E6001 traverses Middle Forge Junction with the 12:32 Lydney to Norchard service on 26 September 2009, during the Dean Forest Railway's Diesel Gala. The ground frame in the foreground is operated by the train guard, setting up the route for the following train, either to Norchard Low Level (as here), or to Norchard High Level for through trains to Parkend.

E6001 rounds the curve on the approach to Whitecroft on the Dean Forest Railway, with the 14:30 Lydney to Parkend service during the line's Diesel Gala on 26 September 2009. The picture is taken from what appears to be a very little used footpath crossing.

In superb late afternoon light, E6001 accelerates away from the level crossing at Whitecroft (just visible in the background) with the 16:25 Parkend to Lydney service on 26 September 2009, during the Dean Forest Railway's Diesel Gala. Class 14 D9521 can just be seen on the rear of the train. It's a good job there are no more lamp brackets on the front of a Class 73, as I'm sure some wag would create yet another amusing headboard to fit on it!

There aren't many locations where you can take pictures of a Class 73 just by standing on the pavement, next to a public road! 73001 is parked in the siding next to Harbour Road, near the Dean Forest Railway's Lydney Junction station. Photo taken on 15 September 2018.

A stranger in the Thames Valley. Whilst Class 33s were reasonably common in the Thames Valley in the 1980s, Class 73s definitely were not! 73002 leads 33116 past Culham on 11 October 1987 with the LCGB Waterloo to Kidderminster 'Severn Valley Express' railtour. Not ideal lighting, but one of the few pictures I have of an ED in the Oxford area.

E6003 Sir Herbert Walker trundles along the Lavender Line at Isfield on 15 November 1998, heading back to the line's only station after yet another trip up the mile long line. The loco left the line shortly afterwards, first of all spending a few years at the Great Central Railway, before ending up at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway.

E6003 Sir Herbert Walker passes Kinchley Lane on 21 September 2002 with the 8C21 15:20 Loughborough Central to Rothley freight, during the Great Central Railway's Diesel Gala. The paintwork on the loco may look authentically well worn, but the wagons look a little too pristine for a genuine 1960s freight train!

E6003 Sir Herbert Walker is pictured at Blunsdon station on the Swindon & Cricklade Railway on 28 September 2008, having just arrived with a train from South Meadow Lane, during the line's Diesel Gala. Unfortunately the line is virtually useless for photography, this being the only readily accessible location.

E6003 Sir Herbert Walker passes Haydon on 16 March 2014 with the 13:06 Hayes Knoll to Taw Valley Halt service, during the Swindon & Cricklade Railway's Diesel Gala. Not a very photographic location, with the line sandwiched between a waterlogged field and the new sprawl of houses on the western edge of Swindon.

73005 Mid Hants Watercress Line passes Millbrook on 30 November 1989 with the 6Y62 08:57 Eastleigh to RAF Dinton MoD stores. I would see it later the same day with the return working, after it had run round at Salisbury. The unusual livery of all over Network SouthEast blue is certainly effective and not far off the original 'Electric Blue' that the class carried in the 1960s.

In superb late afternoon autumnal light, 73005 Mid Hants Watercress Line passes Lee with the 6Y48 Salisbury to Eastleigh Speedlink trip working on 30 November 1989. Its 600hp diesel engine was obviously considered sufficient for this working in lieu of the more usual Class 47. The train comprises two calcium carbonate tanks from Quidhampton and an assortment of vans from the MoD depot at Dinton. Probably one of my favourite photographs of the year due to its rarity value and excellent lighting. The unique liveried loco wears all over Network SouthEast blue and to get a picture of it working a mixed freight away from the third rail was a definite bonus.

E6005 (73005) accelerates away from Bewdley with the 11:22 Arley to Kidderminster local service on 2 October 2004, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. Classmate E6006 is on the rear. The loco is wearing the early 'electric blue' livery carried by the class in the 1960s. There are several vantage points along this stretch of line, and in between trains you can always watch the animals in the nearby West Midlands Safari Park!

73006 & 73002 moved far from their former Southern Region home in 1993, when they were transferred to Merseyside to act as engineers and sandite locomotives, based at Birkenhead. 73006 soon acquired this bright new livery. On 12 March 1994 the pair worked the Regional Railways North West 08:15 Crewe to Blaenau Ffestiniog 'Jolly JAs' railtour between Chester and Llandudno Junction. They are pictured applying their combined 1200hp to move the nine coach train past Mold Junction. The tour also featured 31421 & 31455 from Crewe to Chester, between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog, and on the return from Blaenau Ffestiniog. The tour's participants traveled over the Ffestiniog Railway behind Merrdin Emmrys, Castell Conwy & Linda.

E6006 (73006) brings up the rear of the 11:22 Arley to Kidderminster service at Bewdley on 2 October 2004, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. Classmate 73005 is hidden by the trees on the front of the train. This may be a going away shot, but a clean 'electric blue' livered 73 in the sun is not to be missed!

In ex-works condition just after being repainted into Pullman livery to mark the 150th year of the London to Brighton line, 73101 Brighton Evening Argus passes Salfords at high speed with a Victoria to Brighton 'Brighton Belle' special composed of Orient Express stock on 21 September 1991. The vintage VSOE coaches comprised: Zena, Ione, Ibis, Lucille, Vera, Phoenix, Audrey, Minerva and Baggage Car No 7.

73101 The Royal Alex & 73109 Battle of Britain 50th Anniversary arrive at Churston on 20 June 1993 with the 09:40 Paignton to Kingswear service, during the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway's Diesel Gala. On the right is the turntable that was relocated here from Goodrington in 1981.

73101 The Royal Alex & 73109 Battle of Britain 50th Anniversary cross Hookhills Viaduct on 20 June 1993 with the 12:20 Paignton to Kingswear service, during the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway's Diesel Gala. The houses in the background would certainly suit any railway photographers who like any easy life!

73101 The Royal Alex & 73109 Battle of Britain 50th Anniversary pass an impressive display of foxgloves at Goodrington on 20 June 1993, as they work the 17:10 Paignton to Kingswear service, during the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway's Diesel Gala.

73101 The Royal Alex & 73131 pass Swanley on 14 March 1998 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z65 05:57 Crewe to Ashford International 'Kent Venturer' railtour. Options for tour participants included a trip to France via the Channel Tunnel, or a ride on the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway. Directly above 73101, at the top of the cutting, is a coal dues obelisk, otherwise known as a coat tax post. This indicated the point beyond which all ingoing coal trains once had to pay a tax of to the City of London.

A panoramic view over Dover on 14 March 1998 as 73101 The Royal Alex & 73131 pass the harbour with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z65 05:57 Crewe to Ashford International 'Kent Venturer' railtour. Unfortunately the miserable weather means the white cliffs look less than white. The flat area of land to the right of the train is the site of the freight yard used for marshalling train ferry wagons.

With its Pullman paintwork looking a little faded, 73101 The Royal Alex is pictured at Lydney Junction, on the Dean Forest Railway, on 19 August 2006, in the company of 37263, which is looking equally drab in grey primer.

73104 & 73105 approach Ford (near Littlehampton) on 10 October 1998 with a short rake of stone wagons, returning from an engineering possession at Chichester. This is the view from the end of Ford station platform. As can be seen here, the location is very rural, the station being midway between the two small villages of Ford and Tortington.

A superb set of GWR semaphore signals at Yeovil Pen Mill, pictured on 2 May 1999, including on the right, a wooden post starting signal with route indicator. 73106 arrives with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z93 09:43 Yeovil Junction to Weymouth Quay 'Wey-Farer' railtour. The train would reverse here, with 37250 & 73138 (just out of sight on the rear) taking over.

A police escort for the very last train to leave Weymouth Quay station. 73106 prepares to move off from the station on 2 May 1999 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z94 11:43 Weymouth Quay to Yeovil Junction 'Wey-Farer' railtour. It would follow the police car at a very slow walking speed along the quayside, bringing to an end the sight of trains traversing the streets in Weymouth after 110 years.

73106 very slowly runs along the quayside at Weymouth with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z94 11:43 Weymouth Quay to Yeovil Junction 'Wey-Farer' railtour on 2 May 1999. The Weymouth Harbour Tramway was opened by the Great Western Railway in 1865 in connection with Channel Island boat trains. Regular services ended in 1987, and for over a decade just the occasional railtour ventured along this unique line. It all came to and on this day, with a second identical trip to this one being the last train ever to traverse the line.

After arriving with the 6Y26 08:28 Eastleigh Yard to Quidhampton empty china clay tanks, which they had deposited in the headshunt behind me, 73106 & 73133 The Bluebell Railway shunt loaded tanks at Quidhampton on 25 June 1999, prior to leaving with the 6Y27 10:28 Quidhampton to Eastleigh Yard.

On 25 June 1999, the Eastleigh Yard to Quidhampton and return china clay tanks were worked by 73106 & 73133 The Bluebell Railway in place of the usual Class 58. After seeing the train leave Eastleigh in the morning, it was just a question of finding a suitable spot for the return working, and hoping that the good weather would hold. As you can see, there was not a cloud in the sky when the pair passed East Grimstead (between Salisbury and Romsey) with the 6Y27 10:28 Quidhampton to Eastleigh Yard loaded tanks. Pictures of 73s working freights on the main line away from the 750v third rail were always at a premium, but the load here is hardly going to tax their combined 1200hp diesel power!

During a brief sunny spell, ahead of the gathering storm, 73107 Redhill 1884-1994 races through Godstone station on 18 May 1995 with the 1S81 13:26 Tonbridge to Glasgow Royal Mail parcels. Godstone station is well over a mile from Godstone village, but as in most similar cases, a settlement grew up around the railway after the opening of the station.

Just as the sun is staring to break though from behind a large cloud, 73107 Tracy & 73141 Charlotte bring up the rear of the GBRf Charity Railtours 1Z44 15:00 Crewe to Paddington 'Out of the Ordinary' railtour at Great Bourton on 23 September 2018. 50007 Hercules & 50049 Defiance are at the head of the train.

73108 approaches Winchfield on 28 August 1987 with the 14:32 Weymouth to Waterloo service. The loco is a replacement for the more customary 4-REP traction. These high powered EMUs were in the process of donating their traction equipment to the new Class 442 'Wessex' units.

73108 & 73134 Woking Homes 1865-1985 pass Southampton on 2 December 1998 with a rake of empty spoil wagons. Unfortunately the trees between the railway and the A33 road are causing a few problems with shadows. However, it is always worth recording a pair of 73s at work. Two decades later this would probably be a Class 66, and I definitely wouldn't bother taking the picture!

Definitely something a little out of the ordinary! 73108 & 73129 City of Winchester add their combined 1200 hp to 60004's 3100 hp as they pass Kennington with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z42 05:45 Sheffield to Eastleigh 'Weaving Weasel' railtour on 26 February 2000. This combination of locos had just replaced the slightly more standard railtour fare (for the time) of 56089, which had worked the tour as far as Oxford. The electro diesels were obviously the highlight of the tour, certainly being very rare beasties in the Oxford area.

73108, 73129 City of Winchester & 60004 come off the Romsey line at Eastleigh on 26 February 2000 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z42 05:45 Sheffield to Eastleigh 'Weaving Weasel' railtour. Terrible lighting, but definitely worth recording for the sheer bizarreness of the traction combination!

73109 Battle of Britain 50th Anniversary & 73101 The Royal Alex pass Waterside Caravan Park, near Goodrington in superb evening light on 20 June 1993 with the 17:20 Kingswear to Paignton freight, during the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway's Diesel Gala.

73109 Battle of Britain 50th Anniversary passes Southampton on 2 December 1998 hauling Class 423 4-VEP EMU 3425 en-route to Bournemouth. Note the aircraft in the background making its final approach to Southampton (Eastleigh) Airport. This was not added in Photoshop, but just so happened to appear at the moment I pressed the shutter!

73109 Battle of Britain 50th Anniversary speeds past Potbridge on 26 January 2000 with Class 411 4-CEP 1612 & Class 423 4-VEPs 3470 & 3419 in tow, en-route to Eastleigh. The train's high speed and the gale force cross wind is causing the loco's high level brake pipes to swing around and bang into the side of the loco!

73109 Battle of Britain 50th Anniversary & 73136 Kent Youth Music pass Grateley in the rain on 30 December 2003 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z73 10:14 Waterloo to Weymouth Town 'Wey Out' railtour. This was run to mark the end of EWS Class 73 operation, but the failure of 73133 resulted in South West Train's 73109 helping out.

73110 passes Salfords on 15 March 1986 with the 16:15 Victoria to Gatwick Airport service. This is my only picture of a Rail Blue Class 73 on the 'Gatwick Express' service, hardly surprising as in theory the InterCity livery was in use from the start of the service two years previously. Not only that, but it is one of the very few pictures I have got of any Class 73 in that livery from the Rail Blue era, although I should be able to correct that omission now there are a number in preservation.

73110 & 73136 Kent Youth Music pass Mortlake on 24 February 2001 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z83 13:00 Victoria to Victoria (via New Malden, Richmond, Lewisham & Balham) 'Urban Suburban' railtour. This was a mini-tour run for participants off the 1Z42 05:55 Sheffield to Victoria 'Southern Suburban' tour.

73114 rounds the curve at Congerstone on the Battlefield Line with the 11:00 Shackerstone to Shenton service during the line's Diesel Gala on 19 September 2009. This was its only train of the day actually providing motive power. The rest of the time it was employed as a brake translator between the air braked Class 56s and the vacuum braked coaches.

73119 & 73202 pass Old Basing on 16 June 2023 with the 6Y48 09:01 Eastleigh East Yard to Hoo Junction engineers working. 73119 looks immaculate in its freshly applied retro Dutch livery, which contrasts with the faded Southern colour scheme on 73202. This was running exactly an hour late, which was fortunate, as the lighting angle was now better.

73119 Paul Taylor brings up the rear of the 0Z55 09:09 Kidderminster Severn Valley Railway to Wembley Receptions 1-7 light engine move, as it passes through Ascott-under-Wychwood station on 20 May 2024, hauled by 69009 Western Consort. The locos were retuning from the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala.

73125 Stewarts Lane 1860 - 1985 provides the power at the rear of the 16:05 Gatwick Airport to Victoria service, as it speeds through Salfords on 15 March 1986. I haven't got many early pictures of these Gatwick Express trains. A pity, as they weren't all in the correct InterCity livery at the time. To prove the point, a little later a southbound train was hauled by blue liveried 73110.

73126 was named Kent & East Sussex Railway at Northiam station, on 23 May 1991. Four days later it was in use on Kent & East Sussex Railway passenger trains. It is seen here approaching Cranbrook Road level crossing, near Tenterden, whilst en-route from Northiam to Tenterden. Note the appropriate KE headcode!

Newly named 73126 Kent & East Sussex Railway pauses at Wittersham Road on 27 May 1991, whilst en-route from Tenterden to Northiam, during its weekend stay at the Kent & East Sussex Railway. It had been named a few days earlier by Admiral Sir Lindsay Bryston, patron of the railway.

73126 Kent & East Sussex Railway leaves Wittersham Road station on 27 May 1991, whilst en-route from Tenterden to Northiam. The Network SouthEast loco had been named a few day's earlier, and was the star attraction at the Kent & East Sussex Railway over the Bank Holiday weekend.

73126 Kent & East Sussex Railway rounds the sharp curve on the approach to Rolvenden with the 14:15 Tenterden to Northiam service on 27 May 1991, during the Kent & East Sussex Railway's Gala weekend. The head on viewpoint almost completely hides the train, but it does show vintage Plasser & Theurer VKR 05-E tamper DX74108 on the left, and Hunslet Engine Co. 0-4-0 diesel shunter 4208 & Class 03 D2024 in the background.

73126 Kent & East Sussex Railway arrives at Northiam station on 27 May 1991, during the Kent & East Sussex Railway's Gala weekend. Four days earlier it had been named at this station by Admiral Sir Lindsay Bryston, patron of the railway.

As the late afternoon sun starts to disappear into high cloud, 73128 trundles along the up relief line at Potbridge on 16 March 1990 with a very mixed departmental working. Although it wouldn't make much difference with this small load, here it is running on the third rail, so has 1600 hp available, rather than the 600 hp if it was relying on its diesel engine.

73128 O.V.S. Bulleid C.B.E & 73132 pass Shoreham (Kent) on 25 March 1995 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z27 07:29 Coventry to Hastings 'Marsh 'n' Moor' railtour. This section of he tour was supposed to have been hauled by the National Railway Museum's Class 71 E5001, but it was unavailable. At least a pair of Class 73s was an acceptably unusual substitute.

73128 O.V.S. Bulleid C.B.E & 73107 Tracy bring up the rear of the UK Railtours 1Z74 16:24 Paignton to Waterloo 'The Herd of Wildebeestie' railtour at Little Bedwyn on 16 July 2016. The re-engineered 73962 Dick Mabbutt & 73963 Janice are at the head of the train. The outward run of this tour was late running throughout, despite starting from Basingstoke instead of Waterloo, due to the ECS from Eastleigh running well over two hours late.

73129 City of Winchester just manages to catch a patch of the fleeting spring sunshine, as it passes Troy Town on 15 March 1995 with the 1S81 13:26 Tonbridge to Glasgow Royal Mail parcels. The train is crossing over the small gap in the middle of Little Browns Tunnel, on the Oxted to Uckfield line.

Still several years away from withdrawal and subsequent preservation, 73129 City of Winchester passes Sevington on 16 July 1999 with the 1O90 16:30 London Railnet to Dover TPO. Classmate 73128 can just be seen on the rear. The new fence around the house directly above 73129 marks the very first stage of construction of the Channel Tunnel high speed rail link.

73129 approaches Hailes with the 09:00 Winchcombe to Toddington empty coaching stock on 24 September 2005, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Autumn Diesel Gala. A former Network SouthEast 750v DC third rail electric loco is something of an incongruous sight at the foot of the Cotswold Hills! You can quite clearly see where the former City of Winchester nameplate and crest was affixed to the side of the loco. Obviously it is running here on its 4 cylinder 600hp diesel engine.

73129 ambles along the long straight between Hailes and Winchcombe with the 12:02 Toddington to Winchcombe freight on 24 September 2005, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Autumn Diesel Gala. Although principally designed as a third rail electric locomotive with supplementary diesel engine, Class 73s come in to their own on preserved railways, where their 600hp engine and limited top speed are no handicap at all.

In very faded Network SouthEast livery, 73129 rounds Chicken Curve (the chicken farm actually closed several years ago!) on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway with the 09:00 Winchcombe to Toddington empty coaching stock at the start of the line's Autumn Diesel Gala on 4 November 2006. Langley Hill forms the backdrop, while Winchcombe's home signal looks as if it is starting to slip down the bank!

A fine panoramic view from Salter's Hill, on the edge of the Cotswolds, with the village of Greet, and the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Winchcombe station in the middle distance. 73129 can be seen working the 11:05 Winchcombe to Toddington freight. The date is 4 November 2006, during the railway's Diesel Gala.

Not wishing to always stick with the conventional approach to photography, here is a panoramic view of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway from the top of Salter's Hill. In the background over 2 miles away from my vantage point is Toddington station. The line can be followed round in a sweeping curve to where 73129 can be seen approaching the bridge at Hailes with the 10:42 Toddington to Winchcombe service. This was during the line's Autumn Diesel Gala on 4 November 2006.

On 4 November 2006, 73129 waits to depart from Toddington station, on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway with the 13:02 service to Winchcombe, during the line's Diesel Gala. The newly opened footbridge contrasts slightly with the station building and old brick built road bridge. Note that despite the gala being in progress, maintenance work still goes on, with volunteers at work just under the bridge.

73129 is glimpsed through the trees as it leaves Winchcombe with the 11:05 freight to Toddington on 5 November 2006, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. To make the most of the surroundings this was taken on a 24mm lens (38mm equivalent), the least used of my quartet of lenses. Also rarely used for railway photography, a polarizing filter was used to bring out the very faint high clouds against the blue sky.

Although the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway has some excellent photographic locations, I am always searching for a different viewpoint. On 31 March 2007, during the line's Spring Diesel Gala, I did a spot of tree climbing to secure this picture at Didbrook. Admittedly the branch I was sitting on was only a few feet off the ground, but it provides an excellent viewpoint, with the tree providing a perfect frame for 73129 as it heads south with the 12:40 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service.

While waiting for the 37s on the 13:50 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service near Far Stanley on 1 April 2007, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala, I casually took a picture of 73129 returning from Cheltenham Racecourse with the 13:30 service to Toddington. As it was backlit, I thought it would just be a record shot, but I am quite pleased with the picture, as the road and bridge add a scenic frame to the picture. The road is the minor road from Gretton to Gotherington. I'm just glad that there isn't a bright yellow car in the foreground!

Tatty Network SouthEast liveried 73129 passes Hailes on 1 April 2007 with the late running 15:25 Toddington to Winchcombe service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. The village of Didbrook can be seen in the background.

73129 & D8137 pass through the unseasonably snowy landscape at Hailes, on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway with the 10:20 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service on 6 April 2008, during the line's Diesel Gala. Unfortunately the unexpected covering of snow was rapidly vanishing as the sun got to work on it.

Making its debut in BR blue livery, E6036 (73129) passes Southam with the 11:15 Winchcombe to Cheltenham Racecourse service on 9 July 2011. 73129 has been an active part of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's diesel fleet for many years, although looking increasing shabby in its faded Network South East livery. Unfortunately on this occasion the sunny spell ended just a minute before the locomotive came into view, so the loco's new paint job isn't shown to full advantage.

E6036 passes Southam with the 11:50 Cheltenham Racecourse to Winchcombe service on 9 July 2011, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Before anyone asks, no there isn't a problem with the recently applied BR blue paintwork, it is purely a reflection of the Rosebay Willowherb growing on the bank!

E6036 arrives at Winchcombe during a downpour with the late running 14:20 service from Cheltenham Racecourse on 9 July 2011, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Of course it would be running thirty minutes late because I was stood out in the rain waiting for it! I persisted because only in dull conditions do you get a chance to take a picture from this particular angle, and also the rain does lend a certain atmosphere.

E6036 passes Prescott with the 16:15 Winchcombe to Cheltenham Racecourse service on 9 July 2011, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. D8137 can just be seen on the rear of the train. This brief and very localised (look at the background) patch of sunshine was unexpected, and although a welcome change from the drabness of the rest of the day, the angle of the sun is a little too head on for my liking. However, the Rosebay Willowherb in the foreground does improve the picture.

After taking the picture of E6036 at Prescott in sunny but less than ideal conditions on 9 July 2011, I was dubious about going to the nearby bridge at Dixton bearing in mind that it would be extremely backlit for the return working. I decided to risk it, as a large all enveloping bank of black cloud was approaching from the west, meaning there would be no problem with the sun. You can guess what happened next. The sun found the tiniest hole in the cloud! So here is a mega back lit picture of E6036 & D8137 with the 16:50 Cheltenham Racecourse to Winchcombe service.

E6036 passes Hailes on 26 July 2013 with the 2L50 09:35 Winchcombe to Laverton service, the first northbound working of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 2013 Diesel Gala. The promising start to the day, with largely blue skies, was unfortunately not to last!

E6036 passes underneath the Toddington to Broadway road near Stanton on 26 July 2013, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. It is working the late running 2C65 12:44 Laverton to Cheltenham Racecourse service.

E6036 emerges from the 693 yard long Greet Tunnel on 25 July 2015 with the 2T74 16:10 Cheltenham Racecourse to Toddington service, during the Gloucestershire Railway's Diesel Gala. As the GWR is obviously not going to lay any 750V third rail, this loco will have to rely on its 600hp diesel engine for the rest of is career! Quite a load for such a small engine.

E6036 passes Hailes on 25 July 2015 with the 2W81 17:55 Toddington to Winchcombe service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. As was the case throughout most of the day, broken cloud meant that not all of the scene was sunlit. However, a dark background and lit foreground is infinitely preferable to the other way round!

E6036 passes Hailes on 2 January 2017 with the 10:10 Toddington to Winchcombe ECS. Unfortunately the Cotswold escarpment was shrouded in fog, with clear skies both up on the hills and in the Vale of Evesham, with Hailes intermittently in the shadow of the fog. Of course just as this was due the sun had disappeared, only to reappear again a few minutes later!

E6036 passes the partially constructed Hailes (or Hayles) Abbey Halt on 2 January 2017 with the 10:50 Winchcombe to Toddington ECS. The backlighting show up the very faded 'Electric Blue' paintwork. Hayles Abbey Halt was originally opened by the Great Western Railway in September 1928, and closed by British Railways in March 1960.

E6036 passes Dixton on 26 July 2019 with the 2C57 10:30 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service, on the first day of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Unfortunately the three day event was not blessed with good weather.

73130 City of Portsmouth heads north through Winchester on 28 June 1991 with a short engineer's train. Note the three closely spaced bridges in the background: Upper High Street, Romsey Road and St James's Lane. Since this picture was taken the station has acquired a new footbridge, complete with lifts.

73131 County of Surrey passes Coulsdon on 21 September 1991 with a northbound departmental working. In 1992 Class 442 5-WES EMU 2423 also received the name County of Surrey, therefore creating the very unusual situation of two different vehicles carrying the same name, at the same time on the national network.

On 14 February 1998, 73131 & 73101 The Royal Alex approach Wye station, past a typical former Southern Railway concrete PW hut with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z86 11:10 Victoria to Dover 'Garden of England' railtour. With a total journey time of not much more than four hours, this was definitely a 'mini' tour!

73131 strikes an arc as its collector shoe leaves the third rail at Richborough Road level crossing on the approach to Sandwich with the Pathfinder Tours 'Kent Venturer' railtour on 14 March 1998. The second locomotive is the Pullman liveried 73101 The Royal Alex. This was the second time the tour had passed Sandwich, as it toured lines in the Dover and Canterbury area. On the outward run it ran as 1Z65 05:57 Crewe to Ashford International, now as can be seen from the SR two character headcode on 73131, it is running as 1Z88 14:17 Ashford International to Crewe.

73131 & 73129 City of Winchester storm through Micheldever station on 16 May 1998 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z82 08:30 Victoria to Poole 'Bournemouth & Purbeck' railtour, run in connection with the Bournemouth Depot Open Day. Micheldever Tunnel can just be seen in the distance, with the former oil depot sidings on the right.

73131 slowly and carefully descends the 1 in 30 gradient on the Folkestone Harbour branch, as it works the Pathfinder Tours 1Z85 05:48 Crewe to Folkestone Harbour 'Hop'n'Stop' railtour on 11 May 2002. As the 73 only worked the short trip from Folkestone to the harbour, and 66539 did the hard work climbing back up the gradient, its main contribution was braking the heavy train!

The elderly couple sitting on the bench take no notice of 73133 The Bluebell Railway, as it ambles past Waterside (near Goodrington) with the 18:55 Churston to Paignton van train on 25 May 1996, during the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway's Diesel Gala.

73133 The Bluebell Railway & 73106 have just passed through Eastleigh station with 6Y26 08:28 Eastleigh Yard to Quidhampton china clay empties on 25 June 1999. With such unexpected motive power (a Class 37 or 58 was more usual), I certainly wasn't going to miss the return working, which I saw at East Grimstead.

73133 The Bluebell Railway approaches Summerseat on 11 September 199 with the 10:14 Bury to Ramsbottom service, during the East Lancashire Railway's 'EWS Classic Traction' event. At the time it was a novelty seeing a Class 73 this far north, and certainly no one then would have thought that they would later end up working regularly in Scotland!

A pair of former Southern Region locomotives well away from their home territory on 11 September 1999. 73133 The Bluebell Railway & 33202 The Burma Star pass Fernhill with the 12:10 Bury to Rawtenstall service, during the East Lancashire Railway's 'EWS Classic Traction' event.

73133 The Bluebell Railway approaches Westhumble on 7 January 2001 with the 11:00 Victoria to Horsham VSOE luxury charter. 59205 is on the rear of the train. Finding a location in heavily wooded Surrey that was clear of shadows in early January was not an easy task!

73133 The Bluebell Railway passes Willesborough on 19 July 2002 with the 1M01 19:40 Dover to London Railnet TPO, with classmate 73136 on the rear. The Channel Tunnel high speed line is under construction in the background, with the track down and the first signs of the overhead electrification already in place.

73134 Woking Homes 1865-1985 & 73108 approach Southampton on 2 December 1998 with loaded ballast wagons. Not ideal lighting, with lots of shadows from the lineside bushes, but at least the front is fully lit, and of course a pair of Class 73s is always worth photographing.

During 1987 some Class 73s were thrust into the role of long distance express passenger locomotives, when the Class 432 4-REP EMUs were withdrawn in order to donate their traction motors to the brand new Class 442 units then under construction. 73136 is pictured racing through Winchfield station on 28 August 1987 with the late running 13:32 Waterloo to Weymouth service.

73136 hauls 90005 Financial Times and an assortment of rolling stock past Horley on 21 September 1991, en-route from Willesden Brent Sidings to Lover's Walk Depot, for display at the following day's 'Brighton 150' open day. Just ten minutes later a similar convoy passed by, hauled by 47522.

73136 Kent Youth Music & 33051 Shakespeare Cliff pull out of Guildford station on 14 December 1996 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z56 14:57 Guildford to Bristol Temple Meads 'Rooster Booster' railtour. This was running over 40 minutes late, and 15:40 is not a good time to be taking a picture of a moving train on ISO 100 film near the shortest day of the year! Luckily the train was moving very slowly. Various EMUs can be seen in the background, with a Class 166 DMU on the far right, which would soon be working a train to Reading.

73136 Kent Youth Music & 73133 The Bluebell Railway slowly approach Lydd on 8 September 2002 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 11:10 Victoria to Dungeness 'Dungeness Pebbledasher' railtour. 37051 Merehead is hidden by the bushes, on the rear of the train.

Having just arrived at Dungeness on 8 September 2002 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 'Dungeness Pebbledasher' railtour, 73136 Kent Youth Music & 73133 The Bluebell Railway prepare to return to Victoria, with 37051 Merehead at the far end of the train now providing the power. The train is pictured in the strange moon like landscape of pebbles and marram grass that covers most of the Dungeness peninsular.

In a surprising, and very welcome brief patch of sunshine, 73136 Kent Youth Music & 73133 The Bluebell Railway bring up the rear of the Hertfordshire Railtours 14:15 Dungeness to Victoria 'Dungeness Pebbledasher' railtour at Kingsnorth on 8 September 2002. 37051 Merehead is hidden by the trees at the head of the train.

A matching pair of Mainline blue liveried Class 73s were provided for the Pathfinder Tours 1Z56 06:24 Derby to Southampton Central 'Soton Vinegar' railtour on 14 September 2002. 73136 Kent Youth Music & 73133 The Bluebell Railway head west past Oving (near Chichester). The tour also featured haulage by 37109 & 37174, 56129 & 60006.

73136 Kent Youth Music approaches Portcreek Junction on 18 October 2003 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z67 17:32 Portsmouth Harbour to Victoria 'Lost Sheep' railtour. 37065 is hiding underneath the bridge, on the rear of the train.

73136 Kent Youth Music & 73109 Battle of Britain 50th Anniversary pass Alderbury on 30 December 2003 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z73 10:14 Waterloo to Weymouth Town 'Wey Out' railtour. The colourful combination certainly compensates for the dull and rainy weather conditions.

73136 Kent Youth Music & 73109 Battle of Britain 50th Anniversary cross the River Test at Totton with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z73 10:14 Waterloo to Weymouth Town 'Wey Out' railtour on 30 December 2003, run to mark the end of EWS Class 73 operation, although the earlier failure of 73133 resulted in South West Train's 73109 helping out! The weather was terrible, but at least by the tour got to this point the rain had stopped.

Newly restored to mainline operation, the preserved 73136 Perseverance was paired with GBRf's 73204 Janice to work the 1Z41 Euston to Euston via Reigate section of the Pathfinder Tours 'Capital Crusader' railtour on 5 November 2005. The tour originally started from Liverpool Lime Street as 1Z40 behind 40145. The tour is pictured here passing Shortwood Common (near Staines) with the brand new Bronzefield Prison in the background. Obviously the 73s are working on the 'juice' here, but when they came to traverse the North Downs line a little later on, apparently 73204's engine didn't start, resulting in 73136 having to struggle on with just 600hp, with the result that the speed dropped to around 12mph at one point!

For most of the time during the Swanage Railway's 2012 Diesel Gala, 73136 Perseverance was acting as a brake translator for 57312. However, on Sunday 13 May, the Network Rail 57 ran low on fuel, so whilst it was being topped up the ED got a chance of a trip up the line on its own. It is seen here passing through the Wilderness (a wood near Quarr Farm, Harmans Cross) with the 13:45 Norden to Swanage train.

73138 Post Haste - 150 Years of Travelling Post Offices passes Millbrook on 30 November 1989 with the 5Z20 Eastleigh to Weymouth crew train running, using the boat train rake of (mostly) Network SouthEast First Class Mk2 stock. Thanks to Nic Joynson for the information about this working

73138 inches its way past the parked cars, as it traverses the Weymouth Quay line on 2 May 1999 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z93 09:43 Yeovil Junction to Weymouth Quay 'Wey-Farer' railtour. Two such trains were run over the line during the day, bringing to end over 130 years of trains running through the streets in Weymouth.

A police escort for 73138, as it very slowly traverses the Weymouth Quay line on 2 May 1999 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z93 09:43 Yeovil Junction to Weymouth Quay 'Wey-Farer' railtour. The quite obvious 'Keep Clear' writing on the road had not been fully observed, and there were a few very close encounters with badly parked cars!

An amazing spectacle, never to be repeated. With holidaymakers, bystanders and rail enthusiasts milling around, and preceded by a police escort, 73138 very gingerly negotiates the Weymouth Quay line on 2 May 1999 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z93 09:43 Yeovil Junction to Weymouth Quay 'Wey-Farer' railtour. Two identical trains worked over the line during the day, the last ever workings over this iconic line. Although most viewpoints were compromised by people and parked cars getting in the way, this was the only occasion that I have been able to chase a railtour and get numerous pictures just by walking in front of it!

73138 arrives at Yeovil Junction on 2 May 1999 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z96 16:13 Weymouth Quay to Yeovil Junction 'Wey-Farer' railtour. The little 600 hp diesel hadn't had to haul the train all the way from the coast, as 37250 & 73106 had worked the train up to Yeovil Pen Mill, with 73138 being used for the short distance between the town's two stations. 37250 & 73106 can be seen on the rear of the train, passing Yeovil Junction Signal Box.

After seeing 73138 arrive at Yeovil Junction on 2 May 1999 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z96 16:13 Weymouth Quay to Yeovil Junction 'Wey-Farer' railtour, I couldn't resist a second shot of the train, as it stands underneath the station footbridge.

Hoo Junction is hardly the most photogenic location imaginable, but even at the end of the 1990s the area still witnessed a large number of interesting freight workings. My main reason for visiting on 16 July 1999 was to see the 6Y94 09:36 Purley to Cliffe Brett stone empties. Although reasonably reliable, theoretically at the time it ran as required and with Class 66 haulage, so I was mightily relieved when bang on time 73138 & 73136 Kent Youth Music came into view.

73139 passes the site of Brookland station (closed in 1967) with the Thursdays only 7O62 06:29 Willesden to Dungeness empty nuclear flasks on 25 July 1996. Progress down the Dungeness branch, with its many level crossings, is so slow that it was easy to arrive at Lydd in plenty of time to see the train arrive.

73139 arrives at Lydd with the Thursdays only 7O62 06:29 Willesden to Dungeness empty nuclear flasks on 25 July 1996. The loco will stop just under the bridge, so that the guard can open the level crossing gates on the other side of the road, adjacent to the derelict Lydd station. The nuclear flasks had worked down from Sellafield to Willesden the previous day. It was such a hot day, that on the return trip the guard was sat outside on the flat platform between the brake van's verandah and headstock!

73139 stands at the long disused platform of Lydd Town station on 25 July 1996 with the Thursdays only 7O62 06:29 Willesden to Dungeness empty nuclear flasks. This line formerly continued on to New Romney. When the nearby Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway opened, a new halt was provided at Lydd-on-Sea, with Lydd station being renamed Lydd Town.

Paintwork doesn't come much more faded than this! 73139, 73104 & Class 33 D6593 pass Soldridge on 23 May 2004, during the Mid Hants Railway's Diesel Gala. What little grey paint that remains on 73104 seems to be coming off in huge patches!

My only picture of the Winfrith nuclear flask train. 73141 passes Millbrook on 30 November 1989 with the 7Z96 11:00 Winfrith to Gloucester, conveying the customary single flask. The Class 73 would work the train as far as Westbury.

73141 stands in the sunshine next to the shell of Hotchley Hill Signal Box, on the Great Central Railway (North) on 16 June 2002. This was during one of the East Midland Railway Society's photo charters. In this case the tatty loco was not destined to be restored to an original livery to spend its days on a preserved line, instead it has been reinstated to mainline service with GBRf.

73141 passes an Ox-eye daisy covered embankment, as it emerges from the 1897 built Barnston Tunnel on the Great Central Railway (North) on 16 June 2002. This freight charter was organised by the East Midlands Railway Photographic Society.

73141 is pictured in some dramatic lighting just to the south of Barnston Tunnel, on the Great Central Railway (North) on 16 June 2002. It is a lot easier taking pictures like this on a freight charter (in this case organised by the East Midlands Railway Photographic Society), as the train is just parked up and you wait for the appropriate lighting conditions to come along! Barnston Tunnel is only 110 yards long, and despite being on a curve, you can just see through it in this picture.

73141 stands at Rushcliffe Halt with a short engineers train on 16 June 2002, during the East Midland Railway Photographic Society's freight charter along the Great Central Railway (North). The large building in the background is the British Gypsum works.

Still looking fresh in its recently applied First GBRF livery, 73141 Charlotte is paired with 73204 Janice and is pictured here passing Chineham on 1 August 2009 with the UK Railtours 1Z92 08:40 Waterloo to Weymouth 'Weymouth Seaside Special' railtour. Instead of running via what would be the obvious route straight down the former Southern mainline and then via Southampton, the tour instead traveled to Reading via Staines and then had to negotiate the non-electrified line between Reading and Basingstoke. Obviously it was therefore much more interesting to get a picture of the tour running 'off the juice'. Considering the pair only have 1200hp available when running on diesel, the EDs were running at a fair speed here.

73201 Broadlands passes Horley on 21 September 1991 with the 15:00 Victoria to Gatwick Airport Gatwick Express service. This was the first Class 73 to be named, back in 1980, when the loco was numbered 73142. It carries two crest plates underneath the nameplate, bearing the coat of arms of the Test Valley and Romsey.

The pride of Stewarts Lane Depot, 73201 Broadlands passes Woking with the VSOE Pullmans on 15 May 1993. Note the three vans on the right. These constitute 10% of a small class of car train ferry vans based on a standard four wheel CCT van. The 30 vans were built to carry cars across the English Channel on the train ferry. They were withdrawn from ferry use in 1983, and ended up painted in bauxite livery, as departmental vehicles.

Immaculate retro BR Blue liveried 73201 Broadlands passes Popham on 4 August 2019 with the UK Railtours 1Z73 09:44 Waterloo to Swanage 'Swanage Sunday Special Number Two' railtour. The stock is London Underground 4-TC set 8028, and GBRf liveried 73107 Tracy is bringing up the rear.

73201 Broadlands & 73141 Spa Valley Railway 25 Year Anniversary pass Worting Junction on 17 May 2023 with the lightly loaded 6Y48 09:01 Eastleigh East Yard to Hoo Junction engineers working. A featherweight load of just three wagons, but at least it didn't run light engine like the previous day's 0Y48 train. Also, I was lucky that Broadlands was leading, and even more lucky to get it in sun, as the clouds were now building up rapidly.

73202 Royal Observer Corps passes Coulsdon on 21 September 1991 with the 11:00 Victoria to Gatwick Airport Gatwick Express service. This was certainly the place to photograph Class 73s, with a constant procession passing by en-route to Gatwick. Unfortunately, by 1991 they were all in the same livery, so it tended to get a bit monotonous!

73202 Royal Observer Corps nears journey's end, as it passes Horley on 21 September 1991 with the 14:45 Victoria to Gatwick Airport Gatwick Express service. Note the blue backed nameplate, with crest above. When originally named, the crest had been positioned beneath the nameplate.

73204 Janice & 73206 Lisa take the Canterbury route at Faversham on 20 November 2004 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z84 08:07 Victoria to Chichester 'JB Jamboree' railtour. The corner of the old steam shed can just be seen on the right. This grade 2 listed building surrounded by rank vegetation is a surprising survival in this part of third rail land. Note the carriage sidings on the left complete with narrow access platforms and vintage overhead lighting.

73204 Janice & 73205 Jeanette pass Amen Corner (a real place near Bracknell, and not just a 1960's pop group!), with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z73 06:05 Crewe to Liverpool Street 'East-Ender' railtour on 5 February 2005, which the EDs had taken over at Reading. This picture gives the impression of a quiet rural location - not so, at this point the line runs parallel with the busy A322.

73204 Janice takes the Ascot line at Wokingham with the 1Q84 09:20 Selhurst to Woking Serco test train on 15 June 2010. The train had just reversed at Reading and despite arriving in the town at approximately the correct time, was now running an amazing 43 minutes early. Luckily it was only moving slowly through the station, which gave time for the pair of Class 458 units to get out of the way. They were in fact still approaching from behind me when I first saw the 73 come round the corner into the station.

73205 London Chamber of Commerce pushes the Eurostar bogie high speed test train past Newnham in the rain on 17 December 1991. Class 33 33115 (83301), heavily modified and fitted with Eurostar bogies and current collection equipment is coupled between the 73 and the train, which is Derby research liveried Class 438 4-TC 8007, with two additional coaches inserted in the centre. The 73 has had its pick up shoes removed, and is receiving power from the 33 via a heavy duty cable. Apologies for the poor quality, but to say the weather was grim is an understatement!

73208 Kirsten brings up the rear of the 5D66 11:44 Bristol St Philips Marsh to Eastleigh Network Rail snow train on 23 February 2012, as the ensemble passes Compton Beauchamp headed by 57312. I wouldn't normally bother taking a picture of the trailing loco on such a train, but a Class 73 electro diesel is such incredibly rare traction on the Great Western Mainline, that this was definitely worth a quick sprint across the road.

73209 Alison & 73206 Lisa pass Soldridge on the Mid Hants Railway, as the drift down the gradient from Medstead & Four Marks with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z96 08:55 Victoria to Alresford  'Oozlum Bird Number 2' railtour on 9 February 2008. You wouldn't know it from the headboards, which read 'The Marshlander' & 'Electric Blue-Bird'.

73210 Selhurst passes Coulsdon on 21 September 1991 with the 10:30 Victoria to Gatwick Airport 'Gatwick Express' service. Just visible in the background is the delightfully named Stoats Nest Junction, where the 'Quarry Line' that bypasses Redhill, separates from the main route.

With Whitehall Farm on the left, 73210 Selhurst passes Crownthorpe on 5 April 2014 with the 1D08 12:35 Wymondham Abbey to Dereham service, during the Mid Norfolk Railway's Diesel Gala. 47579 James Nightall GC is on the rear.

73211 passes Earlswood on 9 August 1997 with the 09:15 Victoria to Gatwick Airport service. Unfortunately I haven't got many Gatwick Express Class 73 pictures, although on the few occasions that I was in the area, I naturally got quite a few identical pictures, due to the frequency of the service. However, on this occasion I wasn't here long, and this is the only one I photographed.

73212 Airtour Suisse speeds through Salfords on 21 September 1991 with the 09:30 Victoria to Gatwick Airport service. Introduced in 1984, these 'Gatwick Express' branded trains offered plenty of scope for Class 73 photography, although after the initial few months, the livery became standardised, and therefore somewhat repetitive.

73212 Airtour Suisse passes Coulsdon on 21 September 1991 with 10:45 Victoria to Gatwick Airport 'Gatwick Express' service. The loco received the name Airtour Suisse in 1985 (when it was numbered 73102) to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of the Swiss travel company.

Network Rail's 73212 & 73213 make a spectacular sight as they pass Potbridge (between Woking and Basingstoke) on 5 December 2007 with the 5Z73 10:20 Tonbridge to Eastleigh stock move, conveying four GLV vehicles. This would appear to represent all the remaining non-preserved Class 489 former Gatwick Express driving trailers. Note the new relay box and associated materials by the trackside at this location. There are a couple of ominous looking holes in the bank - surely not another new signal gantry like the one in the background!

73212 passes Amen Corner on 15 June 2010 with the 1Q84 09:20 Selhurst to Woking (via Reading) Serco test train. At this point the train was running exactly to time, however as is often the case with these easily timed trains, it didn't hang around long at the Reading reversal, and passed Wokingham on the return 43 minutes early! 73204 Janice can just be seen on the rear of the train.

73235 passes Coulsdon on 12 August 1995 with the 16:15 Victoria to Gatwick Airport service. These 'Gatwick Express' trains operated ever 15 minutes, so getting pictures of 73 hauled trains was certainly easy, but although the livery did change over time, somewhat lacking in variety. This shows the final version of the InterCity inspired livery.

73906 & 73005 were definitely the highlight of the Pathfinder Tours 'Rex Ham' Railtour on 28 February 1998. A pair of MerseyRail 73s working on diesel power easily eclipsed the other traction on the day, even though that included Classes 31, 37, 47, 58 & 60! They are pictured here coming off the single track section of the Sandbach to Northwich line at Middlewich. At this point the tour was running as the 1Z63 14:48 Chester to Reading.

73951 Malcolm Brinded emerges from the fog at Badgeworth on 13 January 2022 with the 1Z37 07:06 Cardiff Canton Sidings to Derby RTC Network Rail test train. 73952 Janis Kong is bringing up the rear. This was running 39 minutes late, which was extremely fortunate, as at the booked time the Badgeworth area was enveloped in dense fog. I was not impressed with this, having driven 30 miles in clear conditions, only to drive into the fog less than a mile from the bridge! Amazingly, the sun broke through the fog just two minutes before the train appeared.

Brightening up the dull afternoon at Bewdley on 19 May 2016 are: 73952 Janis Kong & 73951 Malcolm Brinded. The two visiting Network Rail 73/9s were one of the star attractions at the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. They are working the late running 15:01 Kidderminster to Bewdley service.

Sasha, Alison & Janice! Two contrasting forms of transport are pictured at Crofton on 14 July 2018, as 73961 Alison & 73963 Janice pass the narrowboat Sasha on the Kennet & Avon Canal, as they head west with the UK Railtours 1Z40 07:30 Stevenage to Weymouth 'Sunny South Express' railtour.

73962 Dick Mabbutt & 73963 Janice speed past Little Bedwyn on 16 July 2016 with the UK Railtours 1Z74 16:24 Paignton to Waterloo 'The Herd of Wildebeestie' railtour. Out of sight around the corner on the rear are 73128 O.V.S. Bulleid C.B.E & 73107 Tracy. It is still a surprise the see Class 73s travelling at such speed away from the third rail, but then of course these two are re-engineered Class 73/9s with 1,600hp MTU engines, in place of the original Class 73's 600hp English Electric unit. I had chosen this location as it would be much less backlit than most of the route, and would give a perfectly lit view of the locos on the rear of the train. Of course as soon as I arrived the sun disappeared, and by the time the train arrived the lighting was pretty grim.

73962 Dick Mabbutt passes Churchill Heath (near Kingham) on 21 June 2018 with the 1Z73 07:14 Paddington to Long Marston GBRf special, run in connection with the Rail Live event. Classmate 73963 Janice is bringing up the rear. This was a re-run of the previous day's train, and is therefore the second Class 73 hauled train over the Cotswold Line. The previous day's return working failed after leaving Long Marston, and travelled ECS to Eastleigh via Bristol. The problem was with the 4-TC stock employed, which explains the use here of four replacement Mk1s.

73962 Dick Mabbutt leads the 1Q51 11:15 Derby RTC to Eastleigh (via Weymouth) Network Rail test train past Cossington on 20 January 2020. 73965 is bringing up the rear. When I started taking pictures, a pair of Class 73s anywhere other than the Southern Region would have been extremely unusual. Nowadays you can see them al over the place!

73962 Dick Mabbutt passes Didcot North Junction on 20 March 2024 with the late running 1Q66 12:16 Woking to Waterloo (via Oxford) Network Rail test train. 73965 Des O'Brien is bringing up the rear. The train would return half an hour later.

The first ever Class 73 hauled train over the Cotswold Line? 73963 Janice storms through Charlbury station on 20 June 2018 with the 1Z73 07:14 Paddington to Long Marston GBRf special, run in connection with the Rail Live event. The stock is the London Transport liveried 4-TC set, and 73962 Dick Mabbutt is bringing up the rear. Due to the historic nature of this working, I wanted to photograph it at an identifiable location, and passing Brunel's wooden station building at Charlbury seemed to fit the bill. What was surprising was that nobody else had the same idea, and I was the only photographer on the station. Unfortunately problems with the stock on the return working resulted in the train travelling ECS to Worcester, and then with both locos on the front, running as the 5Z74 17:40 Worcester to Eastleigh Arlington (via Bristol) ECS. By the time this information came to light there wasn't enough time to travel to Cheltenham area for a picture.

73963 Janice approaches Dunstall Bridge, Moreton-in-Marsh, on 21 June 2018 with the 1Z74 14:54 Long Marston to Paddington GBRf special, returning from the Rail Live event. 73962 Dick Mabbutt is bringing up the rear. If this had passed at the correct time it would have been in full sun, but it was 3 minutes early and the sun was still behind a thin cloud. Clearly a better choice of location would have been Moreton-in-Mash station, as the sun is definitely fully out in the background!

73963 Janice passes Yarnton on 31 August 2019 with the 1Q79 09:14 Tonbridge West Yard to Derby RTC Network Rail test train. Annoyingly, this was just one minute before the setting sun dropped out of the last remaining cloud. However, it was still gradually getting brighter, and the dark clouds in the background certainly add to the picture, but if only the train had waited in Oxford as booked, instead of just pausing for a couple of minutes, and then continuing north, ten minutes early! 73962 Dick Mabbutt is hidden by the bushes at the rear of the train.

73963 Janice & 73965 Des O'Brien approach the site of Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham, on 10 June 2023 with the 1Z60 08:07 Ashford International to Weston super Mare GBRf staff charter. Note the generator coach directly behind the locomotives.

Class 73s are not at all common in the Oxford area, so this was definitely not to be missed! 73964 Jeanette approaches Culham on 23 March 2022 with the 1Q66 11:01 Woking to Waterloo (via Kennington Goods Loop!) Network Rail test train. 73963 Janice is bringing up the rear. Just a few seconds later this view was blocked out by the 221121, working the 1M50 1415 Reading to Manchester Piccadilly CrossCountry service. In the background is the bridge over the River Thames.

73965 passes Launton on 24 February 2018 with the 1Q69 09:00 Hither Green to Derby RTC Network Rail test train. Classmate 73962 Dick Mabbutt is hidden by the signal at the rear of the train. Despite the much wider use of Class 73s in recent years, the locos are still rare on the Chiltern Line, so this was definitely worth recording. Unfortunately, late on a February afternoon is not the ideal time to be photographing a northbound train on the route, as so many locations are in shadow. Therefore I had to settle on this spot, which although very bland, is at least perfectly lit.

73965 Des O'Brien & 73963 Janice very slowly approach a red signal at Uffington on 10 June 2023, whilst heading back from the seaside with the 1Z61 17:26 Weston-super-Mare to Ashford International GBRf staff charter. There were severe signalling problems in the area, and all trains were coming to a stand at the signal which was stuck on red. After a few minutes the 73s were authorised to proceed past the red signal. This caused some delay, but nothing like what happened shortly afterwards, with trains stacking up one behind the other, with delays exceeding an hour.

The 1Q66 12:16 Woking to Waterloo (via Oxford) Network Rail test train passes Didcot North Junction on 20 March 2024 with 73965 Des O'Brien leading, and 73962 Dick Mabbutt bringing up the rear. Half an hour earlier I had photographed the train heading towards Oxford from the ridge in the background.

Watched by a solitary intending passenger, 73967 & 73969 arrive at Crianlarich station at 22:04 on 30 August 2016 with the 1B01 19:50 Fort William to Euston ScotRail sleeper. With very uneven lighting, this is very much a record shot of the still moving train. Unfortunately trains stop right at the very end of the platform whilst obtaining the RETB electronic token, allowing no possibility of a properly composed tripod shot. 

73967 & 66303 at the head of the Caledonian Sleeper stock at Inverness on 9 March 2023. Although in a hopeless position for a decent picture, I couldn't resist a record shot, especially in the unexpected sunshine! The pair had arrived several hours earlier with the 1S25 20:27 train from Euston, and would leave later in the evening with the 1M16 20:45 southbound service.

73969 & 73966 arrive at Arrochar & Tarbet station on 31 August 2016 with the 1Y11 04:50 Edinburgh (ex Euston) to Fort William ScotRail sleeper. At just after 7am on a rainy morning the light was terrible, but at least the train was travelling slowly, as it prepared to pick up a single passenger. If anyone had told me when I first stared taking pictures that Class 73s would end up in the highlands of Scotland, I definitely would not have believed them, but in 2016 the re-engineered locos are proving a success on their new duties in the mountains.

With the earlier drizzle having given way to steady rain, 73969 & 73966 run parallel with the A82 road in Glen Falloch on 31 August 2016 with the 1Y11 04:50 Edinburgh (ex Euston) to Fort William ScotRail sleeper. The train is just about to pass underneath the road, as it follows the River Falloch towards Crianlarich.

73969 & 73966 approach County March Summit, near Tyndrum, in the rain on 31 August 2016 with the 1Y11 04:50 Edinburgh (ex Euston) to Fort William ScotRail sleeper. After spending half a century working on the Southern Region, and rarely straying very far from the south of England, these re-engineered 73s have ended up just about as far away from the 750V third rail as it is possible to get! After a decade of Class 67 haulage the West Highland sleeper has now reverted to some interesting traction, and no doubt hoards of photographers will once again head for the hills, just as they did in the days of the 37s.

73969 passes Cove Bay on 16 September 2019 with the 1A25 04:43 Edinburgh to Aberdeen ScotRail sleeper. This is a portion off the 1S25 21:00 Euston to Inverness train. Another portion also detaches at Edinburgh, forming the 1Y11 04:50 Edinburgh to Fort William.

73969 is just a few hundred yards from the end of its long journey, as it passes Fort William Junction Signal Box on 7 March 2023 with the 1Y11 20:27 Euston to Fort William Caledonian sleeper. This is a portion of the 1S25 train from London, which was worked as far as Edinburgh by 92020.