37025 Inverness TMD finds a little patch of weak sunshine amidst the dark clouds as it rolls past Rhyl with the 6F11 11:03 Penmaenmawr to Warrington Arpley ballast on 26 August 1996. This loco is wearing a kind of intermediate livery, based on the large logo colour scheme, although clearly it has no BR logos at all. Otherwise the extended yellow around the cabs with black window surrounds and larger numbers is the same format as the large logo livery. 37025 was withdrawn in 1999, but has since found a home at the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway.

50036 Victorious speeds past Radley with the 1F35 09:30 Oxford to Paddington Network SouthEast service on 6 August 1989, a working which was officially booked for a pair of Class 50s at the time. The uniform rake of Network SouthEast Mk 2 coaches is slightly mismatched with the tatty large logo livery of the locomotive, although the red buffer beam does add to the colour scheme and did make 50036 instantly recognisable from a distance during the late 1980s.

60005 BP Gas Avonmouth passes Little Haresfield with the 6B47 16:10 Westerleigh to Robeston empty Murco oil tanks on 4 July 2008. It is slowing down on the approach to a red signal, just prior to being looped to allow a northbound Cross Country service to overtake it. Note the evidence of recent tree removal by Network Rail on the side of the cutting. Just visible in the background is the signal that controls Standish Junction, where the Swindon line diverges from the Bristol route.

60054 Charles Babbage passes Stoke Orchard with the 6V92 10:10 Corby to Margam steel empties on 1 July 2008. I suppose nowadays two decades is quite a long time for a particular locomotive livery to survive in traffic. In 2008 this is the only Class 60 to carry a variant of the Trainload Freight livery, in this case showing the decals of the petroleum sub sector. Originally the entire class was introduced in one form or other of this livery.

60062 passes Stoke Orchard with the 6V07 13:21 Round Oak to Margam steel empties on 1 July 2008. I had gone to this location to see 60054 on 6V92, but despite the strong winds bringing in large banks of clouds from the south west, it seemed possible that I might get another picture in the sun, and so it proved! Note the variety of wagon types in this short train. Although a fairly good location for southbound trains, the northbound shot from this bridge is severely restricted, and it is not a pleasant spot to wait for any length of time due to the constant stream of vehicles going to the nearby recycling centre.

With both power cars in the new East Coast livery, but the stock still in debranded GNER livery, 43302 leads the 1A12 07:00 Hull to Kings Cross (via Selby) National Express East Coast service past Heck on 30 June 2008. The Plasmor block works shunter is stabled on the right, with the works just out of sight on the right. The connection to the main line can clearly be seen, while the line in the foreground is the works headshunt.

1962 built Ruston Hornsby 0-4-0 97088 (works number 466630) in slightly optimistic Loadhaul livery is seen at work on the Derwent Valley Railway on 29 June 2008. The line is only a few hundreds yard long, and a round trip only takes a few minutes! 97088 is pictured approaching the public footpath crossing between the A64 road bridge (seen in the background) and the station at Murton. There are no round facilities, and Andrew Barclay steam loco No. 8 can just be seen on the rear of the train.

In dramatic lighting just after a heavy shower, 03079 leaves Murton station on the Derwent Valley Railway with the 15:30 departure on 29 June 2008. The railway only has a short section of track, and a round trip on the line only takes a few minutes, with trains working in top'n'tail mode due to the absence of any run round loops. The railway is situated adjacent to Murton Park, home of the excellent Yorkshire Museum of Farming, which is well worth a visit.

Hudswell Clarke built 4-6-2 1933 Poseidon arrives at the disused Beach station on Scarborough's North Bay Railway with the 13:30 Scalby Mills to Peasholm Park service on 28 June 2008. Scalby Mills signal box can be seen behind the train in the background, while the modern white buildings in the background belongs to the popular Sea Life Centre. The train is just entering the passing loop, where trains cross if traffic levels dictate that the fifteen minute two train service is in operation.

Hudswell Clarke built 4-6-2 1932 Triton leaves the disused Beach station on Scarborough's North Bay Railway with the 13:45 Scalby Mills to Peasholm Park service on 28 June 2008. It has just crossed sister loco 1933 Poseidon working the 13:45 Peasholm Park to Scalby Mills train. Beach station has a strange history, having been built in 1931 along with the rest of the line, it was not used by passengers until the 1980s, when during the construction of the Sea Life Centre (the white buildings in the background) it became a temporary terminus. However, it has now been closed again, and is used purely as a passing point when the fifteen minute interval service is in operation.

Hudswell Clarke built 4-6-2 1933 Poseidon is reflected in Northstead Manor Lake at Scarborough on the North Bay Miniature Railway, whilst working the 15:15 Peasholm Park to Scalby Mills service on 28 June 2008. Northstead Manor Gardens are a shadow of their former self, with the derelict open air theatre not having been used since 1968. Even this section of the lake has been fenced off and the few remaining hire boats now only operate on the southern section.

In a brief burst of sunshine before the dark clouds blotted out the sun once again, Hudswell Clarke built 4-6-2 1932 Triton leaves the disused Beach station on Scarborough's North Bay Railway with the 16:30 Peasholm Park to Scalby Mills service on 28 June 2008. It has just crossed sister loco 1933 Poseidon working the 16:30 Scalby Mills to Peasholm Park train, which can be seen departing under the footbridge. Beach station has only been used by passengers for a short period during the 1980s when it became the line's temporary northern terminus during construction of the Sea Life Centre. Note the chair lift striding over the hill.

158793 arrives at Goole with the 07:41 Sheffield to Bridlington Northern Rail service on 26 June 2008. This unit carries additional advertising vinyls over the standard Northern Rail livery. Compare it with 158860 which worked the next hourly service. Note the Guardian float glass works in the background.

In a brief patch of sunlight before the ominous dark clouds in the background arrived heralding more rain, 66128 stands in the unloading facility at the Guardian Glass Works at Goole on 26 June 2008, as it prepares to start unloading the 6H92 04:00 Peterborough to Goole sand train. This massive float glass works is a significant employer in the area and produces in excess of 700 tons of glass daily, although sadly only the raw materials arrives by rail, with the finished products leaving by road onto the conveniently situated M62 motorway.

158860 arrives at Goole with the 08:41 Sheffield to Bridlington Northern Rail service on 26 June 2008. The Guardian float glass works dominates the background, and the line serving the plant can be seen, both on the right of the picture, and crossing the field just below the main buildings in the distance. Note that the former open space next to the railway is now home to industrial units, with stacks of chemical drums up against the railway fence on the left.

43061 leads the 1C21 08:28 Leeds to St Pancras East Midlands Trains service past Kibworth Harcourt on 25 June 2008. The railway line here actually divides the village of Kibworth Harcourt from Kibworth Beauchamp, which perhaps explains why the Midland Railway just called their station Kibworth! 43061 carries the former Midland Mainline livery minus all branding.

60026 passes Kibworth Harcourt with the 6V92 10:10 Corby to Margam steel empties on 25 June 2008, traveling via the Midland Mainline rather than its usual route via Melton Mowbray. The scatter of orange plastic visible in the ballast is an all too common sight nowadays, plastic track components spilled during track maintenance works and just abandoned. All kinds of discarded materials can bee seen on the lineside, and certainly money could be saved with better stock control.

With Melton Mowbray visible in the distance, 37423 passes Brentingby hauling inspection saloon 'Caroline' on the 2Z37 08:10 Doncaster to Peterborough via just about everywhere (Alfreton, Lincoln, Sleaford, Nottingham, etc)! Luckily this was not one of the sections of line where 37423 was propelling the saloon. The signal on the opposite line has just changed from red to amber for 66003 with a Corby to Toton departmental working.

An extremely grubby 66003 passes Brentingby (near Melton Mowbray) on 25 June 2008 with a Corby to Toton departmental working. Bretingby's tiny church can just be seen on the horizon directly above the second wagon. Note the unusual consist with a shark plough brakevan in the centre of the train with five seacow ballast hoppers on either side.

A brief gap in the clouds allows some superb lighting at Elton & Orston station on 25 June 2008, as 156405 approaches the remote station with the 14:02 Skegness to Nottingham East Midlands Trains service. However, this was not one of the few trains to actually call at the station. The unit is wearing the striking new East Midlands livery. There is plenty of warning of approaching trains from both directions at this spot!

The Goole to Leeds line sees a very infrequent service, with just two trains a day from Goole and one from the Leeds direction. On 25 June 2008, 153304 & 150224 arrive at Rawcliffe station with the 18:49 Goole to Northern Trains service. Although one person got on when these units stopped here whilst heading for Goole half an hour earlier, on this occasion not only did nobody get on or off, but the train appeared to be completely empty as well!

In 2003 37402 Bont Y Bermo was repainted into this non standard livery based on the Railfreight triple grey colour scheme. Just a couple of days after its return to service on passenger duties in the Welsh Valleys and still in ex-works conditions, it emerges from the trees at Ystrad Mynach on 7 June with the 1R38 13:55 Fishguard to Rhymney service. It continued to work the Rhymney services for a further eighteen months before being placed into storage.

47623 Vulcan passes Oxford North Junction with the 1A10 06:00 Hereford to Paddington service on 13 May 1987. Note the random mix of blue / grey and InterCity liveried coaches typical of the period. 47623 is one of a handful of Class 47s that have carried names for virtually their entire career. As D1676 this loco received the name Vulcan at Cardiff when less than a year old, and retained the name when renumbered to 47090, 47623, and later 47843, although for the latter it was 'renamed' at Old Oak Common Open Day in 2000.

I do not normally bother photographing light engine convoys, but with one of my favourite Class 50s providing the power this one just had to done, despite the gloomy weather. Passing the site of Coalpit Heath station on 25 May 1991, celebrity pair 50008 Thunderer & 50015 Valiant haul 31511, 37904, & 37889 from Bristol Bath Road to Coalville, where all the locos would be on display at the open day. At this time both 50s were in the NWXC (Network SouthEast reserve) pool. In June 1991 they were both transferred back into the DCWA departmental pool, from which they had both been taken to be repainted into these one off liveries in January 1991. However, in their second time in the DCWA pool they did virtually no departmental work.

37608 passes Normanton in superb autumnal evening light with the late running 4O31 15:16 Leeds to Southampton freightliner on 18 October 1997. At the time this working was booked for a pair of the ex European Passenger Services (EPS) Class 37s that had recently been acquired by Direct Rail Services (DRS), but on this day a single locomotive had been rostered. Pending a full repaint the loco carries the former EPS livery with DRS branding. I was extremely glad that the train wasn't any later, as the shadows would very soon have become a nuisance. In fact I had already moved from my previous location at Wakefield because that spot had been become useless for photography because of the lengthening shadows.

43109 leads the 1E12 07:55 Inverness to Kings Cross GNER 'Highland Chieftain' past Bardrill (near Gleneagles) on 23 April 2003. This power car has subsequently be renumbered to 43309 in line with GNER's policy of adding 200 to the numbers of their re-engined power cars. This seems a strange numbering procedure, especially in view of the fact that other franchise operators have retained the original number after refurbishment.

Tyseley' s Class 114 set T027 (54027 & 53019) calls at Droitwich on 27 April 1991 with the 09:09 Hereford to Birmingham New Street Midline service. This became the final Class 114 unit in traffic and when in January 1992 54027 became due for overhaul it was taken into departmental service as 977770, but scrapped shortly afterwards at MC Metals, Glasgow. 53019 worked its final weeks in service coupled to Class 105 DTCL 54484, before being preserved at the Midland Railway Centre at Butterley.

156402 passes Wilsford (between Ancaster and Sleaford) with the 11:25 Grantham to Skegness Central Trains service on 1 September 2002. Interestingly, the Great Northern Railway never provided a station at Wilsford, despite the railway skirting the edge of the village. A signal box was provided at the level crossing with the main road, a short distance to the east of this location.

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

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

56119 approaches Onibury with the 6M29 11:38 Llanwern to Dee Marsh steel coils on 20 August 1995. This was one of two northbound steel trains that ran over the Welsh Marches line on Sundays during the 1990s, the other being the 6M30 10:56 Margam to Dee Marsh, which would have passed this spot approximately two hours later, usually with Class 60 haulage. Very little walking is required to get to this spot as the Onibury to Bromfield road is only just over the hedge on the left, running parallel with the railway.

56110 passes Allandale (between Polmont and Cumbernauld) with the 6D16 14:00 Grangemouth to Motherwell fuel oil tanks on 23 July 1999. This was a Fridays only working and nominally booked for a Class 60. Despite the gloomy weather, I was certainly pleased to see a Loadhaul Class 56 rather than a 60, although of course ten years later I would be pleased to see a Class 60 rather than a 66!

47638 County of Kent passes Standish Junction with the F&W Railtours 1Z39 06:55 Crewe to Nantgarw 'Red Dragon' railtour on 11 October 1986. 47638 started life as D1653, becoming 47069 with the introduction of TOPS. After carrying the number 47639 between February 1986 and November 1989, it was then renumbered as 47845. Note the strange coincidence of the 100 milepost and the 100 mph speed restriction sign on the left.

43150 passes Trow Lane at Dauntsey on 20 April 1984 with 16:05 Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads service. Whilst not ideal from the lighting point of view, with the sun virtually straight down the track, it is one of the few pictures I have taken showing a HST with a test coach included in the formation. Unfortunately it is at the far end of the train, and only really apparent by its red and blue livery. The presence of two other people in the cab beside the driver also indicates that this is a test run. This wide open view has since been obscured by trees.

43186 leads the 15:33 Paddington to Cheltenham First Great Western service past the site of Coates station on 21 April 2002. Coates was the original station for the Kemble area, opening with the line in 1845 and being called Tetbury Road. The inclusion of the word road in the title was traditional GWR practice when the station was in the middle of nowhere! The present Kemble station came into use in 1872 and Tetbury Road then effectively became its goods station, changing its name to Coates in 1908.

Under leaden skies, 37606 & 37423 race through Ashchurch station with the Spitfire Railtours 1Z37 06:44 Crewe to Paignton 'Paignton Pudden' railtour on 21 June 2008. The weather forecast had predicted heavy rain, which would normally have deterred me from venturing out for this tour, even with Class 37 haulage. However, as DRS tractors were involved rather than the ubiquitous EWS locos, I decided to go for what I expected to be picture taken in torrential rain. In the event there was just a very slight drizzle when the train came, although as can be seen from the track it had been raining earlier. It was however very dark! Note the line curving away to the right into the MoD depot.

West Country 4-6-2 34027 Taw Valley passes Chilson with the Didcot to Worcester 'Cotswold Venturer' railtour on 29 August 1993. A warm summer day is hardly conducive to good steam photography, and although Taw Valley is working hard there is virtually no trace of exhaust.  Unfortunately this Cotswold Line location is now virtually useless for photography, as the bushes have grown considerably since this picture was taken. This is a pity as it was a very useful location for northbound trains as the line runs south west here for a few miles resulting in ideal lighting during the middle of the day.

Network SouthEast liveried 47711 County of Hertfordshire was unusual motive power for the 7M53 14:23 Bridgwater to Sellafield nuclear flasks on 11 September 1997.  A Class 37 was more usual motive power with Class 31s being a possibility, but this was certainly different! The final container has just being loaded and the loco will shortly move forward the short distance into Bridgwater station, before running round and then heading north. 47711 was one of the original Scottish push pull conversions, in which guise it was named Greyfriars Bobby. It was later transferred to NSE and worked on the West of England Line and on Paddington to Oxford services, until displaced by units in the early 1990s.

50031 Hood passes Puriton on 2 July 1990 with the 6C55 14:37 Bristol East to Taunton Riverside departmental working. The unmistakable landmark of Brent Knoll can be seen in the background, and if you look carefully in the bushes between the hill and the Class 50, the rusting remains of the branch line serving the MoD depot at Puriton can just be seen. This line has since been lifted. The junction with the mainline can also just be seen in the background. It is probably just as well that this working no longer operates with Class 50s, as I would cover an awful lot of mileage traveling down to this line every available sunny day!

C392 (51147 & 51134) passes Puriton on 2 July 1990 with the 13:13 Worcester Foregate Street to Taunton 'all stations' service. Brent Knoll is the unmistakable hill in the background. This unit was withdrawn from service in May 1993, but unlike a lot of its classmates, has since passed into preservation, currently residing at the Swansea Vale Railway. Obviously a fitting location, as there is no mistaking in this view that this is a Welsh DMU!

The first production HST power car, 43002 received the name Top of the Pops in August 1984 and the nameplate can just be seen in this view as it leads the 18:05 Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads service towards the site of Ashbury Crossing at Shrivenham on 29 May 1986. Also barely visible is the remains of the unit number (253001) under the driver's windscreen. The practice of referring to HSTs by a unit number was discontinued shortly after this revised livery was applied in the mid 1980s. \Superb evening lighting here, in a picture which is taken from the north side of the line, an angle which is only possible on mid summer evenings or on a cloudy day.

153327 speeds through the long closed Oaksey station (between Kemble and Swindon) on 13 March 1995, whilst working the 14:03 Cheltenham to Swindon Regional Railways service. Oaksey station was only open for 35 years and probably saw little traffic even then. It closed in 1964 along with the other local stations between Kemble and Swindon. It is probable that it would be busier now if still open due to the massive increase in the size of Swindon in the intervening years. Compare this view with a picture of 47802 taken from the other platform.

A very dilapidated 45136 stands with five withdrawn classmates at Egginton Junction on 11 September 1990. The other locos are (in order): 45146, 45125, 45111, 45126, & 45148. The only one of this lot to escape the cutters torch is the third one down the line, 45125, which is happily now preserved at the Great Central Railway. 45136, still largely intact here, except for its centre windscreen met its end at MC Metals at Glasgow in April 1992. This line of locos was left at this remote location between June 1990 and March 1992. Presumably the threat of vandalism was less at a rural location.

A super abundance of hawthorn blossom at Kettering on 21 May 1989 as the 10:33 Nottingham to St Pancras service accelerates away from the station, with 43079 leading. The field on the left subsequently succumbed to the spread of housing which can already be seen in the background. 43079 can no longer be seen on this route, as it was transferred to Laira in 1998 for use on the Great Western Mainline.

A contrast in motive power at Barnes Bridge station on 27 November 1999. A3 4-6-2 4472 Flying Scotsman passes through with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z94 08:33 Yeovil Junction to Victoria 'Capital Scotsman' railtour, while Class 455 5712 works the 12:54 Waterloo to Hounslow South West Trains service. Although it does make an interesting comparison in traction, and of course it could have been much worse if the unit had actually arrived slightly later and blocked the view, it does mean unfortunately that the EMU more or less completely obscures the bridge over the River Thames in the background, which gives the station its name and was my reason for choosing the location in the first place!

321425 arrives at Hemel Hempstead with the 12:49 Northampton to Euston Network SouthEast service on 2 September 1990. Then only a few months old, the 321s were introduced on these outer suburban services to replace the older Class 310 & 317 units. The P suffix to the number at this end of the unit indicates that this DTSO vehicle contains a small parcels area that can be locked off by an internal sliding door. The DTCO vehicle at the other end of the unit does not have this feature.

1001 with DMBSO 60000 Hastings leading passes through Cowden station with the 08:34 Oxted to Uckfield service on Sunday 25 May 1997, during the Connex South Central's Uckfield Line Gala weekend. Note the long disused up platform, now virtually covered by grass and bushes. It was not far from here that a Class 205 ran past a red signal in 1994 and collided with a train on the single track section. Prior to the advent of radios in the cabs there was no means for the signalman (who was obviously aware of what was happening) to notify either driver.

Islip station, on the Bicester to Oxford line was reopened by Network SouthEast on 13 May 1989. L400 (51374, 59484 & 51332) & Class 101 L207 (51221 & 54396) are pictured departing from the station with the first up service - the 12:27 Bicester Town to Oxford. The station has probably never been as busy since, with numerous local people gathering on the platform to witness the event, which included several stalls and a group of Morris dancers! The station was originally opened by the LNWR, but closed on 30 December 1967, when all passenger trains on the route were withdrawn. Network SouthEast had reinstated the Oxford to Bicester service in 1987, but Islip had to wait a further two years before their station was reopened.

Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0 304469 stands in front of the Nene Valley Railway's shed at Wansford on 6 October 1990 in the company of Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T 1800 Thomas and BR 5MT 4-6-0 73050. The Ruston was built in 1951 and was moved to the Nene Valley Railway for preservation from the nearby British Sugar Corporation works at Peterborough.

08795 was employed on a series of Gloucester station to Barnwood Junction shuttle services during the Gloucester Rail Day on 1 July 1990. It is pictured here at Horton Road Junction bringing up the rear of the train as GWR 4-6-0 6024 King Edward 1 takes the train round the curve towards Barnwood. The stock is Class 117 DMU set B430 (51410, 59520 & 51368) with an additional coach in matching Great Western livery. The sun almost came out for a few minutes on an otherwise very overcast day, which has certainly accentuated the dark clouds in the background. Other points of interest in this picture are 37100 & 37074 visible under the bridge in the background on one of the numerous mini railtours run in connection with the event, and the unfinished state of the bridge and embankment on what is now the A4032 Metz Way.

London Midland Region Matisa Neptune track recording unit DR50006 heads west at Chinley on 19 June 1984. These vaguely comical little machines were used to produce a readout of track alignment problems and had the ability to spray paint on the track to notify PW workers of areas that needed attention.

1963 Guest Engineering built 2-4-2 Siân is pictured next to the dunes on the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway on 27 July 1997. Siân spent the first twenty years of her life on the Fairbourne Railway, moving to pastures new when that line took the dramatic step of regauging from 15" to 12¼". The loco has also spent time on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway.

Fairbourne Railway built 2-6-2 Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes No.24 waits next to the dunes on the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway on 27 July 1997. The Spurn Head lighthouse can just be seen in the distance on the horizon above the loco's chimney, on the other side of the mouth of the River Humber.

The passenger on the platform at Kingham certainly has a reason to look round as 43182 arrives with the 1Z16 14:03 Worcester Shrub Hill to Hanborough First Great Western service on 15 June 2008. Because the rostered driver for one of the diagrams over the Cotswold Line did not sign Class 166 units, a special short HST was made up comprising power cars 43182 & 43042 with coaches 42277 & 44059. The line was closed between Hanborough and Oxford, with buses providing a connection, while an hourly shuttle worked between Worcester and Handborough. Unfortunately the sun disappeared at Kingham just before the train arrived!

No doubt providing inspiration for railway modellers everywhere, a 'train set' size HST leaves Moreton-in-Marsh on 15 June with the 1Z22 16:58 Worcester Shrub Hill to Hanborough First Great Western service. The Cotswold Line was closed for engineering work south of Hanborough and because the driver of one of the Worcester to Hanborough shuttle diagrams didn't sign Class 166s, a special short HST was made up comprising 43182, 42277, 44059, & 43042. The phenomenal power to weight ratio was apparent here, as the train was traveling appreciably faster than normal at this location, having just started from Moreton-in-Marsh station which is just visible in the background. 43182 is leading.

166203 approaches Moreton-in-Marsh on 15 June 2008 with the 17:40 Hanborough to Worcester Shrub Hill First Great Western service. The Cotswold Line was closed for engineering works between Hanborough and Oxford, with buses providing a connection with the hourly Worcester to Hanborough shuttle train service. This is one of the few remaining locations on the Cotswold Line where there is un interrupted view in both directions, although even here the vegetation growth since the 1980s is quite starling.

In superb evening light, 43042 approaches Moreton-in-Marsh with the 1Z79 18:40 Hanborough to Worcester Shrub Hill First Great Western service on 15 June 2008. The Cotswold Line was closed between Hanborough and Oxford for engineering works and a hourly Worcester to Hanborough shuttle service was in operation. The driver for one of the diagrams didn't sign Class 166s, so the highly unusual but commendable step was taken of providing a two coach HST to cover the diagram. The combination of 4302, 44059, 42277, & 43182 was sent up from to Bristol St Phillips Marsh especially for two out and back workings to Hanborough. On a day with lots of cloud around the few minutes of sunshine that coincided with this train was most welcome!

37401 & 37417 Richard Trevithick pass the site of Bredon station with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z66 05:05 Cardiff Central to Ravenglass 'Lake District Explorer' railtour on 14 June 2008. It was completely cloudy when I left home, so I decided to go to this location rather than a more open spot that I would have chosen if it had been sunny. You can guess what happened next! Just as it was getting too late to move to another spot, the sun started to break through! Luckily however, the low sun (it was still only 06:53!) was just high enough to fully light the two locos. The industrial unit in the background marks the site of Bredon station, which closed in 1965.

56133 Crewe Locomotive Works propels a couple of steel wagons back towards Goole station from the dock area on 7 February 1998, running as the 6J50 11:34 Goole Docks to Rotherham. Although by this time a Class 08 shunter had been deployed at Goole in view of the upturn in traffic, previously the train loco (usually a Class 56) traveled the entire length of the dock lines, involving considerably sharper curves than the one 56133 is pictured on here.

144001 leaves Goole on 7 February 1998 with the 11:28 Goole to Doncaster service. 56133 can just be seen in the background waiting to follow it with the 6J50 11:34 Goole Docks to Rotherham steel train. This wide open view is no longer possible, as the field in the foreground has been built on. Several large industrial units now occupy the site, which is presumably what the sign that can just be seen to the right of 56133 in the background is advertising! Also the lineside vegetation has increased considerably.

205032 approaches Bramley with the 14:48 Reading to Basingstoke Network SouthEast service on 15 May 1993. This was the last scheduled weekend for the 'Thumper' units on this route, their place being taken by Class 165 'Turbo' units. 205032 was withdrawn in November 2004, after spending its last few years working on the Ashford to Hastings line. It has since been preserved.

45129 passes Badgeworth with the 1V74 08:29 Leeds to Cardiff Central service on 16 February 1985. It had snowed several days before and luckily there was still some snow on the ground at the weekend and the sun decided to shine as well! The snow is particularly apparent on the Cotswold Hills in the background. Note that this picture was taken before the new road bridge was constructed just beyond the signal in the background. Also in recent years vegetation has started to spread up the embankment on the south side of the line.

08829 shunts a rake of HAA coal wagons at Wetmore Sidings, Burton-on-Trent on 11 August 1990. The bridge in the background used to carry the North Staffordshire Railway line over the Midland Railway route in order to access their goods depot. 08829 was withdrawn in June 1993 and then spent over a decade in store at various locations before finally being cut up by the Harry Needle Railway Company in 2005.

08904 is pictured at Didcot on 4 December 1999, still sporting extremely faded BR corporate blue livery, considerably modified with oil stains, various marks and graffiti. As well as 'Didcot Taxis' this also includes what must be the most unofficial of namings, with 'Harry' just roughly scrawled on the battery box. 08904 was delivered new to Bedford depot (as D4134) in June 1962.

Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73906 ambles along the up line at Fritwell (on the Chiltern Line between Aynho Junction and Bicester) on 9 June 2008. Someone was presumably getting bored during some extended engineering possession and decided to decorate the buffers with smiley faces!

67012 passes Fritwell with the 1P13 11:10 Wrexham General to Marylebone Wrexham & Shropshire Railway service on 9 June 2008. EWS liveried 67002 can be seen on the rear of the train. This was one of those annoying situations where the sun was behind one of the few clouds on an otherwise sunny day as the train came into view. However the cloud was obviously moving faster than the train, because it just cleared in time. Note the slightly darker ballast in front of the loco, caused by the tail end of the cloud - that's how close it was!

165120 arrives at Heyford with the 15:05 Banbury to Oxford First Great Western service on 9 June 2008. The boats on the Oxford Canal form a perfect background to this picture, which is taken from the station's footbridge. The houses in the background are in the village of Lower Heyford. The village of Upper Heyford (once synonymous with the now closed USAF airfield) lies a mile away to the north.

43098 arrives at Charlbury station with the 1W47 15:51 Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill First Great Western service on 9 June 2008, with 43016 on the rear. This fine uninterrupted view of the station could possibly be lost if the plans for reinstating the double track on this section of the Cotswold Line go ahead. Presumably a second platform would be constructed with a footbridge, which although obviously a good thing as far as passengers are concerned, will make photography from this spot more difficult.

With the long lens compressing the perspective and bringing up the houses of Charlbury in the distance, 165124 approaches Shorthampton with the 17:31 Oxford to Worcester Foregate Street First Great Western service on 9 June 2008. This is the only down train to call at all stations on the Cotswold Line. The bridge, which forms an ideal photographic frame for this short train is a farm occupation bridge linking fields on either side of the line.

This view shows how close the station at Shipton, on the Cotswold Line is to the premises of FWP Matthews, flower millers. On 9 June 2008, 43005 leads the 1W03 17:21 Paddington to Hereford First Great Western service past the company's delivery lorries in the car park. The entrance to the flower mill can be seen on the extreme right, this also being the entrance to Shipton' s down platform, making the narrow path on which I am stood effectively the path to the station.

20075 & 20131 pass Staveley on the Windermere Branch with one of the Pathfinder Tours 'Lancastrian Mini Excursion' on 23 May 1993. This was the 1Z46 08:30 Crewe to Preston (via Windermere). 37708 & 37801 can just be seen on the rear of the train, about to cross the level crossing. Note the discreet white backed logos visible on the Class 20 bodysides. These were proclaiming ownership by BRT, and prior to their repainting in the striking BRT white livery.

60084 Cross Fell passes Rose Grove station on 23 May 1993 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z46 13:40 Preston to Preston (via Padiham and Colne) 'Lancastrian Mini Excursion' railtour. 26003 & 26005 can just be seen on the rear of the train. Rose Grove will for ever be associated with the dying days of steam on BR in 1968. There was a huge railway presence here, as not only was the wasteland on the right of this picture occupied by sidings, but also most of the area under the M65 motorway in the background.

26003 & 26005 pass Reedley on the Colne Branch with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z46 13:40 Preston to Preston (via Padiham and Colne) 'Lancastrian Mini Excursion' on 23 May 1993. 60084 is out of sight on the rear of the train. This was one of a number of mini railtours organised by Pathfinder over the weekend using (by today's standards) an amazing variety of traction. For once I was glad that the sun dipped slightly as the train approached, as this would have been a severely backlit shot otherwise.

Very difficult lighting conditions at Parkside Junction (near Newton-le-Willows) on 23 May 1993, with the sun right behind the train. Consecutively numbered 56084 & 56085 round the short and sharply curved freight only chord between Lowton Junction and Parkside Junction with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z46 17:05 Preston to Crewe 'Lancastrian Mini Excursion'. The line in the foreground is the Liverpool to Manchester line, famously the first passenger carrying railway to open in 1830.

43065 leads the 16:50 Kings Cross to Bradford Interchange 'Bradford Executive' service towards Peascliffe Tunnel (near Grantham) on 14 June 1986. As can be seen, the East Coast Mainline was in the early stages of electrification at this time, with just the masts in position. Without any wires to tension them, the posts seem to be far from vertical in this picture. This was the era of mixed HST liveries, and indeed the other HST seen here on this day was the exact opposite of this one - InterCity liveried coaches and original liveried power car.

HSTs have been commonplace on the Cotswold Line for many years, but this is a picture of the first one! 43134 rolls into Evesham station with the 10:25 Paddington to Great Malvern service on 14 May 1984, the first day of the new timetable. This was the first ever scheduled InterCity 125 passenger train on the Cotswold Line, made possible by utilising extra capacity available during the middle of the day. Later of course the trains would take over from the long distance loco-hauled services on the route.

165009 along with an unidentified classmate leaves Princes Risborough on 15 May 1993 with the 09:30 Banbury to Marylebone Network SouthEast service. Notice that some otherwise very thorough roof cleaning on these units has been slightly let down by leaving a small area untouched over the cab windows! In the background on the down line can be seen the wagons of the Northolt to Calvert binliner, which remained in that position for some considerable time.

Strange goings on at Oxford on 23 August 1985. 45044 had worked the 6V19 06:32 Bescot to Didcot Speedlink freight and then just over an hour after it passed Oxford it returned with this freightliner, heading back from whence it came. Presumably it was deputising for a failed locomotive on the freightliner, which it must have picked up at either Oxford or Didcot. Any more information would be gratefully received.

43089 Hayabusa leads Network Rail's New Measurement Train through Kemble on 5 June 2008 with the 1Z22 06:48 Derby to Cheltenham (via Hereford and Swindon) test train, with 43014 bringing up the rear. At this point it was running 40 minutes early and consequently was following right behind the 12:31 Cheltenham to Paddington HST. In fact it had a very brief signal check in the station, just enough to result in the sun disappearing! It is pictured just about to enter the single track section to Swindon and also the 415 yard long Kemble Tunnel.

43014 passes through Kemble station on 5 June 2008 with the 1Z22 06:48 Derby to Cheltenham (via Hereford and Swindon) Network Rail New Measurement Train. Running 30 minutes early, it has just traversed the single track section from Swindon in a just about adequate gap in the timetable, instead of the easier path it would have had if running to the correct time. Note that the little used siding on the left is obviously sufficiently useful to have been re-laid in the last few years.

A close up view of 150261 as it leaves Kemble station with the 13:38 Cheltenham to Swindon First Great Western service on 5 June 2008. Services over the 'Golden Valley' route are now shared between Class 150s on these local trains, and HSTs which work the through services to Paddington. The sharply curved grass grown platform visible above the train is the former Cirencester branch platform, which in latter years saw the steam hauled branch trains replaced by the AC Cars built railbuses, whose economy of operation sadly did not prove sufficient to save either the Cirencester line, or the Tetbury branch, which also started from this station.

Sporting a Stratford depot silver roof, 47019 passes Hinksey Yard (near Oxford) under a threatening sky with the 1M13 11:50 Paddington to Birmingham New Street service on 5 July 1980. A common question to be asked in the late 1970s and early 1980s at Oxford was "Seen any Stratford 47s?", as the white or silver roofs were just about the only variation to the standard rail blue livery. Nevertheless, with a variety of loco types, plenty of freight and loco hauled passenger trains it was still a golden age compared with today! 47019 was withdrawn in December 1993 and broken up at Eastleigh by staff from M.R.J. Phillips of Llanelly.

L584 (51098, 59429, & 51070) approaches Oaksey on 2 April 1983 with the 14:24 Cheltenham to Swindon service. This uninterrupted view along the long straight section of track was not to last much longer, as the small ash tree in the foreground didn't stay small for very long!. Note the impressive line of redundant telegraph poles on the left.

Class 411 4-CEP 1544 takes the Margate line at Faversham with the 10:05 Victoria to Ramsgate Network SouthEast service on 12 August 1995. The station and signal box can be seen in the background, while just out of sight on the left in the vee of the junction (the Canterbury line is on the left), the remains of the steam locomotive depot surprisingly had managed to survive the bulldozers. Both lines and the depot site are crossed by a long footbridge.

56046 passes Stockton Cut Junction with the 6G40 10:00 Hartlepool to Immingham gas pipe train on 22 July 1996. This was a short term contract that operated during the summer of 1996. Stockton Cut Junction is where the lines from Hartlepool and Middlesbrough converge, and is ideally situated for a photo from the A66 bridge - if you can put up with the traffic!

56001 emerges from the fog at Shrivenham on 28 September 1985 with a train of MGR empties returning to South Wales from Didcot Power Station. Generally by this date most coal for Didcot came from the Midlands, but there was still the odd working from Wales. Just a few years earlier most of the power station's coal came via this route. I have used a shorter lens here than I would normally use at this location, to lessen the impact of the fog. It was just starting to clear and the sun was almost coming out.

166202 approaches Aynho on 30 March 2002 with the 14:38 Banbury to Paddington Thames Trains service. This location is at its best in late spring, when the sun has got high enough so that the trees don't completely shade the track, and before the leaves appear on the trees which, apart from a short period in the middle of the day, have the much the same effect.

A slightly different viewpoint on a well known photographic location at Oxford. A very tatty 47526 pulls way from Oxford station on 2 October 1991 with the 11:00 Oxford to Paddington Network SouthEast service and passes under the Osney Lane footbridge. In 2007 this bridge was removed for essential repairs, but due to typical Network Rail incompetence was not replaced for many months, causing a severe nuisance to local residents. Shortage of materials was blamed for the delay. I cannot believe that the structure of the bridge detiorated so quickly that it had to be closed before replacement parts were available!

33117 passes the site of Bletchingdon station (or Bletchington as the GWR called it) with the 1E22 12:46 Fridays only Portsmouth Harbour to Leeds service on 17 June 1983. This train regularly brought a Class 33 to the Oxford to Banbury line during the 1980s. Although the loco survives, this viewpoint does not! While in 1983 the old station site was just an overgrown area with a few piles of abandoned timber, today it is a thriving industrial unit, and the whole area is dominated by towering piles of pallets! Even if it was possible to stand in this spot now, you wouldn't be able to see anything of the railway!

In gloomy conditions on 5 May 1986, 25109 & 25057 pass Rangeworthy with the F & W Railtours 06:50 Crewe to Onllwyn 'Valley Explorer' railtour. Note the two different Class 25 body types, with 25057 having the original design with grilles scattered all over the bodyside, while 25109 has all the grilles arranged neatly at cantrail level. The most noticeable aspect of this picture is how open the location is, with virtually no lineside vegetation to speak of. However, it wasn't long before those few lineside bushes multiplied considerably!

150235 passes Levington on 25 July 1996 with the 16:47 Felixstowe to Lowestoft (via Ipswich) Regional Railways service. Although only a single track line, the route between Felixstowe and Ipswich is relatively busy, with numerous freightliner trains in addition these local passenger workings.

On 23 March 2002, 57xx 0-6-0PT 9642 simmers quietly at Parkend on the Dean Forest Railway with a demonstration freight train during a photo charter by the EMRPS. 9642 only just qualifies as Great Western loco, having been built in 1946. It spent its last years at Southall depot, although was briefly transferred to Old Oak Common prior to being withdrawn in November 1964. It then worked for the National Coal Board at Maesteg, before entering preservation.

The sun glints off the diverted 08:00 Paddington to Swansea First Great Western service as it crosses the River Avon at Bradford-on-Avon on Sunday 9 January 2000 with 43012 leading. Not quite a perfect reflection in the water due to a slight breeze, but at least it is recognisable. The train has traveled via the Berks & Hants line, and taken the freight only Heywood Road Junction to Hawkeridge Junction chord near Westbury to head up the Avon Valley.

45113 approaches Abbotswood on 6 July 1985 with the 1M44 11:32 Penzance to Manchester Piccadilly service on 6 July 1985. 45113 was one of the final 'Peaks' to be withdrawn, being put into store at Tinsley in August 1988. It was finally cut up at M C Metal Processing at Springburn in March 1990. Bredon Hill can seen in the background, dominating the otherwise flat Vale of Evesham.

50015 Valiant passes the south end of Hinksey Yard, near Oxford (Hinksey South in railway parlance) on 12 May 1984 with the 14:15 Oxford to Paddington service. Note the luxury accommodation available on Oxford to London trains in the 1980s compared with today. Nine Mk 2 coaches (mostly air conditioned), three of which are first class. Over twenty years of progress has resulted in this being replaced by a three coach DMU, or two if you are lucky!

156454 leaves Hexham station on 14 September 1996 with the 10:35 Carlisle to Middlesbrough service. A fine North Eastern Railway footbridge and original station canopies are dominated by the ridiculously tall semaphore signal, which is made to look even more out of scale, when compared with the truncated version on the left! As with most stations on the Tyne Valley Line there is plenty of steam age character here, although I don't think the loading platform on the left has seen a train for many years!

60099 Ben More Assynt heads up the Wylye Valley at Hanging Langford with the 6V13 13:20 Furzebrook to Hallen Marsh LPG tanks on 15 April 1997. A fine panoramic view with the Langford Lakes Nature Reserve on the left and on the extreme right the bridge over the line at Little Langford. Between the two, Little Langford church can just be seen.

On a fine summer's evening, a remarkably clean 165120 speeds past the public footpath crossing at Churchill Heath, on the Cotswold Line between Bruern and Kingham. The date is 27 June 1993 and it is working the 17:35 Oxford to Great Malvern Network SouthEast service. This is one of the few occasions prior to First Great Western taking over services on the Cotswold Line that I have photographed a late running train (20 minutes late in this case). Unfortunately late running has now become the norm. Note the pre war bullhead track that was still in place on the down line at this location. The rails may vintage but 165120 was less than a year old at this time.

37414 Cathays C&W Works 1846-1993 departs from Patchway station with the 2O87 07:45 Cardiff to Weymouth Wales & West service on 29 August 1999. Unfortunately, 1999 was to be the last year of Class 37 haulage to Weymouth, and with hindsight more effort should have be put into capturing the last workings. At the time complacency set in when the same locos appeared week after week. How times change!