Electrification work taking place at Wool on 9 January 1988. Class 438 4-TC 8007 leads another unidentified classmate into the station with the 11:32 Weymouth to Waterloo Network SouthEast service, pushed at the rear by 33101. Note the recently installed third rail, and the temporary plywood covered up platform. Shortly after this picture was taken, the signal box acquired an ugly extension on the platform side. The box was demolished in 2015.

Class 438 4-TC 8007 passes Newnham in the rain on 17 December 1991 with a Woking to Basingstoke high speed test train. The train is being powered by 73205 at the rear of the train, although current is being picked up by experimental collection shoes fitted to converted Class 33115 (83301), which is coupled between the 73 and the train. The 33 is also fitted with Eurostar bogies. Initially the 4-TC set ran as a standard four car unit, but in March 1991 the two additional Network SouthEast liveried coaches were added, which, as the locos were in InterCity livery, made for a very colourful train! Apologies for the poor quality, but this is the only time I saw this extremely interesting train in action. The picture was taken on a very dull day on Kodachrome 200.

Pushed by an unidentified Class 33/1, Class 438 4-TC 410 approaches Micheldever on 17 June 1984 with the 09:08 Portsmouth Harbour to Reading service. 410 was one of two Class 4-TC sets to receive a new lease of life in 1991, when it was repainted into 1960s all over blue, and was used on a number of tours under the Premier Charters banner.

In late 1991, two of the surviving Class 438 4-TC trailer sets were refurbished and repainted into 1960s style all over blue livery for use on Premier Charter specials. A lot of the time the two units (410 & 417) operated together, but here we see 410 being pushed into Winchfield station on its own on 6 November 1991 by 33116. This was just a few das after the repainted units had entered traffic. Judging by the platform activity, this is clearly some sort of charter train, but unfortunately I have no further details. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Retro liveried Class 438 4-TCs 410 & 417 are propelled noisily up the gradient towards St James Park station (Exeter) on 10 July 1993 by 33116, with the 13:31 Exeter St Davids to Waterloo relief service. St James Park station is situated between Exeter Central station and Exmouth Junction, on the former Southern Railway route to London.

After Class 438 4-TC 8012 was withdrawn in May 1991, half of it (DTS 76291 & TBSK 70828) was used with the inelegantly named 'Swedish Scrubber' rail head cleaning train. It is pictured here leading the colourful train through Grateley station on 14 November 1991. Behind the former 4-TC are three research department vehicles, followed by the actual 'Swedish Scrubber' van ADB977695 (a converted GUV), with 33102 doing the pushing at the rear.

A cavalcade of research departmental vehicles, led by half of the former Class 438 4-TC 8012, passes through Dean station on 14 November 1991 with the 'Swedish Scrubber' rail head cleaning train. 33102 is providing the power at the rear.

Class 438 4-TC 417 brings up the rear of the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z40 09:37 Waterloo to Brockenhurst 'Kinky Newt' railtour at Potbridge on 10 October 1993. The eight coach train is made up from both the repainted Premier Charters 4-TCs, the other one being 410. 33116 is providing the power at the front of the train.

In miserable lighting conditions on 22 January 1994, Class 438 4-TCs 417 & 410 leave Salisbury with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z33 07:35 Waterloo to Weymouth 'Push Pull Farewell' railtour, with 33116 just out of sight behind the white house doing the pushing at the rear. Both the units have been restored to their original 1960s livery. The lower stage of the tower on Salisbury's world famous cathedral was undergoing restoration work at the time and is encased in scaffolding.

With the local landmark of the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal engine house in the background, Class 438 4-TCs 417 & 410 are pushed towards Cogload Junction by 33116 (D6535) Hertfordshire Rail Tours with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z33 07:35 Waterloo to Weymouth 'Push Pull Farewell' railtour on 22 January 1994.

Class 438 4-TC 417 passes a collection of old barges on the Kilnhurst Cut, as it rounds the curve at Swinton on 15 January 2000 with the Branch Line Society's 08:14 Birmingham New Street to Goole 'River Don' railtour. 33103 is providing the power at the rear.

The Branch Line Society's 08:14 Birmingham New Street to Goole 'River Don' railtour accelerates away from Meadowhall station on 15 January 2000, with Class 438 4-TC 417 leading, and 33103 doing the pushing at the rear. After reversing at Rotherham, the train would return in half an hour with 33103 leading. The Meadowhall Shopping Centre dominates the background of this view, with the Sheffield Supertram track on the left.

4-TC 8018 is pushed past Nursling on 17 June 1989 by 33119 & 33008 Eastleigh. This is 10:00 special from Eastleigh, one of three circular mini tours run in connection with the Eastleigh 150 celebrations. 8018 was withdrawn shortly after this picture was taken, and has since been scrapped, a fate which has presumably also befallen the cars in the field on the left!

4-TC 8018 is propelled past Crampmoor on 17 June 1989 by 33119 & 33008 Eastleigh. This is the 15:00 Eastleigh to Eastleigh (via Romsey and Southampton) special, one of three circular mini tours run in connection with the Eastleigh 150 celebrations.

Class 438 4-TC 8022 catches the fading evening light, as it is pushed round the curve at Silchester by 33116 on 5 July 1987. The train is the 2V43 18:08 Portsmouth Harbour to Reading Network SouthEast service. Note the plush orange curtains. The ensemble would shortly return with the 2O17 20:00 Reading to Portsmouth Harbour working.

Class 438 4-TC 423 is pushed past Newton Tony on 19 April 1986 by 33106. The train is the 2L11 08:37 Basingstoke to Salisbury service, which would return a little later with 33106 leading, as the 1L06 09:29 Salisbury to Waterloo. Largely overlooked at the time, interest has now been increased in these units by Kernow Model Centre's bold decision to commission a model in OO gauge.

Class 438 4-TC 8033 leads the 10:24 Waterloo to Weymouth Network SouthEast service past Potbridge on 13 September 1986. Behind it is another 4-TC set, with one of the extremely powerful Class 432 4-REP units doing the pushing at the rear. This would remain at Bournemouth, as the 4-TCs were taken on to Weymouth by a Class 33/1.

Class 438 4-TC 8034 is pushed past Deepcut on 28 August 1987 by 33118. The train is the 1O17 08:45 Sherborne to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. Most trains on the West of England line either started from Exeter or Salisbury. However, the first and last trains of the day started from Yeovil Junction, and there was one that originated from Templecombe, and this one from Sherborne.

The Structure Gauging Train passes Narroways Hill Junction on 16 April 1991, with driving trailer RDB975081 leading. Multiple headlight fitted RDB975081 was formerly test coach Hermes, and started life as Mk 1 BSK coach M35313. The rear coach is RDB975280 (formerly test coach Mercury). This housed the computer equipment, and staff facilities. Between them is the structure gauging vehicle ZXQ DC460000. This odd looking contraption housed the optical gauging equipment. Providing the power at the rear on this occasion is 47974. Although there seem to be plenty of pictures of the later version of this train, I have been unable to find many pictures of this particular formation, especially on the move.

With a train every 15 minutes, and with the loco on the southern end of the train, there were numerous pictures taken of the Class 73 hauled Gatwick Express trains, but naturally far fewer of the other less interesting end of the train. So here is a picture of Class 489 GLV 9106 passing Horley on 21 September 1991, leading the 17:05 Gatwick to Victoria service out of Gatwick station, with 73212 Airtour Suisse doing the pushing at the rear. The ten Class 489s were converted from Class 414 EMU driving cars, specifically for Gatwick Express duties.

Network Rail DBSO 9701 is propelled towards Cam & Dursley by 31454 on 12 October 2009. It is working the 2Z08 09:46 Derby RTC to Bristol Temple Meads test train. It would later work up various Welsh Valley lines, albeit after dark. Unfortunately this viewpoint is getting more difficult thanks to tree growth next to the bridge.

Network Rail DBSO 9701 leads the 1Q14 05:57 Derby RTC to Eastleigh (via Westbury) test train past Somerton on 10 April 2012. On the plus side, this did correspond with one of the last sunny spells before a large bank of cloud rolled in from the west, but on the minus side, I would definitely have preferred 31465 to have been on the front, rather than pushing at the rear!

DBSO 9701 leads the 3Q13 09:07 Derby RTC to Oxford Down Carriage Siding Network Rail test train through Kingham station in atrocious light on 19 October 2016. Green liveried 37057 is doing the pushing at the rear. It just shows how long I have been taking pictures (or how fast conifers grow), that I can clearly remember when there was nothing but a few bushes at this location!

Network Rail DBSO 9702 leads the 3Z80 08:52 Derby RTC to Eastleigh test train over Appleford level crossing on 9 August 2012, with 31285 doing the pushing on the rear. This location used to have a lot less trees, and a signal box controlling the crossing. The view in 1985 was much more photogenic.

DBSO 9702 leads the 3Q02 10:50 Eastleigh to Derby RTC test train past Steeple Aston on 21 September 2013. 31105 is doing the pushing at the rear. I had chosen this location as the quiet farm occupation bridge would allow a rapid change of position (with no fear of getting run over), in order to get a picture of the loco on the rear.

Running 50 minutes early, Network Rail DBSO 9702 leads the 3Z72 11:30 Reading Triangle Sidings to Derby RTC test train past Tackley on 20 March 2021. 37175 was noisily doing the pushing at the rear. Note the former ScotRail Mk2 coach in the centre of the train.

Network Rail DBSO 9703 leads the 3Z15 11:15 Derby RTC to Eastleigh test train past Tackley on 2 January 2012. 31602 Driver Dave Green is noisily doing the pushing on the rear. Luckily the train was running ten minutes early. A large bunch of clouds was gathering around the sun, and around the booked time it would have been very hit and miss as to whether I got this in the sun.

A very brief burst of sunshine illuminates Network Rail DBSO 9703, as it leads the late running 3Z10 06:39 Derby RTC to Old Dalby test train past Frisby-on-the-Wreake on 14 March 2016. 37716 is doing the work on the rear.

DBSO 9703 brings up the rear of the 3Z49 15:33 Derby RTC to Canton Taff Vale Sidings Network Rail test train at Fiddington on 16 August 2023. 37116 is leading the train towards the level crossing at Tredington. The Cotswold Hills dominate the background.

The 2C48 11:56 Carlisle to Lancaster Northern service arrives at Drigg station on 14 April 2018, with DBSO 9705 leading, and 37424 doing the pushing at the rear. The station is theoretically a request stop, but the train stopped anyway, despite there being no passengers either waiting or getting off the train.

9708 leads the 1Q06 08:54 Derby RTC to Hither Green structure gauging train past Bishops Itchington on 26 March 2012. Note that 9708 has extra equipment fitted to the front end compared to Network Rail's standard DBSO. 31285 is out of sight on the rear, doing the pushing.

Network Rail DBSO 9708 leads the 3Q64 10:20 Canton Pullmans to Canton Pullmans (Via Swindon) test train through Kemble station on 3 January 2019. 37607 is doing the pushing at the rear. This was running over half an hour early, having missed out its booked 24 minute stop in Haresfield Loop. Luckily I had left home in good time in case that happened, but even so only got here with a few minutes to spare. As I was taking the picture, I thought that 165132 arriving on the other platform with the 2G85 13:36 Swindon to Cheltenham Spa GWR service was going to ruin the picture, but instead it makes an interesting passing shot. Judging by the rusty track, it doesn't look like anything has used the former Cirencester branch bay platform line for a while.

Network Rail DBSO 9714 leads the 4Z10 07:50 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road (via Oxford) test train past Shorthampton on 23 September 2009. 31106 is providing the power at the rear. The recently cleared cutting at this location now makes an excellent photographic location, and as the light was abysmal, I decided to go for a different viewpoint by shooting from the north side. The tiny Norman church at Shorthampton, famous for its Medieval wall paintings, is just out of the picture to the left, a couple of fields from the railway.

There seemed very little prospect of getting another sunlit shot of the 3Z13 08:23 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road test train on 12 September 2011, after I had seen it near Cornbury Park. However, I decided to go to a location near Chilson to see it returning from its reversal at Oxford, this time of course with Network Rail DBSO 9714 leading, and 31106 pushing at the rear. I wanted a 'train in the landscape' type shot, and thought that the short train would look well framed between the solitary tree and the new signal post. I expected nothing more than a record shot, as the clouds were building up big time. Amazingly, just as it came into view the sun found a hole in the cloud and bathed the whole scene in light, which contrasts markedly with the background. I'm glad I took the trouble to walk to the location now! Incidentally, the last time I saw 9714, was just around the corner at Shorthampton, two years previously, going the other way.

Network Rail DBSO 9714 heads the 3Q04 08:37 Derby RTC to Derby RTC (via Oxford) test train through Finstock station on 20 February 2013. 97304 is doing the pushing on the rear. The station had just received a visit from a couple of rail contractors. This consisted of walking up and down the platform, stamping on the flagstones, taking pictures of the platform, talking to someone on a mobile phone, and then driving off!

Running 116 minutes late, DBSO 9714 leads the 3Z23 14:00 Derby RTC to Bristol High Level Siding Network Rail test train past Portway on 15 September 2020. 37612 is doing the pushing at the rear. The overall yellow of the train is broken up not just by the rear loco, but also the ex ScotRail coach in the middle.

DBSO 9714 approaches Kemble station on 20 January 2022 with the 3Q64 10:20 Canton Pullmans to Canton Pullmans (via Swindon) Network Rail test train. 37099 Merl Evans 1947-2016 is doing the pushing at the rear. A long lens was required in order to clear the foreground shadows.

82101 leads the 14:10 Liverpool Lime Street to Euston InterCity service through Cheddington station on 28 April 1990. It was a couple of miles north of this spot that the Great Train Robbers halted the up postal on 7 August 1963, getting away with £2.6 million. The alarm was raised by one of the loco's crew catching an early morning train to Cheddington. Obviously the following day this quiet station in the middle of the Buckinghamshire countryside would have been swarming with police!

Having been thwarted in my attempt to get a picture of 82101 on the 09:30 Birmingham New Street to Euston Virgin West Coast service two days previously, I tried again on 22 April 2009, this time going to Banbury Lane, and this time not being blocked out by something going the the way! 82101 is just passing over the site of the former level crossing at Banbury Lane with its mixed rake of Cargo D blue and grey and Virgin liveried stock. 90036 is out of sight at the rear providing the power.

82118 speeds through the Lune Gorge on 11 April 1992 at the head of the 15:14 Glasgow Central to Euston InterCity service. This location is Dillicar, formerly the site of a set of water troughs. Although within feet of the M6 motorway, this spot is a very long walk from any other public road.

82121 leads the 11:00 Manchester Piccadilly to Euston InterCity service through a seemingly deserted Hemel Hempstead station on 2 September 1990. Like a lot of West Coast Mainline stations, the platform buildings are modern, and devoid of character.

82123 leads the 1M25 11:48 Glasgow to Euston Virgin service past Docker (between Tebay and Oxenholme) on 12 July 2003. An ideal photographic location on a sweeping curve with the hills in the background. Just think how good it must have been in steam days before they put the wires up, or even in the 1970s when doubled head Class 50s were commonplace!

82125 speeds past Brockhall (between Rugby and Milton Keynes) with the 07:10 Liverpool Lime Street to Euston InterCity service on 24 August 1991. Having a streamlined front end only works if you shut all the flaps, not as here with one of them open and acting as an air brake! The Canon F1 I used to take this picture was one of the few cameras available at the time that had the 1/2000 sec shutter speed that was necessary to freeze all motion with a train this close to the camera and traveling at such high speed.

A brief spell of dramatic lighting at Holme on 25 April 1998. 82138 heads south with the 1M28 13:40 Glasgow to Euston 'Caledonian' Virgin West Coast service. The bridge in the background carries the B6384 Holme to Milnthorpe road over the line.

The InterCity 1Z40 14:29 Crewe to Euston 'Friday Charter' special passes Cathiron on 2 September 2022, led by 82139. The 6Z92 14:41 Northampton Castle Yard to Tunstead stone empties can be seen disappearing into the distance. Although that might have got in the way, that wasn't the problem. The problem was the 1H29 14:20 Euston to Manchester Piccadilly Pendolino that was right behind me, and almost stopped me getting a picture of 90002 Wolf of Badenoch on the rear of the special.

82144 speeds past Kings Langley with the 06:30 Manchester Piccadilly to Euston InterCity service on 28 October 1995. The train will soon be passing underneath the M25 on its express journey to the capital, Having already had its last booked sop at Milton Keynes.

With a dramatic sky implying that the sun wouldn't last much longer, 82146 leads the 1A39 10:45 Liverpool Lime Street to Euston Virgin West Coast service past Cathiron on 9 September 1998. Presumably any estate agent trying to sell either of the two semi-detached houses behind the train would have a hard job putting a positive slant on being quite that close to the railway!

82146 leads the 5Z05 12:50 Toton to Exeter Riverside DB Schenker Management Train past Tredington on 3 June 2010, with 67029 doing the pushing at the rear. Most photographers would prefer this to be the other way round, but I prefer the sleek lines of the DVT to the aesthetically challenged corrugated sided 'Skip'. At least DBS have managed to keep this train clean (unlike the majority of their fleet) and this does show off the 'three beasties' logo very well.

Just a single blue coach at the rear of the rake breaks up the uniformity of the East Coast silver livery of the 1A30 12:45 Leeds to Kings Cross service. 82200 leads the ensemble past Balderton Crossing at Claypole on 30 May 2012.

82200 leads the 1E23 16:30 Edinburgh to Kings Cross LNER service past Burnmouth on 16 September 2019. 91132 is doing the pushing at the rear. This is a location that I had been meaning to visit for a long time, and was very fortunate that my first visit corresponded with perfect photographic conditions.

A minute's worth of sunshine amid the dark clouds provides this fantastic lighting at Askham on 21 December 2019, just as the 1E08 09:00 Edinburgh to Kings Cross LNER service passes by led by 82200. What a pity this superb light didn't reappear for the LNER 1Z43 11:01 Leeds to Kings Cross 'West Riding Limited HST Farewell' railtour a short while later!

82200 brings up the rear of the 1W96 17:14 Cardiff Central to Holyhead Transport for Wales service, as it passes Llanellen on 3 May 2023. 67010 at the front of the train, is slowing down for the next stop at Abergavenny.

82201 speeds past Ryther on 1 October 2009 with the 1A20 09:00 Newcastle to Kings Cross National Express East Coast service. This operator had little more than a month to go when this photo was taken, before being in effect renationalised due to mounting losses.

82201 approaches Sandy on 2 October 2019 with the 1E16 13:00 Edinburgh to Kings Cross LNER service. Note the rust coloured staining around the buffers, which seems to be so much a characteristic of these DVTs.

82201 passes Pandy on 3 May 2023 with the 1W93 11:25 Cardiff Central to Holyhead Transport for Wales service. 67012 is providing the power at the rear. The black liveried DVT and coaches are from Grand Central Railway's abortive London to Blackpool fleet.

With a toot, and a wave from the driver, 82202 leads the 1E10 10:00 Edinburgh to Kings Cross LNER service past Hambleton in a brief sunny spell on 1 July 2019. Hambleton South Junction, where the line to Leeds diverges to the left, is just beyond the bridge in the background.

82203 flies the flag for the obsolete ex GNER livery, as it heads a rake of similarly coloured stock past Yaxley on 6 September 2012. The train is the 1E01 05:40 Edinburgh to Kings Cross East Coast service. The rabbits on the trackbed on the right seem unconcerned with its passing!

82204 leads the 11:05 Edinburgh to Kings Cross service past Claypole on 24 August 1991. I particularly like the cloud effect in this picture, almost reminiscent of the use of a polarising filter. However, with Fujichrome RF50 in my Canon A1, and 1/1000sec shutter speed definitely required, a polariser was out of the question!

Flying Scotsman liveried 82205 leads the 1E14 12:00 Edinburgh to Kings Cross East Coast service past Frinkley Lane (between Newark and Grantham) on 6 September 2012. Note the gradient post in the foreground. This is in such a dilapidated state, that the arms rattle about in the wind!

Soft evening lighting at Burn on 15 September 2012, as 82205 leads the 1E21 15:30 Edinburgh to Kings Cross East Coast service towards the capital. The effect of the Flying Scotsman coloured DVT and new silver liveried coaches is rather spoiled by the unbranded former GNER liveried Class 91 on the rear.

Flying Scotsman liveried 82205 leads the 1E13 11:30 Edinburgh to Kings Cross Virgin East Coast service past Burn on Sunday 13 March 2016. Whatever you think of the latest livery to grace the East Coast Mainline, it is certainly bright!

82206 leads the 1E02 05:48 Edinburgh to Kings Cross Virgin East Coast service past Little Heck on 7 April 2015. The Class 91 at the rear is just passing over the Knottingley to Goole line, which is mainly used by trains going to Drax Power Station.

A conveniently positioned five bar field gate, and overhanging tree make an ideal frame for the 1A37 15:15 Leeds to Kings Cross Virgin East Coast service, as it speeds past Burton-le-Coggles on 28 August 2015, led by 82206. The brooding clouds in the background also add to the effect, but unfortunately they would also soon get in the way of the sun!

The clouds are gathering at Little Heck on 11 March 2011, as 82207 speeds southwards with the 1E02 06:00 Edinburgh to Kings Cross East Coast service. Almost a complete train in the striking silver livery, only the Class 91 pushing at the rear spoils the uniformity.

The 1E17 14:30 Edinburgh to Kings Cross East Coast service races past Great Heck on 22 June 2013, with 82207 leading. The road over the bridge in the background was truncated when the M62 motorway was constructed in the 1970s.

82207 approaches Balne Lowgate on 12 March 2014 with the 1Y86 14:01 York to Kings Cross East Coast service. Balne Highgate can just be seen in the background, with the diminutive Balne Signal Bix hiding behind one of the catenary supports.

82208 leads the 1E04 06:55 Edinburgh to Kings Cross East Coast service past Cromwell Moor on 15 October 2011. Only the Class 91 pushing at the rear is still in the old ex GNER dark blue livery. The nearby village of Cromwell was originally the ancestral home of the Cromwell family, who's most well known member was of course Oliver Cromwell. Anyone got a picture of 70013 passing this spot?

82208 sweeps round the curve at Gateforth on 29 November 2016 with the late running 1E10 10:00 Edinburgh to Kings Cross Virgin East Coast service. The golden leaves and silver trunks of the silver birch trees in the background certainly stand out in the superb late autumn light.

82209 in its stylish new East Coast livery leads the 1E01 05:50 Edinburgh to Kings Cross service past Great Heck on 11 March 2011. Although it may look impressive, it does seem questionable that it is really worthwhile repainting any stock on this route as the franchise will shortly be up for grabs again.

With the whole train, except the loco at the back, in East Coast's silver grey livery, 82209 leads the 1Y88 16:01 York to Kings Cross service past Balne Lowgate on 12 March 2014. The tree on the left greatly improves the composition of the picture.

With the cloud rapidly building up, and the sunny breaks getting shorter, 82209 just manages to find a break in the clouds, as it speeds south past Cromwell Moor on 18 April 2014 with the 1Y82 10:03 York to Kings Cross East Coast service.

82210 catches the early morning sun as it passes Great Heck with the 06:30 Newcastle to Kings Cross National Express East Coast service on 14 March 2008. Note the 80 mph speed restriction on the down. line. This section of the ECML was closed the previous day due to damage caused to the overhead wires by the second lot of high winds in less than a month. Such, unfortunately is the vulnerability of overhead electrification, especially when inadequate strength was built into the system in the first place to save costs.

With 82210 leading, the 1E12 11:00 Edinburgh to Kings Cross LNER service passes the various red tints of autumn at Ryther on 30 November 2019. The bridge in the background is the B1223 Ulleskelf to Cawood road.

82211 leads the 09:30 Edinburgh to Kings Cross National Express East Coast service past Houndwood on 3 May 2008. This was the perfect way to enjoy railway photography (apart from the long walk to get to the location). Sitting on the grassy bank in the sunshine and just picking up the camera when a train appeared in the distance. The only noise was from the sheep in the neighbouring fields and the traffic on the distant A1 road which can just be seen in the background.

The rabbit in the foreground takes no notice as 82211 speeds past Yaxley on 6 September 2012 with the 1Y14 06:00 Berwick-upon-Tweed to Kings Cross East Coast service. Although not at all evident here, Peterborough is only a short distance away, beyond the trees.

82211 leads the 1E10 10:00 Edinburgh to Kings Cross East Coast service past Burn on 17 October 2013. Interestingly, this driving van trailer is only a little younger than the line itself at this point, as this is part of the Selby diversion, opened in 1983 in order to avoid possible mining subsidence on the original route.

Having just passed underneath the M62 motorway, 82212 speeds past Great Heck on 6 June 2012 with the 1Y14 06:00 Berwick-upon-Tweed to Kings Cross East Coast service, in a little patch of weak early morning sunshine, which soon gave way to cloud.

82212 leads the 1A29 12:15 Leeds to Kings Cross LNER service past Barnby Lane, Claypole, on 22 July 2019. As you have to include so much sky in pictures taken underneath the overhead wires, it helps when there are some clouds to add interest to the blue sky, as here.

The vintage cast iron milepost adds some foreground interest to this view at Tollerton on 12 March 2009. 82213 leads the 07:50 Glasgow Central to Kings Cross National Express East Coast service, which is still formed from a complete rake of stock in the obsolete GNER dark blue livery.

82213 leads the 07:50 Glasgow Central to Kings Cross East Coast service past Thorpe Grange on 17 June 2010. The DVTs never had a chance to acquire National Express's stylish silver and white livery, before that company lost the franchise. Here we see the subtle rebranding of the re-nationalised operator's interim colour scheme.

82213 leads the 1Y90 18:02 York to Kings Cross LNER service past Little Heck on 14 September 2020. This is the site of the former junction with a short chord line that connected the East Coat Mainline with the Knottingley to Goole route.

82214 passes Balne Lowgate on 12 March 2014 with the 1E17 13:30 Edinburgh to Kings Cross East Coast service. The steam visible in the background, just in front of the train, is from the cooling towers of Drax Power Station.

With the afternoon shadows lengthening, 82214 leads the 1Y32 12:25 Newcastle to Kings Cross Virgin East Coast service past Hambleton on 29 November 2016. This picture is taken from Field Lane, a road that is now cut off by the new A63 Selby bypass.

82215 leads the 06:30 Newcastle to Kings Cross National Express East Coast service past Langford on 12 May 2008. The whole train is made up unbranded former GNER dark blue stock. That company had handed back the franchise six months earlier.

The Sky 1 HD livery applied to an East Coast Mk4 set in 2013 is certainly eye catching. 82216 leads the brilliant blue train past Balne Lowgate on 12 March 2014. It is working the 1E14 12:00 Edinburgh to Kings Cross service, with 91125 pushing at the rear. Note the cloud of steam rising from Drax Power Station in the distance, to the right of the train.

Looking a little odd being divorced from its matching coaching stock, Sky 1 HD liveried 82216 leads the 1Y44 16:25 Newcastle to Kings Cross East Coast service past Scrooby (between Bawtry and Retford) on 21 July 2014. The blue coaches had already passed this way, headed by 82226.

82216 leads the 1E18 14:00 Edinburgh to Kings Cross LNER Service past Joan Croft Junction on 20 April 2019. This, like most trains on the route on this afternoon, was running late. 24 minutes behind time in this case.

In a brief burst of spring sunshine, 82217 leads the 1E11 09:50 Glasgow Central to Kings Cross East Coast Trains service past Burn on 11 March 2010. All vehicles in this train carry the former GNER colour scheme, which is now carrying its second re-branding. National Express East Coast didn't survive long enough as an operating company to apply its new silver livery to much of its stock, and so the good dark blue livery lives to see another day!

Fine late afternoon lighting at Balne Lowgate on 12 March 2014, as 82218 speeds southwards with the 1E18 14:00 Edinburgh to Kings Cross East Coast service. The nearby level crossing is one of the East Coast Mainline's surprising number of manned vintage gated crossings.

82218 leads the 1E02 05:48 Edinburgh to Kings Cross East Coast service past Cromwell Moor on 18 April 2014. The day started with little cloud, but it wouldn't be long before those little fluffy white blobs in the background covered the entire sky!

A distinctive new look for the East Coast Mainline. 82218 leads the 1E17 13:30 Edinburgh to Kings Cross East Coast service past Burn on 4 June 2015. The silver an red livery certainly makes a contrast to the all pervading green that makes this time of year so poor for photography.

A picture that required split second timing and 1/2000 sec shutter speed to freeze the 125 mph train at exactly the right spot between the catenary. 82219 Duke of Edinburgh leads the 1A24 11:40 Leeds to Kings Cross National Express East Coast service past Grassthorpe (between Retford and Newark) on 25 January 2008. The entire train is in the transitional livery, with all traces of former route operator GNER removed, and the National Express branding applied on a white stripe.

82219 leads the 1E08 09:00 Edinburgh to Kings Cross LNER service past Fenwick on 22 April 2019. An excellent location for taking pictures, from the side of a very quiet country road, next to a level crossing that gives plenty of warning of a train's approach!

82223 leads the 1Y82 10:03 York to Kings Cross Virgin East Coast service past Joan Croft Junction on 2 October 2017. The striking red and white livery may not be the most inspired design, but it certainly shows up in the autumn countryside!

Beautiful early morning autumnal light at Burn on 1 October 2009, as 82225 heads southwards with the 1Y14 07:00 Newcastle to Kings Cross National Express East Coast service. The wooded hill in the background (an unusual feature in the otherwise largely flat Vale of York) is known as Hambleton Hough.

82225 leads the 1A31 13:15 Leeds to Kings Cross LNER service past Frinkley Lane (near Grantham) on 13 September 2019. The red stripe visible on the bodyside of the electric loco at the rear of the train announces the presence of retro liveried 91119 Bounds Green InterCity Depot 1977-2017.

82225 leads the 1Y32 12:25 Newcastle to Kings Cross LNER service past Rossington on 4 December 2019. Out of sight at the rear, doing the pushing, is 91109 Sir Bobby Robson. The long lens required to avoid the shadows has accentuated the change of gradient under the bridges.

82226 leads the 1E19 14:30 Edinburgh to Kings Cross East Coast service past Scrooby on 21 July 2014. The matching DVT for the colourful coaches (82216) would follow 45 minutes later, with a standard rake of stock.

82227 speeds past Grassthorpe on 25 January 2008 with the 1E11 09:50 Glasgow Central to Kings Cross National Express East Coast service. Although operated by National Express, 82227 is still carrying GNER colours, with the branding suitably altered. It never would get to acquire National Express livery, as the franchise was handed back to the government the following year!

Palindromic 82228 leads the 1Y38 14:25 Newcastle to Kings Cross East Coast Trains service past Frinkley Lane (near Grantham) on 6 September 2012. By this date a complete train in the obsolete GNER blue livery was getting to be quite unusual, as more stock succumbed to the silver paintbrush.

82228 leads the 1E16 13:00 Edinburgh to Kings Cross service past Frinkley Lane (near Grantham) on 13 September 2019. Standing this close, and using a standard lens, 1/4000sec shutter speed was chosen, to make sure of stopping the very fast train.

The old order on the East Coast Mainline. Although the Class 91s and DVTs will outlive the HSTs, sights like this will soon be history. 82230 leads the 1E10 10:00 Edinburgh to Kings Cross LNER service past Hambleton on 30 November 2019.

Under an impressively dark sky, 82231 leads the 09:50 Glasgow Central to Kings Cross National Express East Coast service past Gateforth on 14 March 2008. The former operator, GNER, had relinquished the franchise a few months earlier, having run into financial difficulties.

Eggborough Power Station dominates the background as 82231 leads what is presumably the late running 1E02 05:48 Edinburgh to Kings Cross East Coast service past Fenwick on 17 September 2012. Note the Grand Central HST disappearing into the distance with the 1N90 07:49 Kings Cross to Sunderland service.

82231 leads the 1E18 14:00 Edinburgh to Kings Cross East Coast service past Burn on 17 October 2013. I particularly like the composition of this picture, with the foreground track and field edge track forming a zig zag effect with the train, which being a uniform rake of East Coast grey stock, nicely complements the greens and browns of the autumn landscape.

82301 leads the 1J82 12:17 Marylebone to Wrexham service past Wormleighton Crossing on 22 April 2009, with 67012 doing the pushing at the rear. There was certainly no mistaking that this train was approaching, as these DVTs have a very loud a distinctive chime type horn.

The dull conditions on 15 October 2010 gave the opportunity for this different viewpoint of Kings Sutton station. 82301 leads the 1P03 07:23 Wrexham to Marylebone Wrexham & Shropshire service through the station, en-route to the capital.

On the final day of Wrexham & Shropshire operations (28 January 2011), 82301 leads the 1J85 09:24 Marylebone to Wrexham General service past Overthorpe (near Banbury) in suitably gloomy conditions. 67013 is providing the power at the rear of the train, just visible underneath the bridge the carries the long distance footpath, the Jurassic Way, across the line.

82301 leads the 1F91 06:55 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service past Ardley on 25 June 2012. The tall bridge in the background formerly carried the road between Ardley and Upper Heyford. This became nothing more than a farm track after the road was severed by the expansion of Upper Heyford airfield after the Second World War.

82301 leads the 1H32 10:55 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone service past Hatton on 2 October 2012. Eight months before I had photographed the same train at the same location. On the plus point that picture was in better light, on the minus side the aesthetically challenged Class 67 was leading, rather than this rather more streamlined looking DVT.

82301 is given a golden hue by the setting sun as it leads the 1Y75 19:29 Oxford Parkway to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service past Charlton-on-Otmoor on 15 August 2106. 68009 Titan is doing the pushing on the rear of the train.

The unique blue livery of 82302 shows up well in the low evening sunshine as leads the 1U53 18:16 Marylebone to Banbury Chiltern Railways service past Kings Sutton on 3 June 2011. There is a fair mix of liveries in this train, as apart from 82302's dark blue, there is good old blue and grey coaching stock at the head of the train and ex Virgin Railways red at the rear. Right at the back doing the pushing is 67013 Dyfrbont Pontcysylite in debranded Wrexham & Shropshire silver.

82302 leads the 5E90 Birmingham Moor Street to Wembley ECS past Shrewley on 3 July 2013. 67017 is dong the pushing at the rear. This location does require a bit of a walk, and at least from one direction the footpath is so overgrown that is obvious that not many photographers have visited it!

82302 arrives at Princes Risborough on 15 December 2014 with the 1H20 07:44 Banbury to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The reason for taking this picture in such atrocious light, before the sun had risen, was not for what is on the front of the train, but for what is doing the pushing at the rear. This is the first Chiltern Railways passenger train to be worked by a Class 68. 68012 can just be seen on the rear of the train.

82303 leads the 1P03 07:23 Wrexham to Marylebone Wrexham & Shropshire Railways service past Fritwell on 8 September 2010. 67013 is doing the pushing at the rear. A dull morning, but thankfully not with the heavy rain that was forecast.

82303 leads the 1R48 16:50 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street Chiltern Railways service past Kings Sutton on 3 June 2011, with the 67015 David J. Lloyd doing the pushing at the rear. Visually not a great deal of difference to the former Wrexham & Shropshire Railway trains.

82303 leads the 1H13 09:10 Kidderminster to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service across Souldern No.2 Viaduct on 6 April 2013. Although a lot of the viaduct is hidden by trees, it still makes an excellent picture.

Making good use of the newly upgraded Oxford to Bicester line's bi-directional capabilities, 82303 leads the 1Y12 07:24 Oxford Parkway to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service past Oddington on 20 April 2016. 68012, which had just a little earlier brought the ECS from Wembley, is doing the pushing at the rear.

82303 leads the 1H45 15:15 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service past Claydon (Oxfordshire) on 27 August 2017. Almost hidden by the trees, 68010 Oxford Flyer is on the rear, doing the pushing.

82303 leads the 1H45 12:55 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service past Wormleighton Crossing on 21 September 2020, with 68009 Titan doing the pushing at the rear. Luckily there is a good view in both directions at this location.

82304 leads the 1J82 12:17 Marylebone to Wrexham service past Old Milverton on 20 February 2009. Note that the Wrexham & Shropshire Railway livery does not yet extend to the coaches. 67012 was doing the pushing at the rear. This picture would have been unfit for inclusion on this website without the use of layers in Photoshop. Because the sun had gone in but the sky in the background was still bright the initial image showed a virtually blank sky and a burnt out roof area to the train, and yet paradoxically virtually no shadow detail. Creating layers for each f these problem areas and adjusting accordingly along with careful feathering and blending has yielded a natural result. After all, you wouldn't know there had been any work done, would you?

82304 leads the 1H43 10:55 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service past Ardley on 13 April 2014. With the sun very much head on, a different approach was called for, so the freshly painted girder bridge was included as a bold foreground, with a wide angle lens used for massive depth of field.

Running on what would conventionally be called the 'wrong line', 82304 takes advantage of the Oxford to Bicester line's bi-directional signalling, as it passes Brookfurlong Farm, Islip, on 16 August 2016 with the late running 1Y75 19:29 Oxford Parkway to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. 68011 is providing the power at the rear. In the background a combine harvester kicks up a huge dust cloud, which I later had to walk though on my way back to my car parked in the village of Islip, which can be seen in the distance.

82305 leads the 1P13 11:27 Wrexham General to Marylebone Wrexham & Shropshire service past Ardley Quarry on 7 October 2010, with DB Schenker liveried 67018 doing the pushing at the rear. Such is the garishness of 67018's livery, that I could tell which loco was coming when it first appeared in the distance over a mile away, even though its on the back!

Early August 2011 saw Chiltern Railways rebrand the former Wrexham & Shropshire Railway Mk 3 coaches 'Chiltern Mainline'. The difference is subtle, as can be seen here as 82305 leads the 1R55 18:30 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street service past Great Bourton on 3 August. The ubiquitous 67014 Thomas Telford is doing the pushing at the back. Both the DVT and the locomotive are still devoid of any branding.

82305 leads the late running 1H26 07:12 Kidderminster to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service across Souldern No.1 Viaduct on 13 December 2014, with 67018 Keith Heller doing the pushing at the back. I had no idea if there would be enough room to include the whole train here, but as luck would have it the gap is just large enough. However, there is only just enough room between the bushes, with no margin for error whatsoever! The tower of Deddington church can just be seen sticking up above the second coach.

82305 leads the 1H45 12:55 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service past Wormleighton Crossing on 7 February 2023. 68015 Kev Helmer is providing the power at the rear of the train.

82309 leads the 1H17 06:38 Stourbridge Junction to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service past Blackthorn on 13 October 2017. Out of sight behind the roadbridge, 68015 is providing the power at the rear of the train. An extremely dull morning, but then this location is often in shade in sunny weather, due to the trees on the left.

Just a few years old, but driving trailer 12804 heads for an uncertain future, as it brings up the rear of the 5Q94 08:25 Longsight to Long Marston, at Bretforton on 9 January 2024, hauled by 37884 Cepheus. Also included in the train is 68024 Centaur. The amber signal in the distance is for Honeybourne North Junction, where the train will leave the Cotswold Line. Apparently it is cheaper for TransPennine to keep paying the lease charges and not using these trains, rather than risk putting up with their unreliability in service.

Brand new CAF built driving trailer 12806 brings up the rear of the 5Q32 09:41 Portbury Automotive Terminal to Longsight ECS at Steeple Aston on 2 October 2018. This is destined for the Trans Pennine route, and is part of a contract that will see the Spanish manufacturer build 66 Mk 5 coaches for the new loco hauled services. 47812 was hauling the train at probably near the maximum permitted speed of 75mph, which explains the leaves being thrown into the air along the length of the train.

The sheep scatter, as the 1U39 09:35 Manchester Piccadilly to Scarborough TransPennine Express service approaches Scagglethorpe on 16 October 2023. Mk 5A driving trailer 12810 is leading, and 68030 Black Douglas is providing the power at the rear.

Watched by the cows in the partly waterlogged field, Mk 5A driving trailer 12812 rounds the curve just south of Church Fenton station on 30 November 2019 with the 1F62 10:41 Scarborough to Liverpool Lime Street TransPennine Express service. 68030 Black Douglas is on the rear, doing the pushing.

Debranded and completely anonymous former TransPennine Mk 5A driving trailer 12812 brings up the rear of the late running 5Q94 08:58 Longsight to Long Marston at Bretforton on 15 May 2024. 68023 is providing the power at the front of the train.

12813 brings up the rear of the 5Q94 08:56 Longsight to Long Marston stock move, as it arrives at its destination on 29 January 2024, hauled by 68021 Tireless. At least 13 brand new Class 701 EMUs can be seen in this view, which are being stored here pending their eventual much delayed introduction to service with South Western Railway.

Inspection saloon 975025 Caroline is propelled by 37423 past Beighton on 25 November 2008, with a cab full of railway officials, at least one of whom appears to be photographing the line ahead. The working is the 2Z65 09:05 Bedford to Bedford (via Sheffield) special, which despite being propelled into Sheffield, returned an hour later with the Class 37 still at the back, which was not anticipated or appreciated! The background of pylons and waste ground is typical of many areas of formerly industrial South Yorkshire.

Inspection saloon 975025 Caroline is propelled by 37423 past Claydon on 22 April 2009 running as the 2Z44 10:58 Derby to Southampton. This was running approximately 30 minutes early, which was just as well as although not very obvious from this picture, the clouds were building up rapidly and this was in a brief sunny interlude.

Inspection saloon 975025 Caroline is propelled past Fritwell on 8 September 2010 by 37409 Lord Hinton, whilst working the 2Z01 09:26 Ealing Broadway to Ealing Broadway (via Birmingham) special. Already running ten minutes late, things were to get much worse later on, with the late running approaching two hours! Instead of coming back via the Cotswold Line, it was re-routed via Bristol Parkway. Although there would have been plenty of time to get a second picture after leaving my chosen Cotswold Line location near Charlbury, given the situation, and already having got this picture, I couldn't be bothered!

Inspection saloon 975025 Caroline is propelled past Steventon on 22 September 2010 by 37423 Spirit of the Lakes, working the 2Z01 09:05 Cardiff to Ealing Broadway (via Oxford). It is pictured between the two level crossings at Steventon. Causeway Crossing can be seen in the background, while the photo is taken from nearby Stocks Lane Crossing.

Running 15 minutes early, inspection saloon 975025 Caroline is propelled past the footpath crossing at Oaksey on 10 October 2017 by 37425 Concrete Bob, running as the 5Z02 12:19 Swindon to Derby RTC. The staff have obviously got their priorities right - note the coffee cup behind the windscreen!

Inspection saloon 975025 Caroline arrives at Charlbury station on 19 June 2019 with the 2Z02 08:23 Reading to Reading, via Westbury, Taunton, Bristol and Worcester. It is being propelled by 37402 Stephen Middlemore 23.12.1954 - 8.6.2013. This was not booked to stop, but as the 1P33 13:58 Worcester Foregate Street to Paddington DMU had not yet cleared Wolvercote Junction, it was held in the station for a couple of minutes.

Iarnród Éireann's Dublin to Cork InterCity trains are formed from Mk 4 stock, with a GM 201 Class diesel locomotive at the south end, and a DVT at the north end. These CAF built DVTs have an extremely streamlined cab, which definitely sets them apart from standard British designs. 4001 is seen here leading the 09:25 Cork to Dublin Heston service past Roseberry (near Newbridge) on 25 May 2018.

A solitary steam diagram was employed during the Llangollen Railway's Railcar Gala on 26 June 2010. However, it was totally in keeping, as this is basically the steam equivalent of the railcar principle. Auto trailer 167 leads, GWR 64xx 0-6-0PT 6430 provides the power, and auto trailer 163 brings up the rear, as the 15:00 Llangollen to Carrog service passes Garthydwr.

1954 built Hawksworth autocoach W238W is propelled past Stanton on 3 June 2017 by GWR 14xx 0-4-2T 1450, as it works the 10:40 Toddington to Buckland service, in place of the usual DMU. The autocoach and loco had been visiting the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway for the line's 'Festival of Steam' event the previous weekend.