43206 passes Botany Bay (near Retford) on 10 March 2009 with the 1E14 09:52 Aberdeen to Kings Cross 'Northern Lights' service. Despite the former operator GNER having thrown in the towel over a year previously, the entire train is still in the obsolete operator's colour scheme, albeit with subtle National Express East Coast rebranding on the white bodyside stripe. In fact, as 43206 was renumbered from 43006 in the same month that the company ceased operating, it presumably never carried full GNER livery and the number 43206 at the same time.

43206 passes Tollerton on 12 March 2009 with the 1E12 07:55 Inverness to Kings Cross 'Highland Chieftain'. Unfortunately the sun had disappeared, and the dark blue GNER livery does not show up well in dull light, certainly not compared with the then new National Express East Coast colour scheme. However, by this date a complete HST ion the old livery was getting quite unusual.

43206 slowly coasts past Thorpe Grange on 17 June 2010 under adverse signals whilst working the 1A24 11:40 Leeds to Kings Cross East Coast service. Obviously some particularly slow moving traffic at Joan Croft Level Crossing, about a mile further on had resulted in the crossing keeper not being able to get the gates closed in time. By summer 2010, most of the East Coast HST sets had received the new silver and white livery, although as witnessed by the first coach here, the odd one still retains the former GNER dark blue colour scheme.

43206 speeds past Frinkley Lane (between Newark and Grantham) on 6 September 2012 with the 1E15 09:52 Aberdeen to Kings Cross East Coast service. The location was formerly a level crossing, but is now only a bridleway, linking the truncated remains of the former Hougham to Honington road.

Hazy early morning light at Little Heck on 22 February 2019. 43206 speeds southwards with the 1E03 05:26 Stirling to Kings Cross LNER service. Just behind the rear of the train is the bridge that carries the line over the Knottingley to Drax line.

43206 approaches Barnby Lane level crossing, Claypole, on 22 July 2019 with the 1Y84 12:02 York to Kings Cross LNER service. I particularly like the impressive cloud formation in this picture. This got progressively less interesting throughout the day, as the sky became a virtually uninterrupted blue, as the bad weather of the previous night drifted further away.

43206 approaches Gleneagles in the rain on 14 September 2019 with the 1W10 09:25 Kings Cross to Inverness LNER service. The weather had deteriorated to such an extent, that the mountains in the background are all but invisible in the low cloud and rain.

43207 passes Stenson Junction on 4 November 2009 with the late running 1V50 06:08 Edinburgh to Plymouth CrossCountry service, while one of that train operating company's less prestigious Voyagers disappears into the distance. What had started out as a bright morning was rapidly heading towards being a cloudy day, as can be seen from the background to this picture.

43207 speeds past the abandoned sidings at Bromsgrove on a blisteringly hot 13 July 2013. It is working the 1V50 06:06 Edinburgh to Plymouth CrossCountry service. As can be seen by the shiny rail surface, the loops are still in use here, but the other sidings ceased to be used when the oil depot closed.

43207 passes Abbotswood on 13 June 2014 with the 1V44 06:00 Leeds to Plymouth CrossCountry service. Although forecast for a sunny day, the prospect of waiting another two hours just for a Class 66 on the Tesco train was not appealing, especially as a large bank of dark cloud can be seen in the background here, approaching from the Worcester direction. It had already moved considerably nearer since I photographed the Class 37 hauled railtour 50 minutes earlier. A HST in the sun is far more photogenic than a 'Shed' that might be in the cloud!

43207 passes Little Haresfield on 9 January 2019 with the 1V46 06:20 York to Plymouth CrossCountry service. The wide track formation here is a clue that there once four tracks, two each for the LMS and GWR. The four tracks were reduced to two in September 1968.

'Welcome to Jim's Orchard'. The active bee hives will ensure that the apple trees on the right will be pollinated when they come into flower. This new nature reserve is beside the line at Elmbridge, near Gloucester. 43207 passes by on 23 March 2020 with the 1V50 06:06 Edinburgh to Plymouth CrossCountry service. This broadside shot required a shutter speed of 1/4000sec in order to freeze the action.

43207 emerges from Wickwar Tunnel on 2 September 2020 with the 1V50 06:06 Edinburgh to Plymouth CrossCountry service. Note the characteristic plant of limestone soils on the left. This is Clematis vitalba, otherwise known as Old Man's Beard or Traveller's Joy.

Plenty of evidence of recent lineside vegetation clearance at Rangeworthy on 16 September 2020. Shortly after emerging from Wickwar Tunnel, 43207 heads south with the late running 1V50 06:06 Edinburgh to Plymouth CrossCountry service.

CrossCountry came to the aid of GWR on 10 May 2021, by lending an HST set and some Voyagers to cover for GWR's Class 800s, which had been withdrawn to check for underframe cracks. 43207 is pictured passing Thingley with the 1Z14 05:34 Plymouth to Swindon service. The set (with 43239 on the other end) then spent the rest of the day working Swindon to Bristol Temple Meads shuttles.

43207 approaches the footpath crossing near Chaddington Lane, Wootton Bassett, on 11 May 2021 with the 1Z24 14:30 Bristol Temple Meads to Swindon service. This was one of the shuttle services being operated by CrossCountry to help out GWR during the mass withdrawal of the Class 800s. Definitely not a very photogenic location, and awful backlighting, although it was better in both respects for the picture of 43239 bringing up the rear.

43207 passes Fiddington on 3 June 2021 with the 1S53 15:35 Bristol Temple Meads to Edinburgh CrossCountry service. Unfortunately the sun had disappeared just after I arrived at the bridge, after the half mile walk from the car!

In 2014 the town of Goole is virtually a HST free zone, with no booked passenger workings, and just a couple of East Coast ECS moves. An early morning Neville Hill to Hull, and late evening return offer the only chance to see a HST at this location. In the gathering darkness on 25 June 2014, 43208 Lincolnshire Echo leads the 5H10 20:30 Hull to Neville Hill ECS past Potters Grange Junction, with Goole's distinctive 'Salt and Pepper Pot' water towers dominating the background.

A pastoral scene at Burton-le-Coggles on 28 August 2015. 43208 Lincolnshire Echo heads south with the 1E15 09:52 Aberdeen to Kings Cross Virgin East Coast service. Luckily the light blue nameplate easily identified this power car, as the number is not really readable from this distance!

43208 Lincolnshire Echo speeds past Gamston on 3 November 2018 with the late running 1E11 07:52 Aberdeen to Kings Cross LNER service. Despite the dull weather, I used a shutter speed of 1/4000sec for this, due to the close up, standard lens viewpoint, and the train's high speed.

43208 brings up the rear of the 1W96 12:00 Kings Cross to Inverness LNER service at Rossington on 4 December 2019. This was during the last week of HST operations between London and Inverness, with Class 800 bi-mode units panned to take over from 9 December.

43208 & 43239 pass Thrupp on 8 January 2020, running as the 0O86 08:55 Ely Papworth Sidings to Eastleigh Arlington. I wouldn't normally go out specifically to photograph light engines, but a pair of debranded LNER HST power cars in Oxfordshire is definitely unusual! The wide trackbed on the right is where the Woodstock branch ran parallel with the mainline from Kidlington station (just past the bridge ion the background) to where it diverged to the west near Shipton-on-Cherwell.

My first picture of 43208 since it was added to the CrossCountry fleet. It is pictured approaching Standish Junction on 1 June 2021 with the 1S53 15:35 Bristol Temple Meads to Edinburgh service. 43239 is bringing up the rear. There have been trees on the right at this location for a long time, but when I was here in 1991, they weren't so numerous!

43208 passes Defford on 15 June 2021 with the 1S53 15:35 Bristol Temple Meads to Edinburgh service. At least the CrossCountry livery adds a bit of contrast to the unremitting green of the mid June landscape. There is no public footpath in the field behind the power car, so I hope the person (who I only noticed when writing this caption) has got permission!

43208 passes Standish Junction on 1 July 2021 with the 1V50 06:06 Edinburgh to Plymouth CrossCountry service. Note the recently upgraded public footpath crossing near the rear of the train, complete with pointless mini Armco barrier on the approach!

43238 speeds past Burn with the 1E10 07:52 Aberdeen to Kings Cross East Coast Trains service on 11 March 2010. This effectively is a re-nationalised operation, taking over from the ill fated National Express East Coast, which lost the franchise in November 2009. The livery is the stylish National Express colour scheme, with appropriately amended brandings.

43238 passes Claypole (Balderton Crossing) on 30 May 2012 with the 1A30 12:45 Leeds to Kings Cross East Coast service. It looks like the power car could do with a repaint, but with the speed at which the East Coast route changes franchise, that won't be a problem!

With contrasting rebranded former East Midland Trains coaching stock, 43238 passes Temple Hirst Junction on 13 March 2014 with the 1E07 08:30 Edinburgh to Kings Cross East Coast service. The junction, which is near the trees in the background, is where the new line, which was constructed in the early 1980s, deviates from the original East Coast route via Selby.

The unique liveried 43238 National Railway Museum 1975-2015 brings up the rear of the 1A40 16:15 Leeds to Kings Cross LNER service at Hougham on 13 September 2019. Hougham station (closed in 1957) was situated just beyond the bridge in the background.

43238 National Railway Museum 1975-2015 passes Scotston on 16 September 2019 with the 1W03 07:08 Leeds to Aberdeen LNER service. Not only has this power car got a conventional nameplate, but the name is also displayed in large letters across the bodyside. Laurencekirk signal box and station can just be seen in the background.

43238 National Railway Museum 1975-2015 brings up the rear of the 1A36 14:45 Leeds to Kings Cross LNER service, as it approaches Sandy on 2 October 2019. More conventionally liveried 43277 is at the front of the train.

Bright red 43238 brings up the rear of the 1D23 10:34 St Pancras International to Nottingham East Midlands Railway service at Kilby Bridge on 31 July 2020. 43307 is at the front of the train. In view of this loco's colour, some wag has stuck a Ferrari badge on the emergency coupling cover, just above the number!

43238 passes underneath the footbridge at Kilby Bridge on 31 July 2020 with the 1B43 12:45 Nottingham to St Pancras International East Midlands Railway service. Unlike a lot of rural railway footbridges, this one seems to be exceedingly well used. Its location on the edge of Leicester, on a footpath that leads to the scenic Grand Union Canal probably has something to do with it.

43238 brings up the rear of the 1D48 15:34 St Pancras International to Nottingham East Midlands Railway service at Great Bowden on 30 March 2021. This should have returned two hours later as the 1B69 17:45 Nottingham to St Pancras International, but that was cancelled. It went instead to Neville Hill as the 5B69 ECS from Nottingham.

With just a few weeks to go before the Midland Mainline becomes the latest passenger route to be demoted to a DMU only line, 43238 flies the flag for the old order, as it passes Rushton on 18 April 2021 with the 1C43 10:17 Leeds to St Pancras International East Midlands Railway service.

On its last day in traffic, the distinctive all red 43238 sweeps round the curve at Kibworth Harcourt on 22 April 2021 with the 1D48 15:34 St Pancras International to Nottingham East Midlands Railway service. With just weeks left before all the other remaining EMR HSTs are also withdrawn, virtually every working is being extensively photographed.

43239 passes Cromwell Moor on 18 April 2014 with the 1N81 09:08 Kings Cross to York East Coast service. The location is a public footpath crossing, reached by a rough lane from the village of Cromwell, which was formerly on the Great North Road (now bypassed by the A1).

With the very last rays of the setting sun illuminating Goole's famous landmark water towers, 43239 passes Potters Grange Junction on 21 July 2014 with the 5H10 20:30 Hull to Neville Hill East Coast ECS. Just visible in the background, 47815 can be seen running round the 6E88 12:39 Middleton Towers to Goole Glassworks sand train.

43239 approaches Balderton Crossing, Claypole, on 22 July 2019 with the 1W20 14:00 Kings Cross to Aberdeen LNER service. This is the final summer of HST s on the East Coast route, now set to go the way of the LNER A4s and the Deltics.

A pair of LNER HST power cars travelling through Oxfordshire would have been unbelievable until the rundown of the fleet. However, 8 January 2020 saw debranded 43239 & 43208 pass through the county en-route for storage at Eastleigh. They are pictured here passing through the recently cleared cutting at Thrupp, running as the 0O86 08:55 Ely Papworth Sidings to Eastleigh Arlington.

43239 brings up the rear of the 1Z24 14:30 Bristol Temple Meads to Swindon CrossCountry service near Chaddington Lane, Wootton Bassett, on 11 May 2021. 43207 is at the front of the train. Photo taken from a public footpath crossing.

43239 brings a welcome return of HSTs to the Swindon area on 11 May 2021, as it works the 1Z25 15:29 Swindon to Bristol Temple Meads CrossCountry service. With the discovery of underframe cracks on GWR's Class 800 fleet, and the consequential grounding of virtually the entire fleet, most trains on the Great Western Mainline were cancelled. However, CrossCountry helped out by providing these Swindon to Bristol shuttles. The welcome interloper is pictured near Chaddington Lane, between Swindon and Wootton Bassett. The Chaddington Lane road bridge can just be seen in the background.

43239 brings up the rear of the 1S53 15:35 Bristol Temple Meads to Edinburgh CrossCountry service at Standish Junction on 1 June 2021. Both this and the leading power car (43208) had recently been acquired from the former LNER fleet.

43239 leads the 1V46 06:12 Leeds to Plymouth CrossCountry service past Croome on 29 May 2023. InterCity liveried 43184 Laira Diesel Depot is hiding underneath the bridge, on the rear of the train. Almost a bit of sun on this one!

43239 passes the southern end of Eckington loop on 8 June 2023 with the 1E67 16:27 Plymouth to Leeds CrossCountry service. Unfortunately this will be the last summer of HSTs on this route, with Voyager only operations from 2024 onwards.

43239 passes the public footpath crossing near Blanchworth on 16 August 2023 with the 1V44 06:12 Leeds to Plymouth CrossCountry service. With just a few weeks left in traffic, these HSTs are now receiving the same kind of attention as the GWR and LNER got in their last days on the mainline.

After several days in Scotland with very poor weather, finally some sunshine! 43251 leads the 1E30 18:18 Aberdeen to Leeds East Coast service towards Newtonhill on 25 June 2013. As this was the sun's first appearance, I was surprised at just how far the shadows were across the track. Its a good job the train wasn't running late!

43251 passes Fenwick on 22 April 2019 with the 1E07 08:30 Edinburgh to London Kings Cross LNER service. With this being the final year of East Coast HST operations, I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to take some photos on a perfect spring day.

43251 passes Frinkley Lane (near Grantham) on 13 September 2019 with the 1A30 12:45 Leeds to Kings Cross LNER service. Note how the red 'swish' slants in opposite directions on the first and second class coaches.

Former LNER (and latterly East Midlands Railway) 43251 & 43257 arrive at the Severn Valley Railway at Kidderminster on 22 July 2021, as part of the 5Z21 07:24 Neville Hill to Kidderminster, hauled by 37057 Barbara Arbon. Both power cars are destined for further use with Colas on test trains.

The first visit of Colas Rail's former LNER HST power cars on the Cotswold Line took place on 3 November 2021, when 43251 & 43272 worked the 1Z22 07:45 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road Network Rail test train. This left Derby 85 minutes late, but was actually early arriving at Worcester. This didn't stop it losing is path over the single track section between Charlbury and Wolvercote Junction. It is pictured here running 24 minutes late, with 43251 leading, passing Cornbury Park, having just left the double track section at Charlbury station.

43251 passes Whitehill (between Combe and Finstock) with the 1Z23 07:51 Bristol Kingsland Road to Derby RTC Network Rail test train on 4 November 2021. 43272 is bringing up the rear. This was running 38 minutes late, as the Cotswold Line had been closed briefly for a track inspection.

43251 passes a fine selection of autumn colours at Radley on 16 November 2021, as it heads south with the 1Z01 09:38 Derby RTC to Exeter Riverside Network Rail test train. 43272 was bringing up the rear. This is the plain line pattern recognition train, which includes overhead line inspection coach 975091 Mentor. Not much use here for that at the moment, as the electfrication between Didcot and Oxford has been temporarily abandoned.

43251 brings up the rear of the 1Z23 06:12 Bristol Kingsland Road to Derby RTC Network Rail test train at Hanborough on 16 June 2022. 43257 is at the front of the train. Unfortunately this location is now getting very overgrown again, allowing only a fairly head on viewpoint.

Running 52 minutes late, 43251 passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 10 August 2023 with the 1Z23 06:45 Bristol Kingsland Road to Derby RTC Network Rail test train, with 43272 bringing up the rear. I was very lucky here, as not only did it pass in a very brief sunny spell (note the background), but also the picture could easily have been ruined by the 1B11 10:48 Paddington to Swansea GWR IET, which was rapidly approaching from the opposite direction.

After having reversed at Swindon, the 1Q15 06:48 Derby RTC to Landore Network Rail test train passes the oil depot at Bremell for the second time on 24 October 2023, with 43251 leading, and 43277 Safety Task Force bringing up the rear.

43257 speeds past Burn on 1 October 2009 with the 1A17 07:52 Newcastle to Kings Cross National Express East Coast service. Burn is a very well known photographic location, but most of the published pictures seem to be taken from the other side of the line in the afternoon, probably because there is a clear view in either direction. However, as can be seen here, it is also an excellent spot for southbound pictures in the early morning, although unfortunately there is no unobstructed view in the opposite direction.

43257 passes Fenwick on 16 June 2010 with the 16:40 Leeds to Kings Cross East Coast service. This is an ideal viewpoint from next to the level crossing, but the growth of the bushes on the left means that the formerly excellent view from the nearby field is now a little restricted.

43257 passes Burn on 4 June 2015 with the 1N85 13:08 Kings Cross to York Virgin East Coast Trains service. It is often said that due to modern agricultural practices, the best place to find many native wild flowers is on roadside verges. It also seems that certain non native plants can be seen there! A purple iris adds a bold splash of colour to the foreground of this view.

43257 Bounds Green approaches Joan Croft Junction on 2 October 2017 with the 1E03 05:26 Stirling to Kings Cross Virgin East Coast service. 43257 was named Bounds Green as early as 1984, when it was numbered 43057. For nearly 20 years however it was nameless, until it received a new set of plates in the summer of 2017.

CrossCountry hired in a couple of LNER HSTs on Saturday 24 August 2019, freed up from the East Coast duties due to industrial action. 43257 Bounds Green passes through Ashchurch station with the 1V46 06:45 York to Plymouth service.

43257 Bounds Green speeds past Frinkley Lane (near Grantham) on 13 September 2019 with the late running 1Y84 12:02 York to Kings Cross LNER service. Commonplace on the East Coast Mainline for over four decades, but now the HSTs are nearing the end of their time on the route.

Running 14 minutes late, 43257 passes Ryther on 30 November 2019 with the 1E13 07:55 Inverness to Kings Cross LNER service. Any location that has trees and bushes near the line is liable to be in shadow on a late autumn afternoon, but luckily this spot is reasonable OK, and has the bonus of some fine autumn colour, courtesy of the silver birch tree behind the power car.

43257 & 43274 approach Tackley on 13 April 2022 with the 0Z10 09:00 Derby RTC to Oxford route learner. Considering that this left Derby 104 minutes late, the fact that it was only six minutes late here shows how easy the schedule was. This was not my first choice for a HST picture today, but a dental appointment prevented me going for 43049 on the Blue Pullman railtour to Kingswear!

Viewed from the relatively new footbridge at Mill Lane, 43257 & 43274 pass Islip on 13 April 2022 with the late running 0Z11 12:27 Oxford to Oxford (via Princes Risborough) route learner. Although there was a large patch of blue sky to the west, unfortunately the sun did not come out in time for this.

43257 & 43274 pass North Oxford Golf Course on 15 April 2022 with the 0Z10 09:00 Bicester Engineer's Siding to Oxford route learner. This should have first of all headed to Princes Risborough, before reversing and then coming to Oxford. However, due to a late departure it cut out that section of the route. I had chosen this location, as the restricted view perfectly suits such a short train.

43257 approaches the site of Yarnton Junction on 15 June 2022 with the 1Z22 07:47 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road (via Weymouth) Network Rail test train. Note the inclusion of an ex DRS coach, adding to the train's colour variety.

Although the Cotswold Line is now operated by Class 800/802 DMUs, it does get a monthly visit from a HST, in the shape of the Network Rail test train. 43257 passes through Hanborough station on 16 June 2022 with the 1Z23 06:12 Bristol Kingsland Road to Derby RTC, with 43251 bringing up the rear.

43257 passes Minety on 5 July 2022 with the late running 1Q15 06:48 Derby RTC to Landore Network Rail test train, 43272 is bringing up the rear. I was extremely lucky with the light here, as it was almost completely cloudy, but just before the train was due, a sunny patch could be seen in the distance. This small sunny patch slowly moved down the line towards me, but luckily the train was moving faster, and caught up with the sun (just!). A few seconds later it was full dull again!

43257 passes Shorthampton in the rain on 8 November 2023 with the 1Z22 07:49 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road Network Rail test train. 43274 is bringing up the rear. The weather had been getting gradually brighter, then all of a sudden, just before the train was due, it got really dark and started raining again.

East Coast trains are normally kept in clean condition, so something has obviously slipped here, as the leading coach is in definite need of a wash! 43272 leads the 1A13 06:55 Skipton to Kings Cross service past Yaxley on 6 September 2012. 43272 is in the most recent East Coast livery, whilst the rest of the train is the livery first introduced when National Express ran the franchise.

43272 passes Bessacarr on 14 March 2015 with the diverted 1E11 07:52 Aberdeen to Kings Cross Virgin Trains East Coast service. The train is crossing the bridge that carries the line over the M18 motorway. The train's normal route via the East Coast Mainline was closed between Retford and Peterborough for engineering works.

43272 passes Burn on 13 March 2016 with the 1E17 09:40 Inverness to Kings Cross Virgin East Coast service. Compare this with 43467, which passed by just a few minutes earlier with the 1A65 14:12 Sunderland to Kings Cross Grand Central service.

43272 passes Hambleton on 1 July 2019 with the 1Y84 12:03 York to Kings Cross service. No sun, but at least LNER's bright red and white livery gives some contrast to the otherwise overall monotonous green scene.

43272 passes Barnby Lane Crossing, Claypole, on 22 July 2019 with the 1B85 13:54 Newark North Gate to Kings Cross LNER service. Barnby Lane is slightly misnamed, as the road changes into just a footpath for the long trek to Barnby-in-the-Willows, which is on the opposite side of the River Witham.

43272 brings up the rear of the 1W08 08:48 Kings Cross to Aberdeen LNER service at Limpet Mill (near Stonehaven) on 15 September 2019. 43316 is the lead power car. Two large tankers can be seen on the North Sea in the background.

43272 winds round the reverse curves at Cove Bay on 16 September 2019 with the 1E11 07:52 Aberdeen to Kings Cross LNER service, with 43316 bringing up the rear. As can be seen from the sign on the right, the rough road leads down to the Relaxa Tub hot tub hire shop, a very strange rural cliff top location for such an establishment!

43272 approaches Sandy on 2 October 2019 with the 1E15 09:52 Aberdeen to Kings Cross LNER service. In view of the high speed, and the close proximity of the trains at this location, I was taking most pictures at 1/4000sec f3.5, which was no problem in the bright autumn sunshine.

43272 just about manages to avoid the worst of the lengthening shadows, as it passes Great Bowden on 22 April 2021 with the 1B69 17:45 Nottingham to St Pancras International East Midlands Railway service.

43272 passes Rearsby under a cloudless sky on 23 April 2021 with the 5M17 10:20 St Pancras International to St Pancras International (via Leicester) East Midlands Railway driver training run. This was running 18 minutes late.

43272 passes Rushton on 23 April 2021 with the 1D43 14:34 St Pancras International to Nottingham East Midlands Railway service. The bright red former LNER livery certainly contrasts well with the muted colours of the April countryside.

43272 passes Normanton on Soar in the gloom on 14 May 2021 with the 1D48 15:34 St Pancras International to Nottingham East Midlands Railway service. This was the penultimate day of HST operations on the route.

43272 brings up the rear of the late running 1Z22 07:45 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road Network Rail test train at Cornbury Park, Charlbury, on 3 November 2021. 43251 is leading. I don't think the pantograph equipped vehicle next to the power car will ever be needed on the Cotswold Line!

Its been a while since I have photographed an HST here, but in the old days they were never this colour! 43272 leads the late running 1Z23 07:51 Bristol Kingsland Road to Derby RTC Network Rail test train past Uffington on 4 November 2021. 43251 is bringing up the rear.

43272 brings up the rear of the 1Z23 07:51 Bristol Kingsland Road to Derby RTC Network Rail test train at Whitehill (between Combe and Finstock) on 4 November 2021. 43251 is leading. This was running late, but had the 1P28 11:55 Great Malvern to Paddington GWR service not been cancelled, it would have been even later.

43272 brings up the rear of the 1Q18 06:34 Bristol Kingsland Road to Derby RTC Network Rail test train, as it runs along the up relief line near Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 24 March 2022, led by 43274. Note the switchback nature of the down relief line on the right.

43272 passes Chilson on 24 March 2022 with the 1Q18 06:34 Bristol Kingsland Road to Derby RTC Network Rail test train, with 43274 bringing up the rear. Although it is not possible to get the completely clear view that existed here in the 1980s, this location is now massively improved, after Network Rail finally removed decades worth of vegetation that was actually touching the trains!

43272 passes Minety on 5 July 2022 with the late running 1Q15 06:48 (10:08 actual) Derby RTC to Landore Network Rail test train, having just reversed at Swindon. 43257 is bringing up the read. Although this had left Derby 200 minutes late, by missing out part of its booked route, it was merely 45 minutes late here.

43272 passes through Kingham station on 13 July 2022 with the 1Q18 07:19 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road Network Rail test train. When I first starting taking pictures there were no trees next to the platforms here, and it was possible to get a much wider view. Summer is still shadow free, but the proximity of the trees now makes photography very difficult at other times of the year.

43272 approaches Shipton on 14 July 2022 with the 1Q18 06:19 Bristol Kingsland Road to Derby RTC Network Rail test train. This train is booked to wait in Hinksey Yard for nearly an hour, so even if there is some late running early on, it is usually on time on the Cotswold Line. However, the late running 1W02 11:50 Paddington to Hereford GWR service was directly in front of it, and so consequently it passed me running 13 minutes late.

43272 passes Cassington on 21 December 2022 with the 1Q18 07:54 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road Network Rail test train. This was running nearly two hours late, and the earlier sunshine had unfortunately given way to light rain.

43272 passes Evenlode on 22 December 2022 with the 1Q18 06:45 Bristol Kingsland Road to Derby RTC Network Rail test train. An extremely dull day, with intermittent rain, but ideal conditions for this particular location, as except for possibly around dawn on midsummer day, this spot would be hopelessly backlit if the sun was out. Also, the recent rebuilding of the road bridge coincided with the removal of lots of lineside bushes, opening up the view considerably.

43272 passes Moreton-in-Marsh on 9 August 2023 with the 1Z22 07:57 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road Network Rail test train. While waiting for this train, a pair of Muntjac deer casually wandered out from the forest of trees that Network Rail have allowed to grow on the site of the former sidings. They then walked along the track, and under the bridge on which I was standing!

43272 brings up the rear of the late running 1Z23 06:45 Bristol Kingsland Road to Derby RTC Network Rail test train at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 10 August 2023. 43251 is leading. Approaching from the opposite direction are 800023 Firefighter Fleur Lombard & 800031 Mazen Salmou with the 1B11 10:48 Paddington to Swansea GWR service.

43274 passes Eaton (near Retford) on 10 March 2012 with the 1S15 11:30 Kings Cross to Edinburgh East Coast service. Note the distinctive six light clusters, instead of the usual four, a feature it shares with 43272.

43274 & 43272 are easily recognised from the rest of the East Coast fleet by virtue of their six light clusters, instead of the usual four. This is the result of their conversion from former East Midlands Trains power cars. 43274 leads the 1A19 09:15 Leeds to Kings Cross service past Cromwell Moor on 18 April 2014.

To mark the end of HST operations on the Midland Mainline, 43274 was repainted into East Midlands Railway's latest purple livery in April 2021. It is pictured here passing Cossington on 18 April 2021 with the 1C61 14:31 Leeds to St Pancras International service, with the more conventionally liveried 43102 The Journey Shrinker 148.5 mph The World's Fastest Diesel Train on the rear.

The application of East Midlands Railway purple livery to 43274 in April 2021 ensured that immediately became top of virtually every railway photographer's hit list. The striking looking machine passes the gallery of photographers at Kilby Bridge on 22 April 2021 with the 1D43 14:34 St Pancras International to Nottingham service. InterCity liveried 43102 is bringing up the rear.

With just weeks left before HSTs are removed fromn the Midland Mainline, 43274 brings up the rear of the 1B63 16:45 Nottingham to St Pancras International East Midlands Railway service at Great Bowden on 22 April 2021. InterCity liveried 43102 heads up this colourful combination.

The East Midland Railway's unique purple liveried HST power car, 43274, passes Braybrooke on the evening of 23 April 2021 with the 1B69 17:45 Nottingham to St Pancras International service. 43102 The Journey Shrinker 148.5 mph The World's Fastest Diesel Train is bringing up the rear.

43274 emerges from Glaston Tunnel on 14 May 2021 with the final 5M17 10:20 St Pancras International to St Pancras International (via Leicester) East Midlands Railway route learner. I had initially thought of photographing this crossing Harringworth Viaduct, but it was such a dull day that I thought a distant shot wouldn't be such a good idea, and this picture of the train emerging from the tunnel would have been totally hopeless on anything other than a cloudy day.

On the penultimate day of HST operations on the Midland Mainline, 43274 passes through Loughborough station at high speed on 14 May 2021 with the 1D43 14:34 St Pancras International to Nottingham East Midlands Railway service.

After having arrived at the Severn Valley Railway on 22 July 2021 behind 37057 Barbara Arbon, the 5Z21 07:24 Neville Hill to Kidderminster is propelled back into Kidderminster station with former East Midlands Railway HST power car 43274 leading. The other power cars are preserved 43044, and former LNER 43257 & 43251. Definitely an extremely colourful combination!

A close up view of the unique East Midlands Railway purple liveried 43274, as it is propelled into the Severn Valley Railway's Kidderminster station, after having arrived as part of the 5Z21 07:24 Neville Hill to Kidderminster convoy. 09107 & Class 42 D821 can be seen in the background.

43274 passes Badgeworth on 30 October 2021 with the 1Q40 00:25 Exeter Riverside to Derby RTC Network Rail test train. 43272 is bringing up the rear. I was very lucky to get this, as in theory it should have been long gone by the time I arrived here. However, it was running 48 minutes late, so I was in luck. It was close however, as it was already in view as I got to the bridge. It was also lucky that 170637 got out of the way with the 1V06 09:07 Nottingham to Cardiff Central service!

43274 passes a fine selection of autumn colours, as it enters Hailey Wood (Between Sapperton and Kemble) on 23 November 2021 with the 1Q15 06:48 Derby RTC to Landore Network Rail test train. 43290 is bringing up the rear. This had run into delays at Malvern, and was consequently running 40 minutes late here.

43274 passes through Shipton's diminutive station on 26 January 2022 with the 1Z22 07:47 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road Network Rail test train. Former LNER liveried 43251 is hiding on the rear, but I was glad that the purple former East Midland Railway power car was leading. On the left is the car park for the FWP Mathews flour mill.

Viewed from the end of Ascott-under-Wychwood station's down platform, 43274 heads up the Cotswold Line on 27 January 2022 with the 1Z23 06:51 Bristol Kingsland Road to Derby RTC Network Rail test train. Not the most scenic of locations, but one of the few on the southern end of the Cotswold Line where the sun would be at the ideal angle.

Pictured between the two level crossings in the village of Steventon, 43274 heads west along the Great Western Mainline on 23 March 2022 with the 1Q18 07:48 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road Network Rail test train. 43272 is bringing up the rear.

Just prior coming to its booked stop on the up relief line near Denchworth, 43274 passes Circourt Bridge on 24 March 2022 with the 1Q18 06:34 Bristol Kingsland Road to Derby RTC Network Rail test train. 43272 is bringing up the rear.

43274 brings up the rear of the 1Q18 06:34 Bristol Kingsland Road to Derby RTC Network Rail test train at Chilson on 24 March 2022. This was travelling at some speed, and I only just had enough time to dash across the road after taking the picture of 43272 leading the train.

43274 & 43257 approach Tackley on 13 April 2022 with the 0Z10 09:00 Derby RTC to Oxford route learner. Although this had left Derby 104 minutes late, it was just a mere six minutes late here. Tackley station is just out of sight around the corner.

43274 & 43257 approach Islip station on 13 April 2022 with the late running 0Z11 12:27 Oxford to Oxford (via Princes Risborough) route learner. The train's very quick reversal at Oxford, after arriving from Derby meant that I only just got here in time!

A brief burst sunshine amid the clouds at Mill Lane, Islip, on 13 April 2022. 43274 & 43257 head towards Bicester with the late running 0Z12 13:35 Oxford to Oxford (via Princes Risborough) route learner. The spire of Kidlington church can just be seen on the skyline, directly above 43274's cab.

43274 & 43257 pass North Oxford Golf Course on 15 April 2022 with what should have been the 1Z11 10:31 Oxford to Oxford (via Princes Risborough) route learner. On the return from Princes Risborough, it carried straight on at Bicester rather than branching off to Oxford, and then headed back to Derby, therefore the later 1Z12 11:50 Oxford to Derby RTC (via Bicester) did not run. The building in the background of this view is the Oxford Holiday Inn, situated next to the A34 road, which, as is often the case, was at a standstill when I took this picture.

43274 gets a windscreen wash, as it leads the 1Q18 07:19 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road Network Rail test train past Cassington on 18 May 2022. This was running 51 minutes late, which wasn't too bad considering it left Derby 168 minutes late! Even though this is a very rural location, just visible in the gap between the trees in the distance is yet another new housing estate.

Running 13 minutes late, former East Midlands Railway 43274 heads south from Collins Lane level crossing, Purton, on 17 January 2023 with the 1Q15 06:48 Derby RTC to Swansea Network Rail test train. 43290 is bringing up the rear.

43274 brings up the rear of the 1Q15 06:48 Derby RTC to Swansea Network Rail test train, as it approaches Collins Lane level crossing, Purton, on 17 January 2023. 43290 is leading, running 11 minutes early, after a very swift reversal at Swindon.

43274 approaches Cheltenham on 23 June 2023 with the 1Z20 04:41 Paddington to Derby RTC (via a tour of South Wales) Network Rail test train. 43290 is bringing up the rear. Despite this location being only about 35 miles from home, amazingly this is my first visit since 1988!

A multicoloured train passes Gossington on 15 September 2023. 43274 leads the 1Z20 04:48 Paddington to Derby RTC (via South Wales) Network Rail test train, with 43277 Safety Task Force bringing up the rear.

43274 brings up the rear of the 1Z22 07:49 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road Network Rail test train, as it passes Shorthampton in terrible weather conditions on 8 November 2023. 43257 is leading. The bridge in the background is a disused and now inaccessible farm occupation bridge.

43274 passes through Finstock station on 24 January 2024 with the 1Z22 07:46 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road Network Rail test train. This was running 23 minutes late, as it had arrived at nearby Charlbury a few minutes late, and therefore had lost its path over this single line section of the Cotswold Line.

The 1Z23 07:10 Bristol Kingsland Road to Derby RTC Network Rail test train passes Honeybourne on 25 January 2024, with 43274 leading, and 43257 bringing up the rear. The freight only line to Long Marston can be seen on the left.

Under a threatening sky at Burn on 11 March 2010, 43277 speeds northwards with the 1S15 12:00 Kings Cross to Inverness 'Highland Chieftain' East Coast Trains service. At least the silver and white former National Express livery looks good even when the lighting is poor. Definitely one of the better liveries to grace the HST fleet.

43277 passes Yaxley on 6 September 2012 with the 1D09 10:03 Kings Cross to Leeds East Coast service. This picture is taken from the footbridge on the path between Farcet and Hampton Vale. The modern housing estates of Yaxley can be seen in the background.

43277 passes Scrooby on 23 February 2019 with the 1Y84 12:03 York to Kings Cross LNER service. The train is approaching the site of the diminutive Scrooby station, which was closed by the real LNER in 1938.

Framed by the lower balcony and support of the footbridge near Sandy, 43277 speeds down the East Coast Mainline on 2 October 2019 with the 1A36 14:45 Leeds to Kings Cross LNER service. Note the unauthorised feathered passenger on the front end! Out of sight on the rear is red and grey liveried 43238.

Lengthening shadows at Ryther on 30 November 2019. 43277 heads south with the 1E11 07:52 Aberdeen to Kings Cross LNER service. This was running 25 minutes late. I wasn't so much worried about the shadow of myself on the footbridge, but the moving shadow across the field, from a bonfire at the nearby farm was an annoyance.

My first picture of Colas Rail's distinctive orange/black/yellow HST livery. 43277 Safety Task Force brings up the rear of the 1Z20 04:48 Paddington to Derby RTC (via South Wales) Network Rail test train at Gossington on 15 September 2023. 43274 at the front of the train, has disappeared underneath the M5 motorway bridge.

43277 Safety Task Force passes Moredon on 24 October 2023 with the 1Q15 06:48 Derby RTC to Landore Network Rail test train. 43251 is bringing up the rear. This was running 42 minutes late, but a quick reversal at Swindon saw nearly half an hour knocked off this deficit.

43277 Safety Task Force moves slowly away from a signal check at Didcot North Junction on 20 March 2024 with the 1Q18 07:48 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road Network Rail test train, just as 165118 heads in the opposite direction with the 2M32 12:35 Didcot Parkway to Banbury GWR service. As the HST (which had 43357 bringing up the rear) moved away from the signal, I could hear the Turbo unit approaching from behind me, and I thought the picture was going to be ruined. However, the two trains passed each other exactly where I was going to take the picture, giving me this lucky shot.

In superb late afternoon lighting, with an impressive backdrop of dark clouds, 43285 leads the 9V59 09:00 Glasgow to Plymouth CrossCountry service past Spetchley on 8 October 2008. 43303 is on the rear of the train. I was quite pleased that the coaching stock was still in the unbranded Midland Mainline livery, as eventually complete trains in the Cross Country will be commonplace, and mixed rakes such as this are worth recording.

43285 speeds past Standish Junction with the 1V23 06:32 York to Plymouth Cross Country service on 16 March 2009. The track diverging in the foreground is the 'Golden Valley' route to Swindon. This photo is taken from a public footpath crossing. The wide open area here is a legacy from the days when this section of line boasted four tracks, with the GWR and LMS double lines running side by side from Standish to Gloucester.

With the Cotswold Hills in the background, 43285 approaches Tredington on 3 June 2010 with the 1S51 12:23 Plymouth to Glasgow Central CrossCountry service. An excellent viewpoint for northbound trains, although with various works going on just out of the picture in the foreground, could this be another location about to disappear?

43285 passes Frocester on 2 August 2010 with the 1V50 06:08 Edinburgh to Plymouth CrossCountry service. Photo taken from a public footpath crossing in Five Acre Grove, which is presumably less than five acres now, as the railway cuts through the middle of the wood.

43285 passes Wadborough on 25 March 2011 with the 1S53 13:23 Plymouth to Edinburgh CrossCountry service. Photo taken from the little used footpath crossing on the path between the villages of Wadborough and Pirton.

43285 speeds past Natton on 3 February 2012 with the late running 1V54 06:32 Dundee to Plymouth CrossCountry service. Ashchurch station can just be seen in the distance, underneath the road bridge. This is an ideal location for winter photography, a there is very little lineside vegetation to cast shadows.

A rather grubby 43285 passes Ashchurch on 3 May 2016 with the 1V44 06:00 Leeds to Plymouth CrossCountry service. The train is observing a temporary speed restriction, imposed after the track was relaid a week earlier.

43285 passes Ashchurch on 18 April 2017 with the 1V44 06:00 Leeds to Plymouth CrossCountry service. The footbridge on the background is the well known local photographic vantage point, from which this same power car was photographed on the same train, nearly a year earlier.

43285 brings up the rear of the 1V48 07:45 York to Penzance CrossCountry service at Up Hatherley on 15 July 2018. I chose the going away shot, as the lighting is considerably better, and to save repeating the standard viewpoint.

43285 passes Fiddington on 26 February 2019 with the 1Z86 14:20 Birmingham New Street to Taunton CrossCountry service. Closure of the line south of Taunton for major engineering work at Whiteball Tunnel resulted in this being in place of the normal 1V56 07:48 Glasgow Central to Plymouth train.

43285 speeds past Bredon on 16 July 2019 with the 1E63 15:25 Plymouth to Leeds CrossCountry service. Extensive vegetation clearance has recently opened up this view, but inevitably it is already started to grow back again, and with Network Rail's infrequent visits, it will probably soon be a jungle again.

43285 leads the 1V50 06:06 Edinburgh to Plymouth CrossCountry service past Badgeworth on 30 October 2021. This may be a good location to get some autumn colour in the picture, but that also means some encroaching shadows!

43285 passes Badgeworth on 7 April 2023 with the 1V50 06:06 Edinburgh to Plymouth CrossCountry service. 43285 in spring sunshine, as apposed the 43285 in autumn sunshine, as photographed 18 months earlier, at the same location.

43285 passes Fiddington on 27 May 2023 with the 1V46 06:13 Leeds to Plymouth CrossCountry service. This will be the last summer when CrossCountry passengers can enjoy the relatively luxury of HST travel, as after their removal from service, travellers will be forced to put up with even more long distance Voyager journeys.

43290 MTU fascination of power passes Langford on 12 May 2008 with the 1A13 06:55 Skipton to Kings Cross National Express East Coast service. The whole train is in the former GNER livery, with suitably altered branding. 43290 was named MTU fascination of power in 2007 to mark the project to re-engine GNER's power cars with MTU units in place of the original Paxman Valentas.

43290 MTU fascination of power finds a brief patch of sunshine as it speeds north past Frinkley Lane (near Grantham) with the 14:30 Kings Cross to Leeds National(ised) Express East Coast service on 25 July 2009.

43290 MTU fascination of power passes Yaxley on 6 September 2012 with the 1A12 07:00 Hull to Kings Cross East Coast service. An excellent location, and a fine sunny morning. Well worth the long walk from the Country Park car park in the nearby village of Farcet.

43290 MTU fascination of power passes Frinkley Lane (near Grantham) on 6 September 2012 with the 1A39 15:45 Leeds to Kings Cross East Coast service. The MTU fascination of power name seems a very strange way of phrasing it, but I suppose it is different!

Eggborough Power Station does its bit for the environment in the background, as 43290 MTU fascination of power speeds southwards past Fenwick on 17 September 2012 with the 1E03 06:25 Edinburgh to Kings Cross East Coast service.

43290 MTU fascination of power approaches Joan Croft Junction on 2 October 2017 with the 1E07 08:30 Edinburgh to Kings Cross Virgin East Coast service. This vantage point is from a newly constructed road bridge on a very quiet minor road.

400kv and 25kv wiring spoils the view at Balderton Crossing, Claypole! Running exactly to time, after nearly seven hours of high speed running, 43290 MTU fascination of power heads south on 22 July 2019 with the 1E13 07:55 Inverness to Kings Cross LNER service.

Hired in LNER 43290 MTU fascination of power passes Fiddington on 24 August 2019 with the 1V50 06:06 Edinburgh to Plymouth CrossCountry service. Unfortunately this was running 42 minutes late. The light angle would still have been just about acceptable at the booked time, but the late running has resulted in extremely head on lighting.

43290 MTU fascination of power heads south along the East Coast Mainline at Frinkley Lane (near Grantham) on 13 September 2019 with the 1A36 14:45 Leeds to Kings Cross LNER service. Most railway photographers concentrate on the departing scene, and I wasn't the only person here taking pictures of these soon to be replaced iconic trains.

43290 emerges from Sapperton Tunnel on 8 June 2021 with the 1Q15 06:48 Derby RTC to Landore (via Hereford and Swindon) Network Rail test train. The obsolete LNER livery is certainly looking a bit weather beaten.

With the light failing, and the Canon EF 60mm lens wide open, 43290 is photographed passing through Hailey Wood (between Kemble and Sapperton) on 23 November 2021 with the late running 1Q15 06:48 Derby RTC to Landore Network Rail test train. The train had just reversed at Swindon, and 43274 is now bringing up the rear. 

43290 accelerates away from a signal check at Grove on 22 September 2022 with the 1Z23 12:58 Salisbury to Reading Triangle Sidings Network Rail test train. Both it, and classmate 43299 on the rear of the train, are in severe need of a repaint!

43290 brings up the rear of the late running 1Q15 06:48 Derby RTC to Swansea Network Rail test train near Collins Lane level crossing, Purton, on 17 January 2023. 43274 is leading, heading for the train's booked reversal at Swindon.

Although the 1Q15 06:48 Derby RTC to Swansea Network Rail test train was late arriving at Swindon on 17 January 2023, there was a very quick turnaround, and the train left before its booked time. It is seen here with 43290 leading, and 43274 on the rear, approaching Collins Lane level crossing, Purton, running 11 minutes early.

43290 brings up the rear of the 1Z20 04:41 Paddington to Derby RTC Network Rail test train, as it approaches Cheltenham on 23 June 2023, led by 43274. Note how the former LNER paintwork looks very nearly pristine on the bodyside, but almost non-existent on the front end!

43295 brings up the rear of the late running 1E25 14:52 Aberdeen to Kings Cross East Coast service at North Queensferry on 30 August 2016. East Midlands Trains interloper 43054 is leading. The change of gradient going onto the Forth Rail Bridge is clearly evident in this view.

Low late evening light at Cromwell Moor on 29 June 2019, as 43295 heads north with the 1S27 17:30 Kings Cross to Edinburgh LNER service. This was running 56 minutes late, on a day when various problems caused massive delays in both directions.

43295 rounds the curve at Braybrooke on 30 March 2021 with the 1D43 14:34 St Pancras International to Nottingham East Midlands Railway service. The curve hides the fact that InterCity liveried 43102 is on the rear.

43296 passes Gateforth on 14 March 2008 with the 1E12 07:55 Inverness to Kings Cross 'Highland Chieftain'. Whilst most of the train is still in the obsolete GNER livery, the rear power car sports the new National Express East Coast colour scheme.

43296 races past Balne Lowgate (between York and Doncaster) on 12 March 2014 with the 1E15 09:52 Aberdeen to Kings Cross East Coast service. The coaches look clean enough, but the lower bodyside of 43296 certainly needs some attention!

With the North Sea in the background, and a large patch of Rosebay Willowherb going to seed in the foreground, 43296 passes Limpet Mill (near Stonehaven) on 2 September 2018 with the 1E15 09:47 Aberdeen to Kings Cross LNER service.

43296 approaches Sandy at high speed on 2 October 2019 with the late running 1A31 13:15 Leeds to Kings Cross LNER service. The solar panels of the 14.55 megawatt Waterloo Solar Farm can be seen in the background.

In the final week of planned HST operations between Inverness and London, 43296 passes Rossington with the 1E13 07:55 Inverness to Kings Cross LNER service. Whether passengers will be able to put up with the uncomfortable seats on the Class new 800 DMUs for over seven hours remains to be seen, but it is possible that the demise of the HSTs may very well see an increase in domestic air travel to Scotland! 4 December 2019.

The day after the final East Midlands Railway Paxman VP185 HST was withdrawn, one of the ex LNER replacements (43296) heads north at Sutton Bonington on 12 December 2020 with the 1D13 08:34 St Pancras International to Nottingham service. Note that the coaching stock also contains one former LNER vehicle.

43299 speeds northwards past Claypole on 22 July 2019 with the 1W96 12:00 Kings Cross to Inverness LNER service. Photo taken from Barnby Lane level crossing, with Claypole down goods loop in the foreground.

43299 passes Hougham in superb evening light on 13 September 2019, as it heads north with the 1B88 16:06 Kings Cross to Newark North Gate LNER service. Note the tractor kicking up the dust in the background, as it works in a field on the west slope of Summerfield's Hill.

43299 passes Sutton Bonington on 12 December 2020 with the 1D23 10:34 St Pancras International to Nottingham East Midlands Railway service. Both of the power cars, and the complete rake of coaches, are ex LNER vehicles.

Former LNER 43299 leads the 1Q15 06:50 Derby RTC to Landore Network Rail Measurement Train past Kemble Wick on 16 March 2021. The bridge from which this picture was taken was being repaired, and there were several platforms supported on scaffolding encasing it, while workers repointed the brickwork. This made taking this picture quite difficult, as I had to work around the scaffold poles. The workers kindly temporarily removed the roadside barrier, so that at least I could get some kind of view.

43299 brings up the rear of the 1Q15 06:50 Derby RTC to Landore Network Rail Measurement Train near Upper Minety on 16 March 2021. 43062 John Armitt is leading. The red former LNER power car (with subtle Network Rail branding) certainly makes a striking contrast with the rest of the train. The bridge visible in the distance is near the site of Oaksey Halt.

43299 passes Brimscombe on 8 June 2021 with the 1Q15 06:48 Derby RTC to Landore (via Hereford and Swindon) Network Rail test train. Although one house is just visible through the trees, the abundant vegetation gives a false impression as to how rural this location is. The A419 Chalford to Stroud road, which is lined with houses, runs parallel with the railway here.

43299 brings up the rear of the 1Z23 12:58 Salisbury to Reading Triangle Sidings Network Rail test train at Grove 22 September 2022. 43290 is leading the train. Unfortunately this corresponded with just about the darkest part of mostly cloudy afternoon.

43300 Craigentinny in the new National Express East Coast livery contrasts with the rest of the train which is the former GNER livery with the additional of National Express branding on a white stripe. The location is Grassthorpe (between Newark and Retford) and the train is the 1N06 11:30 Kings Cross to Newcastle service on 25 January 2008

43300 Craigentinny passes Little Heck on 7 April 2015 with the 1E03 06:26 Edinburgh to Kings Cross Virgin East Coast Trains service. 43300 received the prominent 'Craigentinny 100' branding at the eponymous Scottish depot in October 2014. It also acquired a Scottish Thistle plaque with the words 100 Years 1914 - 2014, positioned directly above the original nameplate, which the loco had carried since 1984, when it was numbered 43100.

Immediately recognisable from a distance, with its large 'Craigentinny 100' lettering, 43300 Craigentinny passes Burn on 13 March 2016 with the 1E19 11:47 Aberdeen to Kings Cross Virgin East Coast service. For a change, I decided to include the roadside barrier and gorse bushes in the picture.

A multi-coloured HST spectacular featuring no less than five different liveries at Ashchurch on 3 May 2016. With a wave from the driver, Virgin East Coast 43300 Craigentinny leads Network Rail 43013, Grand Central 43423 Valenta 1972-2010, prototype 41001, plus matching stock & East Midlands Trains 43048 T.C.B. Miller MBE, running as the 5Z43 06.29 St Philips Marsh to Derby Etches Park. This was returning exhibits from the previous day's Bristol St Philips Marsh Open Day.

The one that stands out from the crowd. 'Craigentinny 100' branded 43300 Craigentinny passes the 14.55 megawatt Waterloo Solar Farm, near Sandy, on 2 October 2019 with the late running 1E11 07:52 Aberdeen to Kings Cross LNER service.

43301 brings up the rear of the diverted 1S61 07:25 Plymouth to Edinburgh CrossCountry service at Severn Tunnel Junction on 20 September 2008. The hired in Midland Mainline coaches, and the off route location make this particularly interesting. The train would shortly be reversing at Newport.

It is ironic that I chose to go to same location to photograph the same two trains within a few weeks, something which I normally avoid doing. However it does show the tremendous difference in the lineside vegetation that takes place in the spring. 43301 accelerates away from Cheltenham and passes Up Hatherley on 6 April 2009 whilst working the 1V31 06:08 Edinburgh to Plymouth Cross Country service. Compare this view with the same train worked by 43304 only a few weeks previously.

43301 speeds past Gossington with the 1V50 06:08 Edinburgh to Plymouth CrossCountry service on 8 April 2010. After what seemed like weeks of poor weather, this turned out to be an almost completely sunny day. The bridge in the background carries the M5 motorway across the line.

After having been stopped just the other side of the level crossing in the background, and hand signaled across due to engineering works taking place on the adjacent line, 43301 slowly gathers speeds as it passes Ashchurch on 4 May 2010 with the 1V44 06:00 Leeds to Plymouth CrossCountry service, running 45 minutes late. It may be early May and sunny, but it was still bitterly cold standing on this footbridge!

43301 rounds the curve at Croome on the gloriously sunny and warm 25 March 2011, with the 1V39 06:32 Dundee to Plymouth CrossCountry service. Definitely one of the better liveries to grace the HST fleet over the years and they are usually kept in pristine clean condition, as here. This is a very well known photographic location and I had deliberately avoided it for many years after 'doing it to death' in the good old days. However, today I thought it was time for a return visit!

43301 emerges from the fog at Rangeworthy on 15 April 2015 with the 1V44 06:00 Leeds to Plymouth CrossCountry service. Naturally it was full sun all the way from home, until the last couple of miles, however, I rather like the soft light of the early morning sun struggling to break through the mist.

43301 passes Little Haresfield on 7 June 2017 with the 1V50 06:06 Edinburgh to Plymouth CrossCountry service. The lighting would be very head on here if the sun was out, so perhaps the dull conditions helped. Also, there is less vegetation in the way from this west side of the line!

43301 passes Stoke Prior on 12 February 2018 with the 1V46 06:40 York to Plymouth CrossCountry service. These lucky passengers are travelling in relative luxury, but most of CrossCountry's fleet is made up of the claustrophobic Voyager units, in which you certainly would not want to travel all the way from Yorkshire to Devon!

43301 races past Fiddington on 10 September 2018 with the 1V46 06:40 York to Plymouth CrossCountry service. This view, with Yewtree Farm in the background, has recently been opened up, after the removal of numerous lineside bushes.

Running 24 minutes late, 43301 passes Spetchley on 16 May 2019 with the 1S53 13:25 Plymouth to Edinburgh CrossCountry service. This was during the last week of long distance HST operation by GWR. Thankfully CrossCountry will continue with their use for some time.

43301 passes Standish Junction on 25 September 2020 with the 1V50 06:06 Edinburgh to Plymouth CrossCountry service. The sun may have come out after a largely dull morning, but the picture is not improved by having the 1S45 09:27 Plymouth to Aberdeen Voyager getting in the way in the background!

43301 passes Lower Wick on 25 September 2021 with the 1V44 06:11 Leeds to Newton Abbot CrossCountry service. An extremely dull morning, but this would be a hopeless location if there was a any chance of sun, due to the rampant lineside vegetation.

43301 passes Little Haresfield on 24 March 2023 with the 1V44 06:11 Leeds to Plymouth CrossCountry service. The sun disappeared just before it came into view, although at this time of the morning, shadows from the lineside bushes would have partly covered the train

There's not much need to explain where this is! 43301 approaches the farm occupation bridge at Fiddington on 3 May 2023 with the 1V44 06:11 Leeds to Plymouth CrossCountry service, which was running 33 minutes late. Note that not only is oilseed rape being grown in the fields on the right, but also near the top of Bredon Hill in the background.

43301 accelerates away from Cheltenham on 23 June 2023 with the late running 1V50 06:06 Edinburgh to Plymouth CrossCountry service. This was not the picture that I had in mind, as the 1S45 09:27 Plymouth to Edinburgh Voyager is getting in the way. At least I could get an uninterrupted shot of 43304 on the rear.