The loco that most people think started it all, except that this isn't the original Rocket, and it certainly wasn't the first steam locomotive. The 1979 built replica of Robert Stephenson's 1829 original is picture inside the National Railway Museum at York on 10 November 1996. Steam locos had been around for a couple of decades by the time the Liverpool & Manchester Railway opened, but Rocket was a notable step forward compared with previous designs, including such features as a blastpipe and a multi tube boiler.

0-4-0ST No. 1 Bonnie Prince Charlie rests inside the Great Western Society's shed at Didcot Railway Centre on 5 May 2013, in the company of GWR 0-4-0ST 1340 Trojan. Despite its name, Bonnie Prince Charlie has no Scottish connections, and was built in 1951 by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns for use in a gas works at Poole.

Stockton Ironworks 0-4-0ST 5 Malleable is a typical example of a small industrial steam locomotive from the Edwardian years. This loco is of slightly dubious ancestry, but was presumably constructed around 1900. Still awaiting restoration (which may be a long time coming), it is seen here at Beamish on 5 September 2004.

0-4-0ST No. 8 does a spot of shunting at Murton, on the Derwent Valley Railway on 29 June 2008. This locomotive was built by Barclays of Kilmarnock in 1955 for the National Coal Board. It worked in Scotland until being bought for preservation in 1982 by the Hull Locomotive Preservation Group.

Wemyss Private Railway Hunslet 0-6-0ST 15 passes Didbrook 24 May 2009, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 'Cotswold Festival of Steam'. This is the 09:10 Toddington to Winchcombe light engine move. Not normally very photogenic, this engine only view is improved by the foreground buttercups and the nonchalant cab crew!

1943 built Hunslet 0-6-0ST 15 heads south past Hailes on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway with the 12:52 Toddington to Winchcombe freight on 24 May 2009, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 25th anniversary 'Cotswold Festival of Steam'. The loco is wearing the livery of the Wemyss Private Railway, where it worked the extensive colliery lines between 1964 and 1971. Previous to that it had belonged to the Ministry of Defence. It is pictured here on its penultimate working before being named Earl David at Toddington later in the afternoon.

Former National Coal Board Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST No.19 stands at Manuel station on 14 September 2019, having just arrived with the 14:10 service from Bo'ness. This station is adjacent to the Edinburgh to Glasgow mainline, and marks the southern limit of the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway.

1921 built Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T No.70 and its two coach train look tiny, when viewed from the top of Chinnor Hill on 17 October 1999, during the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway's Gala Weekend. It is working a Thame Junction to Chinnor train, and has just passed Wainhill.

Complete with SEG headboard, Hunslet 0-6-0ST 98 Royal Engineer completes its circuit of the Long Marston Army Depot on 26 June 1987, passing 31463, which had brought the Southern Electric Group's Waterloo to the West Midlands 'Walsall Concerto' railtour to the site. Passengers from the tour could either travel behind Royal Engineer, or stay with the stock from the tour, and travel round the camp behind Army diesel shunters 260 & 261.

Now that's what you call a headboard! Hunslet 0-6-0ST 98 Royal Engineer hauls a demonstration freight around the Long Marston Army Depot on 3 October 1987, as part of the open day celebrating 200 years of the Royal Engineers, or more correctly 200 years since the Corps of Engineers gained the Royal prefix.

Hunslet 0-6-0ST 1800 Robert Nelson No.4 passes Woodthorpe on 4 January 1986 with the Great Central Railway's 13:00 Loughborough to Rothley service. Robert Nelson No.4 was built by Hunslet in 1936 for Littleton Colliery. After a brief period at the Foxfield Railway, it arrived at the fledgling Great Central Railway in early 1973, where it became the first steam loco to be put into service. In the 1990s it was transferred to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, and it then crossed the Irish Sea to the Riverstown Old Corn Mill Railway near Dundalk.

The end of the day at Toddington on 23 April 1994. Hunslet 0-6-0ST 1800 Robert Nelson No.4 has its smokebox cleaned out, after a day's use on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. The loco was built in 1936 for use at Littleton Colliery. It entered preservation in 1972, and the following year became the first loco to steam at the fledgling Great Central Railway at Loughborough.

With snow still lying on the ground, and a clear blue sky, Hunslet 0-6-0ST 1800 Robert Nelson No.4 makes a fine start to the photographic year as it approaches Hailes on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway with the 11:00 Toddington to Winchcombe 'Mince Pie Special' on 2 January 1995.

Hunslet 0-6-0ST 1800 Robert Nelson No.4 rounds the curve past the village of Didbrook on 2 January 1995 with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 12:00 Toddington to Winchcombe 'Mince Pie Special'.

Hunslet 0-6-0ST 1800 Robert Nelson No.4 emerges from the underneath the road bridge at Hailes, and passes the newly erected Toddington fixed distant signal on 2 January 1995 as it works the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 13:00 Toddington to Winchcombe 'Mince Pie Special' on 2 January 1995.

With snow visible on the Cotswold Hills in the background, Hunslet 0-6-0ST 1800 Robert Nelson No.4 passes Hailes on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway with the 14:00 Toddington to Winchcombe 'Mince Pie Special' on 2 January 1995.

With the very last rays of the setting sun tingeing the exhaust pink, and a little Christmas snow still lying on the ground, Hunslet 0-6-0ST 1800 Robert Nelson No.4 approaches Hailes on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway with the 15:30 Toddington to Winchcombe 'Mince Pie Special' on 2 January 1995. The use of a 200mm lens was not only to compress the perspective and make the exhaust look more impressive, but it was necessary, as the track in the immediate foreground was in shade due to the low angle of the sun.

In a lucky burst of sunshine, under a stormy sky, 1936 built Hunslet 0-6-0ST 1800 Robert Nelson No.4 passes Didbrook on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway with the 11:50 Toddington to Far Stanley service on 6 May 1996. This loco originally worked in the Hilton Main & Holly Bank Collieries, in the Black Country.

Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST 1800 Littleton No.5 approaches Oldland Common on 29 March 1991 with the first public train over the newly opened line from Bitton. This was after the Avon Valley Railway had won a costly legal battle to reopen the reinstated line. The rusty track clearly demonstrates that this is the first train!

To celebrate the centenary of Cholsey station, the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway used Peckett 0-4-0ST No.1976 on a series of shuttles along their line on 29 February 1992. With an appropriate headboard the loco is seen approach Cholsey, viewed from the preserved line's single overbridge.

Photographers get their pictures, as Peckett 0-4-0ST No.1976 passes underneath the road bridge near Cholsey on 29 February 1992 with one of a series of Cholsey & Wallingford Railway shuttle trains celebrating 100 years of the line.

The Royal Deeside Railway's Andrew Barclay 0-6-0ST 2139 Salmon, pictured outside the diminutive loco shed at Milton of Crathes on 1 September 2018. As can be seen by the passing car on the right, the line closely parallels the A93 Banchory to Aberdeen road, which must lead to some welcome additional causal visitors.

In sparkling condition after just having emerged from an extensive overhaul, and still without any lining, Hunslet 0-6-0ST 2409 King George makes a spirited departure from Toddington and approaches Didbrook on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway with the 15:45 Toddington to Gotherington service on 12 March 2000. For once the smoke is blowing in exactly the right direction! A DMU took over this service at Winchcombe.

An unrepeatable scene on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. Hunslet 0-6-0ST 2409 King George passes Hailes with the 12:15 Toddington to Gotherington service on 25 August 2001. The mass of Rosebay Willowherb and other assorted vegetation on the right has now been replaced by Hayles Abbey Halt (opened in 2017), and the little red loco is no longer on the railway, and is no longer red, as it is unfortunately being converted into Thomas The Tank Engine at Didcot!

Bagnall 0-6-0ST 2655 Byfield No.2 passes Hailes on 8 December 1991 with the 12:00 Toddington to Winchcombe 'Santa Special'. This loco was one of six ordered by the Ministry of Supply in 1942 for use in the Byfield ironstone quarries in Northamptonshire. It was purchased by the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway in 1986.

In the early days of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, the line had to make do with some diminutive motive power. Bagnall 0-6-0ST 2655 Byfield No.2 catches the last of the afternoon light as it passes Hailes on 8 December 1991 with the 14:30 Toddington to Winchcombe 'Santa Special'.

There was a token steam presence during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 1993 Diesel Gala. Bagnall 0-6-0ST 2655 Byfield No.2 helps out 03069 with a Toddington to Gretton service, seen here passing Hailes on 20 March 1993.

Steam and diesel 0-6-0s on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on 20 March 1993. Bagnall 0-6-0ST 2655 Byfield No.2 and BR Doncaster built 03069 approach Hailes, whilst en-route from Gretton to Toddington, during the line's Diesel Gala.

Some steam locomotives only get preserved to the extent of not actually being scrapped, and end up mounted on a short section of track as static exhibits. Such is the case with Bagnall 'Austerity' 0-6-0ST 2758, pictured here on the side of the main road next to the entrance to Cefn Coed Colliery Museum on 16 March 2002.

Early preservation days on the Dean Forest Railway. Minus its coupling rods, and still in the faded light green livery that it wore during its time at a Staffordshire Colliery, 1953 built Hunslet 0-6-0ST 3806 is pictured at Norchard on 18 August 1978. It had arrived at the railway two years earlier, being one of the line's first acquisitions. It subsequently became much more famous, being named 'Wilbert' by the Reverend W. Awdry, creator of the 'Thomas the Tank Engine' stories.

1954 built Hunslet 0-6-0ST 3810 Glendower engages in a spot of shunting at Buckfastleigh on 1 May 1994. Glendower was built for the Ministry of Supply, and spent its working life with the National Coal Board. It arrived at the South Devon Railway (or Dart Valley Railway, as it was then) in 1978.

Even without the sign on the loco's bunker, there isn't much of a mystery as to where this is, as the huge pile of Mk1 coaches in the background gives it away! Hawthorn Leslie 0-6-0ST HL3827 stands in Vic Berry's Scrapyard, Leicester, on 22 April 1989. The loco was formerly owned by Stewart & Lloyds Minerals Ltd, but I have been unable to find out any other information. Did it survive? Any information would be gratefully received. Although there are thousands of pictures of the diesel locos in Vic Berry's yard, I have only seen one other view of this loco in the yard.

Marley Hill engine shed, on the Tanfield Railway, pictured on 8 August 1999. In the foreground is 1948 built Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns 0-4-0ST No.7409 Sir Cecil A Cochrane. Behind it, undergoing a repaint is Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0 diesel No.35, while on the left is 1923 built Hawthorn Leslie 0-6-0ST Stagshaw.

Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns Austerity 0-6-0ST WD152 Rennes commences its run round at Parkend, after arriving with the 11:10 service from Norchard on 16 July 2017. It is approaching the level crossing at the present northern limit of the Dean Forest Railway.

Conversation piece at Lydney Junction on 16 July 2017. 1944 built Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns Austerity 0-6-0ST WD152 Rennes has just run round its train, in preparation for working the 12:25 Dean Forest Railway service to Parkend.

Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST WD192 Waggoner arrives at Havenstreet on 29 May 2013 with the 12:17 Smallbrook Junction to Wootton Isle of Wight Steam Railway service. Waggoner was built in 1953 for the army, and remained with them until 1984, when it moved to the (now closed) Museum of Army Transport at Beverley.

Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST WD198 Royal Engineer rounds the curve near Ashey, on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, with the 11:02 Smallbrook Junction to Wootton service on 31 May 2013. Unlike a lot of preserved railways, the Isle of Wight line exclusively uses vintage coaches, although some of the locos are not quite so old, as in this case!

Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST 75008 Swiftsure passes Dreason (Charlie's Gate) on 26 September 1993 with the 15:15 Bodmin Parkway to Bodmin General service. 485 of these locomotives were produced between 1943 and 1964. 75008 (works number 2857) was one of the earliest, being delivered to the War Department in 1943. Like a lot of ex-industrial steam locos, it has moved around the various preserved railways, and is no longer at the Bodmin & Wenford Railway.

Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST 75008 Swiftsure runs round its train at Bodiam, on the Kent & East Sussex Railway, on 29 August 2024. The loco was one of 485 built, and was delivered to the War Department in 1943.

A busy scene at the Kent & East Sussex Railway on 29 August 2024. Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST 75008 Swiftsure stands at Bodiam station, prior to working the 15:35 train to Tenterden. Eventually the railway will continue westwards from here to connect with the national network at Robertsbridge.

War Department Austerity 2-10-0 3672 Dame Vera Lynn passes Thomason Foss on 10 July 1994 with the 11:50 Grosmont to Pickering service. The North Yorkshire Moors Railways has some excellent photographic locations, and this is one of the best, although on this occasion unfortunately the weather was not co-operating!

Hawthorne Leslie 0-4-0ST 3799 Penicuik, pictured in the shed at Alnwick Lionheart station on the Aln Valley Railway on 28 August 2018. The loco was built in 1935 for Alexander Cowan & Sons, for use in their paper mill at Penicuik, near Edinburgh.

Longmoor Military Railway 2-10-0 600 Gordon arrives at Kidderminster on 12 January 1991, passing Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0 diesel shunter 281269 Silver Spoon, which is waiting to perform some station shunting. Clearly Gordon is working a special of some sort, and although the 'Blue Peter Special' headboard is clear enough, Kodachrome 200 doesn't quite allow the society headboard text to be read!

Longmoor Military Railway 2-10-0 600 Gordon emerges from Foley Park Tunnel on 27 May 1995 with the 12:45 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth service. The loco arrived at the Severn Valley Railway in 1969, upon the closure of the Longmoor Military Railway.

War Department Austerity 2-10-0 90775 passes Darnholm, on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway on 6 May 1995 with the 09:50 Grosmont to Pickering service. Although pictured here in the early British Railways livery, this is not historically correct, as this loco never saw BR service. It was exported to Greece after the war, and was later repatriated for preservation, taking the number 90775 - one higher than the last genuine BR locomotive.

The Nene Valley Railway's former Danish State Railways Class F 0-6-0T 656 undergoing rebuilding inside the shed at Wansford on 17 July 2022. The 1949 built loco was one of the first vehicles to be acquired by the Nene Valle Railway, arriving at its new home in 1975.