Class 401 2-BIL 2090 leads Class 405 4-SUB 4732 through Winchfield station on 27 September 1987, with a Woking to Basingstoke shuttle service in connection with the Basingstoke Rail Show. By far the oldest electric unit operating on the UK mainland national network at the time, albeit limited to specials such as this, this National Railway Museum owned 1930s built unit looks positively antique even compared to the more recent (1950) 4-SUB unit it is coupled to. The photographer on the platform is having to make a quick sprint for his train after photographing the special!

Class 401 2-BIL 2090 brings up the rear of a Basingstoke to Woking shuttle service at Winchfield on 27 September 1987. This was in connection with the Basingstoke Rail Show. Equally historic Class 405 4-SUB 4732 is leading the train. The white notice in the window advertises the fact that the immaculately restored unit is on loan from the National Railway Museum.

Class 401 2-BIL 2090 & Class 405 4-SUB 4732 pass Staines Moor on 10 December 1989 with the 13:33 Staines to Windsor & Eton Riverside service. This was one of a number of specials run as part of the Windsor & Eton Gala Day, celebrating the 140th anniversary of the line. Apologies for the poor quality, but the very dull day required the use of the extremely grainy Kodachrome 200.

Class 405 4-SUB 4732 & Class 401 2-BIL 2090 call at Winchfield station on 27 September 1987 with a Basingstoke to Woking shuttle service in connection with the highly successful Basingstoke Rail Show. The 4-SUB units were built in numerous batches over a long time period, with this unit being one of the final ones to enter traffic. It was also the last to be overhauled, which is when it acquired this repaint into Southern Railway green livery. After the rest of the class were withdrawn in 1983 it was retained for specials such as this.

Class 405 4-SUB 4732 arrives at Basingstoke on 25 September 1988 with a shuttle service from Winchfield in connection with the 'Winchfield 150' celebrations. It is passing the carriage sidings, which in addition to several EMUs, contains 33112 Templecombe. Of the 185 4-SUB sets introduced from 1941, 4732 is the only survivor.

With the IBM building dominating the background, Class 405 4-SUB 4732 leaves Basingstoke on 25 September 1988 with a shuttle service to Winchfield in connection with the 'Winchfield 150' celebrations. This vintage unit was a regular participant in such special events during the 1980s. It was popular then, even though virtually everything else on the Southern was slam door stock. Imagine how popular it would be with enthusiasts today!

Preserved Class 405 4-SUB 4732 passes underneath the A30 dual carriageway at Staines Moor on 10 December 1989. It is working the 13:58 Windsor & Eton Riverside to Staines service, one of a large number of trains operated with heritage stock during the Windsor & Eton Gala Day. It is partnered with Class 401 2-BIL 2090 (hidden by the bridge). On such a dull day at least the red brickwork puts some colour into the picture. Notice how the bricks on the edge have been severely eroded.

Over the years various railway vehicle types have had their life significantly extended by being converted to other (usually departmental) uses. After the Class 405 4-SUB units were withdrawn in 1983, two vehicles were formed into de-icing unit 930003. The vintage unit is pictured approaching Westhumble on 7 January 2001.

Class 411/9 3-CEP 1104 pulls away from Sturry on 8 May 1999 with the 14:33 Margate to Victoria Connex South Eastern service. 1104 only had a relatively short life in this form, being converted from standard Class 411 4-CEP 1613 shortly before this picture was taken by the removal of TSO 70536, but then being withdrawn just a few years later.

The Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway is the unlikely home for a Class 411/9 3-CEP unit. Despite obviously not being able to operate under its own power, 1198 is an active member of the line's fleet. It is seen here passing Wainhill on 3 April 2022 with the 1P03 09:50 Chinnor to Princes Risborough service, during the line's Diesel Gala. On this end of the unit it carries the number 2304, which was its number when it was a four car 4-BEP set. Providing all the power, smoke and noise at the front is visiting Hanson & Hall Class 50 50008 Thunderer.

Class 411 4-CEP 1505 passes Sevington on 2 June 1989 with the 13:56 Charing Cross to Ramsgate Network SouthEast service. 33202 can be seen in the background, having just arrived with a Channel Tunnel construction spoil train from Shakespeare Cliff.

Class 411 4-CEP 1507 trundles along the down relief line at Potbridge on 26 January 2000 with the 11:40 Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour South West Trains service. This is one of the hourly 'all stations' trains, and has just called at Winchfield station, which is situated just beyond the third bridge in the background.

Class 411 4-CEP 1512 arrives at Kemsing station on 29 October 1988 with the 07:57 Victoria to Ashford Network SouthEast service. This is now a historic picture, as not only has the slam door stock long since left the network, but also these characteristic Southern Railway concrete lamp posts have now been replaced by modern examples. I've no idea why something as seemingly permanent as lamp posts should need replacing, although it has to be said that most of these are anything but vertical!

Class 411 4-CEP 1531 brings up the rear of the 15:38 Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour South West Trains service, as it crosses Ports Creek (otherwise known as Portsbridge Creek) at Portcreek Junction on 18 October 2003.

Class 411 4-CEP 1534 leads an unidentified classmate past Wanshurst Green with the 12:36 Margate to Victoria service on 15 March 1986. The dead straight line through the centre of Kent affords surprisingly few photographic locations. This reasonably open spot is at a footpath crossing near Bridgehurst Wood, and certainly in 1986 offered unobstructed views in both directions.

Class 411 4-CEP 1537 rounds the curve on the approach to Totton station on 3 June 2001 with the 10:55 Bournemouth to Waterloo South West Trains service. The tracks leading off to the left by the footbridge serve the small Totton Yard.

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.

A Network SouthEast livery sandwich at Sevington on 2 June 1989. 'Jaffa Cake' liveried Class 411 4-CEP 1548 heads the 12:30 Charing Cross to Dover Priory Network SouthEast service past the Channel Tunnel construction site, with a NSE unit and another 'Jaffa Cake' 411 bringing up the rear. The colour schemes pictured here are all now part of history, as are the 4-CEP units. Even the location has changed out of all recognition, with the high speed channel tunnel line running parallel on the right, making life in the small cottage even noisier!

Class 411 4-CEPs 1550 & 1517 leave Dover on 11 May 1996 with the 10:16 Ramsgate to Charing Cross service. Originally this section of line at the base of Shakespeare Cliff was carried across the beach on a wooden trestle viaduct. In 1927 the embankment seen here was created. Amazingly, the wooden viaduct was not removed, but merely buried! For nearly 90 years trains like this one have been crossing the buried and infilled structure without any problems. However, in 2015 sea damage caused holes to start appearing, so the whole lot was excavated, and new concrete piling installed. The work was so extensive that the line was closed for nearly two years.

Class 411 4-CEPs 1550 & 1578 head away from Basingstoke on 30 August 1998 with the 09:01 Poole to Waterloo South West Trains service. 1550 retains Network SouthEast livery, whilst 1578 sports South West Train's minimal revision of the NSE colour scheme. Class 423 3552 can be seen stabled just in front of Basingstoke Signal Box.

The golden light of the setting sun does little to disguise the filthy condition of Class 411 4-CEPs 1551 & 1813, as they pass Willesborough on 19 July 2002 with the 19:15 Ramsgate to Charing Cross (via Dover) Connex South Eastern service. At 20:20 on a July evening sunset is not far away, which explains the shadow of myself and the footbridge on which I was standing in the foreground. To the left of the train, the recently laid tracks of the Channel Tunnel high speed line (HS1) can be seen.

Class 411 4-CEP 1565 leads an unidentified classmate through the woods on the approach to Worplesdon in the rain on 13 December 2003 with the 11:50 Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo South West Trains service, passing a couple of characteristic products of the Southern Railway's Exmouth Junction concrete works.

Class 411 4-CEP 1574 leads the 13:30 Charing Cross to Dover and Margate Network SouthEast service past Paddock Wood on 3 September 1988. Repainting the huge fleet of Southern EMUs in the new NSE colours was obviously a big job, and it is nice to see here a complete rake of stock still in the earlier 'Jaffa Cake' livery, over two years after the launch of Network SouthEast.

An unusual visitor to the Basingstoke area on 25 September 1988. Jaffa Cake liveried Class 411 4-CEP 1574 leaves Basingstoke station with what is presumably a shuttle service to the nearby Winchfield 150 rail event. Although 4-CEPs were common in the Basingstoke area a decade later, they certainly weren't in 1988. Just visible in the distance, to the left of the signal box, is Nederlandse Spoorwegen liveried Class 77 1.5kV DC electric loco 1502 Electra.

Class 411 4-CEP 1574 passes Sevington on 16 July 1999 with the 16:29 Charing Cross to Ramsgate service. The first earthworks for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (HS1) can be seen in the background. Given my infrequent visits to Kent, and the large number of Southern EMUs, it is a bit of a coincidence that I have several pictures of 1574, and it certainly looked a little different when I saw it just over a decade earlier.

Absolutely filthy Class 411 4-CEP 1581 passes Wanshurst Green on 15 March 1986 with the 13:22 Ashford to Charing Cross service. The bridge in the background carries the Wanshurst Green to Marden Thorn road, while the one in the far distance gives access to the imaginatively named Overbridge Farm.

Class 411 4-CEP units at Worplesdon in the rain. On 13 December 2003, South West Trains 1581 leads another classmate with the 10:57 Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo service, while a 3 unit 12 car rake forming the 11:38 Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour disappears into the distance. Worplesdon is situated between Guildford and Woking.

Old and new liveries at Five Oak Green on 28 January 2001. Class 411 4-CEP 1587 is still wearing the obsolete Network SouthEast livery, while its unidentified classmate is wearing the then current Connex South Eastern colour scheme. The train is the 11:00 Charing Cross to Ramsgate service.

Class 411 4-CEP 1590 leads two classmates through Kemsing station on 29 October 1988 with the 08:27 Victoria to Ashford Network SouthEast service. Only the rear unit is NSE livery, with the front two still sporting the attractive earlier 'Jaffa Cake' livery.

Consecutively numbered Class 411 4-CEPs 1594 & 1593 pass Queen Street (near Paddock Wood) with the 14:43 Ramsgate to Charing Cross Network SouthEast service on 28 August 1999. Both of these units survived right to very end of 4-CEP operations in 2004.

I always thought the London & South East Davison's 'Jaffa Cake' livery was an excellent colour scheme. Not too brash and over the top, and unlike some liveries based on white, did not get grubby too quickly. Here we see Class 411 4CEP 1598 approaching Sevington with the 15:28 Dover Priory to Charing Cross service on 2 June 1989. This view has now been completely transformed, as the new high speed Channel Tunnel line now runs parallel, and cuts through the field visible in the background.

Class 411 4-CEP 1610 approaches its destination on 30 May 1998, as it works the 08:41 Victoria to Swanley Connex South Eastern service. This convenient viewpoint is from the side of the A20 Swanley bypass. Less photographer friendly is the mesh enclosed footbridge in the background.

A photo that would now be totally impossible to recreate, as boat trains no longer run, the bridge from which this picture was taken has been demolished, and the field has been replaced by HS1, the Channel Tunnel rail link. Class 411 4-CEP 1615 leads a Dover Western Docks to Victoria boat train out of Sandling Tunnel on 2 June 1989.

Class 411 4-CEP 1619 hurries along the long straight section of track between Paddock Wood and Ashford on 15 March 1986, as it works the 13:05 Charing Cross to Ashford service. It is pictured approaching the footpath crossing at Wanshurst Green.

Once an everyday sight in Kent, now completely replaced by modern stock, Class 411/5 4-CEPs 1619 & 1530 pass Queen Street (near Paddock Wood) with the 10:00 Charing Cross to Ramsgate service on 15 March 1995, in a welcome bit of spring sunshine, but with a storm brewing in the background. These 1956 -63 built units were constructed specifically for the Kent main lines and spent over forty years reliably shuttling backwards and forwards between the capital and the Kent coast.

Class 411 4-CEP 1699 approaches Pluckley on 20 November 2004 with the 09:38 Ramsgate to Charing Cross South Eastern Trains service. With this much autumn foliage overhanging the line, no wonder there are problems with leaves on the line!

Class 411 4-CEP 2317 leads the 12:23 Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour service through a rain lashed Worpledson station on 13 December 2003. Although still wearing Connex South Central livery, the unit was being operated by that company successor - Southern.

Class 412 4-BEP 2303 and another unidentified unit approach Wimbledon on 29 May 1994 with the 10:47 Guildford to Waterloo Network SouthEast service, while the 10:55 Waterloo to Paignton Class 159 DMU disappears into the distance. This broadside view clearly shows the red stripe on the third coach indicating the buffet car, a feature only found on the 22 4-BEP units, and clearly marking them out from the much more numerous Class 411 4-CEP sets.

A Class 412/421 combination at New Malden on 4 March 1995. Class 412 4-BEP 2306 leads Class 421 4-CIG 1316  with the 08:55 Southampton to Waterloo limited stop service. The 4-BEPs could immediately be distinguished from their much more numerous 4-CEP cousins by the red stripe indicating the buffet car, which replaced a second class open coach in the standard units.

The walker's Golden Labrador runs forward to check what that man is doing standing on a stepladder in a field near Battledown Flyover, whilst Class 412/1 4-CEP 2315 & Class 411 4-CEP 1539 pass by with the 08:55 Bournemouth to Waterloo South West Trains service. The date is 30 March 2003, and the vintage 4-CEPs, which of course were not originally to be seen in this area, had only a short while left in traffic, before being replaced by more modern units. 2315 was originally a 4-BEP unit (2305), but in 2002 its buffet car was replaced with a conventional trailer vehicle. This unit is one of the few to have escaped the cutter's torch, and is currently at the unlikely location of the Eden Valley Railway, in Cumbria.

Class 413 4-CAP units were formed in 1982 by combining two Class 414 2-HAP units. On 3 September 1988, 3308 leads another 4-CAP unit into Higham station with the 10:13 Charing Cross to Ramsgate service. It is immediately obvious that the train is made up of former two car units, with the redundant yellow end still visible on the third vehicle.

Class 414 2-HAPs 4201 & 4320 are paired up with Class 421 4-CIG 1214, as they approach Winchfield on 28 April 1991 with the 15:05 Basingstoke to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. Very backlit, but I haven't got many pictures of 2-HAPs and 4-CIGs working in multiple. 

Class 414 2-HAPs 4317 & 4316 pull away from Sunnymeads station on 10 December 1989 with the 15:08 Windsor & Eton Riverside to Staines service. This was a normal Network SouthEast train, but the provision of the vintage 2-HAPs was in connection with the Windsor & Eton Gala Day specials that were also running on the line throughout the day.

Eight coaches, and the same number of driving cabs! Class 414 2-HAP 6105 leads three of its classmates past Potbridge on 13 September 1986 with the 10:00 Waterloo to Lymington Pier Network SouthEast service. I have got very few pictures of the 2-HAP units, and certainly not in a train of this length. The train is passing a Second World War pillbox, one of a number in the area. These formed a defensive 'stop line' that would be used as a last resort if the Germans had invaded.

I'm not sure exactly what's going on here, but judging by the number of people in the cab something is afoot. Class 415 4-EPB 5444 leads the 14:32 Waterloo to Weymouth Network SouthEast service into Winchester on 28 June 1991. This is definitely unusual stock for this particular service, and in fact the class has always been more associated with Kent than Hampshire.

Under a threatening sky and neatly framed between the upper quadrant signal and the 1893 built South Eastern Railway signal box, former Class 416 2-EPB 930203 (65341 & 65355) heads north through Wye on sandite duties on 10 October 1998. Oddly this unit (which was scrapped in 2004) was not a single withdrawn Class 416 taken out of passenger service and converted for departmental use. It was in fact formed from half of two different units, with 65341 (renumbered to 977864) coming from 6227 and 65355 (renumbered to 977865) coming from 6241.

Former Class 416 2-EPB de-icing unit 930206 (originally 65382 & 65387) ambles along the up slow line at Potbridge (between Hook and Winchfield) on 26 January 2000. With frost still visible in the shadows on the left, it has obviously been out clearing the troublesome white stuff off the conductor rail.

Class 416 2-EPB 6255 brings up the rear of the 7V05 09:28  Bournemouth to Margam at Narroways Hill Junction on 3 March 1994. The other units are Class 416 2-EPB 6261 & Class 415 4-EPB 5460. The whole ensemble is being led by 37375.

Class 419 Motor Luggage Van 68007 leads a formation of EMU stock as it passes Wanshurst Green (on the long section of dead straight track between Ashford and Tonbridge) with the 13:52 Dover Western Docks to Victoria 'Boat Train' on 15 March 1986. Ten of these useful vehicles were built between 1959 and 1961 principally for use on the boat trains to Dover and Folkestone. They also had the ability to run for a limited period on battery power.

Class 419 Motor Luggage Van 9008 passes through Kemsing station on 29 October 1988 with the 4R15 07:40 London Bridge to Dover Priory parcels. This was booked to call at Tonbridge (where it reversed in the bay platform, 08:16 to 08:25), it then returned to Swanley (08:50 to 08:55), before heading for Maidstone East (09:23 to 09:38), Ashford (09:59 to 10:05), with arrival at Dover Priory at 10:32. Many thanks to Adrian Nicholls for the working timetable supplement  information.

A Class 421 4-CIG meeting at Potbridge on 6 November 1991. 1214 ambles along the relief line with the 07:15 Lymington Pier to Waterloo Network SouthEast service, and is about to be overtaken by 1310 and an unidentified classmate, working the 07:07 Portsmouth Harbour Waterloo train.

Class 421 4-CIG 1245 passes through Weybridge station on 15 April 1989 with the 09:34 Alton to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. The line to Chertsey and Virginia Water can just be seen diverging to the right in the background.

Class 421 4-CIG 1251 leads another unidentified unit past Deepcut on 28 August 1987 with the 08:12 Bournemouth to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. You wouldn't ideally have chosen this train if you were doing the whole journey, as it was a stopping train, calling at most stations en-route, and taking nearly three hours. There were more express workings which only took a little over two hours.

Local 'all stations' stopping train, Southern style. Class 421 4-CIG 1302 passes the freightliner terminal at Millbrook on 15 April 1997 with the 14:20 Southampton to Brockenhurst service. 1302 is one of the small fleet of 421/5s, nicknamed 'Greyhound ' units, by virtue of their improved acceleration, achieved by adding an additional stage of field weakening to the motors.

Class 421 4-CIG 1303 passes Old Basing on 27 July 1991 with the 12:52 Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. This section of line, between Basingstoke and Farnborough, is almost completely straight for nearly 14 miles.

Class 421 4-CIG 1306 approaches Old Basing on 25 May 1991 with the 14:10 Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour Network SouthEast service. As with a lot of locations on the London to Basingstoke line, tall trees cause a lot of problems for photographers, and on a subsequent visit I found they had grown so much that the line was virtually all in shade.

Class 421 4-CIG 1310 & Class 411 4-CEP 1563 approach Redbridge on 23 December 2001 with the 08:55 Bournemouth to Waterloo South West Trains service. The reason that the A35 road in the background looks so free of traffic, is that this a Sunday morning.

South West Trains Class 421 4-CIG 'Greyhound' unit 1315 & Class 423 4-VEP 3407 pass Battledown Flyover with the 11:30 Waterloo to Weymouth service on 30 March 2003. The line to Salisbury and Exeter diverges from the main line at Worting Junction, a little distance behind the train, and passes under the up main line under the bridge behind the first coach.

Class 421 4-CIGs 1393 & 1321 pass Worting Junction on 16 July 2001 with the 07:13 Portsmouth & Southsea to Waterloo South West Trains service. 1393 is a Class 421/8 unit, immediately identifiable by the inclusion of an ex Class 411 4-CEP TSO vehicle.

Class 421 4-BIG 7059 (actually 4-CIG 1393 with the reinstatement of a buffet car) is propelled past Woodthorpe on the Great Central Railway by Class 33 D6535. It is working the 2C06 10:00 Loughborough to Quorn & Woodhouse North service during the line's Diesel Gala on 12 September 2009. The unit carries a number one higher than the last actual 4-BIG unit. I suppose being as it is being pushed this should really be in the Driving Trailers section, but for the sake of accuracy and despite being many miles away from the third rail, I'm still treating it as an EMU!

Not really the picture I was planning, but I suppose it does show something that is not possible on other preserved lines - a passing shot. Class 421 4-BIG 7059 (actually 4-CIG 1393 with the reinstatement of a buffet car) is propelled towards Quorn & Woodhouse on the Great Central Railway by Class 33 D6535, whilst working the 5C30 14:35 ECS from Loughborough. Meanwhile, D8098 gets in the way as it heads north 0C32 14:13 Rothley to Loughborough light engine move. This was during the Diesel Gala on 12 September 2009.

Class 421 4-CIG 1398 and an unidentified classmate pass Amen Corner on 25 September 2004 with the 09:32 Waterloo to Reading South West Trains service. The 1960s pop group Amen Corner was not named after this area, but after a weekly soul music record session at the Victoria Ballroom in their native Cardiff.

Class 421 4-CIG 1411 arrives at Littlehampton station on 18 October 2003 with the 12:26 Seaford to Littlehampton Southern service. The impressive Southern Railway bracket signal is obviously the main point of interest in this picture. The left hand arm is 'off' for the departure of the 13:44 service to Victoria.

22 May 2010 marked the end of an era on Britain's railways, with the withdrawal from the national network of the last slam door EMUs. For five years after the removal of all other 'slammers', two Class 421 3-CIG units had operated the Lymington Branch in glorious isolation. their time finally ran out on 22 May, and crowds of photographers descended on the New Forest to witness the spectacle for the last time. 1497 Freshwater passes Milking Pound Bottom, near Battramsley with the 13:59 Brockenhurst to Lymington Pier service.

Class 421 3-CIG 1497 Freshwater approaches the occupation bridge at Milking Pound Bottom, near Battramsley on 22 May 2010 with the 1J35 14:29 Brockenhurst to Lymington Pier service, during the last day of the units operation on the branch. Note the two highland cattle wandering off in the distance. Several of these animals had crossed over the bridge while I was waiting for this train, and one of them was involved in a stand off with a couple of horse riders - neither wanting to pass on the bridge or back up!

Class 421 3-CIG 1497 Freshwater rounds the curve that takes the Lymington branch away from the mainline near Battramsley (Three Beech Bottom) with the 15:29 Brockenhurst to Lymington Pier service on 22 May 2010. As can be seen from the headboard, this was the last day of slam door EMUs on the branch, and indeed on the entire national network.

Class 421 3-CIG 1497 Freshwater crosses Lymington Harbour with the 16:14 Lymington Pier to Brockenhurst service on 22 May 2010, during the final day of slam door EMU operations. Mike and Dave Deacon's record breaking powerboat 'Hot Lemon V' in the foreground was just about to be fork lifted out of the water. In 2005 they broke the record for traveling round the coast of Britain - in a little over 31 hours!

Boat races train - train wins! Class 421 3-CIG 1497 Freshwater crosses Lymington Harbour with the 16:29 Brockenhurst to Lymington Pier service on 22 May 2010. This was the final day of slam door EMU operation on the branch, and hence every available vantage point on the quayside was crowded with photographers.

On the final day of slam door EMU operation on Britain's national railway network (22 May 2010), Class 421 3-CIG 1497 Freshwater crosses Lymington Harbour with the 16:44 Lymington Pier to Brockenhurst service. And before anybody asks, no I did not Photoshop the black headed gull into the picture, it just happened to fly past the appropriate moment!

Class 421 3-CIG 1497 Freshwater crosses the bridge linking Lymington Pier and Town stations on 22 May 2010 with the 17:14 train to Brockenhurst. A perfect day for photography, with hardly a cloud in the sky all day, which explains the large numbers of photographers out to record he scene.

Class 421 3-CIG 1497 Freshwater passes Milking Pound Bottom, near Battramsley with the 17:44 Lymington Pier to Brockenhurst service on 22 May 2010. Although the southern part of the line is largely in woods, the northern end crosses a large area of typical New Forest heathland, and there are various gaps in the lineside vegetation allowing a choice of photographic spots.

Class 421 3-CIG 1497 Freshwater rounds the curve at Milking Pound Bottom, near Battramsley with the 18:14 Lymington Pier to Brockenhurst service on 22 May 2010, during the final day of slam door EMU operations.

There is plenty of gorse near the Lymington Branch, so it was easy to get this artistic picture at Milking Pound Bottom, near Battramsley on 22 May 2010, as Class 421 3-CIG 1497 Freshwater heads south with the 18:29 train from Brockenhurst. Despite the fact that there were lots of photographers out to record the final day of slam door operation, there were so many different viewpoints in this area, and the photographers were so widely scattered, that I have managed to get a broadside view without including any of them!

The headboard says it all - 'Slamdoors say farewell to the Lymington Flyer'. Class 421 3-CIG 1497 Freshwater passes Three Beech Bottom, Battramsley in glorious evening light with the 18:44 Lymington Pier to Brockenhurst service on 22 May 2010 - the final day of slam door EMU operation on the national network.

With the low evening sun providing perfect illumination, Class 421 3-CIG 1497 Freshwater passes Three Beech Bottom, Battramsley on 22 May 2010 with the 19:14 Lymington Pier to Brockenhurst service on the final day of slam door EMU operation, both on this line and the entire national network.

A symphony in green! Class 421 3-CIG unit 1498 Farringford was one of the last two slam door third rail electric units operating on the national network. Along with classmate 1497 (which was painted in corporate blue & grey livery) it spent all its time shuttling up and down the short Lymington Branch. It is seen here at Lymington Junction on 22 August 2007 with the 11:14 Lymington Pier to Brockenhurst South West Trains service.

Well away from the 750v third rail, Class 421 3-CIG 1499 stands at Lydney on the Dean Forest Railway on 19 August 2006. The South West Trains livery and Fratton depot sticker seem a little out of place in rural Gloucestershire, but then again Scottish Class 27 27066 on the left is even further from home! Even the humble slam door EMU eventually gets preserved, although it doesn't seem long ago that a trip to the Southern Region saw an unending procession of these units working most services.

Class 421 4-CIG 1707 approaches Southampton on 2 December 1998 with the 09:50 Bournemouth to Victoria service. Unlike the majority of trains in the area that were operated by South West Trains, and who's London terminus was Waterloo, this one was operated by Connex South Central, and travelled the long way round to Victoria, via Chichester and Worthing. To the casual observer at the time there wasn't much difference, as many units still retained the obsolete Network SouthEast livery, as here.

Although I have got a reasonable number of pictures of Southern EMUs in the attractive 'Jaffa Cake' livery, they are mostly Class 411 4-CEP units. This is my only picture of a Class 421 4-CIG in this colour scheme. 1708 brings up the rear of the 15:04 Bognor Regis to Victoria service at Salfords on 15 March 1986.

Dramatic lighting at Horsham on 17 July 1993, as Class 421 4-CIGs 1713 & 1854 approach the station with what is presumably (according to the headcode) the late running 14:08 Victoria to Portsmouth Harbour and Bognor Regis Network SouthEast service.

Class 421 4-CIG 1719 leads two unidentified classmates past Coulsdon on 18 August 1995 with the 16:08 Victoria to Brighton Network SouthEast service. This is the site of Coulsdon North station, which closed in 1983. It opened in 1899 as Stoats Nest and Cane Hill. Coulsdon Town station on the Epsom line, and Coulsdon South on the Brighton line are both only a short distance away.

Class 421 4-CIG 1724 leads two unidentified classmates past Coulsdon on 21 September 1991 with the 10:05 Victoria to Brighton Network SouthEast service, easily identifiable by the 4 headcode. This train's only intermediate stop was East Croydon, and it took just 51 minutes to travel from London to the South Coast. A quarter of a century later the equivalent single intermediate stop journey takes two minutes longer - that's progress!

Class 421 4-CIG 1725 received a coat of white paint in 1997 prior to Connex deciding on a new livery after taking over the franchise the previous year. This 'ghost' unit is pictured rounding the curve at Millbrook on 15 April 1997 with the 11:50 Bournemouth to Victoria service, while a Class 442 'Wessex' unit heads in the other direction with the 10:50 Waterloo to Poole train.

Class 421 4-CIG 1726 leaves Hove station on 20 April 1996 with the 11:12 Portsmouth Harbour to Brighton service. Although still sporting Network SouthEast livery, this train is operated by Connex South Central, which is now just as much a part of history as the NSE era.

Class 421 4-CIG 1808 approaches Swanley on 30 May 1998 with the 10:11 Victoria to Ramsgate Connex South Eastern service. This is one of those rare locations that now actually has less lineside vegetation than this. Hidden behind the trees in this view is a vintage coal tax post, which signified the point beyond which all ingoing coal trains had to pay a tax to the City of London. In 1998 this unusual survivor could only be seen in winter, but now it is clearly on view, even in summer.

Prior to Connex deciding on a new livery in 1997, several EMUs were turned out in this plain white 'livery'. Class 421 4-CIG 1831 passes the freightliner depot at Millbrook on 15 April 1997 with the 09:17 Victoria to Bournemouth (via Worthing) service. This train had started out from London with a pair of units. The train was split at Worthing, with the other unit going on to Littlehampton.

Class 421 4-CIG 1847 crosses the River Ouse, as it accelerates away from Lewes on 20 April 1996 with the 13:54 Brighton to Hastings Network SouthEast service. This picture is taken from the A27 Lewes bypass, a viewpoint which has subsequently become considerably more overgrown.

I have got very few pictures of slam door EMUs in the slightly half finished looking Southern livery. Class 421 4-CIG 1859 leaves Barnham station on 18 October 2003 with the 14:24 Bognor Regis to Littlehampton service. This short journey involves two branch lines. The Bognor Regis branch joins the main 'West Coastway Line' at the west end of Barnham station. The unit will then travel to Ford station, before branching off onto the even shorter line to Littlehampton.

Class 421 4-CIG 1866, Class 423 4-VEP 3514, & Class 421 4-CIG 1805 approach Arundel with the Southern Electric Group 2Z62 11:02 London Bridge to Littlehampton 'Sussex Slammer' railtour on 19 November 2005. This tour was run to mark the end of slam door stock on the Southern, with the final few service trains working the following weekend. The tour had actually started from London Bridge in two sections, 3514 & 1805 running as the 2Z60 08:40 London Bridge to East Grinstead and 2Z61 09:25 East Grinstead to London Bridge, with 1866 following two minutes behind with the 2Z65 & 2Z66!

EMU indifference at Ash Vale on 17 June 2003! Class 421 4-CIG 1881 leads two similar units into Ash Vale station with the 17:48 Waterloo to Alton Southern service. Little did I imagine then that the next time I would see this unit, it would be heading up my local line hauled by 47739! It was subsequently broken up to provide spares for the Brighton Belle reconstruction project.

I wouldn't normally bother with this kind of going away shot, but the sheer novelty of a former Southern Region 750V DC EMU on the Cherwell Valley route between Oxford and Banbury was not to be missed. Class 421 4-CIG 1881 is pictured passing Kings Sutton on its final journey on 3 March 2010, hauled by 47739 Robin of Templecombe, as the 5Z47 10:25 Eastleigh to Barrow Hill.

Class 421 4-CIG 1883 arrives at Staines station on 24 April 1993 with the 13:23 Reading to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. The train has travelled via Wokingham, Bracknell and Virginia Water, and is now joining the branch line from Windsor & Eaton Riverside.

Class 421/9 4-CIG 1903 leads another unit through Berwick station (Sussex) on 20 April 1996, with the 14:23 Hastings to Victoria Network South Central service. The eight members of the 421/9 subclass were 1990s conversions, using ex Class 432 4-REP motor bogies.

Class 421 4-CIG 7308 leads another much cleaner unidentified classmate past Salfords just before sunset on 15 March 1986 with the 16:20 Victoria to Haywards Heath service. Salfords station is situated midway between Redhill and Horley, with most trains, like this one, passing through without stopping.

Class 421 4-CIGs 7357 & 7418 arrive at Milford station with the 09:13 Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo Network SouthEast service on 2 May 1987. Although 7357 sports the then relatively new NSE livery, the vast bulk of Southern Region units at the time still retained the 'Corporate Image' blue and grey livery as worn by 7418 at the rear of the formation.

Class 421 4-CIG 7385 arrives at Balcombe with the 12:33 Victoria to Brighton service on 2 May 1987. This is early days for Network SouthEast, and although there is some evidence of the new ownership showing here (the red lamp posts), there is no evidence of the new owners on the stock itself.

Transition time on the Southern. There was a long period after the June 1986 introduction of the colourful Network SouthEast colours scheme, when old and new stock ran together. On the third rail network, where a lot of trains were formed from two four car units, this led to the situation seen here, with half the train in the new colour scheme, and half still in blue and grey livery. Class 421 4-CIG 7418 brings up the rear 09:13 Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo service at Milford on 2 May 1987. The leading NSE livered unit is classmate 7357.

Class 421 4-CIG 7426 leads two other 4-CIG units forming a twelve coach train with the 12:50 Victoria to Hastings (via Lewes) service on 28 July 1984. The location is Wilmington, between Lewes and Eastbourne. Although most people think the Coastway Line is relatively flat, notice how the track dips considerably in the background.

Class 422 4-BIG 2102 arrives at Balcombe with the 11:33 Victoria to Brighton service on 2 May 1987. This is of course completely the wrong time of day to be taking a picture here, with the sun virtually straight down the track. However, I have included it for its historical interest, and because it is one of the very few pictures I have of a Class 422 unit, which were much less numerous than the ubiquitous Class 421 4-CIGs.

In the last weak rays of the setting sun, ex-works Class 422 4-BIG 2112 contrasts markedly with its unidentified work stained companion unit, as it heads towards the capital with the 15:59 Brighton to Victoria service on 15 March 1986. Although obviously the former Southern Region dealt with a large quantity of units and sets were always being overhauled and repainted, it would only be a matter of months before all further unit would emerge in the new Network SouthEast livery. This therefore is one of the last batch of blue and grey repaints.

Class 422 4-BIG 2252 and an unidentified Class 421 4-CIG leave Hove station on 20 April 1996 with the 12:11 Littlehampton to Victoria Connex South Central service. The third vehicle is a buffet car, this being the principle difference between a Class 422 and a Class 421. Only the first unit has come from Littlehampton, the rear 4-CIG having been attached at Worthing, after arriving with the 10:50 from Bournemouth.

Class 423 4-VEP 3008 leads the 08:59 Basingstoke to Waterloo Network SouthEast service past Potbridge on 28 April 1991. At least on the Southern Region at this time it was easy to tell what any particular train was, due to their continued use of headcodes. This batch of 4-VEPs were originally numbered in the 77xx series, but were later re-numbered into the 30xx series.

Class 423 4-VEP 3017 pulls out of Winchfield station on 28 April 1991 with the 14:02 Waterloo to Basingstoke Network SouthEast service. Despite it being a Sunday, there is still plenty of passenger provision, as 3017 is leading two similar units, making a twelve coach train.

Class 423 4-VEP 3018 ambles along the up relief line at Shapley Heath on 21 July 1991 with the 09:59 Basingstoke to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. The Potbridge roadbridge in the background is well known to most photographers, as it offers excellent views in both directions, unlike the bridge from which this photo was taken.

A quiet Sunday at Winchfield on 21 July 1991. Class 423 4-VEP 3035 arrives at the deserted station with the 12:59 Basingstoke to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. Note the large gap in the centre, which shows that the station once had another island platform. Although some modern houses have been built near the railway, Winchfield station is still situated in the middle of a largely rural area, unlike the stations either side, Hook, and Fleet, which are both situated in small towns.

Class 423 4-VEP 3034 and an unidentified classmate approach Weybridge on 15 April 1989 with the 08:13 Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. DeQuincey & Son coal merchants are still trading out of the goods yard. The area is now an extension to the station car park.

A meeting of local stopping trains at Winchfield on 28 August 1987. Class 423 4-VEP 3061 pulls out of the station with the 13:42 Waterloo to Bournemouth Network SouthEast service, while in the other platform, classmate 7810 and an unidentified two car unit form the 13:12 Bournemouth to Waterloo.

The slow way to get to London! Stopping at all stations, the 09:12 Bournemouth to Waterloo Network SouthEast service passes Deepcut on 28 August 1987, worked by Class 423 4-VEP 3114. A few days earlier the unit had been renumbered from 7814.

Class 423 4-VEP 3142 passes between the two wartime pillboxes at Potbridge on 16 March 1990, as it runs along the down relief line with the 13:05 Waterloo to Southampton Network SouthEast service. The lofty bridge in the background provides an excellent viewpoint for trains travelling in the opposite direction.

Class 423 4-VEPs 3153 & 3484 arrive at Staines station on 24 April 1993 with the 13:56 Waterloo to Reading Network SouthEast service. An everyday scene at the time, and it is sobering to think that virtually all of the slam door stock that was such a feature of the area for many decades, has now been scrapped.

Obviously not long out of works after receiving a repaint into Network SouthEast livery, Class 423 4-VEP 3159 approaches Winchester on 28 June 1991 with the ECS for the 15:58 Winchester to Wareham 'all stations' service. Notice how the siding receding away into the undergrowth has lost most of its third rail.

Class 423 4-VEP 3175 accelerates away from Sole Street station on 29 October 1988 with the 11:09 Dover Priory to Victoria Network SouthEast service. The chimney on the right belonged to a varnish factory, about which I can find only limited information. A fire at the works in 1928 caused damage to the railway line, but it is not clear if it was rail connected at the time. The buildings were disused when this picture was taken, and the whole site was cleared by the council in 1996, apparently without the written permission of the owners.

A classic Southern Region scene at Faversham on a dull and damp 21 December 1991. Class 423 4-VEP 3175 leaves the station with the 09:20 Victoria to Dover Western Docks Network SouthEast service, passing the carriage sidings, with their miniature concrete platforms. 3449 is another Class 423 4-VEP, while 1504 is a Class 411 4-CEP. Faversham station is a little distant from the old centre of the town, and is nearer what was once a separate village of Preston, although of course now the town has grown out to meet the station! St Catherine's Church, Preston-next-Faversham can be seen in the background.

Between Barnes station and Mortlake station, the railway runs for a considerable distance sandwiched between two roads (North & South Worple Way). Long sections of this are still fenced off from the road by some of the Southern Railway's concrete sectional fencing, as seen here on the left. This was one of many concrete lineside features manufactured at the company's works at Exmouth Junction. Pioneer Class 423 4-VEP 3401 (originally 7701) runs though this concrete canyon, and approaches Mortlake station on 24 February 2001 with the 13:32 Waterloo to Waterloo (via Kingston) South West Trains service. I'm not quite sure why this is showing a 37 headcode, instead of 32. Surely 37s go via Brentford. Clarification anyone?

Class 423 4-VEP 3402 strikes an arc as it leads the 11:32 Waterloo to Alton Network SouthEast service past Wimbledon 29 May 1994. Note how the flash has illuminated the wheels on the front bogie. A very unusual effect, and one which would be very difficult to achieve intentionally.

Class 423 4-VEP 3403 glints in the setting sun, as it approaches Portcreek Junction on 18 October 2003 with the 17:12 Portsmouth Harbour to Brighton South Central service. Portcreek Junction is where the line from Portsmouth splits west to Fareham and Southampton, and east to Havant and Brighton.

The Southern Region third rail network is not all urban commuter lines, there are also some single track rural byways. Class 423 4-VEP 3404 passes Isington, on the Aldershot to Alton line, with the 11:12 Waterloo to Alton South West Trains service on 23 March 1996. My real reason for visiting this location was the following 1Z63 06:15 Chester to Alton 'Exhibitionist' railtour.

Class 423 4-VEP 3415 approaches Barnham station on 18 October 2003 with the 14:00 Brighton to Basingstoke Southern service. Since this picture was taken the road underbridge has been rebuilt. The new bridge is wide enough for three tracks, and the headshunt is now on the other side of the bridge. As it is here, if something ran through the points into the headshunt, there could have been the possibility of a plunge into the road below!

Highlighting one of the dangers of slam door stock, Class 423 4-VEP 3426 passes New Malden on 4 March 1995 with a door on the lead vehicle swinging open. The train is the 10:05 Basingstoke to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. I'm not sure whether anyone actually fell out, or as seems more likely the door wasn't shut properly and opened en-route, but it is certainly a graphic illustration of the problems with this type of stock.

Class 423 4-VEP 3431 arrives at Botley station on 26 October 1991 with the 14:10 Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour Network SouthEast service. Although closed for nearly a decade, the signal box looks to be in excellent condition. It has since deteriorated considerably ,and has been boarded up.

Class 423 4-VEP 3433 brings up the rear of the 12:54 Waterloo to Waterloo (via Hounslow) South West Trains services, as it heads away from Mortlake on 24 February 2001. White Hart Lane level crossing, which has subsequently acquired a new footbridge, can just be seen in the distance. This is obviously a much less famous White Hart Lane, compared to the one in Tottenham!

Class 423 4-VEP 3449 catches the late afternoon sun at Sevington on 1 December 2001, as it heads towards London with the 13:15 Ramsgate to Charing Cross (via Dover) Connex South Eastern service. Construction work for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (HS1) can be seen in the background.

Class 423 4-VEP 3454 leaves Dover on 11 May 1996 with the 11:07 Network South Central service to Charing Cross. The impressive Lord Warden Hotel dominates the background, with Admiralty Pier on the right. Since this picture was taken the disused and weed choked sidings of the once busy Dover Town Yard have bee lifted.

Class 423 4-VEP 3454 rounds the curve at Westwell Leacon on 14 February 1998 with the 10:18 Victoria to Canterbury West Connex South Eastern service. Travelling via Maidstone and Ashford, this is certainly not the most direct way of getting from London to Canterbury.

Class 423 4-VEP 3454 leads an unidentified classmate past Five Oak Green on 28 January 2001 with the 10:00 Charing Cross to Ramsgate Connex South Eastern service. Given the vast number of Southern EMUs, it was strange that I kept coming across this one time after time!

Class 423 4-VEP 3458 passes New Malden on 4 March 1995 with the 09:05 Basingstoke to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. With hindsight I should have made more effort to photograph slam door EMU stock in the London area, but at the time there was so much else of interest to photograph nearer to home!

Class 423 4-VEP 3474 leads the 15:51 Ramsgate to Charing Cross Network SouthEast service out of Sandling Tunnel on 2 June 1989. This pleasant rural view has now been changed beyond all recognition, with the Channel Tunnel high speed line slicing through the field in which the sheep are grazing. The slam door units have also of course been replaced by more modern stock.

Class 423 4-VEP 3484 approaches Wokingham on 17 July 1993 with the 17:50 Waterloo to Reading Network SouthEast service. The junction between the Bracknell and Farnborough lines can just be seen behind the train.

An impressive line up of Network SouthEast slam door EMUs in Basingstoke Carriage Sidings, pictured on 28 April 1991. Although some units are hidden, those that can be identified are (left to right): Class 423 4-VEPs 3485 & 3037, and Class 414 2-HAPs 4320 & 4201.

Class 423 4-VEP 3487 runs along the up relief line at Potbridge on 6 November 1991 with the 08:50 Southampton to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. This was a local stopping service, which had just called at Hook station (hidden behind the signal gantry n the background), and would shortly be stopping again at Winchfield.

Class 423 4-VEP 3487 passes Troy Town (near Edenbridge) on 15 March 1995 with the 11:20 Maidstone West to Three Bridges Network SouthEast service. The train is crossing over the Oxted to Uckfield line, which at this point is passing through Little Browns Tunnel. This is a very unusual arrangement, as there is a break in the middle of the tunnel, only to be crossed by this line on a bridge! Edenbridge station is just out of sight around the corner in the background. There is also a station on the Uckfield Line, known as Edenbridge Town.

Class 423 4-VEP 3498 emerges from Shakespeare Tunnel on 11 May 1996 with the 08:55 Charing Cross to Ramsgate Network SouthEast service. The photo is taken from the footbridge that spans the far end of Dover Town Yard, which explains the overgrown siding to the left of the running lines. The steep footpath leads down from the road at the top of the cliff and allows access to the beach, fortunately providing an excellent photographic vantage point.

Class 423 4-VEP 3510 passes Worting Junction on 29 July 1991 with the 07:50 Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. 194 of these units were built between 1967 and 1974, becoming one of the most numerous type of EMUs on the Southern Region third rail network.

Class 423 4-VEP 3516 leaves Basingstoke station on 30 August 1998 with the 09:59 stopping service to Waterloo, passing several other stabled units, including Class 421 4-CIG 1309 on the left. South West Trains had taken over these units two years earlier, and 3516 is wearing their modified version of the former Network SouthEast livery.

Class 423 4-VEP 3521 pulls away from Winchester station on 28 June 1991 with the 12:50 Southampton to Weymouth Network SouthEast service. Winchester formerly had two stations. The one seen in the background is the former L&SWR station, originally known as Winchester City, to distinguish it from Winchester Chesil station, which was on the other side of the River Itchen, on the former M&SWJR route (closed in 1961).

Class 423 4-VEP 3525 passes Troy Town (near Edenbridge) with the 12:48 Three Bridges to Maidstone West Network SouthEast service on 15 March 1995. A short distance further on this line crosses over the Oxted to Uckfield line, both lines having their own station at nearby Edenbridge.

Class 423 4-VEP 3553 leads an unidentified classmate past Queen Street on 15 March 1995 with the 08:32 Charing Cross to Dover Priory Network SouthEast service. Paddock Wood station can just be seen in the distance, and the 'big sheds' of the town's industrial estate dominate the background.

Class 423 4-VEP 3556 passes Nutfield station on 11 May 2002 with the 16:32 Horsham to Tonbridge Connex South Eastern service. Although it looks like this location is surrounded by fields, it is in fact in the centre of South Nutfield village.

Class 423 4-VEP 3559 leads the 08:46 Waterloo to Poole South West Trains service through Micheldever on 16 May 1998. The entrance to the 198 yard long Micheldever Tunnel can be seen in the distance. Micheldever station has a single island platform, and formerly had an extensive range of sidings, the remnants of which can be seen on the right.

Class 423 4-VEP 3570 heads away from Sandwich on 14 March 1998 with the 14:00 Charing Cross to Ramsgate (via Dover) Connex South Eastern service. The A256 Sandwich by-pass provides the elevated viewpoint, in an area where ground level views from level crossings are more common.

Class 423 4-VEP 3570 and an unidentified Network SouthEast liveried classmate approach Swanley on 30 May 1998 with the 10:35 Victoria to Dover Priory Connex South Eastern service. Photo taken from the A20 Swanley bypass.

Class 423 4-VEP 3571 passes through the lush Kent countryside near Four Oaks (just to west of Faversham) on 9 August 1997 with the 10:11 Victoria to Ramsgate 'all stations' South East Trains service. An everyday scene at the time, but within a few years slam door stock would be history in the area.

Class 423 4-VEPs 3581 & 3434 run side by side past New Malden on 4 March 1995. However, this is not quite the everyday Southern suburban scene that it appears to be, as a closer inspection reveals something a little different on the rear of 3581. This is in fact the D-Tours 'Tatty Cat' railtour, with 73105 & 33117 at the rear. 3434 is working the 10:35 Basingstoke to Waterloo service. Ordinarily this would be a very fortunate parallel running picture, but in this case 3434 has got in the way slightly!

Semaphores and slam door stock in deepest Kent. Class 423 4-VEP 3585 brings up the rear of the 10:06 Charing Cross to Margate Connex South Eastern service, as it passes through Wye station on 10 October 1998. The semaphore signals were replaced by colour lights in 2003, and the slam door stock disappeared from the network a couple of years later.

Class 423 4-VEPs 3586 & 3451 emerge from Shakespeare Tunnel on 28 August 1999 with the 09:30 Charing Cross to Ramsgate Connex South Eastern service. Before the construction of special linking passageways between the twin bores in 2006, only trains with end doors were allowed through the tunnels, due to the restricted width making emergency evacuation very difficult.

On a slightly misty 14 February 1998, Class 423 4-VEP 3808 pulls away from Lenham station with the 09:18 Victoria to Canterbury West Connex South Eastern service. The hourly stopping service on this route was supplemented by an express service to Ashford International.

Ex works Class 423 4-VEP 7811 and a work stained classmate approach Salfords station on 15 March 1986 with the 16:08 Victoria to Brighton Network SouthEast service. Virtually all of the 194 units of this class have been scrapped, as obviously a 750V DC EMU has virtually no chance of being used in preservation, except as hauled stock.

Class 423 4-VEP 7812 approaches Salfords on 15 March 1986 with the 15:38 Victoria to Littlehampton service. Once a common sight, with 194 sets trundling up and down the Southern network, just two complete units have survived into preservation, after the last set left the national network in 2005.

Class 423 4-VEP 7815 leads the 12:42 Waterloo to Bournemouth Network SouthEast service round the sharp curve at Deepcut on 28 August 1987. With hindsight I should have made more effort to photograph Southern slam door stock in the 1980s, but then there were always Class 50s to photograph nearer home!

Class 423 4-VEP 7824 heads west through the pouring rain at Potbridge on 13 September 1986 with the 12:12 Waterloo to Basingstoke Network SouthEast service. Note the spray coming off the third rail as the collector shoe skims along the wet surface. On a technical note, this picture was taken with a 1980 vintage Canon FD 50mm f1.4 lens at full aperture and although obviously not perfect due to the large aperture, has produced a much better result than the more modern Canon EF 50mm f1.4 would be capable of. The more modern lens as well as being optically inferior (at least in my copies), also suffers from a very serious design fault (see Introduction).

Class 423 4-VEP 7829 passes through the tree lined cutting at Deepcut on 28 August 1987 with the 10:26 Basingstoke to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. At this time the Class 423s were being renumbered from 77xx & 78xx to 30xx & 31xx, or (for facelifted units) 34xx & 35xx.

Class 432 4-REP 3002 leads the 08:28 Weymouth to Waterloo service past Worting Junction on 24 May 1986. Unfortunately I have only got a couple of decent pictures of these ultra powerful EMUs, and the other one was taken on the same occasion, just half an hour later. With 3200hp available, these units were almost as powerful as the legendary Deltics, but got nowhere near the attention from photographers. They had a maximum speed of 90mph, which was often exceeded, and indeed BR conducted trails in the 1970s with a view to increasing the maximum permitted speed to 100mph. The only thing that stopped this happening, was that the brakes wouldn't be able to cope with the extra speed!

Class 432 4-REP 3011 leads the 10:00 Bournemouth to Waterloo service past Worting Junction on 24 May 1986. These units were the 'top of the range' of SR EMUs, complete with a full buffet car (the third vehicle). They were also easily the most powerful, being equipped with eight traction motors giving a total of 3200hp. This high power output was needed when they were used to propel 4-TC sets. It also meant that they had quite a turn of speed, and exceeded 100 mph on a number of occasions. The electrical equipment from the REPs was obviously built to last, as all the traction motors were salvaged from the units to build the much more modern looking Class 442s in the 1980s.

Class 442 5-WES units 2402 & 2405 pass Worting Junction on 29 July 1991 with the 06:53 Weymouth to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. These stylish trains held sway on the Weymouth route between 1988 and 2007, being replaced by the slightly more aesthetically challenged Class 444s.

Class 442 5-WES 2402 accelerates away from Southampton station on 2 December 1998 with the 08:50 Waterloo to Poole South West Trains service. Note that one half of the front gangway door is open. Along with the rest of SWT's fleet. this unit was withdrawn in 2007, and then after reinstatement with Gatwick Express, withdrawn again a decade later.

Class 442 5-WES 2402 leads an unidentified classmate past Totton on 3 June 2001 with the 08:40 Weymouth to Waterloo South West Trains service. This is a location that I have been meaning to return to, in order to get a train coming off the Fawley branch on the left.

Class 442 5-WES 2403 approaches Micheldever station at speed on 5 August 1995 with the 15:50 Waterloo to Poole Network SouthEast service. On the right is the wartime fuel dump, where over 18,000 gallons of petrol were stored in tanks dug into the hillside.

Class 442 5-WES units 2404 & 2409 approach Eastleigh at speed on 25 June 1999 with the 06:37 Weymouth to Waterloo SouthWest Trains service. The Buddleia and Ragwort are thriving well in Railtrack's very own nature reserve!

Class 442 5-WES 2405 passes Hook on 16 March 1990 with the 09:45 Poole to Bournemouth Network SouthEast service. The cottages next to the line would obviously be an ideal home if you like watching trains go by, and don't mind EMUs! However, the collie dog by the conservatory doesn't seem interested in 2405, being more interested in what's going on inside the house!

Despite their uncharitable 'Plastic Pig' nickname, I always thought the Class 442 units were the most stylish of the EMU designs of the last few years, and it seems a little premature to withdraw these high quality units after less than twenty years service, even allowing for the fact that the traction motors were salvaged from the 1960s built 4REP units! However on 3 February 2007 the final units were placed into store, and so the opportunity was taken to take a few last pictures. Here, 2405 passes Potbridge at high speed with the 13:05 Waterloo to Poole South West Trains service.

An unrepeatable view of Basingstoke, taken on 25 September 1988. Class 442 5-WES 2407 accelerates away from the station with the 12:02 Weymouth to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. The entire fleet of 442s has now been scrapped (apart from one DTS vehicle), and both the IBM buildings in the background have been converted into flats.

Class 442 5-WES 2407 passes Moreton in the rain on 1 March 1992 with the 13:40 Weymouth to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. In those days the Silver Birch trees were confined to the nearby Moreton Heath, which can be seen in the background. Today they block out this view, as Network Rail have allowed them to grow right next to the line.

Class 442 'Wessex Electric' 2409 passes Potbridge with the 14:45 Waterloo to Poole Network SouthEast service on 16 March 1990. Utilising Mk 3 coach bodies with traction equipment from redundant 4-REP units they were a strange mix of ancient and modern, but at the time provided a quantum leap in speed and comfort on the West of England third rail routes.

Saturday 3 February 2007 was the final day in traffic for the Class 442 units with South West Trains, and as it turned out to be a perfect sunny day, a trip was made to the Basingstoke to Woking line to photograph the last workings. 2410 & 2412 are seen here approaching Potbridge with the 09:01 Poole to Waterloo service. Upon arrival at Waterloo the units were split, and 2412 worked a staff only tour to Windsor, Twickenham & Shepperton, leaving 2410 to work the 12:05 Waterloo to Poole.

Running nearly half an hour late, and in the pouring rain, Class 442 5-WES 2411 passes through the shallow cutting on the approach to Moreton station on 1 March 1992 with the 10:30 Waterloo to Weymouth Network SouthEast service. I haven't been back to this location since, but Google Earth shows the now expected massively overgrown jungle, with the then treeless cutting side behind the train now covered with Silver Birch trees.

Class 442 4-WES 2412 passes Potbridge (between Winchfield and Hook) on 2 December 1998 with the 12:50 Waterloo to Poole South West Trains service. Note that one half of the corridor connection door is open.

Viewed from the lofty former roadbridge near Shapley Heath (now just carrying a footpath), Class 442 5-WES units 2413 & 2418 head towards the capital on Sunday 21 July 1991 with the 07:40 Weymouth to Waterloo Network SouthEast service.

Class 442 5-WES 2413 approaches Southampton on 2 December 1998 with the 09:41 Poole to Waterloo South West Trains service. Despite using electrical equipment salvaged from vintage Class 432 4-REP units, the 442s despite initial teething troubles, turned out to be one of the most reliable classes of EMU, and certainly on of the best for passenger comfort and ambience.

Class 442 5-WES 2416 passes Weybridge on 15 April 1989 with the 06:48 Weymouth to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. This train's last stop was Southampton Parkway, so it would speed straight through Winchester, Basingstoke and Woking, en-route to London.

Class 442 5-WES 2416 passes Potbridge on 28 April 1991 with the 08:24 Poole to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. One of these stylish units holds the world speed record for a third rail EMU of 108 mph. The limiting factor of course not being the traction equipment or the third rail itself, but the shock of the pickup shoes hitting the start of each rail section.

Class 442 4-WES 2417 passes Old Basing on 29 July 1991 with the 1W10 09:53 Weymouth to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. It was always pleasant waiting by the former Southern Railway mainline to the west during my many visits throughout 1991. The Class 50s were obviously the main draw, but I always liked photographing these stylish units as well.

Surrounded by Class 421 4-CIG & Class 423 4-VEP units, Class 442 4-WES 2417 & 2410 leave Basingstoke on 30 August 1998 with the 07:40 Weymouth to Waterloo Network Southeast service. This being a Sunday, this not particularly early working was the first up train of the day from Weymouth.

Class 442 4-WES 2417 passes Battledown Flyover on 19 October 2000 with the 12:30 Waterloo to Weymouth South West Trains service. One member of this stylish class holds the world speed record for third rail electric traction, at 108mph.

Class 442 4-WES 2418 accelerates away from Winchester station on 28 June 1991 with the 14:45 Poole to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. This view has altered considerably since this picture was taken. The buildings have been replaced, the station has gained a footbridge, and a radio mast now sits inconveniently near the car park.

Class 442 5-WES 2419 leads an unidentified classmate past Millbrook on 30 November 1989 with the 10:45 Waterloo to Poole Network SouthEast service. Millbrook freightliner terminal dominates the background of this view, although in 1989 traffic levels were still fairly modest, with no train movements during the time I was there on this occasion.

Class 442s 2420 & 2415 pass New Malden on 4 March 1995 with the 07:41 Poole to Waterloo service. Unlike a lot of other Network SouthEast liveried stock (especially as privatisation loomed) the 'Plastic Pigs' always seemed to be kept spotlessly clean, as seen here. New Malden station can just be seen in the background, underneath the bridge.

Class 442 5-WES 2420 leads an unidentified classmate across the River Test, as they approach Totton on 9 April 2005 with the 10:35 Waterloo to Weymouth South West Trains service. Although now adorned with a new livery, this was during the class's first period of use on the national network, prior to being withdrawn, reinstated, withdrawn again, and yet again put back into service. On the extreme left of the picture is one of the two original narrow bridges that crossed the river, prior to the building of the A35 dual carriageway, which now dominates the middle distance.

Frost still lingers in the shadows on 30 November 1989, as Class 442 5-WES 2422 rounds the curve at Millbrook with the 09:45 Poole to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. Typically for the period it is running without the covers for the multiple working connectors on the front end.

Class 442 5-WES units 2422 & 2414 pass Old Basing on 16 July 2001 with the 07:42 Weymouth to Waterloo SouthWest Trains service. There is plenty of warning of trains approaching at this location, with a clear view for several miles in both directions.

Class 442 5-WES 2424 passes Old Basing on Sunday 28 April 1991 with the 09:40 Weymouth to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. The footbridge in the background also provided an excellent viewpoint in the 1990s, although I suspect that shadows from the lineside trees will be much more of a problem at both locations nowadays.

444002 & 444016 pass Potbridge on 11 July 2022 with the 1W27 13:35 Waterloo to Weymouth South Western Railway service. This was running 18 minutes late, after having left London late. This delay would only get worse, and it would arrive at the seaside 43 minutes late.

Vandalised 444002 leads classmate 444021 past Worting Junction on 17 May 2023 with the 1B94 06:34 Bournemouth and Weymouth to Waterloo South Western Railway service. One of the units had worked the 1W90 05:55 Weymouth to Waterloo train as far as Southampton Central.

444004 & 444033 pass Oakley on 9 June 2021 with the 1W96 07:55 Weymouth to Waterloo South Western Railway service. I wonder whether the old Southern Railway concrete PW hut will get removed before it finally gets swallowed up by the vegetation!

444005 leaves Poole on 26 September 2023 with the 1W25 12:35 Waterloo to Weymouth South Western Railway service. This unit had worked as far as Bournemouth in the company of classmate 444026. Just out of sight to the right a former area of wasteland has just become a huge Amazon warehouse.

444006 crosses the causeway over Holes Bay (near Poole) on 26 September 2023 with the 1W60 12:20 Weymouth to Waterloo South Western Railway service, which had started from Wareham due to an earlier fatality.

444008 comes off the Guildford line at Havant on 1 April 2019, as it works the 2P27 10:45 Waterloo to Portsmouth & Southsea South Western Railway service. The line on the right leads to Chichester and Brighton. The first station on the line, Warblington, can just be seen in the distance.

444008 & 444001 pass evidence of some recent track renewals, as they negotiate Worting Junction on 17 May 2023 with the 1B22 South Western Railway service to Waterloo. The two halves of the train had started from Poole at 06:50, and Weymouth at 06:25, joining together at Southampton Central.

444010 & 444032 pass Worting Junction on 14 May 2016 with the 1W06 07:58 Weymouth to Waterloo South West Trains service. This classic location has been used by photographers for decades, although less so nowadays as the traction is more predictable and less interesting!

444011 leads the 13:05 Waterloo to Bournemouth South West Trains service past Potbridge on 2 January 2010. A perfect winter day, with unbroken sunshine, but as can be seen from the frost lingering in the shadows, not very high temperatures!

444012 & 444020 arrive at Eastleigh with the 15:05 Waterloo to Southampton Airport Parkway South West Trains service on 21 March 2009. 66139 & 66174 are stabled in the yard in preparation for the following day's engineering work. Eastleigh is a shadow of its former self and despite the large amount of surviving track very little freight traffic is now to be seen here.

444014 & 444040 pass Popham on 4 August 2019 with the 1B23 09:54 Waterloo to Poole and Portsmouth Harbour South Western Railway service. I had hoped to get a picture of a unit in the new livery, but the closest I came was the rear of these two units. Never mind, they will all be SWR grey soon!

444014 & 444026 pass Popham on 27 May 2022 with the 1W69 14:05 Waterloo to Weymouth South Western Railway service. Coincidentally, I had photographed the leading unit at this location (albeit when it was in a different livery) three years earlier.

444017 passes the disused signal box at Wareham on 8 July 2023, as it approaches the station with the late running 1W19 09:35 Waterloo to Weymouth South Western Railway service. Wareham station is actually in the village of Northport. The town of Wareham is a little further to the south.

One of each colour. New and old South Western Railway livery at Oakley on 9 June 2021. 444018 & 444044 pass through the recently cleared cutting with the 1W52 08:21 Weymouth to Waterloo service. Not as photogenic as the now sidelined Class 442 units!

444018 passes over the Mount Pleasant level crossing, in the suburbs of Southampton, as it heads north on 11 August 2022 with the 5E58 16:06 Northam Carriage Sidings to Fareham South Western Railway ECS. The Northam Traincare Facility dominates the background.

Pride liveried 444019 & 444021 pass Old Basing on 16 June 2023 with the 1W52 08:20 Weymouth and Poole to Waterloo South Western Railway service. 444019 had stated at Poole, and 444021 at Weymouth. They joined at Bournemouth.

444022 passes under the M3 motorway at Shapley Heath on 1 January 2011 with the 1W27 10:35 Waterloo to Weymouth South West Trains service. Obviously the previous night's celebrations are effecting the amount of traffic on the motorway, with just a single car passing over the bridge. Winchfield station can just be seen in the far distance.

444023 passes Worting Junction on 14 May 2016 with the 2B24 06:50 Poole to Waterloo South West Trains service. Although giving a good view of the flying junction in the background, this viewpoint is rather cluttered up with various lineside boxes.

444023 & 444003 run along the up relief line at Old Basing on 16 June 2023 with the 1T26 07:54 Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo South Western Railway service. Because of the tall trees on the left, this location is only really any use for photography in mid summer, or on a dull day!

444025 calls at Wareham station on 8 July 2023 with the 1W18 12:03 Weymouth to Waterloo South Western Railway service. The station has luckily managed to avoid being modernised, and retains its original station building and platform canopies.

The tide is in at Holes Bay on 26 September 2023, as 444025 crosses the causeway between Hamworthy and Poole with the 1W18 12:28 Wareham to Waterloo South Western Railway service. This should have started from Weymouth, but the line west of Wareham was closed due to a fatality.

New and old liveries at Portcreek Junction on 23 April 2022. 444029 & 444039 head eastwards with the 1P22 07:52 Portsmouth & Southsea to Waterloo South Western Railway service. Note the odd orange panel in the front corridor connection.

444030 & 444019 pass Mount Pleasant (Southampton) on 11 August 2022 with the 1W67 13:05 Waterloo to Weymouth and Poole South Western Railway service. What a pity that the slightly more colourful 444019 wasn't leading!

444038 & 444035 run along the up relief line at Worting Junction on 12 August 2024 with the 1T26 07:55 Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo South Western Railway service. This location used to be surrounded by fields. Now it is surrounded by housing estates.

444040 passes Lymington Junction on 22 August 2007 with the 09:35 Waterloo to Weymouth South West Trains service. There is no actual junction here anymore, the track on the right being a dedicated line from Brockenhurst to Lymington.

In mid 2023 the number of EMUs in the old South West Trains livery is rapidly diminishing. 444035 is paired with new liveried 444041 in this picture of the 1B26 08:04 Poole to Waterloo South Western Railway service passing Old Basing on 16 June 2023.

444041 & 444022 pass Potbridge on 8 March 2020 with the 1B15 07:51 Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour South Western Railway service. Water lying on the third rail after a brief shower, is being kicked up by the leading collector shoe on 444041.

444044 & 444032 pass Potbridge on 8 March 2020 with the 1T28 08:17 Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo South Western Railway service. Only 444044 would have come from Portsmouth, as 444032 would have been attached at Eastleigh, after working the 1B28 08:55 from Southampton Central.

444045 & 444005 are still accelerating away from Micheldever station, as they pass Popham on 4 August 2019 with the 1T32 09:17 Portsmouth Harbour and Poole to Waterloo South Western Railway service. The two short Micheldever Tunnels can be seen in the background.

444045 & 444014 approach Micheldever station at high speed on 8 August 2022 with the 1W69 14:05 Waterloo to Weymouth South Western Railway service. This picture is taken from the end of the station's island platform.

The prototype of the 127 strong Class 450 fleet (450001) leads classmate 450110 past Popham on 27 May 2022 with the 1T41 14:09 Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour South Western Railway service. The train would shortly be slowing down for the Micheldever station stop.

Old and new liveries at Potbridge on 11 July 2022. 450001 & 450008 heads westwards with the 1T41 14:09 Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour South Western Railway service. Coincidentally, I had photographed the same leading unit, on the same train, at Popham, a few weeks earlier.

My third picture in as many months of 450001. On 11 August 2022 it is pictured passing Mount Pleasant (Southampton) with the 2E40 1338 Portsmouth & Southsea to Southampton Central South Western Railway service.

A lucky South West Trains EMU passing shot at Shortwood Common (near Staines) on 5 November 2005. 450009 heads west with a Staines service, while 450043 passes in the opposite direction, heading for Waterloo. Note the brand new Bronzefield Prison in the background.

450012 passes Potbridge on 3 February 2007 with the 11:42 Waterloo to Basingstoke 'all stations' South West Trains service. Note the contrasting styles of World War Two pillbox on either side of the line in the background.

450013 & 450062 pass Oakley on 9 June 2021 with the 1T30 08:59 Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo South Western Railway service. It is passing one of the characteristic Southern Railway concrete platelayer's huts, a product of the famous Exmouth Junction concrete works.

450019 brings up the rear of the 11:01 Poole to Waterloo South West Trains service at Totton on 9 April 2005. The A35 dual carriageway parallels the railway here, both crossing the River Test in the background.

450021, 45005 & 450056 pass Worting Junction on 17 May 2023 with the 1T18 05:50 Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo South Western Railway service. Approaching in the background is another three unit combination, this time a DMU, rather than an EMU. 158880, 159016 & 159104 with the 1L18 05:41 Yeovil Pen Mill to Waterloo train.

A comparison of South West Trains liveries at Potbridge on 11 November 2016. 450022 & 444020 head towards the capital with the 1W52 08:20 Weymouth to Waterloo service. As this was nearly the middle of November, I had expected a bit more autumn colour on the trees.

Electric meets diesel at Potbridge on 2 January 2010. 450026 brings up the rear of the 2L46 13:54 Basingstoke to Waterloo South West Trains service, with 450078 leading. Rapidly overtaking it, and disappearing into the distance is the same company's 1L44 11:26 Exeter St Davids to Waterloo service, worked by 159106 & 159006.

450033 & 450020 heads eastwards away from Wokingham on 24 April 2024 with the 2C22 08:39 Reading to Waterloo South Western Railway service, as 455712 & 455909 head in the opposite direction with the 2C15 07:50 Waterloo to Reading train. This is the view from the recently  constructed William Heelas Way bridge. I had intended to photograph the BR blue liveried 455868 here, but when I arrived at the location I discovered that its working to Reading had been cancelled due to a crewing issue. It was then removed from the rest of the day's Reading diagrams!

A new/old/new livery combination at Worting Junction on 17 May 2023. 450040, 450085 & 450074 pass Worting Junction with the 1T18 05:50 Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo South Western Railway service. 07:10 and the shadows are just clear of the line.

450042 passes Weston Colley on 8 August 2022 with the 2T45 15:12 Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour South Western Railway service. Luckily there were less clouds to the west, near the sun, so for once there wasn't much danger of the sun going in at the critical time!

A Class 450/444 combination at Worting Junction on 17 May 2023. 450042 & 444025 head towards London with the 1B90 05:40 Poole to Waterloo South Western Railway service. The two classes look almost identical, except that 450s are four car units, and 444s have five cars. Also the door positioning is different.

A different perspective on an everyday subject. 450043, 450121 & 450077 pass Water End on 12 August 2022 with the 2L41 14:12 London Waterloo to Basingstoke South Western Railway service. The rebuilding of the embankment here has opened up a view on what is otherwise quite a enclosed line.

450044 & 450106 leave Micheldever station (just out of sight around the corner) with the 1T37 13:09 Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour South Western Railway service on 8 August 2022. This view clearly shows the formerly rail served huge concrete reinforced wartime fuel depot, which had a capacity of over seven millions gallons. Also visible in front of the chalk cliff is a line of withdrawn WIA articulated car carrier wagons.

A fine display of autumn colours at Potbridge on 20 November 2024, as 450049 & 450124 run along the up relief line with the 2L28 09:24 Basingstoke to Waterloo South Western Railway service. A very cold morning, the day after the first snow showers of the winter.

A new, old, new livery combination at Old Basing on 16 June 2023. 450061, 450099 & 450066 are just a couple of miles into their journey, as they run along the up relief line with the 2L32 10:24 Basingstoke to Waterloo South Western Railway service

450068 & 450107 approach Micheldever station on 14 June 2022 with the 1T41 14:09 Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour South Western Railway service. This is one of the hourly trains that actually calls at this rural station, rather than rushing straight through, like most of them do.

450073, 450107 & 450084 trundle along the up relief line at Potbridge on 11 November 2016 with the 2L32 10:24 Basingstoke to Waterloo South West Trains service. This always used to be a favourite photographic spot for autumn and winter, and although it is still OK, the shadows are more of a problem than in years gone by.

450079, 450066 & 450024 run along the down relief line at Potbridge on 11 July 2022 with the 5L39 14:20 Waterloo to Basingstoke ECS. This should have run as the 2L39 13:42 Waterloo to Basingstoke South Western Railway service, but apparently there was a problems with the doors. This empty stock was running on a VSTP schedule, and not showing up at all on Realtime Trains.

A 12 coach EMU combination working a local stopping train at Potbridge on 16 September 2024. 450080, 450003 & 450095 have just called at Hook station (just out sight in the distance), and will shortly be stopping at Winchfield. The train is the 2L32 10:24 Basingstoke to Waterloo South Western Railway service.

450084 approaches Portcreek Junction on 23 April 2022 with the 2P07 05:20 Waterloo to Portsmouth & Southsea South Western Railway service. There is naturally a severe speed restriction on this curve from nearby Cosham Junction.

The moles have been busy in this field next to the Basingstoke to Woking line at Potbridge, as 450088 passes with the 10:54 Basingstoke to Waterloo South West Trains service on 3 February 2007. While taking more conventional pictures from the bridge, I noticed that a four coach train on the slow line would just fit in this gap viewed from a little way down the road. A lesson could be learnt by a number of other privatised railway companies from the external appearance of the South West Trains fleet, virtually without exception all the units seen on this day were in pristine clean condition.

450089 & 450121 run along the up relief line at Potbridge on 8 March 2020 with the 2L28 09:16 Basingstoke to Waterloo South Western Railway service. It is about to be overtaken by the late running 1L24 08:45 Andover to Waterloo DMU.

450095 & 444018 pass Worting Junction on 12 August 2024 with the 1B24 07:20 Poole to Waterloo South Western Railway service. Only 450095 has come from Poole. 444018 was added at Southampton, after working the 1W94 06:55 train from Weymouth.

450111 leads a classmate alongside the A329 at Amen Corner, on the western edge of Bracknell, whilst working what is presumably the late running 5C23 09:01 Wimbledon Park to Reading South West Trains ECS on 15 June 2010.

450119 & 450559 pass Worting Junction on 14 May 2016 with the 2B28 08:05 Bournemouth to Waterloo South West Trains service. This should have started from Poole at 07:50. However, not only did it not start from there, but it didn't even leave Bournemouth until 08:31. It did manage to recover some time, being only 12 minutes late when it passed me.

450123, 450071 & 450022 pass Old Basing on 16 June 2023 with the 2L30 09:54 Basingstoke to Waterloo South Western Railway service. 127 of these four car units were built by Siemens in Germany, between 2002 and 2006.

While at Potbridge on 5 December 2007, I investigated the field near the bridge to see if it offered a more shadow free view of the slow lines than from the bridge. It certainly does, but the high voltage wires don't exactly add to the picture! 450127 & 450117 head west with the 11:12 Waterloo to Basingstoke South West Trains service.

450562, 450088 & 450113 pull out of Havant station on 1 April 2019 with the 1P38 11:45 Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo South Western Railway service. Car parking doesn't seem to be much of a problem in Havant. Not only is the multi-storey car park in the background largely empty, but parking was easily available in most of the neighbouring streets.

Class 455 5712 accelerates away from Chertsey station (just visible in the background) with the 12:46 Waterloo to Weybridge Network SouthEast service on 17 July 1993. Note the distinctly different roof profile of the third coach, which originally came from a Class 508 unit.

Class 455 5715 calls at Tolworth station on 4 March 1995 with the 12:18 Chessington South to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. The 4.25 mile long Chessington branch was the last line to be constructed by the Southern Railway, opening just before the Second World War. All the stations on the branch have this distinctive 1930s Art Deco appearance with curved concrete platform awnings. The line is on an embankment, and the main station buildings are at road level.

Class 455 5715 passes Kempton Park on 20 March 2004 with the 16:37 Shepperton to Waterloo South West Trains service. The large building in the background is the Kempton Park Pumping station, famous for housing the world's two largest triple expansion steam pumps.

Class 455 5717 is crossing over the River Thames as it arrives at the appropriately named Barnes Bridge station on 27 November 1999. It is working one of the numerous Waterloo to Richmond circular trains, in this case the 11:17 departure. The outward route is via Richmond, returning via Hounslow. Shortly after departing from Barnes Bridge, this train will rejoin its outward route.

Class 455 5721 arrives at Thames Ditton station on 20 March 2004 with the 14:39 Hampton Court to Waterloo South West Trains service. Thames Ditton is the only intermediate station on the 1½ mile long Hampton Court branch.

Class 455 5727 arrives at Thames Ditton station on 20 March 2004 with the 14:09 Hampton Court to Waterloo South West Trains service. The roofs of the houses on the right clearly indicate that the line is on an embankment at this point. In fact, there is a roundabout underneath the twin arch bridge which the train is just passing over.

Class 455 5732 arrives at Chessington North station on 20 March 2004 with the 13:03 Chessington South to Waterloo South West Trains service. Just visible in the background is the focus of all the interest on the right hand platform. 37203 is on the rear of the  Pathfinder Tours 1Z91 'Buffer Puffer - The Return!' railtour, which will shortly be returning from the end of the line. The garbled destination board is not at fault, but this is merely how the modern signs record in pictures.

Class 455 5734 arrives at Staines station on 24 April 1993 with the 13:40 Windsor & Eaton Riverside to Waterloo Network SouthEast service.  The tracks branching off to the left lead to Virginia Water, where they branch again to Bracknell and Chertsey.

Class 455 5742 and an unidentified classmate pass Wraysbury on 20 March 2004 with the 11:27 Windsor & Eton Riverside to Waterloo South West Trains service. This particular train did not stop at Wraysbury station, which can just be seen in the distance.

A splash of bright contrasting colours to liven up the monotonous green summer scene. Class 455s 5750 & 5707 pass Amen Corner on 21 June 2024 with the 2C26 09:39 Reading to Waterloo South Western Railway service.

455814 & 455811 approach Caterham on 1 May 2013 with the 2Y03 14:13 Victoria to Caterham Southern service. This must rank as the shortest time that I have ever spent at a photographic location. I had checked out the spot in advance on Google Earth, so apart from the intrusive shadow, I knew it would be OK. Arriving at the footbridge, I could hear the train coming, and just had enough time to get the camera out of the bag, and fire off a shot. Then pack up, and go back to the car!

Amid a procession of Class 73s, and Class 319 and 421 4-CIG EMUs, this was something of a surprise at Coulsdon on 21 September 1991. Class 455 5824 heads south with a working that doesn't seem to match up with anything in the timetable.

Class 455 5857 throws out a spark as it approaches Windsor & Eton Riverside station with the 09:20 Network SouthEast service from Waterloo on 10 December 1989. A typically dull autumnal day, but at least the view here is reasonably open, which is not what it is like now. The tree growth has been astonishing here, and it summer it resembles a green tunnel!

Class 455 5858 approaches Woking on 15 May 1993 with the 10:06 Guildford to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. Even the siding on the left has had the red lamppost treatment, which was such a hallmark of the NSE era!

455868 & 455709 pass Amen Corner on 21 June 2024 with the 2C32 11:08 Reading to Waterloo South Western Railway service. 455868 was painted into BR blue and grey livery in March 2024 to mark the end of the class in normal service. However, their intended replacement, the troubled Class 701s, have been severely delayed, so for the moment the Class 455s soldier on.

Class 455 5915 arrives at Guildford on 14 December 1996 with the 12:14 Waterloo to Guildford Network SouthEast service. It is rounding the sharp curve from the Effingham Junction direction, which here meets up with two other lines (from Woking and Farnborough). This line diverged from the main West of England line at Hampton Court Junction, and offers an alternative route than via Woking. Note the steam age gradient post that the unit is about to pass, showing the end of a 1 in 307 downgrade and the start of a level section.

Although I have photographed almost the entire class being dragged for storage over the Cotswold Line behind Class 37s, I have virtually no photos of Class 456 EMUs when they were actually in service. However, here is a picture of 456003, in its original Network SouthEast livery, parked in the carriage sidings at Horsham on 17 July 1993.

750V DC third rail EMUs are definitely not an everyday sight on the Cotswold Line! 456003 brings up the rear of the 5Q94 11:26 Wimbledon Park Carriage Sidings Depot to Long Marston stock move at Shorthampton on 18 January 2022. 37800 Cassiopeia is providing the traction, and the other two units are 455704 & 455736. The units are being withdrawn as South Western Railways aims to replace its Class 455 & 456 fleets with new Class 701 units.

Yet more 750V DC third rail EMUs traversing the Cotswold Line, en-route to an uncertain future. 456008 brings up the rear of the 5Q94 11:31 Wimbledon Park Carriage Sidings Depot to Long Marston stock move at Whitehill (between Combe and Finstock) on 31 January 2022. 37800 Cassiopeia is hauling the train, which at this point was running nearly an hour late.

456011 brings up the rear of the 5Q94 11:31 Wimbledon Park Carriage Sidings Depot to Long Marston stock move at the site of Yarnton Junction on 14 February 2022. 37884 Cepheus is leading the train, which also includes 456007. The was the junction for the Fairford Branch, which diverged to the south west, near the tree on the left.

The 5Q94 11:31 Wimbledon Park Carriage Sidings Depot to Long Marston stock move kicks up the leaves, as it speeds through Kingham station on 9 February 2022. The train comprises former South Western Railway EMUs 456013, 456021 & 456006, led by 37884 Cepheus.

The striking South Western Railway livery of 456018, 456010 & 456016 bring a touch of colour to the drab landscape at Chilson on 26 January 2022, as 37800 Cassiopeia hauls them away for storage, running as the 5Q94 11:31Wimbledon Park Carriage Sidings Depot to Long Marston.

456023 brings up the rear of the 5Q94 11:31 Wimbledon Park Carriage Sidings Depot to Long Marston stock move at Daylesford on 7 February 2022. 37884 Cepheus is hauling the train, which also includes 456002 & 456004. There seems no prospect of any further use for these former South Western Railway EMUs, their usefulness being restricted by being 750V DC third rail only units.

The 2C34 11:39 Reading to Waterloo South West Trains service, led by 458003 pulls away from Wokingham station on 15 June 2010, and takes the Bracknell line. Note the old Southern Railway shunting signal on the right, mounted on a characteristic SR lattice post.

458005 & 458004 catch a brief patch of weak sunshine as they run parallel with the A329 at Amen Corner, on the outskirts of Bracknell on 15 June 2010. They are working the 2C23 09:50 Waterloo to Reading South West Trains service. Built in 1998 - 2000, the Class 458s are hardly the most eye catching design of EMU, but a least they have made a half decent job of hiding the corridor connection on the front end. The car park on the left is for the UK headquarters of Dell Computers.

Nearly new Class 458 8012 stands in the old loading dock siding at Basingstoke on 16 July 2001, while 159001 & 159007 leave the station with the 09:32 Yeovil Junction to Waterloo South West Trains service.

Class 458 8015 passes Worting Junction on 16 July 2001 with the 07:30 Eastleigh to Waterloo South West Trains service. These units were brand new at the time, but in a scenario that was only going to get worse with new units two decades later, their entry into service had been delayed by a host of problems.

Class 458 8021 along with an unidentified classmate emerge from the mist at Amen Corner on 5 February 2005 with the 09:20 Waterloo to Reading South West Trains service. The tower blocks of Bracknell are almost invisible through the fog in the background.

Class 458 8022 and an unidentified classmate pass Amen Corner on 25 September 2004 with the 10:12 Reading to Waterloo South West Trains service. This was formerly the site of a level crossing, but the road is now closed and a footbridge takes its place.

458532 & 458514 pass Amen Corner on 21 June 2024 with the 2C28 10:08 Reading to Waterloo South Western Railway service. As can be seen from the background, the sunny morning was rapidly turning into the typical partly cloudy summer day.

A very lucky consecutive numerical coincidence at Dartford Junction on 11 March 2000. 465011 brings up the rear of the 08:39 Charing Cross to Gravesend service, as it passes 465012, which is leading the 12:08 Dartford to Victoria service. Both units in 465012's train are still in Network SouthEast livery, whereas both units in the other train are in Connex colours.

Under a threatening sky, 465901 leads the 12:57 Ashford International to Charing Cross Southeastern Trains service past Great Chart on 20 October 2007. 465901 is the first of the refurbished 'Networkers', emerging from Wabtec Rail, Doncaster in 2005.

Extensive renovation work is underway on the Grade II listed station building at Ellesmere Port on 11 March 2014, as 507003 slowly pulls out of the station with the 2Y21 15:42 Ellesmere Port to Ellesmere Port (via Liverpool) Merseyrail service. The unit had worked in as the 2Y18 14:12 Ellesmere Port to Ellesmere Port, and after a short break in platform 1, is now returning from whence it came, running wrong line for a short distance before regaining the correct line underneath the adjacent roadbridge.

508201 passes the wonky Southern Railway bracket signal at Snodland on 28 August 1999 with the 2T44 15:00 Strood to Maidstone West Connex South Eastern service. I hope nobody took any notice of the Gillingham destination blind, as it is heading away from that town! Unfortunately the impressive semaphore signal has since been removed.

508203 arrives at Paddock Wood station on 28 August 1999 with the 08:03 Victoria to Maidstone West Connex South Eastern service. This is on the longest section of dead straight railway in the UK, but after calling at the station, this train will turn sharply to the left to head down the River Medway valley towards Maidstone.

508205 passes Five Oak Green on 28 January 2001 with the 09:50 Three Bridges to Maidstone West Connex South Eastern service. In just over a mile, at Paddock Wood, the train would diverge from the Tonbridge to Ashford line, and head north down the Medway Valley. Twelve Class 508s had been transferred from Merseyside a few years previously, but they were not popular on the Southern Region. Despite being much more modern than the Class 411 4-CEPs that they replaced, their ride quality and lack of facilities was a real step backwards.

508207 crosses the flat grasslands of the Isle of Sheppey near Queenborough on 16 July 1999 with the 08:51 Sheerness to Sittingbourne Connex South Eastern service. Grain Power Station dominates the background, although what is not apparent from this view is the fact that the wide estuary of the River Medway, separating the Isle of Grain from Sheppey, is hidden in the middle of this picture. Grain Power Station closed in 2012, and the 801 ft high chimney (the second tallest in the UK) was demolished in 2016. Another step nearer forthcoming power shortages?

508208 approaches Queenborough on 16 July 1999 with the 08:37 Sheerness to Sittingbourne Connex South Eastern service. Sheerness Docks dominates the background. Class 508s are mainly associated with Merseyside, but in 1996 Connex leased 12 units, some of which survived in use in Kent until 2008.

508210 passes the grade II listed South Eastern Railway signal box, as it arrives at Cuxton on 11 May 2002 with the 16:04 Maidstone West to Strood Connex South Eastern service. These units were designed for the MerseyRail system, and that's where the entire class operated until 1996, when Connex leased twelve of them for rural services in Kent, such as seen here.

508212 crosses Neatscourt Marshes on 28 August 1999, having just called at Queenborough station with the 13:56 Sheerness-on-Sea to Sittingbourne Connex South Eastern service. The southern half of the Isle of Sheppey is all like this, rough grassland interspersed with numerous small streams and ditches.

313201 passes Portcreek Junction on 23 April 2022 with the 2S05 07:57 Portsmouth & Southsea to Littlehampton Southern service. This is now the oldest third rail EMU still operating on the national network, and to mark that fact it was repainted into original blue and grey livery in 2017. It is destined for preservation when its mainline career is over.

313204 passes Tarring Neville on 23 April 2022 with the 2C26 11:41 Brighton to Seaford Southern service. Not a particularly inspiring location, but the gap between the bush and the pylon is just the right size for a three car EMU!

313208 leaves Havant station on 1 April 2019 with the 1S19 11:29 Portsmouth Harbour to Brighton Southern service. Strangely, considering this is a 43 year old design, this is my first picture of a Class 313 EMU. These were the first of BR's dual voltage units, and the white recess in the roof of the second coach clearly shows the position of the pantograph on 25Kv equipped units.

313209 arrives at Havant on 1 April 2019 with the late running 1S18 11:02 Brighton to Portsmouth Harbour Southern service. It is passing Havant Junction, where the line from Petersfield and London curves in sharply from the left. Note the Southern Railway substation.

313209 passes through Warblington station on 1 April 2019 with the 1S21 12:29 Portsmouth Harbour to Brighton Southern service. As Warblington is only half a mile from the much larger Havant station (just visible in the background), it does not get such a comprehensive service.

313209 passes Tarring Neville on 23 April 2022 with the 2C28 12:11 Brighton to Seaford Southern service. A mostly sunny day, but a very windy one, as can be seen from the angle of the insulators on the electricity pylon in the background.

313210 arrives at Lancing on 1 April 2019 with the 2E46 15:21 Brighton to Littlehampton Southern service. Although the level crossing in the foreground is fairly busy, most through traffic now avoids the station area, since the construction of the A2025 bridge seen in the background.

With Littlehampton Junction in the background, and the South Downs in the distance, 45 year old 313210 nears journey's end on 23 April 2022, as it works the 2S07 08:58 Portsmouth & Southsea to Littlehampton service.

313214 approaches the site of Drayton station on 1 April 2019 with the 2S22 13:55 Littlehampton to Portsmouth & Southsea Southern service. The diminutive wayside station at Drayton closed as early as 1930, although the tiny goods yard remained open until 1964. A signal box survived at the nearby level crossing until 1986.

Simultaneous departures from Goring-on-Sea station on 1 April 2019. 313217 gets underway with the 2E48 15:51 Brighton to Littlehampton Southern service, while in the background, 377472 departs with the same company's 1H47 16:14 Littlehampton to Victoria train.

Off lease EMUs 319003 & 319421 pictured at Long Marston on 10 July 2017, shortly after arriving as the 5M94 10:01 Hornsey EMU Depot to Long Marston, conveyed by 37884. Long Marston is now home to a vast amount of redundant or off lease stock, of all types, just a fraction of which can be seen in this picture. In the background, on the extreme right, the Welcombe Hills Obelisk can just be seen. This monument, to the north of Stratford-upon-Avon, was erected in 1876 in honour of Mark Philips, a Liberal Party politician.

319007 passes Horley on 21 September 1991 with the 11:48 Bedford to Brighton Network SouthEast service. This unit ended up being converted into a bi-mode Class 769 for Transport for Wales. After just a couple of years use on the Rhymney line, it was withdrawn in early 2023. A ridiculous waste of money, but a bargain compared with the total fiasco of the GWR Class 769 conversion programme, where none of the converted units entered traffic

319016 brings up the rear of a westbound empty stock working at Potbridge on 12 September 1992. Class 319s were not common on this line, so this was worth a picture, despite the dull weather. I presume it was going to Eastleigh, but there was no easily available gen in those days. It's definitely an ECS, as the destination blind says 'Empty to Depot'.

319024 arrives at Horsham on 17 July 1993 with the 14:38 Network SouthEast service from Victoria. In additions to trains to the south coast, Horsham was the terminus for this hourly service from London. Directly behind the train is the grade II listed art deco signal box.

319036 passes Coulsdon on 12 August 1995 with the 14:10 Bedford to Brighton Thameslink service. This train would have used the 25kV overhead supply until Farringdon, where it would have switched to the Southern Region's 750V third rail system.

319040 & 319171 pass Coulsdon on 21 September 1991 with the 09:18 Bedford to Brighton Network SouthEast service. Note the slight difference in livery between the leading Class 319/0, with its grey surround to the front end, and the white on the trailing Class 319/1. Although not really apparent in this view, the 319/1 has a small first class section, which is lacking in the 319/0.

319058 heads west past Queen Street (near Paddock Wood) on 15 March 1995, with (judging by the 'Not In Service' destination blind) an empty stock working, presumably from Ashford. This made a change from the Class 423 4-VEPs and Eurostars passing this location at the time.

319161 passes Horley on 21 September 1991 with the 13:18 Bedford to Gatwick Airport Network SouthEast service. The train is slowing down, as it just a few yards from its destination, as this picture is taken from a footbridge approximately half way between Horley and Gatwick Airport stations.

319182 passes Horley on 21 September 1991 with the 12:48 Bedford to Brighton Network SouthEast service. Surprisingly, this view hasn't changed a great deal in the last quarter of century (apart from the traction). At most other locations near a large town, I would have expected the urban sprawl to have swallowed up the fields seen here on the right.

The old and the (relatively) new at Earlswood on 9 August 1997. Connex South Central 319220 leading the 09:08 Victoria to Brighton service, overtakes Class 421/4 4-CIG 1863 heading the 09:02 Victoria to Horsham train. Given a six minute head start, this is obviously the point where the new order catches up with the old, assuming they both left on time of course!

How bad does the paintwork have to get before a unit is repainted? Quite bad seems to be the answer in the case of 319362, seen here leading the 09:11 Watford Junction to Brighton Southern service past Copyhold Junction on 20 January 2007. The dramatic lighting at least compensates for the train's lacks in photographic appeal.

Former Thameslink 319421 passes underneath the rusty roadbridge at Honeybourne on 25 August 2017, hauled by 37884. It was being moved as the 5Q94 11:50 Derby Litchurch Lane to Long Marston ECS, one of a series of such trains that brought the unusual sight of dual voltage EMUs to the Cotswold Line.

Off lease 319437 passes Honeybourne on 13 July 2017, being dragged towards Long Marston by 37884. This was the 5Z94 10:00 Bedford Cauldwell Depot to Long Marston ECS, that had started out 103 minutes late, but was three minutes early here.

319444 brings up the rear of the 5V94 10:01 Hornsey EMU Depot to Long Marston ECS at Evesham on 31 July 2017. It was being moved, together with 319011, for secure storage. The train was hauled by dedicated EMU coupling equipped Europhoenix 37884.

365502 rounds the curve at Westwell Leacon on 14 February 1998 with the 11:18 Victoria to Canterbury West Connex South Eastern service. The Connex livery was probably one of the more pleasing of the early privatisation colour schemes, although hardly very practical, being mostly white!

365504 leads the 12:52 Ramsgate to Victoria Connex South Eastern service out of Swanley station on 9 August 1997. Introduced in 1995, the Class 365s were conceived as a dual voltage design (note the blanked off space for a pantograph on the roof of the third vehicle). However, only 355502 was actually fitted with 25kV collection equipment, and then only for testing purposes.

365516 along with an unidentified classmate approach Swanley on 30 May 1998 with the 08:43 Blackfriars to Sevenoaks Connex South Eastern service. Introduced in 1994, this class of 40 units had a ridiculously short life, all being withdrawn by 2021. Their use on the Southern's third rail network only lasted 10 years.

3001 passes through Westenhanger station on 11 May 1996 with the 9133 13:44 Lille to Waterloo service. This view has now been completely transformed. The bushes behind the platform on the left have all gone, making way for the construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (HS1), on which of course the Eurostars now run.

3002 leads the 9O43 16:07 Paris Gare du Nord to Waterloo service past Westenhanger on 16 July 1999. Plenty has changed here since this picture was taken. Eurostars now travel on a dedicated overhead electrified high speed line, running along the line of the fence on the left. What remained of the field on the left has subsequently been swallowed up by a service station on the nearby M20. Even the farm bridge which I am standing on to take this picture has been demolished!

Soon to be running on the new line on the left, working from the 25kV AC overhead, rather than the 750V DC third rail, the 9I53 17:56 Brussels Midi to Waterloo service passes Willesborough on 19 July 2002, led by 3002. The first of the new overhead masts can be seen ironically directly above the soon to be used pantograph on 3002.

3004 passes Five Oak Green with the 9I24 10:27 Waterloo to Brussels Midi service on 28 January 2001. Not a location that would be much good in the summer, but in the middle of winter there is just enough gaps in the lineside bushes for a different angle from the standard shot from the nearby bridge.

The setting sun turns 3101 golden as it heads past Willesborough with the Fridays only 9O54 19:23 Waterloo to Paris Nord service on 19 July 2002. I was lucky that this train was booked to pass during the relatively brief period when a perfect glint picture could be taken and before the shadows of the bushes on the left would have become a problem. An interesting picture as it shows the new high speed line under construction in the background, with the masts erected but as yet no overhead wires. Soon of course these Eurostar services would be using this new line with the consequent severe reductions in photographic possibilities, not only due to the overhead wires but also due the prominent fencing that would appear in many locations.

3107 leads the 9O39 15:19 Paris Nord to Waterloo service through the Kent countryside at Queen Street (near Paddock Wood) on 28 August 1999. This is on the long virtually dead straight section of line between Ashford and Tonbridge, which surprisingly yields very few good photographic vantage points.

3201 leads the 9O19 10:19 Paris Gare du Nord to Waterloo service through Sandling station on a dull 8 September 2002, although at least it had just stopped raining! A scene that is now history as the Eurostars now use their own dedicated high speed route from London to the tunnel, and in any case have had their third rail collector shoes removed, making this scene impossible to repeat. Note the banner repeater signal on the left, giving advance warning of the aspect of the next signal.

A brief patch of sunshine spotlights 3206 as it leads the 9O46 17:15 Waterloo to Paris Gare du Nord service past Sevington on 16 July 1999. Although there is no sign of the forthcoming high speed line which would soon parallel this line on the right, preparations to protect the house behind the lead power car are underway, with a fence being erected to keep the diggers at bay.

3215 passes Queen Street (near Paddock Wood) on 15 March 1995 with the 9014 09:23 Waterloo to Paris Gare du Nord service. With hindsight I should have made more trips to Kent to photograph the Eurostars while they were still running on the third rail.

3216 leads the 9O28 12:53 Waterloo International to Paris Nord Eurostar service past Westenhanger on 11 May 1996. This view changed considerably during the following decade. Surprisingly the derelict station house has remained much the same, but the new high speed line now occupies a broad strip of land to the right of the track here, and of course a present day Eurostar train would use the new line. And yes, the Honda Accord parked in the car park is the one that gives this website its name!

3220 leads 3219 past Sevington in the fading light on 14 February 1998 with the 9I41 14:56 Brussels Midi to Waterloo International Eurostar service. If the occupants of the picturesque cottage thought they had problems living close to a railway line when this picture was taken, they will certainly think they have now, as the new high speed line has subsequently been constructed between the existing line and their house!

Transition time at Westenhanger on 11 May 2002. 3221 speeds westwards through the station with the 9019 10:19 Paris Nord to Waterloo service. Work is well under way to construct the parallel Channel Tunnel Rail Link (HS1), which in due course would be the route that the Eurostars would use in this country. Coincidentally, I visited this location exactly six years earlier, before any work had started, and when the station's down platform was backed by tall bushes.

According to the station clock at Sandling it is 11:42:28 exactly, as the 9I24 10:14 Waterloo to Paris Gare du Nord service rushes through lead by 3221. At least it was moving, as when I traveled on the Eurostar, it stopped in the Sandling area for a few minutes for no obvious reason!  The date of this picture is 8 September 2002, a day of intermittent rain showers.

3230 heads through the Kent countryside at Five Oak Green with the 9O18 10:10 London Waterloo to Paris Gare du Nord service on 28 January 2001. These superb trains were somewhat restricted when working from the 750v third rail due to limited current capacity, but at least the old route through was more photogenic, without the clutter of the overhead catenary. This photo is taken from the A228 bridge, which is one of the few locations in the area that is clear of shadows during the winter months.

375622 leads the 10:23 Charing Cross to Ramsgate & Dover Priory Southeastern Trains service past Great Chart on 20 October 2007. Although the majority of Class 375s are 750V DC only, the 375/6 sub-class is also equipped for 25kV AC overhead operation, although this is little used.

375704 and an unidentified classmate leave Faversham station on 20 November 2004 with the 08:05 Victoria to Dover Priory South Eastern Trains service.  Despite the modern rolling stock, and the general run down look of the whole scene, there is still plenty of vintage Southern infrastructure in this view, from the carriage sidings on the left, with their narrow concrete platforms, to the former steam loco shed on the right.

375705 & 375813 pass Sellindge on 18 July 2021 with the 2Y46 12:56 Ramsgate to Victoria Southeastern service. This is on the long straight section of line between Sandling and Smeeth, with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (HS1) running parallel.

375711 & 375806 pass Sellindge on 18 July 2021 with the 2Y32 11:10 Charing Cross to Ramsgate Southeastern service. The Channel Tunnel Rail Link (HS1), which at this point is extremely under utilised, can be seen in the background.

375817 leads 09:53 Charing Cross to Margate South Eastern Trains service past Pluckley on 20 November 2004. Pluckley station can just be seen next to the bridge in the background. The large wood bordering the line on the left here is imaginatively called the Forest!

375820 passes Sevington on 3 June 2013 with the 2W57 16:23 Ramsgate To Ashford International Southeastern service. At Ashford the unit would attach to the 2W58 16:40 Ramsgate to Charing Cross service, which had travelled via Canterbury. This location is almost unrecognisable sine the last time I was here.

375828 passes Sevington on 3 June 2013 with the 16:40 St Pancras International to Sandwich Southeastern service. It is running on the 'heritage' line, whilst the new 'HS1' Channel Tunnel line runs parallel on the right.

Camouflaged signal box! Ivy has completely covered the windows of the grade II listed Havant Signal Box, which closed in 2007. 377105 passes by on 1 April 2019 with the 1J31 1113 Southampton Central to Victoria Southern service.

Running 12 minutes late, 377112 & 377108 power away from Littlehampton Junction on 23 April 2022 with the 1H86 07:15 Victoria to Littlehampton Southern service. The junction can be seen in the background, with the sharply curved line to Arundel Junction heading off into the bushes on the right. The South Downs are party obscured by mist in the distance.

377118 runs alongside the water meadows next to the River Arun, as it passes Warningcamp on 1 April 2019 with the 1B44 16:06 Victoria to Bognor Regis Southern service. This is the point where the River Arun passes through a gap in the South Downs, with the river meandering from one side of the valley to the other.

377130 rounds the curve at Mount Pleasant (Southampton) on 11 August 2022 with the 1J30 12:35 Victoria to Southampton Central Southern service. This train would have started out from London with a pair of units, with the train splitting at Horsham The other unit would then form the 1B35 13:35 Horsham to Bognor Regis.

377133 & 377412 pass Beddingham on 23 April 2022 with the 1F37 13:20 Ore to London Bridge Southern service. There is not much difference between these Class 377/1 & Class 377/4 units, both being 750V DC only EMUs.

377136 arrives at Lancing on 1 April 2019 with the 1N22 15:32 Brighton to Southampton Central train. The station footbridge from which this picture was taken becomes very busy when the level crossing barriers are down!

377142 & 377401 pass through Glynde station on 23 April 2022 with the 1F26 12:26 London Bridge to Eastbourne Southern service. A siding leading to a large chalk pit formerly passed behind the building on the left, and in the distance another line diverged to the right, serving another smaller chalk pit, on the side of the hill in the distance.

377144 passes the Cemex Portsmouth Concrete Plant at Portcreek Junction on 23 April 2022 with the 1C04 06:09 London Bridge to Portsmouth & Southsea Southern service. This train started out from London with two units, before dividing at Horsham, with the second unit becoming the 1B04 07:05 Horsham to Bognor Regis.

377147 arrives at Glynde station on 23 April 2022 with the 1G29 12:35 Ore to Brighton Southern service. There was once a large chalk pit near this station, which was formerly rail connected.  Although the quarry still sees limited use, the sidings were removed a long time ago.

A modern day Southern meeting. 377149 & 377452 pull away from the picturesquely situated station at Woldingham, as they head for East Grinstead on 1 May 2013 with the 2L36 14:23 service from Victoria. In the opposite direction, 377301 & 377309 have just arrived with the 2L37 14:37 East Grinstead to Victoria.

377151 leaves Havant station on 1 April 2019 with the 1Y59 11:26 Southampton Central to Brighton Southern service, while in the background, 313209 arrives with the 1S18 11:02 Brighton to Portsmouth Harbour train.

377207 passes Copyhold Junction on 12 March 2005 with the 14:11 Watford Junction to Brighton Southern service. The freight only Ardingly branch can be seen curving away to the right. Note the evidence of some recent lineside vegetation clearance on the left.

The end of the school day at Lancing on 1 April 2019. Most of the children without bikes were making use of the footbridge to cross the line, rather than wait at the level crossing, so where I was standing was very busy! 377414 passes through with the 5H34 15:00 Brighton Lovers Walk to West Worthing Middle Siding ECS.

377414 leaves Lancing station on 1 April 2019 with the 2U37 15:39 West Worthing to Brighton Southern service, just as 377136 approaches from the opposite direction with the 1N22 15:32 Brighton to Southampton Central train.

377443 & 377405 crosses the flat fields bordering the River Arun, as it heads south from Littlehampton Junction on 23 April 2022 with the 1H10 08:17 London Bridge to Littlehampton Southern service. The South Downs can be seen in the background.

377444 leaves Lancing station on 1 April 2019 with the 1H43 15:13 Littlehampton to Victoria Southern service. Note than rather than making the first class section less easy to identify, as some franchise operators now do, Southern have chosen to super size the traditional yellow cant rail stripe, making it much easier!

377445 pulls out of Havant station on 1 April 2019 with the 1J33 12:11 Portsmouth Harbour to Victoria Southern service. It is quite clear from this view that Havant formerly had centre through roads. In addition, there was formerly a bay platform on the left for the Hayling Island branch trains.

377446 and two classmates approach Copyhold Junction on 20 January 2007 with the 11:17 Victoria to Littlehampton Southern service. The house in the background is Balcombe Place, designed by Henry Clutton, and completed in 1856. Like many large former private houses in the area, it later became a school, was threatened with demolition, and is now a care home. 

As the sun starts to fade out into intermittent high cloud, 377448 passes Beddingham on 23 April 2022 with the 1G33 13:35 Ore to Brighton Southern service. The train had just called at Glynde station, which is situated amid the trees in the background.

377457 crosses the flat West Sussex landscape near the site of Drayton station on 1 April 2019 with the late running 1J30 12:36 Victoria to Southampton Central Southern service. This train would have been formed from twow units as far as Horsham, where the other unit would detach and form the 1B30 13:34 Horsham to Bognor Regis.

377458, along with an unidentified classmate, approach Arundel on 19 November 2005 with the 10:02 Victoria to Bognor Regis Southern service. The line here weaves through the flat bottomed valley of the River Arun, with the South Downs forming a backdrop.

A platform full of passengers wait to board 377459, as it arrives art Angmering station on 23 April 2022 with the 1S15 09:29 Portsmouth Harbour to Brighton Southern service. The station is actually in West Preston, with the centre of the village of Angmering being nearly a mile away.

377465 leads two classmates past Copyhold Junction on 20 January 2007 with the 09:47 Victoria to Lewes and Hove Southern service. The line on the right is the little used Ardingly Branch, which was just about to receive an unexpected visitor in the shape of 37406 on a Pathfinder Tours railtour.

377466 passes the oddly named village of Warningcamp on 1 April 2019 with the 1B42 15:36 Victoria to Bognor Regis Southern service. This is an excellent viewpoint for southbound trains, at least in the afternoon, as there is nothing on the westbound side of the line to cause shadow problems.

With the spire of Chichester Cathedral just visible in the background, 377474 passes Oving on 1 April 2019 with the 1J35 12:13 Southampton Central to Victoria Southern service. If only all lines on the former Southern Region were as free of lineside vegetation as this!

387221 calls at Glynde station on 23 April 2022 with the 2G34 13:01 Brighton to Ore service. The use of a bright red hired in Gatwick Express unit makes a change from the usual diet of green and white Southern Class 377s. Glynde station retains much old infrastructure, including this vintage covered footbridge.

Hired in Gatwick Express 387221 worked the 1G37 14:35 Ore to Brighton Southern service on 23 April 2022. It is pictured here passing Beddingham. The use of Gatwick Express units on the Sussex Coast started in 2020, when the global pandemic saw the complete shutdown of the Gatwick Express service.

395010 passes Sellindge on 18 July 2021 with the 1J28 11:34 St Pancras International to Ramsgate Southeastern service. On this day (a Sunday) there were over 140 trains booked to use this classic 750V DC line, whereas just nine trains (only six of which ran) used the seriously under utilised Channel Tunnel Rail Link (HS1) line in the background.

395019 passes Sevington on 3 June 2013 with the 1J50 17:12 St Pancras International to Dover Priory Southeastern service. These Hitachi built units were introduced just prior to the 2012 London Olympics, and acquired the 'Javelin' branding as a consequence. They can run on either 750V DC or 25kV AC.

Five years late and the majority of the class are still either stored or doing test runs! 701007 passes Potbridge on 20 November 2024 with the 5Q50 06:12 Eastleigh to Waterloo South Western Railway mileage accumulation run. It would return a few hours later as the 5Q51 11:14 Waterloo to Staines Up Loop.

701007 passes Potbridge on 20 November 2024 with the 5Q51 11:14 Waterloo to Staines Up Loop (via Poole) South Western Railway mileage accumulation run. I had already seen it travelling in the opposite direction as the 5Q50 06:12 Eastleigh to Waterloo.

A 750V third rail EMU under the 25kV wires. 701013 passes South Marston on 16 May 2023, as it is hauled by 47727 Caisteal Dhun Eideann / Edinburgh Castle, running as the 5Q66 10:09 Willesden to Long Marston ECS. The train is just about to cross over onto the up line, using the crossover that can just be seen in the distance.

The 5Q66 10:09 Willesden to Long Marston ECS runs along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 17 May 2023, hauled by 47727 Caisteal Dhun Eideann / Edinburgh Castle. 701026 is going to join lots of its classmates in limbo, pending a resolution of both the technical and union problems.

A third rail EMU in Gloucestershire! South Western Railway's brand new 701030 heads down the 'Golden Valley' at Chalford on 5 April 2023, running as the 5Q66 10:00 Willesden to Long Marston ECS. Hidden by the bushes, 47749 City of Truro is providing the power at the front of the train.

South Western Railway's brand new 701038 gets a test run on 11 August 2022. Running 28 minutes early, it passes Mount Pleasant (Southampton) with the 5Q41 16:52 Eastleigh to Southampton Central (via Basingstoke) test run. These new units, built by Bombardier Transportation, will replace the 1980s & 1990s built Classes 455 & 456.

Another of the troubled Class 701 EMUs heads for storage via the Swindon to Cheltenham line. 701051 is hauled past Oaksey on 19 April 2023 by 47749 City of Truro, running as the 5Q66 10:09 Willesden to Long Marston ECS.

EMU 701052 passes through Hailey Wood on 28 April 2023, running as the 5Q66 10:09 Willesden to Long Marston ECS, hauled by 47749 City of Truro. This was running slowly, as it was right behind the 1G13 11:28 Paddington to Cheltenham Spa GWR IET, which in turn was catching up with the 6E11 11:07 Appleford Sidings to Milford West Sidings containerised flyash empties.

In 2023 it makes a change for me to photograph one of these Class 701 EMUs actually working on the third rail, rather than being towed to Long Marston for storage! 701053 passes Old Basing on 16 June 2023 with the 5Q50 06:12 Eastleigh to Waterloo mileage accumulation test run. Four years after their planned introduction into service, and none of the class have yet carried any fare paying passengers. The 1T26 07:54 Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo South Western Railway service can be seen approaching in the background.

A brand new 750V third rail EMU in rural Oxfordshire! 701054 is towed past Oddington on 7 September 2023 by 47727 Caisteal Dhun Eideann / Edinburgh Castle, running as the 5Q68 10:09 Willesden to Bicester MoD. Four years after these units should have been introduced into traffic with South Western Railway, not one of them has carried fare paying passengers, instead they have been removed to various locations (such as this), well off their intended area of operation.

Is there no end to the sorry saga of the Class 701 EMU's introduction into traffic! Five years after the class should have been in service, 701058 makes its way along the Cotswold Line on 3 June 2024, heading for storage at Long Marston. The 5Q88 05:00 Eastleigh to Long Marston is pictured here passing Aldington, hauled by 69008 Richard Howe.

701509 brings up the rear of the late running 5Q85 09:30 Eastleigh to Long Marston at South Marston on 13 August 2024. Along with 701512, it was being taken for storage at Long Marston by 69008 Richard Howe.

701518 brings up the rear of the 5Q86 08:51 Eastleigh to Long Marston, as it speeds through Kemble station on 4 January 2024, hauled by 47749 City of Truro. The train consists of two of South Western Railway's brand new five car Class 701s, the other unit being 701524.

Brand new 701526 heads for storage on 1 February 2024, as it is hauled passed Brookfurlong Farm, Islip, by 69008, running as the 5Q75 09:25 Eastleigh to Bicester MoD. I was undecided whether to do this, or go to the Worcester area for the two trains heading for Long Marston. However, this was nearer, and in full sun, which didn't look guaranteed further to the west.