A scene which is now part of history. On 8 September 1982 Tunnel Cement Sentinel 0-4-0 No.3 shunts cement tanks in the exchange sidings next to the West Coast Mainline at the Pitstone Cement Works, near Tring. This large cement works which dominated the area since the 1930s finally closed in 1991, and all trace of it has now been obliterated, with a large industrial complex built on the site. The tracks seen here have also been lifted and the only point of reference today is the WCML visible in the background.

Army 0-4-0 diesel hydraulic locos 260 & 261 complete their circuit of the army camp at Long Marston on 27 June 1987 with the stock off the Southern Electric Group's Waterloo to the West Midlands 'Walsall Concerto' railtour, which had been brought to the site by 31463, which can be seen on the right. Some tour participants opted to travel round the site behind Hunslet 0-6-0ST steam loco No.98 Royal Engineer. The Long Marston site is very extensive, with the main running line passing by the buildings visible in the distance.

Army 0-4-0 diesel hydraulic loco 265 is pictured at Andover station on 22 March 1986, during the Andover Rail Event, which saw various special trains operating shuttles between Andover and Ludgershall, all unfortunately in very dull weather. 265 was built by Thomas Hill in 1983, one of a number of Vanguard class locomotives built for the MoD. After its career with the Army, it was bought by the Harry Needle Railroad Company, and moved to the Wensleydale Railway.

Army locos 273 Edge Hill & 265 have a very unusual load to haul as they traverse the MoD line from Fenny Compton to Kineton on 28 March 1992. They are passing Knightcote with the Branch Line Society 'Kineton Pullman' railtour. The tour had started from Manchester Piccadilly behind 47597, with 58013 added later for working top'n'tail up various branches. Ironically I had visited this location a month previously and had taken a picture of a more normal sort of train you would expect to see at this location.

In miserable light, Army locos 273 Edge Hill & 265 head back towards Fenny Compton with the Branch Line Society 'Kineton Pullman' railtour on 28 March 1992, after doing a tour of Kineton Army Depot (in the background). The tour had arrived at Fenny Compton behind 47597 & 58013 working top'n'tail.

Army locos 273 Edge Hill & 265 arrive back towards Fenny Compton on 28 March 1992 with the Branch Line Society 'Kineton Pullman' railtour. The train had just done a complete circuit of the MoD depot. The Birmingham to Oxford mainline can be seen on the right.

Army locos 273 Edge Hill & 274 Waggoner (built by Thomas Hill in 1987) head towards Kineton on the MoD branch from Fenny Compton exchange sidings with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z16 09:35 Paddington to Kineton 'Edgehill' railtour on 13 March 1994. They are pictured approximately half way along the branch, near Northend. The tour had traveled from Paddington behind 47811, and would soon be moving around the Army depot via a complicated set of reversals, which involved another Army loco (278 Coppice) on the rear.

Thomas Hill 0-4-0 Army loco 273 Edge Hill provides rear end assistance to a lengthy MoD Fenny Compton to Kineton MoD special at Knightcote on 21 December 1996. 277 Kineton & 278 Coppice were working hard at the front of the train. I don't know how common it was for three Army locos to be used on one train, but I'm glad I got the pictures, despite the appalling light.

Thomas Hill 0-4-0 Army loco 277 Kineton trundles along the Army's Fenny Compton to Kineton line near Knightcote on 24 February 1992 with three immaculate VGA wagons of military stores. The wagons had been tripped up to Fenny Compton on the 6M19 07:45 Didcot to Fenny Compton, behind 47309.

Thomas Hill 0-4-0 Army locos 277 Kineton & 278 Coppice pass Knightcote with a lengthy MoD special train from Fenny Compton to Kineton on 21 December 1996. As if two locomotives wasn't enough, 273 Edge Hill was giving a helping hand at the rear. Unfortunately I missed the train on the mainline, but getting a picture of anything on the Kineton branch is much more interesting. 

Army loco 278 Coppice (built by Thomas Hill in 1988) heads towards MoD Kineton on 12 March 1995 after taking ex-works Mk1 coach 21274 for a run along the MoD Kineton to Fenny Compton line. It is pictured on its way back from Fenny Compton and has just crossed over the M40 motorway (note the lorry just behind the coach). The rebuilding required when the motorway was built a few years previously has given this stretch of track a very modern appearance for a freight line with deep ballast and continuously welded rails.

Thomas Hill 4w DH 297V is pictured resting between duties at Bardon Hill Quarry on 15 September 2020. The loco was built in 1981 for ICI Billingham, and moved to the Aggregate Industries site at Bardon Hill in 1996. This photo is taken with a long lens from the A511 road level crossing.

Yorkshire Engine Company 0-6-0 372 stands amid reminders of the Great Western Railway at Toddington on 27 September 2022. The loco was built in 1959 for the Port of London Authority, and moved to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway in 1999.

Ruston Army locomotive 421 performs a bit of shunting at Ashchurch on a very gloomy 17 April 1991, in readiness to attach wagons to the 6B53 Worcester to Gloucester Speedlink trip working. This location is vastly different nowadays, with the reinstated Ashchurch station now occupying the area directly above the locomotive.

Ruston & Hornsby 0-6-0 Army locomotive 423 Cromwell waits in the foreground at Ludgershall on 19 April 1998, while in the background 47219 Arnold Kunzler & 47298 Pegasus stand at one of the army depot's platforms, with the 6Z43 14:40 Haverfordwest to Ludgershall MoD special, which had arrived a little earlier with vehicles for use in exercise 'Head First'. The 1961 built shunter was saved for preservation after its army career, and after spending time at various sites, finally ended up at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre.

Former National Coal Board Andrew Barclay 0-6-0 615 stands at Alnwick Lionheart station on 28 August 2018. This 1977 built Rolls Royce engined diesel hydraulic was the last surface locomotive to work for the NCB. The loco is privately owned, but on long term loan to the Aln Valley Railway.

Andrew Barclay 0-6-0 diesel hydraulic 873 John Boy & former Nantgarw Coking Works 0-6-0 No.7 stand amid the undergrowth at Long Marston on 15 October 2021. 873 was built in 1966 for the British Army of the Rhine. After returning to England, it worked at the Queenborough Rolling Mills on the Isle of Sheppey, before moving to Long Marston after the Kent site closed in 2013.

Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 D1171 is pictured in a dilapidated state at Long Marston on 22 January 2008. This 1959 built shunter was formerly owned by the Port of Bristol Authority, and then was latterly employed by Western Fuels Ltd, who used it on the Whapping Wharf line in Bristol. At some point it acquired the name Western Pride, although judging by the state of it here, nobody has much pride in it anymore.

English Electric 0-6-0DH D1230 Kimberley stands in the sunshine at Llynclys at the Cambrian Heritage Railway on 4 June 2012. Built at the Vulcan Works in 1969, this locomotive had previously seen use with the National Coal Bard, and latterly Tibbett & Britten. Behind it can be seen Class 08 D3019.

Viewed through an inconveniently small gap in the hedge, Porterbrook's 01543 moves a single Imerys JIA china clay wagon into position, ready for 66084 to take it to Warrington Arpley. At the same time 01544 can be seen in the background bringing EMU 701005 from the back of the depot. 01543 and its wagon would have to wait for this to pass by, before it could proceed. As so little happens at Long Marston, you would have though the timing could be better. In the centre of this picture is brand new Merseyrail EMU 777053. 

1978 built Thomas Hill 0-6-0 diesel hydraulic 01547 shunts two TEA bogie oil tanks at Long Marston on 10 July 2017. Luckily this move corresponded with one of the intermittent sunny spells. Note the shear volume and variety of stock in store at this location.

Thomas Hill 0-6-0 diesel hydraulic 01547 shunts four container flats at Long Marston on 18 September 2018. This makes an interesting comparison with the same loco shunting a couple of tanks the previous year. Obviously a lot of shunting has taken place during that time, as all the stock in the background is either different, or has been moved around.

1966 built Thomas Hill 0-6-0 diesel hydraulic 01552 (originally numbered 167V and built for ICI Billingham) moves slowly forward in the Motorail Logistics depot at Long Marston on 29 October 2009. It is moving the Mk 3 HST Network Rail New Measurement Train coach and barrier vehicles that had just been brought in by 31454 as the 1Z06 09:00 Derby RTC to Long Marston. Note the amount of stock stored in the yard, with various Class 20s, 31s, & 37s visible in the background. The severe speed restriction is a wise move given the very poor state of some of the track.

At Long Marston on 20 September 2013, Thomas Hill 0-6-0 diesel hydraulic 01552 prepares to add a single wagon to the four that 56312 Jeremiah Dixon Son Of County Durham Surveyor Of The Mason-Dixon Line USA has just brought in from Washwood Heath. The newly painted 56 had arrived a few minutes earlier with the 6Z56 08:50 Washwood Heath to Long Marston, and would depart after a stay of just over half an hour, with the 6Z56 12:50 (10:58 in reality) Long Marston to Totton Yard.

Hunslet 0-4-0 2145 is pictured in the company of ex an ex GWR autocoach at Parkend, on the embryonic Dean Forest Railway, on 18 August 1978. This loco was built in 1940, and after a career that included working for Standard Telephone & Cables, Newport, it entered preservation at the Dean Forest Railway in the early 1970s. Already by 1978 it appears to be out of use, judging by the rather permanent looking corrugated iron 'door'. Latterly it was dumped at the end of a siding at Lydney, becoming progressively more overgrown. It has since been restored once more, repainted green, and moved to the Tanat Valley Railway.

Former Willington Power Station 1956 built Drewry Class 04 look-alike 2574 has been repainted into 1950s BR black and given the fictitious number 11230. In this guise it seen here plodding along between Hailes and Winchcombe at little more than 10mph with the 11:40 Toddington to Winchcombe service on 10 July 2009, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 'Shunterfest' Diesel Gala.

Hunslet Engine Co. 4208 is pictured at Rolvenden, on the Kent & East Sussex Railway on 27 May 1991. Despite appearances, this is not an 0-4-0 loco with a very wide wheelbase, but an 0-6-0 with a missing centre pair of wheels! Note the connecting rod lying next to the engine room doors. Built in 1948, its last working location was the Pitstone Cement Works. This side view clearly shows both the current number (42) and the previous and rather crudely painted out number (28). If you think the loco looks in a bad way here, it got considerably worse, and was eventually sent for scrap in 2001.

What the Yorkshire Wolds Railway presently lacks in track and rolling stock, it makes up for in floral displays! Complete with 'Malton Dodger' headboard (the local nickname for the Malton to Driffield line), the line's GEC Traction 0-4-0 diesel hydraulic 5576 Sir Tatton Sykes runs up and down the short demonstration line at Fimber on 21 July 2019.

The Yorkshire Wolds Railway's GEC Traction 0-4-0 diesel hydraulic 5576 Sir Tatton Sykes, pictured at Fimber on 21 July 2019. The loco was built in 1979 for Shotton steelworks. Only three of this particular type of loco were built. One has been scrapped, and the other survivor is at the Docklands Light Railway. Although on the site of a former siding, the new Fimber Halt is a little to the south, and on the other side of the road, from the original Sledmere and Fimber station.

Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0 P6687 stands in front of the engine shed at Bo'ness on 14 September 2019. This 1951 built loco spent its working life at Babcock & Wilcox at Renfrew. Hiding in the shed is the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway's version of Thomas the Tank Engine - Neilson Reid 0-6-0T No.1 Lord Roberts.

Hunslet 0-4-0 7401 in action at Butterley on 23 July 1994, during the Midland Railway Centre's Diesel Gala. Unfortunately this historically important loco suffered a major engine failure during the event, and was out of action for some time. Built in 1932, the loco was used first of all by the LMS, later the War Department, and entered preservation with the Middleton Railway in 1960.

Stephenson Crossley 0-6-0 No.7697 accelerates away from Market Bosworth station on 10 March 1996 with the 12:30 Shenton to Shackerstone service, during the Battlefield Line's Diesel Gala. This loco was built in 1954 for the National Coal Board, working first of all at Calverton Colliery. In 1976 it moved to Bardon Hill Quarry, and then entered preservation at the Battlefield Line in 1982.

Drewry 0-6-0 8199 stands at Alnwick Lionheart station on 28 August 2018, after having just given us a ride up the short Aln Valley Railway in the attached brake van. It obviously was not a very busy day, as we were the only passengers, and the following train didn't run, because nobody else turned up! This loco is an industrial version of the BR Class 04, and this particular one spent its working life in Wales, at Aberthaw Power Station. It was then moved to Barlow Royal Ordnance Depot, where it was put on static display, and named Drax.

In the very early days of the Swindon & Cricklade Railway, 1936 built John Fowler 0-4-0 No.21442 shunts an engineers train at Blunsdon on 9 May 1981. The loco is still in its unrestored condition, in the original livery of W.D & H.O Wills, in whose Swindon factory it had worked for fifty years. It has since been restored and appropriately in view of its links with the tobacco industry been named Woodbine. Note also the very basic nature of the Blunsdon site at this time, with the general impression in this view from the roadbridge being of a single track line running through a field!

1962 built Ruston Hornsby 0-4-0 97088 (works number 466630) in slightly optimistic Loadhaul livery is seen at work on the Derwent Valley Railway on 29 June 2008. The line is only a few hundreds yard long, and a round trip only takes a few minutes! 97088 is pictured approaching the public footpath crossing between the A64 road bridge (seen in the background) and the station at Murton. There are no round facilities, and Andrew Barclay steam loco No. 8 can just be seen on the rear of the train.

Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0 281269 Silver Spoon engages in some shunting at Kidderminster on 12 January 1991. The 1950 built loco spent the latter part of its working life only a short distance from this location, at the British Sugar Corporation factory at Foley Park, on the line towards Bewdley. When sugar traffic from the works ceased in 1982, the Severn Valley Railway was able to purchase the Bewdley to Kidderminster section of line, and the loco was driven the short distance to Kidderminster. Silver Spoon lost its distinctive light blue livery shortly after this picture was taken.

Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0 304469 stands in front of the Nene Valley Railway's shed at Wansford on 6 October 1990 in the company of Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T 1800 Thomas and BR 5MT 4-6-0 73050. The Ruston was built in 1951 and was moved to the Nene Valley Railway for preservation from the nearby British Sugar Corporation works at Peterborough.

1961 built Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0 458957 Dewar Highlander stands in the drizzle at Bridge of Dun on the Caledonian Railway on 21 April 2003. The Caledonian Railway gets slightly overlooked, as it is situated a little off the main tourist routes. It runs from Brechin to Bridge of Dun, in the gently rolling hills between Forfar and Montrose.

1961 built Ruston & Hornsby 0-6-0 459515 Iris approaches Thame Junction on the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway with the 09:30 freight (all brake van and no freight!) from Chinnor on 17 October 1999. This was running as part of the line's Diesel Gala. The train is just approaching a crew operated level crossing over Horsenden Lane, at which point the line starts to curve to the right after traveling roughly in a straight line all the way from Chinnor.

Ruston & Hornsby 0-6-0 459515 Iris approaches Wainhill on 17 October 1999, en-route from Thame Junction to Chinnor, during the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway's Diesel Gala. The loco was formerly WD8214, of MoD Donnington, in Shropshire.

John Fowler 0-4-0DM 4210079 Arthur Wright, pictured at Rothley on 11 May 2001. This 1952 built loco arrived at the Great Central Railway in 1975, after having worked at Albert Looms Ltd, at Spondon. Although the fence gets in the way, this was worth a picture, as the partly disassembled engine is clearly on view.

Fowler 0-4-0 4210130 is pictured here on engineering duties at Gretton on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on 14 April 1990. Gretton had just become the temporary terminus of the line, although no passengers facilities were provided. The 1957 built 4210130 was later repainted into green livery.

One of the Swindon & Cricklade Railway's early acquisitions was Fowler 0-4-0 4210137, which arrived at Blunsdon in 1980. The loco was built in 1958, and spent its working life at the nearby Swindon Pressed Steel car body plant. It is pictured here at Blunsdon on 21 October 1983 along with a BR Mk1 coach. At this time the S&CRS site consisted of little more than a short length of track, with a few items of rolling stock and other equipment.

1964 built John Fowler 0-6-0 4240016 stands in the autumn sunshine in Toddington Yard on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on 10 October 1992. This loco which is referred to as number 19 by the GWR permanent way department is a little fickle with regard to liveries. Here we see it in its original green livery. Shortly after this picture was taken it was repainted into all over maroon. It has now reverted to green once more.

John Fowler 0-6-0 4240016 catches the last rays of the setting sun, as it stands next to the Brush Type 4 Fund's 47105 in a snow covered Toddington Yard, on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on 2 January 1995. The striking red livery was applied after the loco arrived on the railway, its former colour scheme being two different shades of green.

Former London Transport Sentinel 0-6-0 DL83 does a bit of shunting at Wansford on 19 March 2000, during the Nene Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. This Rolls Royce engined loco was built in 1967, and used at LT's Neasden and Lillie Bridge depots, before entering preservation in 1993.

Standing on its own short section of track, in the car park of Alnwick Lionheart station, on the Aln Valley Railway, is Ruston and Hornsby 0-4-0 L2, pictured here on 28 August 2018. This 155hp diesel electric locomotive spent most of its working life at the Castle Cement works in Middlesbrough.

A loco behind bars! 1956 built Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0 RH398616 is pictured on its own little section of track, next to the entrance to Ongar station, on the Epping Ongar Railway, on 24 September 2017. This seems to be acting as a 'gate guardian', rather in the manner of preserved aircraft at certain RAF bases.

Ruston & Hornsby 48DS 0-4-0 S518256 awaiting restoration at Alnwick Lionheart on 28 August 2018. Pictured from one of the Aln Valley Railway's shuttle trains. The loco was built in 1948 for Blackett, Hutton & Co of Guisborough. This is about as small as a standard gauge locomotive gets!

A new Canadian arrival at Long Marston, pictured next to industrial shunters of an earlier generation on 14 August 2022. The Railway Support Services TP70 FWDX2 0-6-0 shunter was produced by Tractive Power in North Vancouver, and has been imported into the UK as a possible speculative replacement for the few remaining venerable English Electric Class 08s.