineering possession, 47247 passes Severn Tunnel Junction on 30 June 1985 with a rake of vacuum braked ballast hoppers. Obviously the work didn't require the full load, as the two Sealion wagons near the rear of the train are still loaded with ballast.

With nameplates covered, 47547 & 47587 arrive at Oxford from Old Oak Common on 3 October 1990. The two recently repainted locos were due to be named University of Oxford and Ruskin College Oxford respectively. The ceremony would be performed in Oxford's bay platform by the Right Honourable Lord Jenkins of Hillhead (Oxford University Chancellor) and Dr Stephen Yeo (Principal of Ruskin College).

47587 & 47547 arrive at Oxford station on 3 October 1990 for their dual naming ceremony. 47587 would become Ruskin College Oxford and 47547 would receive the name University of Oxford. The blue plastic sheeting used to cover the nameplates is probably the nearest colour match they could find for the loco's newly applied Network SouthEast livery!

150238 passes Gunstone Mill (Near Crediton) with the 13:43 Paignton to Barnstaple service on 14 May 2000. Although the unit appears to be running wrong line, what looks like a double track mainline is in fact two single lines. The track in the foreground is the line to Okehampton and Meldon Quarry.

47211 slowly passes through Oxford station on 24 July 1990, prior to coming to a stand at a red signal, with the 6E30 16:58 Eastleigh to Haverton Hill Speedlink. Unfortunately at 19:50 the setting sun means that most of the station is in shadow.

37678 approaches Bargoed on 26 June 1999 with the 2F45 16:15 Rhymney to Cardiff Central service. This was one of number of trains run in connection with the inaugural rugby match at the new Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

66097 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 25 February 2026 with the 6C03 09:57 Northolt Sidings to Severnside Sita Binliner. It's not very obvious at this distance, but the loco carries a Highland Rail stag emblem just behind the cab side window.

Immaculately clean 70816 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 25 February 2026 with the 6M40 11:34 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. This location is getting progressively more difficult for photography, with bushes both by the lineside and next to the road from which this picture is taken.

59102 Village of Chantry runs along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 25 February 2026 with the 6C48 12:50 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties. This was running 17 minutes early, which meant that there was no rush to drive to Baulking for a second picture. Had it been on time, the booked two minute stop at Challow would have required some faster driving!

59102 Village of Chantry passes Baulking on 25 February 2026 with the 6C48 12:50 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties. The train had been running early prior to its booked stop at Challow, so there was easily enough time to drive here for a second picture, after seeing it at Denchworth.

Still looking immaculate, on its second day in traffic since refurbishment, 220033 approaches Didcot North Junction on 25 February 2026 with the 1V82 05:18 Newcastle to Reading CrossCountry service. This is the first Voyager to receive this new livery.

66515 approaches Didcot North Junction on 25 February 2026 with the 4O15 06:40 Lawley Street to Southampton Maritime freightliner. In the background is evidence of the abandoned plan to electrify the line to Oxford. This short section of masts have now been in position for nearly a decade!

GWR green meets Freightliner green at Didcot North Junction on 25 February 2026. 165128 heads north with the 2L22 10:07 Didcot Parkway to Oxford service, just as 66533 Senator Express / Hanjin Express approaches the junction with the 4O14 05:08 Garston to Southampton Maritime freightliner.

60099 Ben More Assynt approaches Didcot North Junction on 25 February 2026 with the 6M60 10:35 Oxford Banbury Road Sidings to Willesden DC Rail Sidings stone empties. Although this is still just about the best location to photograph this train, unfortunately the wider viewpoint has long since been lost, with trees and bushes now blocking the view.

The 0O31 06:50 Burton upon Trent Wetmore Sidings to Basingstoke North Yard light engine passes underneath the road bridge next to Mortimer station on 24 February 2026. 31128 Charybdis was needed to work the 6Z03 10:34 Basingstoke North Yard to West Ealing Plasser Sidings, taking failed Robel Mobile Maintenance Train DR97503, DR97603 & DR97803 for repair. Note the Hanson & Hall headboard.

165106 accelerates away from Mortimer station (just out if sight around the comer) with the 2J22 09:53 Basingstoke to Reading GWR service on 24 February 2026. The sun was just starting to break through, after a very cloudy start to the morning.

67021 passes Mortimer on 24 February 2026 with the 5Z25 09:50 Eastleigh East Yard to Stewarts Lane ECS. Pullman kitchen first class coach Audrey was built in 1932 by Metro Cammell, and was originally part of Brighton Belle 5-BEL EMU set 2052.

EPR liveried 37611 & 37423 approach Mortimer on 24 February 2026, running as the 0O37 09:25 Wembley Loco Sidings to Eastleigh Arlington light engines. Later in the day they were due to work the 5M38 14:43 Eastleigh Arlington to Rectory Junction barrier vehicle move. 

31128 Charybdis passes Mortimer on 24 February 2026 with the 6Z03 10:34 Basingstoke North Yard to West Ealing Plasser Sidings, conveying failed Robel Mobile Maintenance Train DR97503, DR97603 & DR97803. Despite the small load, the loco was making a spectacular noise, as it climbed the short section of 1 in 308 gradient from Mortimer station.

60099 Ben More Assynt passes Baulking on 24 February 2026 with the 6B60 09:48 West Drayton Frays Sidings to Machen Quarry stone empties. On my way back from the Reading area, the Satnav said I would arrive at Denchworth at 11:52, which was just about the time this was due. To avoid the possibility of missing it as I walked up to the bridge, I drove straight to Baulking instead.

As the sheep wander from one field to the next, 66424 Driver Paul Scrivens 1969-2021 passes Claydon on 23 February 2026 with the 4V44 10:42 Daventry to Wentloog Tesco liner. The western slope of Bredon Hill can be seen in the background.

60099 Ben More Assynt passes Claydon on 23 February 2026 with the 6V60 10:13 Chaddesden Sidings to Machen Quarry stone empties. This was running 14 minutes early, having just missed out the booked stop in the loop at Ashchurch (just visible in the distance). Unfortunately the earlier sunshine had now given way to thick cloud.

37077 passes Twerton on 12 August 1993 with a short ballast train, possibly the 8B26 11:17 Westbury to Gloucester New Yard departmental working. I only have the working timetable for the preceding few months, but the time matches up exactly with 8B26.

150265 passes Flax Bourton on 21 September 1990 with the 2B20 13:05 Taunton to Gloucester service. The rail connected fuel storage depot in the background closed shortly after this picture was taken, although judging by the colour of the rails leading into the site, it hadn't seen a train for some time.

The 1Q23 07:52 Bristol Kingsland Road to Derby RTC Network Rail test train rounds the curve on the approach to Shipton station on 19 February 2026, with 43301 leading and 43303 bringing up the rear. This train traverses the Cotswold Line every month, and I wouldn't normally bother to photograph it in such poor light. However, with zero chance of any sunshine, I decided to visit this location, which would be hopeless for photography had the sun been out.

58049 Littleton Colliery approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 22 April 1997 with the 4C13 11:11 Calvert to Bristol Avon Binliner. This loco was one of the final survivors of the class, lasting in service until May 2002. It was then exported to France, and was finally scrapped in 2023 at Euro Cargo Rail's Alizay depot.

47533 passes Oxford's carriage sidings, as it accelerates away from the station on 23 August 1985 with the 1S39 07:34 Poole to Glasgow Central service. Note the ScotRail liveried Mk2 coach near the front of the train. This was not an isolated occurrence, as I have seen another picture taken a few weeks earlier with a ScotRail vehicle in the same position, albeit with another Mk2 coach next to the loco, rather than the Mk1 BG seen here.

150119 approaches Hatton on 6 May 1991 with the 11:02 Leamington Spa to Birmingham Snow Hill service. Unfortunately this location is now a lot more overgrown, and only a relatively head on viewpoint is now possible.

King Class 4-6-0 6024 King Edward I passes Songar Grange (between Claverdon and Bearley) on 7 December 1991 with the Paddington to Stratford-upon-Avon 'William Shakespeare' railtour. Although I managed to find a location that was free of shadows, I also managed to find a spot where the loco wasn't working hard, and not even producing a trace of exhaust!

47186 Catcliffe Demon passes Spetchley on 4 June 1996 with the 6M43 16:35 Avonmouth to Washwood Heath empty cartics. This was the Thursdays only empty wagons off the previous day's 6V66 21:20 Dollands Moor to Avonmouth, which had brought imported Fiat cars through the Channel Tunnel from Turin.

47052 passes Didcot North Junction on 29 May 1997 with the 4M99 16:50 Southampton to Trafford Park freightliner. This loco entered service (as D1634) in November 1964, and was withdrawn 36 years later, in December 2000. It was cut up in 2003. 

66134 passes through Goring & Streatley station on 14 February 2026 with the late running 4A97 11:57 Appleford Sidings to Acton stone empties. Believe it or not, despite being only 35 miles from home, this is my first visit to this station.

66572 passes through Goring & Streatley station on 14 February 2026 with the 4O29 06:19 Garston to Southampton Maritime freightliner. The second of three freight trains to pass by in a sunny 50 minute period.

59206 John F. Yeoman Rail Pioneer approaches Goring & Streatley station on 14 February 2026 with the 6C47 13:10 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties. The bridge in the background would have been a good location for photography before the wires went up, but for some reason I never visited the spot.

50008 Thunderer approaches Goring & Streatley station on 14 February 2026 with failed Robel Mobile Maintenance Train DR97802, DR97602 & DR97502 in tow. The working is the 6Z82 13:35 Didcot Fuelling Point to Eastleigh East Yard. In order to work this, Thunderer had to come all the way from Yorkshire, running as the 0Z50 06:25 Knottingley to Didcot Fuelling Point light engine. The Robel track machine had failed in Kennington Goods Loop two days earlier whilst working the 6U82 06:43 York Thrall Europa to Paddock Wood Keylands Sidings. After a four hour delay it managed to struggle to Didcot.

56054 British Steel Llanwern crosses the River Avon at Eckington on 26 June 1995 with the 6V70 19:28 Bescot to St Blazey china clay empties. The train originated at Cliffe Vale at 14:18, but was booked to lay over in Bescot Yard for over three hours. Note the row of wooden fishermen's platforms by the water's edge.

56034 Castell Ogwr / Ogmore Castle passes White Waltham on 8 April 1990 with the 4A53 12:20 Appleford to Brentford empty GLC Binliner. This was running 70 minutes early, passing here 25 minutes before departure time! As this train ran on a Sunday, I'm surprised that I didn't photograph it more often.

37718 slowly approaches Healey Mills on 24 May 2000 with the Schering/Agrevo weedkilling train. 37895 is bringing up the rear. Behind the three TTA water tank wagons are vehicles: SA99907, SA99908, SA99909 & SA99910, all converted from former Mk1 coaches.

The hawthorn bushes are in full bloom, as 37895 brings up the rear of the Schering/Agrevo weedkilling train at Healey Mills on 24 May 2000. 37718 is leading the train. 20 minutes later the train would return and stable in the yard.

Having just arrived in Healey Mills Yard on 24 May 2000 with the Schering/Agrevo weedkilling train, the crew of 37895 walk back towards 37718 on the rear of the train. This distinctive train was a feature of the rail network during the 1990s, but soon after this picture was taken it was exported to Belgium, to be replaced by MPVs.