Running exactly on time, 66755 Tony Berkeley OBE RFG Chairman 1997-2018 passes Uffington on 26 May 2023 with the 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. Horrible overhead lighting, but I was passing this spot on the way to somewhere else, so worth a record shot.

60024 Clitheroe Castle passes Uffington on 26 May 2023 with the 6B33 13:49 Theale to Robeston empty oil tanks. Even though only part of the train is visible, there are four different liveries on the bogie tank wagons.

66605 passes Little Bedwyn on 26 May 2023 with the 6V18 11:17 Allington to Whatley Quarry stone empties. This was an unexpected bonus. I hadn't checked up on its progress when I arrived at the location, as I assumed it would be long gone. Just as I arrived on the bridge I heard a hoot, and then it came into view, running nearly an hour late.

Running 36 minutes early, 59103 Village of Mells & 66503 The Railway Magazine Celebrating 126 years 1897-2022 approach Little Bedwyn on 26 May 2023 with the 6C76 14:21 Wembley Reception Sidings to Whatley Quarry stone empties.

59204 approaches Little Bedwyn on 26 May 2023 with the 7V64 14:48 Wembley Reception Sidings to Merehead Quarry stone empties. This was running 24 minutes late. Buttercups, Cow Parsley and Hawthorn blossom give some relief to the overall late spring green landscape. The white building in the background is Fairfield Crossing Cottage, standing next to a footpath crossing over both the railway and the adjacent Kennet & Avon Canal.

165122 calls at Finstock station on 24 May 2023 with the 2E80 07:01 Worcester Shrub Hill to Oxford GWR service. This is the only up train of the day to call at this diminutive wayside station, and on this occasion nobody either got on or off. There has been a dramatic downturn in the number of passengers using this station, which admittedly is situated some distance from any habitation. However, in the 1980s there was always a small group of people waiting to board this early morning commuter train.

Passing an abundance of both flowering hawthorn bushes and lineside signage, 800035 Liz Gallagher slowly approaches Charlbury on 24 May 2023 with the 1P18 07:13 Great Malvern to Oxford GWR service. This train would normally carry on to Paddington, but the line south of Oxford was closed for repairs to Nuneham Viaduct over the River Thames.

Platinum Jubilee liveried 67007 passes Charlton-on-Otmoor on 24 May 2023 with the British Belmond Pullman 1Z84 17:24 Oxford to Victoria luxury VSOE charter. Pullman liveried 67024 is bringing up the rear.

67024 brings up the rear of the British Belmond Pullman 1Z84 17:24 Oxford to Victoria luxury VSOE charter at Charlton-on-Otmoor on 24 May 2023. Platinum Jubilee liveried 67007 is at the front of the train.

165033 & 168323 pass Charlton-on-Otmoor on 24 May 2023 with the 1T52 17:45 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. Until recently I had only seen a handful of trains worked by Class 165s and 168s in multiple, but now the practice seems to be much more common. Presumably the Class 165's top speed of 75mph, as opposed to the Class 168's 100 mph was the reason they weren't formerly used together. Note the two rabbits enjoying the evening sunshine next to the road on the left.

165013 & 165017 pass Charlton-on-Otmoor on 24 May 2023 with the 1T56 18:45 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. The concrete road gives access to Holt Farm, which prior to the redoubling of the line, was served by a level crossing just to the rear of the train.

168106 passes Oddington on 23 May 2023 with the 1T23 10:40 London Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. This was the only picture I got in full sun on this visit, as shortly after I arrived the sun faded out into some high cloud.

66594 NYK Spirit of Kyoto passes the former crossing keeper's cottage at Oddington on 23 May 2023, as it heads towards Bicester with the diverted 6C58 12:09 Oxford Banbury Road to East Usk Yard stone empties. The reason that this is heading in completely the wrong direction, away from its destination in Wales, is that its normal route via Oxford and Didcot is closed for repairs to Nuneham Viaduct over the River Thames.

66536 passes Oddington on 23 May 2023 with the diverted 6A60 07:12 Whatley Quarry to Oxford Banbury Road Mendip Rail stone train. This had travelled via the suburbs of London and the Chiltern Line, rather its usual route via Oxford. The closure of the Didcot to Oxford line for repairs to Nuneham Viaduct has seen a lot more freights routed via this Bicester to Oxford route.

66766 Gail Richardson passes Oddington on 23 May 2023 with the 6M16 12:20 Bicester MoD to Kineton MoD, conveying 25 newly converted JNA ballast wagons. These have been converted by Loram from former MRA side tippers. Two freightliner flats are bringing up the rear. The new wagons would be left at Hinksey Yard, leaving the two freightliner flats to be taken on to Kineton, for use as barriers with that evening's 6C01 19:20 Kineton MoD to Carlisle munitions train.

After having deposited most of its train in Hinksey Yard, 66766 Gail Richardson heads north at Yarnton on 23 May 2023 with the 6M16 12:20 Bicester MoD to Kineton MoD, now comprising just two freightliner flats for use as barriers with that evening's 6C01 19:20 Kineton MoD to Carlisle munitions train.

45149 slowly crosses Stanway Viaduct on 21 May 2023 with the 09:55 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. The 15 arch viaduct is the most impressive structure on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, and is currently the subject of a £1.5 million pound appeal for essential maintenance. There was a flock of sheep in the foreground field when I arrived, but most of those that weren't taking advantage of the shade from the tree, had now wandered off to the right.

Castle Class 4-6-0 4079 Pendennis Castle passes Stanton on 21 May 2023 with the 10:00 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service. The loco was visiting the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway from the Didcot Railway Centre.

Flowering hawthorn bushes dominate the sides of the shallow cutting at Stanton, as 45149 heads south on 21 May 2023 with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 12:35 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service.

Running nearly an hour late, 50035 Ark Royal passes Eardington on 20 May 2023 with the 15:30 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. The Class 50 may be 55 years old, but the wooden bodied coaches are considerably older!

A small train for a small loco. Sole surviving Class 17 D8568 passes Eardington on 20 May 2023 with the 17:05 Hampton Loade to Bridgnorth shuttle, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. Due to their chronic unreliability, most of the class had very short lives on BR, but some did survive long enough to get a coat of blue paint, so this is not a fictitious livery.

33108 passes Eardington on 20 May 2023 with the late running 17:30 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. This is one of the better locations on the line for late afternoon pictures, with a choice of viewpoints in both directions.

D821 Greyhound passes Eardington on 20 May 2023 with the 16:30 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. The loco had recently been outshopped in a fresh coat of BR blue paint.

The shadows are lengthening, as 50035 Ark Royal passes Eardington on 20 May 2023 with the late running 18:30 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. Class 17 D8568 can just be seen on the rear of the train.

Class 17 D8568 brings up the rear of the 18:30 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster train at Eardington on 20 May 2023, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. 50035 Ark Royal has disappeared into the trees with at the head of the train.

40106 Atlantic Conveyor passes Eardington on 20 May 2023 with the 17:30 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. This was running an hour late, but I wasn't complaining, as the late evening light has produced a superb picture. The white hawthorn blossom adds the finishing touch to my favourite picture from the gala.

66421 Gresty Bridge TMD passes Ashford Bowdler on 20 May 2023 with the 4V38 10:38 Daventry to Wentloog Tesco liner. Presumably this was running under caution signals, as it was slowing down considerably when it passed me. This location has been on my 'to do' list for some time, after noticing the bridge whilst deriving on the A49 road, a few hundred yards to the west.

Running 42 minutes late, after a 31 minute late departure from Manchester, 67013 passes Ashford Bowdler on 20 May 2023 with the 1V46 14:30 Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central Transport for Wales service.

One of the highlights of the Severn Valley Railway's 2023 Spring Diesel Gala was the appearance of one of GWR's 'Castle' HST sets. The unusual visitor is pictured during a shunting manoeuvre at Kidderminster on 20 May 2023. 43188 Newport Castle is leading, with 43186 Taunton Castle at the rear. In addition to being named, 43188 also sports Y Cymro The Welshman branding.

31270 Athena leaves Kidderminster station on 20 May 2023 with the 08:45 service to Bridgnorth. With a Colas Class 56 in the background, and a GWR HST on the left, there is no mistaking that this is during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala.

50035 Ark Royal brings empty stock into Kidderminster station on 20 May 2023, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. In the foreground is visiting DB 60062 Sonia. In the distance 37263 waits to travel to Bewdley light engine, and on the right D821 Greyhound waits on the diesel depot, prior to taking part in the gala later in the day.

Colas provided 56051 Survival for the Severn Valley Railway's 2023 Spring Diesel Gala. It is seen here leaving Kidderminster on 20 May 2023 with the 09:00 service to Highley. The wording on the stickers under the bodyside grille reads: 'This loco runs on green fuel for a greener future. ACT now for a sustainable future.' 47712 Lady Diana Spencer is on the rear of the train.

47712 Lady Diana Spencer brings up the rear of the 09:00 Kidderminster to Highley service, as it leaves Kidderminster on 20 May 2023, during the Severn Valley Railway's Spring Diesel Gala. 56051 Survival is at the front of the train.

37263 approaches Foley Park Tunnel on 20 May 2023 withthe 09:45 Bewdley to Kidderminster service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. The loco is wearing the all over grey engineer's livery, which was introduced in the late 1980s. A yellow band was later added, creating the well known 'Dutch' livery.

47712 Lady Diana Spencer approaches Foley Park Tunnel on 20 May 2023 with the 09:45 Highley to Kidderminster service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Spring Diesel Gala. 56051 Survival is bringing up the rear.

'Steel on Steel' flame liveried 60062 Sonia emerges from Foley Park Tunnel on 20 May 2023 with the 11:00 Kidderminster to Highley service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. The stock is the immaculately restored ScotRail push pull set.

43186 Taunton Castle approaches Foley Park Tunnel on 20 May 2023 with the 11:00 Arley to Kidderminster service. 43188 Newport Castle is bringing up the rear. Despite the presence of various other visiting locomotives, this GWR 'Castle' HST was the definite star of the Severn Valley Railways Diesel Gala.

With a train full of passengers clearly enjoying the English Electric 12SVT thrash, 31270 Athena approaches Foley Park Tunnel on 20 May 2023 with the 10:30 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster service, during the Severn Valley Railway's very successful Spring Diesel Gala.

47849 Cadeirlan Bangor Cathedral passes the site of Bletchingdon station on 1 August 2001 with the 1O14 15:10 Liverpool Lime Street to Poole Virgin CrossCountry service. Apart from the fact that there is an industrial unit on the left occupying part of the former site, there is now no trace that Bletchingdon station ever existed.

31189 stands in Long Marston army depot on 6 September 1984 with a train of Royal Engineers bridging equipment. I did take a conventional picture of the train leaving, but this 200mm lens view gives a much better view of the depot, with its various MoD stock, including several rakes of wooden bodied open wagons. A pair of Thomas Hill MoD shunters can be seen in the distance. Note the complete lack of hi-vis clothing on the rail workers walking alongside the train.

A very unusual working at Foxhall Junction, Didcot, on 12 March 1991. L409 (51386, 59496 & 51344) joins the Great Western Mainline, after traversing the normally freight only curve from Didcot North Junction, with what is presumably a special ECS working. These Class 117 units were an everyday sight just the other side of the bridge in the background, as they worked most of the Paddington to Oxford local trains through Didcot station. However, they very rarely passed this spot, which is why I have included this picture, despite the awful dull foggy conditions.

37248 & 37797 wait at a signal at Briton Ferry on 15 April 1991. This is the view from the A48 road bridge. Not as good as a conventional picture, but who couldn't resist a picture of a couple of 'Tractors' parked conveniently in front of your camera in the sunshine!

47270 Swift passes Stoke Orchard on 14 March 1990 with what is clearly the Swindon to Longbridge Rover car body panel train, but in 1990 4M31 left Swindon at 17:41, but this is 13:35! This is the site of Cleeve station, which closed to passengers in 1950, and for freight a decade later.

47373 approaches Cheltenham on 17 March 1988 with the 6E48 07:40 Hallen Marsh to Immingham Norsk Hydro fertiliser empties. The trackwork in the loop on the left certainly isn't up to the standards of the mainline. There is a distinct dip in the track in the middle distance.

A Class 158/159 combination at Worting Junction on 17 May 2023. 158880, 159016 & 159104 come off the non-electrified West of England line, onto the 750V line from Southampton, as they head towards London with the 1L18 05:41 Yeovil Pen Mill to Waterloo South Western Railway service.

47727 Caisteal Dhun Eideann / Edinburgh Castle passes Worting Junction on 17 May 2023 with the 5Q64 07:09 Eastleigh to Willesden ECS, conveying EMU 701026 for storage at Long Marston. As there wasn't a cloud in the sky (yet!), I was surprised that I was the only photographer at this very well known location.

Vandalised 444002 leads classmate 444021 past Worting Junction on 17 May 2023 with the 1B94 06:34 Bournemouth and Weymouth to Waterloo South Western Railway service. One of the units had worked the 1W90 05:55 Weymouth to Waterloo train as far as Southampton Central.

73201 Broadlands & 73141 Spa Valley Railway 25 Year Anniversary pass Worting Junction on 17 May 2023 with the lightly loaded 6Y48 09:01 Eastleigh East Yard to Hoo Junction engineers working. A featherweight load of just three wagons, but at least it didn't run light engine like the previous day's 0Y48 train. Also, I was lucky that Broadlands was leading, and even more lucky to get it in sun, as the clouds were now building up rapidly.

Hydrotreated vegetable oil powered 66085 runs slowly along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 17 May 2023 with the diverted 6E11 11:07 Appleford Sidings to Milford West Sidings containerised flyash empties.

47727 Caisteal Dhun Eideann / Edinburgh Castle prepares to stop at the next signal, as it moves slowly along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 17 May 2023 with the 5Q66 10:09 Willesden to Long Marston ECS, conveying South Western Trains EMU 701026 for storage.

The 5Q66 10:09 Willesden to Long Marston ECS runs along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 17 May 2023, hauled by 47727 Caisteal Dhun Eideann / Edinburgh Castle. 701026 is going to join lots of its classmates in limbo, pending a resolution of both the technical and union problems.

With nose cone open, 800022 speeds past the site of Oaksey Halt on 16 May 2023 with the 1L64 06:48 Cheltenham Spa to Paddington GWR service. The rear nose cone is also open, but that is because it is coupled to 800005 (hidden by the bridge).

165128 passes Oaksey at high speed on 16 May 2023 with the 5L77 07:10 Worcester Shrub Hill Long Siding to Reading Traincare Depot GWR ECS. This temporary working is due to the closure of the Oxford to Didcot line at Nuneham Viaduct.

47727 Caisteal Dhun Eideann / Edinburgh Castle slowly passes South Marston on 16 May 2023 with the 5Q66 10:09 Willesden to Long Marston ECS, conveying EMU 701013 for storage. It was about to cross over onto the up line, to approach Swindon on the 'wrong' line. This was because 802112 with the 1C11 11:02 Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads GWR service was right behind it. Having missed out its stop at Challow, the 47 was running 22 minutes early. By missing out further stops, it would be 72 minutes early by the time it got to Gloucester!

A 750V third rail EMU under the 25kV wires. 701013 passes South Marston on 16 May 2023, as it is hauled by 47727 Caisteal Dhun Eideann / Edinburgh Castle, running as the 5Q66 10:09 Willesden to Long Marston ECS. The train is just about to cross over onto the up line, using the crossover that can just be seen in the distance.

Superb early morning light at Standish Junction on 15 May 2023. 221122 heads north with the 1S37 05:25 Plymouth to Edinburgh CrossCountry service. Although there is an earlier train from Bristol, this is the first northbound train of the day from Devon.

800024 is dwarfed by the landscape, as it slowly approaches Standish Junction on 15 May 2023 with the 1G05 07:27 Paddington to Cheltenham Spa GWR service. The wooded slopes of the Cotswold Hills dominate the background, with the houses of Stonehouse in the middle distance. Leonard Stanley church can just be seen near the left of the picture.

The 1V44 06:11 Leeds to Plymouth CrossCountry service passes Standish Junction on 15 May 2023, with 43184 Laira Diesel Depot leading, and 43366 bringing up the rear. I was using a long lens in order to clear the safety railings where the two sets of lines start to separate in height. This was very fortunate, as the sun was coming out briefly from the rapidly increasing cloud, but it still wasn't out where I was standing!

One of the highlights of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 2023 Steam Gala was the visiting Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway 0-4-0ST 'Pug' 11243, from the East Lancashire Railway. The diminutive locomotive is seen here making a spirited departure from Winchcombe on 14 May 2023 with the late running 7T32 12:58 Winchcombe to Toddington freight.

Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway 0-4-0ST 'Pug' 11243 leaves Winchcombe on 14 May 2023 with the late running 7T32 12:58 Winchcombe to Toddington freight, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Steam Gala. The loco was built at Horwich in 1910. Originally numbered 19, it acquired the number 11243 under LMS ownership, before being sold into industrial use.

Castle Class 4-6-0 4079 Pendennis Castle leaves Winchcombe on 14 May 2023 with 1B36 13:23 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Steam Gala. Clearly this viewpoint only has a few years left, before the newly planted saplings in the foreground turn into a wood!

4MT 4-6-0 75014 Braveheart approaches Hayles Abbey Halt on 13 May 2023 with the 7B56 16:01 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway freight, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Steam Gala. As is often the case with the intensive train service on gala days, timings had started to slip, and this was running 40 minutes late.

2MT 2-6-0 78019 & GWR Hall Class 4-6-0 7903 Foremarke Hall (masquerading as 6999 Capel Dewi Hall) call at Hayles Abbey Halt on 13 May 2023 with the 2C77 16:25 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Steam Gala.

Castle Class 4-6-0 4079 Pendennis Castle approaches Hayles Abbey Halt on 13 May 2023 with the late running 1B68 17:04 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Steam Gala. This is my first picture of Pendennis Castle. Understandable perhaps, as for a long time it was on the other side of the world, in Australia. After its return to the UK it underwent extensive restoration at Didcot, and returned to steam in 2021.

Superb evening light at Hayles Abbey Halt on 13 May 2023. Running 35 minutes late, U Class 2-6-0 31806 heads south with the 7C85 18:10 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse freight, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Steam Gala.

47128 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 18 December 1985 with the 6V04 12:30 Calvert to Bristol Avon Binliner empties. This was my first picture of this train, which I would come to photograph many times over the years, with a varied selection of traction. It had started running almost exactly a month earlier, which explains why the light blue containers are still looking clean!

Running two hours late,  56068 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 18 December 1985 with the 6A18 04:45 Robeston to Theale oil tanks. Unfortunately the late running has resulted in this being a very backlit picture, but it is one of my few pictures of an original blue liveried Class 56 on this train.

59005 Kenneth J Painter arrives at Westbury on 5 August 1991 with the 7V75 10:12 Crawley to Merehead Quarry stone empties, passing an empty rake of Bardon hoppers on the left, and Westbury Signal Box on the right.

33065 Sealion passes Grateley on 10 September 1991 with the late running 6Y09 07:12 Eastleigh to Ludgershall MoD stores. Up until a few months earlier, this traffic would have been conveyed as part of the Speedlink network. In this area there wasn't a great deal of change after the end of the Speedlink wagonload service, as military traffic made up the bulk of the trains anyway.

A pair of Central Trains Class 156s pass each other at Lowdham on 23 June 2002. 156415 pulls out of the station with the 17:10 Lincoln Central to Nuneaton service, while 156422 waits at the opposite platform with the 16:35 Nuneaton to Lincoln Central train. The signal box has since been closed, and has taken a short trip to the other side of the line! It was removed to a spot near the station building on the left in 2020, and is now open as a museum.

156452 approaches Whittlesea on 20 May 1991 with the 07:53 Liverpool Lime Street to Cambridge Regional Railways service. The unit has just crossed over the Briggate River, one of  numerous waterways that drain the flat Fenland landscape.

47638 County of Kent passes through Cholsey cutting on 4 September 1987 with the 1E63 10:38 Poole to Newcastle service. It took a long time for the then new InterCity livery to be applied to all coaching stock, and in 1987 the sight of a single InterCity coach in an otherwise blue and grey rake was quite common.

155302 rounds the curve at Marazion on 4 May 1991 with the 09:42 St Ives to Penzance service. This unit, along with the majority of the class, only had a few more months left in traffic, before it was permanently split into two single car units, emerging after modifications (principally the creation of a second driving cab) as two Class 153s (153302 & 153352).

155301 arrives at Penzance on 4 May 1991 with the 11:17 service from St Ives. The houses that line the road above the railway (Chyandour Cliff) clearly not only have a sea view, but also an excellent view of comings and goings at Penzance station!

A meeting of InterCity Class 47s at Kings Sutton on 8 August 1991. 47853 heads north with the 1M61 17:50 Paddington to Derby service, just as 47804 passes by in the opposite direction with the 1O90 11:26 Glasgow Central to Brighton ' Sussex Scot'. A mix of Mk1 and Mk2 stock in both trains, with all vehicles being in InterCity livery, although 47853 lacks any bodyside branding.

508205 passes Five Oak Green on 28 January 2001 with the 09:50 Three Bridges to Maidstone West Connex South Eastern service. In just over a mile, at Paddock Wood, the train would diverge from the Tonbridge to Ashford line, and head north down the Medway Valley. Twelve Class 508s had been transferred from Merseyside a few years previously, but they were not popular on the Southern Region. Despite being much more modern than the Class 411 4-CEPs that they replaced, their ride quality and lack of facilities was a real step backwards.

Despite the destination blind of 155324 reading 'Oxford', this is the 2B72 17:35 Oxford to Hereford service, pictured approaching Dunstall Bridge, Moreton-in-Marsh, on 25 April 1988. The Cotswold Line was one of the first routes to use the then brand new Class 155s, but after just a couple of years they were taken out of service to be converted into single car Class 153s.

47709 passes West Hatch in the rain on 5 October 1991, as it accelerates away from Tisbury with the 1V11 11:15 Waterloo to Exeter St Davids Network SouthEast service. Even in 1991 it is doubtful that I would have normally travelled to the West of England line in such poor weather, but I had gone out specifically to photograph D400's return to traffic.

802020 brings up the rear of the 1L16 10:23 Swansea to Paddington GWR service at Uffington on 4 May 2023. Its 'To All Our Key Workers - The Nation Says Thank You' livery really shows up in the dull conditions, in marked contrast to its classmate 802005, which is leading the train.

47727 Caisteal Dhun Eideann / Edinburgh Castle passes Uffington on 4 May 2023 with the 5Q66 10:09 Willesden to Long Marston ECS, conveying EMU 701018 for storage. This was running an hour late, which I thought would be ideal, as the sun would now be on the front at this location. The sun was out when I left home, but gradually got less as I drove towards Uffington, and had disappeared entirely by the time I had walked across the fields! This is a change of locos for these trains, all the previous ones having been worked by 47749 City of Truro.

The new order in the Welsh Valleys. 231008 approaches Tir-Phil on 3 May 2023 with the 2P67 14:27 Rhymney to Penarth Transport for Wales service. These trains are replacing the troubled Class 769 DMUs, which were converted from former Class 319 EMUs. These only had a life of a little over two years in Wales.

231007 approaches Pontlottyn on 3 May 2023 with the 2R14 14:03 Penarth to Rhymney Transport for Wales service. This side view clearly shows the small 'power pack' in the centre of the unit. The former mining village of Abertysswg can be seen in the background.

231007 heads south from Pontlottyn on 3 May 2023 with the 2P74 15:27 Rhymney to Penarth Transport for Wales service. The industrial estates of Rhymney can be seen in the background, with the moorland of Mynydd Llangynidr visible in the distance.

231010 approaches Pontlottyn on 3 May 2023 with the 2R16 15:03 Penarth to Rhymney Transport for Wales service. This has always been an excellent viewpoint, but recent vegetation clearance has now made it even better.

Class 769 swansong. Nearing the end of the class's very short career in the Welsh Valleys, 769445 approaches Pontlottyn on 3 May 2023 with the 2R18 16:03 Penarth to Rhymney Transport for Wales service. These former Class 319 EMUs were only ever intended as a stop gap, but were late into service, and plagued with reliability issues. However, at least the Welsh ones actually made it into traffic, which is more than the GWR ones ever did!

67010 passes Llanellen on 3 May 2023 with the 1W96 17:14 Cardiff Central to Holyhead Transport for Wales service. DVT 82200 is bringing up the rear. With such a bland foreground, I decided to include the farmer's 'tram lines' in the foreground.

82200 brings up the rear of the 1W96 17:14 Cardiff Central to Holyhead Transport for Wales service, as it passes Llanellen on 3 May 2023. 67010 at the front of the train, is slowing down for the next stop at Abergavenny.

Having just passed Abergavenny's distant signal at caution, 56051 Survival slowly passes Llanellen on 3 May 2023 with the 6Z51 14:41 Baglan Bay to Chirk Kronospan logs. This was running 40 minutes late, after a 64 minute late departure from Baglan Bay. This was unfortunate, as it would have been sunny at the booked time, but the sun had now vanished into high cloud.

82201 passes Pandy on 3 May 2023 with the 1W93 11:25 Cardiff Central to Holyhead Transport for Wales service. 67012 is providing the power at the rear. The black liveried DVT and coaches are from Grand Central Railway's abortive London to Blackpool fleet.

Still wearing debranded Chiltern Railways silver and grey livery, 67012 propels the 1W93 11:25 Cardiff Central to Holyhead Transport for Wales service past a field of oilseed rape at Pandy on 3 May 2023. DVT 82201 is leading.

153303 & 153922 pass Pandy on 3 May 2023 with the 1V94 08:05 Holyhead to Cardiff Central Transport for Wales service. 153303 has been made PRM (Persons with Reduced Mobility) compliant, in order to be allowed to remain on the national network after 2020. Some of the class have not had the modifications, such as 153322, the rear unit of this pair. The unmodified units have been renumbered into the 153/9 series, with 153322 becoming 153922. In theory they must always run in multiple with a modified unit, as here.

158820 passes Pandy on 3 May 2023 with the 1V39 10:30 Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central Transport for Wales service. In contrast to TfW's recent punctuality, this was running a couple of minutes early, and so would have an extended stop at the next station, Abergavenny.

43046 Geoff Drury 1930-1999 passes Fiddington on 3 May 2023 with the Midland Pullman 1Z43 06:21 Maidenhead to Scarborough 'Yorkshire Coast Pullman' railtour. 43055 is bringing up the rear. The bushes on the left, which were cut down a few years ago, are beginning to dominate this view once again. It is 08:25, and the shadows are now only just clear of the line.

43055 brings up the rear of the Midland Pullman 1Z43 06:21 Maidenhead to Scarborough 'Yorkshire Coast Pullman' railtour at Fiddington on 3 May 2023. 43046 Geoff Drury 1930-1999 is at the front of the train.

There's not much need to explain where this is! 43301 approaches the farm occupation bridge at Fiddington on 3 May 2023 with the 1V44 06:11 Leeds to Plymouth CrossCountry service, which was running 33 minutes late. Note that not only is oilseed rape being grown in the fields on the right, but also near the top of Bredon Hill in the background.

166220 Roger Watkins The GWR Master Train Planner passes Fiddington on 3 May 2023 with the 2C12 08:45 Great Malvern to Westbury GWR service. Claydon bridge can be seen in the background. Some distance behind that is Ashchurch for Tewksbury station, which this train has just called at.

66088 passes Fiddington on 3 May 2023 with the 6V05 08:22 Round Oak to Margam steel empties. The loco may look smart in its newly applied DB red livery, but the engine doesn't appear to be in the best of health. The black smoke seen here is nothing compared to the pollution it was throwing out as it came under the bridge in the background.

A wave from the driver of 800001, as it passes Chilson on 29 April 2023 with the 1P19 09:58 Great Malvern to Oxford GWR service. This would normally be the 1P19 09:58 Great Malvern to Paddington train, but the unstable condition of Nuneham Viaduct, over the River Thames, had resulted in the closure of the Oxford to Didcot line.

802013 passes Chilson on 29 April 2023 with the 1W01 10:46 Oxford to Hereford GWR service. Some vegetation clearance has improved this formerly very overgrown viewpoint, although it is still nothing like as open as it was in the 1980s.

The unusual sight of a Strathclyde PTE orange and black liveried Class 101 in Shropshire. 53146 & 51249 pass Madeley Junction Signal Box on 6 May 1991 with the 09:41 Pwllheli to Birmingham New Street service. The former Scottish unit had moved south of the border the previous year, becoming Tyseley's set T078. With only a limited life left, it retained the distinctive livery, just with the words 'Strathclyde Transport' painted out.