Prototype Sprinter unit, 150001 arrives at Droitwich with the 10:30 Birmingham New Street to Great Malvern service on 27 April 1991. 150001 had entered service in November 1984, heralding a mass DMU replacement programme that would eventually see the replacement (with the odd exception!) of the entire first generation DMU fleet. This process was not as quick as some would have liked, and it was nearly two decades from the emergence of 150001 until the final Class 101 Metro Cammell units were removed from service.

150001 kicks up the snow, as it passes Blakedown on 30 December 2000 with the 08:44 Dorridge to Great Malvern Central Trains service. This prototype Sprinter unit had been in service for 16 years when this picture was taken, and was probably considered to be half way though its design life. However, at the time of writing, it is still going strong, at nearly forty years of age.

Normally the Didcot to Swindon line is a completely DMU free railway, the only exception being ECS workings such as this. On 23 April 2014, 150001 is correctly showing a 'Sorry Not In Service' message, as it passes Bourton with the 5Z74 09:33 Reading Traincare Depot to St Philips Marsh. The remains of Shrivenham station's down platform can just be seen in the background.

150001 is pictured accelerating away from its stop at Ashchurch (for Tewkesbury) station on 26 June 2017. The train is the 2E17 07:23 Warminster to Great Malvern GWR service, which is much better lit in this going away picture.

Could this be classed as a heritage unit now? At nearly 34 years old, this first production second generation DMU (Pacers excepted) has now had a longer life than many of the 1950s and 1960s units that it was designed to replace. 150001 passes Up Hatherley on 17 July 2018 with the 2E17 07:23 Warminster to Great Malvern GWR service.

Still accelerating away from Cam & Dursley station, 150001 passes Gossington on 17 December 2018 with the 1O98 10:48 Great Malvern to Brighton GWR service. The train has just passed underneath the M5 motorway. I wonder if this unit will get claimed by the National Railway Museum in the fullness of time, in recognition of the fact that it is the pioneer second generation DMU

154001 passes Clay Mills (Hargate) on 15 May 1987 with the 11:06 Birmingham New Street to Derby Regional Railway service. This unit initially entered traffic in 1984 as 150002, one of a pair of Class 150 prototypes. 150001 was fitted with Cummins engines and Voith transmissions, and 150002 was equipped with Rolls Royce engines and transmissions by Self Changing Gears. Unfortunately this latter combination proved to be less than reliable, and in early 1987 150002 was converted into a testbed for the forthcoming Class 158 units, complete with Cummins engines. It was renumbered 154001, and spent the next five years in this guise, before being converted back to a standard Class 150. It shouldn't really have been a surprise that the Rolls Royce engines would be unreliable, as the earlier Class 111s were always having problems.

Complete with Rail Operations Group headboard, 150002 passes Yarnton on 20 December 2016 with the 5V74 09:00 Doncaster Works Wabtec to Reading Traincare Depot ECS. The unit had been at Doncaster for the previous two weeks, but despite appearances, it had not received a repaint as part of its refurbishment, as it had acquired GWR green livery priory to heading north on 7 December. Typically, a large bank of cloud obscured the sun when this passed, but the run of the mill freightliners passed in full sun!

With a toot from the driver, 150002 passes Undy on 7 October 2018 with the 1F14 12:48 Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff Central GWR service. This is one of those locations that I had been meaning to visit for some years, and for some reason had never got around to. With the onward march of electrification, I had almost left it too late, but luckily there is a mysterious missing number of masts on the south side of the line either side of the footbridge from which this picture was taking, meaning that photography is still possible.

150002 passes the south end of Eckington loop on 24 August 2019 with the 2E25 15:28 Warminster to Great Malvern GWR service. This is an excellent location to photograph northbound trains on a summer evening, as there is nothing at all (apart from that grey box!) to cast a shadow on the train. Class 150s would soon disappear from the area, in favour of Class 158s & 166s.

A picture I had been meaning to do for some time is the westbound view from the Edstone Aqueduct on the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal. On the way home from seeing 56311 & 56312 at Washwood Heath n 22 November 2008, a detour was made to visit the location. 150005 passes Silesbourne Farm and is about to pass under the aqueduct while working the 10:55 Stourbridge Junction to Stratford-upon-Avon London Midland service. The superb late autumn lighting didn't last long, as can be guessed by the ominous dark clouds in the background.

150007 arrives at the picturesque Wilmcote station on 22 October 2009 with the 2S36 11:55 Stourbridge Junction to Stratford-upon-Avon London Midland service. A picture taken from the platform like this could so easily be spoiled by people getting in the picture, but even though Wilmcote is the home of the word famous Mary Arden's House (William Shakespeare's mother), midday on a wet autumn day has left the station deserted.

Central Trains 150011 passes the footpath crossing just to the east of Whitacre Junction on 23 September 2000, as it takes the Nuneaton line with the 09:02 Birmingham New Street to Lincoln Central service. The destination blind says 'Nottingham via Nuneaton', which would be correct for most workings, although this one carried on to Lincoln.

150011 passes Bishopton (near Stratford-upon-Avon) with the 16:24 Stratford-upon-Avon to Worcester Shrub Hill Central Trains service on 8 September 2001. Note the small Central Trains logos applied to the original livery in lieu of full repainting. An evening with intermittent cloudy spells and sunshine whilst waiting fro the steam hauled railtour. Very lucky with the sun on this one - note the shadow on the trees behind the last coach.

150013 pulls away from Kidderminster station on 6 August 1994 with the 08:04 Birmingham New Street to Hereford service. It is passing 50031, while 50044 can just be seen in the distance, underneath the water tower. Note the yellow end that is just visible on the centre car of 150013, indicating that this has been reformed from a two car unit. The centre coach was added from disbanded 150226 (whose other vehicle ended up in 150010). This alteration caused the original 150113 to be renumbered as 150013.

Severn Tunnel Junction was once an important freight yard and loco depot. However, by 2003 there was little evidence left of this once important site. Scattered bushes mark the derelict yard, with Rogiet church now the most prominent feature in the scene. In the background on the extreme right is Severn Tunnel Junction station. 150016 passes by with the 12:42 Nottingham to Cardiff Central Central Trains service on 22 February 2003.

Running over twenty minutes late, 150022 arrives at Henley-in-Arden on 17 February 2007 with the 09:55 Stourbridge Junction to Stratford-upon-Avon Central Trains service. I don't think many people use the far end of the platform on the left, as it appears to have luxurious carpet of moss as the top surface!

Brand new 150101 approaches Wellingborough on 12 December 1985 with a southbound crew training run. The two prototype Class 150s (150001 & 150002) had been introduced the previous year, and had spent a lot of time working test trains. 150101 was the first of the production units, and had only been delivered a few weeks before this picture was taken.

Regional Railways meets InterCity near Peascliffe Tunnel on 14 June 1986. 150101 heads north with the 14:40 Crewe to Skegness service, just as the 16:26 York to Kings Cross HST passes by in the opposite direction.

A rare picture of passengers at Combe station on the Cotswold Line! 3 customers await the arrival of 150101 with the only up train of the day to call at the diminutive station - the 07:00 Worcester to Oxford service. This was on 17 March 1994, when the service was operated by Regional Railways, who had threatened to close both Combe and Finstock stations due to lack of patronage. Perhaps the locals were worried, as the platform fence had just been renewed, and the usual sign that a station is about to be closed is that some money is spent on it after years of neglect!

For a short period during the mid 1990s the local services on the Cotswold Line were operated by Regional Railways Class 150s. 150101 approaches Wolvercote Junction on 13 June 1994 with the 2F16 17:41 Oxford to Moreton-in-Marsh 'all stations' service. Although the lineside vegetation had stated to increase by this time, it was however still possible to see Wolvercote church above the Oxford by-pass, on the extreme left of this view.

150101 approaches Wickwar Tunnel on 15 April 2015 with the 2M97 08:23 Southampton Central to Great Malvern First Great Western service. Looking at all the bushes on the right, it is hard to believe that there was once the possibility of photographing northbound trains in the evening from that side of the line!

150101 passes some major bank strengthening work at Oaksey on 15 September 2016, as it works the 2B96 15:20 Cheltenham Spa to Swindon GWR service. The soft early autumn light was particularly welcome here, as the shadows across the line are not too prominent.

The rickety wooden fence separating the railway from a small section of waste ground next to Water Orton station was familiar to many railway photographers in the 1980s. I am not the only person making use of this location on 17 March 1989, as 150102 passes through the station with the 11:10 Birmingham New Street to Lincoln Central Regional Railways service.

Finstock station provides three passengers for the 07:00 Worcester Foregate Street to Oxford Regional Railways service on 31 May 1994. 150102 calls with one of just two trains to stop at this diminutive station in the up direction (none at all at the weekends). At this time both Finstock and nearby Combe stations had just been reproved from closure (again)!

150102 passes Droitwich signal box on 4 August 1996 with the 17:09 Stratford-upon-Avon to Worcester Shrub Hill Regional Railways service. As can be seen from the destination blind, this had travelled via Birmingham New Street.

Perfect timing, as the farmer baling the straw in the field passes the gap in the hedge, just as 150102 passes Bishopton on 16 August 1997 with the 11:58 Stourbridge Junction to Stratford-upon-Avon Regional Railways service. Stratford-upon-Avon Parkway station now occupies this site.

With the muddy River Wye in the background, ex-works 150102 is about to pass under the Severn Road Bridge with the 13:15 Birmingham New Street to Cardiff Central Trains service on 3 September 1999. The houses in the background are in the village of Beachley, which is situated on a peninsular of land between the mouth of the River Wye and the River Severn.

The morning of 25 May 2013 was not as sunny as forecast, after a bright start it virtually completely clouded up. 150102 finds a lucky break in the clouds, as it passes Claydon (Gloucestershire) with the 2F97 09:08 Worcester Shrub Hill to Westbury First Great Western service. Note the incorrect destination blind!

150102 approaches its destination on 18 April 2015 with the late running 2C20 14:42 Gloucester to Westbury First Great Western service. Westbury Power Signal Box dominates the view, which also shows the lines diverging in the background to Trowbridge (left) and Newbury (right).

Sometimes the Met Office gets it wrong in a good way! The morning of 16 July 2016 was supposed to be 100% cloudy, so this superb early morning light was a bit of a surprise, although admittedly it didn't last very long. 150102 slowly gets under way from Ashchurch station (just beyond the footbridge in the background) with the 2G79 05:50 Gloucester to Worcester Shrub Hill GWR service, the first train of the day to call at the station. The rusty footbridge is a well known local photographic vantage point.

150102 passes Oaksey on 7 March 2016 with the 2G85 13:36 Swindon to Cheltenham Spa GWR service. Behind the train is the recently upgraded footpath crossing, which was previously just a hole in the hedge and a warning sign!

150104 and an unidentified classmate run alongside the M40 motorway at Rowington on 28 July 1992 with what is presumably an ECS working, as it doesn't match up with anything in the timetable. The Chester destination is also a bit suspicious! The two white G reg Mitsubishis on the right are both unsurprisingly no longer on the road, although the Colt car survived longer than the van.

150104 races through Finstock station on 19 March 1993 with the 14:12 Great Malvern to Oxford Regional Railways service. The Class 150s only operated on the route for a short period, being replaced the following year by the now familiar Class 165 & 166 Turbo units.

The signalman at Moreton-in-Marsh hands the single line token to the driver of 150104 on 2 May 1993. It is working the 2B44 17:35 Oxford to Great Malvern Regional Railways service. This picture was taken a little over half way through the forty year period that the Cotswold Line was single track between Moreton and Evesham. The early part of this period especially saw the line at a mere shadow of its former self, with a very infrequent service. Happily things have now improved considerably, hence the reinstatement of double track in 2011.

I have comparatively few pictures of Class 150s on the Cotswold Line, as their use was quite short-lived, and at the time I was often travelling the length and breadth of the country in search of the soon to disappear mainline heritage traction. With the Railway Hotel prominent in the background, 150104 arrives at Evesham station in the rain on 16 May 1993 with the 1F18 17:35 Oxford to Great Malvern Regional Railways service.

150104 passes Badgeworth on 24 July 2012 with the 2O90 12:50 Great Malvern to Weymouth First Great Western service. Well over 4 hours in a Class 150 with 31 intermediate stops must be a real challenge for any Great Malvern residents who want a trip to the seaside!

150104 passes Claydon (Gloucestershire) on 23 February 2016 with the 2O90 12:51 Great Malvern to Weymouth GWR service. The southern slope of Bredon Hill basks in the late winter sunshine in the background.

150104 is completely dwarfed by the landscape, as it passes Cattybrook on 19 July 2016 with the 2C75 12:00 Cardiff Central to Taunton GWR service. This is the view from high above Patchway Tunnels, looking towards the River Severn and the distant Welsh hills.

Not so much a destination blind, more of a point of origin blind! Incorrectly displaying 'Great Malvern', 150104 passes through the recently cleared cutting at Up Hatherley on 20 June 2017 with the 2O90 12:51 Great Malvern to Weymouth GWR service.

150105 arrives at Moreton-in-Marsh station on Sunday 26 April 1992 with the 16:08 Worcester Foregate Street to Oxford Regional Railways service. This picture gives a good view of the old creamery, with its long disused loading bay. There was also a siding giving access to the building from the Shipston-on-Stour branch, which curved away from the station to the right of this picture.

150105 approaches Droitwich on 10 January 1998 with the 12:30 Birmingham New Street to Great Malvern Central Trains service. Despite the clutter on the right, this was always an excellent spot for photography, at least until a huge radio mast and rampant tree growth blocked the view.

150105 passes the last remnants of the previous weekend's snow, as it heads south from Lidlington on 19 March 2018 with the 2S10 10:55 Bedford to Bletchley West Midlands Trains service. Although it was still bitterly cold, the bright sun was quickly melting the snow, and there was noticeably less in the field than when I first arrived. The two Cardington airship hangars can just be seen in the far distance, at the extreme right of the picture.

By midday on 19 March 2018, most of the snow in the Lidlington area had melted, but this large patch on the hillside remained. 150105 passes by in the background with the 2S13 12:01 Bletchley to Bedford West Midlands Trains service.

150106 passes Haughton on 16 August 2003 with the 11:30 Chester to Birmingham New Street Central Trains service. Visible in the background is the karting track that now occupies the extreme south west corner of the former Second World War Rednal airfield.

150106 passes Cattybrook on 19 July 2016 with the 2C77 13:00 Cardiff Central to Exeter St Davids GWR service. At this point the up and down lines are starting to change levels, in preparation for the split level twin bore Patchway Tunnels.

150106 passes Little Haresfield on 7 June 2017 with the 2B92 11:20 Cheltenham Spa to Swindon GWR service. Note how overgrown this location is now getting, with quick growing ash trees now dominating the foreground.

150107 passes Clay Mills (Hargate) on 4 September 1991 with the 1V14 12:41 Nottingham to Cardiff Central Regional Railways service. I still think that the Regional Railways colour scheme was one of the most stylish sectorisation liveries, and vastly better than most of the later privatisation colour schemes. However, it seems that the light blue paint wasn't of the best quality, as it is looking decidedly patchy here, and the unit is less than six years old.

150107 accelerates away from Bromsgrove station (just out of sight around the corner) with the 1V25 10:49 Birmingham New Street to Hereford London Midland service on 9 July 2013. This location now marks the southern limit of electrification from the Birmingham direction.

150109 arrives at Stewartby in a lucky patch of sunshine on 9 June 2017. It is working the 2S22 16:40 Bedford to Bletchley London Midland service. Although the three remaining chimneys from the former brickworks are listed, there is a move afoot to have them demolished, as their owners claim they are unsafe.

150109 approaches the public footpath crossing between Ridgmont and Lidlington on 19 March 2018 with the 2S11 11:01 Bletchley to Bedford West Midlands Trains service. The unit is wearing the former operator London Midland's colour scheme, with the addition of West Midlands branding.

On a cloudless 31 August 1991, 150111 passes the site of Chipping Campden station (or Campden as the GWR called it) with the 14:24 Worcester Foregate Street to Oxford service, during the relatively short period that Class 150 units could regularly be seen on the Cotswold Line. Previously Class 155 units were employed, taking over from a succession of first generation units. The 150s were used after the 155s had been withdrawn to be converted to single car Class 153s and before the Class 165 & 166 Turbo units arrived on the scene.

150112 brings up the rear o the 2U20 08:26 Leeds to Manchester Victoria Northern service, as it leaves Mytholmroyd on 16 November 2015. Slightly more visually challenged (by virtue of its front corridor connection) 150215 is the lead unit.

150112 & 150215 approach Hall Royd Junction on 16 November 2015 with the late running 2E43 10:16 Manchester Victoria to Leeds Northern service. This panoramic view of Todmorden is dominated by the impressive 1875 built town hall, just to the right of which is the town's station. On the extreme right of this view is the recently reinstated chord from Stansfield Hall Junction, on the Copy Pit route, which has allowed the reintroduction of direct trains between Burnley and Manchester.

150117 rounds the curve near White House Farm, after having just exited Ledbury Tunnel, which is just behind the three arch bridge in the background. The train is the 12:33 Hereford to Birmingham New Street Regional Railways service, and the date is 6 February 1993. Unfortunately this is a very poor picture, taken on a dull and misty winter's day, but it is the only picture I have from this location, which has now become rather more overgrown!. Note the Ledbury Tunnel airshaft on the horizon, on the extreme right of the picture.

150120 disappears into Sapperton Tunnel on 21 March 2011 with the 09:54 Swindon to Cheltenham Spa First Great Western service. service. This is viewed from above the entrance to the short section of the tunnel, there being this very short gap between the tunnels, conveniently situated for photography next to the main road.

150120 passes Eckington on 17 August 2017 with the 2F99 16:48 Great Malvern to Westbury GWR service. The impressive cloud formation compensates for the fact that the sun isn't quite on the front of the unit.

150121 passes Toton on 16 October 1986 with the 14:16 Leeds to Nottingham Regional Railways service. Toton was (and still is) a major freight hub, although by the 1980s a lot of the sidings were used for storage of withdrawn stock, as can be seen in the background. Passenger trains were very infrequent, but as this train called at Beeston, it used the chord between Meadow Lane and Attenborough Junctions, rather than taking the more direct route to Nottingham via Trowell Junction and Lenton North and Mansfield Junctions.

Viewed through a long lens, from the hillside on the other side of the valley to the railway, 150121 approaches Wickwar on 30 January 2008 with the 08:42 Gloucester to Weymouth First Great Western service. The unit is still wearing Silver Link livery, but with a complete lack of branding.

150121 does a good job of hiding 66005, as it passes Severn Tunnel Junction on 20 September 2008 with the 1F09 09:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour First Great Western service. This broadside picture gives a clear view of the rebranded former Silverlink livery. Note the darker patches where the former Silverlink branding has been covered up.

A busy moment at Natton on 6 March 2009. 150121 accelerates away from Ashchurch station (just visible under the bridge) with the 08:25 Great Malvern to Westbury First Great Western service, while 66047 speeds by in the opposite direction creating the perfect passing shot. 150121 is still in the obsolete Silver Link livery, albeit with First Great Western branding on the side. In the distance 220029 can be seen waiting with the 07:06 Manchester Piccadilly to Bristol Temple Meads CrossCountry service, now running approximately ten minutes late.

150121 passes Churchdown on 2 June 2009 with the 2M97 08:23 Southampton Central to Great Malvern First Great Western service. The wide trackbed clearly shows that there were once four tracks here (two GWR, and two LMS).

Work stained 150121 climbs Sapperton Bank on 20 February 2010 with the 10:01 Cheltenham to Swindon First Great Western service. Although branded First Great Western, the livery belongs to the former Silverlink franchise. Although presumably this will get repainted into FGW colours, at the moment it makes for a welcome change of liveries on the route.

150121 passes an abundance of catkins at Kemble Wick, as it works the 2G85 13:54 Swindon to Cheltenham Spa First Great Western service on 5 March 2010. The unit is still wearing Silverlink livery, albeit with First Great Western branding.

150121 finds its own little patch of sunshine as it passes Frocester on 2 August 2010 with the 2E18 09:41 Bristol Temple Meads to Gloucester First Great Western service. Although 150121 has been in the FGW fleet for some time and includes their branding over the original Silverlink colour scheme, late 2010 will see more units arrive to add variety to the otherwise uniform Great Western fleet. Additional Class 150s will come from London Midland and London Overground, displaced by the brand new Class 172 units.

150121 passes Tredington on 17 February 2015 with the 2O90 12:50 Great Malvern to Weymouth First Great Western service. This was just moments before the masses of clouds building up in the background reached the sun, this being a cue to head for home!

150121 passes Standish Junction on 8 July 2015 with the 2C08 06:24 Cheltenham Spa to Westbury First Great Western service. Surprisingly this was not the first train of the day to Westbury from this area, there also being an 05:17 departure from Gloucester which went through to Southampton.

150122 takes the 'Golden Valley' line at Standish Junction on 12 October 2016 with the 2B96 15:20 Cheltenham Spa to Swindon GWR service. Not far ahead is the train's next stop at Stonehouse. This is then followed by stops at Stroud and Kemble.

150123 takes the 'Golden Valley' route at Standish Junction on 25 October 2010 with the 2B92 11:40 Cheltenham Swindon First Great Western service. The unit is still wearing the attractive Silverlink livery, but devoid of any branding of either its old or new operator.

Lots of cloud around, but 150123 still manages to find a sunny spot, as it passes Badgeworth on 4 May 2015 with the late running 06:53 Swindon to Cheltenham Spa First Great Western service. The oak tree in the field adds to the scene, but the same cannot be said for the relatively new radio mast!

Shortly after sunrise on 22 July 2017, 150124 & 158763 pass Tredington with the 2G79 05:50 Gloucester to Worcester Shrub Hill GWR service. Both units are wearing obsolete First Great Western liveries, but note the difference between 150124's basic colour scheme, and 158763's 'wavy lines' version.

150126 leads an unidentified classmate past Madeley Junction on 15 August 1988 with the 09:00 Pwllheli to Birmingham New Street Regional Railways service. Its amazing just how open this location was in the 1980s, with clear views all the way to Darby House (Telford and Wrekin council offices) in the distance, on the left.

In superb early morning light with dark clouds in the background, 150126 heads up the Lickey Incline on 26 July 2003 with an empty stock working. With over two miles of 1 in 37 gradient the Lickey Incline is the most formidable incline on the national network, and even now some of the heavier trains still require banking assistance.

150126 accelerates away from Lidlington on 21 April 2010 with the 10:01 Bletchley to Bedford London Midland service. The Met Office had promised a completely sunny day, but as can be seen here by mid morning the clouds were starting to build up noticeably. However, after peaking around early afternoon, they did thankfully melt away again in the evening.

150126 heads towards Lidlington, after having just crossed Marston Crossing on 21 April 2010 with the 10:55 Bedford to Bletchley London Midland service. A rural idyll you might think, but this view could disappear under one of the governments so-called 'eco towns'. The phrase 'eco town' is of course nonsense, as how can anything that destroys the countryside be in any way green. Just by promising to build homes to certain specification the developers can attached the buzz word 'eco' to their proposals and therefore get the go ahead for their act of vandalism. Marston Mortaine church can be seen on the extreme left, while slightly nearer, the postman calls at the houses by Marston Crossing.

The Didcot to Swindon line is a DMU free zone, so this picture of 150126 at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 19 February 2014 is noteworthy. It is working the 14:15 Tyseley to St Philips Marsh ECS, traveling via Oxford. The destination blind showing Penzance is doubly inappropriate. Not only is this not heading to Cornwall, but at this time nothing can reach Penzance from this direction, due to the line being completely washed away at Dawlish, during the recent storms. Luckily this unit was running 40 minutes early, and has just managed to catch the very last of the afternoon's sunshine, as a huge bank of black clouds rolled in from the west. At its correct time it was virtually dark, and I was back home!

Blue liveried 150126 brings up the rear of the 1F19 13:08 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour GWR service at Undy on 7 October 2018, with much drabber green liveried 158953 leading. Note the hand made BR logo in 150126's centre cab window.

150127 passes Beeston on 11 September 1990 with the 08:15 Crewe to Nottingham Regional Railways service. Needless to say, houses now occupy the waste ground on the right, with a new road (Murden Way) running parallel with the railway.

150127 Bletchley TMD passes Kempston on 9 October 2004 with the 2S05 07:39 Bletchley to Bedford Silverlink service. The 'Big Sheds' of the Marsh Leys Industrial Estate can be seen in the background. I was at this location in order to photograph 50031 & 50049 coming from the other direction on the Pathfinder Tours 1Z50 05:55 Sheffield to Alresford 'Alton Observer' railtour.

A stranger on the Great Western Mainline! Class 150s have never been common in the Thames Valley, with virtually all workings operated by Class 165 & 166 'Turbos'. However, an interesting positioning move took place on 12 November 2007, when 150127 was being transferred from its former Bedford to Bletchley Silverlink duties to a new life with First Great Western. It is seen here passing Cholsey with the 5Z74 12:00 Willesden to Bristol ,St Philips Marsh ECS. There are various instances on this site of locos or units in different ownership, but this is a record of the actual movement from one owner to another!

First Great Western branded, but still wearing its Silverlink livery, 150127 emerges from Wickwar Tunnel on 25 September 2009 and heads south with the 2O89 10:42 Gloucester to Weymouth service. There are some early signs of autumn in the lineside trees.

Still wearing the livery of its former operator Silver Link, but now working for First Great Western, 150127 passes Gossington on 5 March 2010 with the late running 2M97 08:23 Southampton Central to Great Malvern service.

Some fine autumn colours, of both leaves and hawthorn berries, at Claydon (Gloucestershire) on 7 November 2016. 150127 passes by with the 2O90 12:51 Great Malvern to Weymouth GWR service. This unit's entire journey takes over four hours, with 31 intermediate stops!

Still wearing First Great Western blue livery (albeit devoid of branding), 150127 brings up the rear of the 2B23 12:02 Buxton to Manchester Piccadilly Northern service at Barmoor Clough Tunnel on 9 June 2018. More appropriately livered 150233 is the leading unit.

150128 Bedford-Bamberg 30 approaches Aspley Guise on 5 November 2005 with the 2S08 09:31 Bedford to Bletchley Silverlink service. The unit was named in 2000 to mark the 30th anniversary of Bedford being twinned with the German town of Bamberg.

Now this is what you call multiple unit operation! On 4 July 1987, 150129 leads two classmates on the 09:29 Hereford to Birmingham New Street service, seen here departing from Kidderminster. Given the fact that there is no gangway connection between the units, revenue protection (or ticket checking as it was probably still called in 1987) must have been very difficult.

150129 passes Tutbury on 15 March 1989 with the 12:08 Derby to Bangor service. Tutbury and Hatton station used to be situated by the level crossing in the background. A few months after this photo was taken a new station was opened on the site, with the up platform on the far side of the crossing and the down platform on this side. Note the two signal boxes.

This is certainly a bit of a novelty. A hybrid Class 150 unit comprising one car from each of the production series subclasses (150/1 without front end corridor connection and 150/2 with corridor connection). 52129 of set 150129 leads a coach from set 150253 past Bramshall on 12 August 1989 with the 13:40 Crew to Derby Provincial Railways service. Note the variation in livery between the two subclasses with the switching around of the light and dark blue colour stripes.

150129 waits at Moreton-in-Marsh station on 26 April 1992, unable to proceed along the single track section towards Evesham, due to the late running of a southbound train. It is working the 17:38 Oxford to Great Malvern Regional Railways service. Class 150s only operated Cotswold Line services for a short while, between the removal of the 'heritage' DMUs, and the increased use of Class 165 & 166 Turbo units. Just visible in the background is high speed track recording support coach DB977338, which for some reason has been left in the short siding next to the road bridge.

150129 arrives at Kidderminster in a brief burst of sunshine on 24 May 1997 with the 08:54 Hereford to Birmingham New Street Central Trains service, whilst in the background on the Severn Valley Railway's metals, LMS 5MT Class 2-6-0 2968 obviously has steam to spare.

150129 passes Tredington on 2 January 2014 with the 2O90 12:50 Great Malvern to Weymouth First Great Western service. Lots of cloud, but for once the sun was in a large clear patch, giving some good background effects, without the danger of the 'lights going out' just as a trains comes into view! The 981 feet high Bredon Hill can be seen in the background.

150130 & 150138 pass Hargrave on 12 March 1987 with the 11:50 Llandudno to Crewe Regional Railways service. At the time this was very much the new order, with both units being just over a year old. Tattenhall Junction was formerly situated midway between this spot, and the bridge in the background. The line to Whitchurch (via Tattenhall) diverged to the left.

150130 passes Tumpy Green (between Bristol and Gloucester) on 15 July 2013 with the 2E18 08:45 Westbury to Gloucester First Great Western service. This is a location that I had meaning to investigate for some time. A pleasant rural spot down a single track no through road would, you imagine, be a quiet spot to spend a few hours. However, there was a constant procession of cars and vans heading for the equestrian centre at the end of the lane.

Springtime at the southern end of Wickwar Tunnel. 150131 heads south on 15 April 2015 with the 2O89 10:41 Gloucester to Weymouth First Great Western service. The bridge in the background is a combined footbridge and aqueduct.

150131 & 153369 speed past the site of Oaksey station on 1 September 2017 with the 2G82 09:36 Swindon to Cheltenham Spa GWR service. It is obvious from this view that the location is in open countryside, which explains why the little used station closed in 1964.

150134 approaches Lostock Gralam on 13 June 1992 with the 12:54 Wigan Wallgate to Chester Regional Railways service. The private road on the right leads to the Holford Brinefields, which produces brine for the building and chemical industries. Nearby is the site of the former Associated Octel chemical works, which for over forty years produced tetraethyllead, which was the anti-knock additive in leaded petrol.

Two different 1980s built forms of transport, pictured at Abermule on 17 August 1988. 150135 has just crossed over the B4368 level crossing near the site of Abermule station with the 11:55 Aberystwyth to Birmingham New Street Regional Railways service, and is just about to pass my 1984 Opel Manta, a car which I probably should have kept, as it has now become seriously collectable.  Abermule was the site of a very serious accident in 1921, when two trains collided head on, due to one train having the incorrect single line token.

150135 and an unidentified Class 156 pass Kirkham North Junction on 4 November 1995 with the 12:16 Blackpool North to Liverpool Lime Street service. The line it is travelling on is now disused, as the junction has be remodeled as part of the line's upgrading. The signal box was demolished in a wanton act of vandalism by Network Rail in late 2017, just ripping the building to pieces and criminally destroying the lever frame. Clearly visible on the left of the picture on the original 6x7 transparency is Blackpool Tower, some seven miles distant.

Just after leaving Barmouth station, and shortly before crossing the bridge over the Mawddach Estuary, 150136 runs along the seashore at Barmouth on 2 August 1987 with the 13:15 Pwllheli to Machynlleth Regional Railways service.

150137 passes Ordsall Lane Junction, Salford, on 30 October 1993 with the 09:56 Buxton to Blackpool North service. I haven't got many pictures of Class 150s in this Greater Manchester PTE variation of the Regional Railways livery, and with the impressive Manchester background, this is one of the best. The Granada TV studios can be seen in the background, with the distinctive clock tower of Manchester Town Hall directly behind.

150141 passes Kingsbury on 31 May 1989 with the 06:52 Nottingham to Birmingham New Street Regional Railways service. Note the extra large unit number carried on the front. In true DMU tradition the destination blind would not be of any help to prospective passengers. It is displaying 'Cleethorpes', which in this case is not only wrong, but not even where the unit has come from. The first train from Cleethorpes (the 05:02 departure) would not be along for another thirty minutes!

150142 approaches Levenshulme on 10 March 1997 with the 08:26 Blackpool North to Buxton service. This was at the very start if the privatisation era, and just a week earlier, First North Western had taken over the operation of this route.

150142 emerges from the 111 yard long Barmoor Clough Tunnel (near Dove Holes) with the 11:26 Blackpool to Buxton First North Western service on 28 March 1999. An ideal location to photograph a short train such as this, and very conveniently situated just off the A6 road.

150143 passes Trowel on 31 May 1987 with the 18:06 Nottingham to Sheffield Regional Railways service. This unit was only a year old when this picture was taken, and the class was still quite a novelty on the network, which was still largely dominated by first generation diesel mechanical units. Some of the buildings of the once extensive Stanton Ironworks can be seen in the background on the right, whilst in the far distance is Ratcliffe Power Station.

150144 passes Salwick No.2 Signal Box on 15 February 1992 with the 17:14 Manchester Victoria to Blackpool North Regional Railways service. The box was demolished with the resignalling and electfrication of the line in 2017. In the years after this picture was taken a portakabin just in front of the box, and a tall radio mast behind, somewhat spoiled this view. The blocks of flats visible in the distance were situated in Moor Lane, Preston. They were built in 1962, and like a lot of such buildings from that era, suffered from poor workmanship and asbestos contamination. They were therefore demolished on 25 November 2001.

Running 40 minutes late, 150146 passes the semaphore signals at Cosford on 31 May 1989 with the 13:28 Birmingham New Street to Aberystwyth service. This unit ran for a couple of years as a three car unit, with vehicle 52253 from Class 150/2 150253 in the centre, made much more obvious by the mismatched liveries.

150147 runs alongside the estuary of the River Dee at Ffynnongroyw on 20 May 1995 with the 13:53 Llandudno to Manchester Piccadilly Regional Railways service. The Point of Ayr Gas Terminal dominates the background.

150148 leaves Grange-over-Sands station on 25 April 1992 with the 10:22 Barrow-in-Furness to Preston Regional Railways service. Note the non-standard white window surrounds. The Furness Railway station building, designed by Lancaster architect E. G. Paley, still survives, along with the adjacent goods shed.

150202 passes Llandevenny on 30 January 2016 with the 2C73 10:55 Cardiff Central to Taunton GWR service. This is the plain blue version of First Great Western's blue livery, minus the printed place names that made up the 'wavy lines' on the original version.

150207 accelerates away from Ashley on 10 May 1997 with the 06:25 Blackpool North to Chester North West Regional Railways service. The unit is wearing the MerseyRail version of the Regional Railways colour scheme.

150208 passes Broken Cross (near Gloucester) on 29 March 2012 with the 2G54 07:58 Maesteg to Cheltenham Arriva Trains Wales service. Anyone doing the whole route would (in theory!) save 25 minutes by getting off this train at Bridgend and transferring to the following HST, and then changing again at Bristol Parkway.

150213 runs along the long straight line at Broken Cross (between Lydney and Gloucester) on 16 February 2016 with the 2G54 09:12 Cardiff Central to Cheltenham Spa Arriva Trains Wales service. Photo taken from a very little used private access level crossing.

150213 emerges from the trees at Purton on 17 June 2017 with the 2G52 07:07 Cardiff Central to Cheltenham Spa Arriva Trains Wales service. In the foreground the railway crosses Lanes Brook, which spills into the River Severn, on the left.

150213 passes Badgeworth on 4 December 2018 with the 2G54 09:12 Cardiff Central to Cheltenham Spa Transport for Wales service. Note that the unit is still wearing the debranded livery of the former franchise operator, Arriva Trains Wales.

150213 arrives at Pontlottyn station on 5 July 2019 with the 2R16 15:02 Penarth to Rhymney Transport for Wales service. Note that there is plenty of cloud to the south in this view. Annoyingly just to the north it was completely clear, and that is unfortunately how it stayed!

150214 calls at Ascott-under-Wychwood to set down a single passenger on 11 April 1995, as it works the 2F16 17:41 Oxford to Moreton-in-Marsh service, during the short lived period of Regional Railways operation on the route.

150215 & 150112 arrive at Mytholmroyd station on 16 November 2015 with the 2U20 08:26 Leeds to Manchester Victoria Northern service. 150215 is sporting a 'Movember' moustache, raising awareness of men's health issues. Note the Northern Rail 'Connecting the North' banner on the opposite platform, with silhouettes of various northern landmarks, including the Angel of the North.

150216 approaches Ledbury station on 12 April 1993 with the 2V19 13:03 Birmingham New Street to Hereford Regional Railways service. Despite its cramped location, Ledbury station, formerly a junction, once had extensive sidings, and a small loco depot with turntable. Just a couple of sidings remain, on this occasion occupied by a Plasser & Theurer tamper.

150216 & 150246 pass Standish Junction on 12 October 2016 with the 2O97 16:40 Gloucester to Weymouth GWR service. Photo taken from a public footpath crossing. As can be guessed from the dark clouds in the background, this was just before the sun disappeared for the last time on this afternoon.

150217 calls at Severn Tunnel Junction on 30 January 2016 with the 2L49 08:45 Cheltenham Spa to Maesteg Arriva Trains Wales service. Note the station reconstruction work, which includes a new footbridge. This view also shows the Second Severn Crossing in the background. This opened in 1996, to supplement the original 1966 built Severn Bridge, which is situated further upstream.

150217 passes Up Hatherley on 17 July 2018 with the 2G54 09:10 Cardiff Central to Cheltenham Spa Arriva Trains Wales service. This, and the bridge at Badgeworth in the background, are two of the most popular railway photographic locations in the Gloucester and Cheltenham area.

150218 heads east past Beeston Castle on 12 March 1987 with a crew training run. This unit had only just entered service and is still wearing the short lived original livery with the yellow on the front confined to the gangway door. Bearing in mind how filthy these connecting doors get, it was probably a good idea to paint the whole front yellow, although for this original Provincial livery the continuation of the white from the bodyside to the front obviously looks better as a colour scheme.

Owing to the staging of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the 09:06 Worcester Foregate Street to Swindon Regional Railways service obviously required some extra seating capacity on 16 March 1995. 150219 has had 153305 added to the rear and is pictured approaching the site of Bremell Sidings near Purton, running approximately 15 minutes late. Presumably with all the extra traffic on this day small details like the destination blind were overlooked, as it still reads Cheltenham, through which it has already passed!

150219 accelerates away from Ashchurch station (visible underneath the road bridge in the background) with the 14:04 Great Malvern to Bristol Temple Meads First Great Western service on 3 November 2006. Photo taken on a long lens from nearly a mile away at Natton.

A study in light and shadows at Standish Junction on 6 October 2012, as 150219 rounds the curve towards the junction with the 2G87 16:14 Swindon to Cheltenham First Great Western service. The Cotswold Hills form the wooded backdrop to this scene.

150219 passes Defford on 21 June 2017 with the 2O90 12:51 Great Malvern to Weymouth GWR service. Around midday on the longest day is hardly the best time for photography, but at least there are no troublesome shadows from the rampant lineside vegetation!

The very last rays of the setting sun give a pink glow to the scene at Goole on 6 April 2015, as 150220 takes the Knottingley line at Potters Grange Junction with the 2F30 18:49 Goole to Leeds Northern Rail service. This is one of only three passenger trains to use this route each day. This evening working is an out an back train from Leeds, but in the morning there is just the 2F06 07:04 Goole to Leeds. The line on the left, with the catch point, is from the Guardian glass factory.

150221 passes through Pilning station on 7 March 1998 with the 09:30 Cardiff to Portsmouth Harbour service. Despite this being operated by the Wales & West franchise, the unit still carries the much more attractive former Regional Railways livery.

150221 passes Cockwood Harbour on 22 May 2004 with the 16:04 Paignton to Exeter Central Wessex Trains service. A short train such as this shows how the line closely follows the coast. Note the reverse curves behind the unit.

150227 passes Gatcombe on 2 June 2009 with the 2G54 08:00 Maesteg to Gloucester Arriva Trains Wales service. In the fine old tradition of DMUs showing the wrong destination this one is allegedly going to Cheltenham! This photo is taken from steps that leads precipitously down in to the River Severn, mainly used by fisherman. While I was there a fisherman was sat on the steps directing operations via mobile phone of two other fisherman who were out in the river!

150227 passes Up Hatherley on 5 October 2017 with the 2L59 13:45 Cheltenham Spa to Maesteg Arriva Trains Wales service. Recent vegetation clearance has allowed this wider view, which is ideal for a short train, such as this.

150227 nears journey's end, as it passes Badgeworth on 15 June 2018 with the 2G54 09:12 Cardiff Central to Cheltenham Spa Arriva Trains Wales service. This was one of those annoying days when the DMUs passed by in full sun, but everything else was under a cloud!

150228 passes Plean on 24 May 1999 with the 13:55 Dunblane to Edinburgh ScotRail service. This was a very blustery day, with heavy showers alternating with spells of sunshine. Full sun here, and the Wallace Monument on the hillside in the background stands out in the bright light, contrasting markedly with the dark clouds behind. Over to the left, another downpour is completely blocking out the view of the distant mountains.

150229 leaves Great Yarmouth station on 31 August 1998 with the 14:24 service to Norwich, although the destination blind reads Yarmouth! Judging by the colour of the rails, it doesn't look like anything has used the far left platform for a very long time.

150230 will not be stopping at Pilning (virtually nothing does!) as it heads west on 7 August 2005 with the 16:39 Bath to Cardiff Central Wessex Trains service. A good view can be had of trains approaching Pilning. The parched grass marks the line climbing up towards Patchway Tunnel to the right of the signal visible in the distance.

150230 approaches Taffs Well on 6 October 2019 with the 2Y37 10:52 Aberdare to Barry Island Transport for Wales service. The unit is still wearing Arriva Trains Wales livery, but with that company's branding removed.

150231 arrives at Trimley on 18 April 1996 with the 08:40 Ipswich to Felixstowe service. Although when built this was obviously a two platform station with a passing loop, the platform on the left is now disused, and what was formerly the loop now connects with a new line that was constructed in the 1980s to give direct access to Felixstowe Docks.

150231 passes Churchdown in superb evening light on 17 June 2017 with the 2L71 19:45 Cheltenham Spa to Maesteg Arriva Trains Wales service. The 1M84 18:45 Cardiff Central to Nottingham CrossCountry service can just be seen disappearing into the distance.

150231 stands at Ty Glas station on 8 July 2019 with the 2V17 10:45 Coryton to Radyr Transport for Wales services. The line from here to the terminus at Coryton is virtually straight, and as the stations are so close together, several can be seen from most vantage points. The diminutive platform at Birchgrove station can just be seen underneath the bridge in the background.

The Coryton branch is not very photogenic, being mostly dead straight, and surrounded by trees. This is exemplified by this view of 150231 leaving the very basic terminus at Coryton on 8 July 2019 with the 2V23 12:15 Transport for Wales service to Radyr. The line formerly carried on underneath the bridge in the background, and up the Taff Vale to Pontypridd.

150232 stands in the rain at Kemble station on 21 May 1994 with the 09:09 Worcester Shrub Hill to Swindon service. After seven years in service, the original Regional Railways livery is looking a bit tatty. The light blue band on stock painted in this colour scheme seemed particularly prone to damage.

With the tidal River Exe in the background, 150232 approaches Starcross on 29 June 2002 with the 13:54 Exmouth to Plymouth Wessex Trains service. Still in its original Regional Railways livery, after well over a decade of service, 150232 would soon see the multi coloured privitisation paint brush!

150232 passes Lower Wick on 25 September 2010 with the 2O89 10:42 Gloucester to Weymouth First Great Western service. This location had recently be cleared of lineside vegetation, but unfortunately I didn't make enough use of this, and the next time I visited it, the bushes had grown back again!

150232 passes Standish Junction on 30 August 2013 with the 2O89 10:41 Gloucester to Weymouth First Great Western service. Although not apparent from this distance,. the 'wavy lines' of this unit's livery is made up of names of towns served by FGW.

A cold and sunny morning at Badgeworth on 30 January 2019. 150232 passes over frost covered tracks with the 2M03 07:04 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa GWR service. This is one of the few locations in the area that is clear of shadows at this time of the morning during the winter.

With a portable lamp substituting for a non-working headlight, 150233 passes through the recently completed Ashchurch station on 26 May 1997 with the 09:06 Worcester Foregate Street to Swindon service. From the following week this unit would actually call at the station, rather than passing through, as it was officially opened on 1 June 1997.

150233 has just called at Ashchurch station on 9 July 2011 with the 2F97 09:08 Worcester Shrub Hill to Westbury First Great Western service. Officially called Ashchurch for Twekesbury, this station recalls the GWR practice of referring to the larger town, when the inconveniently situated station was often in the middle of nowhere!

150233 passes Oaksey on 10 October 2017 with the 2G85 13:36 Swindon to Cheltenham Spa GWR service. Photo taken from a little used public footpath crossing. The bridge in the background marks the site of Oaksey halt.

150234 passes Standish Junction on 1 May 1994 with the 2A27 09:10 Worcester Shrub Hill to Swindon Regional Railways service. This was running 25 minutes late, something that wasn't particularly common at the time, but is now much more prevalent, that is if the train isn't actually cancelled!

150234 passes the site of Stonehouse (Bristol Road) station with the 06:12 Salisbury to Gloucester First Great Western service on 21 July 2008. The sun was just starting to find the edge of a large bank of cloud moving down from the north. D1015 had passed by 14 minutes earlier on a railtour, which ironically also started from Salisbury. The Western had actually left 25 minutes earlier than the unit, but a run round at Bristol Temple Meads had obviously allowed the unit to catch up slightly! Note the remains of the loop on the left at what was formerly Stonehouse (Bristol Road) station. This was the former Midland Railway station that closed in 1965. The former Great Western station, originally called Stonehouse (Burdett Road) is still open.

150234 approaches Eastleigh station from the Romsey direction on 21 March 2009 with the 1F19 13:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour First Great Western service, diverted from its usual route by engineering works in the Southampton area.

150234 passes Little Haresfield on 19 January 2011 with the 2O76 10:42 Gloucester to Weymouth First Great Western service. The short train gives a clear view of the vintage cast iron farm occupation bridge in the background.

150234 will soon be stopping at Stroud station, when it was pictured passing Cashes Green on 5 October 2017 with the 15:20 Cheltenham Spa to Swindon GWR service. Unfortunately GWR's new green livery tends to blend in with the countryside, which is still predominantly green, even as late as early October.

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

150236 passes Engine Common (near Yate) on 17 July 2002 with the 13:19 Gloucester to Weston-super-Mare First Great Western service. Despite this being a completely rural location, the name gives a clue to a former industrial past. There was once a siding here, serving the nearby Yate Colliery. This closed in 1880.

150237 passes Ley Court (between Grange Court and Oakle Street) on 2 November 2018 with the 2G54 09:12 Cardiff Central to Cheltenham Spa Transport for Wales service. Although it would appear that the former Arriva Trains Wales branding has been removed following the Transport of Wales takeover in mid October, 150237 has actually been minus any branding since the summer. The minor road on the left sees very little traffic, and consequently the level crossing in the background is normally closed, with road users having to press a button to notify the signalman.

150237 passes Pandy on 3 May 2023 with the 1V38 09:30 Manchester Piccadilly to Carmarthen Transport for Wales service. This would normally be a Class 175, but a lot of TfW's 175s were temporarily withdrawn due to several 'thermal events' (fires)!

150237 passes Grange Court on 19 June 2023 with the 2G48 09:08 Cardiff Central to Cheltenham Spa Transport for Wales service. This was formerly the junction for the GWR cross country line to Ross-on-Wye, which closed in 1964. 

150238 approaches Culham on 3 July 1991 with the 2A35 17:37 Cheltenham Spa to Oxford service. This unusual working explains the presence of a Class 150 in the Thames Valley, an area more used to seeing Class 117 & 119 heritage units at the time. The most common second generation DMU in the area then was the Class 155, which had also operated this service the year before.

Viewed from across the other side of the valley, 150238 approaches Wickwar on 25 September 2009 with the 08:25 Great Malvern to Westbury First Great Western service. The bridge almost hidden in the trees behind the train is a farm occupation bridge, whilst the main road passes underneath the line, just in front of my position in the field.

Just after sunrise on 28 October 2014, 150238 passes Badgeworth with the 2G80 07:15 Gloucester to Great Malvern First Great Western service. I wonder how many passengers rely on the destination blind when boarding a train? It certainly wouldn't be much help here, as it says Bristol Temple Meads!

150239 approaches Salisbury Tunnel Junction in the rain on 13 December 2003 with the 12:00 Brighton to Bristol Temple Meads Wessex Trains service. The line in the background is the Laverstock North to South chord, which allows Andover to Southampton trains to bypass Salisbury station.

150239 weaves across the crossover at Fairwood to work wrong line into Westbury station on 11 September 2007 with the 08:50 Weymouth to Cardiff Central First Great Western service. Having only just taken over the route from Wessex Trains, FGW have yet to get around the rebranding this particular 150 unit.

150239 passes Little Haresfield on 25 June 2011 with the  05:30 Cheltenham Spa to Swindon First Great Western service. Needless to say, this is the first passenger train of the day on this route, and being a Saturday, probably not very well loaded!

The early morning sun unexpectedly starts to beak through the clouds at Bredon on 29 June 2013, as 150239 passes by with the 2G79 05:50 Gloucester to Worcester Shrub Hill First Great Western service. The Cotswold Hills in the background are still underneath the dark clouds.

150239 passes Standish Junction on 24 July 2018 with the 1O98 10:48 Great Malvern to Brighton GWR service. The clearance of the vegetation on the right is a welcome development, less so the addition of the bright blue drainage grilles!

A perfect autumn day at Ley Court (between Oake Street and Grange Court) on 2 November 2018. Still wearing former operator's Arriva Train Wales colours (albeit devoid of branding), 150240 works the 2L59 13:45 Cheltenham Spa to Maesteg Transport for Wales service.

In a surprisingly lengthy sunny period amid the dark clouds, 150240 passes Churcham on 19 February 2019 with the 2G56 09:16 Maesteg to Cheltenham Spa Transport for Wales service. Note the evidence of recent tree clearance on the right.

150240 passes Churcham on 19 February 2019 with the 2G55 11:46 Cheltenham Spa to Cardiff Central (not Maesteg, as shown in the destination blind) Transport for Wales service. Highnam church spire can be seen in the background, and on the extreme right of the picture, the lofty A48 road bridge.

150241 passes Churcham in weak winter sunshine on 19 February 2019 with the 2G54 09:12 Cardiff Central to Cheltenham Spa service. Although this train is operated by Transport for Wales, this unit still carriers the livery of former operator, Arriva Trains Wales, but with all branding removed.

150241 & 142073 arrive at Radyr station on 8 July 2019 with the 2F36 12:17 Treherbert to Cardiff Central Transport for Wales service. Radyr is a very busy location, with a constant procession of DMUs serving the various valley lines. There is however a big difference between today's railway, and the days of steam. Then it was a constant procession of coal trains coming from the numerous South Wales pits, down to the docks at Cardiff and Barry. On the day I visited there was not a single booked freight train.

150242 arrives at Radyr station on 8 July 2019 with the 2F45 12:08 Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff Central Transport for Wales service. Note the weeds growing on the track, so tall that they almost reach the platform edge!

With the houses of Ashchurch barely visible through the mist in the background, 150243 passes Fiddington on 18 February 2008 with the 2O90 12:51 Great Malvern to Weymouth First Great Western service. The unit is still wearing the colours of its former operator - Wessex Trains.

Not always wishing to take the standard type of railway picture, I decided on something a little different for 150243 working the late running 12:51 Great Malvern to Weymouth First Great Western service on 8 April 2010. The inclusion of the zig-zag brick abutment in the foreground adds interest to this otherwise mundane view at Gossington. A slightly wide angle lens was required, as well as a smaller than normal aperture in order to ensure that the whole scene is in focus.

150243 passes Cashes Green on 30 June 2018 with the 2G96 13:30 Swindon to Cheltenham Spa GWR service. Although this looks very rural, there are houses all around, as this is now part of the suburbs of Stroud.

150243 approaches Tredington on 26 February 2019 with the 2O90 12:51 Great Malvern to Weymouth GWR service. The long telephoto lens has flattened the perspective, with the Fiddington farm occupation bridge seemingly only a short distance away, and the bridge at Claydon clearly visible in the background.

150244 passes Rangeworthy on 19 July 2016 with the 2O97 16:40 Gloucester to Weymouth GWR service. The lead vehicle seems to have had some kind of modification to the roof vents. This location is becoming an avenue of trees, and while this angle is acceptable, there is no chance of the uninterrupted side view that was possible in the early 1990s.

150245 passes Croome on 25 March 2011 with the 2O90 12:51 Great Malvern to Weymouth First Great Western service. Hired in from Arriva, the turquoise livery brings a bit of variety to the line, otherwise dominated by FGW and CrossCountry trains.

150246 passes Oxford North Junction on 19 August 1989 with the 2A59 07:10 Worcester Shrub Hill to Oxford Regional Railways service. After the reign of first generation units was over on the Cotswold Line, Class 155s, and then 150s briefly held sway, until Class 165 & 166 Turbo units arrived in 1992.

150246 passes between golden harvested fields at Damery (between Gloucester and Bristol) with the 2O89 10:41 Gloucester to Weymouth First Great Western service on 7 September 2013. Michael Wood, which gives its name to Michaelwood services on the M5, forms the background.

With Bredon Hill dominating the background, 150246 passes Claydon on 31 July 2015 with the late running 2F99 16:48 Great Malvern to Westbury First Great Western service. Summer vegetation now virtually hides the houses of Ashchurch in the background.

150247 runs alongside the River Avon on 18 April 2015, as it accelerates away from Avoncliff station (formerly Avoncliff Halt) with the 2E24 13:10 Weymouth to Gloucester First Great Western service. The Kennet & Avon Canal runs through the bushes, just behind the unit.

150247 just manages to avoid the lengthening shadows, as it approaches Westbury on 18 April 2015 with the 2O97 16:41 Gloucester to Weymouth GWR service. Westbury Power Box dominates the right of the picture.

150247 passes Churchdown on 17 June 2017 with the 2T97 19:08 Worcester Shrub Hill to Bristol Temple Meads GWR service. This would normally start from Great Malvern at 18:50, but the first section of the journey was cancelled due to a track circuit failure.

150248 passes Lympsham on 8 May 1995 with the 09:03 Bristol Temple Meads to Exmouth 'all stations' service. Leaze Farm and the Lympsham to Bleadon road are directly behind the unit, with the wooded slopes of the low hills near Weston-super-Mare in the background.

Soft late afternoon autumnal light at Cockwood Harbour on 1 November 1997. 150248 passes by with the 14:14 Exeter Central to Paignton service. The fact that this is only a two coach train gives an uninterrupted view of Brunel's Starcross Pumping Station, visible in the background between the trees and the signal. This was part of the Victorian engineer's ill fated atmospheric railway.

150248 approaches Pilning  with the 15:22 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central First Great Western service on 8 September 2006. The unit is still wearing it former operator's Wessex Trains livery. The use of a long lens as made the ridge of hills in the background seem much closer than they actually are.

150248 emerges from the southern portal of Sapperton Tunnel on 6 April 2012 with the 2B90 10:01 Cheltenham to Swindon First Great Western service. This view clearly shows that Sapperton Tunnel is in fact two tunnels separated by a short gap. Daylight can be seen in the background, at the end of the short (352 yard) tunnel.

150249 calls at Kingham station on 26 March 1989 with the 2B72 17:35 Oxford to Great Malvern service. Either this had been amended to only go to Worcester Shrub Hill on this occasion, or more likely the destination blind is wrong! This view shows how open Kingham station was in the 1980s, with the old Banbury and Cheltenham platforms clearly visible in the background.

150249 passes Wolvercote on 4 May 1989 with the 2B44 17:36 Oxford to Moreton-in-Marsh Regional Railways service. This Cotswold Line 'all stations' local service was an early convert to second generation DMU operation, several years before the bulk of the local services to Oxford changed over from Class 117 operation. Usually during the late 1980s the Leyland built Class 155s were used, with occasional appearances by Class 150s, as here.

Two types of 1980s DMUs, one with a long design life, the other with a limited service life, but which would turn out to have a life far in excess of its original design life! 150249 & 142028 leave Rhyl station on 11 August 1991 with the 09:07 Crewe to Llandudno Regional Railways service.

The tiny village of Standish forms the backdrop to 150249 as it heads north from Standish Junction on 6 April 2012 with the 2G81 07:16 Swindon to Cheltenham First Great Western service. This picture is taken from half a mile away, on the top of Haresfield Beacon. On the original high resolution image, two deer can be seen running away from the train in the centre of the picture.

150249 passes St Mary's Crossing signal box on 6 April 2012 with the 2Z80 09:01 Cheltenham to Swindon First Great Western service. As the Z headcode indicates, this is an additional train, one of a number of modified services running on Good Friday. The completely blue sky here is a little deceptive, as the Cotswold Hills in the background are hiding the edge of the advancing cloud front, which was already making its presence felt just a short while earlier when I was at Little Haresfield.

150249 approaches Oaksey on 3 July 2018 with the late running 2G89 17:54 Swindon to Cheltenham Spa GWR service. As this is such a short train, I decided on a wider view, an angle that obviously wouldn't really work with a longer train.

150249 calls at Kemble station on 3 January 2019 with the 2B94 13:20 Cheltenham Spa to Swindon GWR service. The dark green livery looks almost black in these dire lighting conditions. On the other hand, the lack of sun does mean that all the intricate station canopy columns are not hidden by dark shadows.

150249 passes Little Haresfield on the frosty morning of 9 January 2019 with the 2B90 09:18 Cheltenham Spa to Swindon GWR service. The fine cast iron farm occupation bridge in the background is a remarkable survivor.

A meeting of transport types at St Mary's Crossing (near Stroud) on 16 April 2019. 150249 works the 2B90 09:18 Cheltenham Spa to Swindon GWR service, while an estate agent's van drives along the Cirencester to Stroud road.

150251 passes Feeder Bridge Junction, Bristol, on 27 February 1996 with the 13:00 Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads service. Just visible in the distance is 58022, waiting for its path with the 4C13 11:21 Calvert to Bristol Avon binliner empties.

The sun just begins to break through the mist as 150252 passes Broken Cross on 3 September 2010 with the 2G54 08:00 Maesteg to Cheltenham Arriva Trains Wales service. There is almost a clear view here all the way to the site of Grange Court Junction.

150253 arrives at Trowbridge station on 21 June 1996 with the 09:33 Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth service. The car park on the right was formerly the goods yard, which included a really substantial goods shed, which was demolished in the 1980s.

Dramatic backlighting at Severn Tunnel Junction on 14 August 2004, with the background still shrouded in early morning mist. 150253 leaves the station with the 06:34 Westbury to Cardiff Central Wessex Trains service.

150253 passes Llandevenny on 30 January 2016 with the 2G56 09:16 Maesteg to Cheltenham Spa Arriva Trains Wales service. Bishton Flyover in the background converts the four track layout from relief lines on the outside, to relief lines on the south side.

Gloucester Cathedral stands out clearly in the crisp evening light, as 150253 passes Highnam on 26 June 2018 with the 2L69 18:45 Cheltenham Spa to Maesteg Arriva Trains Wales service. The usual green monopoly of June is relived here by the yellow fields.

150253 heads up the Rhymney Valley at Bargoed on 8 July 3019 with the 2R16 15:02 Penarth to Rhymney Transport for Wales service. Unfortunately, it was only trains heading away from me, like this one, that passed by in sunshine.

Debranded Arriva Trains Wales liveried 150253 passes Churcham on 29 November 2019 with the 2G55 11:46 Cheltenham Spa to Cardiff Central Transport for Wales service. The spire of Highnam church can just be seen in the background.

150254 climbs past Narroways Hill Junction, Bristol on 16 April 1991 with the 17:54 Weston-super-Mare to Gloucester Regional Railways service. The line diverging to the right is the Severn Beach line. Nearly two decades later, this unit was still at work on the route, but now entrusted with even longer journeys.

Shortly after leaving Trowbridge, 150254 is pictured passing Lower Studley on 14 June 2004 with the 12:00 Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth Wessex Trains service. This picture would be a lot more difficult to take today, as the footbridge from which it was taken has now been incased in a mesh cage, to prevent vandalism.

Making a welcome change from the usual First Great Western purple liveried units, hired in 150254 sports the turquoise livery of Arriva Trains Wales as it passes Wadborough on 8 February 2011 with the 2O90 12:51 Great Malvern to Weymouth service. With London Midland acquiring some of the newly built Class 172s units, more Class 150s will be available for FGW, allowing this unit to head back to its proper Welsh home. In the background the barriers of Wadborough level crossing can just bee seen raising after the passage of the train.

150254 passes Ashford Bowdler on 20 May 2023 with the 1V44 13:30 Manchester Piccadilly to Pembroke Dock Transport for Wales service. The River Teme is just behind the trees, and the houses of Ludlow can just be seen in the background.

150255 calls at Reedham station on 31 August 1998 with the 12:01 Norwich to Lowestoft service. This was just at the beginning of privatisation, and although this train is being operated by Anglia Railways, the unit is still wearing the distinctive Regional Railways livery (minus branding). Anglia Railway's eventual new livery was not an improvement!

150256 passes Grange Court on 20 August 2012 with the 2G54 09:12 Cardiff Central to Cheltenham Spa Arriva Trains Wales service. The track on the right, which was the last remnant of the once extensive Grange Court Junction track layout, has since been lifted.

150257 passes milepost 118½ at Minsterworth on 6 April 2011 with the 09:12 Cardiff Central to Cheltenham Spa Arriva Trains Wales service. Although sunny, there was a layer of thin high cloud which was taking the edge of the light slightly.

150257 arrives at Blaenau Ffestiniog on 2 June 2012 with the 2D14 10:22 Arriva Trains Wales service from Llandudno. Note the 1' 11½" gauge Ffestiniog Railway track in the foreground. It seems the driver has been a little premature in changing the destination blind!

The southern entrance to Newnham Tunnel, on the line between Gloucester and Severn Tunnel Junction, is very overgrown, but a conveniently placed occupation bridge allows a view of sorts. On 20 August 2012, 150259 is pictured emerging from the tunnel with the 2L59 13:45 Cheltenham to Maesteg Arriva Trains Wales service.

150260 passes Jamestown on 21 April 2003 with the 11:08 Perth to Edinburgh ScotRail service. The houses of Inverkeithing stretch out across the hillside in the background, and just visible on the right is Inverkeithing Inner Bay, which formerly had an extensive network of sidings, serving a paper mill and pottery.

150261 passes Twerton on 22 July 1995 with the 14:57 Weymouth to Cardiff Central Regional Railways service. The unit is looking smart after a recent repaint, during which it lost its original 'Regional Railways' and 'Sprinter' branding.

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

150261 passes Lower Wick on 12 October 2009 with the 2T90 09:08 Worcester Shrub Hill to Westbury First Great Western service. The M5 motorway in the background seems to be momentarily and uncharacteristically free of traffic.

150261 passes Gossington on 5 March 2010 with the 1O98 10:51 Great Malvern to Brighton First Great Western service. Although obviously a bit more comfortable than a first generation DMU, this mega mileage journey would surely be a little challenging in a Class 150.

150261 approaches Patchway on 21 July 2012 with the 2C69 09:00 Cardiff Central to Taunton First Great Western service. The original Patchway station was situated in the background of this view, but was moved when the line became the double track route to the Severn Tunnel, with the tracks at different levels.

There is still some remnants of the early morning frost in the shadows on 25 October 2010, as 150263 passes Standish Junction with the 2F97 08:51 Great Malvern to Westbury First Great Western service. It would shortly be followed by 158881 taking the line in the foreground towards Swindon.

150264 approaches Churcham on 29 November 2019 with the 2L59 13:45 Cheltenham Spa to Maesteg service. Although this train is now operated by Transport for Wales, this unit still carries Arriva Trains Wales livery, albeit without any branding.

150265 approaches Walton Well Road, Oxford, on 13 May 1989 with the 2A59 07:10 Worcester Shrub Hill to Oxford Regional Railways service. I have very few pictures of Class 150s in the Oxford area, as they didn't stay around for too long.

150265 passes Claverham on 10 August 1989 with the 2C28 13:18 Bristol Temple Meads to Taunton service. At this time the new Sprinters were slowly taking over from first generation units, and anything could turn up. On this day the train an hour earlier had been worked by Class 108 set B967.

The Network Rail worker at Little Haresfield waves his flag, to warn workers further down the line of the approach of 150265 on 18 April 2017. The unit is working the 2O89 10:42 Gloucester to Weymouth GWR service, although for some reason the destination blind is showing Bristol Temple Meads.

150265 passes Bredon on 26 October 2017 with the 2O90 12:51 Great Malvern to Weymouth GWR service. Brambles, bushes, and even full sized trees. The gangers of steam days would be horrified to see the state that their railway has got into!

Class 150s had a relatively short period of tenure on the Cotswold Line. On 7 May 1989, 150266 arrives at Kingham with the 2A34 15:23 Great Malvern to Oxford service. There have been plenty of changes here since this photo was taken. The service frequency has increased enormously. There is now a comprehensive Sunday service, whereas in 1989 this was the first up train of the day! The bullhead rails have gone, as has the remains of the bay platform in the foreground, and of course the trees have grown considerably!

A Regional Railways and Network SouthEast meeting at Kingham on 7 May 1989. 150266 arrives at the station with the 2B72 17:35 Oxford to Great Malvern service, just as 50034 Furious stops at the opposite platform with the 1A65 16:15 Hereford to Paddington train. The Penarth destination being displayed on the DMU has to be a candidate for the most unlikely one to be seen on a Cotswold Line train!

150266 accelerates away from Freshford station on 30 April 1993 with the 1F23 14:45 Cardiff Central to Southampton Regional Railways service. The River Avon is one field behind the train, with the Kennet & Avon Canal at a higher level, near the two cottages, in the background.

150266 passes Fairwood on 11 September 2007 with the 11:10 Weymouth to Cardiff Central First Great Western service. FGW had just taken over these trains, and had yet to get around to repainting the Class 150's into their blue livery.

150266 approaches Norton with the 12:51 Great Malvern to Weymouth First Great Western service on 20 March 2009. It will shortly be taking the curve between Norton and Abbotswood Junctions. Despite the poor visibility caused by the settled high pressure weather condition, Worcester Cathedral can clearly be seen in the background.

150266 passes Little Haresfield on 30 May 2009 with the 1O98 10:51 Great Malvern to Brighton First Great Western service, while 60074 waits to follow it out of the loop with the 6B13 05:10 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil train.

150266 passes Standish Junction on 24 September 2016 with the 2O89 10:41 Gloucester to Weymouth GWR service. Despite appearances, this is taken from a public footpath crossing, one which Network Rail would no doubt like to close!

150267 passes Pilning on 27 April 2010 with the 12:00 Cardiff Central to Taunton service. The unit was on hire to First Great Western from Arriva. Note the recent trackwork, with the down loop having been shortened, and now ending a few hundred yards behind this spot, rather than in the foreground.

On hire to First Great Western from Arriva, 150267 passes Pilning on 27 April 2010 with the 15:15 Taunton to Cardiff Central service. 66003 can be seen in the background, waiting in the loop with the 6B50 16:25 Swindon to Alexandra Docks steel empties. Four minutes it later it was following 150267 towards Wales.

150267 passes Churcham on 18 September 2020 with the 2G56 09:16 Maesteg to Gloucester Transport for Wales service. The bridge in the background marks the site of the former station at Oakle Street. The woodland in the distance is the Forest of Dean.

150269 leaves Westbury station on 5 August 1991 with the 2V79 13:12 Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads Regional Railways service. On this occasion, the only occupants of the extensive sidings in background are a Class 08 and a 56.

150270 passes Ashchurch on 6 May 1989 with the 2A21 09:03 Worcester to Shrub Hill to Swindon service. At the time the unit was less than two years old, and still in its original Regional Railways livery. Class 155s were also used on these trains at the time, but whereas the 150s stayed in the area for many years, once the 155s were split into single car 153s, they left the area.

150270 & 142027 approach Hall Royd Junction on 16 November 2015 with the 2E41 09:16 Manchester Victoria to Leeds Northern service. In the background, the recently reinstated Todmorden to Copy Pit line curve can be seen disappearing into the silver birch trees.

150271 has a race with Ford Cortina estate OVW 267 V, as it approaches Patchway on 29 April 1993 with the 14:55 Cardiff Central to Southampton service. Interestingly, it is not just 150271 that subsequently changed livery from the Regional Railways colour scheme seen here. The Cortina also clearly had a respray, as the DVLA lists it as a red vehicle.

150271 arrives at Althorpe on 23 May 2001 with the 18:17 Scunthorpe to Doncaster Arriva Trains Northern service. The train is crossing the River Trent by the Keadby Bridge (otherwise known as King George V Bridge). This lifting bridge was opened in 1916, and as can be seen by the road on the left is a combined road and rail design. The bridge has not lifted since 1956.

150271 calls at Rawcliffe station on 2 September 2022 with the 2F25 17:58 Leeds to Goole Northern service. Only three trains call at this station each day, and each one, as well as the additional empty stock working, all pass at extremely difficult times for photography if the sun is out. Luckily on this occasion there was no sun, although it had been out a few minutes earlier. The bushes on the left hide the former westbound platform, and new houses behind the station building now cover the former goods yard. The impressive station building is now a private residence.

150273 approaches Potters Grange Junction, Goole, on 28 October 2002 with the 07:28 Doncaster to Beverly Arriva Trains Northern service. The cranes in the background are working on the initial stages of construction of the the Guardian float glass works, which opened the following year.

Saltmarshe station, between Goole and Gilberdyke, has only an infrequent service, although numerous trains pass through without stopping. One such is the 1W40 13:41 Sheffield to Bridlington Northern Rail service, seen here speeding through the station on 4 April 2015, worked by 150276. The station is actually on the edge of the village of Laxton, with Saltmarshe being a mile distant.

150277 & 150273 leave the picturesque Yeovil Pen Mill station on 25 July 1992 with the 08:31 Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth Regional Railways service. Although the signals have been replaced with more modern semaphores, little else has changed at this location.

150278 passes Evenlode on 16 July 1989, during the brief period when Regional Railways Class 150s operated local services on the Cotswold Line. The train is the 2A76 15:20 Great Malvern to Oxford service. This used to be one of my favourite Cotswold Line locations, but not only have bushes on the roadside now made this a much more restricted location, but a tall radio mast and associated cabinet now feature prominently in this view.

150278 passes Up Hatherley on 16 March 2009 with the late running 08:00 Maesteg to Cheltenham Arriva Trains Wales service. This train's late running was causing the following 1M60 09:45 Cardiff Central to Nottingham CrossCountry service to also be a few minutes late.

150278 passes Gatcombe on 21 July 2018 with the 2G54 08:00 Maesteg to Cheltenham Spa Arriva Trains Wales service. Hidden in the wood, just behind the train, is an old limekiln, proving that in Victorian times there was often industrial activity even in a remote rural location such as this.

150279 is dwarfed by the South Wales scenery, as it passes Tonypandy on 4 June 2000 with the 16:00 Treherbert to Newport Wales & West service. As this is the Rhondda Valley, it will be no surprise that this was once the site of a coal mine. Llwynypia Colliery (which closed in 1945) was situated in the background of this view.

A colourful combination at Grange Court on 6 November 2004. As if 150279 wasn't colourful enough, with each of its two vehicles in a different colour scheme, but adding 153312 in yet another variation certainly makes for an eye catching train! The working is the 10:12 Cardiff Central to Cheltenham Spa Arriva Trains Wales service.

150279 passes Stoke Orchard on 1 July 2008 with the 12:51 Great Malvern to Weymouth First Great Western service. Still wearing its Arriva turquoise livery, 150279 makes a pleasant change from the FGW purple livery now applied to most of their units.

With the River Severn running in reverse, as it approaches high tide, 150279 passes Wellhouse Nay (near Purton) on 28 June 2018 with the 2L71 19:58 Gloucester to Maesteg Arriva Trains Wales service. Just visible on the far bank on the left of the picture are some of the 'Purton Hulks', old concrete barges deliberately beached to reinforce the river bank. At this point there is a village of Purton on both banks of the river.

A last check for passengers (there weren't any!) at Llanbradach, before 150279 departs with the 2D42 13:32 Penarth to Bargoed Transport for Wales service on 8 July 2019. Picture taken from the footbridge which connects the staggered platforms.

150280 runs through the Vale of Gloucester on 28 June 2018 with the 2L67 17:58 Gloucester to Maesteg Arriva Trains Wales service. The train is approaching the site of Oakle Street station, which closed in 1964. This view has recently been opened up, after the removal of a considerable amount of lineside vegetation.

Barry Docks station consists of an island platform, with access via a subway from the nearby road. 150281 arrives at the station on 2 June 1996 with the 10:59 Barry Island to Aberdare Regional Railways service. Originally there were numerous lines diverging from this route to the nearby docks for the export of Welsh coal. All long gone.

150281 climbs Sapperton Bank on Sunday 12 September 2010 with the first up train of the day on the route - the 2B90 09:24 Cheltenham to Swindon First Great Western service. The unit is on loan from Arriva Trains Wales, and its turquoise blue livery makes a change from the normal FGW liveries on this route. Note the two whistle boards for the nearby Frampton Mansell and Sapperton footpath crossings.

150281 & 142069 pass Highnam on 26 June 2018 with the 2L71 19:58 Gloucester to Maesteg Arriva Trains Wales service. The landmarks visible in the background are (left to right): Clapham Court, a 1960s residential tower block, Gloucester Cathedral, the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, the tower of the demolished St Michael's church (behind pylon), St. Mary de Crypt Church, and Southgate House office block. Churchdown Hill is on the left, and the Cotswold Hills form the backdrop. Just visible in the distance, in the centre of the picture, are the old Leckhampton Hill quarries.

150281 passes Churchdown on 5 July 2019 with the 2G54 09:12 Cardiff Central to Cheltenham Spa Transport for Wales service. It almost looks like the driver has been a little too quick to change the destination blind, as it is clearly showing Maesteg. The unit would shortly be working the 2L53 10:45 Cheltenham Spa to Maesteg service.

Shortly after sunrise on 28 October 2014, 150282 passes Badgeworth with the 2G50 06:12 Cardiff Central to Cheltenham Spa Arriva Trains Wales service. Although there is a an unobstructed view in both directions here, constant fast traffic on the road makes crossing from one side of the bridge to the other a little hazardous!

150282 crosses over the public footpath crossing at Gatcombe on 21 July 2018 with the 2L49 08:46 Cheltenham Spa to Maesteg Transport for Wales service. Note the closeness of the footpath in the foreground to the running lines.

150283 approaches Pembrey & Burry Port station on 15 July 2006 with the 06:38 Manchester Piccadilly to Milford Haven Arriva Trains Wales service. Semaphore signals still abound in the West of Wales, most modernisation having stopped at Swansea!

150283 passes the extremely scenic setting of St Ishmael on 15 July 2006 with the 13:10 Milford Haven to Cardiff Central Arriva Trains Wales service. Prominent in the background is the estuary of the River Towy, which the line has followed from Carmarthen.

150283 passes the contentedly grazing cows at Churcham on 4 May 2010 with the 2G54 08:00 Maesteg to Cheltenham Arriva Trains Wales service. This is on the long straight section of track that extends from the site of Grange Court Junction, to near Minsterworth, on the approach to Gloucester.

150283 & 150251 approach Llanhilleth on 25 August 2013 with the 2F34 12:30 Ebbw Vale Parkway to Cardiff Central Arriva Trains Wales service. The original passenger service on this line ceased in 1962, with the line remaining open for freight, until the closure of Ebbw Vale steelworks in 2002. Six years later the passenger service was reinstated.

150283 calls at Aber station on 17 June 2022 with the 2P53 12:27 Rhymney to Penarth Transport for Wales service. Midday in the middle of June is definitely not the ideal time for photography, but I would rather have high overhead sun than rain!

150284 waits at Blaenau Ffestiniog station on 20 October 2014, prior to departing with the 2D15 11:46 Arriva Trains Wales service Llandudno. Certainly not Cardiff Queen Street, as it says in the destination blind!

150284 calls at Caerphilly station on 17 June 2022 with the 2P47 12:00 Bargoed to Penarth Transport for Wales service. The flat topped hill dominating the background is Mynydd Meio, which forms a barrier between the Rhymney and Taff valleys.

A Class 150 meeting at Llanbradach on 17 June 2022. 150284 approaches the station with the 2P67 14:27 Rhymney to Penarth Transport for Wales service, while 150259 disappears into the distance with the 2D46 14:18 Penarth to Bargoed train.

150285 rounds the curve at Barged on 4 December 2005 with the late running 09:29 Rhymney to Penarth Arriva Trains Wales service. Not the best angle of light for the DMUit, but the semaphore signal and the hill rising up in the background make an excellent picture.

150925 leaves Ashchurch (for Tewkesbury) station in a brief burst of sunshine on 4 July 2015 with the 2T90 09:08 Worcester Shrub Hill to Westbury First Great Western service. Note the 'Heart of Wessex' branding near the front of the unit.

150925 passes Standish Junction on 30 April 2016 with the 1O99 10:46 Great Malvern to Brighton GWR service. 150925 is one of a pair of GWR hybrid units, made up of former Class 150/1, with one vehicle from a Class 150/2 unit inserted into the middle of the formation.

The Second Severn Crossing can clearly be seen in the background of this view of 150926 passing Cattybrook on 19 July 2016 with the 1F17 12:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour GWR service. The view of the bridge has been made possible by the removal of a number of trees, the trunk of one of which can be seen on the left. 150926 is one of two FGW hybrid units, made up of former Class 150/1, with one vehicle from a Class 150/2 unit sandwiched in between. In this case the former 150126 has been augmented by 57212 from disbanded set 150212.

150926 passes the southern end of Eckington Loop in superb evening light on 17 August 2017 with the 2E25 15:28 Warminster to Great Malvern GWR service. 150926 is made up the former 150126, with the addition of vehicle 57212 from 150212.

150926 passes Defford on 25 October 2017 with the 2O90 12:51 Great Malvern to Weymouth GWR service. The unusual shaped building in the background is Defford Village Hall, which opened in 2011, on the extreme western edge of the village.