975023 gets a chance of a sprint along the up fast line at South Moreton (Didcot East) with a crew training run on 1 December 1983. Originally entering service as 55001 in May 1958, this unit was one of the very earliest of such vehicles to be taken into departmental stock, as long ago as 1969. For many years it performed such duties as this with departmental number 975023, although also retaining the L101 set number. Happily it is now preserved and can be seen on the East Lancashire Railway in exactly this livery but in better condition!

Strange goings on at Evenlode (between Kingham and Moreton-in-Marsh) on 20 June 1987. For some unexplained reason departmental Class 122 55001 (TDB975023 or L101) has been added to the front of Class 101 C820 (51500, 59093 & 51512) to work the 14:22 Oxford to Hereford service. As 55001 entered departmental use as long ago as 1969 its appearance on this passenger working is certainly noteworthy. Unfortunately the weather was very poor. Class 122s were very rare on the Cotswold Line and indeed Class 101s weren't that common either. The cow seems unimpressed though!

55001 has maroon liveried CCT parcels van M94705 in tow, as it passes Burrs on 5 November 2017 with the 2E37 14:36 Bury to Ramsbottom service, during the East Lancashire Railway's DMU Gala. This kind of working obviously happened in the late 1960s, during the changeover period from maroon to Rail Blue, but I doubt the trains in those days was ever this well loaded!

Catching the very last of the late afternoon sun near Burrs on 5 November 2017, 55001 & CCT parcels van M94705 head south with the 2E39 15:26 Ramsbottom to Bury service, during the East Lancashire Railway's DMU Gala. This concluded one of the best day's photography I have had for a long time, both for quality of the subject, and the light.

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's recently acquired Class 122 'Bubble Car' sits amid the Great Western Railway vans at Winchcombe on 9 July 2011. 55003 arrived on the railway in April, and will be used for off peak services. Entering service in May 1958, this unit is only a few weeks younger than myself!

55003 passes the impressive array of semaphore signals on the approach to Toddington station, as it heads south with the 10:30 Toddington to Laverton (via Hailes) service on 28 September 2011. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway has had to rely on a DMU service on the northern section of the line during 2011, due to a landslip severing the line. One of the other units involved in these shuttles (Class 117 51365 & 51407) can just be seen stabled in the siding in the background.

55003 passes Stanton on 28 September 2011 with the 11:30 Toddington - Hailes - Laverton - Hailes - Toddington shuttle service. Note that the destination blind is displaying the GWR's spelling of Hayles Abbey Halt. For the 2011 season the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is effectively two railways, divided in the middle by a landslip. DMUs operate services on the northern section, whilst steam works the Winchcombe to Cheltenham Racecourse section.

55003 throws up a spectacular column of exhaust at Toddington station on 28 January 2012. This was during an EMRPS photo charter, and the clag was pre-arranged! Note how the smoke is rising vertically in the still night air. This picture also shows off the high standard of restoration of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's principal station.

The driver opens up 55003 once again during the EMRPS photo charter at Toddington station on 28 January 2012. After a number of years without an operational DMU, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway now has various vehicles of Class 122 & Class 117 either on loan or as permanent residents.

A classic mid 1960s scene recreated on 24 March 2012 at Toddington, on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. 55003 waits in platform 1 prior to working the 10:30 service to Laverton (via Hayles Abbey), while Class 117 three car set with DMBS 51363 leading is parked in platform 2. The glorious spring sunshine was a little late arriving on this particular morning, as only a short while earlier the whole area was covered in dense fog.

Bubbling away nicely in the spring sunshine at Stanton on 24 March 2012. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 55003 makes a fine sight as it passes under the B4632 Toddington to Broadway road near Stanton Fields whilst working the 10:30 Toddington to Toddington via Hayles Abbey and Laverton service. As in 2011, trains on the northern section of the line first depart from Toddington station in a southerly direction, before returning and then traversing this newly opened section of the route towards Broadway. Note the continuously welded track at this location.

A footpath crosses the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway at Stanton via this very slender looking bridge. On 24 March 2012, 55003 passes underneath with the 11:15 Toddington to Toddington via Hayles Abbey and Laverton service. Although recently cleared of much vegetation, the trees on the right mean that during the winter this location is largely in shade.

55003 passes Stanton on 24 July 2012 with the 10:30 Toddington - Hailes - Laverton - Toddington shuttle service. The reversal point at Laverton is just out of sight behind the trees on the right. During 2011 and 2012 the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is effectively two railways, with steam between Cheltenham and Wincombe, and heritage DMUs on this northern section.

Perfect blue sky weather on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on Sunday 29 September 2013. 55003 has just reversed at the current northern end of the line at Laverton, and is heading back towards Toddington with the 11:55 Winchcombe to Winchcombe (via Laverton) service. Laverton ground frame can just be seen in the background, between the two bushes. Just beyond is the loop, which marks the present limit of operations. On the high-res version of this picture, the spire of Childswickham church is visible in the distance behind the unit.

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway token exchange at Winchcombe on 29 September 2013. 55003 arrives at the station with the 13:00 Winchcombe to Winchcombe (via Laverton) service. Note the tamping machine stabled in the sidings on the left.

55003 approaches Toddington on 29 September 2013 with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 14:15 Winchcombe to Winchcombe (via Laverton) service. Note the fine display of semaphore signals in the background.

Surrounded by period railway infrastructure, 55003 waits at Toddington station on 29 September 2013 whilst working the 14:15 Winchcombe to Winchcombe (via Laverton) service. The train was booked to stop here for eight minutes. Unfortunately it looks like railway staff outnumber passengers on this occasion!

55003 leaves Toddington on 29 September 2013 with the 14:15 Winchcombe to Winchcombe (via Laverton) service. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 2013 timetable normally sees DMUs working between Laverton and Winchcombe, with steam train operating between Toddington and Cheltenham Racecourse.

55003, partially painted in green primer, stands inside Toddington Diesel Shed, at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on 15 July 2017. The 59 year old bubble car is midway through an extensive refurbishment. Note the Thomas the Tank Engine faces propped up against the wall on the left!

55004 passes Songar Grange (between Claverdon and Bearley) with the 12:25 Leamington Spa to Stratford-upon-Avon service on 6 December 1986. 55004 was withdrawn in October 1990 and scrapped almost immediately at Mayer Newman, Snailwell. The Hatton Junction to Bearley Junction line was singled in 1969, although note that a short section of track was left at this crossing and can just be seen in this picture.

A Class 122/118/116 combination at Far Coton on 10 March 1996. Class 122 55005 leads Class 118 51321 & Class 116 51131 with the 15:20 Shenton to Shackerstone service, during the Battlefield Line's Diesel Gala. 55005 had been withdrawn from BR service four years earlier, but is seen here in totally unrestored condition, complete with Western Region set number 105, and strangely considering it was withdrawn from Laira, a Tyseley TS055 set number, from earlier in its career!

With new platform edging in place especially for the event, Thame received its first passenger train since 1963 on 29 June 1986, when 55006 worked a number of shuttle services along the branch. The Hertfordshire Railtours 'Thame Phoenix' is pictured arriving at a packed platform with the 13:50 shuttle from High Wycombe.

55006 stands at Thame station on 29 June 1986 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 13:50 High Wycombe to Thame 'Thame Phoenix' special. Note the specially added new platform edging, and the flimsy looking Network SouthEast style nameboard. This was the first passenger train here since 1963.

55006 makes a smoky departure from Thame station on 29 June 1986 with the 14:35 Thame to High Wycombe' Thame Phoenix' special, one of a number of shuttle trains operating on the branch, bringing passenger trains back to the town after a gap of 23 years. Sadly this was just a brief return, as apart from a few other specials, no other passengers would use this station. No chance of any renaissance now, as the line is now a cycle track, and an industrial estate occupies the grassy area on the right. In all the excitement the driver has forgotten to chance the lights, and the unit is displaying red lights both at the front and at the rear!

55011 arrives at Ridgmont station on 16 April 1988 with the 17:12 Kettering to Bletchley service. Not much survives from this view, other than the track and the platforms. Although nearly half the Class 122s survived the cutter's torch, 55011 was not one of them. It was cut up at Mayer Newman's yard at Snailwell in November 1990, just a few weeks after being withdrawn. The Bedford Arms pub on the right, with its local landmark 'car hub cap pergola', was demolished in around 2000. Unfortunately the lorry park that replaced it is hardly an aesthetic improvement. The large running in board, and the semaphore signals (one can just be seen in the background), have also been removed.

55012 (112) passes Marazion on 4 May 1991 with the 10:06 Penzance to St Ives service. Not long after this picture was taken it was painted into Regional Railways livery. This panoramic view not only clearly shows the town of Penzance in the background, but also the famous Pullman coaches, marooned on their own short section of track. Since withdrawl from service in the early 1960s, they had been used as holiday accommodation, but have now sadly been removed. The 1914 - 1923 built cars are: Flora (nearest camera), Calais, Mimosa, Alicante, Juno, and Aurora.

Overlooked by the Art Deco Royale Court apartment block, 55012 (112) arrives at Penzance on 4 May 1991 with the late running 11:17 St Ives to Penzance service, passing the 1938 built Great Western Railway signal box.

975540 (L102) approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 8 May 1987 with a route learning special. This unit had entered service in July 1958 as 55016. It was transferred to departmental stock in November 1975, and continued in that role until May 1993.

975540 (L102) approaches Cholsey on 4 September 1987 with a route learning special. The similar Class 121s were common in the area, but the only Class 122s usually seen were the few that had been taken out of passenger use, and allocated to departmental duties, such as this one.

Departmental unit 975042 (formerly 55019 and still at this time carrying its set number L119) ambles over the river bridge near Walton Well Road, Oxford, on 7 April 1990 with a northbound crew training run. 55019 had a relatively short life as a passenger carrying unit, being taken into departmental use as early as 1969. Note the extensive area of allotments in the background (formerly much used by local railwaymen) with Wytham Hill in the distance.