Mass lineside trespass 1980s style! A4 4-6-2 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley speeds past Kingsey on 11 May 1986 with the Cambridge University Railway Club 1Z27 Cambridge to Banbury railtour. Even as late as the 1980s steam trains on the mainline would still result in families with children invading the lineside in a way that would bring out the BT Police now. This section of the Chiltern Line has now been redoubled.

A4 4-6-2 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley catches the last of the evening light, as it climbs the gradient towards Ardley Tunnel on the Chiltern Line, with the Stratford-upon-Avon to Marylebone 'Shakespeare Limited' railtour on 11 September 1988. Just visible on the original Kodachrome slide, just above the locomotive's exhaust, are a couple of cranes employed on the construction of the M40 motorway, which finally opened as a through route from London to Birmingham in January 1991.

A4 4-6-2 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley passes through Goole on 28 September 1997 with the Hull to Kings Cross 'Capitals Express' railtour. A slightly unbalanced composition with the train on the far left of the picture, but necessary in order to include Goole's famous 1926 built water tower. Unfortunately at that time the option to take the picture from the opposite side, thereby easily including the water tower was not available due to extensive bush growth around Potters Grange Junction (on the left).

A study in light and shade at Pickering on 5 June 2015. A4 4-6-2 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley begins to move forward from the stock of the 12:45 service from Whitby, which had arrived at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway's southern terminus just a few minutes earlier. Initially I thought a fully lit picture once the loco had pulled forward would be better, but in the event I prefer this atmospheric shot with the smoke swirling about underneath the recently reinstated overall roof. The sunlit coaches curving away in the background adds to the effect.

A4 4-6-2 60009 Union of South Africa runs parallel with the then relatively new A49 Leominster bypass at Wharton on 28 December 1991, as it heads south with the Flying Scotsman Services Crewe to Newport 'Welsh Marches Express' railtour.

A4 4-6-2 60009 Union of South Africa makes light work of Sapperton Bank as it crosses Frampton Mansell Viaduct with the Worcester to Ealing Broadway 'Capital Streak' railtour on 27 October 1994. Unfortunately this view is no longer possible due to tree growth. The viaduct can just be glimpsed through the vegetation in one or two places now!

A4 4-6-2 60009 Union of South Africa leaves Worcester Shrub Hull station on 3 February 1996 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z34 07:05 Swindon to Nottingham and Crewe 'Lace Sheriff' railtour. After taking this panoramic picture with Worcester Cathedral in the background, I swapped cameras for a closer view of the train approaching Worcester Tunnel Junction.

A4 4-6-2 60009 Union of South Africa passes Worcester Tunnel Junction Signal Box on 3 February 1996 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z34 07:05 Swindon to Nottingham and Crewe 'Lace Sheriff' railtour. This view of the train about to enter the tunnel was taken a few seconds after a more panoramic view of the train setting out from Worcester Shrub Hill station.

I certainly wouldn't bother to go out to photograph a loco and support coach working, but as I was already on the bridge at Swarkestone on 9 May 2003, why not! A4 4-6-2 60009 Union of South Africa passes by with the 09:30 Kidderminster to Leicester positioning move. This was in preparation for the following day's Kettering to York charter.

A4 4-6-2 60009 Union of South Africa scuttles towards Milford Junction on 15 September 2012 with the 5Z67 12:03 Crewe to York National Railway Museum support coach move. I wouldn't normally bother with these kind of workings, but I was on the bridge waiting for the much more interesting Cotswold Line Promotion Group charter, so why not. Ironically the last time I photographed this locomotive is was also on a similar positioning move.

A4 4-6-2 60009 Union of South Africa passes Compton Beauchamp very early on the morning of 8 June 2013 with the 5Z61 03:52 Southall to Bristol St Philips Marsh support coach move. To be honest I had forgotten about this working (not usually taking any notice of loco and coach movements), and was surprised to see it coming as I walked up to the bridge. There was just time to change the lens, but only just enough time to set the camera to 1/1000sec, before taking the picture. The light was so bad that the resultant aperture was full bore f2, so I was pleasantly surprised at how sharp the picture is! Note the reflection of the loco's fire on the running rail.

A4 4-6-2 60009 Union of South Africa approaches Ascott-under-Wychwood on 26 August 2017 with the Railway Touring Company 1Z50 08:08 Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Cotswold Venturer' railtour. Despite the poor weather, I wasn't going to miss getting a picture of this LNER interloper on the Cotswold Line

A4 4-6-2 60009 Union of South Africa passes Bledington Heath on 16 June 2018 with the Railway Touring Company 1Z24 07:05 Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Cotswold Venturer' railtour. As this is a remote location, which requires a lengthy walk from the village of Kingham, I wasn't entirely surprised to be the only person here. Despite remembering that this was always a very overgrown spot, I thought it worth investigating again, to see what it looked like now, it being many decades since I last visited. Needless to say, it is still very overgrown!

Due to the fire risk posed by the extremely hot weather, A4 4-6-2 60009 Union of South Africa has the assistance of 47580 County of Essex, seen here passing Fiddington with the Steam Dreams 1Z84 16:01 Worcester Shrub Hill to West Brompton 'Cathedrals Express' railtour on 28 June 2018. I hadn't bothered to go out for the northbound working over the Cotswold Line, as not only was this during the middle of the day, when the light angle is at its worst, but also over my local section of the Cotswold Line it would have been almost impossibly backlit. This is much better!

A4 4-6-2 60009 Union of South Africa passes Churchill Heath on 25 August 2018 with the Railway Touring Company 1Z24 07:05 Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Cotswold Explorer' railtour. Although cooler than of late, it was still relatively warm, so I didn't really expect much exhaust. Unfortunately there was some exhaust, and it blew down, partly obscuring the train. Well, at least the sun was out!

A4 4-6-2 60009 Union of South Africa storms through Kingham station on 16 February 2019 with the Railway Touring Company 1Z27 16:31 Worcester Shrub Hill to Paddington 'Cotswold Venturer' railtour. This caught several people out, as it was running 8 minutes early. With the light disappearing fast, this was probably a good thing, but given how dark it was, I was surprised that the station lights hadn't yet come on. I was also surprised that none of the other photographers present stood where I was, in order to include the classic Kingham running in board on the left.

Still accelerating away from its brief stop in the loop at Challow, A4 4-6-2 60009 Union of South Africa passes Baulking in the rain on 22 February 2020 with the Railway Touring Company 1Z83 07:09 Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Cotswold Venturer' railtour. The footpath in the foreground doesn't look too treacherous in this picture, but sections of it were an almost impassable muddy quagmire, as I found out to my cost!

A4 4-6-2 60019 Bittern drifts down the gradient from Medstead & Four Marks with the 11:55 Alton to Alresford service on the Mid Hants Railway, and approaches Soldridge on 9 February 2008. A little incongruous perhaps for an A4 with just five coaches in Southern Railways green, but not as out of character as when it came back later running tender first!

A4 4-6-2 60019 Bittern passes the site of Bletchingdon station on 14 May 2008 with the Steam Dreams 1Z83 17:10 Stratford-upon-Avon to Victoria 'Cathedrals Express' railtour. Unfortunately this demonstrates one of the hazards of steam photography, as the exhaust has blown down obscuring most of the train.

A4 4-6-2 60019 Bittern storms past Frinkley Lane (near Grantham) with the Transport Trust 1Z51 16:55 York to Kings Cross railtour on 25 July 2009. The route is definitely correct for an A4, but the 'Brighton Belle' headboard certainly isn't! Note the two tenders.

A4 4-6-2 60019 Bittern (masquerading as 4492 Dominion of New Zealand) passes Uffington in a surprising (but very welcome) brief spell of dramatic lighting, whilst working the Steam Dreams 1Z86 08:45 Victoria to Cardiff Central 'Cathedrals Express' railtour on 7 July 2011. I really didn't think that this was going to be anything more than a record shot, as when I left home the prospect of any sunshine seemed extremely limited. It just goes to show, it doesn't always go wrong!

A4 4-6-2 4464 Bittern passes through the tree lined cutting near Steeple Aston on 21 May 2013 with the Steam Dreams 1Z20 07:06 Banbury to Kingswear 'Cathedrals Express' railtour. I had deliberately selected this location, as I wanted the exhaust to stand out against the trees, rather than the blank sky. Also, this particular spot is useless if the sun is out, and there was certainly no chance of any sun on this particular morning!

A4 4-6-2 4464 Bittern speeds along the Great Western Mainline at Denchworth on 18 October 2014 with the Vintage Trains 1Z44 07:27 Tyseley to Bristol Temple Meads 'Western Streak' railtour. Brunel's 'Billiard Table' route is obviously posing no problem for the loco, as there was very little exhaust and equally little sound!

A3 4-6-2 4472 Flying Scotsman passes Aynho on 15 September 1990 with the Flying Scotsman Services Paddington to Sheffield 'White Rose' railtour. Flying Scotsman worked the train between Didcot and Derby in both directions, with 47573 being used for the London to Didcot section, and LMS Princess Royal Class 4-6-2 46203 Princess Margaret Rose between Derby and Sheffield.

A3 4-6-2 4472 Flying Scotsman pulls out of Banbury station on 14 February 1992 with the Didcot to Stratford-upon-Avon 'Valentine Executive' railtour. As Flying Scotsman is allegedly the world's most famous steam locomotive, and therefore presumably has its every move recorded, I found it surprising that it was so difficult to confirm the details of this train. Steam Railway magazine even carried a picture of the tour that ran two days later, incorrectly stating that it was 4472's first train of 1992! As this was very dull weekday (note how few spectators are on the station), as opposed to the sunny Sunday of the following tour, perhaps the mistake can be partially explained.

A3 4-6-2 60103 Flying Scotsman simmers quietly on Toddington shed on 17 October 1993, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Steam Gala. To be the only person around when photographing Flying Scotsman is something I don't think would happen today, given the mass hysteria that for some reason follows this loco wherever it goes!

A3 4-6-2 60103 Flying Scotsman joins forces with GWR 4-6-0 6998 Burton Agnes Hall & LMS 2-6-0 46521 to lay a column of exhaust over Toddington station, as they depart with the 11:00 train to Gretton, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Steam Gala on 17 October 1993. This particular viewpoint doesn't really show the three locos, but it certainly accentuates the smoke!

A contrast in motive power at Barnes Bridge station on 27 November 1999. A3 4-6-2 4472 Flying Scotsman passes through with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z94 08:33 Yeovil Junction to Victoria 'Capital Scotsman' railtour, while Class 455 5712 works the 12:54 Waterloo to Hounslow South West Trains service. Although it does make an interesting comparison in traction, and of course it could have been much worse if the unit had actually arrived slightly later and blocked the view, it does mean unfortunately that the EMU more or less completely obscures the bridge over the River Thames in the background, which gives the station its name and was my reason for choosing the location in the first place!

A3 4-6-2 4472 Flying Scotsman approaches Wolvercote Junction on 19 December 1999 with the Flying Scotsman Railways Paddington to Stratford-upon-Avon 'Shakespeare Scotsman' railtour. The train was travelling via Oxford rather than the originally advertised route via High Wycombe.

A3 4-6-2 4472 Flying Scotsman passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 28 April 2001 with the 1Z90 Bournemouth to Worcester Shrub Hill excursion, which it had taken over at Didcot. It had been raining heavily and I thought this picture was going to be a write off, as the cloud cover was almost total. Luckily however it just started to clear as the train came into view, resulting in this perfect lighting, with the exhaust showing up well against the dark clouds. Note that it is still in cloud at the bridge in the distance - it was that close to being a ruined shot!

A3 Class 4-6-2 4472 Flying Scotsman passes Hinksey South (near Oxford) with the 1Z65 11:30 Solihull to Didcot Vintage Trains Ltd Roast Lunch Special on 16 October 2005. The tracks on the left lead into Hinksey Yard, built during the war, and now after years of decline used extensively for the marshalling of permanent way trains. The loco is not exactly authentic, sporting as it does LNER apple green livery along with BR style smoke deflectors.

A3 4-6-2 60103 Flying Scotsman passes Compton Beauchamp on 8 June 2016 with the Steam Dreams 1Z72 09:40 Holyhead to Paddington 'Cambrian Coast Express' railtour. Of course the 'Cathedrals Express' headboard that it is carrying is actually more appropriate to this end of the route! Flying Scotsman had taken over from LMS Royal Scot Class 4-6-0 46115 Scots Guardsman at Crewe. Unfortunately this passed just after the sun had dropped into a large bank of cloud approaching from the west, but at least it was now running a few minutes early, rather than the 40 minutes late which it had been earlier in the journey. 47580 County of Essex can just be seen on the rear of the train. Considering the mass hysteria that seemed to follow this loco's return to the mainline earlier in the year, I was surprised that there were only a few photographers at this location, plus a few locals who didn't even know it was coming.

A3 4-6-2 60103 Flying Scotsman drifts almost silently past Oddington on 9 June 2017 with the Steam Dreams 1Z72 12:22 Paddington to Victoria (via Bicester and Oxford) 'Cathedrals Express' lunchtime dining special.

A brief burst of sunshine illuminates A3 4-6-2 60103 Flying Scotsman, as it passes Combe on 15 June 2019 with the Railway Touring Company 1Z27 16:31 Worcester Shrub Hill to Paddington 'Cotswold Venturer' railtour. This was running 14 minutes late, as although it had arrived at Charlbury ahead of time, it was still held for the very late running 1W06 16:22 Paddington to Hereford DMU. This was fortunate, as earlier there was hardly a cloud in the sky, which was leading to very harsh backlighting with a bright sky in the background. This dramatic lighting, with dark clouds, although still backlit, is much better more dramatic.

Designed in 1948 but built in 2008, A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado is the first new mainline steam locomotive built in Britain since 1960. It is pictured here passing Tollerton with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z33 06:16 Cardiff Central to Newcastle 'Tyne Tornado' railtour on 12 March 2009. The tour had been Class 67 diesel hauled up until York. Unfortunately this was just about the worst possible lighting for this particular train, with the sun virtually directly behind the train. Although the sun wasn't out when the train passed, the phenomenal contrast between the largely bright sky and the dark foreground led to a virtual silhouette image straight off the camera. However, some serious work in Photoshop has resulted in a full range of tones with no loss of detail in the sky.

With St Andrew's church at Churcham dominating the background, A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado heads towards Wales with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z27 06:42 Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff Central 'Severn Coast Express' railtour on 30 May 2009. Tornado had taken over the train at Gloucester and was running nearly half an hour late at this point. This is possibly the worst time of year for photography in the countryside, with virtually everything being the same shade of green. This is why I chose this location, so that there was something else other than the train in the picture to break up the monotony of green. St Andrew's church tower is not as old as it looks, for although the main body of the church is eleventh century the tower was rebuilt in the German style in 1878.

A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado climbs out of the Severn Tunnel and passes Pilning on 30 May 2009 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z28 12:41 Cardiff Central to Gloucester 'Severn Coast Express' railtour. Despite the 1 in 100 gradient the sweltering heat has resulted in virtually no visible exhaust, although a small plume of steam from the chime whistle can be seen - no doubt acknowledging the gallery of photographers on the bridge. 67002 can be just seen on the rear of the train. This loco would work the train back to Gloucester from Bristol Temple Meads.

A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado passes Compton Beauchamp in weak sunshine on 7 November 2009 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z28 11:42 Gloucester to Victoria 'Thames Tornado' railtour. Cloud was gradually approaching from the west, which adds to the background here. It was far enough away not to affect the sun until some time after the train had passed. Much more serious however was the HST rapidly approaching from the other direction. Literally a few seconds after I took this picture the view was completely blocked, which would not have been appreciated by the large crowd of  photographers gathered on the bridge! Incidentally the largest number of photographers I have ever seen at this location.

A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado approaches the site of Knighton Crossing (between Didcot and Swindon) with the Steam Dreams 1Z88 08:45 Victoria to Swansea 'St. David's Day Cathedrals Express' railtour on 1 March 2010. I had deliberately chosen this location, as not only would the sun be on the front, but I thought the low viewpoint would ensure that the exhaust would not be blowing down across the train. As there was virtually no wind, I was slightly surprised that the exhaust very nearly did ruin the shot by covering up the coaches. However, looking at the mixed rake of stock with no less than four different liveries, perhaps that would have been no bad thing!

A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado passes Knighton (between Didcot and Swindon) with the Steam Dreams 1Z88 08:45 Victoria to Swansea 'St. David's Day Cathedrals Express' railtour on 1 March 2010. Note the two Welsh flags fluttering in front of the smokebox. I do not normally bother with more than one picture of any individual train (not counting a six frame per second burst to make sure I've got it in the prime spot!), and certainly don't bother with a series of shots of the train getting gradually closer. However, after taking the conventional view of Tornado approaching, I couldn't resist this broadside view showing off this fine locomotive in close up.

Swathed in swirling exhaust, A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado bursts out from underneath the road bridge that marks the site of Uffington Junction station, as it heads west on 26 November 2011 with the Steam Dreams 1Z31 08:06 Paddington to Shrewsbury 'Cathedrals Express' railtour. Instead of the promised sunny morning, there was thick cloud with atrocious light levels. So, instead of using my usual location in the field next to the line, I went for a normally impossible shot on the north side of the line from the footpath crossing. This would show off the autumn colours in the trees. These same trees would, I thought, create some shelter from the strong wind, and prevent the exhaust being blown down onto my side of the train. This only worked up to a point!

My first photographic outing of 2011 was in atrocious light, and so was the last! A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado emerges from Ardley Tunnel into the drizzle on 30 December 2011 with the UK Railtours 1Z27 08:03 Paddington to Stratford-upon-Avon 'William Shakespeare' railtour. Nobody else had bothered to walk to this location on such a gloomy day, but then again this spot is no use at all if there is any chance of sun.

Viewed from White Horse Hill, over two miles away, A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado passes Uffington on 12 May 2012 with the Steam Dreams 1Z31 08:06 Paddington to Shrewsbury 'Cathedrals Express' railtour. The undulating field directly behind the coaches (with barn and radio mast) marks the site of the former Alfred's Hill sand quarry. From this lofty vantage point, the train could be watched for several miles, allowing another picture as it neared the site of Knighton Crossing.

A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado approaches Knighton on 12 May 2012 with the Steam Dreams 1Z31 08:06 Paddington to Shrewsbury 'Cathedrals Express' railtour. This view from the top of White Horse Hill, shows Cowleaze Farm in the foreground, and the edge of the village of Longcot on the right. The long white building is the 'King and Queen' public house. The A420 Oxford to Swindon road runs along the far edge of the oilseed rape field.

A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado finds a welcome patch of sunshine as it passes Shorthampton, on the Cotswold Line near Charlbury, with the Steam Dreams 1Z57 09:25 Salisbury to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Cathedrals Express' railtour on 28 June 2012. This location was opened up considerably during the reinstatement of double track, but already the trackside bushes are taking over, and it probably won't be long before this viewpoint is lost again.

A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 5 March 2013 with the 5Z60 09:50 Southall to Southall (via Swindon, Melksham and Newbury) engine and coach move. I don't normally bother with these support coach workings, but thought a tightly cropped view would show off the loco's early British Railways experimental blue livery to good effect in the spring sunshine.

A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado storms through Finstock on 19 March 2013 with the Steam Dreams 1Z70 08:45 Paddock Wood to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Cathedrals Express' railtour. Although the redoubling of the Cotswold Line has resulted in less delays to other services when trains are running late, it didn't help here. The 1P47 12:06 Worcester Foregate Street to Paddington First Great Western service had to be held at Charlbury for a few minutes, waiting for the slightly late running Tornado to clear the single line.

Neatly framed by a pair of venerable oak trees, A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado passes Shorthampton on 14 February 2016 with the UK Railtours 1Z63 10:30 Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Red Rose' railtour. I wanted to find a location where the exhaust, which I knew would inevitably be blowing down across the train, would not be too much of a problem, and a side view passing these trees seemed the obvious choice, despite the long muddy walk to get to the location. As can be seen from the dark background, I was also very lucky with the sun here.

A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado and its support coach approach the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham, on 9 August 2016, running as the 10:18 St Philips Marsh HST Depot to Stewarts Lane Depot. I was lucky to get this in the sun, as the Met Office had predicted full cloud by noon, and for once they were correct. Just look at the background!

A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado passes Steventon on 1 March 2017 with the UK Railtours 1Z63 09:30 Paddington to Cardiff Central 'Saint David' railtour. This had left London 48 minutes late, entirely due to the late arrival of the empty stock. I was really surprised to be the only person at this location. Although obviously not near a public road, this is a well known photographic spot, owned by a very friendly farmer, and I expected at least a small gallery of photographers.

A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado passes Uffington in miserable light on 7 December 2019 with the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust 1Z92 08:03 Wolverhampton to Bristol Temple Meads 'Christmas Bath and Bristol Express' railtour.

A2 4-6-2 60532 Blue Peter passes Aldercar on 27 February 1992 with its Derby to Derby (via Sheffield) main line test run. At the time I was really annoyed that the Class 58 hauled MGR had sneaked into the picture at the critical moment, but as it doesn't actually seriously get in the way, I now think it adds a bit of a motive power contrast to the scene. Blue Peter was going well here, but that was not the case when I saw it again at Hasland, as it coasted by me with an overheated big end!

A2 4-6-2 60532 Blue Peter pictured coasting to a halt at Hasland with an overheated big end during its Derby to Derby (via Sheffield) main line test run on 27 February 1992. After stopping a short distance up the line, there was much scratching of heads and looking under the locomotive, before it was allowed to proceed southwards at very slow speed. Apologies for the poor technical quality, but this is yet another Kodachrome 200 image, a film not noted for its fine grain!

An LNER pacific deep into Great Western territory. A2 4-6-2 60532 Blue Peter passes Llangewydd on 1 July 2000 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z36 05:25 Wolverhampton to Swansea 'Glamorgan Pioneer' railtour. The steam loco had taken over from 47732 at Swindon.

V2 2-6-2 4771 Green Arrow storms through Princes Risborough on 29 August 1987 with a Marylebone to York charter. A lucky break in the clouds shows up the LNER apple green paintwork nicely. This is my only picture of Green Arrow at work on the mainline, or indeed anywhere else!

V2 2-6-2 60800 Green Arrow passes Baulking on 27 August 2001 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z90 07:15 Taunton to Southampton Eastern Docks 'Ocean Liner Limited' railtour. The loco was deputising for the unavailable West Country Class 4-6-2 34027 Taw Valley. Normally an LNER substitute for a Southern loco would mean I might stay at home, but the only surviving V2 was definitely worth a picture, and much preferable to the vastly over hyped Flying Scotsman.

Looking superb in the crisp morning light, B1 4-6-0 61306 Mayflower speeds past Stocks Lane, Steventon, on 1 March 2015 with the Steam Dreams 1Z61 08:58 Paddington to Cardiff Central 'St David's Day Cathedrals Express' railtour. I particularly wanted to use this location, as the rustic brick wall and allotments in the foreground more than compensates for the radio mast in the background. In view of the angle of the light, and the direction of the wind, I was surprised that most of the photographers at this spot were on the opposite side of the level crossing!

B1 4-6-0 61306 Mayflower passes Baulking on 1 March 2015 with the Steam Dreams 1Z61 08:58 Paddington to Cardiff Central 'St David's Day Cathedrals Express' railtour. Mayflower was built by the North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow, in 1948. It spent most of its life allocation to Hull, being withdrawn in 1967.

B1 4-6-0 61306 Mayflower makes an impressive departure from Oxford station on 1 April 2015 with the Steam Dreams 1Z30 08:24 Oxford to Kingswear 'Cathedrals Express' railtour. B1s were occasional visitors to Oxford in steam days, as although it was firmly in GWR territory, Oxford was unusual in being visited by locos from all of the big four companies.

B1 4-6-0 61306 Mayflower passes Hanborough on 7 June 2015 with the Steam Dreams 1Z24 10:13 Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Cathedrals Express' railtour. Note the extensive tree clearance on the right, which has opened up this view enormously, almost bringing it back to what it looked like in the early 1980s.

B1 4-6-0 61306 Mayflower approaches Kingham at considerable speed on 7 June 2015 with the Steam Dreams 1Z27 17:48 Worcester Shrub Hill to Paddington 'Cathedrals Express' railtour. Such was the speed, that I changed the shutter speed to 1/2000sec at the last minute to make sure the train was fully 'stopped'. Very important when standing this close to the subject (at a public footpath crossing). I was not entirely surprised when no other steam photographers turned up, as this is a fair walk from the nearest road, but I was surprised when about a dozen people from the local hotel arrived, as they had been told that a steam train was coming!

On a very dull and wet 13 June 2015, B1 4-6-0 61306 Mayflower passes through the tunnel of trees that now forms the approach to Shipton station, as it works its second train over the Cotswold Line in less than a week, with the Railway Touring Company 1Z24 07:05 Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Cotswold Venturer' railtour.

Flaming June! B1 4-6-0 61306 Mayflower sends up a huge column of exhaust into the cloudy sky, as it accelerates away from an unscheduled stop at Charlbury station (just out of sight around the corner) and passes Cornbury Park on 13 June 2015 with the Railway Touring Company 1Z27 16:30 Worcester Shrub Hill to Paddington 'Cotswold Venturer' railtour. It had arrived at Charlbury early, and as the HST from London was running late, spent around ten minutes in the station periodically blowing off steam. Unfortunately the train was terminated at Reading due to an incident when the train moved forward slightly and then stopped.

B1 4-6-0 61306 Mayflower passes Wolvercote on 22 August 2015 with the Steam Dreams 1Z92 16:42 Stratford-upon-Avon to Southend Victoria 'Cathedrals Express' railtour. The B1 would work the train as far as Hanwell Bridge Loop.

B1 4-6-0 61306 Mayflower passes Whitehill (between Combe and Finstock, on the Cotswold Line) with the Steam Dreams 1Z82 07:39 West Brompton to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Cathedrals Express' railtour on 24 September 2015. As this is a fair walk from the nearest road (albeit down a well maintained track), I was not really surprised to be the only person on the bridge. What did surprise me however, was the near 100% cloud cover to the west, which I discovered when I got back to the car. From where I was, apart from a few small clouds, as can be seen in the background, it was virtually completely sunny. I'm quite glad I decided not to go to the west of Charlbury, which I assume may well have been in cloud.

B1 4-6-0 61306 Mayflower passes Charlton-on-Otmoor on 27 June 2019 with the Steam Dreams 1Z45 06:00 Chinnor to Weymouth 'Cathedrals Express' railtour. 47245 is bringing up the rear. With the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway now being mainline connected, this opens up the possibilities of further tours starting from the unlikely location of Chinnor. As this is not that other well known LNER loco Flying Scotsman, I wasn't entirely surprised that only one other photographer turned up. Had it being Flying Scotsman, I think I would have stayed in bed!

B1 4-6-0 61306 Mayflower passes Rowington on 22 August 2021 with the 5Z26 14:45 Stratford-upon-Avon to Stratford-upon-Avon (via a reversal at Dorridge) ECS. Unfortunately only a virtually head on shot is now possible if the sun comes out here, due to the trees planted between the railway and the M40 motorway.

B1 4-6-0 61306 Mayflower brings up the rear of the 5Z26 14:45 Stratford-upon-Avon to Stratford-upon-Avon (via a reversal at Dorridge) ECS, as it takes the Stratford line at Hatton North Junction on 22 August 2021. Out of sight at the front of the train is 47772 Carnforth TMD.

B12 4-6-0 8572 arrives at Winchcombe station on 26 May 2013 with the 13:20 Cheltenham Racecourse to Laverton service. This 1928 Beyer Peacock built loco was visiting the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway for the 'Cotswold Steam Celebration' event, and was definitely one of the highlights of the weekend. Its normal home is the North Norfolk Railway.

Great Central Railway Robinson Class 11F (later LNER Class D11) 4-4-0 62660 Butler Henderson passes Woodthorpe on the (very appropriate) Great Central Railway with the 'Butler Henderson Farewell Special' on 24 February 1992. This was the last day of the loco's boiler ticket and the smokebox carries the suitably poignant 'Bye Bye Great Central' chalked inscription. A number of specially invited National Railway guests were enjoying a last ride behind what would soon be their locomotive.

Great Central Railway Robinson Class 11F (later LNER Class D11) 4-4-0 62660 Butler Henderson arrives at Rothley on 24 February 1992 with the 'Butler Henderson Farewell Special'. This was the final day of the loco's boiler ticket.

Great Central Railway O4 Class 2-8-0 63601, pictured on shed at Loughborough Central, on the Great Central Railway on 11 May 2001. This Robinson designed loco was built at Gorton Works, Manchester, in 1911. We are used to diesel locos being renumbered several times, but no usually steam locos. However this one has carried five numbers. Introduced by the Great Central Railway as 102, it became 5102 when the LNER took over. They then renumbered it to 3509 in 1946, and then 3601 the following year. Finally it became 63601 with the advent of British Railways.

Great Central Railway O4 Class 2-8-0 63601 whistles as it arrives at Quorn & Woodhouse on 12 September 2009. Despite it being the Great Central Railway's Diesel Gala, this was the token steam working of the day - the 1A25 13:15 Loughborough to Leicester North service.

The level crossing gate, and the restored GWR Toad brake van add foreground interest to this view of J94 Austerity 0-6-0ST 68011 Errol Lonsdale approaching on Staverton on 14 April 1995 with the South Devon Railway's 13:00 Totnes to Buckfastleigh service.

J94 Austerity 0-6-0ST 68011 Errol Lonsdale runs alongside the River Dart at Staverton on 14 April 1995, whilst en-route from Buckfastleigh to Totnes. The South Devon Railway is a preserved Great Western Railway branch line, so a War Department saddle tank hauling a maroon Mk2 coach is a little incongruous!

J94 Austerity 0-6-0ST 68011 Errol Lonsdale is pictured near Staverton on 14 April 1995 with the South Devon Railway's 15:00 Totnes to Buckfastleigh service. This loco is an imposter, as the real 68011 was scrapped in the late 1960s. As this one was built in 1953 as War Department WD196, it shouldn't really be in this LNER section. However, it is identical to the LNER built examples.

J94 Austerity 0-6-0ST 68011 Errol Lonsdale pulls away from Thame Junction, and approaches Horsenden Lane, on the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway on 21 September 2003, heading back to Chinnor. The real 68011 was scrapped in the late 1960s, this actually being 1953 built War Department loco WD196.