20129 & 20163 stand awaiting their turn of duty at March depot on 16 August 1988, with recently withdrawn 45108 in the background. March loco depot was easy to photograph, as these sidings just ended next to an unfenced road. Unfortunately this has all been swept away, and there are no railway lines in the vicinity now, and even the nearby Whitemoor Yard has been cut in half, with a prison built on part of it.

20129 passes Beeston on 11 September 1990 with an eastbound breakdown train. Note the Blue Circle cement depot in the background, which at this time was still in use, although not for much longer! 20129 had an even shorter time left, being withdrawn a month after this picture was taken. After a brief period of storage next to the main line at Stanton Gate, it was towed to Carlisle, and then Mossend in August 1991, and was then cut up at M.C. Metals, Springburn, the following month.

A sad line up of withdrawn Class 20s at Stanton Gate, pictured on the foggy morning of 7 March 1991. 20130 leads the line up, which also includes: 20045, 20026, 20129 & 20053. These had all been withdrawn as a consequence of the introduction of the new Class 60s. 20130, the second of the later headcode box fitted batch of locos, was withdrawn in October 1990, so had a relatively short life of less than 24 years, much less than half the life of some of the fleet!

20131 & 20128 stand at a seemingly deserted Skegness station on 3 September 1993, prior to working the final 1M86 18:12 Skegness to Leicester train, bringing to end a couple of decades of Class 20 passenger train haulage to the east coast resort. I remember having to wait here for some considerable time for the sun to come out, but luckily the weather improved towards evening, allowing an excellent shot of the train at Firsby.

In golden evening lighting 20131 & 20128 slow down for the almost 120 degree curve at Firsby with the last ever Class 20 hauled Skegness summer passenger service, the 18:12 Skegness to Leicester on 3 September 1993. The train carries the 'Jolly Fisherman' headboard, which at various times was the semi-official name for the Class 20 hauled trains to the Lincolnshire resort. The passengers are obviously aware of the historic nature of the event, as they are seemingly all leaning out of the windows to watch the bizarre spectacle of the train suddenly changing direction in the middle of nowhere!

20131 Almon B. Strowger & 20118 pass Whiteball on 2 May 1994 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z20 08:33 Paddington to Exeter St Davids 'Big E' railtour, one of a number of tours run in connection with the Exeter Rail Fair. It was running 45 minutes late, due to being re-routed via Bristol instead of Castle Cary, owing to a freight train failure.

Dramatic lighting at Ashley on 17 September 1994, as 20131 Almon B. Strowger & 20128 Guglielmo Marconi find a lucky patch of sunshine amid the clouds, as they work the Pathfinder Tours 1T70 13:45 Manchester Piccadilly to Latchford Sidings section of the multi-traction 'Lancastrian' railtour. The BRT livery certainly stands out, but must have been a nightmare to keep clean!

20131 Almon B. Strowger & 20128 Guglielmo Marconi pass through Frodsham station on 17 September 1994 with the Pathfinder Tours 1T70 13:45 Manchester Piccadilly to Latchford Sidings section of the multi-traction 'Lancastrian' railtour.

20132 & 20010 pass Micklefield station on 12 May 1990 with the Class 20 Society 1Z20 08:56 Sheffield to Scarborough 'Vladivostok Avoider' railtour. Unfortunately the weather was grim all day, making photography using Fujichrome 50 a little challenging!

20132 & 20090 pass through Ancaster station on 21 October 1992 with the 1E86 09:25 Derby to Skegness service. A pair of Railfreight liveried Class 20s on a complete rake of Regional Railways stock, passing some classic vintage infrastructure, are the ideal ingredients for a picture. Even the lighting is perfect.

20132 Barrow Hill Depot & 20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea bring up the rear of the 7X23 09:33 Derby Adtranz Litchurch Lane to Old Dalby, conveying London Underground S-stock, at Kirby Bellars on 5 September 2014. 20096 & 20107 were the lead locomotives.

The first signs of autumn at Melton Junction, as 20132 Barrow Hill Depot & 20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea run wrong line from Melton Mowbray with the 7X23 09:33 Derby Adtranz Litchurch Lane to Old Dalby, conveying London Underground S-stock on 5 September 2014. 20096 & 20107 are at the rear of the formation. For some reason, the 25 minutes early arrival at Melton Mowbray had now been converted into 40 minutes late running. Realtime Trains was no help, claiming the train had already arrived at Old Dalby nearly an hour before!

Immaculately turned out 20132 Barrow Hill Depot & 20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea pass through Tackley station on 7 September 2016 with the 5Z15 11:43 Burton upon Trent Wetmore Sidings to Eastleigh ECS. This was in preparation for GBRf's 15th anniversary four day railtour, which would take in such diverse locations as: Swanage, Great Yarmouth, Inverness and Liverpool! I chose this location as the station nameboard would clearly show that the 20s were travelling down the Cherwell Valley, something that hasn't been a common occurrence since the Bescot Speedlink trips of the 1980s, and it wasn't that common then!

20132 Barrow Hill Depot & 20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea pass Grove in the rain on 29 April 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. I am used to seeing foxes and stoats walking alongside the railway (the latter often using the signal cable ducting as their own personal tunnel), but on this occasion a greyhound casually walked along the far side of the line, and disappeared off into the distance, taking no notice of me!

20132 Barrow Hill Depot & 20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea find a small patch of sunshine amid the clouds, as they pass Bretforton on 29 March 2021, running as the 0Z60 08:54 Chaddesden Sidings to Long Marston. In the background is Clayfield Level Crossing, with its former crossing keeper's cottage.

20132 Barrow Hill Depot & 20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea pass Honeybourne on 13 April 2021 with the late running 5X20 Eastleigh to Long Marston ECS, conveying eight former Greater Anglia Mk3 coaches for storage. The coaches are all carrying Chiltern Railways branding. This train was supposed to have left Eastleigh at 09:56, but actually left 90 minutes late at 11:26. This late running just got worse, and it was 135 minutes late here, which unfortunately resulted in some extreme backlighting.

20137 shunts an engineer's train at Toddington on 7 August 1995, prior to working a demonstration freight train during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Week. Note the outline of the former Thornaby depot kingfisher logo on the forward engine bay door.

20137 basks in the morning sunshine in Toddington Yard, on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, on 10 August 1995. This is the kind of picture that fully exploited the quality possible with the Pentax 6x7. A static subject in full sun, tripod mounted camera, 1/60sec f16. Higher quality than most present day digital cameras, but a scanned file size of 200MB!

Still looking reasonably smart in its ex BR Railfreight red stripe livery (if you ignore the rust patches!), 20137 passes Stanley Pontlarge on 10 August 1995 returning from Far Stanley and bound for Toddington, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Tom Rolt, the railway and canal preservation pioneer lived a few yards from the location.

Viewed from above the western portal of Greet Tunnel, 20137 heads back to Toddington from Far Stanley on 10 August 1995, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Oxenton Hill dominates the background.

20137 emerges from Greet Tunnel with a Far Stanley to Toddington service on 10 August 1995, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. This was a week long event, which was luckily mostly blessed with good weather.

Thursday 10 August 1995 marked the official entry into traffic of 20137 on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. It is seen here on that first day, leaving Winchcombe with the 16:00 Toddington to Far Stanley service.

20137 passes a fine show of Rosebay Willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium) near Hailes on 11 August 1995, whilst working the 13:00 Toddington to Far Stanley freight. This was one of a number of demonstration freights run during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railways Diesel Week. Although very rare in the later days, such as depicted here by the Railfreight livery, short freights headed by a single Class 20 were relatively common in the early days of the class.

20137 emerges from Greet Tunnel on 11 August 1995 with the 15:00 Toddington to Far Stanley service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Given the excellent weather and the prospect of photographing a Railfreight red stripe Class 20 on this scenic route, I was surprised at how few photographers there were around.

Still in ex BR condition, 20137 stands in Toddington Yard, on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on the night of 11 November 1995. For those interested in such things, this was taken on a Pentax 6x7, on Fujichrome 100, with an exposure of 2 minutes at f8.

Some enthusiasts are obviously very hardy! With the temperature well below freezing, and with frost on the fields and track, a couple of passengers brave the cold to savour the noise of the English Electric 8SVT engine, as 20137 passes Hailes on 27 December 1995 with the 12:15 Toddington to Far Stanley service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's traditional Christmas diesel running day. The Cotswold Hills should be visible in the background of this view, but are lost in the fog.

Prior to its repainting into green livery, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 20137 (D8137) was used during the line's 1996 Autumn Diesel Gala in red undercoat. It makes a striking and very unusual sight as it heads down the long straight from Hailes on 9 November 1996 with the 10:50 Toddington to Far Stanley service.

20137 emerges from Greet Tunnel on 9 November 1996 with the 12:05 Far Stanley to Toddington service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. It was halfway through its transformation from Railfreight liveried 20137 to green liveried D8137, and worked the gala trains in this striking red undercoat. As I have numerous pictures of it in both its Railfreight guise, and even more in its subsequent green colour scheme, this striking 'livery' makes an interesting comparison.

The red oxide primer of 20137 (D8137) catches the afternoon sun at Hailes on 9 November 1996, as the loco passes underneath the roadbridge with the 14:10 Toddington to Far Stanley service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala.

Looking absolutely immaculate, after its recent repaint into original BR green livery, D8137 passes Hailes on 4 October 1997 with the 10:45 Toddington to Gotherington service, during one of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's regular diesel running days.

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's resident Class 20 received its BR green livery in 1997, after arriving at the railway a few years earlier in the Railfreight grey colour scheme. The ex-works loco is picture passing Dixton, en-route from Gotherington to Toddington on 4 October 1997.

With the western edge of the Cotswold Hills in the background, D8137 passes Hailes on 4 October 1997 with the 13:45 Toddington to Gotherington service, during one of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's regular diesel running days.

D8137 emerges from Greet Tunnel on 4 October 1997, whilst en-route from Gotherington to Toddington. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's resident Type 1 had just been out shopped in BR green, which is a perfect date match for the maroon coaches.

D8137 passes Dixton on 4 October 1997 with the 15:00 Toddington to Gotherington service. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's resident Class 20 had just been painted into BR green, and although working bonnet first on a passenger train would have been extremely unlikely for a Class 20 in 1966, this ex-works loco and train combination does show what may possibly have happened somewhere!

D8137 approaches Gotherington on 4 October 1997 with the 16:15 service from Toddington. The loco is in sparkling ex-works condition, after a recent repaint into original BR green. It had previously operated trains on the line in the as acquired from BR railfreight livery, and even red oxide primer!

D8137 is pictured halfway between Hailes and Winchcombe on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on 4 November 2006 with the 11:30 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service. This was during the line's Autumn Diesel Gala, which saw an intensive service on this section of line, as in between the Cheltenham trains such as this, there were additional local passenger and freight trains running as far as Winchcombe.

D8137 is pictured just to the north of Toddington station, on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on 4 November 2006. During the line's Diesel Gala freight trains were worked between Toddington and Winchcombe, and due to capacity problems resulting from the intensive train service, these trains started from the newly laid extension towards Stanway Viaduct. D8137 is moving off with the 13:12 freight to Winchcombe, which was brought in earlier from Winchcombe by 37324 which can be seen in the background. The 15 arch Stanway Viaduct is just around the corner behind the 37.

Token exchange at Toddington, as D8137 arrives with the 13:25 freight train from Winchcombe on 4 November 2006, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Obviously the 1V60 headcode is not appropriate to this train, which should really be a 6 or 7 headcode. Nevertheless, a picture of a Class 20 working bonnet first is always welcome.

In glorious late afternoon autumn light, D8137 passes Bishop's Cleeve with the 15:00 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service on 4 November 2006, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. An effort had to be made to take some pictures on the southern end of the line, even though only a third of the trains went beyond Winchcombe during the gala!

A superb glint effect and a perfect end to an excellent day's photography on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway during the Diesel Gala on 4 November 2006. D8137 accelerates away from Cheltenham Racecourse with the 15:50 service to Toddington., with buildings of the racecourse prominent in the background. Despite the use of a deep lens hood, it was necessary to take this picture one-handed, with the other hand used as an additional shade to stop the setting sun reaching the lens.

An excellent choice of location to photograph the 10:52 Toddington to Winchcombe freight on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway during the Diesel Gala on 5 November 2006. D8137 and its short train just fit in the gap between the bushes at Didbrook, with Toddington's home signal visible in the background. Recent vegetation clearance means that this view is simply taken from the side of the road.

D8137 passes Hailes with the 11:52 Toddington to Winchcombe service on 5 November 2006, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. The train is just approaching the so-called 'Chicken Curve', which marks the end of the long straight from Hailes.

D8137 passes Hailes with the 13:12 Toddington to Winchcombe freight on 1 April 2007, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Recalling the early 1960s pick up freight era, with a motley collection of wagons behind a single Class 20 running bonnet first. A perfect recreation, apart from a very slightly inappropriate headcode!

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Spring Diesel Gala on 6 April 2008 was greeting by some unseasonable snow. Most had melted by midday, but there is still a little on the shady side of the cutting, as D8137 accelerates towards Hailes with the 11:15 Cheltenham Racecourse to Toddington service.

D8137 has just emerged from Greet Tunnel on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway whilst working the 10:45 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service on 5 April 2009, during the line's Diesel Gala. Note the large clumps of mistletoe growing in the tree directly above the locomotive's bonnet.

At least one passenger on board the 11:50 Cheltenham Racecourse to Toddington train wonders what on earth I am doing lying down in the grass near 'Chicken Curve' at Winchcombe on 5 April 2009. The answer is to get a sufficiently low angle to frame D8137 with the overhanging branches of the tree. D8137 was the only non rail blue loco taking part in the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala.

With a spectacular carpet of Rosebay Willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium) in the foreground, D8137 & 20154 pass Dixton on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway with the 12:50 Cheltenham Racecourse to Winchcombe service on 10 July 2009, during the line's Diesel Gala. The Winchcombe to Toddington section of the line had been given over to shunter hauled services for the day.

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's resident D8137, along with visiting 20154 arrive at Toddington on 10 July 2009, having worked the 15:30 service from Winchcombe, during the line's Diesel Gala. Class 03 D2182 & Class 04 look-alike Drewry 2574 can be seen on the right.

D8137 ambles through the cutting at Dixton, on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, having just passed the yet to be commissioned Gotherington down distant signal. It is working the 13:30 Toddington to Gotherington service on 11 July 2010, during the line's Diesel Gala. Because of a landslip just the other side of Gotherington station, all trains were being working in top'n'tail mode, and 37248 can just be seen on the rear of the train.

D8137 passes Hailes on 2 October 2010 with the 11:10 Toddington Distant Signal to Gotherington service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. The Class 20 had taken over from 37248, which had worked the train for the first ¾ mile across Stanway Viaduct and into Toddington station.

D8137 passes Southam with the 10:00 Winchcombe to Cheltenham Racecourse service on 9 July 2011, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. The wooded slopes of the Cotswold Hills form the backdrop to this picture.

A conveniently placed patch of Rosebay Willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium) brightens up the dull day at Southam on 9 July 2011, as D8137 passes by with the 10:35 Cheltenham Racecourse to Winchcombe service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Cheltenham Racecourse station is hidden by the trees directly above the first coach.

D8137 leaves a rain soaked Winchcombe station on 9 July 2011 with the 15:00 service to Cheltenham Racecourse, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. A moderate wideangle was used in order to include the Great Western lower quadrant signal in the foreground.

D8137 passes Stanton on 26 July 2013 with the delayed 2C61 11:24 Laverton to Cheltenham Racecourse service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. The late running was caused by the earlier failure of 45149, which had to be rescued by E6036. The light blue apparition on the rear of the train is 45149, easily visible from a distance in undercoat!

With a car boot sale in full swing in the field on he left, D8137 passes Cheltenham's fixed distant signal near Southam, as it works the 2C55 10:00 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service on 25 July 2015, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala.

In early 2016 the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's resident Class 20, D8137, acquired full yellow ends, although the rest of the loco was not repainted. On 31 July 2016, during the line's Diesel Gala, it worked the 2C57 10:50 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service, seen here passing Southam.

D8137 passes Southam on 31 July 2016 with the 2T62 12:40 Cheltenham Racecourse to Toddington service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Note the contrast between the freshly painted full yellow end, and the loco's rather faded green livery.

D8137 passes the site of the soon to be reinstated Hailes Abbey Halt on 8 October 2016, as it works the 2C59 11:45 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. The original Hailes Abbey Halt was opened on 24 September 1928 by the Great Western Railway, who spelt it 'Hayles Abbey Halt'. It was for the use of visitors to the nearby ruins of the Cistercian Hailes Abbey, although it did involve a fair walk! It was closed in 1960, and by the time the line closed in the mid 1970s, there was nothing remaining.

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's resident D8137 and visiting D8098 pass Southam on 28 July 2017 with the 2B54 10:20 Cheltenham Racecourse to Buckland service, during the line's Diesel Gala. Cheltenham Racecourse station is just behind the trees in the background.

D8137 passes Dixton on 27 July 2018 with the 2T60 12:40 Cheltenham Racecourse to Toddington service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Three of the line's resident Class 117 DMU vehicles (51360, 59515 & 51363) are acting as the coaching stock.

D8137 approaches Hailes on 7 October 2018 with the 10:15 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Given my unexpected full sun afternoon on the Severn Valley Railway a few days earlier, I shouldn't really have been surprised that on this occasion the sunny morning disappeared as soon as I got to this location!

20137 passes Southam on 29 July 2022 with the 2C55 10:25 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. The headboard commemorates Alistair Grieve, well known railway photographer, preservationist and industrial loco specialist.

20137 accelerates away from Cheltenham Racecourse station on 29 July 2022 with the 2B56 11:10 train to Broadway, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. The loco is wearing the relatively unusual late 1970s combination of TOPS numbers and green livery.

An impressive loco line up at Toddington, viewed from a passing train on 27 September 2022. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's resident 20137 & 45149 stand in front of visiting 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier. 'Bubble Car' 55003 & Yorkshire Engine Company 0-6-0 industrial shunter 372 complete the picture. It is slightly ironic that 55003 should be next to the Deltic, as 55003 was also the number of Deltic 55003 Meld.

20137 passes Didbrook on 4 June 2023 with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 09:55 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. The few small clouds in the background soon melted away, to leave a completely sunny day. Despite this, I didn't meet any other photographers all day.

20137 passes Bishop's Cleeve on 4 June 2023 with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 09:55 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. Unfortunately the tree on the right means that only this head on view is possible for a morning southbound train.

20137 passes Dixton on 4 June 2023 with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 11:15 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service. Gotherington signal box is switched out, which explains why the home signal in the background is showing line clear.

Not the ideal conditions for photography that the non-photographer thinks it is. High overhead midday summer sun is at least better than a dull day. 20137 passes Stanton on 4 June 2023 with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 12:35 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service.

20137 passes Hayles Abbey Halt on 4 June 2023 with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 12:35 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. A surprisingly large number of Class 20s ran in this condition on BR - green livery with TOPS numbers.

A gap between the trees that is only just big enough! 20137 approaches Greet Tunnel on 4 June 2023 with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 14:20 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service. The Malvern Hills can be seen in the background.

20137 passes Bishop's Cleeve on 4 June 2023 with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 15:35 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. The green livery with TOPS numbers and 0O00 headcode recreates a 1976-80 scene, although the maroon coaches are from slightly earlier era. 20137's classmate 20141 became the last BR mainline loco to retain green livery (excluding specially repainted 40106), and managed to survive in green until May 1980.

20137 passes Southam on 7 July 2023 with the 2B52 09:40 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. The train is just a few hundred yards into its journey, Cheltenham Racecourse station being just around the corner, hidden by the trees.

20138 & 20066 pass Bromsgrove on 2 May 1993 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z21 09:50 Birmingham New Street to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Severn Slaps' railtour. The stock unusually consists of a couple of Tyseley's hybrid Class 115/116 DMU sets, T404 (51853, 59735, 59604 & 53919) & T412 (51860, 59591, 59446 & 53116). The oil depot in the background has since been demolished.

20138 & 20066 pass Ashchurch on 2 May 1993 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z21 10:31 Worcester Shrub Hill to Gloucester 'Severn Slaps' railtour. The stock consists of two of Tyseley's hybrid Class 115/116 DMU sets, T404 (51853, 59735, 59604 & 53919) & T412 (51860, 59591, 59446 & 53116).

Shortly after having exited Ledbury Tunnel, 20138 & 20066 round the curve near White House Farm on 2 May 1993 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z21 17:00 Hereford to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Severn Slaps' railtour. The stock consists of two of Tyseley's hybrid Class 115/116 DMU sets. With a single Network South East liveried vehicle, T404 (51853, 59735, 59604 & 53919) is behind the locos, followed by (mostly hidden by the bushes) T412 (51860, 59591, 59446 & 53116).

20140 & 20154 pass Church Leigh on 12 August 1989 with the 2P86 12:49 Crewe to Derby service. The shortage of Class 150 DMUs led to the unexpected, but very welcome, substitution of these pairs of Class 20s. 20140 has not received the orange stripe that was being applied to most locos around this time, as a warning about the possible presence of overhead live wires.

Class 20s were reasonably regular visitors to Gloucester until the late 1980s. On 26 June 1984, 20142 was photographed resting between duties on Horton Road depot, in the company of 31164. The houses in the background are on the appropriately named Great Western Road.

20142 was in use during the Llangollen Railway's Diesel Gala on 20 May 1995. It is seen here pulling away from Berwyn station with the 12:00 Llangollen to Glyndyfrdwy service, with the River Dee in the background. It would shortly lose its tatty BR blue livery in favour of green, which it retained until recently (with either full yellow ends or small warning panel), until reappearing again in blue.

Several Class 20s have visited the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway over the years. The Llangollen Railway's D8142 visited the line for the 1996 Diesel Gala. It is seen here with the line's resident 20137, accelerating away from Winchcombe station on 2 March 1996 with the 13:45 Toddington to Far Stanley service. Unfortunately the weather was terrible all day.

Another damp day in Wales! D8142 leaves Carrog station on 30 June 1996 with the 15:50 service to Llangollen. D8142 had been purchased by the Llangollen Railway several years earlier, and I presume at the time nobody would have imaged that a few years later it would be helping to build the brand new Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

Unusual work for a preserved Class 20. D8142 is employed on a Channel Tunnel Rail Link wiring train at Lenham on 19 July 2002. Workers connect up the overhead wires, as I quickly take the picture before the rapidly advancing bank of cloud blocks out the sun. With numerous trains all working on the same section of track, and a lot of them operated by Class 20s, it was certainly worth a visit to the area during the summer of 2002.

20142 & 20189 bring up the rear of the 7X09 15:54 Derby Litchurch Lane to Amersham underground stock move at Shrewley on 10 July 2013. 20314 & 20311 can just be seen on the front, leading the train towards Hatton. This is the delivery run of yet another train of S Stock from Bombardier at Derby.

20142 & 20132 approach North Stafford Junction on 12 November 2013 with the 7X10 02:27 Amersham to Derby Litchurch Lane underground stock, being retuned to Bombardier for modification. Classmates 20901 & 20107 are on the rear. I had hoped for a bit more autumn colour here, and also a little more sun! It was sunnier earlier on, but as this would have been backlit anyway, perhaps it doesn't matter that much.

20142 Sir John Betjeman & 20007 bring up the rear of the 5Z20 11:15 Ferme Park to Kidderminster at Challow on 14 May 2018. 20205 & 20189 were at the head of the train. 73136 Mhairi & 4-TC set 428 were also in the consist, which was heading to the Severn Valley Railway, for their Diesel Gala.

20142 Sir John Betjeman approaches Hatton on 22 September 2019 with the Branch Line Society 'Birmingham Balti Bash' railtour, which at this point was running as the 1Z20 09:56 Solihull to Warwick. 20189 was bringing up the rear. Although the weather was very dull, I was surprised that it wasn't raining as forecast. However, it did rain heavily on the way home!

20142 Sir John Betjeman brings up the rear of the Branch Line Society 1Z21 10:34 Warwick to Donnington 'Birmingham Balti Bash' railtour, as it slowly traverses Hatton Down Goods Loop on 22 September 2019. 20189 is leading the train, and as can be seen from the red signal in the distance, is about to stop, to allow the 2R17 10:32 Leamington Spa to Birmingham Moor Street Chiltern Railways service to pass.

20142 Sir John Betjeman & 20007 pass a fine display of cherry blossom at Mill Lane, Islip, on 5 April 2021, as they traverse the Oxford to Bicester line with the 5Q20 09:53 Eastleigh Arlington to West Ruislip London Underground Depot ECS, comprising inspection saloon LT 45029 Florence Nightingale and 4-TC set 428.

One of the highlights of the Pathfinder Tours 'The Chopper Topper Returns' railtour on 2 July 2022 was the ascent of the Lickey Incline with all four locomotives on the front end. This would have taken place in the dark, but there was scope for a picture of this section of the tour in the Cheltenham area, when it would still be possible to get a decent photo just after sunset. Unfortunately the manoeuvre to get all four locos on the front at Gloucester took longer than planned, and the 1Z43 21:30 Gloucester Horton Road Junction to Burton-on-Trent left 27 minutes late. It was almost completely dark when 20142 Sir John Betjeman, 20007, 20189 & 20205 passed me at Claydon, but luckily a security light from a nearby building provided a bit of additional illumination. Apologies for the terrible quality of this image, which for those interested was taken with a Canon 7D Mark II, 100mm prime lens, 1/250sec f2 ISO 25600!

20142 Sir John Betjeman & 20189 pass Langley Green on 24 July 2022 with the Vintage Trains 1T51 12:52 Stratford-upon-Avon to Birmingham Snow Hill 'Shakespeare Express' railtour. This rural location is clearly not the Langley Green in the West Midlands, but is on the Bearley to Hatton line. Photo taken from a public footpath crossing.

20142 Sir John Betjeman & 20189 pass Shrewley on 24 July 2022 with the Vintage Trains 1T53 16:13 Stratford-upon-Avon to Birmingham Snow Hill 'Shakespeare Express' railtour. Although the use of Class 20s attracted the photographers, passengers expecting GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 7029 Clun Castle were probably less than impressed!

20142 Sir John Betjeman & 20189 pass through an almost completely deserted Stratford Parkway station on 14 August 2022 with the Vintage Trains 1T53 16:13 Stratford-upon-Avon to Birmingham Snow Hill 'Shakespeare Express' railtour.

20143 & 20130 approach Madeley Junction on 15 August 1988 with the 6J65 13:15 Curzon Street to Penyffordd empty cement tanks. Running exactly to time, and with a pair of work stained blue liveried Class 20s on the front. What could be better? Well, full sun rather than just cloudy bright would have been nice!

20143 & 20214 pass Mostyn on 11 August 1991 with a Point of Ayr Colliery to Fiddlers Ferry Power Station MGR. Although 20214 survives in preservation, all the rest is now history. 20143 was cut up in 1993, apparently by mistake, as it too had been acquired for preservation. By 1991 the days of Class 20s on coal traffic were numbered, and in fact Point of Ayr Colliery only survived for a few more years, bringing an end to coal production on North Wales.

With an unofficial headboard provided by the Class 20 Locomotive Society, 20144 & 20128 pass Great Hale on 11 August 1984 with the 1E86 08:16 Leicester to Skegness. In the 1980s the Skegness line was a Mecca for rail enthusiasts on a summer Saturday, with various loco hauled trains converging on the east coast resort. Heckington church can be seen on the right, and the station, complete with disused goods shed can just be seen on the left.

20145 & 20171 pass Horsemoor (between March and Manea) on 16 August 1988 with what is presumably a special train of scrap destined for Mayer Newman's scrapyard at Snailwell. It certainly doesn't remotely match anything in the working timetable. Even with plenty of freight activity in the area at the time, this was still a welcome bonus.

20145 & 20228 pass Harrowden Junction on 21 May 1989 with the 1T14 15:55 St Pancras to Leicester special on 21 May 1989, one of a number of special trains hauled by freight motive power, during the InterCity Diesel Day. With fourteen trains, and ten different locomotives of seven different classes, this is the kind of well organised mega day out that just doesn't happen any more.

20151 & 20059 pass Abergele on 11 August 1991 with the 1T20 14:45 Llandudno to Crewe special, one of a number of trains operating along the North Wales Coast with Railfreight traction, during the Trainload Coal Motive Power Day.

20151 & 20059 pass Hargrave in soft autumnal backlighting on 4 September 1991 with the 2D90 16:44 Llandudno to Derby service. This train was diagrammed for a pair of Class 20s during the summer of 1991, and after a day's photography in the midlands, it was definitely worth the effort (and the petrol!) to drive up to the Chester area just for this one picture.

Shortages of the new Class 150 DMUs led to Class 20s being used on Derby to Crewe trains for a few weeks in the summer of 1989. 20154 & 20140 are pictured passing Bramshall on 12 August with the 2K51 14:22 Derby to Crewe service. Bramshall station was situated on the far side of the level crossing. It must rank as one of the very earliest stations to close, as passenger services were withdrawn in 1865! It did however continue to handle goods traffic well into the twentieth century.

The first train of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Summer 2009 Diesel Gala was this recreation of the late 1960s with a pair of headcode box fitted Class 20s in faded green livery. Visiting 20154 & the line's resident D8137 pass Hailes on 10 July with the 09:30 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service. This was the only through working of the day, before the line was effectively divided into two with shunters operating between Toddington and Winchcombe and mainline locos between Winchcombe and Cheltenham.

20161 & 20168 pass Asgarby on 1 September 1984 with the 1M02 11:58 Skegness to Leicester service. I don't know why I didn't choose a more scenic location, but at least it is a record of a sadly missed summer Saturday loco-hauled service.

20162 & 20167 approach Cheltenham on 21 August 1985 with the 6E44 08:50 Cardiff Tidal to Scunthorpe steel empties. Anything could turn up on this working at the time, but a pair of Class 20s was a definite bonus.

Still sporting its RFS Channel Tunnel livery and number (2015), 20166 passes Dreason (Charlie's Gate) on 26 September 1993 with the 15:55 Bodmin General to Bodmin Parkway service during the Bodmin & Wenford Railway's Diesel Gala. Neither cow seems particularly bothered by the white apparition, or the English Electric noise!

20166 River Fowey passes Dreason (Charlie's Gate) on 23 September 1995 with the 16:30 Bodmin Parkway to Bodmin General service during the Bodmin & Wenford Railway's Diesel Gala. A very appropriately named loco, as it had just crossed over the River Fowey, shortly after leaving Bodmin Parkway.

20166 passes through the lush vegetation at Harmby on 27 July 2019 with the Wensleydale Railway's 12:20 Redmire to Leeming Bar service. A very colourful train: orange loco, blue and grey, maroon, and crimson lake and cream coaches!

20167 & 20153 approach Bearley on a blisteringly hot 14 August 1983 with the D.A.A. Railtour Society's 1T06 09:20 Euston to Butterley 'Butterley Bulldog' railtour. This was before my railtour chasing days, so I don't have any pictures of the other array of motive power that was used on the train throughout the day, including another pair of 20s, a pair of 37s, and two different pairs of Class 31s. That doesn't include the preserved traction that was used on the Midland Railway Centre line!

20168 & 20161 pass Asgarby on 1 September 1984 with the 1E86 08:16 Leicester to Skegness service. It looks like I was extremely lucky with the sun! Although certainly not level, the track is dead straight here, with the line visible for over a mile. The spire of Sleaford church can be seen in the background on the original Kodachrome 64 transparency.

20168 & 20059 cross Leven Viaduct on 25 April 1992 with the 2C47 12:48 Manchester Victoria to Barrow-in-Furness, one of a number of services upgraded from DMU to loco hauled workings for the day by Regional Railways to tie in with a series of mini railtours run in the area by Pathfinder Tours.

20168 & 20059 approach Thoresby Colliery on 27 June 1992 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z28 07:40 St Pancras to High Marnham 'Dukeries Collier' railtour. The blue smoke in the distance betrays the presence of 56024 on the rear of the train.

20168 & 20059 leave High Marnham Power Station on 27 June 1992 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z28 'Dukeries Collier' railtour. The tour, which had started from St Pancras, also visited a number of collieries in the Worksop area. Note the fan of largely disused, and partly lifted sidings in the background.

20168 & 20059 approach Bevercotes Colliery on 27 June 1992 the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z28 12:43 High Marnham to St Pancras 'Dukeries Collier' railtour. Bevercotes only operated between 1965 and 1993, and now the railway has gone and the whole area is a nature reserve.

After visiting Welbeck Colliery, 20168 & 20059 pass Meden Vale, as they head back towards the mainline junction with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z28 12:43 High Marnham to St Pancras 'Dukeries Collier' railtour on 27 June 1992. Someone has clearly forgotten to remove the tail lamp!

Entertainment for the kids at Warsop! 20168 & 20059 bring up the rear of the Worksop Open Day Committee 1Z29 'Worksop Whistler' railtour on 28 June 1992, as the train makes its way along the branch towards Welbeck Colliery. 20057 & 20154 can just be seen at the head of the train.

With the modern version of Sherwood Forest in the distance, 20168 & 20059 approach Bilsthorpe Colliery on 28 June 1992 with the Worksop Open Day Committee 1Z29 'Worksop Whistler' railtour. Note the change of gradient in the background.

20168 & 20059 emerge from Boughton Brake Tunnel, and pass Walesby on 28 June 1992 with the Worksop Open Day Committee 1Z29 'Worksop Whistler' railtour. This is on the now closed line to Bevercotes Colliery. Whoever painted the yellow front end on 20168 seems to have used a bit too much paint!

20168 & 20059 approach Creswell on 28 June 1992 with the Worksop Open Day Committee 1Z29 'Worksop Whistler' railtour, passing the recently demolished Creswell Colliery rapid loading bunker. With the colliery being on the opposite side of the line to the very tall bunker, and a covered conveyor connecting the two, this would have made an excellent photographic location, if only I had visited a few years earlier!

Sunday engineering work in the 1980s could often produce a wide variety of traction, and on 28 September 1986 this contrasting choice of motive power was in use at Whitacre Junction. 20169 & 20135 stand in the loop with a spoil and ballast empties train, while 58019 is parked right behind it with a short rake of Seacow ballast hoppers. Although all three locos have their engines running, it would be another two hours before either of them moved!

20169 & 20210 pass Badgeworth on 4 August 1991 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z16 Manchester Piccadilly to Gloucester special, bringing enthusiasts to the Gloucester Rail Day. The 20s had taken over from 47971 at Bescot. They would later be employed, along with other heritage traction, on various mini-tours radiating from Gloucester. Something is missing in the background of this picture. The Cold Pool Lane bridge at Up Hatherley, which features in recent pictures taken here, had yet to be planned.

20172 & 20077 pass through Chinley station on 19 June 1984 with the 6H42 08:21 Oakleigh to Tunstead ICI stone empties. Class 20s had just taken over these duties from Class 25s and 40s. Despite the recent track rationalisation, the now isolated platform on the right was still intact in 1984, complete with operational lighting.

20173 & 20189 pass Kingsbury on 31 May 1989 with the 8G15 Toton to Bescot departmental working. Note the variety of wagons, both vintage and relatively modern, and the inclusion of three brake vans. Also of note is 20173's non-standard livery. It is still in BR blue (yes, it really is under all that grime!), but with the addition of a red solebar and a number just above the coupling.

20175 & 20010 slowly approach Madeley Junction on 15 August 1988 with the 7G56 14:28 Trentham Junction to Ironbridge Power Station MGR coal. The train would diverge from the Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury line just a few yards further on. Even as late as 1988, the majority of trains to Ironbridge were worked by pairs of 20s.

20176 & 20043 pass Clay Mills (Hargate) in miserable light on 17 May 1991 with the 6D56 11:29 Bescot to Toton departmental working. Note the 'Thunderstruck' name and lightning flash below the headcode box. By a strange coincidence, I saw this same loco, with a different classmate, heading in the opposite direction at this location a few months later.

Thunderstruck! I'm not quite sure about the significance of the unofficial adornment to the front of 20176, but it certainly made the loco easy to identify from a distance during 1991. It is seen here, along with 20046, passing Clay Mills (Hargate) on 4 September 1991 with the 6M51 10:08 Scunthorpe to Brierley Hill steel.

20178 & 20195 head away from the camera, and into the fog at Thrupp on 25 April 1986. As the most likely train to bring Class 20s to the Oxford area in the mid 1980s was the 6V19 06:32 Bescot to Didcot Speedlink, this is presumably the locos off that train going back to the Midlands, as there was presumably no traffic available on this particular day.

Condemned 20178 heads up a line of similarly knackered locos at Tinsley on 11 August 1990. It had been withdrawn the previous year, but would languish at various locations before finally being cut up at MC Metals, Springburn in April 1992. Behind it are: 31280, 45106 (clearly showing the fire damage that led to its withdrawal), 31126 & 47014.

20184 & 20115 approach Cheltenham from the south on 21 August 1985 with an interesting engineer's train, comprising redundant vans (some minus doors) and a rake of ballast wagons. The wooden bodied vans and the inclusion of a blue and grey former passenger coach certainly make this stand out. In addition, Class 20 were certainly not common at Cheltenham by the mid 1980s.

In early 1994 several crew training trips took place between Bescot and Gloucester using British Rail Telecommunications Class 20s. With a cab full of drivers, 20187 & 20075 pass Ashchurch on 14 March 1994 with the route learner. They had worked down from Bescot with 20128 & 20131. The two pairs were split in the loop, and the other two can be seen waiting in the background to follow just five minutes later. 20187 & 20075 lived on to become 20309 & 20308 respectively. The red Peugeot 205 on the left was not so lucky, having been scrapped in 2005!

Freshly painted in Waterman Railways black livery, D8188 passes Burrs on 10 June 1994, en-route from Rawtenstall to Bury Bolton Street, during the East Lancashire Railway's Diesel Gala. Note the complete lack of any headcode blinds.

D8188 leaves Kidderminster on 4 October 2012 with the 10:45 service to Bewdley, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. Water appears to have been collecting in the tarpaulins on the wagons in the foreground for so long, that rushes have started to grow!

D8188 approaches Foley Park Tunnel on 4 October 2012 with the late running 11:57 Bewdley to Kidderminster service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Autumn Diesel Gala. The black livery is the former Waterman Railways colour scheme.

The bright yellow of the gorse flowers in the foreground make an ideal contrast to the dark green livery of immaculately turned out D8188 & D8059, as they accelerate away from Bewdley on 19 May 2016 with the 16:06 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. The 'Jolly Fisherman' headboard brings back memories of the famous Class 20 hauled trains to Skegness, that operated on summer Saturdays in the 1980s.

20189 at work on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link near Longham Wood (next to the M20 motorway at Bearsted) on 19 July 2002. Not a particularly easy spot to get to, but well worth the effort in order to get a picture of one of the country's oldest locomotives at work on the country's newest railway.

A dramatic low level picture of 20189 at work on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link near Longham Wood, Bearsted, on 19 July 2002. I had already taken a more conventional picture, but couldn't resist this alternative viewpoint. As the loco was only moving forward as required, it was easy enough to wait for a sunny gap amid the clouds.

20189 stands at Leeming Bar station on 5 September 2004, attached to a rake of Wensleydale Railway branded ballast hoppers. Obviously this remote area of Yorkshire is on a busy flight path, judging by the number of vapour tails in the sky! 20189 is a well travelled locomotive, having visited several preserved lines as well as seeing use on the construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and frequent use on London Transport specials.

20189 approaches Rickmansworth with the 11:58 Amersham to Harrow special train during the London Transport Museum's Heritage Day on 14 September 2008. Hidden out of view on the rear of the train is Metropolitan Railway electric loco 'Sarah Siddons'. Even at this head on angle the bizarre teak effect livery of the coaching stock is plainly visible.

20189 accelerates away from Amersham station with the 13:58 special train to Watford, during the London Transport Museum's Heritage Day on 14 September 2008. Tucked out of view on the rear of the train is the former Metropolitan Railway electric locomotive Sarah Siddons. Two trains of Metropolitan Line A60 stock can be seen in the station in the background.

20189 & 20227 pass through Radley station on the very gloomy evening of 19 April 2013 with the 0Z20 12:27 Butterley to West Ruislip light engine move. I have included this going away shot, as it shows the livery variation between the two recently painted locos. 20189 (L189) is wearing the older more restrained London Transport red, whilst 20227 sports the more modern colour scheme.

In typical Branch Line Society fashion, the 'Birmingham Balti Bash' railtour on 22 September 2019 traversed various unusual loops and crossovers. Here we see 20189 leading the train along the Hatton Downs Goods Loop, prior to using the crossover to access platform 2 at Hatton station, where it was due to pick up passengers. 20142 Sir John Betjeman is bringing up the rear. At this point the train was running as the 1Z21 10:34 Warwick to Donnington.

20189 & 20227 Sherlock Holmes approach Stratford Parkway on 1 August 2021 with the Vintage Trains 1T52 14:07 Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford-upon-Avon 'Shakespeare Express' railtour. The Class 20s were substituting for GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 7029 Clun Castle, which was suffering from leaking superheater tubes. The replacement of a steam loco with a pair of diesels may not have been appreciated by some of the fare paying passengers, but it certainly created some interest among the local photographers.

20189 & 20227 Sherlock Holmes pass through Wootton Wawen station on 8 August 2021 with the Vintage Trains 1T50 10:00 Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford-upon-Avon 'Shakespeare Express' railtour. The Class 20s were substituting for GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 7029 Clun Castle, which was suffering from leaking superheater tubes.

20189 & 20227 Sherlock Holmes pass through Danzey station on 8 August 2021 with the Vintage Trains 1T52 14:07 Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford-upon-Avon 'Shakespeare Express' railtour. Although no doubt the fare paying passengers would have preferred the booked GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 7029 Clun Castle, the Class 20 substitutes were definitely proving popular with the lineside photographers.

With an almost complete correct headcode, 20189 & 20227 Sherlock Holmes pass Bearley Junction on 22 August 2021 with the Vintage Trains 1T50 10:00 Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford-upon-Avon 'Shakespeare Express' railtour. The Class 20s were substituting for the unavailable GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 7029 Clun Castle. The sun was almost breaking through the clouds, and I was very lucky that this passed during a few minutes of relatively good light, on what was otherwise a terribly dull morning.

20189 & 20227 Sherlock Holmes pass Earlswood in miserable light on 22 August 2021 with the Vintage Trains 1T52 14:07 Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford-upon-Avon 'Shakespeare Express' railtour. The Class 20s were substituting for the unavailable GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 7029 Clun Castle.

20189 & 20205 bring up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z40 06:40 Burton-on-Trent to Gloucester 'The Chopper Topper Returns' railtour at Bredon on 2 July 2022. 20007 & 20142 Sir John Betjeman are at the front of the train, just passing the site of Bredon station.

The Pathfinder Tours 'The Chopper Topper Returns' railtour of 2 July 2022 visited various freight lines and loops, one of which was the Eckington Up Goods Loop. 20189 & 20205 are pictured entering the loop with the 1Z41 09:02 Gloucester to Shrewsbury section of the tour. It was now raining steadily, but despite the awful conditions, I particularly wanted a picture of the unusual sight of a passenger train using the goods loop. Out of sight around the corner, on the rear of the train, are 20007 & 20142 Sir John Betjeman.

20189 & 20205 bring up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z42 16:48 Shrewsbury to Gloucester Horton Road Junction 'The Chopper Topper Returns' railtour at Ashchurch on 2 July 2022. The leading locomotives (20007 & 20142 Sir John Betjeman) have just taken the train through Ashchurch Down Goods Loop. Note the MoD exchange sidings underneath the bridge in the background, and the disused line into the army depot on the left.

20189 & 20142 Sir John Betjeman pass Bentley Heath in the rain on 24 July 2022 with the Vintage Trains 1T50 10:00 Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford-upon-Avon 'Shakespeare Express' railtour. It was slightly ironic that it was raining, as the 20s were replacing GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 7029 Clun Castle, which was not allowed to run due to Network Rail's steam ban, caused by the previous week's extremely hot weather!

20189 & 20142 Sir John Betjeman pass Shrewley on 24 July 2022 with the Vintage Trains 1T52 14:07 Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford-upon-Avon 'Shakespeare Express' railtour. This was running eight minutes early, and was travelling very slowly on the approach to an yellow signal at Hatton North Junction. It was fortunate that it was running early, as the sun had disappeared at the booked time! The 20s were being used because of Network Rail's steam ban, caused by the recent heat wave.

20189 & 20142 Sir John Betjeman cross the M42 motorway at Widney Manor on 14 August 2022 with the Vintage Trains 1T50 10:00 Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford-upon-Avon 'Shakespeare Express' railtour. I had guessed that there would be just enough room between the A34 Shirley exit sign on the left, and the bushes on the right for a pair of Class 20s, but as they were travelling reasonably fast, and with no audible warning above the traffic, it was a risky proposition! As this is a Sunday, the traffic is quite light (at least northbound). The Solihull Half Marathon was taking place on the road from which this picture was taken, and so I had to park half a mile away as the road was closed!

20189 & 20142 Sir John Betjeman pass Bentley Heath on 14 August 2022 with the Vintage Trains 1T52 14:07 Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford-upon-Avon 'Shakespeare Express' railtour, deputising for GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 7029 Clun Castle, which could not be used due to the steam ban, caused by the prolonged drought.

I have never bothered much with depot photography, but here is the exception that proves the rule. The sight of 20191 parked bonnet first with nothing else in the way obstructing the view was too good to miss at Buxton depot on 19 June 1984. Withdrawn three years later, 20191 was cut up at Vic Berry's, Leicester.

20196 & 20105 pass Beeston on 11 September 1990 with a northbound loaded MGR. Although a regular sight in the area for many years on such duties, by the 1990s Type 5 freight locos were beginning to take over from these vintage English Electric machines. Therefore I was lucky to get another Class 20 hauled train at this spot within a quarter of an hour.

20197 & 20082 bring up the rear of a train of MGR empties from Fiddlers Ferry Power Station, as it approaches Bickershaw Colliery on 12 March 1990. The lead locos (20071 & 20063) are almost at the colliery, but virtually hidden by the bushes in this view. The railway here has now been lifted, and this location is an overgrown jungle of trees.

20197 & 20082 move slowly through the coal loader at Bickershaw Colliery on 12 March 1990 as their train is loaded with yet another trainload of coal for Fiddlers Ferry Power Station. As no run round facilities existed at Bickershaw, this train required another pair of 20s (20071 & 20063) at the other end of the train to bring the empties in. They are just out of sight in the background. Surprisingly these regular workings of four Class 20s on one train caused little excitement at the time. The same could not be said if it happened today! Bickershaw Colliery closed in 1992.

20197 & 20073 slowly traverse the undulating track at Moira West Junction on 26 June 1991 with eastbound MGR empties. Unfortunately by the time I got around to visiting this location, Class 20s had given way to more modern motive power on most trains, and I was lucky to get this. Years of coal mining in the area has resulted in the track subsidence seen here. 

20205 & 20142 approach Bewdley on 19 May 2016 with the 16:11 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. Note the non-standard grey roof on 20142. Both these locos are mainline registered.

Now this is something completely different! 20205 & 20189 haul 73136 Mhairi, 4-TC set 428 & (hidden by the post) 20142 Sir John Betjeman & 20007 past Challow on 14 May 2018, running as the 5Z20 11:15 Ferme Park to Kidderminster, in preparation for the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. This was booked to use the relief line here, but as it was running late, and more importantly because 66712 Peterborough Power Signalbox was sat in the loop just behind me, it was routed along the main, and certainly seemed to be doing at least its booked 60mph. Although I have photographed Class 20s on most of my local lines, I think this may be my first picture of the class in the Vale of White Horse. A pity I had to wait until the route was disfigured by overhead catenary!

20206 passes the derelict Great Eastern Railway crossing keeper's cottage as it leaves Dereham on 14 December 1997 with the 11:00 Dereham to Yaxham Mid Norfolk Railway Santa Special. Photo taken from the conveniently placed A47 Dereham bypass bridge.

20206 arrives at Yaxham station on 14 December 1997 with the 13:00 Santa Special from Dereham The Mid Norfolk Railway had reopened the line to this point two years previously. It would be another two years before the line was reopened all the way to Wymondham.

I suppose the novelty of wrong line working adds to the interest, but it certainly hasn't helped the photographic composition! 20210 & 20169 climb Sapperton Bank at Chalford on 4 August 1991 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z62 12:45 Gloucester to Kemble mini railtour, run in connection with the Gloucester Rail Day.

20210 & 20169 bring up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z62 13:20 Kemble to Gloucester mini railtour, as it passes through Stroud station on 4 August 1991. 60063 James Murray is already out of sight around the corner. This was one of a number of specials run in connection with the Gloucester Rail Day.

In soft evening light on 9 April 1992, 20214 & 20094 slowly come off the Derby line at Clay Cross with six loaded POA scrap wagons bound for Aldwarke. Class 20s were rapidly being replaced by more modern motive power (Class 60s) at this time, and indeed neither of these locos would see out the year, although at least 20214 did see railtour use a few months later.

20214 & 20121 come off the Goole line at Gilberdyke on 19 July 1992 with the Pathfinder Tours 05:25 Swindon to Scarborough 'Two Roses Voyager' railtour. Obviously with a name like that it was not going to be a direct route, and although the outward run to the Yorkshire coast was fairly conventional, the return leg did of course involve a trip across the Pennines into Lancashire. The 20s were of course the highlight of the day, but 47823 was employed on the more mundane part of the journey to and from Sheffield.

20215 & 20142 pass between the signal box and goods shed on the site of Whitwell station, whilst working the 2G91 12:46 Worksop to Chesterfield special on 1 September 1991. This was one of a number of special trains run in connection with the Worksop Open Day. The train would reverse a short distance up the line at Elmton & Creswell Junction, with 60069 (just visible on the rear) taking over to Chesterfield. Both the signal box and goods shed are long gone, but on the plus side, Whitwell station has reopened since this picture was taken.

Having just crossed the Forth Bridge, 20225 & 20205 pass through North Queensferry station on 16 July 1983 with the 6G35 08:31 Mossend to Thornton Yard Speedlink. The three PAA hoppers at the front of the train contain china clay, and are destined for the Tullis Russell paper mill at Auchmuty.

At least one other photographer records 20227 & 20188, as they cross Frampton Mansell viaduct in failing light on 17 September 1989 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z21 16:55 Gloucester to Swindon railtour on 17 September 1989. This was one of a number of mini railtours run in connection with the Gloucester Rail Day.

20227 passes Golden Valley on 17 October 1992 with the 11:18 Riddings to Hammersmith service, during the Midland Railway Centre's Diesel Gala. The loco was withdrawn from BR service in October 1990, and sold to the Class 20 Locomotive Society. It arrived at Butterley in September 1991.

20227 Traction & 31162 pull away from Butterley station on 23 July 1994 with the 13:20 departure for Riddings, during the Midland Railway Centre's Diesel Gala. 20227 had been named Traction earlier in the month, in connection with the launch of Traction Magazine.

In glorious spring sunshine on 28 March 2012, 20227 & 20142 pass Rearsby with the 7X09 11:42 Old Dalby to Amersham underground stock move, comprising brand new S Stock units 21068 & 21067. 20905 & 20901 can be seen bringing up the rear. With not a cloud in the sky, and the train definitely running, it would seem that nothing could go wrong. However, just as the train came into view, a large piece of bright yellow farm machinery in the field behind the line decided to move into shot. Luckily it was travelling marginally faster than the train, and has just exited to the left!

With Bardon Quarry visible on the horizon, 20227 & 20142 bring up the rear of the 7X09 11:42 Old Dalby to Amersham underground stock move on 28 March 2012, comprising brand new S Stock units 21068 & 21067. 20905 & 20901 are the lead locomotives.

A bizarre spectacle at Radley on 19 April 2013. Fresh from a repaint into two different interpretations of London Underground livery, 20227 & 20189 pass through the station with the 0Z20 12:27 Butterley MRC to West Ruislip light engine move. I very rarely bother to photograph light engines, but the sheer novelty of the livery, and the rarity of Class 20s at Radley, made this worthwhile. I was already at Radley to photograph 56303 on the Didcot to Calvert flyash, so it was no hardship to wait a few minutes for this burst of colour.

A colourful spectacle at Clay Mills on 25 June 2014, as 20227 & 20905 slow down under adverse signals, prior to being be looped whilst working the 7X09 15:55 Derby Adtranz Litchurch Lane to Amersham S Stock underground stock move. More conventionally liveried 20118 & 20312 were bringing up the rear.

20227 & 20142 Sir John Betjeman pass Greatmoor (between Calvert and Quainton Road) on 29 April 2018 with the London Transport Museum 1Z33 10:22 Harrow-on-the-Hill to Quainton Road 'Class 20 Metropolitan' Railtour. Class 33 D6515 is bringing up the rear. Although this looks like a very rural location, and indeed can only be reached by a long walk, just off to the left of the picture is a huge new waste burning electricity generating facility.

20227 was named Sherlock Holmes at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre's Quainton Road station on 29 April 2018. It is seen here along with 20142 Sir John Betjeman just a few minutes later, as it passes the site of Waddesdon Manor station with the London Transport Museum 1Z20 15:05 Quainton Road to West Ruislip 'Class 20 Metropolitan' Railtour. Class 33 D6515 is on the rear.

20227 Sherlock Holmes & 20189 pass through Stratford Parkway station on 1 August 2021 with the Vintage Trains 1T53 16:13 Stratford-upon-Avon to Birmingham Snow Hill 'Shakespeare Express' railtour. Note the inconveniently positioned 20mph speed restriction sign next the loco. This ensured that there was negligible audio entertainment! However, the lighting was a bonus, as this was just a few minutes worth of sunshine, amid the dark clouds.

20227 Sherlock Holmes & 20189 pass Burbage Common on 4 August 2021 with the Vintage Trains 1Z85 07:27 Tyseley to Skegness 'Jolly Fisherman' railtour. This was running 131 minutes late, owing to it being held for over two hours at Nuneaton due to a paperwork issue! Although my choice of location meant that the sun would still just be on the front, the delay meant that the clouds were quickly building up, and in fact the sun had only just reappeared from behind a large cloud. I am rapidly using up my sun luck!

20227 Sherlock Holmes & 20189 pass Rowington on 8 August 2021 with the Vintage Trains 1T51 12:52 Stratford-upon-Avon to Birmingham Snow Hill 'Shakespeare Express' railtour. This looks like a quiet rural location, but just behind the line, and now virtually hidden by bushes is the M40 motorway, so it is anything but quiet! Despite the road noise, the 20s sounded great.

Running 11 minutes early, 20227 Sherlock Holmes & 20189 pass Shrewley on 8 August 2021 with the Vintage Trains 1T53 16:13 Stratford-upon-Avon to Birmingham Snow Hill 'Shakespeare Express' railtour. I had chosen this location as the sun would be on the front of this train. Although there were a few gaps in the clouds, sadly this time the sun eluded me!

20227 Sherlock Holmes & 20189 pass through Bearley station on 22 August 2021 with the Vintage Trains 1T51 12:52 Stratford-upon-Avon to Birmingham Snow Hill 'Shakespeare Express' railtour. I'm not sure whether more or less people were out to see this, compared with if it had been the more normal GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 7029 Clun Castle!

20227 Sherlock Holmes & 20189 pass Hatton North Junction on 22 August 2021 with the Vintage Trains 1T53 16:13 Stratford-upon-Avon to Birmingham Snow Hill 'Shakespeare Express' railtour. Although the clouds were rapidly melting away to leave a sunny evening, as the coaches ware passing underneath the footbridge, the light died. I hadn't realised quite how close a small cloud was getting to the sun!

With the sun setting behind the train, 20228 & 20063 pass through Blair Atholl station on 14 July 1983 with the 6D02 18:45 Inverness to Mossend Speedlink. Although the goods shed in the background is disused, the yard is still in use, with a rake of departmental wagons stabled in the bay platform. This whole area is now covered by trees.