60096 Skiddaw passes Crofton on 14 May 2025 with the 6Z52 06:42 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead HS2 stone train. This was running 24 minutes early, and was slowing down here, as it was catching up with the 2T10 09:54 Bedwyn to Newbury GWR DMU.

Two different Class 66 subclasses, but both in the latest Freightliner orange livery. 66415 You Are Never Alone & 66605 round the curve at Crofton on 14 May 2025 with the 6A40 0840 Merehead Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop stone train.

The Belmond British Pullman 3Z56 15:55 Hinksey to Oxford Parkway ECS passes Oddington on 14 May 2025, having just reversed at Bicester. 67006 Royal Sovereign is leading, and 67005 King's Messenger is bringing up the rear. At Oxford Parkway passengers would rejoin the train, and it would become the 1Z56 17:10 Oxford Parkway to Victoria returning luxury charter.

Although Class 165 & 168 DMUs share the same multiple working equipment, they very rarely seem to work together. However, on 14 May 2025, 168219 & 165033 were paired up to work the 1T48 16:45 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service, seen here passing Oddington. After returning to London, they split up, 168219 heading for Birmingham Moor Street, and 165033 doing another trip to Oxford.

Network Rail Stoneblower DR80211 passes the site of Littleton & Badsey station on 13 May 2025, running as the 6U31 13:35 Honeybourne Sidings to Westerleigh. The Blackminster road level crossing can be seen in the background.

43423 & 43467 pass Badsey on 13 May 2025 with the 5Q88 05:01 Eastriggs MoD to Long Marston, conveying bi-mode unit 769959 for storage. 43465 & 43484 are bringing up the rear. The Class 769 is a failed conversion of former Class 319 EMUs, which were converted at great expense for GWR, and then never used. This one went to Scotland, and was repainted from green to blue, and is here heading for Long Marston, where it has been stored before!

43465 & 43484 bring up the rear of 5Q88 05:01 Eastriggs MoD to Long Marston at Badsey on 13 May 2025. 43423 & 43467 are leading the train, which is taking bi-mode unit 769959 for its second period of storage at Long Marston.

The ivy on the fence at Honeybourne looks suspiciously like it has been trimmed by a railway photographer, but not by me, as this is exactly how I found it! 800028 Oliver Lovell slows down for the station stop on 13 May 2025 with the 1W27 13:50 Paddington to Great Malvern GWR service.

Running over an hour late, 43467 & 43423 arrive at Honeybourne on 13 May 2025 with the 5M89 15:48 Long Marston to Kings Norton On Track Plant Depot barriers vehicles, with 43465 & 43484 bringing up the rear. The 1W30 15:23 Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street GWR service can be seen approaching in the background. Not only would the HST power cars have to wait for that, but also the following 1W31 15:52 Paddington to Great Malvern, making the train over 90 minutes late when it finally got moving.

A wall of vegetation now exists between the Long Marston branch and the platforms of Honeybourne station, with just one little gap giving a glimpse of the line. 43467 moves off with the late running 5M89 15:48 (16:52 actual) Long Marston to Kings Norton On Track Plant Depot barriers vehicles on 13 May 2025. The rest of the train (43423, barrier vehicles, 43465 & 43484) are completely hidden from view.

The first train of the day leaves Moreton-in-Marsh station on 11 May 2025. 800028 Sir Peter Parker is working the 1P30 08:15 Worcester Foregate Street to Paddington Sunday service. On a weekday the first train runs three hours earlier. Sir Peter Parker is a very appropriate name for a Cotswold Line train, as the former British Railways Board chairman used the line frequently.

70816 passes through Moreton-in-Marsh station on 11 May 2025 with the 6C97 07:30 Norton Junction to Hinksey, returning from an overnight Cotswold Line track relaying possession. The rare sight of a freight train on the Cotswold Line was made even better by being worked by such an immaculately clean loco! This train was running a few minutes early, which was perfect, as at the booked time there was a possibility of the late running 1W15 07:36 Paddington to Great Malvern GWR service getting in the way in the background.

D1015 Western Champion slowly passes Didcot North Junction on 10 May 2025 with the Vintage Trains 1Z77 07:27 Birmingham New Street to Plymouth 'South Devon Explorer' railtour. It is just about to traverse the mostly freight only line to Foxhall Junction, where it will access the Great Western Mainline. Despite the slightly intrusive shadows on the coaches, I particularly wanted to photograph this here, as there was also a good view of 37240 on the rear of the train.

37240 brings up the rear of the Vintage Trains 1Z77 07:27 Birmingham New Street to Plymouth 'South Devon Explorer' railtour at Didcot North Junction on 10 May 2025. The train, which was being hauled by D1015 Western Champion, was moving very slowly, as it was being checked by a signal on the approach to Foxhall Junction.

55034 approaches the A4130 Wallingford bypass at Winterbrook, as it heads south from the town on 10 May 2025 with the 11:00 Wallingford to Cholsey service. The bubble car, which was one of the pair that were used by Chiltern Railways until 2017, is on loan to the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway from Locomotive Services Ltd. 

With lots of fair weather clouds causing a few anxious moments, 55034 passes Winterbrook on 10 May 2025 with the 12:00 Wallingford to Cholsey service, during the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway's 'Bubble Car Day'. The Evesham destination blind is a bit optimistic!

55034 approaches a farm occupation crossing near Hillgreen Farm, as it heads north from Cholsey on 10 May 2025 with the 12:30 train to Wallingford, during the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway's 'Bubble Car Day'. Both the Grosmont destination blind on this end, and Evesham on the other end, are equally unlikely!

Viewed from a farm occupation crossing near Hillgreen Farm, 55034 heads away from the camera on 10 May 2025, as it works the 12:30 Cholsey to Wallingford service, during the line's 'Bubble Car Day'. The unit was on loan from Locomotive Services Ltd.

55034 passes a large flowering hawthorn bush at Cholsey, as it nears the end of its short journey on 10 May 2025, with the 13:00 service from Wallingford. The unit was working all Cholsey & Wallingford Railway trains, during the line's 'Bubble Car Day'

59204 runs alongside the Kennet & Avon Canal near Crofton on 9 May 2025 with the 6V31 09:06 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Merehead Quarry stone empties. A pair of swans were nesting in the reeds in the background, and occasionally one would swim up the canal into the foreground, but unfortunately not when a train was due!

56103 & 56301 approach Crofton on 9 May 2025 with the 6Z60 10:32 Willesden DC Rail Sidings to Merehead Quarry stone empties. The Class 56s were deputising for an unavailable Class 60. As can be seen from the background, there was a lot of cloud rapidly building up. As the train could be heard approaching, the sun was behind a cloud, but to the relief of the large gallery of photographers, the sun reappeared just before the train came into view. 

The lineside hawthorn bushes are in full bloom, as 69008 Richard Howe passes Denchworth on 7 May 2025 with the 5Q75 09:21 Eastleigh to Long Marston, taking South Western Railway EMU 701052 for its second period of storage.

165129 passes the hawthorn blossom at Thrupp on 2 May 2025, as it heads up the Cherwell Valley with the 2M24 10:33 Didcot Parkway to Banbury GWR service. Like everywhere else, this location is nothing like as open as it used to be in the 1980s.

70017 passes Thrupp on 2 May 2025 with the 4O90 06:04 Leeds to Southampton Maritime freightliner. It's hard to believe now, but there used to be three tracks here, with the Woodstock branch running alongside on the left, until it diverged to the west just around the bend in the distance.

57311 The Institution of Mechanical Engineers runs down the Cherwell Valley at Thrupp on 2 May 2025 with the Locomotive Services Ltd 5Z81 08:15 Crewe Holding Sidings to Eastleigh Arlington ECS. This was in preparation for the following day's Saphos Trains 1Z82 06:34 Poole to Kingswear 'English Riviera Express' railtour.

59001 Yeoman Endeavour passes Uffington on 1 May 2025 with the 6C48 12:49 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties. This left 28 minutes early, and arrived at Whatley 30 minutes early, but was more or less on time here.

37884 Cepheus passes Uffington on 1 May 2025 with the 5Q76 08:58 Ely Papworth Sidings to Newport Docks (Sims Group), taking former South Eastern EMUs 465248 & 465240 on their final journey. It is slightly ironic that the Class 37 is nearly twice as old as the units that is taking to be scrapped!

47739 passes Norton on 30 April 2025 with the 5Q75 09:21 Eastleigh to Long Marston, taking South Western Railways EMUs 701519 & 701509 for their second period of storage. Presumably one day these units will stop being shuttled backwards and forwards to Warwickshire!

With Worcester Cathedral in the background, 701509 brings up the rear of the 5Q75 09:21 Eastleigh to Long Marston at Norton on 30 April 2025. Along with 701519, it was being taken for storage by 47739. Note the missing panel behind the windscreen, revealing a mass of wiring.

After reversing at Worcester, 47739 passes Norton for the second time on 30 April 2025 with the early running 5Q75 09:21 Eastleigh to Long Marston. It is taking South Western Railways EMUs 701509 for 701519 for storage. Both units had only left Long Marston a few weeks earlier!

A last minute substitution on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. After GWR Modified Hall Class 4-6-0 7903 Foremarke Hall arrived at Toddington on 30 April 2025 with the 14:10 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service, it set fire to the track in the station! Although only a small fire that was quickly put out, the steam loco was removed and moved forward to the headshunt. D6948, which should have been attached to the rear, in order to work the next southbound service, was instead moved to the front of the train. It is seen here running round the train.

Modified Hall Class 4-6-0 7903 Foremarke Hall in disgrace! After having set fire to the track in Toddington station, the loco was removed from the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 14:10 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service on 30 April 2025, in favour of Class 37 D6948. It is seen here making its way back to the station from the headshunt that can be seen in the distance.

D6948 approaches Toddington station on 30 April 2025 with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 15:20 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. This was running 36 minutes late, as GWR Modified Hall Class 4-6-0 7903 Foremarke Hall had to be removed from the previous northbound train, after it had caused a small track fire.

168214 & 168326 pass milepost 23 near Charlton-on-Otmoor on 29 April 2025 with the 1T43 15:40 Marylebone to Oxford service. This is a Chiltern Railways train, so naturally it was running exactly on time. Take note GWR!

Running 18 minutes early, 47739 passes Charlton-on-Otmoor on 29 April 2025 with the 5Q76 16:18 Bicester MoD to Willesden South West Sidings, taking South Western Railway EMU 701009 back to Wimbledon, after its 19 months in storage. From Willesden it would proceed as the 5Q66 19:28 to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings.

60046 William Wilberforce passes Bonemill Lane, Newbury, on 28 April 2025 with the 6Z52 07:04 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead stone train. This was not a good day for freights on the Berks & Hants line. The 6A40/7A40 from Merehead, which should have passed by just before this, didn't run, and in the afternoon a points failure near Reading resulted in the afternoon westbound trains being diverted.

'Paddington in Peru' liveried 802106 passes Bonemill Lane, as it slows for the stop at Newbury on 28 April 2025 with the 1A77 08:35 Plymouth to Paddington GWR service. It's still April, but already the countryside has taken on the green monotone of early summer. The copper leaved bush on the left is the exception!

The Scottish Railway Preservation Society's 37403 Isle of Mull passes Clay Cross on 26 April 2025 with the UK Railtours 1Z37 07:58 Carnforth to Kings Norton Signal SY522 'The Really Good Positioning Move' railtour, which would later carry on to London as the 1Z38 15:31 Kings Norton Signal SY522 to Stratford. As the name suggests, this was a one way tour in order to position the loco and stock in London for the following day's 'East Anglian Freighter' railtour.

37403 Isle of Mull passes Whitnash on 26 April 2025 with the UK Railtours 1Z38 15:31 Kings Norton Signal SY522 to Stratford 'The Really Good Positioning Move' railtour. 20007 & 20205 are hidden by the foliage on the rear of the train.

20007 & 20205 bring up the rear of the UK Railtours 1Z38 15:31 Kings Norton Signal SY522 to Stratford 'The Really Good Positioning Move' railtour at Whitnash on 26 April 2025. Growling away at the front of the train was 37403 Isle of Mull.

66131 slowly approaches Milford Junction on 24 April 2025, as it prepares to enter the loop with the 6M16 05:40 Wilton EFW Terminal to Knowsley Freight Terminal Binliner empties. The Leeds to Selby line crosses the bridge in the background.

Freight overtakes passenger! 60002 Graham Farish 50th Anniversary 1970-2020 passes Milford Junction on 24 April 2025 with the 6N61 12:00 Drax Power Station to Tyne Coal Terminal biomass empties. Waiting in the loop in the background is the Midland Pullman 1Z32 06:05 Paignton to Scarborough 'Yorkshire Coast Pullman' railtour, with 43049 Neville Hill leading.

With 43049 Neville Hill leading, the Midland Pullman 1Z32 06:05 Paignton to Scarborough 'Yorkshire Coast Pullman' railtour pulls out of Milford Loop on 24 April 2025, after its booked pathing stop, which saw it overtaken by the 6N61 12:00 Drax Power Station to Tyne Coal Terminal biomass empties. Not only do you not normally see a passenger train overtaken by a freight, but there can't be many instances of a train running from a coastal holiday resort on one side of the country, going to another resort on the other side! 150215 can be seen in the background at Milford Junction, waiting to follow the HST with the 2Y74 11:41 Sheffield to York Northern service.

800207 passes Goole on 24 April 2025 with the 5Z83 16:08 Hull to Doncaster Carr IEP Depot ECS, the return working of the earlier 5Z82 14:41 Doncaster Carr IEP Depot to Hull. The only LNER trains to pass through Goole are empty stock workings such as this.

60026 Helvellyn leaves Drax Power Station on 23 April 2025 with the 6N61 12:00 biomass empties to Tyne Coal Terminal. Dominating the background are the four relatively new biomass wood pellet storage domes, while on the right is one of the plant's 12 giant cooling towers.

Running 50 minutes late, 801211 passes Burn on 23 April 2025 with the 1E08 09:00 Edinburgh to Kings Cross LNER service, which on this occasion had started from Dunbar. The concrete track in the foreground is the remains of West Lane, which was realigned when this new section of railway was opened in 1983.

69011 passes Burn on 23 April 2025, unfortunately running as the 0N71 11:45 Doncaster Up Decoy to Tyne Yard light engine, rather than the much more photogenic 6X71 point carriers, although a northbound picture at this location is now all but impossible.

60002 Graham Farish 50th Anniversary 1970-2020 passes Milford Junction on 23 April 2025 with the 6H70 12:19 Tyne Coal Terminal to Drax Power Station biomass. Luckily this was travelling very slowly, as when it first came into view in the distance, the whole scene was under a dark cloud. Only as the loco started to negotiate the pointwork did the sun come out.

60026 Helvellyn passes through Hensall station on 22 April 2025 with the 6H12 06:24 Tyne Coal Terminal to Drax Power Station biomass. I was slightly worried about this, as it was booked to pass here almost at the same time as the 4M36 09:54 Drax Power Station to Tuebrook Sidings empties. However, not only was that train 25 minutes late, but this one was 13 minutes early!

66077 Benjamin Gimbert G.C. passes over Station Road level crossing in Hensall on 22 April 2025 with the 4R50 10:31 Drax Power Station to Immingham biomass empties. In contrast to the nearby level crossing on the main road, the barriers here can go down some considerable time before the train is due.

66092 passes Hensall on 22 April 2025 with the 6H62 08:15 Immingham to Drax Power Station biomass. After a sunny start to the day, the clouds were rapidly building up, and within half an hour it would be fully cloudy.

60026 Helvellyn does its bit for the environment at Heck Ings on 22 April 2025, as it pulls away from Drax Branch Junction with the 6N61 12:00 Drax Power Station to Tyne Coal Terminal biomass empties. This is the largest and blackest cloud of exhaust that I have ever seen from a Class 60.

In an extremely lucky few seconds of sunshine, 57002 Winston Churchill passes Uffington on 17 April 2025 with the Locomotive Services Ltd 1Z29 10:42 Paddington to Kingswear private charter. The Winston Churchill nameplate had been unveiled (on this side only) at Paddington a couple of hours earlier. The loco is carrying a 'The Chairman's Train' headboard. At Bristol Temple Meads the loco was swapped for GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 5029 Nunney Castle & 57311 The Institution of Mechanical Engineers for the run to Devon.

Another pair of former Greater Anglia EMUs made their way to the scrapyard on 17 April 2025. 57303 is pictured passing Uffington with 321312 & 321319 in tow, running as the 5Q26 06:28 Walton Old Junction MSC Sidings to Newport Docks (Sims Group).

Class 423 4-VEPs 3432 & 3812 pass Old Basing on 16 July 2001 with the 09:47 Basingstoke to Waterloo South West Trains service. Both units look extremely clean, and have obviously just had a visit to the carriage washing plant.

With its point of origin visible on the left, 66065 is just over a mile into its journey, as it passes Carlton on 23 May 2001 with the 6A12 12:40 Drax Power Station to Gascoigne Wood coal empties. Note the debranded National Power wagons.

43029 leaves Chester on 17 August 1996 with the 1A61 13:38 Holyhead to Euston service. The train is passing underneath Westminster Road bridge. The road was renamed from Peploe Street, after the Duke of Westminster built a school on the road in the nineteenth century.

142055 leaves Chester on 17 August 1996 with the 15:23 service to Liverpool Lime Street. The unit is wearing Merseyrail livery, which it retained (minus the black band), until it was repainted into Northern colours in 2008.

47812 passes the site of Bletchingdon station on 2 August 1991 with the 1V98 16:14 Liverpool Lime Street to Paddington service. In order to use the very necessary 1/1000sec shutter speed, the fading light required the lens to be wide open at f1.4, as at the time I was using Fujichrome RF50. The old Canon FD 50mm f1.4 was perfectly usable at f1.4, something that could not be said for the later EF version, even before it broke, which it inevitably did!

20142 & 20215 bring up the rear of the 2G88 11:30 Doncaster to Worksop special, as it approaches Oxcroft Junction on 1 September 1991. This was one of several tours run in connection with the Worksop Depot Open Day. Brand new 60069 Humphry Davy was leading the train.

20148 & 20185 bring up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z38 'Bolsover Balladeer' railtour at Markham Colliery Junction on 1 September 1991. The tour was heading away from the Bolsover Coalite plant, led by 37899 County Of West Glamorgan / Sir Gorllewin Morgannwg & 37896.

InterCity loco, Network SouthEast coaches. 47515 Night Mail pulls out of Oxford station on Sunday 26 July 1987 with the first train of the day to London, the 1F01 08:45 departure for Paddington. This train was booked for Class 50 haulage, so the mismatched loco is clearly a replacement for an non-available Class 50. Disappointing at the time maybe, but the livery combination, although not at all unique, does make an interesting picture.

323236 calls at Chelford station on 13 July 1996 with the 11:03 Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly service. Waiting in the loop, ready to follow it, is the Pathfinder Tours 1Z37 07:24 Bristol Temple Meads to Doncaster 'Yorkshire Doodle Dandy' railtour, hauled by 31554 & 31112.

After waiting in the loop just beyond the bridge for nearly 40 minutes, 31554 & 31112 pass slowly through Chelford station on 13 July 1996 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z37 07:24 Bristol Temple Meads to Doncaster 'Yorkshire Doodle Dandy' railtour.

165134 passes Claydon on 12 April 2025 with the 2T42 08:52 Worcester Foregate Street to Bristol Temple Meads GWR service. It has just called at Ashchurch for Tewkesbury station, which is situated just beyond the bridge in the background.

170622 heads north at Claydon on 12 April 2025 with the 1M01 08:45 Cardiff Central to Nottingham CrossCountry service. Waiting at a red signal in the background is the Midland Pullman 1Z31 06:22 Chester to Paignton 'Torbay Riviera Pullman' railtour. This was sat at the signal for over 15 minutes, as the preceding 1V46 06:11 York to Plymouth CrossCountry Voyager was stopped at the next signal, near Tredington level crossing.

After waiting at the signal in the background for over 15 minutes, the now late running Midland Pullman 1Z31 06:22 Chester to Paignton 'Torbay Riviera Pullman' railtour slowly gets under way again at Claydon on 12 April 2025. 43049 Neville Hill is leading, with the 43058 Loch Eil bringing up the rear. The preceding train, the 1V46 06:11 York to Plymouth CrossCountry Voyager, had been stopped at the next signal, near Tredington level crossing. Although this delay meant the tour was 20 minutes late at Cheltenham, the easy schedule resulted in it soon being back on time.

Wartime black liveried 2884 Class 2-8-0 3850 passes Stanton on 12 April 2025 with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 10:55 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. The cutting side has received some recent vegetation clearance.

Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co. drifts past Stanton on 12 April 2025 with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 12:15 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. As this was the hottest day of the year (so far), there was no chance of any exhaust.

66559 passes Hungerford Common on 11 April 2025 with the 6V18 13:30 Oxford Banbury Road to Whatley Quarry stone empties. It seems like this viewpoint is soon going to be ruined by one particularly badly positioned lineside bush!

60028 approaches Hungerford Common on 11 April 2025 with the 6Z23 14:10 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Tytherington stone empties. This was running a few minutes late, as all trains were being subjected to a delay between Newbury and Kintbury.

66556 approaches Hungerford Common on 11 April 2025 with the 6V50 14:21 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Merehead Quarry stone empties. This is often directly followed by another similar train (6V60), but that did not run on this occasion.

The blackthorn is in full bloom at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 10 April 2025, as 59201 Westbury PSB 1984-2024 runs along the down relief line with the early running 6C48 12:49 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties.

57303 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on10 April 2025 with the 5Q33 07:24 Walton Old Junction MSC Sidings to Newport Docks (Sims Group), conveying former Greater Anglia EMUs 321320 & 321326 to the scrapman. Due to a points failure the train was terminated a little further to the west, at Swindon East Loop.

60096 Skiddaw passes Little Bedwyn on 10 April 2025 with the 6Z23 13:13 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Tytherington stone empties. Unfortunately this was running 28 minutes early, which has resulted in extremely head on lighting. On the plus side there are no shadows from lineside bushes stretching across the track!

66953 & 66556 pass Little Bedwyn on 10 April 2025 with the 6V50 14:21 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Merehead Quarry stone empties. Note the additional bodyside door, that identifies the lead loco as a member of the Class 66/9 sub-class.

59101 Village of Whatley & 66559 pass Little Bedwyn on 10 April 2025 with the 6V60 14:43 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Whatley Quarry stone empties. The bright Heidelberg Materials livery of 59101 certainly makes the Freightliner green of 66559 look quite drab!

66592 Johnson Stevens Agencies & 66596 pass Froxfield on 9 April 2025 with the 6A40 08:40 Merehead Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop stone train. In the 1980s the Kennet & Avon Canal was visible on the left. Now sadly totally obscured by bushes.

Hired to DC Rail from GBRf, Colas liveried 60096 Skiddaw passes Froxfield on 9 April 2025 with the 6Z52 07:04 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead stone train. This was running 17 minutes early, which I thought would result in a longer wait in Hungerford loop. In fact, it didn't go in the loop, so that meant there was no chance of a second picture at Kintbury!

165128 slows down on the approach to Kintbury station on 9 April 2025, as it works the 2T12 10:55 Bedwyn to Newbury GWR service. A 23 minute journey, which the same unit does repeatedly throughout the day.

66533 Senator Express / Hanjin Express rounds the curve at Kintbury on 9 April 2025 with the 6A18 09:39 Westbury to Oxford Banbury Road stone train. Even if you're not paying attention, the sound of the nearby level crossing alerts you to an approaching train here.

One day late! 47739 was booked to work the 5Q89 12:34 Long Marston to Eastleigh East Yard on 8 April 2025, conveying South Western Railway EMUs 701517 & 701519. However, during the run round at Worcester, brake problems were encountered, and the train was terminated. The following day it continued its journey as the 5Q89 13:25 Worcester Shrub Hill Long Siding to Eastleigh East Yard, and is pictured here passing Kemble, complete with 'The Greatest Gathering' headboard.

57303 passes South Marston on 8 April 2025 with the 5Q05 09:00 Walton Old Junction MSC Sidings to Newport Docks (Sims Group), taking former Greater Anglia EMUs 321308 & 321306 on their final journey. After lots of high cloud (not forecast!), the sun had luckily reappeared again just before this came.

59201 Westbury PSB 1984-2024 passes South Marston on 8 April 2025 with the 6C48 12:49 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties. There has been some recent vegetation clearance from the field on the right.

800011 leaves Kemble station on 8 April 2025 with the 1L78 13:59 Cheltenham Spa to Paddington GWR service. I had gone here to photograph 47739 on the 5Q89 12:34 Long Marston to Eastleigh East Yard Class 701 EMU move, but that was cancelled with brake problems at Worcester. Although the shadows were advancing rapidly, as the 47 was booked just six minutes behind this train, it should just have been OK. Instead this is all I got!

66531 is just a few hundred yards into its journey, as it passes North Oxford Golf Course on 7 April 2025 with the 6V53 10:38 Oxford Banbury Road to Whatley Quarry stone empties. I particularly wanted to photograph this here as the abundant lineside blackthorn bushes were in full bloom.

66533 Senator Express / Hanjin Express passes North Oxford Golf Course on 7 April 2025 with the 6A16 08:07 Westbury to Oxford Banbury Road stone train. This was just a few minutes after classmate 66531 had left the site with empties. The new development of Oxford North dominates the background on the right.

50015 Valiant leaves Chinnor on 7 April 2025 with the 12:05 service to Princes Risborough. The loco had visited the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway for their Diesel Gala, and this was an additional 'Class 50 Mileage Day', where just this loco and 50008 Thunderer were in use.

50015 Valiant approaches Chinnor on 7 April 2025 with the 12:30 Princes Risborough to Chinnor service, during the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway's 'Class 50 Mileage Day. The train had unexpectedly stopped just out of sight, between here and Wainhill, and so Valiant was making quite a racket here as it picked up speed again.

The classic 1991 railtour pair of Class 50s, reunited at the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway's 'Class 50 Mileage Day' event on Monday 7 April 2025, 50008 Thunderer & 50015 Valiant approach Wainhill with the late running 13:15 Chinnor to Princes Risborough service. The delay was caused by track access problems at Princes Risborough.

50015 Valiant passes Wainhill on 7 April 2025 with the 13:50 Princes Risborough to Chinnor service, during the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway's 'Class 50 Mileage Day. A conveniently positioned blackthorn bush adds some interest to the otherwise green foreground.

After stopping for a member of the crew to open and close the Horsenden Lane level crossing gates, 50008 Thunderer & 50015 Valiant get underway again on 7 April 2025 with the 15:15 Princes Risborough to Chinnor service, during the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway's 'Class 50 Mileage Day'. This was running over an hour late.

50008 Thunderer & 37227 round the curve at Horsenden Lane on 6 April 2025 with the 08:40 Chinnor to Princes Risborough service, during the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway's Diesel Gala. Note the tangled mass of ironmongery in the foreground, that was presumably once a fence!

45108 passes over Horsenden Lane level crossing on 6 April 2025 with the 09:15 Princes Risborough to Chinnor service, during the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway's Diesel Gala. Horsenden Lane, which can be seen heading across the ploughed field, is extremely popular with cyclists, as it is part of route 57 of the national cycle network.

On a perfect spring day, under a cloudless sky, 50015 Valiant approaches Horsenden Lane on 6 April 2025 with the 10:00 Chinnor to Princes Risborough service. The loco was visiting the Chinnor & Princes Risborough for their Diesel Gala.

50008 Thunderer & 37227 pass Wainhill on 6 April 2025 with the 10:25 Princes Risborough to Chinnor service, during the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway's Diesel Gala. Despite the line's speed restrictions, the 38 cylinders of English Electric power could heard for some distance!

One of the visiting locos at the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway's 2025 Diesel Gala was 31108. The snowplough fitted Railfreight grey liveried loco is pictured passing Wainhill on 6 April 2025 with the 11:10 Chinnor to Princes Risborough service.

50015 Valiant emerges from the bushes at Wainhill on 6 April 2025 with the 11:35 Princes Risborough to Chinnor service, during the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway's Diesel Gala. The railway was also hosting 50008 Thunderer, the other loco of the famous 1991 railtour pair.

With northbound trains becoming more backlit during the afternoon of the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway's Diesel Gala on 6 April 2025, I opted for a more distant shot of 47715 working the 12:20 Chinnor to Princes Risborough service, as it passed Wainhill. Some conveniently positioned blackthorn blossom added some foreground interest.

Looking absolutely superb in the spring sunshine, 31108 approaches Wainhill on 6 April 2025 with the 12:45 Princes Risborough to Chinnor service, during the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway's Diesel Gala. The visiting loco was one of the stars of the event, which judging by the packed trains, was obviously very successful.