47573 The London Standard heads south light engine past Kings Sutton on 17 March 1990. This view shows just how open the location was in the 1990s, with just a low post and wire fence separating the track from the completely accessible former goods yard.

Class 423 4-VEP 3536 and an unidentified classmate accelerate away from Mortlake station (just visible in the background) on 24 February 2001 with the 12:48 Waterloo to Waterloo (via Kingston) South West Trains service.

47376 & 47105 accelerate away from Winchcombe on 26 October 2003 with the 12:20 Cheltenham Racecourse to Toddington service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. 47376 had arrived at the railway a few months earlier, to join 47105, which had been resident since 1994.

37893 & 37890 pass Dragonby in failing light on 8 November 2003 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z27 06:26 Bristol Temple Meads to Roxby Gullet 'Roxby Renegade' railtour. Out of sight on the rear of the train is 60022. This location may look a little overgrown, but it is nothing compared with the complete jungle that blocks the view in both directions now!

47426 passes Berkswell on 28 September 1986 with the 1M34 06:50 Brighton to Manchester Piccadilly service, which it would work as far as Birmingham New Street. Berkswell station is actually in the village of Balsall Common. Berkswell is nearly a mile away, to the north.

47426 Dibatag passes South Moreton on 15 August 1991 with the 1F40 16:20 Paddington to Oxford Network SouthEast service. The train would shortly cross over from the down main to the down relief line, before turning right at Didcot.

37903 approaches Gaer Junction on 11 September 1997. This is the only picture that I took at this location, which is now impossible to repeat, as the whole scene is dominated by a forest of electrification masts and wires. It is the view from the B4237 Duffryn to Newport road, looking towards Gaer Junction and Hillfield Tunnel.

66016 runs alongside the Kennet & Avon Canal at Crofton on 17 February 2001 with the 6W55 Westbury to Didcot Foxhall Junction engineer's train. Crofton Lock No.62 can be seen in the background. This is one of nine closely spaced locks in the area.

66057 heads north at Cossington on 11 May 2001 with empty Redland stone hoppers, destined for nearby Mountsorrel. The 18:43 Nottingham to Leicester Midland Mainline Class 170 DMU heads in the opposite direction. Lineside vegetation now prevents a picture from being taken from quite this far to the side.

47744 The Cornish Experience passes Pilning on 7 March 1998, as it descends towards the Severn Tunnel with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z27 07:30 Paddington to Llandrindod Wells 'Heart of Wales' railtour. The headboard (which was carried on a number of tours around this time) reads: 'Hertfordshire Rail Tours Merrymaker Rail Charter Partnership'.

Prior to electrification, there used to be an uninterrupted view from the north side of the line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on summer evenings. With the recently reconstructed Denchworth Road Bridge in the background, and the newly installed relief lines freshly ballasted, 43017 heads west on 28 June 1994 with the 1B56 18:03 Paddington to Cheltenham Spa service.

25313 & 26004 arrive at Carrog station on 18 April 1998 with the 10:00 train from Llangollen, during the Llangollen Railway's Diesel Gala. Note the absence of any nearby houses. The village of Carrog is on the other side of the River Dee, and the station is actually nearer to the small village of Llidiart y Parc.

800005 Aneurin Bevan NHS 1948-2023 passes Lyneham on 14 December 2024 with the 1W25 12:53 Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street GWR service. This is a particularly good location for winter photograph, as there is nothing to shade the train, and the bright red branches of the willow trees on the left add a splash of colour.

57601 Windsor Castle passes Lyneham on 14 December 2024 with the Northern Belle 1Z25 11:15 Bristol Temple Meads to Oxford (via Worcester) 'Christmas Lunch' charter. 57315 is hiding behind the bright red branches of the willow trees, as it brings up the rear of the train. I was very lucky to get this in such superb light, as the large bank of clouds in the background was also creeping ever nearer the sun, and I felt sure that the light was going to die at any minute. Somehow the light managed to hang on for the train, and even a few minutes after, but I'm glad that the it was running seven minutes early, as the light had definitely gone at the booked time. This is my first picture of this annual festive train in sun, after three years of trying!

47621 Royal County of Berkshire emerges from Harbury Tunnel on 10 May 1989 with the 1M12 12:40 Paddington to Birmingham New Street service. Just five minutes later 47653 passed by in the opposite direction with the 1O12 07:50 Glasgow Central to Poole 'Wessex Scot'.

47653 climbs towards Harbury Tunnel on 10 May 1989 with the 1O12 07:50 Glasgow Central to Poole 'Wessex Scot'. Because Network Rail no longer control lineside vegetation, this view is now totally obscured by full grown trees. And they wonder why they have such problems with leaves on the line in the autumn!

58031 passes Wolvercote on 10 July 1987 with the 7V60 14:02 Baddesley Colliery to Didcot Power Station MGR. Photo taken from a long since closed footpath crossing, which linked the village of Upper Wolvercote with Wolvercote Common.

58003 passes Burton Salmon on 12 March 1997 with MGR empties. Terrible light, and a filthy loco, but it seems to be the only time that I photographed this particular locomotive, so this picture is included for completeness.

59205 adds a bit of colour to the dull and misty morning at Compton Beauchamp on 12 December 2024, as it heads east along the Great Western Mainline with the diverted 7A40 08:45 Merehead Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop stone train. The train's normal route via the Berks & Hants line was closed for engineering works.

60055 Thomas Barnardo passes Compton Beauchamp in miserable conditions on 12 December 2024 with the 6Z52 07:34 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead stone train. I chose this location because of the lack of masts on this side of the line.

Rail Adventure's 43480 has two classmates in tow, as it passes Compton Beauchamp in very dull and misty conditions on 12 December 2024 with the 5Q44 07:05 Laira to Wymondham Mid Norfolk Railway Siding stock move. The train is made up of off lease and debranded former GWR power cars 43162 & 43160, along with the Caledonian Sleeper Mk3 coaches 10563 & 10551. 43468 is bringing up the rear.

802017 passes Whitehill on 10 December 2024 with the 1W15 07:50 Paddington to Great Malvern GWR service. Just to the right of this picture is the North Leigh Roman Villa, one of several villas which were situated in the Evenlode Valley, near to where the Roman road from Cirencester to St Albans (Akeman Street) crossed the river.

Running at 40mph, 37901 Mirrlees Pioneer passes Whitehill (Between Combe and Finstock) in miserable light on 10 December 2024 with the 5Q99 06:27 Wimbledon Park Carriage Sidings Depot to Long Marston stock move, taking South Western Railway EMU 458531 for storage. 37510 Orion is bringing up the rear.

37510 Orion brings up the rear of the 5Q99 06:27 Wimbledon Park Carriage Sidings Depot to Long Marston stock move at Whitehill (between Combe and Finstock) on 10 December 2024. Between the two barrier vehicles is South Western Railway EMU 458531. 37901 Mirrlees Pioneer is at the front of the train.

47105 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 27 October 1982 with the 1A01 08:02 Worcester Shrub Hill to Paddington service. This loco had a 30 year lifespan on the national network, a record that has been exceeded by its second life in preservation!

37709 passes Defford on 11 February 1998 with the 6Z35 Didcot to Long Marston MoD stores. These military trains varied enormously, often with a large number of VGA vans. This one has a particularly interesting and varied load.

37709 slowly approaches the road bridge at Long Marston on 11 February 1998 with the late running 6Z35 Didcot to Long Marston MoD stores. The train had travelling via Cheltenham, and had just run round at Worcester. It would leave a little while later with the return 6Z36 train to Didcot.

37709 leaves Long Marston on 11 February 1998 with the 6Z36 Long Marston to Didcot MoD Stores. The loco had arrived a little earlier with the 6Z35 train from Didcot, which can be seen parked on the track on the left. A very dull day, but definitely worth recording.

60033 Tees Steel Express passes Melton Ross on 26 July 2003 with 6C74 12:18 Scunthorpe to Immingham MGR empties. Like a lot of the Class 60s, this loco had a ridiculously short life, in this case a mere 16 years.

66518 passes Uffington on 6 December 2024 with the 6A16 07:44 Whatley Quarry to Oxford Banbury Road stone train. This was running 19 minutes early, having missed out its booked stop at Swindon. The relatively short train fits nicely in the available clear space.

66598 passes Uffington on 6 December 2024 with the 4L36 08:12 Wentloog to Felixstowe North freightliner. For a change I decided to frame the train between the tree and road sign, risking the possibility of a car or van blocking the view at the critical moment. The flood warning sign refers to the noticeable dip in the road as it goes underneath the railway.

Loram rail grinders DR79301, DR79302, DR79303 & DR79304 pass Uffington on 6 December 2024, running as the 4Q01 09:53 Reading Triangle Sidings to Bristol St Philips Marsh. I had to recompose the picture slightly as it approached, in order to include the whole train, so there is a bit less overhanging oak tree than I had anticipated!

37893 & 37890 pass Immingham East Junction on 8 November 2003 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z27 06:26 Bristol Temple Meads to Roxby Gullet 'Roxby Renegade' railtour. Note the Connex EMU and trio of Class 86s awaiting scrapping in the background.

Humber Oil Refinery and its associated sidings dominate this view of 37893 & 37890, as they pass North Killingholme on 8 November 2003 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z27 06:26 Bristol Temple Meads to Roxby Gullet 'Roxby Renegade' railtour.

66127 passes Ystrad Mynach South Signal Box on 7 June 2003, as it heads down the Rhymney Valley with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z33 14:28 Cardiff Central to Finsbury Park 'Thames-Taff' railtour. 66158 is bringing up the rear of the train, which at this point was returning from Cwmbargoed.

66158 brings up the rear of the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z33 14:28 Cardiff Central to Finsbury Park 'Thames-Taff' railtour at Ystrad Mynach on 7 June 2003. 66127 is hidden among the trees, at the front of the train.

56060 The Cardiff Rod Mill passes Barton-under-Needwood on 23 July 1994 with 6E07 16:38 Coedbach Washery to Immingham coal containers. The train is conveying coal duff (anthracite dust) in former Russells containers loaded on PFA flats. At Immingham the coal would be compressed into briquettes.

Following the King! Having brought the 08:40 Paddington to Cardiff Central 'Red Dragon' railtour from London on 30 January 1994, 47823 S.S. Great Britain was replaced at Didcot by GWR King Class 4-6-0 6024 King Edward I. The 47 then followed the train light engine. It is pictured here heading west at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth.

Sub-zero temperatures at Winwick on 30 December 2000. 156464 passes through the white landscape with the 13:36 Llandudno to Manchester Piccadilly First North Western service. With the light fading, I couldn't resist stopping off here for a picture, whilst travelling from North Wales to Yorkshire.

47664 approaches Water Orton on 17 March 1989 with the 1E30 09:24 Bristol Temple Meads to Darlington service. Long distance six coach inter regional trains (with full catering facilities) were quite common at the time. A few months later the loco was renumbered into the 47/8 long range fuel tank series.

Fletcher Jennings & Co 0-4-2ST 1 Talyllyn stands at Abergynolwyn station on 8 August 2002, having just arrived with the 12:20 Tywyn Wharf to Nant Gwernol service. This was the Talyllyn Railway's first locomotive, having been delivered to the line on 24 September 1864.

47427 passes through Radley station on 20 July 1989 with the 1M23 15:40 Poole to Manchester Piccadilly service. This view is no longer possible thanks to a large radio mast and an impenetrable wall of trees and bushes.

47431 heads north at Didcot North Junction on 26 November 1989 with the 1M48 08:50 Paddington to Manchester Piccadilly service. Didcot's coal fired power station is dominating the background, as it did for over forty years.

168321 & 168218 pass Fritwell on 29 November 2024 with the 1H32 10:11 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. The train has just emerged from Ardley Tunnel, which is just beyond the farm occupation bridge in the background.

168003 passes Fritwell on 29 November 2024 with the 1H33 10:45 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service. This is the first unit to wear Chiltern's 'new' livery, although it looks very similar to the colour scheme that the units were delivered in, before the application of the silver and grey livery.

66021 passes St Peter & St Paul's church at Kings Sutton on 29 November 2024 with the 4M54 09:31 Southampton Maritime to East Midlands Gateway intermodal. This picture is taken from half a mile away, on the Adderbury Road, as I wasn't going to walk across the boggy field to get to the water's edge! It's a pity that the strong wind has killed any chance of a reflection.

68012 pushes the 1H41 11:45 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone Chiltern Railways service past the flooded fields at Kings Sutton on 29 November 2024. The silver Mk3 coaches certainly stand out well against the dark trees.

Freshly painted 66030 passes the flooded fields at Kings Sutton on 29 November 2024 with the 4M71 09:48 Southampton Western Docks to Birch Coppice intermodal. The fact that the train is composed mainly of orange Hapag-Lloyd boxes improves the composition of the picture.

66025 passes Kings Sutton on 29 November 2024 with the 6E11 12:00 Appleford Sidings to Milford West Sidings containerised flyash empties. Like every other train, it had just hooted for the public footpath crossing near the signal in the background. Not much point, as a boat would be needed to get anywhere near the crossing!

800035 Liz Gallagher arrives at Charlbury station on 28 November 2024 with the 1P26 10:59 Great Malvern to Paddington GWR service. As is usual with the Cotswold Line, on this day most trains were late, this being one of the more punctual ones.

Almost like the good old days on the Cotswold Line, but on this occasion unfortunately only a light engine! 50007 Hercules races through Charlbury station on 28 November 2024, running as the 0O50 10:36 Kidderminster Severn Valley Railway to Eastleigh. The Brunel designed grade II listed station building can be seen in the background.

There is just enough room between the shadows to get a decent picture of 20007 & 20205, as they head north along the Cotswold Line at Charlbury on 28 November 2024 with the 0Z20 10:50 Eastleigh to Kidderminster Severn Valle Railway light engine move.

70004 The Coal Industry Society & 66525 pass Wolvercote Junction on 26 November 2024 with the 4O90 06:04 Leeds to Southampton Maritime freightliner. Without resorting to a long lens, this location is only relatively shadow free for a very short period around midday at this time of year.

165126 passes Wolvercote Junction on 26 November 2024 with the 2V27 11:33 Banbury to Didcot Parkway GWR service. It is just about to pass over the bridge spanning Duke's Cut, which connects the Oxford Canal to the River Thames.

70014 passes Wolvercote Junction on 26 November 2024 with the 4O49 0932 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton Maritime freightliner. Although not obvious from this picture, recent heavy rain had flooded most of the fields in the vicinity.

Only a light engine, but definitely worth photographing in such superb autumn light. 37405 passes Wolvercote Junction on 26 November 2024 with the 0Z38 11:00 Oxford Down Engineer's Sidings to Oxford Down Engineer's Sidings (via Hatton) route learner.

My first sighting of a West Midlands Railway Class 172/0 in the Oxford area. 172004 passes Wolvercote Junction on 26 November 2024 with the 5L50 12:24 Tyseley to Ilford EMU Depot ECS, where it is was heading for maintenance. This was travelling very slowly, as the 1P28 11:57 Great Malvern to Paddington GWR service had just come off the Cotswold Line in front of it.

Running 12 minutes early, 66017 passes Wolvercote Junction on 26 November 2024 with 4O21 09:20 Trafford Park Euro Terminal to Southampton Western Docks intermodal. This was within a few seconds of being blocked off by the 1Z46 13:15 Reading to Manchester Piccadilly CrossCountry Voyager.

43151 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 18 December 1985 with the 1B30 13:00 Paddington to Swansea service. Didcot Power Station and the original twin arch Denchworth Road Bridge can be seen in the background.

Looking east at the site of Tutbury station on 15 March 1989. It's not very often that you see two signal boxes in such close proximity. On the left is Tutbury Yard Signal Box (since demolished), with the Grade II listed Tutbury Crossing Signal Box in the background. The original Tutbury station closed in 1966, but a new station called Tutbury & Hatton opened just three weeks after this picture was taken. Station rebuilding was obviously very quick in the 1980s, as only basic ground clearance for the new staggered platforms is visible in this view. The large Nestlé instant coffee factory dominates the scene.

Gloucester New Yard pictured on 5 August 1989, with a couple of VAA vans in the foreground. This picture is taken from the old footbridge that used to cross the yard. The bridge disappeared when a new road (Metz Way) was constructed just a few yards to the north. The footings for the Metz Way bridge can be seen behind the vans. In the background is the Horton Road gas holder, which was demolished in 2012.

Viewed from high above Middlehill Tunnel, 47476 heads towards Bath on 28 July 1988 with the 4V04 12:30 Calvert to Bristol Avon Binliner empties. This is a location that I should have visited more often, and also in better weather! However, the dull conditions did allow this wider view from the north side of the line, which clearly shows the village of Box in the background. The entrance to the world famous Box Tunnel can be seen on the left.

43140 passes Crofton on 17 February 2001 with the diverted 1A30 08:50 Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington First Great Western service. The train's normal route via Swindon was closed for engineering works.

L413 (51391, 59501 & 51349) passes Hinksey Yard on 7 January 1984 with the 2A28 12:01 Paddington to Oxford service. Note the non standard headcode blanking plate on the leading vehicle. The rails in the foreground were destined for track relaying on the Cotswold Line.

Five years late and the majority of the class are still either stored or doing test runs! 701007 passes Potbridge on 20 November 2024 with the 5Q50 06:12 Eastleigh to Waterloo South Western Railway mileage accumulation run. It would return a few hours later as the 5Q51 11:14 Waterloo to Staines Up Loop.

A fine display of autumn colours at Potbridge on 20 November 2024, as 450049 & 450124 run along the up relief line with the 2L28 09:24 Basingstoke to Waterloo South Western Railway service. A very cold morning, the day after the first snow showers of the winter.

A GBRf / Freightliner light engine combination at Potbridge on 20 November 2024. Filthy 69011 and reasonably clean 66524 run slowly along the up relief line as the 0Y48 09:01 Eastleigh East Yard to Hoo Junction Up Yard.

37607 passes Potbridge on 20 November 2024, running as the 0Z71 09:50 Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh East Yard (via Woking) route learner. Unfortunately this was during a brief cloudy period. At least Harry Needle's bright orange livery brightens up the scene! New housing development in the village of Hook can be seen in the background.

67005 Queen's Messenger passes Potbridge on 20 November 2024 with the Belmond British Pullman 1V80 09:49 Victoria to Bath Spa 'Historic Bath' railtour. It is just about to be overtaken by 159009 & 159021 working the 1L25 10:20 Waterloo to Axminster South Western Railway service.

701007 passes Potbridge on 20 November 2024 with the 5Q51 11:14 Waterloo to Staines Up Loop (via Poole) South Western Railway mileage accumulation run. I had already seen it travelling in the opposite direction as the 5Q50 06:12 Eastleigh to Waterloo.

66551 approaches Hungerford Common on 20 November 2024 with the 6V40 09:12 Purfleet to Merehead Quarry stone empties. The short train just fits perfectly in the available gap. By early afternoon it was much more cloudy than forecast, but as long as the sun stayed out (as here) the clouds certainly improve the picture.

The sheep take no notice of 800308, as it approaches Hungerford Common on 20 November 2024 with the 1C82 13:03 Paddington to Plymouth GWR service. This was running 28 minutes late, a delay which would only get worse as the journey progressed.

58010 & 58006 approach Oxford on 18 July 1990 with MGR empties from Didcot Power Station. If this is running to time, it is the 6M58 18:00 Didcot Power Station to Bescot, but as presumably 58006 had failed, and 58010 was the rescue loco, this might be an earlier working, running late. The lineside vegetation was starting to become intrusive by 1990. However, now this has turned into a huge wall of trees that completely blocks the view.

47847 Railway World Magazine / Brian Morrison approaches Kings Sutton on 30 March 2002 with the 1S87 14:18 Paddington to Glasgow Virgin CrossCountry service. The bushes behind the train hide the site of the former junction of the line to Kingham and Cheltenham.

Civil and military containers at Hinksey Yard on 22 October 1985. 47056 heads south with the late running 4O81 03:00 Coatbridge to Southampton Maritime freightliner, passing a rake of Royal Corps of Transport containers, which had just arrived from MoD Bicester as part of the 6A50 13:56 Bicester to Morris Cowley Speedlink working.

Something different on the Great Western Mainline. 47060 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 18 December 1985 with the 7Z35 09:10 Margam to Temple Mills, conveying 24 vacuum braked MDV wagons of coal from Onllwyn Washery to Bow. Special thanks to David Hamilton for the information.

56019 heads north at Cossington on Sunday 6 September 1992 with an engineer's train. Note the warning notice on the left. A public footpath crossed the line here, with pedestrians expected to walk across the ballast over four lines, something which would not be tolerated today! A boarded walkway was later provided, but then in 2013 this was removed and the crossing closed.

A wave from the driver of the 1B13 11:48 Paddington to Carmarthen GWR service, as it passes South Marston on 15 November 2024. The leading unit (800012) seems to have a problem with its nose cone doors, as all the recent pictures I have seen of it, they are open). 800033 is the rear unit. This was forecast to be a sunny day, but this was just about the last of what little sun there was.

66086 passes South Marston on 15 November 2024 with the 6C03 09:55 Northolt Sidings to Severnside Sita Binliner. This overgrown area on the right is the site of South Marston Sidings, which were installed during the Second World War.

37800 Cassiopeia passes South Marston on 15 November 2024 with the 5Q88 09:06 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Newport Docks (Sims Group), taking former Greater Anglia EMU 321301 on its final journey. As any chance of the forecast sun had completely disappeared, I took this from the north side of the line, for a change of viewpoint.

66025 runs slowly along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 13 November 2024 with the 6C03 09:55 Northolt Sidings to Severnside Sita Binliner. Circourt Bridge is still officially called Circourt Crossing Bridge, even though the original level crossing at the site was replaced by a bridge at the end of the nineteenth century.

66620 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 13 November 2024 with the 6C52 09:48 West Drayton Frays Sidings to East Usk Yard. This is a train of empty stone wagons, although clearly there wasn't enough time to unload the first three wagons!

800008 Alan Turing glints in the low winter sun, as it approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 13 November 2024 with the 1L76 12:59 Cheltenham Spa to Paddington GWR service. The trees in the background were planted in 1992. Prior to that there were uninterrupted views across the fields towards the village of Goosey.

66745 runs along the up relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 13 November 2024 with the 6F05 03:00 Heywood Road Junction to Hinksey, conveying recovered ballast from an engineering possession. This had actually left at 04:51, but was nearly back on time here.

800008 Alan Turing passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 13 November 2024 with the 5G11 08:28 Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington GWR ECS. This was running as VSTP working, as it was needed in London to form the 1G11 10:32 Paddington to Cheltenham Spa GWR service, which would normally be worked by the unit off the 1P18 07:13 Great Malvern to Paddington train, which on this occasion had been cancelled.

The 6M50 07:13 Westbury to Bescot departmental working can sometimes run as the 0M50 light engine. Such was the case on 13 November 2024, although it did pick up a load later on at Hinksey. 59003 Yeoman Highlander is pictured passing Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, with the shadow of the footbridge and myself getting in on the act!

59206 John F. Yeoman Rail Pioneer & 66953 pass Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 13 November 2024 with the diverted 7A40 08:45 Merehead Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop 'jumbo' stone train. This was diverted via Swindon as the Berks & Hants line was closed for engineering works.

802104 passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 13 November 2024 with the 1A15 09:29 Weston-super-Mare to Paddington GWR service. This was travelling quite slowly, as it was right behind the slow moving diverted 7A40 08:45 Merehead Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop 'jumbo' stone train. It had been on time until this point, but this caused a seven minute delay.

60055 Thomas Barnardo runs along the up relief line near Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 13 November 2024 with the 6Z52 07:03 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead stone train. As indicated by the sign, this picture is taken from the approach to the little used footbridge just to the east of Circourt road bridge. There was a worrying few minutes just before I took this picture, as the 6V53 10:38 Oxford Banbury Road to East Usk Yard stone empties was approaching very slowly from behind me, as the far end of the down relief line at Challow was already occupied by the 6C31 10:10 Theale to Whatley Quarry stone empties. Luckily the Class 60 was also travelling slowly, so it all worked well, although the back end of 6V53 can be seen on the left.

66619 Derek W. Johnson MBE & 66550 pass Uffington on 12 November 2024 with the 6A50 06:35 Whatley Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop stone train. This was diverted via Swindon due to the Berks & Hants line being closed for engineering works. It was running over an hour late here, but by missing out its booked stop at Iver, it arrived at its destination on time. As this was a dull morning, I decided to take this picture from the north side of the line, which neatly included the autumn colours of the oak tree by the fence.

66606 passes Uffington in a very welcome, but brief spell of sunshine on 12 November 2024 with the 6F06 08:33 Westbury to Theale, heading for an engineering possession on the Berks & Hants line. The train was made up of 20 JNA wagons, the first ten of which were empty, and the last ten loaded with ballast. Hidden by the bushes at the rear of the train is 66601 The Hope Valley.

There was about 25 minutes of sunshine at Uffington on 12 November 2024, on an otherwise cloudy morning. The best of the light was at 10:09, when 802021 passed by with the 1L68 08:59 Cheltenham Spa to Paddington GWR service. Full sun, black clouds, and some autumn colour.

Running 47 minutes late, 59101 Village of Whatley passes Uffington on 11 November 2024 with the diverted 6Z53 10:03 West Drayton Frays Sidings to Whatley Quarry stone empties. Just visible in the background are some yellow containers on the 4L33 10:00 Wentloog to London Gateway freightliner.

The final Class 321 EMU leaves Ilford for its appointment with the scrapman on 11 November 2024. 321321 is hauled past Uffington by 37800 Cassiopeia, running as the 5Q76 10:15 Ilford EMU Depot to Newport Docks (Sims Group). Unfortunately yet again the weather forecast was wrong, and the promised sunshine didn't appear until the drive home!

37244 & 37214 head north past Hinksey Yard on 17 August 1988 with a rake of MGR empties. This is a bit of a mystery, as it is clearly not one of the booked MGRs from Didcot Power Station, as they passed by hauled by Class 58s, as usual. I have seen a couple of other pictures of a similar working around this date, so it is presumably not a one off. My guess is the train has either come from Didcot Power Station, or Westbury Cement Works. As both locos were allocated to Cardiff Canton at the time, it implies that it is heading back to South Wales, obviously by a very devious route. Any information on this unusual working would be gratefully received.

66049 runs alongside the Kennet & Avon Canal at Crofton on 17 February 2001 with the 6W54 Westbury to Didcot Foxhall Junction engineer's train, taking a rake of spoil wagons for use on the following day's engineering possession.

43162 passes Burton Salmon on 22 April 2000 with the diverted 1S37 12:20 Bournemouth to Edinburgh 'Dorset Scot'. The train has just traversed the line from Knottingley. The unusual sight of a Virgin HST at this location made a change from the constant procession of freight trains, which dominated this area at the time.

One of the country's oldest locomotives at work on the construction of the country's newest railway in 2002! 80048 is pictured at Calehill Heath (near Charing) on 19 July 2002 with a works train on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (HS1). The bridge in the background carries the Charing to Pluckley road over the new line, which can been disappearing down a severe gradient into the distance.

170115 leaves Wellingborough on 19 July 2002 with the 08:00 St Pancras to Nottingham Midland Mainline service. Midland Mainline operated a fleet of 17 Class 170s (170101-170117) from 1999 until 2004, when they were all transferred to Central Trains.

Super power for a very short train. 47238 Bescot Yard & 47312 pass Cholsey on 16 August 1991 with just a single five vehicle freightliner flat set, loaded with 14 boxes (13 20ft containers, with a single 40ft box on the rear). As the only booked freightliner trains in the working timetable around this time had already passed, this is a mystery working.