168214 passes Ardley Quarry on 9 August 2003 with the 15:02 Marylebone to Banbury Chiltern Railways service. 168214, the first of the Class 168/2 sub-class, was just four months old when this picture was taken. Just behind the rear of the train is the public footpath crossing on the Ardley to Middleton Stoney footpath, whilst in the background is the M40 motorway. The overgrown line in the foreground formerly gave access to the quarry.

The horse in the field at Kings Sutton takes no notice, as 168214 heads north with an unidentified classmate on 24 July 2006 with the 1K51 17:55 Marylebone to Kidderminster Chiltern Railways service. A classic view, with the fourteenth century spire of Kings Sutton church making an excellent backdrop.

168214 rounds the curve at Bishops Itchington with the 09:52 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service on 15 April 2008. Chiltern Railways generally keep their fleet in pristine condition, which can't be easy with so much white in the livery!

168214 passes Claydon (near Banbury) on 22 April 2009 with the 13:12 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The line of trees in the background that the rooks are using for nest building marks the course of the former Stratford-upon-Avon & Midland Junction Railway.

With the hawthorn in full bloom, 168214 passes through Kings Sutton station on 28 May 2010 with the 1H49 14:52 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Even at this rural location (or more likely because of its peacefulness) it seems someone thinks it's any ideal place to watch the trains go by.

168214 passes the former rail served Ardley Quarry on 7 October 2010 with the 12:40 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. It may look like a pleasant rural location, but the methane leaking from the nearby capped rubbish dump makes it a slightly malodorous spot to wait for trains!

168214 dashes through Kings Sutton station on 18 September 2013 with the 1H51 14:12 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. As can be seen from the fields in the background, Kings Sutton station is on the very edge of the village.

168214 & 168325 pass Oddington on 1 November 2015 with the 1T31 12:35 Marylebone to Oxford Parkway Chiltern Railways service. It's hard to believe, but this redoubled and upgraded line was formerly a single track line, largely hemmed in by trees and bushes. Note the pile of timber in the foreground, left over from the construction.

168214 & 168325 round the curve between Bicester South Junction and Gavray Junction in the last of the afternoon light on 1 November 2015 with the 1T41 15:05 Marylebone to Oxford Parkway Chiltern Railways service. Directly behind them is the London to Birmingham Chiltern Line.

168214 & 168004 pass Oddington on 26 August 2016 with the 1T52 17:50 Marylebone to Oxford Parkway Chiltern Railways service. What I hadn't noticed at the time was the hot air balloon in the background, obviously taking advantage of the cooler air in the evening to get more lift.

168214 passes Haddenham on 20 January 2017 with the 1Y30 10:41 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. This is the site of the original Haddenham station, which closed, along with other minor stations on the Chiltern Line, in 1963.

168214 races through the picturesque Denham Golf Club station on 26 March 2017 with the 1H13 09:30 Bicester North to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The Great Western Railway pagoda huts are a remarkable survivor at this location, but with Network Rail's aversion to paint, their long term survival might be in doubt!

168214 passes Blackthorn in atrocious light on 13 October 2017 with the 2U10 07:01 Marylebone to Banbury Chiltern Railways service. Although this is in a rural location, a long way from any buildings, the isolated Blackthorn Cottage formerly stood just to the right of the train, and was demolished when the railway was constructed in 1910. How unluckily was that? If it had stood a few yards in either direction, it may well still be there now!

168215 passes Hatton North Junction with the 14:52 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service on 19 February 2008. The line diverging here is the route to Stratford-upon-Avon. The shadows are a real problem here, but I realised this would be the last train of the day that I would be able to get a picture of with the whole train more or less evenly lit. Note that some of the trees are still covered in frost, from the freezing fog that had covered this area in the morning.

168215 passes through Harbury cutting on 15 March 2008 with the 09:18 Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill Chiltern Railways service. Unfortunately this location is nowhere near as photogenic as it used to be, thanks to the growth of lineside vegetation.

168215 approaches Ardley Tunnel on 29 October 2008 with the 13:39 Stratford-upon-Avon to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Just visible in the background is the start of Souldern No.1 Viaduct, the first of two structures that carries the line above small tributaries of the River Cherwell.

168215 speeds past Bishops Itchington on 23 June 2009 with the 1H27 08:10 Kidderminster to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. There is no hope of identifying the working from the electronic destination display, as unlike the old fashioned roller type, they do not show up correctly in a photograph.

168215 emerges from Brill Tunnel on 24 May 2010 with the 11:52 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The combination of a very long lens and a warm day has imparted a slightly shimmering effect to the picture.

168215 approaches Ardley Tunnel on 7 October 2010 with the 12:52 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. This picture is taken from a farm occupation bridge, which affords an excellent view in the opposite direction of trains leaving the tunnel.

The Chiltern Line was closed for engineering works on Saturday 11 December 2010, with Chiltern Railways services diverted via the Cherwell Valley line, to connect with First Great Western trains at Oxford. 168215 passes Souldern Wharf with the 1G16 09:30 Oxford to Birmingham Snow Hill train.

A DMU well off the beaten track! 168215 comes to a stand at the stop board on the approach to MoD Kineton on 2 August 2014 with the Branch Line Society / Chiltern Railways 'Semaphore & Sidings Tracker' railtour. The tour had started from Birmingham, and spent a good part of the day traversing various sidings in the Banbury area. In the evening it visited the 3½ mile freight only branch from Fenny Compton to Kineton. At this point it was running as the 1Z72 18:06 Banbury to Birmingham Moor Street. The bridge visible in the background carries the line over the M40 motorway. I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised, but despite the fact that this is the just about the best location on the branch, especially considering the angle of the light, there were no other photographers present to record the scene. If it had been loco hauled, the place would have been swarming with people, and yet a Class 168 on a railtour, and especially here, is very unusual.

168215 nears journey's end, as it passes Water Eaton on Sunday 1 November 2015 with the 1T23 10:37 Marylebone to Oxford Parkway Chiltern Railways service. The early morning fog had only just cleared, giving me my first view of this newly created vantage point.

168215 speeds past Piddington on 13 August 2016 with the 1T49 17:05 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. The relatively new silver grey front end is already showing distinct signs of wear and tear. Luckily, despite a lot of cloud all around, the sun stayed out for a considerable time at this location.

168215 & 168004 pass the site of the original Haddenham station on 20 January 2017 with the 1H30 09:55 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The modern Haddenham & Thame Parkway station is situated just beyond the bridge in the background.

With Northfield Farm visible amid the trees in the background, 168215 & 172104 pass Water Eaton on 7 May 2018 with the 1T53 18:00 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. Note the difference in livery between the Class 168 and Class 172.

168215 & 168322 take the up relief line at Wolvercote on 5 April 2021 with the diverted 1H44 12:06 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The train would shortly reverse at Oxford, and then continue towards London via Bicester.

168215 & 168326 leave Banbury on 14 April 2024 with the 1F41 15:00 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street Chiltern Railways service. Note the 'Marylebone Station 125 Years 1899 - 2024' sticker next to the cab door.

168216 passes Kings Sutton on 28 April 2008 with the 07:50 Banbury to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service, just as a LGV driver training vehicle passes along the Adderbury to Kings Sutton road in the background.

168216 dodges the shadows as it passes Bishops Itchington on 14 November 2009 with the 1H21 07:14 Kidderminster to Marylebone Chiltern Trains service. Weddington Farm on the top of Weddington Hill dominates the background.

168216 approaches the site of Dorton Halt with the 10:52 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service on 24 May 2010. This small station opened in 1937 and closed in 1963, along with a number of other rural stations on the route. At least the line itself survived, and after a period of stagnation that saw it reduced to a single track, is now once again thriving.

168216 passes Walton Well Road, Oxford, on Sunday 13 June 2010 with the diverted 1V26 09:10 Birmingham Snow Hill to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. Because of engineering works on the Chiltern Line, various Chiltern Railways trains were booked to run to Oxford to connect with First Great Western services to London. If Chiltern Railways plans come to fruition, this will soon no longer be an occasional sight at Oxford, as the company aims to run regular services to London via a new chord at Bicester.

168216 gets into its stride as it accelerates away from Bicester station (the footbridge of which can just about be seen in the distance), and passes Launton on 7 March 2011 with the 1H36 11:55 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Although some industrial estate buildings can be seen on the right, the train conveniently hides the Kraft and DHL 'big sheds'!

168216 passes Kings Sutton in superb evening light on 3 June 2011 with the 1D47 16:34 Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill Chiltern Railways service. A hackneyed location, but with light like this, and the church in the background, it certainly makes a splendid picture.

With frost still on the tracks in the foreground, 168216 sweeps round the curve at Hatton on 1 February 2012 with the 1H32 10:12 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The Grand Union Canal is directly behind the train, but even in winter it is now virtually completely hidden from view.

168216 passes Bucknell on 5 March 2013 with the 1H48 11:38 Stratford-upon-Avon to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Despite being just a very short distance from the village, there was never a station at Bucknell. The nearest station was Ardley, a mile to the north.

168216 passes Hatton on 11 May 2015 with the late running 1G46 16:18 Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill Chiltern Railways service. Unfortunately the overgrown cutting sides now make this rather head on viewpoint necessary.

168216 passes Oddington on 12 May 2016 with the 1T48 16:50 Marylebone to Oxford Parkway Chiltern Railways service. This picture is taken from the recently constructed roadbridge, replacing the earlier level crossing. It looks like this excellent new viewpoint will only be temporary, judging by the line of young trees planted alongside the fence.

168216 & 168113 pass Brookfurlong Farm, Islip, on 16 August 2016 with the 1Y74 19:09 Oxford Parkway to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. I had walked across the fields on the footpath from the village of Islip, which can be seen in the background, passing the combine harvester that can be seen at work. When I walked across the field to the bridge, he had only completed a few rows, yet when I walked back just short of two hours later, he had nearly finished!

168216 arrives at Islip station on 19 April 2017 with the 1Y27 09:36 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Although the re-engineered line now has a half hourly service, only a limited number of these trains call at Islip. For instance, anyone missing this train to London, would have to wait nearly four hours for the next one!

168216 & 168322 speed through Islip station on 7 May 2018 with the 1T43 15:31 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. A Bank Holiday Monday, but with few trains booked call, there is a marked lack of passengers at this small village station.

168216 & 168325 pass Thrupp on 2 April 2021 with the diverted 1H64 16:06 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Engineering work had closed the train's normal route between Banbury and Bicester. I was very lucky to get this in the sun (mostly!), as although the forecast had said it would get sunnier later in the afternoon, as can be seen from the background of this picture, the exact opposite was happening!

Viewed from the rustic farm occupation bridge near Tackley, 168216 & 168325 head down the Cherwell Valley on 4 April 2021 with the diverted 1H25 11:11 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. This bridge, which also carries the footpath between Tackley and Northbrook, has managed to survive, when many other such structures have been replaced by Network Rail's huge green over engineered modern versions.

168216 approaches Kings Sutton station at speed on 28 March 2022 with the 1H56 15:12 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The railings at the end of each platform mark the site of the former boarded foot crossing, which was taken out of use when the station acquired a new footbridge.

168216, 165003 & 165009 pass Oddington on 1 January 2023 with the 1T16 10:00 Marylebone to Oxford Parkway Chiltern Railways service. This unusual eight coach, three unit, combination seems to be a very extravagant provision for a Sunday morning, especially as it's New Year's Day. A revised timetable was in operation due to RMT industrial action, with just one train per hour, with no trains between Oxford Parkway and Oxford, and no trains leaving London after 16:05.

168216 & 168322 approach Brill Tunnel on 14 January 2023 with the 1H21 09:37 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. An extremely dull day, with intermittent rain, but this location would be hopeless at this time of year if the sun did come out.

168216 passes Wormleighton Crossing on 7 February 2023 with the 1H41 11:55 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Photo taken from a public footpath crossing, that gives access to the nearby Oxford Canal.

With a toot from the driver, 168217 & 168113 pass Kings Sutton on 20 June 2003 with the 1K51 17:55 Marylebone to Kidderminster Chiltern Railways service. 168217 is just two months old, and still in its original two car configuration. A centre vehicle was added in July 2005, and it then ran for a few months as a three car unit. In March 2006 the centre coach was removed, to be inserted into 168106. 168217 then acquired two new centre coaches, making it a four car unit!

An unusual visitor to the Oxford area on Sunday 13 June 2010. Due to engineering works on the Chiltern Line, some Chiltern Railways services were diverted to run to Oxford, where passengers would continue their journey onwards to London via First Great Western trains. 168217 passes Oxford North Junction with the 1V22 09:19 Banbury to Oxford service - the first of the day's diverted trains. The line to Bicester can be seen in the background diverging to the right.

Sunday 13 June 2010 brought some variation to the type of DMUs to be seen in the Oxford area, with Chiltern Railways Class 168s visiting on trains diverted off the Chiltern Line. Trains worked down from the north to Oxford to connect with First Great Western trains to London. 168217 heads back north with the 1G18 10:10 Oxford to Birmingham Snow Hill Chiltern Railways service, pictured here less than a mile into its journey, approaching Oxford North Junction.

168217 speeds through Heyford station with the 1V50 15:10 Birmingham Snow Hill to Oxford Chiltern Railways service on 20 June 2010. This is one of the hourly services diverted away from the Chiltern Line, which was closed for engineering works. It is not very often when you visit a station that you see one of your own pictures! However, my picture of 165120, taken from this footbridge was used as part of the poster at the entrance to the station advertising what is now branded 'The Oxford Canal Line'.

168217 speeds through the rain towards Ardley Tunnel on 30 December 2011 with the 1F92 08:09 Kidderminster to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. This is one of Chiltern's express trains (as they used to be called in the good old days!), becoming a non-stop service after Warwick Parkway. This makes it one of the few trains that passes non-stop through Banbury.

168217 passes Fritwell on 7 April 2013 with the 11:40 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Surprisingly I never visited this location in the days when this was a sleepy single track backwater, operated by Class 115 DMUs, despite it being relatively close to home.

168217 passes Shrewley on 3 July 2013 with the 1H76 18:40 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. It was obvious that the few people who know about this vantage point had not approached the footbridge from the direction that I did, as the footpath was virtually blocked by vegetation, including six feet high stinging nettles!

168217 & 168005 emerge from Brill Tunnel on 19 January 2016 with the 1H30 09:55 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Brill Tunnel is so short, and with so little ground above, it makes you wonder why the didn't just continue the cutting straight through!

168217 passes Oddington on 20 July 2016 with the 1Y68 18:09 Oxford Parkway to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The train is just passing over the site of the former level crossing, now replaced by the bridge upon which I am standing.

168217 speeds through Denham Golf Club station on 26 March 2017 with the 1Y12 09:01 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. This little station sees a lot of trains race through like this, but very few call here.

Viewed from the end of Islip's station's platform 2, 168217 & 168113 approach the station at speed on 21 June 2017 with the 1T52 17:50 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. The earlier sunshine had started to fade out into high cloud.

168217 speeds through Islip station on 7 May 2018 with the 1T45 16:00 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. Like the majority of trains on the route, this service is not booked to call at Islip. The signal at the end of the platform marks the point where, prior to the line's upgrading, a siding branched off to the left to serve a small oil depot.

168217 passes Oddington on 6 August 2018 with the 1Y68 18:03 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The car is parked on the approach to what was formerly a level crossing. The palisade fencing on the other side of the line blocks the other side of the road.

168217 passes Fritwell on 7 March 2020 with the 1H23 10:34 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. A dull day has meant that a picture could be taken from the north side of the line, purely for a change of viewpoint.

168217 & 168327 pass underneath the footbridge near Yarnton on 5 April 2021 with the diverted 1H64 16:06 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The logs in the foreground are evidence of some recent very welcome extensive lineside vegetation clearance.

Viewed from the end of Kings Sutton platform, complete with all the signage, cameras and lights, 168217 heads away from the camera on 8 June 2021 with the 1G14 08:11 Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill Chiltern Railways service. Like the majority of trains, this does not stop at Kings Sutton, and so was travelling at some speed.

168217 passes Oddington on 12 June 2021 with the 1T48 17:12 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. The mass of Oxeye Daises growing on the bank next to the road is an ideal antidote to the overall greenness of the mid summer scene.

A conveniently sized gap in the lineside bushes allows this excellent view of 168218, as it approaches Ardley Tunnel on 11 February 2008 with the 12:12 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service.

168218 catches the last rays of the setting sun as it passes Great Bourton on 23 April 2010 with the 17:30 Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill Chiltern Railways service. The picture is taken from a public footpath crossing.

168218 speeds through Kings Sutton station on 28 May 2010 with the 13:12 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Note the large bird of prey (Red Kite, Buzzard?) just about getting out of the way of the train, and visible in front of the rear coach.

168218 & 168216 speed past the site of Ashendon Junction on 10 August 2012 with the 1H09 06:19 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. In pre-grouping days the line from High Wycombe and Princes Risborough was owned jointly by the Great Western and Great Central Railways. At Ashendon Junction the two routes diverged, with the Great Western heading towards Banbury, and the Great Central towards Calvert. Only the former GWR route remains open today. The junction employed a flyover, which explains why the two lines can be seen diverging at this point. Note how the public footpath has its own little central refuge between the two tracks.

168218 & 172013 emerge from the darkness of the trees at Kings Sutton on 10 July 2015, as they head north with the 1R58 17:18 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street Chiltern Railways service. The bridge in the background is purely for farm access, but sees virtually no use of any kind.

A superb new photographic vantage point has been created near Charlton-on-Otmoor, on the recently upgraded Bicester to Oxford line. Previously Holts Farm was accessed by a private level crossing at the end of a long lane from the village. Now a new bridge has been constructed just to the south of the original (now blocked) crossing, and a new concrete road goes round in a huge loop to connect to the farm. Until the bushes planted by the fence grow up, this gives fantastic views from all angles. 168218 & 168002 head south on 5 May 2016 with the 1T52 17:50 Marylebone to Oxford Parkway Chiltern Railways service. The site of the old level crossing is just behind the rear of the train.

168218 passes Bucknell on 13 October 2017 with the 1G17 09:10 Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill Chiltern Railways service. I was taking advantage of the dull day, as with any sun this particular angle would virtually always be totally backlit.

168218 approaches Charlton-on-Otmoor on 1 September 2019 with the 1Y05 08:38 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. As it was a crystal clear morning, I decided to use a long lens for a different perspective. The bridge in the background is a mile away, and the village of Islip in the distance a further mile and a half.

An unnecessary gate! There would be no need to use this footpath gate at Oddington on 28 November 2021, when the adjacent farm occupation gate is wide open! 168218 passes by with the 1T20 10:12 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. The farm occupation bridge at Charlton-on-Otmoor can be seen in the distance, directly behind the train.

168218 passes North Oxford Golf Course (out of sight to the right) with the 1T19 09:35 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service on 16 June 2022. It looks like a some more yellow paint is required on the front end!

168218 & 168328 approach Islip on 26 June 2024 with the 1Y32 11:19 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The unit is passing the site of Mill Lane level crossing, now replaced by the footbridge from which this picture was taken.

Dramatic lighting near Overthorpe on 28 January 2011, as 168219 passes underneath the M40 motorway with the 09:55 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. As can be guessed from the dark clouds in the background, this spectacular lighting didn't last very long!

Late March is one of my favourite times of year for photography, and when there is often light like this, you can understand why. 168219 passes Great Bourton on 28 March 2012 with the 17:10 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service.

168219 passes Launton on 21 April 2015 with the 1U53 16:21 Marylebone to Banbury Chiltern Railways service. It will shortly be calling at Bicester North station. This picture is taken from a public footpath crossing that crosses the high embankment to the south of Launton village.

168219 passes Banbury North Signal Box on 22 August 2015 with the 1H37 09:14 Stratford-upon-Avon to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Banbury North Box was destroyed by Network Rail in March 2017, in what can only be described as a mindless act of vandalism.

168219 passes Islip on 6 August 2017 with the 1Y05 08:38 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The bridge in the background is a new footpath and bridleway crossing, replacing the former Mill Lane level crossing. This view has changed completely since D1015 Western Champion was an extremely unusual visitor to the line in 2013.

Three of the four Class 168 sub classes in one train at Kings Sutton on 27 August 2017. Only the Class 168/0 variant is missing in this 168/2, 168/1 & 168/3 convoy. 168219, 168108 & 168327 work the 1G47 16:40 Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill Chiltern Railways service.

168219 & 168110 just manage to find the sun, as they descend the sharply curved gradient between Bicester South Junction and Gavray Junction on 17 September 2017 with the 1T29 12:05 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service.

168219 & 168112 pass through Princes Risborough station on 25 February 2018 with the 1H33 12:55 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Various items of Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway rolling stock can be seen on the left, including Class 08 D3018 Haversham.

168219 passes Hatton North Junction in superb spring sunshine on 25 March 2019 with the 1R37 14:10 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street Chiltern Railways service. Note the clump of daffodils in the field in the foreground.

168219 approaches Wormleighton Crossing on 30 March 2021 with the 1H44 12:15 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. A pleasant spot to spend a spring afternoon, with reasonably clear views of trains in both directions.

Superb spring light at North Oxford Golf Course on 7 March 2022. 168219 accelerates away from Oxford Parkway station (just out of sight around the corner) with the 1T39 14:40 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service.

168219 approaches Wolvercote Tunnel on 20 April 2022 with the 1T21 10:03 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. This location is approximately a mile south of Oxford Parkway station, on the very edge of the city of Oxford.

168321 passes Kings Sutton on 4 May 2016 with the 2G46 16:24 Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill Chiltern Railways service. This train is booked for a two car unit, which is surprising, given the fact that it leaves London at the start of the rush hour.

168321, 168324 & 168329 pass Water Eaton on 7 May 2018 with the 1Y61 19:07 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Despite having left Oxford only a few minutes earlier at the correct time, this had already managed to become eight minutes late. Oxford Parkway station, and its adjacent stone terminal can be seen in the background.

168321 & 168107 emerge from Brill Tunnel on 26 August 2019 with the 1H41 11:55 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. You can clearly see right through the 175 yard long tunnel.

168321 leaves Stratford Parkway station on 1 August 2021 with the 2L41 14:36 Stratford-upon-Avon to Leamington Spa Chiltern Railways service. A quiet Sunday afternoon, and not a passenger in sight on either platform!

168321 & 168111 arrive at Lapworth station on 22 August 2021 with the 1H41 14:37 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Lapworth station is actually in the village of KIngswood. Lapworth is a couple of miles to the west.

168321 passes Kings Sutton on 14 April 2024 with the 1R33 13:00 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street Chiltern Railways service. The Class 168/3 sub-class are two car units, so this picture shows an unusual temporary reformation. It is running with the two centre coaches from 168001 (58651 & 58451). This is because the driving cars from 168001 (58151 & 58251) have some issues with the cab doors, and have gone to Crewe for rectification.

168322 brings up the rear of the 5T03 08:40 Aylesbury to Oxford Parkway Chiltern Railways driver training special at Brookfurlong Farm (between Oddington and Islip) on 20 October 2015. 168110 & 168325 are the other units. This was the first train of the day, and the units would split at Oxford Parkway, before spending the rest of the day travelling up and down the recently upgraded line. Islip church can be seen looming out of the mist in the background.

168322 passes Brookfurlong Farm, near Islip, on 20 October 2015 with the 5T14 11:25 Bicester Gavray Junction to Oxford Parkway Chiltern Railways driver training special, running an hour early. This was one of a whole series of specials that ran throughout the day.

168322 passes Brookfurlong Farm, near Islip, on 20 October 2015 with the 5Y10 10:24 Oxford Parkway to Bicester Gavray Junction Chiltern Railways driver training special. The reconstructed Islip station can be seen in the background. 168322 is one of a batch of former TransPennine Class 170s. Class 168/1s & 168/2s are effectively the same design as Class 170s.

168322 heads north from Islip (the station can just be glimpsed in the background) on 20 October 2015 with the 5Z16 12:03 Oxford Parkway to Princes Risborough Chiltern Railways driver training special. In the background is the former Islip oil depot, which used to be rail connected.

168322 passes Launton on 15 August 2016 with the 2G46 16:24 Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill Chiltern Railways service. This photo is taken from the seemingly little used (I have never met anyone here) footpath crossing between the village of Launton and the southern edge of Bicester.

A new footbridge near Brookfurlong Farm, just to the north of Islip, spans the recently upgraded Bicester to Oxford line. This picture, taken on the evening of 16 August 2016, shows 168322 passing this new vantage point with the 1T50 17:18 Marylebone to Oxford Parkway Chiltern Railways service. The bi-directionally signalled line was being fully exploited on this occasion, with all trains effectively running 'wrong line'. In the background on the right a combine harvester is at work, and Charlton-on-Otmoor church can just be made out in the extreme distance.

168322 & 168109 pass Oxford North Junction on 25 March 2017 with the 1T37 14:05 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. This location has changed out of all recognition in the last few years, as Chiltern have modified the trackwork to allow their trains to access Oxford station. Even the footbridge from which this picture was taken has been replaced.

168322 & 168325 pass Ardley on 14 August 2017 with the 1H32 10:12 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Unfortunately this once excellent viewpoint, from a lofty overbridge, is now, like most of the railway network, getting very overgrown.

168322 & 168326 round the sharp curve on the approach to High Wycombe station on 27 August 2017 with the 1Y18 10:42 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. I bet this is a wheel slip hot spot in the autumn!

168322 & 168216 pass Water Eaton on 6 June 2019 with the 1Y70 18:23 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Banbury Road stone terminal and Oxford Parkway station, with its large car park, can be seen in the background.

168322 passes Fritwell on 28 March 2022 with the 1H35 11:15 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Just beyond the bridge in the background, the line enters the 1155 yard long Ardley Tunnel.

168322 & 168218 pass Shrewley on 24 July 2022 with the 1H41 14:37 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Although it is still a long walk, it is now marginally easier to get to this location, as the footpath is no longer totally overgrown with brambles!

168323 passes through Islip station on 21 June 2017 with the late running 1T46 16:18 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. The 1Y65 17:23 Oxford to Marylebone train can just be seen disappearing into the distance. This picture was taken through the slightly tinted Perspex footbridge side screens, as I had forgotten how high the bridge sides were, and didn't have time to go back to the car for my stepladder. It doesn't seem to have affected the quality by shooting through the plastic!

168323 & 168219 pass Islip on 7 May 2018 with the 1T49 17:00 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. The tower of Islip church can just be seen poking above the trees on the right. This picture is taken from a new footbridge near the site of the former Mill Lane level crossing.

168323 & 168326 pass Oddington on 26 August 2019 with the 1Y14 09:41 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The newly constructed pond on the right has become a magnet for geese, with several groups landing to add to the large flock whilst I was there.

168323 & 168109 pass Aynho on 4 April 2021 with the diverted 1H41 14:11 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. This train would normally run along the embankment which can just be seen behind and to the right of the train, but on this occasion the line between here and Bicester was closed for engineering works. The flyover, which carries the down Chiltern line over the Banbury to Oxford route, can be seen in the background.

168323 & 168110 approach Kings Sutton at speed on 27 February 2022 with the 1H37 13:37 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. This view, from the end of the down platform, shows the remains of the disused boarded crossing, complete with 'traffic light' crossing indictors. This was fenced off from the platform when the footbridge was installed in 2006. The station originally had a footbridge, but it had been removed in the 1960s. Before anyone asks, the lamppost really is bent, and it is not the result of any distortion caused by the wide angle lens!

168323 negotiates the reverse curves at Tackley on 4 June 2023, as it heads down the Cherwell Valley with the 3Z02 11:43 Banbury to Banbury (via Oxford) Chiltern Railways route learner. This was the second of three such crew training runs.

168324 passes the warehouses that line the approach to Banbury, as it prepares to stop at the town's station with the 1H53 14:55 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service on 11 March 2016. This unit was formerly 170304.

168324 passes Charlton-on-Otmoor on 15 August 2016 with the 1Y70 18:29 Oxford Parkway to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. You can tell this a newly upgraded line, as there isn't a tree, or even a bush, next to the lineside fence!

168324 & 168109 pass Charlton-on-Otmoor on 21 March 2017 with the 1T19 09:35 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. In the background is Holts Farm, which was formerly accessed by a level crossing, which was situated by the new fence in the background. The new farm road crosses the line by a bridge, which provides this excellent viewpoint.

168324 passes Langford Lane, near Wendlebury, on 17 September 2017 with the 1T21 10:05 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. This picture is taken from a recently constructed roadbridge, which a replaces a level crossing a little further to the north.

168324 rounds the sharp curve at Gavray Junction on 17 September 2017 with the 1Y23 11:42 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The Aldi supermarket, and nearby houses at the moment mark the limit of Bicester's urban sprawl, but what's the betting that the field on the left will succumb eventually?

168324 rounds the curve at Hatton North Junction in lovely spring light on 19 April 2018 with the 2G46 16:24 Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill Chiltern Railways service. The line to Stratford-upon-Avon is in the foreground.

168324 passes Kings Sutton on 11 June 2018 with the 2G46 16:24 Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill Chiltern Railways service. In view of the train's short length, I decided to go for a slightly more cropped close up view.

Signalling problems between Oxford Parkway and Oxford caused lengthy delays on 30 June 2018. As the equipment is virtually brand new, Network Rail can't use their usual excuse about obsolete technology or lack of investment! 168324 & 168327 approach Wolvercote Tunnel with the 1T47 16:35 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. This was running 28 minutes late, after having sat at Oxford Parkway station for 28 minutes!

168324, 168321 & 168218 approach Tackley on Sunday 4 April 2021 with the diverted 1H15 09:11 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The train's normal route between Banbury and Bicester was closed for engineering works.

This temporary footbridge at Tackley station certainly wouldn't win any design awards! 168324, 168321 & 168218 approach the station at high speed on Sunday 4 April 2021 with the diverted 1H45 15:11 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. 168328 & 168001 can just be seen disappearing into the distance with the 1R41 14:46  Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street train.

168324 approaches Bearley Junction on 22 August 2021 with the 2L21 09:36 Stratford-upon-Avon to Leamington Spa Chiltern Railways service. This was my first visit to this location, which does require a lengthy walk from the nearest road, either across the fields, or along the canal towpath.

168324 & 168216 call at Dorridge station on 14 August 2022 with the 1H37 13:37 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The station was originally called Knowle & Dorridge, as when it opened the village of Knowle was larger than the much nearer settlement of Dorridge.

168324 leaves Stratford Parkway station on 14 August 2022 with the 2D37 15:40 Leamington Spa to Stratford-upon-Avon Chiltern Railways service. This was running ten minutes late, which is fairly unusual for this operator.

168324 passes Wormleighton Crossing on 7 February 2023 with the 1H35 11:15 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Note the two different designs of 93½ milepost on the right.

A brief burst of sunshine gives some not very flattering head on lighting to 168324, as it passes Yarnton on 25 April 2024 with the late running 3Z02 11:43 Banbury to Banbury (via Oxford) Chiltern Railways route learner.

I haven't got many pictures of Class 168 & 165 DMUs working in multiple, so this was worth a picture. 168324 & 165019 head north from Banbury on 19 July 2024 withthe 1R41 15:02 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street Chiltern Railways service. They are passing the loaded wagons of the 6G99 06:46 Tunstead to Banbury Reservoir Tarmac stone train.

168325, 168110 & 168322 pass Brookfurlong Farm (between Oddington and Islip) on 20 October 2015 with the 5T03 08:40 Aylesbury to Oxford Parkway Chiltern Railways driver training special. This is the first train of the day, and would split into three at Oxford Parkway to maximise the driver training potential. The Oxford to Bicester line has been massively upgraded, and these trains are in connection with the introduction of a passenger service from Oxford to Marylebone, via Bicester, commencing on 26 October. In the background is the new road bridge giving access to Oddington Grange and Barndon Farm, replacing the former level crossing.

168325 runs along the recently upgraded Bicester to Oxford Line on 20 October 2015 with a Chiltern Railways driver training special. It is pictured near Brookfurlong Farm (between Oddington and Islip). In the background is the new bridge that replaces the former Oddington level crossing. This is just six days before the line reopens, with a new direct Oxford to London (via Bicester) service.

168325 passes Brookfurlong Farm (near Islip) on 20 October 2015 with the 5Z17 13:04 Princes Risborough to Oxford Parkway Chiltern Railways driver training special. Passenger trains commence running on 26 October, giving Oxford a new direct service to London (Marylebone this time instead of Paddington). Both the footbridge and the distant roadbridge in this picture are new, offering excellent new photographic vantage points on what used to be a very challenging line. Such is the complete transformation of the route that it is hard to believe this is the same spot that I photographed 47727 at in 2013!

168325 & 168214 round the curve from Gavray Junction on Sunday 1 November 2015 with the 1Y33 13:48 Oxford Parkway to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. This newly constructed line links the Oxford to Bletchley line (in the background) with the Marylebone to Birmingham line. The town of Bicester forms the background to this view, from the Aldi supermarket just beyond the railway, to St Edburgh's church on the skyline.

168325, 168111 & 168216 pass Oddington on 20 April 2016 with the 1Y10 06:47 Oxford Parkway to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Three different subclasses, and three different numbers of coaches per set. 168325 (Class 168/3 - two coaches), 168111 (Class 168/1 - three coaches) & 168216 (Class 168/2 - four coaches).

168325 runs parallel with the new concrete road that leads to Holts Farm, near Charlton-on-Otmoor. It is working the 1T50 17:18 Marylebone to Oxford Parkway Chiltern Railways service. The date is 5 May 2016, just a few months into the upgraded line's operation, and before the newly planted trees alongside the fence have started to grow!

A close up view of 168325, as it passes Oddington on 26 August 2016 with the 1T50 17:18 Marylebone to Oxford Parkway Chiltern Railways service. This unit was converted from TransPennine Express Class 170 170305 in 2015.

The upgrading of the Oxford to Bicester line entailed the building of a number of new bridges, creating several excellent new photographic vantage points. However, this picture is a warning to photographers not to waste time taking advantage of this, as the planting of numerous tree saplings next to the bridges will remove these new vistas in time. This is the view from the new farm access road at Water Eaton on 8 April 2017. 168325 & 168218 head south with the 1T25 11:05 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service.

Viewed from a recently installed bridge, 168325 & 168327 pass the site of Mill Lane level crossing, Islip, on 6 August 2017 with the 1Y04 08:10 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Although the palisade fence in the foreground is not very photogenic, I thought I would take this wide view while it is still possible. As the fence prevents access to the lineside, and because Network Rail do not do any kind of regular lineside maintenance, the few bushes and weeds by the lineside will become an overgrown jungle in a few years, effectively blocking this view.

168325 & 168113 pass Charlton-on-Otmoor on 17 September 2017 with the 1T47 16:35 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. Until the newly planted trees on the left grow to full size, this is one of the best photographic locations on the recently upgraded Bicester to Oxford line.

168325 & 168113 head away from the camera at Oddington on 17 September 2017 with the 1Y56 18:11 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. With a constant procession of DMUs passing this location, there would normally be any reason to take a going away shot. However, I took this because of the fantastic lighting, which as can be guessed from the dark clouds in the background, didn't last for much longer. I particularly like the way the line of electricity poles stand out against the dark surroundings.

The driver definitely needs sunglasses here, heading straight into the sun, with the sun reflecting off the snowy landscape! 168325 approaches Walton Well Road, Oxford, on 12 December 2017 with the 1T21 10:06 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service.

A Class 168/172 combination at Islip on 7 July 2018. Clearly showing the two different versions of Chiltern Railway's livery, 168325 & 172101 slow down for the Islip station stop with the 1Y12 09:15 Oxford Parkway to Marylebone service. The footbridge in the background is a replacement for the former Mill Lane level crossing.

168325 & 168329 pass Ardley on 24 March 2019 with the 1H29 12:12 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The two bridges in the background are on minor roads, but not as minor as the one from which this picture was taken. Ever since the building of Upper Heyford airfield in the 1920s, it has ended abruptly a short distance from the bridge.

With Bicester's Aldi store dominating the background, 168325 rounds the sharp curve at Gavray Junction on 26 August 2019 with the 1Y15 10:09 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The milepost in the foreground indicates half a mile from Bicester South Junction.

168325 passes Oddington on 27 October 2019 with the 1Y03 07:43 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The Met Office had correctly predicted that it would be a sunny day, but with the remnants of the previous day's cloud still around in the east. Unfortunately the cloud was still near enough to just be taking the edge of the early morning light, a problem which luckily soon disappeared.

A long lens view of Oxford Parkway station, and Oxford Banbury Road stone terminal, viewed from Water Eaton, half a mile to the north. The stone terminal sidings are now much further north than previously, as the new station occupies their former location. 168326 & 168328 accelerate away from the station with the 1Y15 10:09 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. 8 April 2017.

168326 leads an unidentified classmate through Sunderton station on 9 April 2017 with the 1Y19 09:28 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Until the modern houses in the background were built, this was a very remote station, nowhere near Sunderton village.

168326 & 168113 pass Langford Lane, Wendlebury, on 17 September 2017 with the 1Y15 10:11 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service, having just passed 172103 & 172102 working the 1T19 09:33 Marylebone to Oxford.

168326 & 168112 pass Oddington on 7 July 2018 with the 1Y10 08:47 Oxford Parkway to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. A small lake has just been constructed in the former field on the right, which explains the excavator and dumper truck.

168326 & 168328 pass Mill Lane, Islip, on 1 September 2019 with the 1Y14 09:42 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Just as the Met Office had predicted, the earlier sunny morning was now giving way to lots of cloud coming in from the west.

168326 & 168005 head away from the camera at Tackley on 4 April 2021 with the diverted 1R21 09:46 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street Chiltern Railways service. The train's normal route between Bicester and Banbury was closed for engineering works.

168326 & 168005 pass the former Aynho station (now a private residence) with the diverted 1H35 13:11 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service on 4 April 2021. Unfortunately the silver birch tree now makes it impossible to get a clear view of the former station building.

168326 brings up the rear of the diverted 1R45 15:46 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street Chiltern Railways service, as it approaches Tackley on 4 April 2021, led by 168005. Because of engineering works between Bicester and Banbury, Chiltern's units were having to reverse at Oxford.

The greens of summer are starting to give way to the yellows and reds of autumn, as 168326 & 168325 accelerate away from Kings Sutton on 6 October 2021 with the 1G39 14:37 Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill Chiltern Railways service.

168327 & 168321 round the curve from Gavray Junction on 9 April 2017 with the 1Y26 12:11 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The town of Bicester dominates the background, and at the rate they are throwing up houses, will probably soon occupy the filed on the left as well!

168327 and a pair of unidentified classmates pass Hatton North Junction on 27 August 2017 with the 1H37 13:55 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Even in midsummer this location is now plagued by shadows from the trees on the left.

One third of Chiltern Railway's fleet of two car Class 168/3s, all on one train. 168327, 168322 & 168326 approach Hatton North Junction in superb evening light on 19 April 2018 with the 1R48 16:47 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street service. Already having a substantial number of two car Class 165s, and a few two car Class 172s, I'm sure Chiltern would have preferred some longer trains when they acquired the nine Class 170 that became their Class 168/3s in 2015. Consequently they often get multipled up, like this.

168327, 172103 & 172102 pass through Islip station on 7 May 2018 with the 1T47 16:31 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. Note the difference in liveries. All of Chiltern's Class 168s carry the newer silver livery, whilst all the Class 172s still retain the largely white colour scheme.

168327 & 168324 pass Charlton-on-Otmoor on 1 September 2019 with the 1Y04 08:10 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Luckily the lineside bushes do not seem to be growing very fast here, and four years after the line was completely rebuilt, there is still nothing to shade the line for this early morning picture.

An eight car Class 168 combination approaches Banbury on 2 June 2020 with the 1H66 16:55 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. 168327, 168323 & 168106 are pictured passing the rail connected stone terminal.

With the houses of Tackley visible in the background, 168327 & 168003 traverse the Cherwell Valley Line on 4 April 2021 with the diverted 1H56 17:11 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. After a day of unbroken sunshine, just before this train was due the sun disappeared into some high cloud, but amazingly just as the train appeared in the distance, the weak evening sun reappeared again!

168327 passes Langley Green on 24 July 2022 with the 2L32 12:36 Stratford-upon-Avon to Leamington Spa Chiltern Railways service. With trees so close to the line on both sides, this clearly isn't a great location on a sunny day. Luckily no such problems on this occasion!

168327 & 168112 approach Kings Sutton on 14 April 2024 with the 1H45 12:37 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. After a sunny start to the day, clouds were now building up, and this was one of the last really sunny spells.

Consecutively numbered 168328 & 168329 pass Haddenham on 20 January 2017 with the 1Y32 11:10 Oxford to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. They have just called at Haddenham & Thame Parkway station, which is just beyond the bridge in the background.

168328 & 168322 approach Banbury on 2 April 2017 with the 1H53 16:55 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The day had started sunny, but it had already become completely cloudy by 09:00. Now, in the evening, the clouds were starting to melt away again.

168328 catches the last of the evening light, as it approaches Kings Sutton on 22 April 2017 with the 1H61 18:12 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Photo taken from a public footpath crossing.

168328 & 168326 pass North Oxford Golf Course (behind the trees) with the 1T45 16:05 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service on 27 May 2017. This excellent new vantage point has been created by the installation of a footbridge on the recently upgraded Bicester to Oxford line. I never visited the location when it was a sleepy single track branch line, as there was no footbridge, and the line was hemmed in by trees and tall bushes. Oxford Road Junction was formerly situated where the line disappears from view, and the trees on the left mark the course of the former LMS loop line to Yarnton Junction, on the GWR Oxford to Worcester Line. This line was closed in 1965.

An eight coach train, made up of a pair of two car Class 170/3s (ex Class 170) and a four car Class 168/0, pictured at Kings Sutton on 11 June 2018. 168328, 168325 & 168002 work the 1G52 17:46 Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill Chiltern Railways service.

168328 & 168323 approach Banbury on 24 March 2019 with the 1H41 14:12 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The wide track formation here, along with the lack of tall structures on the adjacent stone depot site ensures that nothing shades the line until very late in the day.

Four Chiltern Railways DMUs working in multiple on 27 June 2019. 168328, 168111, 168325 & 168323 pass Charlton-on-Otmoor in slightly weak early morning sunshine with the 1Y10 06:43 Oxford to Marylebone service.

Because of extensive engineering works between Banbury and Bicester, Chiltern Railways trains were diverted over the Easter 2021 weekend, running from Banbury to Oxford, and then to Bicester after a reversal. 168328 & 168003 are pictured passing Thrupp on 2 April 2021 with the diverted 1H51 14:06 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone service. The isolated church at Hampton Gay can be seen in the distance.

168328 brings up the rear of the diverted 1R17 08:46 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor street Chiltern Railways service at Tackley on 4 April 2021. 168001 is the leading unit. A stepladder gives just enough height here, when leant against the railway's boundary fence.

168328 & 168001 disturb the fishermen's peace, as they pass through Heyford station on 4 April 2021 with the diverted 1H29 12:11 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. This train was travelling relatively slowly, as it was closely following the preceding 1O14 10:27 Manchester Piccadilly to Southampton Central CrossCountry Voyager, which had been cautioned, after the northbound 1M42 12:15 Reading to Manchester Piccadilly Voyager had hit a deer between Tackley and Heyford. I did wonder why that train made an unscheduled stop here!

Sunrise at Oddington on 20 April 2016. 168329 is bathed in a golden glow as it works the 2T01 06:05 Bicester Village to Oxford Parkway Chiltern Railways service. This is on the recently upgraded and doubled former LMS Bicester to Oxford line, which explains the lack of lineside vegetation and the new lineside fences. Note how the further of the two fences in the background follows the contours of the medieval ridge and furrow field system, which is presumably associated with the nearby Oddington Grange.

168329 passes Oddington on 20 April 2016 with the 1Y07 06:31 Oxford Parkway to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Extremely low angle early morning light, with the shadow of the new road bridge still making its presence felt in the foreground.

I wonder how long this view will remain clear of lineside vegetation? 168329, 168324 & 168321 pass Water Eaton on 7 May 2018 with the 1T52 17:50 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. Northfield Farm is partly hidden in the trees in the background.

The highest and lowest numbered Class 168s approach High Wycombe station on 27 August 2017. 168329 & 168001 are working the 1H17 09:38 Stratford-upon-Avon to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The high brick retaining wall is a distinctive feature of High Wycombe, but unfortunately there is now a 'wall' of trees on the other side of the line, which makes photography difficult, even in mid summer.

Possibly the first visit of a Class 168 to the Cotswold Line? Chiltern Railways' recently converted hybrid battery/diesel 168329 passes Chilson on 20 June 2022 with the 5Q68 10:27 Aylesbury DMU Depot to Long Marston ECS. The unit was to be used on Honeybourne to Long Marston shuttles during the Rail Live event, although in the event the RMT rail strikes meant that it would only work on one day. This was running over 20 minutes late, due to the extreme late running of the previous passenger train.

168329 approaches Long Marston on 22 June 2022 with the 09:52 shuttle service from Honeybourne, in connection with the Rail Live event. Chiltern Railways' hybrid unit was initially meant to operate on both days of the show, but due to the RMT national rail strike, it only ran on the Tuesday.

168329 leaves Long Marston on 22 June 2022 with the 10:15 shuttle service to Honeybourne, in connection with the Rail Live event. The straight section of track in the background that the unit has just traversed is subject to a 5mph speed limit, and judging by the length of time it took to traverse that section, the driver definitely wasn't exceeding the very low limit!

168329 passes Broad Marston on 22 June 2022 with the 10:52 Honeybourne to Long Marston Rail Live shuttle service. The horizontal beam next to the front wheel is the tripcock equipment used for operation on tracks shared with London Underground.

168329 passes Broad Marston on 22 June 2022 with the 11:15 Long Marston to Honeybourne Rail Live shuttle service. After many years of the Long Marston freight only branch having poor quality track, with decaying wooden sleepers, the line now boasts mainline standard deep ballasted continuous welded rails.

168329 passes Broad Marston on 22 June 2022 with the 12:15 Long Marston to Honeybourne Rail Live shuttle service. There are very few decent photographic locations on the short Long Marston branch, but this farm occupation crossing is one of the better ones.

Chiltern Railways' hybrid 168329 leaves the specially built platform at Honeybourne on 22 June 2022 with the 13:52 shuttle service to the Rail Live event at Long Marston. The positioning of the platform directly on top of a section of track looks a bit odd, but the line is disused, and is now disconnected from the other lines at both ends.

168329 arrives at Honeybourne on 22 June 2022 with the 14:10 shuttle service from the Rail Live event at Long Marston. The various bushes between the Long Marston line and the main Cotswold Line now mean that a more head on viewpoint is required for an unobstructed view.

168329 arrives at Honeybourne on 22 June 2022 with the 15:10 shuttle service from the Rail Live event at Long Marston. Despite the very unusual nature of this working, and the good weather, there were very few photographers around. Of course if any class of locomotive had been involved, this would have been totally different! At least there was one other photographer here.

168329 passes through Kingham station at high speed on 24 June 2022 with the 5Q68 12:30 Long Marston to Aylesbury DMU Depot ECS. As far as I know, this is only the second time that a Chiltern Railways Class 168 has traversed the Cotswold Line, the first being when this unit travelled in the opposite direction four days earlier! The battery/diesel hybrid unit was one of the exhibits at the Long Marston Rail Live event, and on the day when the RMT were not on strike, was used as a Honeybourne to Long Marston shuttle, to connect with mainline trains. As a record of this very unusual working, I wanted somewhere identifiable, and the GWR style running in board on the left certainly provides positive identification!