D8001 & Class 08 13018 approach Chinnor on 19 May 1996 with a train from Thame Junction, during the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway's Diesel Gala. This line runs along the base of the Chiltern Hills, the wooded slopes of which can be seen on the right. Although the lowest numbered Class 20 under TOPS, this was in fact the second locomotive to enter traffic. The first, D8000, became 20050 upon renumbering.

D8001 joins forces with Class 17 D8568 during the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway's Diesel Gala on 19 May 1996. An ironic pairing, as the Clayton Class 17 was introduction to solve the problem of the Class 20's single cab design. Unfortunately, whilst the visibility from the cab of a Class 17 was excellent, the loco's reliability certainly wasn't! Consequently, another batch of the ultra reliable Class 20s had to be built to replace the replacements! They are pictured approaching Horsenden Lane, rounding the curve from Thame Junction, the present northern terminus of the line, situated just out of sight behind the bushes to the right. The train has just run round there, and is now heading back to Chinnor. 

D8001 is pictured at work with an overhead wiring train on the partially completed Channel Tunnel Rail Link at Calehill Heath (near Charing) on 19 July 2002. There is something ironic about such a vintage locomotive being used on the most prestigious railway construction project in the country. Various privately owned Class 20s were employed on these trains, with the more prosaic Class 66s being used for the heavier ballast and permanent way workings.

8001 did not take part in the Epping Ongar Railway's Diesel Gala on 24 September 2017, but spent the day parked in front of the shed at North Weald. The St George's flag and aerial in the background are part of the Harlow & District Amateur Radio Society's rally which was taking place in the adjacent field. It didn't seem to have anything like the number of visitors as the railway!

20005 & 20048 slowly approach the sharp curve at Firsby on 17 September 1988 with the 1E48 10:15 Skegness to Sheffield service. On this occasion it was lucky that it was a dull day, as otherwise this would have been a hopeless viewpoint. looking straight into the sun!

20006 & 20117 approach Cosford on 31 May 1989 with MGR empties from Ironbridge Power Station. I regret not visiting this location more often in the 1980s, with its Class 20s and semaphore signals, neither of which can be seen here today, although there is a Hawker Hunter just a few yards from the bridge, at the entrance to the RAF Museum!

20007 & 20142 Sir John Betjeman pass through Wendover station on 25 August 2019 with the UK Railtours 1Z34 12:25 Quainton Road to Rickmansworth 'Metroland & Quainton' railtour. This Bank Holiday weekend saw the hottest ever recorded August temperature, so the interior of the non air-conditioned 4-TC set was probably not very comfortable!

20007 & 20142 Sir John Betjeman pass Wendover on 25 August 2019 with the UK Railtours 1Z36 16:05 Quainton Road to Marylebone 'Metroland & Quainton' railtour. D6515 Lt Jenny Lewis RN is bringing up the rear. The stock is London Underground 4-TC set 8028.

20007 & 20142 Sir John Betjeman bring up the rear of the UK Railtours 1Z33 10:00 Marylebone to Quainton Road 'Metroland & Quainton' railtour, as it passes the site of Waddesdon Manor station on 26 August 2019, led by D6515 Lt Jenny Lewis RN. The train's destination can just be seen in the distance.

20007 & 20142 Sir John Betjeman pass the site of Waddesdon Manor station on 26 August 2019 with the UK Railtours 1Z34 12:25 Quainton Road to Rickmansworth 'Metroland & Quainton' railtour. The stock is London Underground 4-TC set 8028, and D6515 Lt Jenny Lewis RN is bringing up the rear.

20007 & 20142 Sir John Betjeman pass Bredon on 2 July 2022 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z40 06:40 Burton-on-Trent to Gloucester 'The Chopper Topper Returns' railtour. 20189 & 20205 are bringing up the rear. As I was driving to this spot, it looked like there might be a chance of a few sunny spells, which would have meant looking for a different location. However, as I got nearer it became completely cloudy, and just before the train appeared, the Met Office's predicted rain started to fall!

Very unusual track for a passenger train! 20007 & 20142 Sir John Betjeman bring up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z41 09:02 Gloucester to Shrewsbury 'The Chopper Topper Returns' railtour, as it traverses Eckington Up Goods Loop on 2 July 2022. 20189 & 20205 are almost obscured by the rain at the front of the train.

20007 & 20142 Sir John Betjeman slowly pull out of Ashchurch Down Goods Loop, and pass through Ashchurch station, with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z42 16:48 Shrewsbury to Gloucester Horton Road Junction 'The Chopper Topper Returns' railtour on 2 July 2022. 20189 & 20205 are on the rear of the train. This was running 19 minutes late, and the sun was nearly setting.

20007 & 20205 pass Uffington on 14 September 2024 with the 5V82 14:36 Wembley to Bristol Barton Hill, taking Chiltern Railways DVT 82304 for repairs. Due to bad planning I had missed the Bristol to Wembley working earlier in the day, but wasn't go to miss this, despite the rather head on lighting. I chose this location, as a three vehicle train would fit nicely in the gap under the gantry.

The 5M82 09:14 Bristol Barton Hill to Wembley stock move passes Islip in a light rain shower on 21 September 2024, with Chiltern Railways DVT 82304 sandwiched between 20007 & 20205. I had chosen this location at the end of Islip station's up platform, so that I could swing round and get a picture of 20205 bringing up the rear. Unfortunately the 1T21 10:07 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways DMU was unusually running five minutes late, and as I turned round it was rushing through the station, completely blocking the view. I suppose I am lucky that I got this picture, as the unit must have been right by my side, and within a second of blocking out this picture as well!

The 5V82 14:36 Wembley to Bristol Barton Hill stock move approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 28 September 2024 with 20007 leading, and 20205 bringing up the rear. Sandwiched between the two locos is Chiltern Railways DVT 82309, en-route for some modification work.

20010 & 20132 pass Milford Junction on 12 May 1990 with the Class 20 Locomotive Society 1Z21 13:15 Scarborough to Sheffield 'Vladivostok Avoider' railtour. There have been some very odd railtour names over the years, with some quite ingenuous wordplay. However, this is probably one of the quirkiest, although there's no denying that it certainly did avoid Vladivostok!

20010 & 20132 pass Milford Junction for the second time in less than an hour on 12 May 1990, as they head north with the Class 20 Locomotive Society 1Z21 13:15 Scarborough to Sheffield 'Vladivostok Avoider' railtour. It's a good job that they weren't moving too quickly, as the lightning was abysmal, and I was using Fujichrome 50!

20010 & 20132 pass Ulleskelf on 12 May 1990 with the Class 20 Locomotive Society 1Z21 13:15 Scarborough to Sheffield 'Vladivostok Avoider' railtour. Unfortunately this was a miserably dull day, so not the ideal weather for using Fujichrome RFP film, rated at only ISO 50!

20010 & 20082 pass Barton-under-Needwood on 26 June 1991 with a southbound loaded MGR. This is the site of Barton & Walton station (closed in 1958), the goods shed being the only thing to survive in the 1990s. A huge industrial estate and lineside tree growth have now ruined this view, although there is now a new footbridge in the background of this view, which is a quieter vantage point for photography compared to this very busy roadbridge.

They don't do railtours like this any more! Complete with wacky headboard, 20016 & 20081 shatter the peace of the Cotswold Line, as they pass through Kingham station on 27 April 1991 with the Class 20 Society 1Z40 15:47 Bristol Temple Meads to Derby 'Last Great Moose Hunt' railtour. This was the return working of that morning's Sheffield to Bristol 'Bristol or Bust' tour. Apparently the entertainment on board included a brass band! This was long before my Honda days, and even before I had a BMW. My Opel Manta can just be seen in what was then Kingham's tiny car park.

20020 & 20106 approach Scropton on 12 August 1989 with the 16:11 Derby to Crewe service. For a few weeks in 1989 pairs of 20s were used on this service due to a shortage of Class 150 units. As the stock was Mk 1 coaches without any air conditioning, and it was summer therefore in theory no heating was required, Class 20s were ideally suited for these trains, given that at the time there were some surplus locos, due to their replacement on various freight duties by Type 5 power.

20020 passes through Kinneil station on 3 September 2000 with the 2T43 11:55 Birkhill to Bo'ness service during the Scottish Railway Preservation Society's Diesel Gala. The Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway is situated on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth. Kinneil station served as the line's western terminus between 1986 and 1988.

20020 arrives at Bo'ness on 3 September 2000 with the 2T48 16:05 service from Birkhill, during the Scottish Railway Preservation Society's Diesel Gala. The silted up dock on the right has since been dredged. Longannet Power Station can be seen in the distance, across the River Forth.

20021 & 20113 pass Lower Wick on 12 July 1987 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z36 07:00 Leicester to Carmarthen 'Welsh Rambler' railtour. The train has just passed underneath the M5 motorway. This was an extremely dull day, which explains the grainy Kodachrome 200 image, and also why I didn't bother to follow it to Wales for some more interesting pictures!

20021 & 20085 come off the Ironbridge branch and rejoin the mainline at Madeley Junction on 15 August 1988 with another rake of empty HAA coal hoppers heading back to Silverdale Colliery from Ironbridge Power Station. Although once a common sight, I have relatively few pictures of Class 20s working MGR coal trains, as they were principally concentrated in the Midlands and Scotland and only very rarely ventured as far south as my local power station at Didcot, and even that was before I started taking pictures.

20022 pulls out of Severn Tunnel Junction station on 30 June 1985 with the F&W Railtours 1Z60 'Severncider 2' railtour. This had just brought the eleven coach train single handed from Tytherington, but had now acquired 20115 on the rear of the train, which would work the next leg of the tour to Gloucester Docks.

20022 & 20126 approach Banbury in failing light on 11 July 1987 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z26 12:36 Deepcar to Paddington 'Stilton & Branston Ploughman' railtour. The tour had travelled up to Yorkshire via the East Coast Mainline, hauled by the specially repainted Tinsley green pair (20064 & 20030).

20023, the first of the class in Railfreight grey livery, is pictured with similarly liveried 20010, returning to Derby on 1 July 1985 with the Derby Works test train. The location, which is certainly not the best photographic vantage point, is Ratcliffe-on-Soar.

20025 & 20044 pass Ryecroft Junction on 15 August 1988 with the 6E52 08:26 Wolverhampton to Scunthorpe steel empties. This picture couldn't be replicated today, and I don't just mean because Class 20s on steel trains have long been a thing of the past. All you would see here now is a tunnel of trees, whereas in the 1980s the admittedly not too picturesque blocks of flats in Walsall formed the skyline, complete with the tower of St Peter's church on the right, with the brick tower and spire of the now demolished Methodist church just next to it.

With the mass withdrawals of Class 20s in the early 1990s, storage space became a problem at Toton, so lines of condemned locos started to accumulate at nearby Stanton Gate. Heavily vandalised 20026 stands between 20045 and 20129 in the scrap line on 7 March 1991. This unusual view, with most of the bodyside doors missing, does give an interesting view of the engine and generator. 20026 was withdrawn in October 1990, and after briefly being stored at several locations, was cut up within the year.

20029 & 20048 head north at Wychnor Junction on 23 October 1989 with a rake of empty ballast hoppers. Both locos are wearing the yellow flash logo above the cabside numbers, indicated they are dedicated engineer's machines.

20031 & 20118 head north pass Ratcliffe-on-Soar on 1 July 1985 with a short rake of ballast hoppers. Both these locos have survived. 20031 is one of the many Class 20s that have found a new lease of life on a preserved railway, in this case the Keighley & Worth Valley. 20118 however is still to be seen on the national network, although 30 years after this picture was taken, its use is a bit more specialised, principally underground stock movements.

20031 & 20069 pass Wetmore Sidings on 11 August 1990 with the Midland Railtours 1Z09 09:30 Birmingham New Street to Sheffield 'Yorkshire Explorer' railtour. Unfortunately, like several railtours in the early 1990s, this was blighted from a photographic point of view by the use of the bizarrely painted Pilkington set of Mk1 coaches.

One of the highlights of the East Lancashire Railway's 1994 Diesel Gala was the appearance of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway's D8031, freshly painted in green. Unfortunately the dull light makes it look almost the same colour as Waterman Railways black liveried D8188, which was also visiting the line. It is seen here heading north at Burrs on 10 June.

D8031 heads south from Haworth on 1 August 1998, during the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. This is the valley of the Bridgehouse Beck, with the houses along the A6033 Hebden Road visible on the horizon.

20032 & 20039 race through Havenhouse station with the 1E07 07:10 Sheffield to Skegness service on 14 June 1986. Class 20s were used regularly on these Summer Saturday trains to the coast from the mid 1970s until 1993. It wasn't just the Class 20s either, there were numerous other loco hauled trains to the east coast resort during the summer peak, as well as multi unit DMU lash-ups. Also, in the mid 1980s, despite the interesting traction on offer to places like Skegness, there were few other photographers about to record the scene. At that time the line between Sleaford and Skegness boasted much steam age infrastructure, including several Great Northern Railway somersault signals, as seen here.

20035 (CFD 2001) arrived at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway in April 2016 as a source of spares for the line's resident D8137. In terrible external condition, but still wearing the orange livery of former French owners, Compagnie de Chemins de Fer Départementaux, it is pictured in Toddington Yard on 18 June 2016, in the company of Class 73 E6036 & Class 26 D5343.

20041 & 20082 are hardly struggling as they pass Appleford Signal Box (since demolished) with the 6V19 06:32 Bescot to Didcot Speedlink on 12 September 1985. This train often only traveled as far as Oxford, where the bulk of the traffic ended up. However, sometimes military stores were conveyed, continuing on to Didcot, often with a featherweight load such as this single VEA van. Class 20s were surprisingly common on this working and by 1985 very nearly the only chance of seeing the type in the Oxford area.

A group of track workers take a short break to watch 20045 & 20142 move slowly out of Toton Yard on 16 October 1986 with a rake of MGR empties. A couple of other Class 20s can be seen in this view, which now looks quite historic, especially with the lines of withdrawn vacuum braked hoppers stored in the distance.

D8048 & D8098 recreate a 1960s scene at Woodthorpe on 24 September 2001, as they take part in an East Midlands Railway Photographic Society photo charter. This classic Great Central Railway viewpoint no longer exists, as housing estates now occupy both fields.

The weather during the East Midlands Railway Photographic Society's photo charter on the Great Central Railway on 24 September 2001 was variable, but the rain did result in this weak rainbow near Kinchley Lane. D8048 & D8098 pose next to the farm occupation bridge.

During a lull in proceedings on 24 September 2001, the East Midlands Railway Photographic Society's photo charter rests underneath the road bridge at the Great Central Railway's Loughborough Central station. D8048 & D8098 were spending the day working up and down the line with a rake of 16 ton mineral wagons.

After a long wait, finally the sun comes out just to the south of Loughborough Central station on 24 September 2001, during the East Midlands Railway Photographic Society's photo charter with D8048 & D8098. The dramatic lighting and the semaphore signals make an excellent picture.

There was a lot of hanging around at Kinchley Lane, on the Great Central Railway, waiting for the sun to come out on 24 September 2001, during the East Midlands Railway Photographic Society's photo charter. However, when it did, it resulted in this superb lighting, which really shows off D8048 & D8098, and their rake of 16 ton mineral wagons.

D8048 & D8098, pictured at Kinchley Lane, on the Great Central Railway, during the East Midlands Railway Photographic Society's 24 September 2001 photo charter. The 16 ton mineral wagons recreate a typical 1960s coal train, although they definitely wouldn't have been this clean in everyday service!

D8048 & D8098 stand underneath an incomplete semaphore signal at Swithand Sidings on 24 September 2001, during an East Midlands Railway Photographic Society's photo charter on the Great Central Railway.

One of the country's oldest locomotives at work on the construction of the country's newest railway in 2002! 80048 is pictured at Calehill Heath (near Charing) on 19 July 2002 with a works train on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (HS1). The bridge in the background carries the Charing to Pluckley road over the new line, which can been disappearing down a severe gradient into the distance.

20048 needs all of its 1,000hp as it tackles the gradient at Heap Bridge on 3 July 2011 with the 2J72 12:46 Rawtenstall to Heywood service, during the East Lancashire Railway's Diesel Gala. Although Class 20s wouldn't have got to haul Mk2 coaches very often, this is nevertheless a superb recreation of the rail blue era, fortuitously helped by the rearmost two maroon coaches being hidden by the bushes!

20048 rolls down the gradient at Heap Bridge on 3 July 2011 with the 2J81 13:55 Heywood to Rawtenstall service, during the East Lancashire Railway's Diesel Gala. Strictly speaking the two white discs being displayed here indicate a 1xxx working rather than a 2xxx (although after 1977 with the general abandonment of headcodes, this would have been used). It should really be displaying just the upper white disc for this particular working.

The Bewdley North signalman walks back to his box with the token from the 15:05 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster service on 25 September 2022. 20048 was deputising for the usual steam locomotive, as the Severn Valley Railway had imposed a steam ban due to recent lineside fires.

20048 stands in the centre road of Highley station on 19 May 2024, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. The uninterrupted blue sky seen here was forecast to last all day, which almost happened, but not without a few anxious moments!

As well as trains running the full length of the line, there were a number of local shuttles in operation during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala on 19 May 2024. 20048 is pictured here setting off from Highley with the 14:52 Highley to Bewdley service.

20048 approaches Highley during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala on 19 May 2024 with the 15:35 Bewdley to Highley service. After half an hour's wait in the station, it would continue north as the 16:35 Highley to Bridgnorth.

D8000 was numbered 20050 when TOPS was introduced in the 1970s, as it couldn't possibly have been numbered 20000! In preservation it reverted to is original number. It seen here heading up an impressive array of classic traction at Bury Bolton Street station on 11 July 1998, during the East Lancashire Railway's Diesel Gala. The cavalcade comprises: 26004, 27001, D5500, 31162 & D345. D8000 was the first diesel locomotive delivered under the 1955 BR Modernisation Plan, entering service in June 1957. It cost the princely sum of £58,143!

20057 & 20154 leave Bilsthorpe Colliery on 28 June 1992 with the Worksop Open Day Committee 1Z29 'Worksop Whistler' railtour. Bilsthorpe Colliery closed in 1997, after 70 years production. All the buildings in this view, along with the huge coal stockpile, have now been obliterated.

The huge concrete rapid loading bunkers of Ollerton Colliery dominate this view of 20057 & 20154, as they work the Worksop Open Day Committee 1Z29 'Worksop Whistler' railtour on 28 June 1992. Class 20s, coal mines and semaphore signals - all things that have rapidly declined since this picture was taken.

20057 & 20154 bring up the rear of the Worksop Open Day Committee 1Z29 'Worksop Whistler' railtour at Walesby on 28 June 1992. This line (now closed) opened as recently as 1961, in order to serve the then newly constructed Bevercotes Colliery.

20057 & 20154 bring up the rear of the Worksop Open Day Committee 1Z29 'Worksop Whistler' railtour at Creswell on 28 June 1992. The rusty disused line to the former Creswell Colliery is on the right, with the houses of Welbeck Street behind.

The shadows are lengthening at Hasland on the evening of 28 June 1992, as 20057 & 20154 head south with the Worksop Open Day Committee 1Z29 'Worksop Whistler' railtour. This tour, which had started from Derby at 08:30, had visited various East Midlands Collieries, and was here heading back to Derby. As I remember, the combination of a pair of Class 20s on eleven well filled coaches certainly made for a spectacular sound. The unmistakable landmark of Chesterfield's twisted church spire can be seen in the background.

A depressing collection of withdrawn Class 20s at Sandiacre on 27 August 1992. On the right 20058 leads a line up which comprises: 20148, 20170, 20197, 20010, 20141, 20028 & 20072. The shorter line up the left consists of: 20019, 20140, 20131 & 20196. All 12 locos have now been scrapped, although 20131 had a reprieve, after being converted into 20306 in 1998. Stapleford & Sandiacre Signal Box in the background has also been demolished.

The photographers get their pictures, as 20059 & 20168 cross Arnside Viaduct on 25 April 1992 with the 2N42 15:32 Barrow-in-Furness to Preston, one of a number of services upgraded from DMU to loco hauled workings for the day by Regional Railways. Unfortunately by choosing this viewpoint there was no alternative but to go for a rather unconventional viewpoint for the 2C45 14:48 Manchester Victoria to Barrow-in-Furness, which would appear from the opposite direction barely five minutes later.

A couple of Severn Valley Railway volunteers take a short break in order to watch D8059 depart from Kidderminster station on 4 October 2012, with the 09:25 service to Bridgnorth. As often happens at Diesel Galas, this first train of the day was the only one that ran to time. 33108, which can be seen in the background disgraced itself, and had to be removed from its train, causing delays for the rest of the day.

D8059 approaches Foley Park Tunnel on 4 October 2012 with the 11:15 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. Despite the fact that in the late 1950s Class 20s wouldn't have operated passenger trains, at least the loco and coach liveries are more or less age matched.

D8059 & D8188 reach the top of the 1 in 100 Eardington Bank, as they work the 11:23 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth service on 19 May 2016, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. Any earlier sunshine had disappeared by midday, so this view looking due south was made a lot easier.

Passing evidence of a recent weedkiller application, D8059 approaches Horsenden Lane on 8 July 2018 with the 12:15 service from Chinnor. The Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway would seem an unlikely location for a third rail EMU, but the stock is in fact Class 411/9 3-CEP 1198.

D8059 hauls EMU Class 411/9 3-CEP 1198 away from Horsenden Lane on 8 July 2018, heading back to Chinnor with a steam substitute working. It is pictured between the Horsenden Lane level crossing, and the crossing on the Pitch Green to Saunderton bridleway. Because of the prolonged heatwave, the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway had taken the decision to suspend steam services because of the fire risk. This picture was taken at exactly 13:00, the worst possible time for photography in high summer. However, despite the very overhead lighting, I wasn't going to miss a picture of a Class 20 running bonnet first hauling a vintage EMU!

20061 & 20093 pilot 47444 University of Nottingham on the 1E11 12:42 Carlisle to Leeds service on 25 November 1989, seen here crossing Ribblehead Viaduct. The addition of the Class 20s was purely to attract the haulage enthusiasts (and of course photographers!). It was certainly a worthwhile trip to the S&C on this occasion, not only for the interesting diesel traction in superb light, but also the bonus of 'Black Five' 5407 coming from the other direction on a railtour.

20063 & 20032 approach the site of Finedon station on 21 May 1989 with a lengthy train of spoil wagons from a Sunday engineering possession. There were formerly sidings on the large open area on the left, serving the nearby Finedon Iron Works.

20063 & 20071 pass Winwick on 12 March 1990 with MGR empties from Fiddlers Ferry Power Station to Bickershaw Colliery. I would photograph this train later in the day, as it passed underneath the bunker at Bickershaw, where it would receive another load of the black stuff.

One of the all time classic diesel railtours - the Class 20 Locomotive Society's 'Three To The Sea' tour of 2 May 1987. 20064 River Sheaf, 20030 River Rother & 20118 River Don are deep in third rail territory here, as they pass through Balcombe station with the 1Z26 09:24 Sheffield to Brighton special, undoubtedly the most famous Class 20 railtour of all time. 20064 & 20030 had only recently been repainted at Tinsley into nearly authentic original green livery.

20064 River Sheaf, 20030 River Rother & 20118 River Don climb away from Brighton and pass Patcham on 2 May 1987 with the 1Z26 16:28 Brighton to Sheffield 'Three To The Sea' railtour. They have just emerged from Patcham Tunnel (behind the house) and are heading up the valley towards Clayton Tunnel. This location no longer exists, as the A27 Brighton bypass now crosses the area of grass in the foreground on a high embankment. The road passes over the line approximately where the locomotives are, whilst just behind where I am stranding the line now runs through a short cut and cover tunnel, over which a slip road onto the A23 passes at an angle.

Although far from common, Class 20s did make occasional appearances at Oxford in the mid 1980s, usually on the morning Speedlink trip working from Bescot. However, on 22 October 1985, 20065 & 20072 are pictured passing Hinksey Yard with a train of gravel, presumably (in view of the traction) from the Midlands. Ironically the wagons in the foreground are what any 20s in the area would usually have dealt with, being MoD containers from Bicester. Note the Royal Corps of Transport branding.

With the Burton upon Trent's Bass Tower and the chimney of the Victorian Clay Mills Pumping Station visible on the left, 20065 passes Clay Mills (Hargate) on 15 May 1987 with 8D15 08:42 Bescot to Toton Old Bank departmental working. The brake van would be needed for the return working of a rake of spoil wagons. A loco and brake van do normally make for an interesting picture, but a single Class 20 in the sun was definitely worth a picture. Also, I particularly like the balanced composition formed by the line of concrete pipe supports in the field.

This is one of the few occasions on which I saw a single Class 20 working bonnet first in BR days. 20065 passes Clay Mills (Hargate) on 15 May 1987 with 8G15 12:56 Toton Old Bank to Bescot departmental. A couple of hours earlier it had heading north with just the brake van, working the 8D15 08:42 Bescot to Toton.

20066 & 20138 pass Claydon on 2 May 1993 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z21 Gloucester to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Severn Slaps' railtour. This was one of a series of mini excursions run in connection with the Worcester Rail Day. The coaching stock is two of Tyseley's four car DMU sets, T412 (53116, 59446, 59591 & 51860) & T404 (53919, 59604, 59735 & 51853).

20066 & 20138 pass through a typical Herefordshire landscape of hop gardens and orchards near Shucknall on 2 May 1993 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z21 12:13 Worcester Shrub Hill to Hereford 'Severn Slaps' railtour. This was one of a series of mini excursions run in connection with the Worcester Rail Day. Note the interesting choice of coaching stock - two of Tyseley's four car DMU sets, T412 (53116, 59446, 59591 & 51860) & T404 (53919, 59604, 59735 & 51853). A mixture of Class 115, 116 & 127 vehicles.

20069 approaches Dereham on 14 December 1997 with a 'Santa Special' from Yaxham. The loco had arrived at the Mid Norfolk Railway in 1992, but repainting was a slow process. In fact it wore this red oxide and grey undercoat 'livery' for over a year, before finally getting another coat of BR blue.

Although still in grey primer, with red oxide ends, 20069 was employed on 'Santa Special' duties on the Mid Norfolk Railway on 14 December 1997. This odd liveried apparition is pictured pulling into Yaxham with a rake of ex Network SouthEast Mk2s. Although the station building and goods shed both survive, only the down platform is still rail connected.

20071 & 20063 approach journey's end, as they pass Bickershaw village on 12 March 1990 with MGR empties from Fiddlers Ferry Power Station. Just a few hundred yards further on they will arrive at Bickershaw Colliery, where the train will be reloaded. Although no run round facilities existed at this time, necessitating two locos on the rear (20197 & 20082), there clearly was at one time, as the train is just approaching a double track section. There is now no trace of the railway at this location.

Having just arrived with a train of MGR empties from Fiddlers Ferry Power Station, 20071 & 20063 pass underneath the loading bunker at Bickershaw Colliery on 12 March 1990. After drawing the train right though, the rear locos (20197 & 20082) would then slowly move forward, and after loading the train would later depart for Fiddlers Ferry. Bickershaw Colliery closed in 1992, and now all traces off the railway and colliery have disappeared from this site.

20075 & 20170 approach Berkeley Road on 4 August 1991 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z63 16:00 Sharpness to Gloucester railtour. This was one of a number of mini-tours run in connection with the Gloucester Rail Day.

20075 & 20131 pass Staveley on the Windermere Branch with one of the Pathfinder Tours 'Lancastrian Mini Excursion' on 23 May 1993. This was the 1Z46 08:30 Crewe to Preston (via Windermere). 37708 & 37801 can just be seen on the rear of the train, about to cross the level crossing. Note the discreet white backed logos visible on the Class 20 bodysides. These were proclaiming ownership by BRT, and prior to their repainting in the striking BRT white livery.

20075 & 20131 pass Saxondale with the 1E86 08:12 Leicester to Skegness service on a miserably dull 21 July 1993. This was the last year of regular Class 20 haulage to the east coast resort. Mixed rakes of coaches were common at this time, but here we have the odd combination of exactly half the train formed of Regional Railways Mk 2s, while the other half is made up of InterCity liveried Mk 1s. Note the remnants of the recently lifted track on the left, the last vestiges of this former four traction section, latterly used for test purposes including at one point a section of continuous paved track.

20075 & 20187 pass Madeley on 9 October 1993 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z44 12:57 Amlwch to York 'Anglesey Odyssey II' railtour. The highlight of this tour was obviously the Amlwch branch, but the train was now about to traverse another line that was living on borrowed time. Less than a mile from this point it would leave the mainline, and via a reversal, head for Silverdale Colliery.

20075 & 20187 are completely dwarfed by the loading bunker at Silverdale Colliery, as they return from the end of the line with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z44 12:57 Amlwch to York 'Anglesey Odyssey II' railtour on 9 October 1993. Although Silverdale station closed nearly three decades earlier, note that the station building is still standing in this view.

20075 Sir William Cooke & 20187 Sir Charles Wheatstone pass Holywell Junction on 27 August 1994 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z46 14:58 Trawsfynydd to York 'Trawsfynydd Trekker' railtour. Holywell Junction ceased to be a junction in 1954 with the closure of the mile long line to Holywell Town station. Holywell Junction station, which can be seen in the background, closed in 1966.

British Rail Telecommunications liveried 20075 Sir William Cooke & 20128 Guglielmo Marconi pass Prestatyn on 20 May 1995 with the 1T76 13:05 Crewe to Llandudno special, one of the North Wales Coast Motive Power Day specials, organised by the Crewe Rail Events Committee.

For a while during the mid 1980s Class 20s worked the heavy limestone trains in the Peak District, replacing Class 25s and 40s, but before the introduction of Class 37s. Indeed in 1986 a batch of Class 20s were renumbered into the 203xx series to denoted that they had been specially modified for these workings. Prior to this, on 19 June 1984, 20077 & 20172 are seen passing Chinley with the 6F42 13:11 Tunstead to Oakleigh ICI limestone.

20078 & 20151 pass Winwick on 12 March 1990 with a Bickershaw Colliery to Fiddlers Ferry Power Station MGR. Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, the loco's birthplace can be seen directly above 20078. Class 20s were a common sight on coal trains in this area for many years, but were in sharp decline by the time I got around to visiting the area. This is one of the few pictures I have of these locos on MGR duties, a type of train for which they were very well suited, and on which they were very popular with the crews.

While a small group of track workers attend to a point on the mainline, 20078 & 20151 pull out of the loop at Beeston on 11 September 1990 with a southbound coal train, formed principally of HAA MGR hoppers, but with four HBAs at the head of the train. Less than fifteen minutes earlier 20196 & 20105 had worked a similar train in the opposite direction.

20081 & 20016 approach Droitwich on 27 April 1991 with the Class 20 Society 1Z40 08:40 Sheffield to Bristol 'Bristol or Bust' railtour. I used to think that all the rusty machinery and general clutter on the right spoiled the picture, but that is nothing compared to the huge radio mast that now blocks the view! The 20s worked back in the afternoon over the Cotswold Line.

Either an interesting comparison between brand new and 1950s vintage diesel locomotive designs, or just very bad timing, depending on your point of view! 20081 & 20016 climb out of the Severn Tunnel on 27 April 1991 with the Class 20 Society 1Z40 08:40 Sheffield to Bristol 'Bristol or Bust' railtour, while 60010 waits its turn to pass through the tunnel with the 6B08 12:25 Langley to Waterston empty oil tanks.

20081 & 20016 pass Salwick No.2 Signal Box on 15 February 1992 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1T32 07:30 Euston to Morecambe 'Lune Ranger' railtour. It is pictured here in a welcome patch of sunshine, en-route to Poulton-le-Fylde and Burn Naze. 47489 can just be seen on the rear of the train.

20084 heads a line up of classic diesel traction at Bescot on 10 March 1984. On the extreme left is 45020. Just visible in the background is 47234, with 20185, along with an unidentified Class 20 and 31 in front of it. Coupled to 20084 is 20169, with an unidentified Class 47 behind. In the 1980s there was not the paranoid health & safety culture of today, and it was quite easy to wander round Bescot depot at will.

20087 doesn't appear to be in the best of health, as it passes Tutbury along with 20138 on 4 September 1991, heading for the North Wales coast with the 2D64 08:11 Derby to Llandudno Regional Railways service. Apologies for the very poor quality, but 08:30 on a dull September morning and Fujichrome 100 is not an ideal combination!

With the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant in the background, 20087 Saltley L.I.P., 20132 & 20187 pass Nethertown on 14 August 1993 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z44 05:48 Bristol Temple Meads to Carlisle 'Triple Chopper Tripper' railtour. This was in the days when I used to think nothing of travelling great distances in one day for just a couple of pictures of a railtour. In this case the round trip from Oxfordshire to Cumbria amounted to 563 miles!

20087 Saltley L.I.P., 20132 & 20187 pass Helwith Bridge on 14 August 1993 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z44 14:46 Carlisle to Bristol Temple Meads 'Triple Chopper Tripper' railtour. Neither of the two non-standard liveried leading locomotives include the BR double arrow logo. Note the change of gradient as the line crosses the farm occupation underbridge.

20087 Saltley L.I.P., 20132 & 20187 cross Saddleworth Viaduct on 14 August 1993 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z44 14:46 Carlisle to Bristol Temple Meads 'Triple Chopper Tripper' railtour. It had not been a very sunny day, and by the time this train was due it was getting quite dark. Not the best conditions for 35mm Fujichrome 100, but it was definitely worth recording this very unusual tour, especially at such an iconic location.

Only a single Class 20 received the Trainload Freight triple grey livery, and even then without any of the normal sector brandings. Unfortunately, I only ever saw 20088 once in this colour scheme, and that was in atrocious light. So here for the record is 20088 partnered with conventionally liveried 20194 slogging past a very gloomy Clay Mills (Hargate) on 17 May 1991 with northbound MGR empties. 20088 was withdrawn a few months later, but then had a second working life, as it was used in France during the construction of the Channel Tunnel.

20090 & 20120 slowly approach Madeley Junction on 6 May 1991 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z49 08:05 Paddington to Ironbridge Power Station 'Velvet Glove' railtour. 47813 can just be seen at the far end, under the shadow of the roadbridge. At the time Class 20s were rapidly being withdrawn, while Class 47/8s were ubiquitous, so its obvious where everyone's interest was centered!

20090 & 20132 pass Lowgill in awful weather on 8 August 1992 with the Victoria Travel 07:45 Manchester Victoria to Carlisle 'Settle & Carlisle Express No.1' railtour. This had been held in Grayrigg loop (just the other side of the M6 motorway bridge in the background), and consequently was moving quite slowly, which was fortunate, as I was using Fujichrome 50!

With a wave from the driver, 20090 & 20132 slow to 25mph for the severe curve at Firsby, as they work the 18:10 Skegness to Derby service on 21 August 1992. This was the penultimate year that these vintage locos were used on passenger trains to the bracing East Coast resort.

An interesting (and slightly overpowered!) DMU substitution pictured at Beeston on 11 September 1990. Problems with the introduction of Sprinter units in the early 1990s occasionally resulted in loco hauled substitutions, often with Class 47s, but on this occasion something much more unusual. 20095 & 20227 work the 09:16 Birmingham New Street to Lincoln service. The woman walking her dog obviously doesn't appreciate the rarity of the traction!

20096 & 20025 pass Standish Junction on 1 July 1990 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z43 Gloucester to Bristol Temple Meads railtour, one of a series of special trains using heritage traction run in connection with the Gloucester Rail Day. Over 30 different trains operated during the day, using two pairs of 20s, two pairs of 37s, 56034 & 58004.

20096 & 20075 approach Markham Colliery Junction on 1 September 1991 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z30 08:15 St Pancras to Bolsover Colliery 'Beast and Bicycle' railtour. Hidden beneath the bridge in the background are 37888 & 37705, which would return the tour from Bolsover.

20096 & 20905 leave the former Army depot at Long Marston on 17 December 2005 and head back to Gloucester, after arriving with the two former Virgin Cross Country HST power cars (43121 & 43158) and two Mk3 coaches which can be seen in the background. The state of the track in the depot must be giving cause for concern, as the locos took the line between the HST and the stored coaches (necessitating two more reversals) rather than using the extreme left hand track when running round. In addition to this there was a problem with the point on the exit from the yard, and the locos were shut down for a period until someone arrived with a point clip, the previous attempts at kicking the point over were deemed not to be sufficient!

I couldn't resist this going away shot of 20096 & 20107 on the 7X10 02:27 Amersham to Derby Litchurch Lane underground stock at Hatton on 9 July 2013. A pair of blue disc fitted Class 20s are always worth a picture. 20905 & 20901 were doing the honours at the front of the train.

Running 25 minutes early, 20096 & 20107 pass Kirby Bellars on 5 September 2014 with the 7X23 09:33 Derby Adtranz Litchurch Lane to Old Dalby, conveying London Underground S-stock. 20132 & 20118 were bringing up the rear.

Melton Junction can just be seen underneath the roadbridge in the background, with the line to Old Dalby diverging to the right. 20096 & 20107 bring up the rear of the 7X23 09:33 Derby Adtranz Litchurch Lane to Old Dalby London Underground S-stock move on 5 September 2014. Lead locomotives 20132 & 20118 are hidden underneath the bridge.

20096 & 20905 bring up the rear of the 7X10 02:16 Amersham to Derby Litchurch Lane London Underground S8 stock move at Banbury on 1 July 2016. 20314 & 20107 are the lead locomotives. Unfortunately at 05:56 in the morning the unexpected sunshine was not entirely welcome, as the long shadows still covered most of the train.

20096 Ian Goddard & 20107 pass Saxondale in a brief interlude between the showers on 27 May 2019 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z31 10:36 Chaddesden Sidings to Skegness 'Jolly Fisherman' railtour. This had worked up to the Derby area as the 1Z30 05:55 Swindon to Chaddesden Sidings, hauled by 66703 Doncaster PSB 1981-2002. Only a pair of blue Class 20s would tempt me to make a 200 mile round trip in such poor weather conditions, for just one picture!

With Bredon Hill in the background, D8096 (20096) & D8107 (20107) pass Fiddington on 26 October 2020 top'n'tailing Mk2 BFK coach 17159 with the 5Z20 07:55 Crewe to Bristol East Depot ECS. Unfortunately this corresponded with just about the worst lighting of the morning.

D8096 (20096) & D8107 (20107) Jocelyn Fielding 1940-2020 pass Yarnton on 10 November 2022 with the 5Z58 10:22 Eastleigh Arlington to Crewe ECS, conveying Pullman coach Lochnagar. This is the return working of the previous day's 5Z43 10:30 Crewe to Eastleigh Arlington ECS, which also conveyed just a single coach! The weather was extremely dull, which was just as well, as if the sun had been out, this would have been impossibly backlit.

D8096 (20096) & D8107 (20107) Jocelyn Fielding 1940-2020 pass Hinksey Yard on 18 November 2022 with the 5Z58 10:27 Eastleigh Arlington to Crewe ECS, conveying Pullman kitchen car 80043. The same pair of locos had moved this coach in the opposite direction just over a week earlier. In the background, on the right, 66541 rests between duties.

English Electric's least and most powerful 1960s mainline diesel locomotives make an odd pairing at the Great Central Railway on 31 March 1995. D8098 & Deltic D9019 stand at Rothley station with the 10:00 Loughborough to Leicester North service, during the line's Diesel Gala.

With the houses of Birstall visible in the background, D8098 approaches Thurcaston on 31 March 1995 with the 14:25 Leicester North to Loughborough Central service, during the Great Central Railway's Diesel Gala. This photo is taken from the A46 Leicester bypass.

A Class 20/25 combination at Woodthorpe, during the Great Central Railway's Diesel Gala on 2 April 1995. D8098 & D7659 head north with the 16:30 Leicester North to Loughborough Central service. The field on the right is now yet another housing estate, as Loughborough expands relentlessly towards Leicester!

D8098 passes Thurcaston on 5 March 2000 with the 12:00 Loughborough to Leicester North service. The Great Central Railway's resident Class 20 has carried a range of liveries in preservation. Arriving it BR blue, it then wore green with full yellow ends for the latter half of the 1990s, before being repainted into this green with white roof livery (as the early Class 20s were originally delivered in). Latterly it was repainted into green with small yellow panels.

D8098 arrives at Quorn & Woodhouse on the Great Central Railway with the 2C27 13:40 Loughborough to Rothley service on 12 September 2009, during the line's Diesel Gala. 37314 is on the rear of the train and will the 2D09 14:00 return train.

D8098 passes Woodthorpe with the late running 2C32 14:50 Loughborough to Rothley service on 12 September 2009, during the Great Central Railway's Diesel Gala. Gold ochre liveried Class 31 D5830 can be seen on the rear of the train.

D8098 & D8137 pass the recently opened Hayles Abbey Halt on 28 July 2017 with the 2C53 09:30 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service. This was the first train of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's three day summer Diesel Gala.

D8098 & D8137 pass Southam on 28 July 2017 with the 2C53 09:30 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. D8098 was visiting from the Great Central Railway. The two Class 20s display livery variations from either end of the BR green period. D8098 shows the locos as delivered in the early 1960s, with no yellow panels at all, while D8137 shows the final version, with full yellow ends, from the late 1960s / early 1970s.

20100 ambles bonnet first past Toton on 16 October 1986. This trainless view gives an uninterrupted view of the extensive yards, which at this time were accumulating lines of redundant coaching stock and withdrawn vacuum braked wagons.

A Railfreight liveried convoy at Heyford on 14 September 1985. 20104 & 20090 are being taken to the Old Oak Common Open Day by 58027. Class 20s had only just started to be repainted into what was then the very latest livery.

20106 & 20020 pass Bramshall on 12 August 1989 with the 2P82 14:47 Crewe to Derby service. For a few weeks in 1989 pairs of 20s were used on this service due to a shortage of Class 150 units. 2000 hp for 3 coaches is certainly adequate, and with no requirement for ETS, Class 20s were exactly right for the job. Nowadays I'm sure that these trains would be run in top'n'tail formation, or more likely just cancelled!

20107 & 20096 bring up the rear of the 7X23 09:33 Derby Adtranz Litchurch Lane to Old Dalby new London Underground S-stock move at Frisby-on-the-Wreake on 28 August 2015. The more brightly coloured 20311 & 20314 are the lead locomotives.

After having arrived at Old Dalby (Asfordby Depot) on 28 August 2015 with the 7X23 09:33 Derby Adtranz Litchurch Lane to Old Dalby new London Underground S-stock, 20107 & 20096 and the barrier wagon detach, and move out of the way, so that 20311 & 30314 can propel the stock to the far end of the depot.

D8107 (20107) brings up the rear of the 5Z20 07:55 Crewe to Bristol Barton Hill ECS at Fiddington on 26 October 2020. D8096 (20096) is leading. Who would have thought that these veteran locos would be doing jobs like this on the national network in the 21st century!

D8107 (20107) Jocelyn Fielding 1940-2020 & D8096 (20096) pass Yarnton on 9 November 2022 with Pullman kitchen car 80043, running as the 5Z43 10:30 Crewe to Eastleigh Arlington ECS. I chose this location as I knew that two locos and one coach would just fit in the sunlit area in front of the shadows from the trees.

D8107 (20107) Jocelyn Fielding 1940-2020 & D8096 (20096) pass Wolvercote on 6 December 2022 with the 5Z43 10:07 Crewe to Eastleigh Arlington ECS, comprising barrier vehicles 6394 & 6393, sandwiching Midland Pullman Mk3 HST coach M41108.

D8107 (20107) Jocelyn Fielding 1940-2020 brings up the rear of the 0Z97 10:27 Eastleigh Arlington to Crewe at Tackley on 12 January 2024. Freshly painted 37409 Loch Awe in ScotRail colours is leading the convoy, which also includes D8096 (20096).

On a miserably dull 7 January 1995, D8110 passes Riverford Bridge, on the South Devon Railway. As the loco is based on the line, this could be an everyday scene, but look at the length of the train and the headboard. This is in fact the Pathfinder Tours 1Z61 06:46 Wolverhampton to Buckfastleigh 'Teign Dart' railtour, seen here retuning as the 14:25 from Buckfastleigh. The tour, which arrived from the Midlands behind 31417, also visited the nearby Heathfield branch.

20113 & 20106 pass Cilfrew, as they head up the Dulais Valley towards Onllwyn on 28 July 1991 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z81 06:28 Liverpool Lime Street to Onllwyn 'Vulcan Valley Venturer' railtour. 37138 can just be seen bringing up the rear.

20115 brings up the rear of the F&W Railtours 1Z60 'Severncider 2' railtour at Severn Tunnel Junction on 30 June 1985. Classmate 20022 is leading. The train would only proceed as far as the crossover visible in the distance, it would then reverse and head towards Gloucester. Several of the tour participants have got their notebooks and pens at the ready, to record the numbers of the locomotives stabled on the nearby Severn Tunnel Junction shed.

20115 passes Severn Tunnel Junction shed on 30 June 1985 with the F&W Railtours 1Z60 'Severncider 2' railtour. It had just reversed at the crossover in the background, after arriving from Tytherington via the Severn Tunnel behind 20022. 20115 had been waiting here to be attached for this next section of the tour to Gloucester.

The driver climbs back onboard 20115, and the passengers make their way back to the train at Gloucester Docks on 30 June 1985, as the F&W Railtours 1Z60 'Severncider 2' railtour pays a visit to this unlikely location for a passenger train. 08836 is partially hidden by the poles at the other end of the train, waiting to take the tour back to Over Junction. Most of this is now history. 20115 was withdrawn in 1987 and cut up the following year, and the track has been lifted and is now a footpath. At least the headboard survives, and now belongs to me!

20117 & 20121 pass Stenson on 22 January 1992 en route from Willington Power Station to Toton with five crippled HAA coal hoppers. By this date the once common use of pairs of 20s in the area was rapidly coming to an end. The Stenson Junction to Derby line can be seen on the embankment in the background.

With the cooling towers of Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station dominating the background, 20118 & 20031 amble along the up relief line on 1 July 1985 with a short rake of ballast empties. I only ever visited this location once, which seems odd with hindsight, given the impressive backdrop, and the variety of traffic in the 1980s.

A branch off of a branch! 20118 & 20169 pass the junction for the short lived private siding to the BP oil terminal at Rhosgoch on the Isle of Anglesey on 11 September 1993. They are working the Pathfinder Tours 1Z18 'Anglesey Odyssey' railtour, at this point running as the 14:32 Amlwch to Cardiff Central. This long winding branch line from Gaerwen Junction to Amlwch was closing due to Associated Octel's decision to transfer the sole remaining freight traffic to road haulage. The line has remaining intact but increasingly overgrown ever since.

20118 & 20169 pass the creamery at Llangefni on 11 September 1993 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z18 14:32 Amlwch to Cardiff Central 'Anglesey Odyssey' railtour. Just visible in the bushes at the rear of the train are 37075 & 37225, which had worked the tour from Cardiff (the 20s being attached at Llandudno Junction). The branch was about to close with the cessation of Associated Octel's rail operations. Previously various chemicals had been handled, including chlorine, ethylene dibromide and bromide. Extra nasty chemicals to be added to the overburdened road network!

20118 & 20169 pass through Llanfair PG station on 11 September 1993 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z18 14:32 Amlwch to Cardiff Central 'Anglesey Odyssey' railtour, passing the famous Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch nameboard on the right. The name means: Saint Mary’s Church in the hollow of the white hazel near the rapid whirlpool and the Church of Saint Tysilio of the red cave. 37225 & 37075 are on the rear of the train.

20118 & 20131 Almon B. Strowger pass Cockwood Harbour on 2 May 1994 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z41 17:10 Paignton to York 'Torbay Exe-Cursioner' railtour. The 20s were replaced by 47547 at Derby. Showing excellent inter-company co-operation and planning, the 20s worked down to the West Country in the morning with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z20 08:33 Paddington to Exeter St Davids 'Big E' railtour.

20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea & 20132 bring up the rear of the 7X09 15:55 Derby Adtranz Litchurch Lane to Amersham S Stock underground stock move at Clay Mills on 25 June 2014. The train is about to take the up relief line (note the 'feathers' on the signal in the background). 20227 & 20905 were the leading locomotives.

20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea & 20132 Barrow Hill Depot look fantastic in the evening sun, as they passes Kimbridge on 8 September 2016 with the GBRf 1Z16 16:05 Swanage to Kings Cross 'GBRf 15' railtour. 73128 & 73213 can just be seen on the rear of the train. This was the first day of a mega four day tour covering much of the country. Not having visited this location before, I had correctly worked out that it would be one of the few spots in the area where the sun would be on the front, and was shadow free. However, I slightly underestimated the length of the early autumn shadows, so as the time approached for the tour to appear, I had to resort to a longer lens in order to clear the encroaching shadows. 

20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea & 20132 Barrow Hill Depot pass through Pewsey station half an hour after sunset on 8 September 2016 with the GBRf 1Z16 16:05 Swanage to Kings Cross 'GBRf 15' railtour. As this only involved a detour of a couple of miles on my way home, I thought I might as well attempt this twilight shot. This was stretching things to the absolute limit, as the station's new LED lights are not particularly bright. ISO 6400 1/1000sec f2 yielding a barely useable image, but I do rather like the combination of stations lights and the sunset in the background.

20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea & 20132 Barrow Hill pass Grove on 11 May 2020 with the 5Q76 07:36 Ely Papworth Sidings to Newport Docks (Sims Group), conveying another rake of off lease GWR HST coaches for scrap. This is the first time that I have taken a picture from this particular vantage point. In the background is the new Hanney Bridge, which replaced the original bridge just before the line was electrified. In the old days there used to be good view from the bridge looking west. Because of the wires there is now no clear view in any direction, which, even before I checked it out is what I expected, and why I chose this viewpoint from the adjacent field.

20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea & 20132 Barrow Hill pass Uffington on 18 May 2020 with the 5Q76 07:36 Ely Papworth Sidings to Newport Docks (Sims Group), conveying yet another rake of off lease GWR HST coaches for scrap, including in this rake one that has only relatively recently been painted in GWR's latest green livery. This is an almost criminal waste of perfectly good rolling stock, and if there is any future complaints about lack of capacity, then this short sighted rush to scrap high quality coaches should be made known to the general public.

20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea & 20132 Barrow Hill pass Bourton on 20 May 2020 with the 5Q76 07:36 Ely Papworth Sidings to Newport Docks (Sims Group), conveying another rake of former GWR HST coaches for scrap. I had arrived at this location in what I thought was plenty of time, but before getting out of the car I checked where the train was, and was astonished to find it had passed Uffington. A quick sprint across the A420 and into the field allowed me to get this shot with just a minute to spare. As I had not visited this location since the line was electrified I was relieved to find there was still a view, of sorts. The train was running 31 minutes early, and would shortly be going off route, via Gloucester, to avoid the chaos caused by a couple of trains hitting some cows near Wootton Bassett.

20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea & 20132 Barrow Hill pass Bretforton on 29 March 2021 with the 6Z21 14:26 Long Marston to Chaddesden Sidings, conveying a lengthy rake of refurbished JNA bogie box wagons. Although the cloud melted away later in the day, at this time there was still far more cloud than forecast, and this was photographed in a very lucky patch of full sun.

20121 & 20117 pass over frost covered tracks at Stenson Junction, as they approach Willington Power Station on 22 January 1992 with ten empty HAA MGR wagons. Both locos would be put into store a few months later with the cessation of East Midlands Class 20 coal workings.

20121 & 20214 slowly pull away from their booked stop at Blackburn on 19 July 1992, whilst working the Pathfinder Tours 15:25 Scarborough to Swindon 'Two Roses Voyager' railtour. The 20s would be replaced by 47823 S.S. Great Britain at Sheffield.

Running nearly an hour late, 20122 & 20126 pass Stenson Junction on 16 October 1986 with the 7P06 09:16 Toton to Burton upon Trent Speedlink trip, taking five HAA coal hoppers for repair at the wagon works. 20122 is still relatively clean, after a recent repaint into Railfreight grey livery.

An uninterrupted mid 1980s view of Weston-on-Trent, but with an ominous portent of things to come. Note the newly planted line of Leylandii trees in the foreground. Since this picture was taken they have grown considerably and now completely block out this view. 20126 & 20122 pass by with MGR empties on 16 October 1986.

20127 leaves Denby Colliery on 22 April 1989 with the British Rail 1T15 12:10 Derby to Wirksworth 'Denby Dawdler' railtour. Hidden behind the building is 20114, which had led the tour up the branch from Little Eaton Junction. The train would reverse again at Little Eaton Junction, in order to head north to the Wirksworth branch. This was one of three similar tours run on this day.

20127 passes Alton Manor (between Wirksworth and Idridgehay) on 22 April 1989 with the late running British Rail 1T15 14:42 Wirksworth to Derby 'Denby Dawdler' railtour. Hidden behind the tree is 20114. This was one of three mini-tours that ran on this day, on what was at the time still an active (just!) freight branch line. However, the line closed to stone traffic a few months later. Subsequently the line reopened as the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway heritage line, but unfortunately unobstructed views such as this are now at a premium, as there has been extensive lineside tree growth in recent years.

20127 leaves Denby Colliery for the third time on 22 April 1989 with the British Rail 1T16 16:00 Derby to Wirksworth 'Denby Dawdler' railtour. The pile of pallets is hiding 20114 on the rear. The single slip (formerly a double sip) point allowed access to the brake van run round loop.

Complete with 'Jolly Fisherman' headboard, 20128 & 20131 pass Rauceby on 3 September 1993 with the final booked 1E86 08:12 Leicester to Skegness service. Class 20s had been a feature of the summer timetable to the East Coast resort for a number of years, but apart from a few one off specials, they haven't returned since. Luckily the dreary weather finally improved just in time for the return from Skegness, with the final working.

20128 & 20131 pass Ashchurch on 14 March 1994 with a Bescot to Gloucester route learner. They had worked down from Bescot with 20187 & 20075. The two pairs had been split in the loop in the background, to proceed towards Gloucester just five minutes apart. This view has now changed considerably with the construction of the new Ashchurch (for Tewkesbury) station.

20128 Guglielmo Marconi & 20075 Sir William Cooke pass Ffynnongroyw on 20 May 1995 with the 1T77 16:00 Llandudno to Crewe special, one of the North Wales Coast Motive Power Day specials, organised by the Crewe Rail Events Committee.

Apologies for the poor technical quality of this image, which has been included here after numerous requests. In near darkness, 20128, 37207 & 31439 North Yorkshire Moors Railway storm up the 1 in 37 Lickey Incline with the A1A Charters 1T70 15:39 Worcester Shrub Hill to Preston 'Jewel In The Crown' railtour on 24 February 1996. This amazing combination of English Electric motive power with a Class 20 unbelievably leading the ensemble bonnet first is almost certainly a unique occurrence and had to be photographed whatever the weather! Although nearly dark, the sun was occasionally trying to peek out through gaps in the clouds. This was not good, as this viewpoint is straight into the sun. Note the glint on the tops of the two lead locos.