37068 passes Claydon on 1 July 1986 with what is presumably the 6E62 18:20 Severn Tunnel Junction to Whitemoor Speedlink. This view has now been lost, not so much due to the usual lineside vegetation, but to the growth of trees and bushes along the road approaching the bridge over the line.

47426 passes South Moreton on 12 September 1985 with the 1O19 08:01 Newcastle to Poole service. Unfortunately the settled high pressure weather conditions have resulted in the usual poor visibility and hazy background.

47418 approaches Oxford on 23 July 1989 with the 1M48 08:10 Paddington to Manchester Piccadilly service. Five coaches doesn't seem a lot for an inter-regional train, but probably sufficient for a Sunday morning! 47418 was withdrawn the following year after a minor derailment.

A busy moment at Par station on 21 April 1998. 37670 has just deposited five PBA china clay wagons in the Newquay branch platform, and moves off prior to running round the wagons and then tripping them to St Blazey. 47739 Resourceful waits on the right, ready to move forward with the 5C92 15:00 St Blazey to Penzance Royal Mail TPO ECS. This will also have to run round before heading west.

47739 Resourceful slowly passes Par station on 21 April 1998 with the 5C92 15:00 St Blazey to Penzance Royal Mail TPO ECS, before running round and then heading off to the west through the station's mainline platforms. Later in the day this stock would form the 1C92 19:30 Penzance to Bristol 'Cornish TPO'.

56113 rounds the curve at Droitwich on 8 September 1996 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z56 08:38 Bristol Temple Meads to Felixstowe 'Great Eastern Grid' railtour. Droitwich Signal Box can be seen behind the rear of the train. This controls the junction of the Kidderminster and Bromsgrove lines.

47320 approaches Banbury on 11 July 1987 with the 4O94 15:54 Trafford Park to Southampton Maritime freightliner. This was running half an hour ahead of its booked 20:04 Banbury passing time. As far as I can tell, Bowies International were a Cheshire haulage company, so I'm not sure what their vehicles are doing parked in the background.

59003 Yeoman Highlander passes Berkley on 12 October 1994 with westbound stone empties. Mendip Rail had been formed the previous year, to improve the utilisation of the Foster Yeoman and ARC fleets. This explains this Foster Yeoman and ARC combination.

205032 approaches Andover station on 11 May 1991 with the 09:50 Salisbury to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. The widely spaced platforms clearly show that there were once four tracks through the station. Until 1964 this station was a junction, with a line diverging to the south towards Romsey.

207013 heads away from the camera at Hook on 17 July 1993 with what is presumably, as it running on the down fast line, an ECS working. I have included this as it shows the short lived unofficial name Ajax above the centre cab window.

66651 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 20 March 2025 with the 6B33 13:52 Theale to Robeston empty oil tanks. This was running along the down relief line as booked, but it rejoined the main line at Challow without stopping, as the 1B18 14:12 Paddington to Cardiff Central GWR service, which should have overtaken it, was running 17 minutes late.

387152 & 387166 approach Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 20 March 2025 with the 1B18 14:12 Paddington to Cardiff Central GWR service. This was running 17 minutes late, but that delay was nothing compared with the following trains, which were 60 minutes late then cancelled at Bristol, 51 minutes late then cancelled at Swindon, 48 minutes late, 44 minutes late, and finally the inevitable totally cancelled one! Travel by GWR, you might sometimes get to your destination - eventually!

60096 Skiddaw runs slowly along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 20 March 2025 with the 6Z25 13:06 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Tytherington stone empties. As this was booked to wait at Challow for over half an hour, I easily managed to get a second picture (albeit with even more head on lighting) at Baulking.

60096 Skiddaw passes Baulking on 20 March 2025 with the 6Z25 13:06 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Tytherington stone empties. I had already photographed this at Denchworth, but the rapidly disappearing clouds meant that this second shot was almost certainly guaranteed to be in the sun, so it was worth the wait.

60029 Ben Nevis passes Kintbury on 20 March 2025 with the 6Z52 07:04 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead stone train. Normally it would be possible to photograph this at Hungerford, and then drive to Kintbury for a second picture, as it is booked to stay in Hungerford loop for 11 minutes. On this day the earlier eastbound stone train wasn't running, so I suspected it might not go in the loop, so I went straight to Kintbury. A good decision, as it did indeed miss out the loop, and was running 28 minutes early here!

The 1Q23 08:00 Bristol Kingsland Road to Derby RTC Network Rail test train passes Kintbury on 20 March 2025, with 43257 leading and 43357 bringing up the rear. This was running 42 minutes early, and was moving quite slowly, as it was only a few minutes behind the 6Z52 07:04 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead stone train. This monthly HST working normally visits South Wales, before returning to Bristol, and then heading for Swindon, and then travelling north via the Cotswold Line. On this occasion it didn't go to South Wales, and after traversing the Berks & Hants line, went to Paddington, and then headed north via Banbury.

57303 passes the site of Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham, on 20 March 2025 with the 5Q23 10:10 DB Cargo Fan A & B Sidings to Newport Docks (Sims Group), taking former Greater Anglia EMUs 321322 & 321317 for the appointment with the scrapman. This was running 46 minutes early, as there was no option for holding it at Challow until the booked time, as the 6C03 09:55 Northolt Sidings to Severnside Sita Binliner was in the loop behind it.

66244 passes the site of Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham, on 20 March 2025 with the 6C03 09:55 Northolt Sidings to Severnside Sita Binliner. This is one of the few DB Class 66s in the 662xx number range that is still at work in this country.

A new location for me, one that I had been meaning to visit for some time, but for some reason never got around to. 165125 nears journey's end on 19 March 2025, as it passes Bonemill Lane, Newbury, with the 2T10 09:54 Bedwyn to Newbury GWR service.

60096 Skiddaw passes Bonemill Lane, Newbury, on 19 March 2025 with the 6Z52 07:04 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead stone train. The former Colas loco was on hire to DC Rail from GBRf. Enborne Junction was formerly situated near the rear of the train, where the Didcot, Newbury & Southampton Railway diverged to the left.

The 1Q22 07:45 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road Network Rail test train passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 19 March 2025, with 43257 leading and 43357 bringing up the rear. Slightly unfortunate timing, with 66542 getting in the way with the completely empty 4L33 10:00 Wentloog to London Gateway freightliner.

800011 approaches the site of Ham Mill Halt (near Thrupp) on 18 March 2025 with the 1L78 13:59 Cheltenham Spa to Paddington GWR service. Ham Mill Halt was one of a number of stopping places opened in the Stroud Valley in the early twentieth century in an effort to combat the then new local bus services. It closed in 1964.

69009 Western Consort negotiates the reverse curves at Thrupp on 18 March 2025, as it climbs Sapperton Bank with the 5Q89 12:34 Long Marston to Eastleigh East Yard, taking South Western Railway EMUs 701503 & 701504 back home after their three months in storage. Although there were many locations that I could have chosen for this working, the perfect sun angle and impressive background of this spot was hard to beat.

60029 Ben Nevis passes Baulking on 18 March 2025 with the 6Z25 13:06 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Tytherington stone empties. The lighting is very head on, but the inclusion of the foreground tree improves the result enormously.

66504 passes Great Cheverell on 18 March 2025 with the 7A40 08:40 Merehead Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop stone train. This runs in the path of the former 7A09 'Jumbo' stone train, but as the whole length of the train can be seen in this view, it is no longer quite as 'Jumbo'!

A wave from the driver of 60028, as it passes Great Cheverell on 18 March 2025 with the 6Z52 07:04 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead stone train. The matching Cappagh blue liveried loco and wagons make an excellent contrast to the muted browns and greens of the spring landscape.

The use of Freightliner Class 66s on stone trains from the Mendips can get a bit repetitive, but when the loco is this clean, and the light this good, it's definitely worth a picture. 66564 passes Great Cheverell on 18 March 2025 with the 6A18 09:18 Whatley Quarry to Oxford Banbury Road stone train.

Framed by some blackthorn blossom, and a rather basic looking farm building, 66531 rounds the curve at Great Cheverell on 18 March 2025 with the 6A50 10:26 Whatley Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop stone train. As seems to be normal nowadays, nearly every wagon has been vandalised.

A once excellent vantage point, now totally ruined. Viewed from the lofty Trow Lane bridge, 70813 passes Tockenham Wick on 18 March 2025 with the 6M40 11:34 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. I wouldn't normally bother taking such a picture, but I just happened to be crossing the bridge a couple of minutes before the train was due.

165008 & 165026 pass Charlton-on-Otmoor on 16 March 2025 with the 1T17 09:12 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. The new farm building on the left dominates the view at the moment, with the wooden planking yet to show any weathering.

Dramatic lighting at Charlton-on-Otmoor on 16 March 2025, as 165010 & 165013 pass Holts Farm with the 1T19 09:42 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. Dark clouds and full sun are an ideal combination, but naturally these superb conditions normally don't last very long.

The 5Z80 11:06 Reading Traincare Depot to Euston (via Oxford and Milton Keynes) ECS passes Charlton-on-Otmoor on 16 March 2025, with 57603 Tintagel Castle leading, and 57305 bringing up the rear. This was running 37 minutes late, which meant that any chance of sunshine had vanished. The train was in preparation for when Paddington is closed for works in connection with HS2.

57305 brings up the rear of the 5Z80 11:06 Reading Traincare Depot to Euston (via Oxford and Milton Keynes) ECS at Charlton-on-Otmoor on 16 March 2025. 57603 Tintagel Castle is leading. It was dark enough already, so I didn't bother to go out for the 5Z83 15:23 Euston to Reading Traincare Depot return working.

57009 G.J. Churchward passes Minety on 15 March 2025 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z57 06:40 Derby to Didcot Milton Siding 'Thames Valley Wanderer' railtour. 57315 is bringing up the rear. Unfortunately the sun disappeared just before the train arrived! Minety level crossing can be seen in the background.

57315 brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z57 06:40 Derby to Didcot Milton Siding 'Thames Valley Wanderer' railtour at Minety on 15 March 2025. 57009 G.J. Churchward is at the front of the train. Photo taken from a public footpath crossing, which has surprisingly benefited from some very welcome lineside vegetation clearance.

800009 Sir Gareth Edwards passes South Marston on 15 March 2025 with the 1N61 12:02 Oxford to Bristol Temple Meads GWR service. In the 2025 timetable there are just two Oxford to Bristol direct trains per day in each direction. They avoid Didcot Parkway by using the curve between Didcot North Junction and Foxhall Junction.

57313 Scarborough Castle passes South Marston on 15 March 2025 with the Northern Belle 1Z27 11:12 Paddington to Cardiff Central rugby special. 57601 Windsor Castle is bringing up the rear. This was in connection with the England v Wales game at the Principality Stadium.

67021 passes South Marston on 15 March 2025 with the VSOE Pullman 1Z47 09:52 Victoria to Cardiff Central rugby special. 67024 is bringing up the rear. This is luxury provision, and a far cry from the football specials of the 1970s!

57313 Scarborough Castle passes Shorthampton on 14 March 2025 with the Northern Belle 1Z53 08:45 Paddington to Evesham 'Gold Cup Special' charter. 57601 Windsor Castle is hidden by the farm occupation bridge, on the rear of the train. This was running a few minutes late, which was fortunate, as at the booked time it was completely cloudy.

57601 Windsor Castle brings up the rear of the Northern Belle 1Z53 08:45 Paddington to Evesham 'Gold Cup Special' charter at Shorthampton on 14 March 2025. 57313 Scarborough Castle is hidden by the out of control lineside vegetation, at the front of the train.

Having just passed underneath the East Coast Mainline, 60047 Scafell Pike passes Heck Ings on 13 March 2025 with the 6H12 06:24 Tyne Coal Terminal to Drax Power Station biomass. This was running 13 minutes early, after missing out its booked stop at Knottingley West Junction.

70008 heads north at Bishop's Itchington on 11 March 2025 with the 4M55 08:32 Southampton Maritime to Lawley Street freightliner. I took this picture despite the awful weather, as this is the first time that I have seen this loco since it was repainted into its special Freightliner 60th anniversary livery.

37401 Mary Queen of Scots passes Bishop's Itchington on 11 March 2025 with the 5Z47 09:48 Eastleigh Arlington to Crewe ECS. This is not a location that I have visited very often, as it is only really suitable if there is no sun. There was certainly no chance of any sun on this occasion!

Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co. passes Didbrook on 9 March 2025 with the 10:00 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service. This field is one of the most well used photographic locations on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

W55024 passes Didbrook on 9 March 2025 with the 10:55 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. The former Railtrack sandite unit is on hire to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, from the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway. Harrow on the Hill is a bit of an unrealistic destination blind to display in the Cotswolds!

W55024 arrives at Winchcombe on 9 March 2025 with the 12:15 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service. No less than five of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's semaphore signals can be seen in this view.

Next stop Little Kimble, or to be more accurate, Hayles Abbey Halt and then Toddington! Former Railtrack sandite 'bubble car' W55024 stands in Winchcombe station on 9 March 2025 with the 12:15 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway service.

The Balfour Beatty 'Drain Train' arrived at Swindon just after midnight on 7 March 2025 as the 6J09 18:56 Welwyn Garden City Freight Depot to Swindon Transfer. As it wasn't due to do anything until the following night, it was parked all day on Saturday 8 March in Stratton loop, in a convenient position for photography. 20905 stands at the head of the train in the morning sunshine, with 20901 brining up the rear. It later moved to the worksite as the 6J09 00:53 Swindon Transfer to Uffington.

800319 passes Stratton St Margaret on 8 March 2025 with the 1L11 07:47 Swansea to Paddington GWR service, passing 20905 which was spending the entire day parked in the loop with the Balfour Beatty 'Drain Train'.

The Balfour Beatty 'Drain Train' pictured parked at Stratton St Margaret on 8 March 2025, with 20901 at one end of the train and 20905 at the other. It had arrived as the 6J09 18:56 Welwyn Garden City Freight Depot to Swindon Transfer, and would leave later as the 6J09 00:53 Swindon Transfer to Uffington. I had photographed it from the other end in the morning, but returned to Swindon in the afternoon for a properly lit picture of the rear of the train. I almost turned back, as the nearer I got to Swindon the duller it got, until when I arrived it was fully cloudy. Luckily the sun came out again for a few minutes, before the clouds rolled back in.

'I am a Climate Hero' green liveried 66004 passes Stratton St Margaret on 8 March 2025 with the 6W02 14:06 Thingley Junction to Hinksey, carrying spoil from an engineering possession at Hawkeridge Junction, Westbury.

Not exactly a very taxing load! 66206 has just two IHA covered steel carrier wagons in tow, as it passes Stratton St Margaret on 8 March 2025 with the 6Z12 11:04 Margam to Eastleigh Arlington, running 22 minutes late.

66562 passes Woodborough on 6 March 2025 with the 6A40 08:40 Merehead Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop stone train. I had intended to go to Great Cheverell for this, but ran into fog at Urchfont, and then a massive traffic jam at Market Lavington, so turned round and headed back unto the sun!

Two vastly different diesel vehicles at Woodborough on 6 March 2025. 60046 William Wilberforce heads east with the 6Z52 07:04 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead stone train, passing a parked Ford Transit van. 145 litres versus 2 litres!

69012 Falcon 2 approaches Collins Lane level crossing, near Purton, on 6 March 2025 with the 5Q75 09:20 Eastleigh to Long Marston, taking South Western Railway EMU 701011 for storage. What a shambles the Class 701 project is, nearly six years behind schedule, and still brand new units are heading for storage!

A Class 701 where no Class 701 should be! South Western Railway's 701011 was taken for storage on 6 March 2025, and is pictured here being dragged towards Collins Lane level crossing, near Purton, by 69012 Falcon 2.

168323 & 168113 pass Fritwell on 5 March 2025 with the 1H32 10:11 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. This is the view from Raghouse Lane, which formerly linked Fritwell with Middleton Stoney, until the runway at RAF Upper Heyford blocked the road.

'Ride Against Climate Change' liveried 390121 passes Banbury Lane on 5 March 2025 with the 1S58 11:30 Euston to Glasgow Central Avanti West Coast service. The train is passing the site of a former level crossing, now replaced by the bridge from which this picture was taken.

My first picture of one of Avanti West Coast's new Class 807 EMUs. 807007 passes Banbury Lane on 5 March 2025 with the 5G26 11:24 Oxley Carriage M.D. to Euston ECS. Unlike the earlier Class 800 & 802, these units do not feature the formerly compulsory yellow ends.

805013 passes Gayton on 5 March 2025 with the 1D87 13:02 Euston to Chester Avanti West Coast service. The Grand Union Canal runs along the far side of the field behind the train, curving away from the line to avoid the high ground in the background.

Brand new 807007 approaches Blisworth on 5 March 2025 with the 9G26 14:16 Euston to Birmingham New Street Avanti West Coast service. This is the site of Milton Crossing, on a rough track running south from the village of Milton.

Easily recognisable by the 'Bee Together' heart motif below the windscreen, 390001 approaches Blisworth on 5 March 2025 with the 1S72 14:30 Euston to Glasgow Central Avanti West Coast service. The palisade fence in the background on the left shows just how close the Northampton line is at this point, being only a short distance from where the lines diverge.

69012 Falcon 2 passes Oaksey on 4 March 2025 with the 5Q91 12:34 Long Marston to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings, conveying South Western Railway EMU 701002. Although this had left Long Marston on time, as often happens a delay was encountered during the reversal at Worcester, making it 45 minutes late. That delay had been halved by the time it passed me and the two other photographers stood by this footpath crossing on the site of Oaksey Halt.

66416 passes Manningford Bruce on 4 March 2025 with the 6A40 08:40 Merehead Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop stone train. This runs in much the same path as the former 7A09 'Jumbo' train, which was often so long that the back end was hidden by the trees.

A GBRf loco, in Colas livery, on a DC Rail train! 60096 Skiddaw passes Manningford Bruce on 4 March 2025 with the 6Z52 07:04 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead, with another load of stone for the HS2 project. The loco was on short term hire to DCR.

59104 Village of Great Elm passes Manningford Bruce on 4 March 2025 with the 6A18 09:18 Whatley Quarry to Oxford Banbury Road stone train. Despite this only being a short train, and the loco being amongst the powerful in the country, this was still only travelling slowly, having just pulled out of Woodborough loop.

165031 passes Bucknell on 3 March 2025 with the 1H40 12:05 Banbury to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. Unfortunately this location, like so many others, has become increasingly overgrown, so now only a relatively head on viewpoint is possible.

Making a change from the procession of Chiltern Railways DMUs, Plasser & Theurer 08-16/32 U-RT Plain Line Tamper DR73806 passes Bucknell on 3 March 2025, running as the 6J95 11:12 Walsall Tamper Sidings to Bicester ACE Sidings.

165012 passes Launton on 3 March 2025 with the 5F97 14:16 Milton Keynes Central to Bicester Village Chiltern Railways route learner. The unit has just passed underneath the bridge on the Bicester to Launton road, which has managed to survive the upgrading of the Milton Keynes to Bicester line, albeit with a height extension to the parapet.

Paddington in the shadows! 802106 arrives at Charlbury station on 3 March 2025 with the 1P34 15:18 Worcester Foregate Street to Paddington GWR service. I was hoping that this unit would be the other way round, as there was the possibility of a fully lit picture of the rear of the train as it departed. Unfortunately the 'Paddington in Peru' graphics are only on this end of the unit.

This certainly livens up a dull green GWR Class 802! Paddington Bear adorns the side of vehicle 838106 of unit 802106. Photographed while the 1P34 15:18 Worcester Foregate Street to Paddington train called at Charlbury station on 3 March 2025.

With the perfect exhaust hanging in the still morning air, Modified Hall Class 4-6-0 7903 Foremarke Hall passes Didbrook on 2 March 2025 with the 10:00 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway service.

W55024 calls at Hayles Abbey Halt on 2 March 2025 with the 10:55 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. No passengers either joined or alighted. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway opened this halt in 2017, recreating the original Great Western Railway halt which catered for visitors to the nearby abbey ruins.

Viewed from above Greet Tunnel, W55024 emerges back into the light again on 2 March 2025, as it works the 10:55 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway service. The large flat area in front of the train marks the site of navvy camp, in use during the construction of the line. Most of the trees behind this are almost completely covered in mistletoe.

On loan from the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway, W55024 was in use on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on 2 March 2025. With the Malvern Hills in the background, it is seen here approaching Greet Tunnel with the 12:15 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service.

Modified Hall Class 4-6-0 7903 Foremarke Hall emerges from Greet Tunnel on 2 March 2025 with the 12:15 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. This was during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's first weekend of operation in 2025.

W55024 approaches Toddington on 2 March 2025 with the 14:05 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. The Princes Risborough destination blind may be correct on its home line, but not for the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway!

Modified Hall Class 4-6-0 7903 Foremarke Hall passes Didbrook on 1 March 2025 with the 10:00 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service. This was the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's first train of the new season, unless you count the New Year's mince pie specials.

Newly arrived from the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway, W55024 made its debut on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on 1 March 2025 with the 10:55 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service, pictured here passing Didbrook. The unit carries maroon livery from its time as a Railtrack sandite vehicle.

Displaying a slightly optimistic Paddington destination blind, W55024 emerges from Greet Tunnel on 1 March 2025 with the 12:15 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service. The novelty of the newly arrived bubble car meant that it was packed to capacity. Only a third as many seats as the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's recently departed Class 117 unit.

Modified Hall Class 4-6-0 7903 Foremarke Hall arrives at Winchcombe station on 1 March 2025 with the 12:15 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. Next to the GWR Toad brakevan is the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's resident Baguley Drewry rail inspection car AD9127.

Not quite as vintage as most of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's stock, but Plasser & Theurer 07-275 Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73309 is quite old by track machine standards. It is pictured at Toddington on 1 March 2025.

W55024 arrives at Toddington station on 1 March 2025 with the 14:05 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. The former Railtrack sandite unit is on hire to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway from the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway. The Little Kimble destination blind isn't too far fetched for the Chinnor line, but it's a very long way from Toddington!

W55024 moves off from Toddington station on 1 March 2025 with the 14:05 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. This was the unit's first day in service on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, and no doubt helped by the fine weather, was proving very popular with visitors.

37504 & 37202 approach West Burton Power Station on 5 September 1993 with the Worksop Open Day Committee 1Z74 13:03 Sheffield to West Burton Power Station Loop Trainload Coal Motive Power Day special. In the background is the site of Sturton station (closed in 1959). 

Having just traversed West Burton Power Station Loop, 37504 & 37202 rejoin the mainline on 5 September 1993 with the Worksop Open Day Committee 1Z75 14:30 Trainload Coal Motive Power Day special to Sheffield. West Burrton's coal fired power station closed in 2023.

69012 Falcon 2 passes Coates on 25 February 2025 with the 5Q91 13:38 Worcester North Sidings to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings, conveying South Western Railway EMU 701060. This had started out from Long Marston the previous day behind 57310 as the 5Q89 12:34 Long Marston to Eastleigh East Yard, but only got as far as Worcester, where it was declared a failure. I didn't think that I was going to get this picture in the sun. The sun had been behind a large cloud for quite some time, and it only started to brighten up just as the train came into view!

Kemble station under a cloud on 24 February 2025, untroubled by any trains! I had gone here to photograph 57310 on the 5Q89 12:34 Long Marston to Eastleigh East Yard, conveying South Western Railway EMU 701060, but that only got as far as Worcester, where 57310 was declared a failure. There wasn't even any passenger trains to photograph, as the 1L78 13:59 Cheltenham Spa to Paddington had been cancelled. In fact on this day no less than eight of GWR's trains had been cancelled, with such excuses as 'lineside vegetation' (totally believable!) to 'adverse weather conditions' (a complete lie). 5Q89 was rescheduled to run the following day as the 5Q91 13:38 Worcester North Sidings to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings.

20205 & 20007 approach Moreton-in-Marsh on 22 February 2025 with the UK Railtours 1Z58 07:01 Paddington to Long Marston 'Shakespearean Sonnet' railtour. 20142 Sir John Betjeman is bringing up the rear. I was surprised that there was only one other photographer at this location, especially considering how rare Class 20s are on the Cotswold Line.

20142 Sir John Betjeman brings up the rear of the UK Railtours 1Z58 07:01 Paddington to Long Marston 'Shakespearean Sonnet' railtour, as it approaches Moreton-in-Marsh on 22 February 2025. 20205 & 20007 are leading. There should have been a pair of Class 20s on each end of the train, but 20189 was not available.

20205 & 20007 pass Upper Moor on 22 February 2025 with the UK Railtours 1Z60 10:20 Long Marston to Stratford-upon-Avon 'Shakespearean Sonnet' railtour. 20142 Sir John Betjeman is bringing up the rear. Judging by the background, it seems that the racket from the two locos has disturbed the local bird population!

The sun finally starts to break through the clouds, as 20142 Sir John Betjeman brings up the rear of the UK Railtours 1Z60 10:20 Long Marston to Stratford-upon-Avon 'Shakespearean Sonnet' railtour at Upper Moor on 22 February 2025. 20205 & 20007 are leading.

A Class 172/2 & 172/0 combination at Edstone Aqueduct on 22 February 2025. 172221 & 172006 are just about to pass under the 1816 built aqueduct (which forms an excellent photographic vantage point) with the 2S49 11:52 Kidderminster to Stratford-upon-Avon West Midlands Railway service.

With Silesbourne Farm in the background, 20205 & 20007 slowly approach Edstone Aqueduct on 22 February 2025 with the UK Railtours 1Z60 10:20 Long Marston to Stratford-upon-Avon 'Shakespearean Sonnet' railtour. 20142 Sir John Betjeman is bringing up the rear. Unfortunately a cloud drifted in front of the sun at the critical moment.

20142 Sir John Betjeman brings up the rear of the UK Railtours 1Z60 10:20 Long Marston to Stratford-upon-Avon 'Shakespearean Sonnet' railtour at Edstone Aqueduct on 22 February 2025. Hidden by the trees at the front of the train are 20205 & 20007.

The end of the rainbow. The 1R41 15:02 Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street Chiltern Railways service heads north from Fenny Compton on 22 February 2025, just as the last of the heavy showers clears away in the background. 168217 is on the rear of the train, with 168109 leading. This is the view from Burton Dassett Hills.

Viewed from over a mile and a half away, on Burton Dassett Hills, the UK Railtours 1Z62 15:55 Stratford-upon-Avon to Fenny Compton MoD 'Shakespearean Sonnet' railtour approaches Fenny Compton on 22 February 2025, with 20142 Sir John Betjeman leading and 20205 & 20007 bringing up the rear. A single Class 20 on a nine coach train on the mainline is not an everyday sight!

The UK Railtours 1Z62 15:55 Stratford-upon-Avon to Fenny Compton MoD 'Shakespearean Sonnet' railtour slowly approaches Fenny Compton on 22 February 2025. 20205 & 20007 are bringing up the rear, and 20142 Sir John Betjeman is just about to disappear behind the trees, as it prepares stop at Fenny Compton. This it the view from Burton Dassett Hills.

47343 passes Wormbridge on 14 May 1984 with the 6M33 07:00 Llanwern to Dee Marsh steel coils. This was early photography days, when I hadn't yet learnt to avoid cutting off the back of the train! 47343 was withdrawn in 1992 after suffering accident damage when it collided with DMU 158861 near Stockport.

47209 Herbert Austin lays a smokescreen over Hinksey Yard on 1 August 1991, as it heads north with the 4S59 13:10 Southampton Maritime to Coatbridge freightliner. In the 1990s there were far more freight trains passing through Oxford, but much less of the traffic was freightliners.