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.

With Goole's iconic water towers dominating the background, 47315 stands in the town's up goods loop on 19 June 1999 with the stock from the Pathfinder Tours 1Z90 05:49 Bristol Temple Meads to Goole 'Spinning Spectre' railtour. 60025 had just moved the train into the loop, as the train was booked to stay at Goole for 90 minutes. Photo taken from a car park behind the signal box.

43098 heads north at Conington Fen on 16 August 1988 with the 1D03 18:04 Kings Cross to Cleethorpes 'Humber Lincs Executive'. This picture is taken from a little used level crossing, on a no through road that leads to the strangely named Eternity Hall Farm.

153355 passes Wrenbury on 4 August 2001 with the 09:45 Cardiff Central to Crewe service. This was one of a number of Class 153s that the Wales & Wessex franchise adorned with special body graphics, in this case rather inappropriately advertising the 'Heart of Wessex' line, between Bristol and Weymouth.

37146 passes Severn Tunnel Junction on 5 June 1989 with a westbound train of loaded Dogfish ballast hoppers. This side view clearly shows off the unusual livery, a sort of partial large logo colour scheme, without the large logo, or grey roof. The railway buildings behind the loco have now been demolished, but the brick built Roggiett Hotel in the background, although now closed, still survives. The tower of the ruined Rogiet windmill can be seen by the trees in the distance.

37061 passes Portway on 19 August 1985 with the 1V32 10:30 York to Penzance service. The use of a Class 37 on this working was repeated several times during the summer. Strangely there is not one person leaning out of a window, in contrast to a picture I have seen of 37024 working the same train a few weeks earlier, when virtually every passenger seems to be hanging out of the windows enjoying the noise!

50049 Defiance approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 25 April 1986 with the 6A21 11:30 Malago Vale to Old Oak Common empty newspaper vans. I doubt if anyone in 1986 would have imagined that this loco would still be on the mainline nearly four decades later!

47423 Sceptre passes Didcot North Junction on 10 September 1991 with the 1F38 16:20 Paddington to Oxford Network SouthEast service. At this time a number of scruffy Class 47s had been drafted in to work these Thames Valley trains, to supplement the NSE liveried locos, which in turn had replaced the Class 50s the year before.

47424 passes Cogload Junction on 22 April 1988 with the 1V32 23:44 Edinburgh to Plymouth service. This was the overnight sleeper train from Scotland, although the sleeper coaches had been removed at Bristol Temple Meads. Note the unusual formation, with two BGs in the centre of the train.

91028 brings up the rear of the diverted 1S14 09:45 Doncaster to Glasgow Central GNER service, as it passes Hart on 12 April 1998. 47792 Saint Cuthbert is partially hidden in the cutting at the front of the train. This is the site of Hart station, which closed in 1963.

91004 brings up the rear of the diverted 1S11 09:00 York to Glasgow Central GNER service on 12 April 1998, as it negotiates the sharp curve through Hartlepool. There was just enough room at this location to include the whole train, including 47733 Eastern Star at the front of the train. Asda's car park and car wash is in the foreground, with Hartlepool United's Victoria Park football ground in the background. Clarence Road Signal Box can be seen near the rear of the train. This was demolished in 2010.

60025 Joseph Lister catches some weak autumn sunshine, as it passes South Moreton (Didcot East) on 29 October 1992 with the 6B23 13:12 Colnbrook to Waterston oil empties. The lack of a footpath on the busy road was the only problem at this location in 1992. Now of course a needlessly high parapet and 25kV electfrication make photography here very nearly impossible.

47627 City of Oxford passes Clink Road Junction on 11 May 1985 with the 1Z60 09:40 St Austell to Paddington relief. This is something you wouldn't see now, an additional train put on at short notice to cater for unexpected demand. Today's railway is so inflexible that any special working has to be planned well in advance. In the 1980s British Rail was run for the customer's benefit, rather the private company's shareholders, and though the butt of jokes at the time, was a much more efficient organisation.

58043 passes through Heyford station on 19 June 1991 with the 7V23 15:42 Toton to Didcot Power Station MGR. Nowadays there is more coal carried on the Oxford Canal in the background, than on the railway. With Didcot Power Station demolished, there are no longer any coal trains here, but there is a very limited coal traffic on the canal, to serve the resident boaters.

31145 heads north a Clay Mills (Hargate) on 4 September 1991 with a rather unprofitable freight train. The loco was allocated to Bescot at the time, and is carrying a Bescot depot plaque under the side window. This features a saddle design, reflecting one of Walsall's former industries.

45149 looks superb in the autumn sunshine, as it passes Hailes on 27 October 2024 with the 2C21 10:30 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 'Autumn Showcase' event.

Carrying a 'Rusty Rambler' headboard, L425 (51405, 59510 & 51363) passes Hailes on 27 October 2024 with the 2T26 10:33 Cheltenham Racecourse to Toddington service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 'Autumn Showcase' event. This was the unit's last day in traffic, before moving to its new home in Scotland.

L425 (51363, 59510 & 51405) passes Hailes on 27 October 2024 with the 2C25 11:30 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service. This was the unit's last day of operations on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, which explains the 'Farewell L425' headboard. The owners, Cotswold Diesel Railcar Ltd, had sold the unit to the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, and it would shortly be leaving the Cotswolds for its new home at Bo'ness, on the banks of the Firth of Forth.

A pair of black liveried Great Western Railway designed locos at Hailes on 27 October 2024, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 'Autumn Showcase' event. 7820 Dinmore Manor & 2884 Class 2-8-0 3850 are working the 2C29 11:45 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. Dinmore Manor is not strictly a GWR loco, having been built by British Railways in 1950.

By midday on 27 October 2024, the earlier unbroken sunshine had given way to patchy cloud. However, 47105 just manages to find some sunshine as it passes Hailes with the 2B34 11:48 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 'Autumn Showcase' event.

Several freight trains were run during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 'Autumn Showcase' event on 27 October 2024, with passengers able to travel in the two brake vans. 28xx 2-8-0 2807 passes Hailes with the late running 7C33 12:55 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service.

A perfect exhaust from Manor Class 4-6-0 7820 Dinmore Manor, as it passes Didbrook on 27 October 2024 with the early morning Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse ECS, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 'Autumn Showcase' event.

In perfect photographic conditions, 2884 Class 2-8-0 3850 passes Didbrook on 27 October 2024 with the 7C09 08:35 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse freight, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 'Autumn Showcase' event.

Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co. passes Didbrook on 27 October 2024 with the 2C11 09:11 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service, during the  Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 'Autumn Showcase' event.

L425 (51363, 59510 & 51405) calls at Hayles Abbey Halt on 27 October 2024 with the 2C13 09:25 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. This was the unit's last day in traffic on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, as it has been sold to the Scottish Railway Preservation Society. Although the unit spent most of its working life on the Western Region, working out of Paddington, the move to Scotland will actually be taking it back home, as its new base at Bo'ness is not that far from Linwood, where it was built in 1960.

47105 passes Hayles Abbey Halt on 27 October 2024 with the 2C17 10:20 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 'Autumn Showcase' event, which featured an intensive service of both steam and diesel traction.

170473 leaves Beverley on 22 October 2024 with the 1J47 12:01 Scarborough to Sheffield Northern service, which on this occasion had started from Filey at 12:17. This view from the A164 Beverley bypass is severely restricted by the lineside tree on the left, and will soon be compromised by the new houses being built on the right. However, with Beverley Minster prominent in the background, it certainly makes an interesting picture.

With Beverley Minster dominating the background, the 3J51 09:50 York Thrall Europa to York Thrall Europa Rail Head Treatment Train heads south from the town on 22 October 2024 with 37175 leading, and 37116 at the rear. This was running 15 minutes late. Beverley Minster is one of the largest parish churches in Britain, and is larger than many cathedrals.

Running 17 minutes late, the 3J51 09:50 York Thrall Europa to York Thrall Europa Rail Head Treatment Train passes Crabley Creek on 22 October 2024 with 37116 leading, and 37175 brining up the rear. The signal box survives here because when the line was constructed, the owner of Crabley Farm (the only buildings on the south side of the line) only allowed a level crossing to be built on condition that the adjacent signal box was always manned. A very necessary requirement, as otherwise the farm would be cut off, as the River Humber prevents any access from the south.

37175 approaches Seamer on 21 October 2024 with the 3J51 09:50 York Thrall Europa to York Thrall Europa Rail Head Treatment Train, with 37116 bringing up the rear. This was supposed to have been a sunny morning, but unfortunately I didn't see the sun all day!

The 3J51 09:50 York Thrall Europa to York Thrall Europa Rail Head Treatment Train crosses the Yorkshire Wolds near Reighton on 21 October 2024, with 37116 leading, and 37175 bringing up the rear. Unlike my local RHTT in Gloucestershire, this one always seems to run to time.

37175 brings up the rear of the 3J51 09:50 York Thrall Europa to York Thrall Europa Rail Head Treatment Train at Reighton on 21 October 2024. Classmate 37116 is leading. This is on the Scarborough to Hull line, this section of which opened in 1847.

37116 passes the site of Carnaby station on 21 October 2024 with the 3J51 09:50 York Thrall Europa to York Thrall Europa Rail Head Treatment Train. 37175 is bringing up the rear. The station closed in 1970, but as can be seen here, both platforms are still in situ, and the buildings still survive. Although only a small wayside station, there were plans for this to be the junction for the Bridlington and North Frodingham Light Railway, which was authorised in 1898. However, this line was never built, probably the right decision as the traffic would have been extremely light.

The 3J51 09:50 York Thrall Europa to York Thrall Europa Rail Head Treatment Train passes Eastrington on 21 October 2024 with 37175 leading, and 37116 bringing up the rear. This is the spot where the former Hull & Barnsley line formerly crossed this line at an acute angle. The surviving embankment is hidden by the trees, but just a few yards to the right all trace of the embankment has been removed.

37116 brings up the rear of the 3J51 09:50 York Thrall Europa to York Thrall Europa Rail Head Treatment Train at Eastrington on 21 October 2024. Classmate 37175 is leading. The bridge in the background is the A614 Howden to Driffield road.

37175 comes off the Goole line at Gilberdyke on 21 October 2024 with the 3J51 09:50 York Thrall Europa to York Thrall Europa Rail Head Treatment Train, with 37116 bringing up the rear. The signal box closed in 2018, when the line from here to Ferriby lost its semaphore signalling.

After having just reversed at Brough, The 3J51 09:50 York Thrall Europa to York Thrall Europa Rail Head Treatment Train passes Gilberdyke for the second time in 27 minutes on 21 October 2024, this time with 37116 leading, and 37175 bringing up the rear.

37175 approaches Goole on 20 October 2024 with the 3J51 10:00 York Thrall Europa to York Thrall Europa Rail Head Treatment Train. 37116 is brining up the rear. This was just after the rain had stopped. Had it come a few minutes earlier, it would have been a very different picture, with the torrential rain blotting out most of the background.

37116 brings up the rear of the 3J51 10:00 York Thrall Europa to York Thrall Europa Rail Head Treatment Train at Goole on 20 October 2024. 37175 is leading. The train was travelling slowly, as it had almost been brought to a stand by a red signal.

37175 brings up the rear of the 3J51 10:00 York Thrall Europa to York Thrall Europa Rail Head Treatment Train, as it approaches Goole for the second time on 20 October 2024. 37116 is just about to take the train over Potters Grange Junction, where the little used line from Rawcliffe joins the main line. The head on lighting doesn't improve the picture, but the twin water towers in the background immediately identifies the location.

Running 30 minutes late, 802011 approaches Shipton station on 17 October 2024 with the 1P28 11:57 Great Malvern to Paddington GWR service. This had actually started from Worcester Foregate Street, due to the 1W17 08:51 Paddington to Great Malvern train being over an hour late by the time it got to Worcester. Great Malvern passengers are used to this kind of poor service, but for once this wasn't GWR's fault, but was caused by a track circuit failure.

37407 Blackpool Tower passes through Shipton's tiny station on 17 October 2024 with the 5Z69 09:25 Kidderminster Severn Valley Railway to Eastleigh Arlington barrier vehicle move, comprising former First Great Western Motorail vans 96605, 96603, 96607 & 96602. This was running over two hours late, due to an earlier track circuit failure near Evesham. There was a lot more cloud than at the train's booked time, and it was probably lucky that I was standing in the shadow of one of the lorries in the car park belonging to Mathews Cotswold Flour, so that I couldn't see just how close the sun was to one of the clouds as the train approached!