20301 & 20302 get under way from the Albion Chemicals works at Sandbach on 16 April 1999 with the 6C20 14:15 Sandbach to Sellafield nitric acid tanks. It was well worth the wait in the drizzle for this now historic picture, with the train's point of origin directly behind the locomotives, although admittedly mostly obscured by the then brand new 56 megawatt gas turbine power station. The acid was used at Sellafield to dissolve spent nuclear fuel rods.

20301 Max Joule 1958-1999 leads the 3S14 11:14 Grimsby to Malton Rail Head Treatment Train past Tilts on 24 November 2008, with classmate 20302 bringing up the rear. The severe gradient is required to allow the line to cross the East Coast Mainline, the bridge over which can just be seen in the background. Fortunately there was a north wind on this day, as the farmer had just started a bonfire of hedge cuttings and chicken feathers right next to the line. This made an unbelievable amount of smoke, which luckily was being blown away from the railway (and me)!

20302, 20301 Furness Railway 150 & 20303 run alongside the River Kent estuary, as they approach Grange-over-Sands on 1 June 1996 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z37 05:50 Bristol Temple Meads to Workington 'Cumbrian Coaster' railtour. Given the unusual motive power, and the scenic location, I was surprised to be the only photographer here.

With the towers of the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant dominating the background, 20302, 20301 Furness Railway 150 & 20303 pass Nethertown on 1 June 1996 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z37 05:50 Bristol Temple Meads to Workington 'Cumbrian Coaster' railtour.

20302 & 20301 arrive at Sandbach on 16 April 1999 with the 6F20 08:25 Sellafield to Sandbach empty nitric acid tanks. The train is approaching the Albion Chemicals works, a facility that closed in 2007, and which has now been demolished to make way for yet another housing estate.

20302, 20306, 20310 & 20307 pass Brock with the 6K73 15:38 Sellafield to Crewe nuclear flasks on 6 May 2008. The use of four locomotives on this train is not as ridiculous as it looks, as the train splits into two portions at Crewe, serving individual power stations. This was one of those annoying occasions when the sun went behind a cloud just at the critical time, however careful use of Photoshop has insured that the correct amount of detail is retained in the sky area, instead of the dreaded blank sky that normally results from such conditions.

20302 & 20305 Gresty Bridge pass Asfordby in the gloom on 23 November 2011 with the 7X09 11.42 Asfordby (Old Dalby) to Amersham London Underground S-Stock move, with sister locos 20304 & 20301 bringing up the rear. This particular new unit, fresh from testing at Old Dalby, comprises vehicles 21059, 22059, 24059, 24060, 23060, 22060 & 21060. The spire of St Peter's church, Kirby Bellars can be seen behind the train.

20302 pulls way from a signal check at Hatfield & Stainforth station on 28 November 2012, as it works the 3S14 11:13 Grimsby Town to Malton RHTT, with the help of 20312 on the rear. It was a worrying few minutes as it sat at the signal to allow a couple of DMUs to pass, as a bank of cloud was approaching fast from the north!

English Electric power and wind power! 20302 brings up the rear of the 3S13 08:50 Wrenthorpe to Grimsby Town RHTT at Maud's Bridge on 13 November 2013, with 20312 providing the power at the front end. My car can be seen, just in front of the lead loco.

20302 & 20305 Gresty Bridge slowly approach Harrowden Junction in glorious winter light on 11 January 2014 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z20 06:22 Crewe to Ely Papworth Siding 'Deviationer' railtour. 37194 can just be seen bringing up the rear. The train was just about to cross onto the relief line. Needless to say there was a large crowd of photographers at this spot, it being one of the few places free of shadows at this time of the morning.

20302 passes Melton Ross on 6 November 2017 with the 3S14 11:15 Grimsby Town to Bridlington Rail Head Treatment Train. 20303 Max Joule 1958-1999 is on the rear. I had hoped for a bit more autumn colour on the trees, but at least I had picked a completely sunny day!

20302 & 20305 pass Normanton on 18 January 2020 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z50 15:03 Leeds to Bristol Temple Meads 'DRS Class 20 Farewell' railtour. This was running 22 minutes late, but the sun had already disappeared long before the correct departure time. It was therefore quite a surprise when the setting sun briefly reappeared as the train came into view. Although only very weak, the sun was shining directly through the arch of the bridge on which I was standing, adding a touch of light to the locomotives.

20303, 20301 Furness Railway 150 & 20302 pass Nethertown with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z37 15:40 Workington to Bristol Temple Meads 'Cumbrian Coaster' railtour on 1 June 1996. The Irish Sea is just out of the picture to the left. 20301 had only just had its Furness Railway 150 nameplates unveiled an hour or so earlier at Workington station by the local mayor and Max Joule, the managing director of Direct Rail Services.

20303 & 20304 with their single nuclear flask, pass Badgeworth on 24 July 2012 with the 6M56 13:43 Berkeley to Crewe. At least this minuscule train fits this location quite well, as the relatively new communications mast isn't sticking out of the top of the train, and the signal doesn't get in the way!

The 3S13 08:51 Wrenthorpe to Grimsby Town Rail Head Treatment Train whistles past Melton Ross on 6 November 2017, led by relatively clean 20303 Max Joule 1958-1999, with 'RHTT brown' grime encrusted 20302 bringing up the rear. Although it has been said in previous years, it is claimed that 2017 will be the last year that these veteran locos are used on these workings.

20303 Max Joule 1958-1999 approaches Godnow Bridge on 5 November 2018 with the 3S13 08:50 Wrenthorpe to Grimsby Rail Head Treatment Train, with 20305 bringing up the rear. This was running 24 minutes late. An extremely dull and misty morning, but at least the still conditions allowed a reasonable reflection in the water.

20304 leads the 3S13 08:50 Wrenthorpe to Grimsby Town RHTT through Thorne South station on 18 October 2013. 20312 is having its DRS blue livery gradually converted to muddy brown by the spray on the rear of the train. Thorne's distinctive concrete water tower dominates the background.

20304 brings up the rear of the 3S21 14:53 York Works to Gilberdyke RHTT at Little Fenton on 12 November 2013. 20305 Gresty Bridge is the leading the train. Unfortunately, despite the low angle of the sun, there isn't much of a glint, due to filthy coating of dirt all over the train!

An interesting and innovate freight trial took place during the summer of 1997, conveying an intermodal milk tanker from Penrith to Carlisle. As can be guessed from this meagre load, the trial was not successful. With appropriate 'Milkliner' headboard, 20305 & 20301 pass through Radlett on 12 July 1997 with the 6Z58 12:53 Penrith to Cricklewood.

'Be Aware' says the notice! You could hardly fail to be aware of the freshly painted DRS 20305 parked outside the Brush Works, Loughborough, on 16 June 2002. This picture is taken from the embankment of the Great Central Railway.

In golden late afternoon autumnal light, not long before sunset on 12 November 2013, 20305 Gresty Bridge leads the 3S21 14:53 York Works to Gilberdyke RHTT past Little Fenton, with classmate 20304 bringing up the rear. Luckily this was running five minutes early, as the light was diminishing rapidly, and the sun was heading for a bank of cloud near the horizon. Note the water cascading down the side of the first tank.

20305 Gresty Bridge passes through Crowle station on 28 November 2016 with the 3S13 08:51 Wrenthorpe to Grimsby Town Rail Head Treatment Train, with 20312 on the rear. The sun had only just started to appear from underneath a huge mass of dark clouds, which does at least provide a dramatic background.

20305 approaches Crowle on 5 November 2018 with the late running 3S14 11:13 Grimsby to Bridlington Rail Head Treatment Train. 20303 Max Joule 1958-1999 is on the rear. I particularly like the composition of this picture, with the converging lines of the railway, the waterway, and the road. The stream is the North Soak Drain, a waterway that parallels the much wider Stainforth & Keadby Canal, which is just behind the bushes on the right. There is a similar waterway on the other side of the canal, unsurprisingly called the South Soak Drain.

20305 passes the Melton Ross Lime Works, near Croxton, on 2 December 2019 with the 3S14 11:17 Grimsby Town to Bridlington Rail Head Treatment Train. 20314 is bringing up the rear. Although there have been rumours in previous years, 2019 is supposed to be the final year of Class 20 RHTT operations.

20305 passes Crabley Creek Signal Box on 3 December 2019 with the 3S14 11:32 Woodburn Junction to Hull Rail Head Treatment Train. Slightly less grubby 20314 is bringing up the rear. On the left is Crabley Farm, the sole reason for the level crossing and signal box.

Class 20 RHTT sunset. 20305 brings up the rear of the 3S15 15:01 Hull to York Thrall Europa Rail Head Treatment Train at Goole on 3 December 2019. I had taken the approaching shot, with 20314 leading, but it hadn't occurred to me to also take this going away shot, as it was looking directly into the sun. However, I suddenly realised that this might make an interesting picture. With the sun setting behind Goole's landmark water towers, and the backlighting picking up the spray from the train, it certainly does that!

20305 passes through Crowle station on 4 December 2019 with the 3S14 11:17 Grimsby Town to Bridlington Rail Head Treatment Train, with 20314 bringing up the rear. There is a severe temporary speed restriction through the station, so despite the minuscule load, there was some classic English Electric chopper audio entertainment, as the locos picked up speed again on the other side of the roadbridge.

20305 & 20302 pass Whixley on 18 January 2020 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z49 05:13 Bristol Temple Meads to Leeds 'DRS Class 20 Farewell' railtour. I stumbled upon this location purely by change, whilst en-route to the more obvious location of Poppleton. The conveniently positioned tree makes this an excellent choice for a more a scenic shot, and was well worth the muddy walk across the field!

It may seem strange that the Rail Head Treatment Train runs through the East Anglian Fens, an area notable for the virtual total absence of trees. However, once past Thetford, the line passes through several areas of forests, and here at Eccles Heath the cause of the problem can be appreciated. Although the silver birches in the background have lost their leaves, the oaks were still showing some autumn colour on 27 November 2006, when a filthy 20307 passed with the 1Z63 13:35 Wymondham to Colchester RHTT running 75 minutes early. 20312 is on the rear. This line is rich in steam age infrastructure, including semaphore signalling, and as seen here still used telegraph poles.

20308 & 20311 descend the Lickey Incline, and pass Bromsgrove on 6 May 2000 with the John Fishwick & Sons 1Z70 06:03 Blackpool North to Minehead 'Somerset Fusilier' railtour. As might be apparent from the tour's name, D1023 Western Fusilier powered the train over the West Somerset Railway. Both the 20s decided to shut down at some point in the journey, leaving a single 1000hp loco to struggle on with eleven coaches and a dead loco. 20311 disgraced itself on the outward journey near Weston-super-Mare, whilst 20308's turn came when it suffered a coolant leak near Stafford on the return trip.

It was barely light when 20308 & 20309 set off with the Spitfire Railtours 1Z37 06:07 Gloucester to Penzance 'Kernow Voyager' railtour on 25 June 2011. Here they are a few miles into the journey, passing Little Haresfield in terrible light. The forecasters had correctly predicted poor weather, but the prospect of this pair of 20s, plus the bonus of 2 x 37s and 2 x 31s, all on railtours to the Mazey Day celebrations, made it virtually essential to venture out for the heritage traction feast.

Rare track for a loco hauled train. After pausing for a few seconds, 20308 gets its heavy train underway again at the diminutive Barrow Haven station. It is working the Pathfinder Tours 1Z38 13:53 Cleethorpes to Crewe 'Trent Almighty' railtour on 6 September 2014. Eleven coaches, and two dead locos on the back ensured that 20308 was making plenty of noise!

20308 brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z38 13:53 Cleethorpes to Crewe 'Trent Almighty' railtour at Immingham East Junction on 6 September 2014. Unfortunately the bushes obscure all but a flash of yellow of the lead locomotives, 20309 & 20312.

20308 & 20305 Gresty Bridge plod slowly up the 1 in 37 Lickey Incline on 12 April 2015 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z47 08:28 Crewe to Barton-under-Needwood 'Dimple, Darley & Dale' railtour. A magnificent sight and sound as the two veteran 1,000hp locos attack the bank after no chance of a run up, as the train had reversed at Bromsgrove, at the foot of the bank. I thought I was going to be unlucky with the sun here, as a large black cloud was in the way as the 20s could be seen approaching through the bushes in the background. However, the train was moving so slowly that the sun had reappeared at the critical moment.

20308 & 20305 Gresty Bridge pass Kings Sutton at speed on 28 August 2015 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z68 06:07 Nuneaton to Kingswear 'Torbay Flyer' railtour. I had noticed a patch of cloud approaching from the west, the edge of which can be seen in the picture. What I hadn't realised until I looked round, was that it had grown considerably, and just a couple of minutes after the train passed, it blotted out the sun for a considerable period.

DRS 20309 & 20311 provide the power, and Fragonset 31468 provides the train heat, as the Eagle Railtours 1Z27 09:58 Worcester Shrub Hill to Buxton 'High Peak Explorer' railtour emerges from Barmoor Clough Tunnel on 28 March 1999.

20309 & 20311 trundle slowly along the up loop at Spetchley on 29 April 1999 with the 7M53 13:58 Bridgwater to Sellafield nuclear flask. Although already running late, it then sat in the loop for 40 minutes, allowing another picture to be taken.

20309 & 20311 sit in the loop at Spetchley on 29 April 1999 with the late running 7M53 13:58 Bridgwater to Sellafield nuclear flask. Some unexplained problem caused the train to remain in the loop for 40 minutes, resulting in the delay increasing to over two hours by the time it finally left.

20309 & 20308 accelerate away from Nuneaton on 5 March 2011 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z83 06:01 Crewe to Norwich 'Norfolk Broadsman' railtour. Unfortunately the previous day's brilliant sun had been replaced by mist and dark clouds. Despite this, I wasn't going to miss out on the now very rare chance to get a picture of a pair of 'Choppers' working a passenger train. 37667 can just be seen in the gloom, bringing up the rear of the train.

20309 leads the 3S14 11:13 Grimsby Town to Malton Rail Head Treatment Train past Barnby Dun on 16 October 2013. 20302 is on the rear. Luckily this was running exactly to time, which saved me from having to stand around in the rain. Although an exceedingly dull day, up until this point the rain that the Met Office had forecast would be following me up from the south had still not arrived. However, as soon as I got back in the car the rain finally caught up with me!

20309 & 20312 pass Kirton Lime Sidings signal box on 6 September 2014 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z77 05:59 Crewe to Cleethorpes 'Trent Almighty' railtour. This superb Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway box was built in 1886, and is now grade II listed. The impressively tall structure is build hard against the road overbridge that spans the cutting, and its road level entrance can be seen on the right.

Running alongside the Humber Estuary, you would think that the Barton-on-Humber branch was flat. This telephoto view shows that it clearly not. 20309 & 20312 approach Barrow Haven on 6 September 2014 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z38 13:53 Cleethorpes to Crewe 'Trent Almighty' railtour.

After a period of torrential rain, which had managed to soak my camera and camera bag, 20309 & 20312 slowly pass Immingham East Junction on 6 September 2014 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z38 13:53 Cleethorpes to Crewe 'Trent Almighty' railtour. 20308 is on the rear of the train. Immingham East Junction signal box has none of the character of a traditional signal box. It is that Portakabin behind the fenced compound. The signalman had just received the token from the driver, using the little bridge to safely step over the pipes!

This was a welcome surprise when visiting the Cumbrian Coast on 17 May 2002. Instead of the expected pair of Class 20s on the 7C20 08:12 Sellafield to Drigg tip low level nuclear waste containers, a single locomotive (20310) was provided, seen here passing Seascale, with the Sellafield nuclear plant in the background. Not unheard of, but certainly unusual and with the guaranteed prospect of a bonnet first working on the return. Just visible on the footpath on the left is a dog, who was vigorously and noisily chasing the train. An anti-nuclear protester?

20310 passes Seascale on 17 May 2012 with the 7C21 09:20 Drigg tip to Sellafield low level waste empty containers. After having seen the loaded train an hour earlier, I was looking forward to this rare bonnet first working, but was quite surprised when a sudden burst of sunshine appeared from nowhere, nicely lighting the train against the dark background. Apart from the early days of the class in the 1950s and 1960s, bonnet first working has not been common on the main line, even with a miniscule load such as this.

Believe it not both of these locos and the wagons are blue! Over a month's use on the Rail Head Treatment Train has taken its toll on the DRS Class 20s, as an absolutely filthy 20310 leads classmate 20311 on the 1Z63 13:35 Wymondham to Colchester RHTT as it approaches Shippea Hill station on 29 November 2006, running its customary 70 minutes early. Although apparently not so good further west, in East Anglian it was a completely sunny day with not a cloud all day.

20310 Gresty Bridge & 20307 slow down for the approach to Oxford, as they pass Wolvercote with the Spitfire Railtours 1Z30 05:29 Crewe to Weymouth 'Wey-farer' railtour on 19 April 2008, running 6 minutes late. 57601 was on the rear of the train providing ETH. Note the up goods relief line on the right and the wide area on the left where there was a formerly a down goods relief line as far as Wolvercote Junction, which is just out of sight around the corner in the distance. The bridge visible in the background is the A34 Oxford bypass.

DRS 20311 & 20309 are pictured high in the Peak District at Edale on 28 March 1999 with the Eagle Railtours 'High Peak Explorer' from Worcester Shrub Hill to Buxton. Despite the somewhat open nature of the landscape it proved difficult to find a location for this train that wasn't partly shaded. It was also one of those days when the sun kept disappearing into high level cloud. Thankfully the sun was out reasonably well when the 20s came into view under the bridge.

The bright sunny morning of 29 November 2006 sees 20311 approaching Shippea Hill station with the 1Z61 09:10 Stowmarket to Trowse Rail Head Treatment Train, with 20310 on the rear. Needless to say I was glad the train was moving slowly as the 170 unit on the 09:57 Norwich to Liverpool service seen receding into the distance could very easily have blocked the view, as both trains came into view at the same time.

20311 (recently named Class 20 Fifty) & 20315 storm past Great Hale (between Sleaford and Boston) with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z20 08:15 Barrow Hill to Skegness 'Jolly Fisherman' railtour on 29 August 2007, the first Class 20 hauled passenger train to the east coast resort for 14 years. Yet again, a sunny start to the day was rapidly giving way to full cloud cover. The train was running 30 minutes late at this point. It was lucky it was no later, as a couple of minutes after this picture was taken the sun disappeared. 

With the rain just having stopped, 20311 & 20314 pass Frisby-on-the-Wreake on 28 August 2015 with the 7X23 09:33 Derby Adtranz Litchurch Lane to Old Dalby, conveying brand new London Underground S-stock. 20107 & 20096 can be seen on the rear of the train.

With 20107 & 20096 idling noisily underneath the footbridge on which I am standing, 20311 & 20314 slowly propel the new London Underground S stock unit to the far end of the Asfordby Depot, Old Dalby, on 28 August 2015. All four Class 20s had arrived with the underground stock as the 7X23 09:33 Derby Adtranz Litchurch Lane to Old Dalby.

20311 & 20314 pass the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham, on 27 April 2020 with the 5Q76 07:36 Ely Papworth Sidings to Newport Docks (Sims Group), conveying a rake of off lease GWR HST coaches for scrap. While these high quality Mk3s head for the cutter's torch, their barely adequate replacement can be seen disappearing into the distance, in the form of the 1A18 11:30 Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington Class 800 EMU. Interestingly, the locos pre-date the condemned stock that they are hauling by around 15 years!

Running a staggering 151 minutes late, 20311 & 20314 pass Thrupp on 14 May 2020 with the 5O86 10:40 (13:03 actual) Leicester to Eastleigh Arlington barrier move. This late running was very fortunate, as at the correct time the lighting would have been straight down the track, and totally useless. Also, I was elsewhere at the time, and hadn't taken any notice of this working. Only the timely text from a friend allowed me to go out again, just after I had arrived home.

20312 & 20306 approach Acton Bridge on 8 February 2003 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z27 04:43 Bristol Temple Meads to Buxton Sidings 'Folly Forester' railtour. 56071, which worked the tour up as far as Crewe, is out of sight on the rear of the train.

20312 & 20306 bring up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z27 04:43 Bristol Temple Meads to Buxton 'Folly Forester' railtour on 8 February 2003, seen here negotiating the deep rock cutting near Dove Holes Tunnel. 56071 is at the front of the train. I was surprised to be able to access this location, which has since been sealed off by Network Rail. Also, at the time I didn't know about the shotgun wielding farmer who owns the adjacent field, and doesn't like photographers. Luckily I didn't see him on this occasion!

20312 approaches Lakenheath station with the 1Z61 09:10 Stowmarket to Trowse Rail Head Treatment Train on 27 November 2006, with 20307 bringing up the rear. There was considerable hooting before the train came into view, as the signalman hadn't closed the crossing gates and consequently the signals were at danger, in fact, the signal had only just been pulled off and the train was down to walking speed when I took this picture. It did mean however, that I then enjoyed some Class 20 thrash as they opened up through the station!

20312 brings up the rear of the 1Z63 13:35 Wymondham to Colchester Rail Head Treatment Train at Eccles Heath on 27 November 2006. 20307 is leading. There aren't many locations on the national network where traditional telephone wires still run alongside the line!

20312 & 20308 approach Walton Well Road, Oxford, on 5 May 2012 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z61 06:23 Crewe to Eastleigh 'Hampshire Hotchpotch' railtour. 37409 is out of sight on the rear, providing ETS. I had originally intended to photograph this train at Shrivenham, as I have few (if any) pictures of Class 20s on the Didcot to Swindon line. However, I could see that a sunny spell was developing over Oxford, so opted for the location with lighting angle. In the event, the sun only just came out in time.

20312 passes Crowle in atrocious light on 28 November 2012 with the 3S13 08:50 Wrenthorpe to Grimsby Town Rail Head Treatment Train, with 20302 bringing up the rear. They make look filthy, but for a RHTT this is relatively clean - you can still read 'Direct Rail Services' on the side of 20312!

A different perspective on a well photographed train. Rather than go for the standard trackside shot of the 3S13 08:50 Wrenthorpe to Grimsby Town Rail Head Treatment Train on 13 November 2013, I opted for a 'train in the landscape' type picture. With a road sign providing foreground depth, 20312 leads the train past Maud's Bridge, with 20302 bringing up the rear. I particularly like the way the dark ploughed field contrasts with the dead grass in the foreground. The distinctive concrete water tower at Thorne can just be seen on the extreme left. I am always a little apprehensive when attempting these arty shots, but I think this one seems to have worked!

Absolutely filthy 20312 approaches Thorne South on 28 November 2016 with the 3S14 11:17 Grimsby Town to Bridlington Rail Head Treatment Train. Equally filthy 20305 Gresty Bridge is in the rear. The turbines of the Tween Bridge Wind Farm dominate the background.

20313 & 20314 approach Talerddig Summit in atrocious light on 16 May 1999 with the Eagle Railtours Aberystwyth to Leamington Spa 'Cambrian Mountain Explorer' railtour. The tour participants had earlier enjoyed a ride behind GWR 2-6-2T 9 Prince of Wales on the narrow gauge Vale of Rheidol Railway.

20313, 20315 & 20314 pass Haughley Green with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z20 05:30 Crewe to Ipswich 'Twenty Twenty Vision' railtour on 10 March 2007. The tour was running a very respectable 15 minutes early at this point, and in fact it kept well to time all day. Considering the excellent vantage point for eastbound trains at this location, and the perfect angle for the sun, I was surprised that only one other local photographer joined me on the bridge.

20313, 20315 & 20314 approach the level crossing at Knodishall Green on the Leiston branch with the Pathfinder Tours 'Twenty Twenty Vision' railtour on 10 March 2007, now running as 1Z21 Ipswich to Cambridge via Leiston. 47501 had been attached to the rear of the train at Ipswich, which then became the lead loco as it went down the Leiston branch. Unfortunately by this time the weather had deteriorated, but it started to brighten up a little as the 20s returned from Leiston, only for the sun to come out a few minutes later! The branch is normally only used by nuclear flasks trains, appropriately hauled by these very locos.

While the Pathfinder Tours 1Z21 Ipswich to Cambridge via Leiston 'Twenty Twenty Vision' participants were enjoying a photo stop at Saxmundham on 10 March 2007, I was searching for a location south of the town, after having seen the tour on the Leiston branch. Every location I looked at was shaded by bushes or trees, and in two cases were down such narrow lanes, that I had to reverse back out to the main road! With time running out I settled on this spot in a field near Campsey Ash, although the sun was much more head on than I would have liked. 20313 is seen here leading sister locos 20315 & 20314. It was only on the way back to the car that I saw where the footpath was, not at all straight across the ploughed field which was the shortest route from the village!

A colourful sight on a gloomy summer evening! Harry Needle's bright orange 20314 & 20311 lead the 7X09 15:54 Derby Litchurch Lane to Amersham S Stock underground unit move past Shrewley on 10 July 2013. 20142 & 20189 are bringing up the rear. It is not easy to hear them coming at this spot, due to the close proximity of the M40 motorway!

20314 & 20311 approach Wychnor Junction on 3 June 2015 with the 7X09 15:55 Derby Litchurch Lane to Amersham S Stock underground unit move. 20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea & 20132 are bringing up the rear. I was most surprised to be the only person at this well known location, especially as it seemed that there was much more cloud both to the north and the south.

20314 & 20107 make a terrific racket as they pull away from a crew change at Banbury on 1 July 2016 with the 7X10 02:16 Amersham to Derby Litchurch Lane, conveying London Underground S8 units for modifications. At 05:56 the sun is obviously extremely low in the sky, but it was only as the train pulled into the station that it actually appeared from behind the clouds, revealing that the foreground shadows were worse than I expected, which resulted in a swift lens change. 20905 & 20096 are on the rear of the train, hidden by Banbury's 1950s station building.

20314 passes Melton Ross on 2 December 2019 with the 3S13 08:51 Wrenthorpe to Grimsby Town Rail Head Treatment Train. The Harry Needle owned orange Class 20 may be in reasonably clean condition, but the rest of the train, including DRS 20305 on the rear, is in the customary 'RHTT brown' livery! However, with this being the final year of Class 20s on these workings, and a fine sunny morning, this was well worth recording.

20314 brings up the rear of the 3S14 11:32 Woodburn Junction to Hull Rail Head Treatment Train at Crabley Creek on 3 December 2019. 20305 is the lead locomotive. After many years of Class 20 operation on these trains, and rumours for several years, this finally looks like it will be the last year.

20314 approaches Goole at sunset on 3 December 2019 with the 3S15 15:01 Hull to York Thrall Europa Rail Head Treatment Train. 20305 is bringing up the rear. The driver is waving to some children crossing what at this particular time was a very busy footbridge.

20314 runs alongside the Stainforth & Keadby Canal at Crowle on 4 December 2019 with the 3S13 08:51 Wrenthorpe to Grimsby Town Rail Head Treatment Train. 20305 is on the rear. It was a perfect completely sunny day in Lincolnshire, while back home in Oxfordshire it was either foggy or extremely dull!

With a toot from the driver, 20314 & 20311 pass Uffington on 4 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. Luckily this was only running a couple of minutes late. Any later and the sun would have disappeared into a very large black cloud.

20314 & 20311 pass South Marston on 6 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. Class 20s have never been common on the Great Western Mainline, but I never imaged years ago that I would see them on a job like this!

20901 Nancy passes Evenlode on 4 May 1996 with the Reading to Moreton-in-Marsh Hunslet Barclay weedkilling train. As usual, 20904 Janis is bringing up the rear. A very backlit location, but I wasn't going to miss a picture of a Class 20 on the Cotswold Line.

Very unusual motive power for the Cotswold Line. 20901 Nancy passes through Kingham station with an Old Oak Common to Hereford Hunslet Barclay weedkilling train on 4 September 1996. Sister loco 20904 Janis can just be seen on the rear of the train. Surprisingly this is not the only picture of Class 20s I have at this location, as five years before I had photographed a railtour from this spot. The vantage point is from the abutment of the former flyover bridge carrying the little used Banbury to Cheltenham direct line across the Cotswold Line. When that line was open, most trains called at Kingham, so did not use the flyover, but reversed in the station. I was lucky with the sun here, as this superb evening light disappeared just after the train!

20901 Nancy brings up the rear of the 03:54 Old Oak Common to Hereford Hunslet Barclay weedkilling train at Moreton-in-Marsh on 14 May 1997. 20904 Janis is leading the train. I couldn't resist this picture, with the houses and church of Moreton-in-Marsh emerging from the early morning mist in the background.

On 20 March 2009, 20901 & 20905 were used to move three withdrawn Class 37s from Barrow Hill to Long Marston for long term storage. 37412 & 37672 have clearly seen better days and are in a terrible external condition, but the rear loco, 37029 was until recently in use with DRS and would presumably be suitable for further use. The convoy is pictured here at Norton running as 6Z37 09:30 Barrow Hill to Long Marston, the four wagons added for brake force at the rear presumably changing it from the originally allocated 0Z37. The train was by this point running approximately 45 minutes late and had consequently lost its original booked path down the single track Cotswold Line.

In near darkness on 23 November 2011, 20901 leads the 3S21 14:53 York Works to Gilberdyke Rail Head Treatment Train towards Milford Junction, with equally grubby 20905 bringing up the rear. Luckily it was running exactly to time, as the light level was dropping by the minute! The bridge in the background carries the Leeds to Selby line.

Another move of brand new S stock underground units took place on 28 March 2012, after the units had been tested at Old Dalby. 20901 & 20905 lead the 7X09 11:42 Old Dalby to Amersham past Bagworth, with 20142 & 20227 just visible on the rear of the train.

20901 passes through Kemble station at high speed on 5 June 2023, running as the 0V74 08:02 Derby RTC to Didcot Fuelling Point light engine. This was running over two hours late. I chose this location, as not only does the station's nameboard clearly show where it is, but the footbridge and the station's ornate canopy and supporting columns are clearly visible.

A remarkable working took place on the evening of 5 June 2023, when 20901 worked the 5Q81 18:07 Didcot Fuelling Point to Bristol Kingsland Road, running bonnet first with a single Sentinel SIM14 track and point inspection wagon. This had recently arrived from Holland. Given that they had plenty of opportunity to turn the loco on the triangle at Didcot, I was really surprised that it was bonnet first, but it certainly makes for an unusual picture. It is pictured here passing the Network Rail track access point at the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham. White Horse Hill can be seen in the background, with the outline of the 3,000 year old Uffington White Horse hill figure just visible near the horizon.

20904 Janis brings up the rear of the Hunslet Barclay weedkilling train at Narroways Hill Junction on 16 April 1991. 20901 Nancy is leading. This fine panoramic view of the northern suburbs of Bristol, includes Stapleton Road station in the background, next to St Mark's church (now deconsecrated).

20904 Janis brings up the rear of the Reading to Moreton-in-Marsh Hunslet Barclay weedkilling train at Evenlode on 4 May 1996. 20901 Nancy at the front of the train is just about to leave the very lucky patch of sunshine, and enter the gloom that seemed to persist all the time the train was waiting in Moreton-in-Marsh station, prior to returning south.

20904 Janis waits at Moreton-in-Marsh on 4 May 1996 on 4 May 1996, prior to returning from whence it came with the Hunslet Barclay weedkilling train. Annoyingly, the whole time it was there it was cloudy. Slightly ironic considering all the pictures I got of this train on the move were in sun (just!), but where there was lots of time to wait for the sun, it didn't appear. 166204 has just arrived at the station with the 09:45 Paddington to Great Malvern service.

20904 Janis ambles along the up relief line at South Moreton on 4 May 1996 with the Moreton-in-Marsh to Reading Hunslet Barclay weedkilling train. 20901 Nancy is bringing up the rear. After leaving the Cotswold Line, the train had traversed the Morris Cowley branch, before heading for Didcot.

At 06:15 on 14 May 1997, with the mist still hanging over the fields, 20904 Janis approaches Moreton-in-Marsh with the 03:54 Old Oak Common to Hereford Hunslet Barclay weedkilling train. 20901 Nancy is bringing up the rear.

20904 Janis stands at Moreton-in-Marsh on 14 May 1997 with the 03:54 Old Oak Common to Hereford Hunslet Barclay weedkilling train, with 20901 Nancy hiding under the roadbridge at the rear. After having seen it approaching Moreton-in-Marsh from the farm track bridge just to the south of the town, there was enough time to walk back to the car, and drive to the station for this second picture, while it waited for its path along the single track section to Evesham.

Most unusual traction for the Cotswold Line! With the houses of Lower Moor visible in the background, HNRC owned Class 20s 20905 & 20096 make a fine picture in the low winter sunshine as they approach Fladbury (between Pershore and Evesham) with the 5Z22 08:52 Gloucester to Long Marston stock move on Saturday 17 December 2005. The "mini HST" rake includes former Virgin Cross Country power cars 43121 & 43158 en-route from MoD Bicester for slightly less secure storage in the former Army depot at Long Marston.

20905 & 20096 arrive at Long Marston on 17 December 2005 with the 5Z22 08:52 Gloucester to Long Marston stock move, conveying HST power cars 43121 & 43158, along with a couple of Virgin Cross Country liveried coaches.

It is 05:18 on a still summer's morning at Hatton, and the sun has yet to burn off the early morning cloud. With no other noise anywhere around, it was easy to tell that this was coming, as the unmistakable English Electric chatter could be heard well in advance. 20905 & 20901 climb Hatton Bank with the 7X10 02:27 Amersham to Derby Litchurch Lane underground stock on 9 July 2013. 20096 & 20107 are on the rear. Naturally at this ridiculously early hour there isn't much light around, hence full aperture at ISO 1600.

20905 & 20901 pass Washwood Heath on 9 July 2013 with the 7X10 02:27 Amersham to Derby Litchurch Lane underground stock, being returned for modifications. 20096 & 20107 can clearly be seen on the rear. 08762 can also be seen in the background, on the left, taking a break from shunting duties. Considering that this is one of the few locations where this train has the sun on the front, I was surprised that there was only one other photographer on the bridge.

Just as the sun is setting, 20905 & 20901 pass Hatton on 11 May 2015 with the 7X09 11:47 Old Dalby to West Ruislip underground stock move, conveying a recently built S Stock unit. These new underground trains are built by Bombardier Transportation at Derby, and tested at the Old Dalby test track, before heading to London for commissioning. The trains are always worked south by two pairs of Class 20s, in this case the pair on the rear are 20118 & 20132.

The 6Z20 07:06 Derby to West Ruislip barrier wagons ambles down the Chiltern Line at Ardley on 14 August 2017. 20905 & 20096 (newly named Ian Goddard 1938-2016) lead a pair of TEA former oil tankers, with 20311 & 20314 bringing up the rear. This move was in preparation for moving a set of underground stock back to Derby. This was running virtually to time, which just shows how lax the schedule is, as it didn't leave Derby until 08:41 (95 minutes late). In fact it wasn't even activated on the system until 08:30!