47659 passes Stoke Gifford on 6 May 1989, as it accelerates away from Bristol Parkway station with the 1M56 12:00 Plymouth to Manchester Piccadilly service. With hindsight I should have taken more pictures at this location, and earlier in the day with a better lighting angle! As can be seen, in the 1980s there was hardly any vegetation on the sides of the cutting. Even before the 25kV arrived, the bushes had started to grow, so it looks a bit different now!

In the late 1980s, despite the introduction of the new InterCity and Network SouthEast liveries, there were still plenty of trains with both loco and coaches in BR blue livery. 47557 rounds the curve at Duffryn on 15 August 1987 with the 1M70 07:45 Swansea to Manchester Piccadilly service. The bridge in the background is the B4239 Newport to Cardiff (via St Brides Wentlooge) road.

47558 Mayflower passes Quedgeley on 18 August 1984 with the early running 3A42 09:15 Gloucester to Swindon newspaper empties. Photo taken from a public footpath crossing, on the site of the former Naas Lane level crossing.

A phenomenon of the 1970s and 1980s was the BR organized special excursion, otherwise known as an Adex (Advertised Excursion). 47559 Sir Joshua Reynolds passes Abbotswood on a very dull and misty 17 March 1984 with a Leicester to Plymouth Adex.

800310 passes Stoke Orchard on 27 June 2026 with the early running 3G16 05:23 Bristol Parkway to Great Malvern GWR ECS. There was formerly a station here, which the Midland Railway chose to name Cleeve, despite the village of Bishop's Cleeve being much further away than the village of Stoke Orchard. Cheltenham's tallest building, the 1968 built 15 storey Eagle Tower can be seen in the distance.

37521 & 37667 Flopsie look superb in their new black livery, as they pass Stoke Orchard on 27 June 2026 with the Statesman Rail 1Z51 04:50 Derby to Penzance 'Cornish Riviera & Mazey Day Statesman' railtour. This was a great day for photographing Class 37/5s, as an hour later another pair headed for the same destination.

37669 & 37668 pass Stoke Orchard on 27 June 2026 with the Railway Touring Company 1Z36 06:31 Dorridge to Penzance 'Mazey Day Cornishman' railtour. An hour earlier another pair of Class 37/5s had also passed by en-route to Cornwall. This location doesn't seem to be as well used by photographers as certain other spots in the Cheltenham area, but even so I was surprised to be the only person here on this occasion.

Running 30 minutes late, 165012 & 165034 pass Oddington on 26 June 2026 with the 1T12 16:40 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. I had gone here to photograph the two evening freights, and the Belmond 1Z83 17:52 Victoria to Redhill charter. However, soon after this unit passed a lot of high cloud covered the sun, and as one of the freights and the charter had not left on time, I decided to call it a day. Needless to say as soon as I was back home the sun reappeared and the freights both ran. The charter also ran, but was an hour late, and presumably passed here after the light had gone.

66744 Heart of Wales passes Cholsey on 25 June 2026 with the Belmond 1Z75 05:50 Honeybourne Staff Hut to Victoria 'Britannic Explorer' luxury charter. 66748 St Michael's Mount is bringing up the rear. Normally I would have preferred to photograph this on the Cotswold Line. However, as that would be nearly two earlier, fully lit locations are now hard to find due to Network Rail's failure to manage lineside vegetation.

66729 Derby County passes Cholsey on 25 June 2026 with the 4O46 03:10 Trafford Park to Southampton Western Docks intermodal. This was just 15 minutes after another GBRf Class 66 had passed by with a much more prestigious train. The chimneys of Didcot B's gas fired power station can just be seen behind the locomotive, although they are nothing like as obvious as Didcot A's coal fired power station cooling towers and chimney used to be!

The 6J02 08:52 Newbury Racecourse Civil Engineer's Sidings to Newbury Racecourse Civil Engineer's Sidings (via Swindon) approaches Uffington footbridge on 25 June 2026. Colas Rail Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73936 had actually left Newbury over two hours late. It was delayed even further at Reading, but to make up time it missed out the Reading to Langley section of the route. It was still over two hours late when it passed Didcot, but by the time I photographed it after its reversal at Swindon, it was half an hour early!

Mad railway photographers go out in the midday sun! My first picture of 59001 Yeoman Endeavour actually hauling a train since it was repainted into a variation of it original livery. In 36ºC heat, and with harsh overhead midday lighting, the 6C48 12:50 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties passes Uffington on 25 June 2026, running 19 minutes early. It had left its booked stop at Challow early, due to the following 1B15 12:48 Paddington to Swansea GWR service running late.

66025 passes Newton Longville in lovely soft evening light on 24 June 2026 with the 4O56 19:10 Northampton Gateway to Southampton Maritime intermodal. As there are as yet no passenger services on this line, this was the only picture I got on this occasion. There should have been another freight, the 4V46 18:29 Daventry to Wentloog, but that ran over three hours late, in the dark, and long after I was back home!

170113 passes Stoke Prior on 23 June 2026 with the 1M01 08:45 Cardiff Central to Nottingham CrossCountry service. Dominating the background are the twin masts of the Droitwich transmitting station. The BBC's long wave service has been broadcast from this site since 1934, but was due to end just four days after this picture was taken. The vintage equipment consists of a pair of  Marconi B6042 transmitters, with a combined output of 500kW. Each unit has a pair of now very rare water cooled output valves, operating with an anode voltage of over 10kV!

196103 passes Stoke Prior on 23 June 2026 with the 1M61 09:40 Hereford to Birmingham New Street West Midlands Railway service. The twin 700ft tall masts of Droitwich transmitting station dominate the background. Suspended between the two masts are the aerials for BBC's long wave transmitter, which was due to be permanently switched off on 27 June.

Running as the 0W78 10:12 Derby RTC to Cardiff Canton Sidings light engine, 37884 Cepheus rounds the curve at Stoke Prior on 23 June 2026. It's a good job that this wasn't booked to use the loop, as the lineside vegetation would have prevented any kind of picture!

170637 passes Stoke Prior on 23 June 2026 with the 1V07 10:07 Nottingham to Cardiff Central CrossCountry service. This was on the hottest day of the year so far, and I was glad that there was a nearby tree that I could stand under, to get out of the sun whilst waiting for trains!

66426 rounds the curve at Stoke Prior on a sweltering 23 June 2026 with the 4V44 10:42 Daventry to Wentloog Tesco liner. This was running 12 minutes early, despite the fact that it had left Daventry 20 minutes late.

Apart from the actual trackwork and Temple Meads station in the background, virtually everything in this picture of Bristol has now disappeared. 47543 trundles past Bath Road Depot on 28 December 1991, while two of its classmates await their next turn of duty in front of the shed. The Royal Mail sorting office that is dominating the background was closed in 1997, but was not demolished until 2019. Bath Road Depot closed in 1995 and was demolished in 2003. A very dull day, but this is my only picture of this now historic view.

47525 passes Culham on 5 May 1984 with the 1M14 13:07 Paddington to Liverpool Lime Street service. The loco entered service (as D1108) in January 1967. It had a service life of just over 30 years, and then languished for another decade, before finally being cut up in August 2010.

43171 passes Rumney on 8 November 1996 with the 1A35 07:36 Carmarthen to Paddington Great Western Trains service. Just visible behind the signal gantry is the bridge carrying the Rumney to Peterstone Wentlooge road over the railway. The road was rerouted shortly after this picture was taken. The disused bridge survived until the line was electrified in 2017.

A pair of Plasser & Theurer track machines head west past South Moreton (Didcot East) on 18 February 1990. Note the considerable height difference between USP5000C Ballast Regulator DR77332 & 07-16 Universal Tamper / Liner DR73220.

201001 (with S60116 Mountfield leading) & 1013 approach Crofton on 20 June 2026 with the Hastings Diesels Ltd 1Z22 06:08 Hastings to Paignton 'English Riviera Express' railtour. There was a fanfare both on the normal air horn, and the unusual triple chime air whistle, specifically for the small gallery of photographers standing on the Kennet & Avon Canal Bridge 99. A mainly cloudy day, although the sun was trying to break through the clouds, which of course it did for a few seconds just after the train had passed!

The gates are thrown open, so that 66537 can leave Long Marston on 19 June 2026 with the 4Z37 08:39 Long Marston to Doncaster Europort, conveying a couple of pressurised hydrogen containers that had been exhibited at the previous day's Rail Live event. Just a small percentage of the vast amount of Long Marston's stored stock can be seen in the background. Note the recently completed 25kV electrified line.

66537 leaves Long Marston on 19 June 2026 with the 4Z37 08:39 Long Marston to Doncaster Europort. The very short train is made up of a couple of pressurised hydrogen containers that had been exhibited at the previous day's Rail Live event. Unfortunately at this time of the morning the shadows from the lineside bushes make photography very difficult. It doesn't seem likely that the vegetation will be removed, as the small plot of land is now securely fenced off on all sides!

After photographing 66537 leaving Long Marston on 19 June 2026 with the 4Z37 08:39 Long Marston to Doncaster Europort working, I thought it was worth taking a picture of the miniscule payload. The train consists of a couple of pressurised hydrogen containers (note the Hazchem label). These had been exhibited at the Rail Live event, which took place at Long Marston over the previous two days.

99008 leaves Long Marston on 19 June 2026 with the 3Z20 10:33 Long Marston to Scarborough Rail 200 exhibition train. 66710 Karen Harrison is bringing up the rear. The very colourful train had been on display at the two day Rail Live event. 99008 arrived in this country from Spain a month earlier.

66710 Karen Harrison brings up the rear of the 3Z20 10:33 Long Marston to Scarborough Rail 200 exhibition train, as it leaves Long Marston on 19 June 2026, led by brand new 99008. The train had been exhibited at the annual Rail Live event.

43094 passes Whitehill (between Combe and Finstock) on 18 June 2026 with the 1Z48 07:43 Paddington to Long Marston 'Rail Live Express 2026' charter. 43122 is bringing up the rear. This was the second day that this train ran, taking visitors to Long Marston's annual railway trade exhibition.

43122 brings up the rear of the 1Z48 07:43 Paddington to Long Marston 'Rail Live Express 2026' charter at Whitehill (between Combe and Finstock) on 18 June 2026. 43094 is leading the train through the short but very overgrown cutting.

800303 passes Daylesford on 18 June 2026 with the 1W29 14:53 Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street GWR service. This picture shows just how overgrown the UK's railways have become, now that Network Rail no long cut back lineside vegetation. The bush in the foreground hasn't yet grown big enough to be hit by passing trains, but the large clump of bushes in the distance definitely has!

The 1Z49 15:51 Long Marston to Paddington 'Rail Live Express 2026' charter passes Daylesford on 18 June 2026 with 43122 leading and 43094 bringing up the rear. This train ran on both days of the Rail Live event, giving passengers from London a very convenient journey straight into the site. In previous years visitors have had to rely on normal service trains to Honeybourne, for an onward shuttle service.

43094 brings up the rear of the 1Z49 15:51 Long Marston to Paddington 'Rail Live Express 2026' charter at Daylesford on 18 June 2026. The overgrown lineside bushes are partly hiding 43122 at the front of the train.

The 1Z43 07:43 Paddington to Long Marston 'Rail Live Express 2026' passes Stonesfield on 17 June 2026, with 43094 leading and 43122 bringing up the rear. The Romic HST was being used to take visitors to the annual railway trade show. This used to be one of the Cotswold Line's most open locations, but yet another viewpoint is now being ruined by lineside bushes.

43122 races through Kingham station on 17 June 2026 with the 1Z44 15:51 Long Marston to Paddington 'Rail Live Express 2026' charter. This was for visitors to Long Marston's annual railway trade exhibition. I have photographed many HSTs at this location over the years, but not in this Romic livery, and not usually travelling at this speed!

45133 crosses the M5 at Junction 11 (near Churchdown) on 3 January 1987 with the 1E69 11:00 Cardiff Central to York relief. You wouldn't very often see the motorway as quiet as this nowadays! 45133 lives on in preservation, but the white Ford Escort has not survived, as despite being a diesel, only had a life of eight years.

31602 Chimaera & 31459 Cerberus pass the site of Finedon station on 24 February 2001 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z42 05:55 Sheffield to Victoria 'Southern Suburban' railtour. After arriving in London, the 31s would be replaced by 73110 & 73136 Kent Youth Music, which would live up to the tour's name by traversing various Southern Region lines.

158754 leaves Llandudno Junction on 5 December 1992 with the 12:15 Holyhead to Crewe Regional Railways service. Since this picture was taken the industrial building behind the train has surprisingly been demolished. Less surprising is that the whole area has become very overgrown. Because Network Rail no longer control lineside vegetation, there is now a tall 'hedge' between the line the unit is on and the two centre tracks. There is a further buddleia 'hedge' between the main lines and the siding on the right.

This is the longest Class 158 that I have photographed. 158812 brings up the rear of a nine coach formation, as it enters the very short Yarm Tunnel on 3 April 1999 with an unidentified working, possibly the diverted 11:25 Manchester Airport to Newcastle TransPennine Express service. This it the site of the original Yarm station, which closed in 1960. On the right is the site of the former goods shed, which survived until the mid 1990s. Houses now occupy the site.

142079 approaches Crowle on 31 May 1997 with the 11:03 Doncaster to Scunthorpe Regional Railways North East service. After its career in the north, 142079 was sent to South Wales in 2019, as a source of spares for the Welsh fleet. It was scrapped shortly afterwards. This view has changed since the 1990s. The signal gantry has gone, and houses now occupy the field on the right.

47200 prepares to leave Ascott-under-Wychwood on 27 November 1988 with a train of recovered track panels, which it would take 'wrong line' towards Worcester. The train had been brought to Ascott a little earlier from an engineering possession near Evenlode by 47205.

It's only running light engine, but 47225 is still producing plenty of black smoke, as it passes Didcot North Junction on 6 May 1990. The loco was allocated to Tinsley at the time, as indicated by the Yorkshire Rose depot plaque below the cab window.

No heat Class 47/3s were often pressed into passenger service during the summer in the 1980s, especially at the weekends. 47321 is pictured passing Hinksey Yard on 5 July 1980 with the 1O17 11:04 Birmingham New Street to Weymouth service. I should have paid far more attention to this train at the time, as records show that as well as 47/0s & 47/3s, Class 33s occasionally worked the train, and even on one occasion, a Class 40!

47256 passes Hinksey Yard on 5 July 1980 with the 1A51 11:40 Worcester Shrub Hill to Paddington service. At this time most Cotswold Line trains were loco hauled. This would change a couple of years later, when all but a couple of these trains were replaced by DMUs.

47605 passes Margaretting on 8 May 1985 with the 1C35 07:36 Yarmouth to Liverpool Street service. This loco entered service (as D1754) in August 1964. It acquired the TOPS number 47160 in February 1974, and was renumbered 47605 a decade later. In April 1994 it was renumbered yet again to 47746.

With Didcot Power Station dominating the background, 47624 Cyclops passes South Moreton on 6 August 1988 with the 3A03 13:43 Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington parcels. Note the unusual inclusion of a Network SouthEast liveried BG van.

168107 passes Bishop's Itchington on 16 July 2001 with the 14:30 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. 168107 was just one year old at the time, and still running as a three car unit. It would be reformed as a four unit the following year.

37798 & 37670 pass Brentry on 8 June 2002 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z37 07:03 Crewe to Portbury Automotive Terminal ''Post Festive Freighter' railtour. The train has just emerged from the 302 yard long Charlton Tunnel, on the Filton to Avonmouth line. The village of Charlton was demolished in the 1940s to make way for runway extension at Filton Airfield (later Bristol Filton Airport).

82147 The Red Devils leads the 1A55 13:45 Liverpool Lime Street to Euston Virgin West Coast service round the curve at Heamies on 22 November 1997. The DVT was named on 26 May 1997 by Captain Mike Kelly, of the Red Devils. Unusually the venue was Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, where it was on display as part of the Lord Mayor's Show.

57001 Freightliner Pioneer approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 15 June 2004 with the 4O51 10:08 Wentloog to Millbrook freightliner. This is not only a short train, but also a very poorly loaded one, something which was not unusual at the time.

47609 approaches Banbury on 4 May 1985 with the 1O92 13:56 Liverpool Lime Street to Portsmouth Harbour service. If this had been running just a few seconds later, the view would have been blocked by 47567 coming the other way with the 1E13 14:13 Portsmouth Harbour to York train. New industrial units have now replaced the buildings seen on the right.

47567 passes underneath the newly constructed, but not yet in use, Hennef Way bridge, as it leaves Banbury on 4 May 1985 with the 1E13 14:13 Portsmouth Harbour to York service. Going the other way is the 1O92 13:56 Liverpool Lime Street to Portsmouth Harbour train, led by 47609. Note the then fairly normal casual attitude to lineside trespass, that was common when a steam special was due. On this occasion they were waiting for LMS Coronation Class 4-6-2 46229 Duchess of Hamilton with the SLOA 1Z69 Sheffield to Marylebone 'South Yorkshireman' railtour.

58027 passes Kempston on 8 July 1996 with the 6A62 18:36 Cricklewood to Forders Shanks & McEwan binliner. Apart from the industrial estate in the background, this looks like quite a rural location. However, there are even more industrial buildings hidden by the bushes on the left, and the picture is taken from the very busy A421 Bedford bypass.

47525 passes Kings Langley on 28 October 1995 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z45 04:20 York to MoD Pig's Bay 'Pigs Trotter' railtour. I clearly messed this up, pressing the shutter just slightly too late. I was probably trying to avoid getting the shadow of the catenary on the loco, but with a Pentax 6x7 there is no second chance! Despite the bad timing, I have included this picture as it shows the curious hybrid livery that the loco wore for a few weeks in late 1995. It was being repainted into Railfreight Distribution colours, but was put back into service half way through the repaint with only the cabs painted, and the rest of the loco still in very faded InterCity livery!

With a mix of InterCity and Network SouthEast liveried coaches, 47621 Royal County of Berkshire passes Finstock station on 28 May 1989 with the 1A67 16:10 Hereford to Paddington service. The platform is new, having replaced the one on the other side of the line the previous year.

Passing the muddy shore of the River Dart, 50002 Superb approaches Britannia Crossing on 16 October 1993 with the 14:25 Kingswear to Paignton service, during the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway's Class 50 Event.

L419 (51356, 59508 & 51398) passes South Moreton (Didcot East) on 24 October 1989 with the 2C23 10:31 Oxford to Reading Network SouthEast service. The unit is still looking smart after its recent repaint from BR blue and grey to the then current Network SouthEast livery.

47652 passes Aller on 7 December 1988 with the 1E06 14:28 Plymouth to Newcastle parcels. The small corrugated iron hut just visible behind the loco somehow managed to survive when the adjacent Aller Junction Signal Box was demolished in June 1987. This view is no longer possible, as the farm occupation bridge from which it was taken was swept away with the realignment of the A380, and the construction of the Kingskerswell bypass.

47648 passes Baulking on 10 December 1986 with the 09:15 Cardiff Central to Paddington relief. Most trains on this route were HSTs in the 1980s, but BR could still rustle up a Class 47 and rake of Mk1s at short notice, as required.

Railtour photography, 1990s style. 37514 brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z39 06:05 Manchester Piccadilly to Bentley Colliery 'Coker Coaler' railtour, as it approaches the bunker at Harworth Colliery on 6 March 1993. 37422 is at the front of the train.

37422 brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z39 06:05 Manchester Piccadilly to Bentley Colliery 'Coker Coaler' railtour, as it leaves Harworth Colliery, hauled by 37514, on 6 March 1993. Considering how litigious Coca Cola are, I'm surprised that Pathfinder managed to get away with that look-alike headboard!

The Pathfinder Tours 1Z39 15:43 Bentley Colliery to Manchester Piccadilly 'Coker Coaler' railtour leaves Bentley Colliery on 6 March 1993. 47422 is bringing up the rear, with 37514 leading the train round the sharp curve on the approach to the East Coast Mainline. The train had arrived here a little earlier as the 1Z39 06:05 Manchester Piccadilly to Bentley Colliery. Thorpe Marsh Power Station, which closed the following year, can be seen in the background.

47811 passes Ashchurch on 15 August 1992 with the 1V36 07:02 Derby to Bristol Temple Meads service. With InterCity liveried Class 47/8s common everywhere at this time, some photographers ignored them. How times have changed!

47981 heads west past Berkley on 12 October 1994 with a rake four research coaches, destination unknown. The previous year the loco had been renumbered from 47364, a conversion that clearly didn't involve a repaint!

31462 passes Winwick on 25 March 1993 with the 6P85 12:28 Castleton Continuous Welded Rail Depot to Wigan Springs Branch civil engineer's working. Not the best choice of location for something on the relief line, but it is the only picture I have of this particular working.

With the Fox's biscuit factory dominating the background, 142013 leaves Kirkham & Wesham station on 4 November 1995 with the 11:16 Colne to Blackpool South service. The open area on the right was formerly the station's goods yard.

King Class 4-6-0 6024 King Edward I comes off the Cotswold Line at Wolvercote Junction on 1 May 1999 with the 16:20 Worcester Shrub Hill to Didcot 'Marden Vestry Hall Express' private charter. From Didcot to Kent the train was diesel hauled.

Sporting a 'Merrymaker 97' headboard, 47764 Resounding leaves Blea Moor Tunnel on 10 May 1997 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z46 08:33 Kings Cross to Carlisle 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' railtour. The 47 had taken over the train from 86424 at York.

Deputising for the more usual Class 47, 33026 Seafire passes Stoford on 25 July 1992 with the 2V07 07:45 Basingstoke to Exeter St Davids Network SouthEast service. This used to be one of my favourite locations on the West of England line, with clear views in both directions.

43059 climbs towards Dainton Summit on 25 September 1993 with the 09:35 Newquay to Edinburgh service. This is on the 1 in 37 gradient near the western portal of Dainton Tunnel. On the left is the site of the former Dainton Signal Box.

The 5Q86 13:52 Long Marston to Eastleigh ECS passes through Shipton station on 1 June 2026, with Mk5a driving trailer 12801 leading, and 68023 providing power at the rear. This should have run the previous Tuesday, but was cancelled. Booked again to run this week on Tuesday, it then appeared as a VSTP working on Monday, so I correctly guessed that this time it might actually run! There isn't usually any reports of these workings until Moreton-in-Marsh, but on this occasion there was no report until Ascott-under-Wychwood, several minutes after it had passed me!

68023 pushes the 5Q86 13:52 Long Marston to Eastleigh ECS through Shipton station on 1 June 2026. At the front of the train, Mk5a driving trailer 12801 is just about to pass underneath the A361 Burford to Chipping Norton road. This was running more or less on time, but encountered a delay at Oxford when there was a TPWS fault, and the driver was unable to cancel the AWS. The train was put into Kennington Up Loop where the equipment was isolated. It then ran forward at 40mph to Didcot, where it was turned using the Didcot North Junction to Foxhall Junction curve.

With a wave and a toot from the driver, 66660 passes Fiddington on 30 May 2026 with the 6M81 04:26 Margam to Round Oak covered steel carriers. For the first part of its journey, up until Llanwern, this had been running very early, but it was exactly on time when it passed me.

D1935 (47805) Roger Hosking MA 1925 - 2013 passes Fiddington on 30 May 2026 with the Saphos Trains 1Z07 06:31 Wolverhampton to Kingswear 'English Riviera Express' railtour. On the rear of the rake of 12 crimson lake and cream Mk1s is 47712 Lady Diana Spencer.

47712 Lady Diana Spencer brings up the rear of the Saphos Trains 1Z07 06:31 Wolverhampton to Kingswear 'English Riviera Express' railtour at Fiddington on 30 May 2026. At the front of the train, just approaching the level crossing at Tredington, is D1935 (47805) Roger Hosking MA 1925 - 2013.

Castle Class 4-6-0 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe passes Fiddington on 30 May 2026 with the Vintage Trains 1Z43 07:50 Birmingham Snow Hill to Minehead West Somerset Railway 'The Whistling Ghost' railtour. Most of the work was being done by 37240, which was working hard at the rear of the train.

When working top'n'tail, normally the rear loco of a train is just idling, but this definitely wasn't the case here. 37240 gives a mighty push at the rear of the Vintage Trains 1Z43 07:50 Birmingham Snow Hill to Minehead West Somerset Railway 'The Whistling Ghost' railtour at Fiddington 30 May 2026. GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe is at the front of the train.

196008 passes the site of Launton station on 29 May 2026 with the 5F27 12:40 Oxford to Milton Keynes Central Chiltern Railways route learner. I just happened to be passing when I realised that this was due, so I stooped the car on the top of the bridge just in time to get this picture.

The UK Railtours 1Z42 09:58 Bury East Lancs Railway to Princes Risborough 'Mancunian Princess' railtour passes Charndon on 29 May 2026, with 43025 Exeter leading, and 43159 Rio Warrior bringing up the rear. Although this newly upgraded line has been open for 18 months, the only passenger trains to use the route so far have been railtours, such as this. HS2 earthworks dominate the background. HS2 will pass underneath this line, and there will also be a connecting junction.

43159 Rio Warrior brings up the rear of the UK Railtours 1Z42 09:58 Bury East Lancs Railway to Princes Risborough 'Mancunian Princess' railtour at Charndon on 29 May 2026. 43025 Exeter is leading. You can tell that this is a recently re-opened line, as the only thing growing on the trackside are Oxeye Daisies. I don't expect it will be long before the bushes and trees start to take over!

Oxeye Daisies in abundance at Charndon on 29 May 2026. 165014 heads eastwards with the 5M93 14:03 Oxford to Bletchley High Level Chiltern Railways route learner. In the background is one of the many new footbridges provided with the upgrading of the East West Rail route.

800303 passes Stones field on 28 May 2026 with the 1P06 05:16 Worcester Shrub Hill to Paddington GWR service. Although the trees planted in the foreground don't seem to have grown at all in the couple of years since they were planted, I'm sure that in a few years time this viewpoint will be lost!

66748 St. Michael's Mount runs down the Evenlode Valley near Stonesfield on 28 May 2026 with the Belmond 1Z75 05:50 Honeybourne Staff Hut to Victoria 'Britannic Explorer' luxury charter. This is the final day of a four day Welsh tour.

66548 rounds the curve at Kintbury on 27 May 2026 with the 6A18 09:18 Whatley Quarry to Oxford Banbury Road stone train. This was running 19 minutes early, as it hadn't waited in Hungerford loop, as it was booked to do.

Nice loco, but shame about the lack of a train! 59001 Yeoman Endeavour passes Kintbury on 27 May 2026, running as the 0A50 10:26 Whatley Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop light engine. This was running in the path of the more usual 6A50 loaded train. The loco had recently been repainted in its original livery (albeit with Heavy Haul Rail logos instead of Foster Yeoman).

60055 Thomas Barnardo passes Kintbury on 27 May 2026 with the 6M51 09:45 Merehead Quarry to Quainton Railhead HS2 stone train. The train would shortly be approaching the level crossing next to Kintbury station. On this occasion the crossing would be considerably less busy than usual, as the road through the village was closed for road works.

Running 18 minutes early, the 0Z20 12:45 Bescot Up Engineers Sidings to Westbury loco convoy approaches Little Bedwyn on 27 May 2026. The locos are: 66732 GBRF The First Decade 1999 - 2009 John Smith MD, 66778 Cambois Depot 25 Years & 66719 Michael Portillo.

66561 & 59206 John F. Yeoman Rail Pioneer approach Little Bedwyn on 27 May 2026 with the 6V50 14:21 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Merehead Quarry stone empties. Unfortunately the following 6V60 14:43 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Whatley Quarry was cancelled.

59103 Village of Mells & 66566 approach Little Bedwyn on 27 May 2026 with the 6V70 16:31 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Merehead Quarry stone empties. This was running 46 minutes early, as due to the extreme heat, Towney Loop was out of action. This train is normally booked to wait in the loop for 52 minutes.

220005 & 220014 head south at Culham on 27 May 2026 with the 1O02 06:02 Birmingham New Street to Bournemouth CrossCountry service. Crossing Appleford Viaduct in the background is 802009 with the 1W13 06:52 Paddington to Great Malvern GWR service.

802009 approaches Culham on 27 May 2026 with the 1W13 06:52 Paddington to Great Malvern GWR service. CrossCountry's 1O02 06:02 Birmingham New Street to Bournemouth Voyager (220005 & 220014) can be seen disappearing into the distance.

43055 approaches Culham on 27 May 2026 with the Midland Pullman 1Z30 05:39 Eastleigh to Scarborough 'Yorkshire Coast Pullman' railtour. 43049 Neville Hill is bringing up the rear. Appleford Viaduct can be seen in the background, with the Air Products Ltd's tall Air Separation Unit tower in the distance.

66304 approaches Culham on 27 May 2026 with the 4E36 05:24 Southampton Western Docks to Masborough intermodal. Thankfully this was much better loaded than the virtually empty 4O46 03:12 Trafford Park to Southampton Western Docks, which had just passed by in the other direction.

The 5O47 07:48 Crewe to Eastleigh Arlington Midland Pullman ECS passes Oddington on 26 May 2026, with 43049 Neville Hill leading and 43055 bringing up the rear. The lineside bush halfway down the train is now getting out of control, resulting in less choice of viewpoints.

43055 brings up the rear of the 5O47 07:48 Crewe to Eastleigh Arlington Midland Pullman ECS at Oddington on 26 May 2026. 43049 Neville Hill is leading. This was on a day that saw the highest ever recorded temperature for May, reaching 35c in some places.

800001 passes the increasingly overgrown location of Shorthampton on 26 May 2026 with the 1P22 10:59 Great Malvern to Paddington GWR. I had gone here to photograph the 5Q86 13:44 Long Marston to Eastleigh stock move, but as often happens, that didn't run.

800008 Alan Turing passes Grove on 25 May 2026 with the 1L68 09:03 Cheltenham Spa to Paddington GWR service. Just visible shimmering in the heat haze in the distance is the stationary 6M50 07:13 Westbury to Bescot engineers train, with 70811 towing 56049 Robin of Templecombe & 56051 Survival.

70811 has 56049 Robin of Templecombe & 56051 Survival in tow, as it passes Grove on 25 May 2026 with the 6M50 07:13 Westbury to Bescot engineers working. The train had been stopped near the bridge in the background for nearly two hours, slightly longer than the booked time. As can be seen from the smoke, it is still getting back up to speed.

HS2 under construction near Calvert on 24 May 2026. This is the view from Perry Hill Overbridge, looking north west towards West Street Bridge. A short distance to the left, and parallel with the new line, is the course of the old Great Central Railway.