D9516 & D9523 (in its unauthentic maroon livery) pass Castor on 19 March 2000 with the 12:00 Wansford to Peterborough service, during the Nene Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. While no Class 14 ever carried maroon livery in normal service, neither did they ever haul coaches like these! Note that D9516 is displaying its number in the headcode box.

Showing its correct headcode, D9520 arrives at Yarwell on 1 March 2008 with the 1E44 09:15 Wansford to Peterborough service on 1 March 2008, during the Nene Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. Class 40 D306 is bringing up the rear, and will shortly take the train back from whence it came.

D9520 & D9555 pass Burrs on 26 July 2014 with the 1J77 15:30 Heywood to Rawtenstall service, during the East Lancashire Railway's Class 14 Gala. Note that the headcode is displaying he year, rather than the train's reporting number!

Complete with 'Teddy Bear On Tour' headboard, D9521 & D9526 pass Burrs on 26 July 2014 with the 1J76 15:56 Rawtenstall to Bury service, during the East Lancashire Railway's Class 14 Gala. The event featured the largest ever gathering of the class, with ten locomotives, although D9523 failed, and was not in action on the Saturday.

D9521 approaches Lydney Junction on 15 September 2018 with the 09:05 service from Norchard, during the Dean Forest Railway's Diesel Gala. Class 42 D832 Onslaught had just detached from the front of the train. Note the mass of cloud in the background. After a completely sunny start, this now meant that very soon any sunshine would be at a premium.

The loco and ballast wagons certainly evoke a Forest of Dean scene from the late 1960s, but not in this livery! Perhaps if they had been built earlier than 1964, the Class 14s would have needed a repaint by the mid 1960s, and might very well have looked like this. D9521 passes Upper Forge on 15 September 2018 with the 10:30 Norchard to Lydney Junction freight, during the Dean Forest Railway's Diesel Gala.

Making a fantastic racket, as it climbs the gradient near Upper Forge, D9521 runs alongside the Cannop Brook on 15 September 2018 with the 11:14 Lydney Junction to Parkend freight, during the Dean Forest Railway's Diesel Gala. The loco had only just been repainted into this 'might have been' BR blue livery.

There is plenty of evidence of recent tree felling at Upper Forge, on the Dean Forest Railway, seen here in this 15 September 2018 view. D9521 weaves around the reverse curves with the 12:05 Parkend to Lydney Junction service, during the line's Diesel Gala. The woods in the background contain several old mine shafts, part of the formerly extensive Forest of Dean coal mining industry.

The Dean Forest Railway's D9521 is pictured in the sidings at Norchard on 24 September 2022, along with various items of rolling stock, including Hunslet 0-4-0 shunter 5622 Don Corbett. Unfortunately the Class 14s didn't last long enough in BR service to wear this livery on the national network.

In its distinctive (if unauthentic) maroon livery, D9523 passes Castor on the Nene Valley Railway with more conventionally liveried classmate D9516 with a Peterborough to Wansford service during the line's Diesel Gala on 19 March 2000. I suppose it doesn't matter that the loco is in a fictitious livery, when hauling a train of foreign coaches! This is certainly very far removed from the type of the train the Class 14s actually worked during their short life with British Railways.

Quite a load for a Teddy Bear! D9523 passes Castor on 21 April 2001 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z39 14:25 Orton Mere to Preston 'Nene Navigator' railtour. It's difficult to say whether this Nene Valley Railway section of the tour, or the variety of mainline traction was the highlight, but tour participants had already sampled 58050 & 60015 on the outward leg of the tour. The Class 14 is more used to pottering up and down this line with a few coaches, but this twelve coach rake probably isn't taxing it as much as you might think, as I have seen some archive pictures of these little locos on some truly monstrous freight trains. They weren't always employed on short trip freights during their few years on the Western Region!

The East Lancashire Railway held a special Class 14 Gala over the weekend of 25-27 July 2014, to celebrate 50 years of these distinctive locomotives. 14901 (D9524), D9555 & D9520 pass Burrs on 26 July with the 1J72 14:06 Rawtenstall to Heywood service. The lead loco shows the livery that the class may have ended up in if they hadn't been withdrawn in the late 1960s.

9529 trundles past Castor on 11 April 2015 with the 1E46 10:42 Wansford to Peterborough service, during the Nene Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. 9529 in reality never got to wear BR blue livery, as it was withdrawn in 1968, still in green. After a second career in industrial use, it entered preservation in 1981.

D9531 passes Burrs in the last of the day's sunshine on 26 July 2014 with the 1J74 15:01 Rawtenstall to Heywood service, during the East Lancashire Railway's Class 14 Gala, celebrating 50 years of the former Western Region diesel hydraulic.

Teddy Bears Picnic! With a fanfare of horns, D9531, D9520, D9513, D9555, D9521, D9526, D9539, 14901 & D9537 storm past Burrs on 26 July 2014 with the 1Z01 19:00 Bury to Rawtenstall service, during the East Lancashire Railway's Class 14 Gala. This is definitely the wackiest special train I have ever photographed, but it was certainly worth the trip to Lancashire just for this one shot. The sound was awesome, and the vibration could actually be felt! It had been hoped to have ten locomotives on this train, but maroon liveried D9523 had failed, and so this evening 'Beerex' had to make do with 'just' nine locos. That is still 5850hp, albeit limited to 40mph. A fitting 50th anniversary tribute to these often overlooked locomotives. There is even a contemporary Volkswagen camper van in the picture!

D9531 passes Foley Park on 2 October 2015 with the 14:13 Kidderminster to Bewdley service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. With its modern industrial background, this is not a particularly well used Severn Valley photographic location!

D9537 sits in the sunshine at Toddington on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on 23 April 1994. D9537 had a ridiculously short life with BR, spending less than three years in traffic, initially at Cardiff Canton and latterly at Hull Dairycoates. It did however have a more successful career as an industrial loco before arriving for preservation at the GWR as one of the line's earliest acquisitions in 1982. It has since moved to a private site in Lincolnshire.

An impressive line up of diesel power at Toddington on 10 August 1995, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Class 14s, D9537, D9539 & D9553 stand in front of Class 50 50021 and Class 31 D5541, with John Fowler 0-6-0 4240016 bringing up the rear. None of these locos are now at the railway, and the 31 and the Fowler have been scrapped.

D9539 & 9553 leave Winchcombe station in the rain on 3 October 1992 with the 13:55 Toddington to Gretton service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. The line relied heavily on the 'Teddy Bears' at the time, with three being based at Toddington. A quarter of a century later they have all left the railway, and this view has been considerably altered by the completion of the second platform, and installation of a footbridge. Note the coaches in the background, newly arrived at the railway, and still in BR blue and grey livery.

An impressive line up of Class 14 hydraulics at Toddington on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on 10 October 1992. Nearest the camera is D9539, followed by D9553 & D9537, while on the right Bagnall 0-6-0ST Byfield No.2 simmers away quietly. Only the centre loco in this line up is still resident on the railway. As the line is now home to a large collection of mainline diesels there is less need for these 'teddy bears' to be used for passengers services, as was often the case when this picture was taken.

D9539 approaches Greet Tunnel on 20 March 1993, whilst en-route from Toddington to Gretton, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Obviously a 'Teddy Bear' wasn't sufficiently interesting to attract many photographers, as not a single person can be seen in this wide view, and I haven't had to clone anyone out either!

The early Diesel Galas on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway relied heavily on their small fleet of Class 14s. D9539 dodges the afternoon shadows on 14 November 1993, as it approaches Winchcombe, en-route from Gretton to Toddington.

D9539 & D9553 pass Didbrook on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway with the 09:50 Toddington to Far Stanley service on 19 March 1995, during the line's Spring Diesel Gala. Once the mainstay of the line, the Class 14s have seen less use on passenger trains in recent years as the line's ever growing stud of mainline diesels have taken all the limelight. Although a far cry from their intended role as trip freight locos, this double header certainly looks impressive with the contrasting colours in buffer beams and coupling rods.

D9539 & D9553 leave Winchcombe on 8 August 1995 with the 13:00 Toddington to Far Stanley freight, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Week. Note that both loco's have got their connecting rods in the same position.

D9539 is viewed from above the western portal of Greet Tunnel, as it heads back to Toddington from Far Stanley on 11 August 1995, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Week. In the 1990s the 'Teddy Bears' still had quite a role to play on the line.

With a headboard commemorating thirty years of the Class 14s, D9539 & D9553 pass Stanley Pontlarge on a sunny 11 August 1995 with the 14:00 Toddington to Far Stanley service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Week.

D9539 & D9553 emerge into the sunshine after their traversal of the 693 yard long Greet Tunnel, on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, during the line's Diesel Week on 11 August 1995. The headboard proudly proclaims: '30th Anniversary of the Class 14. D9537, D9539, D9553. 1965 - 1995. Swindon Works to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.' The train is the 16:00 Toddington to Far Stanley service.

D9539 passes Prescott with the 13:35 Toddington to Gotherington service on 6 November 1999, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. The train is just crossing over the Gretton to Gotherington road, in a lucky patch of sun by the look of the clouds gathering in the background! This loco left the railway in 2005 and was moved to the Ribble Valley Railway.

D9539 passes Hailes on 26 October 2003, whilst en-route from Toddington to Winchcombe, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. This was in the good old days of readily available lineside passes.

D9539 accelerates away from Winchcombe on 26 October 2003, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. With Langley Hill rising up in the background, this is one of the better photographic locations for trains heading for Toddington.

There is much evidence of recent lineside vegetation clearance, as D9539 approches Hailes on 26 October 2003 with the 12:00 Cheltenham Racecourse to Toddington service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. The 'Heart of Wales Observer' headboard seems a little optimistic!

D9539 & D9537 pass Burrs on 26 July 2014 with the 2E12 16:35 Ramsbottom to Bury parcels train, during the East Lancashire Railway's Class 14 Gala. Both D9539 & D9539 were formerly residents of my local preserved line, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

D9551 passes Bewdley's distant signal, as it approaches Northwood Lane on 21 May 2022 with the 15:00 Bewdley to Highley service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. The loco is wearing non-authentic gold ochre livery, as originally worn by Class 52 D1015 Western Champion.

Although they were the diesel successor to the GWR 57xx 0-6-0PTs, the Class 14 diesel hydraulics did not normally work branch passenger trains, except on a very few rare occasions. However, in a 'what might have been' scene, D9551 passes Eardington on 1 October 2022 with the 13:40 Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade local service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala.

9553 & D9539 emerge from Greet Tunnel into the pouring rain on 3 October 1992, as they head back from Gretton to Toddington, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. An interesting comparison of green liveries: Yellow front and coupling rods with painted number (minus D prefix), compared with red buffer beam and couplings rods with cast numberplates.

D9553 & D9539 clatter past Hailes on 20 March 1993 with the 13:15 Toddington to Gretton service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. These two were a staple of the line's diesel events until put into second place by the arrival of more impressive motive power.

D9553 & D9539 return from Far Stanley and head for Toddington on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on 19 March 1995. D9553 is obviously applying some power as it passes the conveniently placed photographic prop tree at Didbrook. Notice the amount of cloud that has started to build up compared with the earlier outward run.

D9553 & D9539 have just emerged from Greet Tunnel and are approaching Winchcombe station on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on 11 August 1995. I had photographed the outward run at Stanley Pontlarge, and this is now the returning Far Stanley to Toddington service.

D9553 passes Hailes on 5 November 1995 with the 12:00 Toddington to Far Stanley service. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway had three Class 14s at this time, and while D9537 never saw much use, both D9553 & D9539 were used extensively.

Running half an hour late, one of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's three Class 14s passes Hailes on 5 November 1995 with the 12:45 Toddington to Far Stanley service. D9553 is also carrying the number 54, from its time working in the Corby Ironstone Quarries.

D9553, D9539 & D9537, pictured in the yard at Toddington on 11 November 1995. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway relied heavily on these former Western Region hydraulics in its early days, and although D9537 saw little use on passengers trains, both D9553 & D9539 worked extensively during the line's Diesel Galas of the early 1990s.

The last built Class 14, D9555, is pictured near Upper Forge, on the Dean Forest Railway, on 23 March 2002, during an East Midlands Railway Photographic Society photo charter. This was recreating the days when the class worked ballast trains in the Forest of Dean, during the mid 1960s. Unfortunately this dull misty weather persisted all day.

Only during a photo charter can you take a picture from this kind of angle! D9555 is posed with a short ballast train at Upper Forge, on the Dean Forest Railway, on 23 March 2002, during an East Midlands Railway Photographic Society photo charter.

D9555 performs another run by, during an East Midlands Railway Photographic Society photo charter at Whitecroft, on the Dean Forest Railway, on 23 March 2002. Note the reflection of the loco's wasp stripe painted front end in the window on the right.

A meeting of two classic 1960s forms of transport at Parkend on 23 March 2002. 1965 built D9555 meets a 1969 Morris Minor during an East Midlands Railway Photographic Society photo charter at the Dean Forest Railway. This is of course a staged picture, with the car belonging to one of the railway's volunteers.

D9555 is flagged across the road at Parkend on 23 March 2002 during an East Midlands Railway Photographic Society photo charter at the Dean Forest Railway. This could very easily be a scene from the mid 1960s, when the 'Teddy Bears' worked ballast trains in the area. Especially convincing from this angle, as you can't see that the car is a 1969 registered vehicle, by which date the Class 14s had been virtually all sold into industry.

D9555 reposes underneath the footbridge at Parkend station on the evening of 23 March 2002 during an East Midlands Railway Photographic Society photo charter at the Dean Forest Railway. This view is a faithful recreation, as D9555 did indeed perform ballast train duties in the Forest of Dean in the mid 1960s.

The last Western Region diesel hydraulic to be built, D9555, stands amid sundry other stock at Norchard, on the Dean Forest Railway, on 16 July 2017. D9555 emerged from Swindon Works on 22 October 1965, so bringing to end the short lived hydraulic experiment.