D9000 Royal Scots Grey accelerates away from a speed restriction at Sterns on the Severn Valley Railway with a Bridgnorth to Kidderminster train during the line's Diesel Gala on 14 October 1989. Although in a sunny patch here, as can be seen from the clouds a number of pictures were spoiled by the sun going behind a cloud at the crucial moment.

A lucky sunny spell, amid the clouds, as D9000 Royal Scots Grey passes Northwood Lane on 14 October 1989 with a Bridgnorth to Kidderminster train, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. The trackbed at a lower level on the left, is the course of the old line to Tenbury Wells.

D9000 Royal Scots Grey & D9016 Gordon Highlander cross Greenway Viaduct on the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway with the 18:00 Kingswear to Paignton service on 20 June 1992, during the line's Diesel Gala. From the exhaust it seems that D9000 is running on one engine and D9016 is not providing power. Although this is probably not the case, one engine out of the available four would be more than sufficient for a train such as this on a heritage railway!

D9000 Royal Scots Grey does its best to blot out the landscape, as it passes Goodrington beach on 21 June 1992 with the late running 16:00 Paignton to Kingswear service, during the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway's Diesel Gala.

Eastern meets Western! D9000 Royal Scots Grey & GWR Hall Class 4-6-0 4920 Dumbleton Hall pass Waterside (near Goodrington) on 21 June 1992 with the 18:00 Kingswear to Paignton service, during the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway's Diesel Gala.

D9000 Royal Scots Grey bursts out of Blea Moor Tunnel on 29 March 1997 with the RT Railtours 1Z48 08:39 York to Carlisle 'Deltic Explorer' railtour. The train was routed outwards via the Settle & Carlisle line, but returned via the Tyne Valley line to Gateshead, and then home via the East Coast Mainline.

D9000 Royal Scots Grey passes Croome with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z56 11:30 Euston to Bristol Temple Meads 'Cross-Country Deltic' railtour on 13 April 1997. A very late start for a railtour and an unusual route - London to Bristol via Birmingham! For once there was no worrying about whether the sun would be out when the train came, as it was a completely sunny spring day.

D9000 Royal Scots Grey passes Compton Beauchamp on 13 April 1997 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z56 16:50 Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington 'Cross-Country Deltic' railtour. This was running half an hour late, but unfortunately that was not enough to turn the backlighting into a much more atmospheric glint shot.

D9000 Royal Scots Grey passes Swanley on 30 May 1998 with the 1O99 06:58 Birmingham New Street to Ramsgate Virgin CrossCountry service. The unbelievable sight of a preserved Deltic hauling a regular Saturday timetabled train was definitely the traction highlight of 1998.

D9000 Royal Scots Grey passes through Swanley station on 30 May 1998 with the 1S87 11:26 Ramsgate to Edinburgh Virgin CrossCountry service. Although a regular feature of the summer 1998 timetable, the train was presumably carrying many more enthusiasts than ordinary passengers!

A familiar location, but with less familiar traction. During 1998 & 1999, D9000 Royal Scots Grey was hired to Virgin CrossCountry at the weekend, to work the 1S87 11:26 Ramsgate to Edinburgh service. It is seen here passing Kings Sutton on 20 June 1998.

D9000 Royal Scots Grey approaches Fenny Compton on 8 August 1998 with the 1S87 11:26 Ramsgate to Edinburgh Virgin CrossCountry service. The Deltic would work the train as far as Birmingham New Street. This regular booked working was undoubtedly one of the traction highlights of the year.

D9000 Royal Scots Grey passes through Reedham station in a very lucky patch of sunshine on 31 August 1998, with the 1G22 10:55 Liverpool Street to Great Yarmouth Anglia Railways special. This was the first ever visit of a Deltic to the Norfolk seaside resort.

The first ever visit of a Deltic to Great Yarmouth took place on 31 August 1998, when Anglia Railways ran a special train from Liverpool Street. D9000 Royal Scots Grey is pictured departing with the return trip - the 1G55 15:10 Great Yarmouth to Liverpool Street.

A stranger on the Great Western Mainline! D9000 Royal Scots Grey passes the remains of Badminton station (closed in 1968) on 15 May 1999 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z37 07:18 Reading to Par 'Eastern Envoy' railtour. LNER V2 2-6-2 60800 Green Arrow was used on the return working.

D9000 Royal Scots Grey leans into the curve at Offord Cluny as it heads north with the VSOE / Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z82 09:00 Victoria to Bradford Forster Square railtour on 22 May 1999. The spire of St Peter's church at the neighnouring village Offord D'Arcy forms the backdrop. It was a good day for Deltic fans, as D9009 was also out on the East Coast Mainline, working a Deltic Preservation Society tour in the opposite direction.

D9000 Royal Scots Grey passes Didcot North Junction on 31 July 1999 with the 1S87 11:26 Ramsgate to Edinburgh Virgin CrossCountry service. The train has just traversed the curve from Didcot East Junction. This avoids Didcot Parkway station.

D9000 Royal Scots Grey passes Potbridge in a welcome patch of sunshine on 23 October 1999 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z55 Waterloo to Weymouth 'Sand Stormer' railtour. The train was running late, as the booked departure time had been changed from 11:00 to 12:00 due to the late arrival of the stock in London. Only on a railtour could you see a former East Coast Deltic on the Southern Region, hauling a rake of Anglia liveried stock!

Running nearly half an hour early, D9000 Royal Scots Grey passes Wrenbury (between Whitchurch and Nantwich) with the 1Z27 10:18 Cardiff Central to Glasgow Central 'Tunnock Express' on 4 August 2001, conveying athletes returning from the Special Olympics. The monument on the hill at Hollyhurst, approximately two miles away, can just be seen on the horizon.

With the houses of Newburgh visible in the background, 55022 Royal Scots Grey passes Easter Clunie with the Railway Touring Company 1Z50 07:20 Kings Cross to Inverness 'Autumn Highlander' four day railtour on 5 October 2007. The sun which had been out for most of the day had disappeared into high cloud, but just before the train was due it came out again, producing this dramatic lighting. Although the sun was directly down the track, this was one of the few locations en-route from London where the sun would be on the nose. 55022 was replaced by 40145 at Perth, although 50049, which can just be seen on the rear of the train remained with the tour all weekend.

55022 Royal Scots Grey is seen in the pouring rain at Oban on 6 October 2007, shunting the stock of the SRPS railtour, which had arrived as the 1Z55 06:28 Dundee to Oban, and would depart several hours later as the 1Z74 16:45 Oban to Dundee. In a perfect piece of timing the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry Isle of Mull had just arrived with the 12:45 sailing from Craignure (Mull) and would soon depart with the 13:45 return. 

55022 Royal Scots Grey & 50049 Defiance power past Bridge of Earn with the Railway Touring Company 1Z55 08:20 Inverness to Kings Cross 'Autumn Highlander' railtour on 8 October 2007. There was certainly no doubt when this train was approaching, as in addition to the distinctive Deltic whine, a plume of smoke could be seen rising above the tree tops over the fields to the right for over a mile! Considering the Deltic is obviously running on both engines, it was a surprise when the train passed under the bridge to hear that the 50 was also under full power! Needless to say 40145 on the rear of the train was taking it easy!

55022 Royal Scots Grey passes the site of Over Junction, near Gloucester with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z47 08:00 Cardiff Central to Llandrindod Wells 'Heart of Wales Explorer' railtour on 29 March 2008. Despite the novelty of a Deltic over the Central Wales line, the forecast of torrential rain for later in the day in Wales put me off traveling any further west. In fact it was sunny when I arrived at this location, but that didn't last long, and by the time the railtour appeared it had become very dark.

55022 Royal Scots Grey passes Heap Bridge with the 2E62 09:37 Ramsbotton to Heywood service on 7 March 2010, during the East Lancashire Railway's Diesel Gala. 50008 Thunderer is just out of sight in the bushes on the rear of the train, and seems to be doing its best to emulate the Deltic's famous ability to produce lots of smoke, even though (or more likely, because) it is just idling and being dragged by 55022. Also just out of sight in the background is the bridge that carries the line over the M66 motorway.

On 7 March 2010, during the East Lancashire Railway's Diesel Gala, 55022 Royal Scots Grey is pictured passing Heap Bridge with the 2J70 11:46 Rawtenstall to Heywood service. The old quarry at Heap Bridge is an excellent photographic spot, that just requires a walk from one side to the other for each train!

55022 Royal Scots Grey accelerates past the south end of Hinksey Yard on 12 June 2010 with the Spitfire Railtours 1Z56 15:22 Oxford to Preston (via Kings Cross) 'Capital Deltic' railtour. I had deliberately chosen this location as the dark vegetation in the background would show up the exhaust if the loco decided to throw out any clag. That part of the plan worked well, but unfortunately the sun didn't appear at the critical moment! 57601 is just out of sight on the rear of the train.

55022 Royal Scots Grey passes Natton (near Ashchurch) with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z50 06:50 Crewe to Robeston 'Western Wales Explorer' railtour on 18 September 2010. Where was the early morning sunshine that the Met Office forecast? Answer - five minutes after the train had passed! The Deltic was substituting for D1015 Western Champion, which has had to be withdrawn due to engine problems. Luckily the railtour title can be read either way. After all, Robeston is in the west of Wales!

55022 Royal Scots Grey speeds through Ashchurch station on 9 July 2011 with the Spitfire Railtours 1Z32 06:15 Doncaster to Paignton 'Devonian' railtour. Although in fine form here, it was not to last, as Royal Scots Grey suffered that well known deltic problem - an exhaust fire near Tiverton. 47804 which is being hidden by the station on the rear of the train in this picture, was added to the front, before continuing to Paignton. It was obviously not a serious fire, as Royal Scots Grey was entrusted with the return run.

Running a few minutes early, but not quite early enough to catch the last of the sunshine, 55022 Royal Scots Grey passes Baulking on 20 August 2011 with the GBRf 1Z05 07:41 Peterborough to Weston-super-Mare private charter. Although a frequently visited location, I chose this spot as I haven't got a picture of a Deltic here, and the opportunity will soon be lost once the wires go up and the viewpoint is lost forever.

In the gathering darkness on the evening of 3 September 2011, 55022 Royal Scots Grey races through Charlbury station with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z76 15:36 Weymouth to Crewe 'Dorset Deltic Explorer' railtour. It is using the recently reinstated down line, but the limitations of this partial redoubling are already evident here. 166221 is having to wait to gain entry to the single track section with the 1P75 17:44 Great Malvern to Paddington First Great Western service, which although it arrived on time, is now eight minutes late. Note the cloud of dust being thrown up by the special, as with a solitary weekday exception every train normally stops here, so this is one of the few fast trains to pass through since the new ballast was laid. Given the rarity of the traction (is this only the third time a Deltic has traversed the Cotswold Line?), I was surprised at how few photographers there were, just the two at the end of the platform, and four of us on the new footbridge.

55022 Royal Scots Grey passes Damery in appalling light on 23 June 2012 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z55 05:18 Birmingham International to Penzance 'Mazey Day Cornishman' railtour. After having seen 37516 & 37676 pass by with the 'Kernow Explorer' railtour less than half an hour before, I thought there might be a chance of the weather brightening up. Instead of that it got even darker, although naturally once I got home it was mainly sunny!

55002 The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry passes Ewood Bridge on 9 June 1996 with the 11:15 Bury Bolton Street to Rawtenstall service, during the East Lancashire Railway's Diesel Gala. It's lucky that there are plenty of trees behind the train, otherwise the sewage works would be in view!

55002 The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry is pictured in the unmistakable surrounds of the East Lancashire Railway's Bury Bolton Street station on 9 March 1997, during the Deltic Preservation Society's 'Three Deltics' weekend. Note the vintage water column on the right.

55002 The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry puts out a plume of light blue smoke in traditional Deltic fashion, as it approaches Heyford on 27 May 2014 with the 0Z41 07:12 Didcot Great Western Society to Hotchley Hill (East Leake), conveying Class 37 D6700, Class 47 47292 & sole surviving Class 41 prototype HST power car 41001. The locos had been displayed at the Didcot Railway Centre's Diesel Gala over the Bank Holiday weekend, and this move was to return them to the Great Central Railway - Nottingham. Note the unwelcome appearance of a (as yet empty) palisaded enclosure, which has been erected at this location since the last time I was here.

The abundant May blossom makes an ideal frame for D9002 The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, as it heads south past Eardington on 19 May 2016 with the 12:54 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala.

D9002 The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry runs through the tree lined cutting on the approach to Bewdley with the late running 15:49 Kidderminster to Bewdley service on 19 May 2016, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala.

D9009 Alycidon returned to the mainline on 22 May 1999 when it worked the Deltic Preservation Society 1Z45 11:35 York to Kings Cross railtour. It is seen here heading down the East Coast Mainline at Marholm, with the route to Stamford running parallel on the left. Great Western chocolate and cream coaches seem a little out of place on this route! This was certainly a day to be out on the ECML if you liked Deltics, as D9000 was also working a railtour.

D9009 Alycidon brings up the rear of a convoy of preserved diesel traction at Old Denaby, heading for the Nene Valley Railway Diesel Gala on 16 May 2002. 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier is leading, with 47401 North Eastern sandwiched between the two Deltics.

D9009 Alycidon passes Bredon on 29 June 2013 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z54 04:50 Tame Bridge Parkway to Penzance 'Mazey Day Cornishman' railtour. Running unexpectedly slowly, it was approximately 15 minutes late at this point. However, as it managed both a right time departure and arrival, this was obviously of no consequence. Bredon station (closed in 1965) was situated near the bridge in the background. Note the vintage cast iron milepost in the foreground.

After briefly being signal checked as it traversed the flying junction at Aynho, D9009 Alycidon sends out plumes of white smoke as it puts on the power to bring its train off the Chiltern Line, and onto the Oxford to Banbury line on 16 May 2015. The smoke only got worse as the train passed under the bridge I was standing on, and it certainly didn't smell very environmentally friendly! The train is the 1Z55 07:56 Victoria to Kidderminster VSOE 'Golden Jubilee Pullman' luxury railtour. 67005 is on the rear of the train, and would be used to haul the train back from Bridgnorth, after recently overhauled Southern Railway West Country 4-6-2 34027 Taw Valley had taken the train from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth.

D9009 Alycidon passes the site of Coates goods station on 16 May 2015 with the 1Z56 18:11 Kidderminster to Victoria VSOE 'Golden Jubilee Pullman' luxury railtour. Unfortunately it was running ten minutes late, which had made an amazing difference to the light at this location. At the booked time there was still a sunlit gap between the shadows, but given the scarcity of clear locations around the Kemble area, I wasn't going to move anywhere else at the last minute. The train could be heard for ages before it came into view, as it powered away from Sapperton Tunnel.

D9009 Alycidon passes through Ashchurch station on 4 July 2015 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z29 06:45 Derby to Kingswear 'Torbay & Dart Explorer' railtour. Coincidentally, almost exactly four years earlier I had photographed classmate 55022 Royal Scots Grey on a similar tour at the same location. However, on that occasion both the loco and coaches were in a different livery.

D9009 Alycidon passes through Goole on 6 May 2017 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z11 06:00 Willington to Kings Cross 'Hull and Leeds Executive' railtour. 68022 Resolution had worked the train to Hull, and is now on the rear of the train, hidden by the trees.

D9009 Alycidon runs alongside the River Severn at Gatcombe on 17 June 2017 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z52 05:18 Burton upon Trent to Shrewsbury 'Welsh Central Liner' railtour. Although a little backlit, I particularly wanted to photograph this train here, as a Deltic running alongside the muddy banks of the Severn Estuary is definitely a little out of the ordinary!

D9009 Alycidon passes Churchdown on 17 June 2017 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z54 17:25 Shrewsbury to Burton upon Trent (via a reversal at Gloucester) 'Welsh Central Liner' railtour. With the shadows lengthening all the time, the six minute late running was not welcome here, but at least the train is still mostly lit. Needless to say this attracted quite a few photographers to this spot, and even some interested passers by!

Just minutes before sunset, D9009 Alycidon crosses over the M5 motorway near Churchdown on 17 June 2017 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z54 17:25 Shrewsbury to Burton upon Trent 'Welsh Central Liner' railtour. This had just reversed at Gloucester, which had taken longer than booked, and the train was now running 15 minutes late. A convenient farm occupation and footpath bridge allows this view of the two different forms of transport passing, although only on midsummer evenings is the sun round far enough for a decent photo, although after 9pm is pushing it a bit!

D9009 Alycidon passes Uffington on 21 October 2017 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z45 04:31 Burton upon Trent to Swanage 'Swanage Belle' railtour. This was running one minute early, which was very unfortunate. If it had been running one minute late it would have passed in the very first of the morning's (admittedly weak) sunshine, just a mere twenty minutes after sunrise. This was especially unfortunate, as it would have been clear of the shadows of both the footbridge, and the tree in the field on the left. Note that only the down line has so far been wired here.

55009 Alycidon passes Didbrook on 19 August 2022 with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 2C05 10:15 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service. After a completely sunny start, the cloud was now rolling in from the west. Despite this, I managed to get a fair number of pictures in sun during the day, although only by seconds in one case!

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway had two visiting Deltics in action on 19 August 2022. Complete with totally inappropriate 'Flying Scotsman' headboard, 55009 Alycidon is seen here accelerating away from Gotherington, and passing Dixton with the 2B06 11:15 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service.

55009 Alycidon emerges from the shadows and into the light, as it approaches Cheltenham Racecourse on 19 August 2022 with the 2C13 12:35 service from Broadway. I was initially going to photograph this train from a spot just the other side of the distant signal. It's a good job I didn't, as that location is clearly in shadow. In fact, I was surprised to get this in sun at all, but the sun appeared just as the loco passed the signal, and disappeared again just as it passed me! The Deltic was one of two visiting the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway for this special event.

The highlight of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Deltic Running Day on 19 August 2022 was the double heading of the final train of the day. 55009 Alycidon & 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier are pictured here approaching Bishop's Cleeve with the 1Z55 18:00 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service. I had managed to find a location that would be perfectly lit for this train, and almost completely free of shadows. However, just before the train arrived the sun disappeared!

55009 Alycidon passes the private level crossing and adjacent picturesque cottage near Eardington on 1 October 2022, as it heads south down the Severn Valley Railway with the 13:00 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster service, during the line's Diesel Gala.

The first ever Deltic triple header on 9 March 1997 lays a smokescreen across Burrs on the East Lancashire Railway as all three locos open up by arrangement creating this spectacular effect. 55015 Tulyar, 55002 Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry & D9019 Royal Highland Fusilier were working the 10:00 Bury to Rawtenstall as part of the Deltic Preservation Society's 'Three Deltics' weekend. Even though it looks like the first two locos are only working on one engine, there is still 6,600 hp available for this seven coach train, which is certainly adequate!

55015 Tulyar passes Golden Valley on 17 October 1992 with the 10:08 Riddings to Hammersmith service, during the Midland Railway Centre's Diesel Gala. The loco is sporting 'Finsbury Park' white windows surrounds, as it carried between 1979 and 1981.

55015 Tulyar rounds the curve at Golden Valley on 17 October 1992 with the 12.30 Hammersmith to Riddings service, during the Midland Railway Centre's Diesel Gala. The Somercotes to Codnor road bridge is in the background.

55015 (masquerading as 55001 St Paddy) & 50007 Sir Edward Elgar pass through the tree lined cutting at Golden Valley on 23 July 1994 with the 12:10 Butterley to Riddings service, during the Midland Railway Centre's Diesel Gala.

55015 (masquerading as scrapped classmate 55001 St Paddy) & 45133, pictured at Butterley on 23 July 1994, during the Midland Railway Centre's Diesel Gala. Note the extremely elaborate vintage bracket signals on the right.

55015 Tulyar approaches Glyndyfrdwy on 30 June 1996 with the 16:45 Carrog to Llangollen service, during the Llangollen Railway's Diesel Gala. This picture is taken from the side of the A5 road. The viewpoint is therefore very easy to get to, but parking nearby less so!

D9016 Gordon Highlander passes Noss Point (near Britannia Crossing) with the 09:40 Paignton to Kingswear service, during the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway's Diesel Gala on 20 June 1992. Although the Kingswear line was opened in 1859, this section only dates from 1923, when a short section was moved inland to remove the need for two viaducts over Noss Creek.

D9016 Gordon Highlander leaves Kingswear on 20 June 1992 with the 11:05 service to Paignton. The Deltic was taking part in the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway's Diesel Gala. Its classmate D9000 Royal Scots Grey was also visiting the line.

How unlikely is this, especially with a 1A30 headcode? D9016 Gordon Highlander accelerates through the cutting near Goodrington on 20 June 1992 with the 13:05 Paignton to Kingswear freight, during the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway's Diesel Gala. Being East Coast racehorses, Deltics very seldom worked freight trains during their BR career.

With the wooded cliffs near Churston visible in the background, D9016 Gordon Highlander approaches Goodrington on 20 June 1992 with the 14:10 Kingswear to Paignton service, during the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway's Diesel Gala.

Superb but fleeting lighting at Hookhills Viaduct on the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway on 20 June 1993, during the line's Diesel Gala. D9016 Gordon Highlander and GWR Manor Class 4-6-0 7827 Lydham Manor cross the viaduct with the 12:20 Paignton to Kingswear service. Not a combination of motive power that would ever have worked together in reality (or even met!) but certainly an interesting spectacle!

East Coast loco on the South Coast! D9016 Gordon Highlander swaps its once familiar North Sea view for the English Channel, as it passes Goodrington on 20 June 1993, en-route from Paignton to Kingswear, during the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway's Diesel Gala.

Not one for the purists! D9016 Gordon Highlander in totally unauthentic but very striking Porterbrook livery passes Water Orton with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z40 07:22 Crewe to Scarborough 'Napier Navigator' railtour on 6 April 2002. At York the Deltic was replaced by slightly more conventional power in the shape of a pair of EWS 37s for the run to Scarborough via Bridlington. D9016 was originally only saved from the cutter's torch to provide spares for for its preserved classmates.

A surprise for motorists heading home from Scarborough along the A64! D9016 Gordon Highlander accelerates away from Seamer with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z41 17:00 Scarborough to Crewe 'Napier Navigator' railtour on 6 April 2002. Fitted with modern head and taillight clusters and in Porterbrook's striking livery, a Deltic has certainly never looked like this before!

With a plume of typical light blue Deltic smoke, D9019 passes Woodthorpe on 2 April 1995 with the 17:30 Loughborough to Leicester service, during the Great Central Railway's Diesel Gala. Note that the loco is not carrying its Royal Highland Fusilier nameplates.

D9019 Royal Highland Fusilier was the star attraction at the West Somerset Railway's 1998 Diesel Gala. It is pictured here accelerating away from Bishops Lydeard on Sunday 20 September with the 14:00 Minehead to Norton Fitzwarren service.

D9019 Royal Highland Fusilier lays a smoke trail at Nethercott, on the West Somerset Railway while working the 17:25 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead service on 20 September 1998, during the line's diesel gala. This is one of the less photographed spots on the line, as it does require a bit of a walk from the nearest road!

D9019 Royal Highland Fusilier gets checked by Williton's home signal on 20 September 1998, as it works the 17:25 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead service, during the West Somerset Railway's Diesel Gala. The wooded slopes of Castle Hill dominate the background.

D9019 Royal Highland Fusilier catches the last rays of the setting sun, as it arrives at Washford station on 20 September 1998 with the 17:25 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead service, during the West Somerset Railway's Diesel Gala.

55019 Royal Highland Fusilier passes Valley on 13 May 2000 with the Deltic Preservation Society's 1Z55 15:57 Holyhead to Crewe railtour, which had originally been advertised to run on 1 April. It looks like this was a completely still day, judging by the smoke which can just be seen rising vertically from the Holyhead Rio Tinto aluminium smelter in the background.

During 2000, 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier was a regular on VSOE Northern Belle charters, often in association with specially repainted 50017. It is seen here speeding through Cheddington station on 5 August 2000 with a Victoria to Edinburgh special. Hiding on the rear is 50017. Just to the right of the fence was formerly the bay platform serving the branch to Aylesbury (closed to passengers in 1953). It was here that Class 40 D326 and the first two TPO vehicles of the Great Train Robbery train were impounded by police in August 1963.

A cavalcade of classic traction at Old Denaby on 16 May 2002. 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier heads for the Nene Valley Railway, having collected 47401 North Eastern from the Midland Railway Centre, and D9009 Alycidon from Barrow Hill.

55019 Royal Highland Fusilier arrives at Quorn & Woodhouse with the 1A23 13:00 Loughborough to Leicester North service on 12 September 2009, during the Great Central Railway's Diesel Gala. There was an early warning of the loco's approach, as a huge cloud of white smoke could be seen several miles in the distance down the long straight, and as the train was held at the signal visible here, I expected the loco to 'plume' again when it pulled away. Unfortunately although the sound was spectacular there was no clag!

55019 Royal Highland Fusilier is slightly mismatched with Southern green coaches as it passes Woodthorpe with the 2A38 16:20 Loughborough to Leicester North service on 12 September 2009, during the Great Central Railway's Diesel Gala. As with all the Deltic hauled trains during the weekend there were plenty of heads out of the coach windows, but with a pair of Napier engines up front it certainly was not to get any fresh air!

55019 Royal Highland Fusilier passes Woodthorpe with the 2B38 17:01 Leicester North to Loughborough service on 12 September 2009, during the Great Central Railway's Diesel Gala. The Deltic was paying a brief visit to the line and was one of the highlights of the three day event.

The first visit of a Deltic to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, and presumably the first time one has ever traversed this line, as I doubt one would have come this way in BR days. 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier passes Southam on 29 July 2022 with its first train of the line's three day Diesel Gala - the 2C53 09:30 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service.

With just one of its 18 cylinder Napier engines doing its bit for the environment, 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier passes Southam on 29 July 2022 with the 2B54 10:25 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service. This was the first visit of a Deltic to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, and it was fortunate for the lineside photographers that at least the morning of the gala's first day was blessed with unbroken sunshine.

55019 Royal Highland Fusilier passes Didbrook with the 1C01 09:15 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service on 19 August 2022. This was the first train of the day on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Deltic 40th Anniversary Event.

55019 Royal Highland Fusilier passes the dead oak tree at Didbrook on 19 August 2022 with the 2B02 10:00 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Deltic Running Day. There had been a large group of sheep drinking from the trough in the foreground, but they had wandered off just before the train appeared.

55019 Royal Highland Fusilier runs through the cutting at Dixton on 19 August 2022 with the 2C09 11:10 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Deltic Running Day.

55019 Royal Highland Fusilier approaches the public footpath crossing near Southam on 19 August 2022, as it heads north with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 2B10 12:45 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service.

Complete with iconic 'Winged Thistle' headboard, 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier passes Bishop's Cleeve in perfect light on 19 August 2022 with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 2C17 14:10 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service.

55019 Royal Highland Fusilier & 55009 Alycidon head north at Bishop's Cleeve on 19 August 2022 with the 1Z55 18:53 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service. This was the first time a pair of Deltics had visited the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, with Royal Highland Fusilier arriving in July, and Alycidon, for a very brief visit, in mid August.