165123 arrives at Radley station on 12 August 2025 with the 2V43 15:35 Banbury to Didcot Parkway GWR service, during one of the numerous heatwaves of the summer of 2025. This viewpoint has changed considerably since the 1980s!

66415 You Are Never Alone passes through Radley station on 12 August 2025 with the 4O99 11:14 Leeds to Southampton Maritime freightliner. This was running 20 minutes late. All trace of Radley station's former role as a junction for the Abingdon branch have now disappeared.

A Turbo meeting at Radley station on 12 August 2025. 165127 comes to a stop with the 2E14 17:04 Didcot Parkway to Evesham GWR service, just as 165131 arrives at the other platform with the 2L47 17:05 Oxford to Didcot Parkway train. This units shouldn't have passed here, as 165131 was running four minutes late. Although 165127 was running to time, this is the dreaded 2E14, so as is often the case, it was cancelled at Oxford!

Former TransPennine 68032 passes through Radley station on 12 August 2025 with the 5Q86 12:34 Long Marston to Eastleigh (via Birmingham), taking two Mk5 sets for repainting into Chiltern Railways colours. 68029 is bringing up the rear. This should have been the second of two interesting trains to pass through the station within 15 minutes, but the other one, the 5Q76 16:18 Bicester MoD to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings Class 701 EMU move was cancelled. Instead, the loco, 69009 Western Consort, went via the new line to Milton Keynes as the 0Z04 18:45 Bicester Village to Leicester light engine!

68029 brings up the rear of the 5Q86 12:34 Long Marston to Eastleigh Mk5 stock move at Radley on 12 August 2025. 68032 is leading the train, which comprises two sets of former TransPennine vehicles, heading for a new life with Chiltern Railways.

66518 passes South Marston on 11 August 2025 with the 4L33 09:59 Wentloog to London Gateway freightliner. Note the 'feathers' on the signal directly above the first container. This controls access from the bi-directionally signalled up line, into the disused South Marston Euro Terminal.

Running a few minutes late, 66561 passes South Marston on 11 August 2025 with the 6F02 11:36 Hinksey to Hallen Marsh Junction, conveying 20 JNA wagons, most of which (at least towards the rear of the train!) are loaded with ballast.

Another pair of 1980s built EMUs head off to the scrapyard. 37884 Cepheus passes South Marston on 11 August 2025 with the 5Q76 10:35 Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings to Newport Docks (Sims Group), taking former South Western Railway 455919 & 455915 on their final journey. Note the earthworks in the background. There will soon be houses in the fields to the north of the line here, as a huge new housing estate has got the go-ahead, massively increasing the size of South Marston village.

The destination blind should read 'Newport via Swindon' rather than 'Woking via Surbiton'! 455915 brings up the rear of the 5Q76 10:35 Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings to Newport Docks (Sims Group) at South Marston on 11 August 2025. Along with 455919, it is heading for the cutter's torch, being hauled by 37884 Cepheus.

With a wave from the driver, 59001 Yeoman Endeavour passes South Marston on 11 August 2025 with the 6C48 12:50 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties. This train is booked to stop at Challow for three minutes to allow the 1C15 13:00 Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads GWR service to pass. Even though this train was cancelled, the 59 was routed into the loop at Wantage Road as usual, and then waited at Challow for nothing at all to pass it, then was put back out onto the mainline!

69009 Western Consort passes Kemble Wick on 11 August 2025 with the 5Q77 12:34 Long Marston to Eastleigh, taking South Western Railway EMU 701060 back to the south of England, after its short break in Worcestershire. The madness of moving these troublesome units around continues. This is the second time I have seen this particular unit travelling back from Long Marston in 2025! After I photographed it in February, I didn't expect it would make a return visit!

800019 Johnny Johnson MBE DFM approaches Culham on 10 August 2025 with the 1P57 14:56 Oxford to Paddington GWR service. I had gone here to photograph the 2Z01 13:00 Derby RTC to Eastleigh East Yard Network Rail DMU, but I gave up when it came to a stop in Bletchley station. It did later proceed, but passed here over two hours late, by which time I was already back home!

47712 (masquerading as scrapped 47709 The Lord Provost) passes Hungerford Common on 9 August 2025 with the Steam Dreams 1Z72 06:11 Colchester to Kingswear 'Paignton & Kingswear' railtour. 57311 The Institute of Mechanical Engineers is hiding on the rear of the train. The 47 would be replaced by GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 5029 Nunney Castle at Taunton.

66748 St. Michael's Mount passes Hungerford Common on 9 August 2025 with the Belmond 5Z66 09:00 Cranmore to Victoria 'Britannic Explorer' ECS. 66708 Glory to Ukraine is bringing up the rear. Instead of heading for London, this train should have been on its way to Cornwall as part of a four day luxury charter. However, after a lavish publicity campaign, the whole 'Britannic Explorer' tour programme descended into farce, as door lock problems on the coaches meant that all the planned trips were cancelled. In view of this, I was keen to get a decent picture of the light blue liveried train, in case the whole operation gets abandoned!

59005 Kenneth J Painter & 66587 As One We Can approach Crofton on 8 August 2025 with the 6V50 14:21 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Merehead Quarry stone empties. A few minutes later there was another double header (with completely deferent liveries), the 6V60 14:43 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Whatley Quarry.

59201 Westbury PSB 1984-2024 & 66590 approach Crofton on 8 August 2025 with the 6V60 14:43 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Whatley Quarry stone empties. A few minutes earlier the 6V50 14:21 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Merehead Quarry empties had also passed by, double headed.

66708 Glory to Ukraine approaches Crofton on 8 August 2025 with the Belmond 5Z10 15:48 Victoria to Cranmore 'Britannic Explorer' ECS. This was a last minute replacement for the identically pathed 1Z10, which itself replaced an abandoned four day trip to Cornwall. 66748 St. Michael's Mount is brining up the rear. The introduction of the ultra luxurious 'Britannic Explorer' sleeper train has been nothing short of a disaster. Several cancelled trains, and a train to Yorkshire that only got as far as Bedford!

The golden low evening sunshine accentuates the tall parched roadside grass near Crofton on 8 August 2025, as 66507 & 66688 head west with the 6V70 16:31 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Merehead Quarry stone empties.

Complete with Railway 200 headboard, 20137 approaches Stanton on 6 August 2025 with the 09:40 Toddington to Broadway Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway service. A long lens was required here in order to avoid some foreground shadows. Stanway Viaduct can be seen in the background.

20137 passes Stanton on 6 August 2025 with the 10:15 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. This well known Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway location is the view from an unusual combined footbridge and aqueduct. However, due to the extremely dry summer, there was no water flowing in the little stream on this occasion!

158771 passes Badgeworth on 6 August 2025 with the 2E57 10:38 Bristol Temple Meads to Worcester Foregate Street GWR service. Apart from the radio mast, this location has hardly changed at all in the last forty years. Probably the only difference is that there is much more road traffic passing over the bridge!

69009 Western Consort passes Badgeworth on 6 August 2025 with the 5Q75 09:20 Eastleigh to Long Marston, taking South Western Railway (now nationalised) EMUs 701520 & 70522 for storage. This was running 12 minutes early, but a protracted run round at Worcester saw it arrive at Long Marston 50 minutes late.

43357 passes through Islip station on 5 August 2025 with the early running 1Q48 14:18 Rugby Depot Access Line to Derby RTC Network Rail test train. It would return a little later. after reversing at Oxford, this time with 43272 leading.

43272 passes Islip on 5 August 2025 with the 1Q48 14:18 Rugby Depot Access Line to Derby RTC Network Rail test train. The train had passed through the station 35 minutes earlier with 43357 leading, prior to its reversal at Oxford.

The sorry story of the massively delayed introduction of the South Western Railway's Class 701 EMUs continues. 69009 Western Consort passes through Islip station on 5 August 2025 with the 5Q76 16:18 Bicester MoD to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings, conveying 701040. This was running 19 minutes early.

After three failed attempts, I have finally managed to get a picture of the 2E14 17:04 Didcot Parkway to Evesham GWR service calling at my local station, Ascott-under-Wychwood. This train, which is the only down train of the day to call at Ascott, is frequently cancelled, and as in order to photograph it I have to leave home before the train leaves Oxford (where it often terminates), it becomes something of a lottery. 165126 is pictured arriving at the station on 4 August 2025, running 13 minutes late, which has unfortunately meant that the shadows have become quite intrusive. This late running is quite normal. 35% of the time so far in 2025!

After waiting for eight minutes at the signal that can just be seen in the background, 802003 slowly gets underway again at Ascott-under-Wychwood on 4 August 2025 with the 1W33 16:58  Paddington to Great Malvern GWR service. The delay was caused by the late running 2E14 17:04 Didcot Parkway to Evesham 'all stations' DMU, which had to get to Moreton-in-Marsh before this train could proceed.

73140 provides the power at the rear of the 1B13 10:44 Waterloo to Bournemouth Network SouthEast service, as it passes Deepcut on 28 August 1987. Approaching in the background is 33208 with the 6Y80 10:22 Southampton Bevois Park Up Yard to Halling Cement Works empty Rugby Cement tanks. This could easily have been a ruined picture, but as there was quite a speed difference, I still managed to get a decent picture of the 33.

33208 passes Deepcut on 28 August 1987 with the 6Y80 10:22 Southampton Bevois Park Up Yard to Halling Cement Works empty Rugby Cement tanks. Disappearing into the distance is the 1B13 10:44 Waterloo to Bournemouth Network SouthEast service, being pushed by 73140. From other pictures that I have seen, it seems that a Class 73 was slightly more common on this cement working than a Class 33, but I'm not sure how unusual a 'Slim Jim' Class 33/2 such as this was.

37198 passes Aiskew (near Bedale) on 14 May 2005 with the 20:00 Leeming Bar to Leyburn service. 37003 is bringing up the rear. The Wensleydale Railway is not particularly overgrown, but even so it was difficult finding a spot that wasn't mostly in shadow this late in the evening.

A jumble of miscellaneous railway equipment, pictured amid the weeds in the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Toddington Yard on 7 August 1993. The smokebox from GWR 28xx 2-8-0 2807 sits next to Wickham Trolley Type 27A Mk III, No. 7516.

150103 leaves Kingham station on 12 December 1992 with the 2B41 14:35 Oxford to Great Malvern Regional Railways service. An industrial estate now occupies the waste ground on the left. Note the vintage bullhead track.

69013 passes Yarnton on 2 August 2025 with the UK Railtours 1Z30 06:17 Paddington to Derby 'The Greatest Gathering Special Train'. 57310 UK Railtours is bringing up the rear. This had left London 24 minutes late, due to the late arrival of the ECS from Acton Lane Reception Sidings. However, it was only five minutes late here. Two different re-engineered loco classes on one train. 69013 (ex 56312) & 57310 (ex 47831).

57310 UK Railtours is an appropriate choice to bring up the rear of the UK Railtours 1Z30 06:17 Paddington to Derby 'The Greatest Gathering Special Train' at Yarnton on 2 August 2025. 69013 is just passing underneath the A44 road bridge, at the front of the train.

47337 passes Hinksey Yard on 28 April 1999 with the 4M99 16:47 Southampton to Crewe Basford Hall freightliner. The ancient footbridge here has provided generations of Oxfordshire Railway photographers with mostly uninterrupted views of both north and southbound trains.

47237 approaches Overton from the west on 27 September 1987. For some reason I didn't record the loco's number at the time, but have been able to identify it recently by trawling through the pictures of all the likely candidates on the internet, until I found an exact match.

Class 442 5-WES 2405 rounds the curve at Pirbright on 21 March 1992 with the 12:45 Poole to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. It's a real pity that just a single driving vehicle is all that survives from this class of 24 units. Directly behind the train is the Basingstoke Canal, which was built in 1794 to connect Basingstoke with the River Wey Navigation at Weybridge.

142029 passes Salwick No.2 Signal Box on 15 February 1992 with the 11:20 Stockport to Blackpool North service. The signal box was demolished in December 2017, when the line was resignalled and electrified. The 1889 built box may have done well to survive for over a century, but the Pacer isn't doing bad either. Designed for a life of no more than 20 years, 142029 has now been preserved, and has already doubled that life expectancy.

Photographers rush to get their pictures of 50015 Valiant & 50008 Thunderer, as the dedicated railtour pair arrive at Kemble station on 19 October 1991 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z16 07:58 Paddington to Cardiff 'Hoover Hoop' railtour. The lighting is very head on, but this was purely a bonus shot, as the train's photo stop here allowed me to drive to nearby Minety, where the sun angle was better.

L841 (53312, 59091 & 53332) accelerates away from Goring on 28 August 1991 with the 2C56 16:30 Reading to Oxford Network SouthEast service. This picture was taken from a bridge that provides access to a few riverside houses. There was once a ferry across the Thames nearby, although there was nothing on the other side of the river, apart from fields!

47513 Severn passes Whessoe (near Darlington) on 10 April 1993 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z43 14:15 Eastgate to Swindon 'Weardale Explorer' railtour. The rusty fence in the foreground is a remnant of the formerly rail connected Whessoe Lane Brickworks.

47843 passes Ashchurch on 2 July 1990 with what is presumably a loco hauled substitute for the 1V38 06:05 Leeds to Plymouth HST. The six coach train comprises a Mk1 buffet and five First Class Mk2s. The previous day the loco had worked the 15:01 Plymouth to York service, again in the place of a HST.

47853 Rail Express brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z56 05:34 Reading to Harworth Colliery 'Joint Line Jester' railtour at Kirkby Woodhouse on 17 January 2004. 56062 is leading the train. The hill behind the train is the landscaped former Bentinck Colliery spoil tip.

L412 (51389, 59499 & 51347) leaves Moreton-in-Marsh station on 26 May 1986 with the 2A56 16:46 Hereford to Oxford service. In the other platform is a West Midlands interloper. Instead of the usual Reading allocated Class 117, the 2B20 16:40 Reading to Moreton-in-Marsh is Tyseley's Class 116 set TS 613 (53863, 59594 & 53916).

47376 Freightliner 1995 passes Stanton on 25 July 2025 with the 2C45 15:45 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. The loco was purchased from Freightliner in 2002, and arrived at Toddington the following year.

D6948 opens up at Stanton, as it heads north on 25 July 2025 with the 2B44 14:55 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. The picturesque village of Stanton is half a mile away, at the foot of the Cotswold Hills.

One of the highlights of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 2025 Diesel Gala was the appearance of visiting pioneer Class 37 D6700. It is pictured here passing Stanton on 25 July 2025 with the 2C16 16:30 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service.

20137 & 20228 pass Laverton on 25 July 2025 with the 2B15 15:40 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Photo taken from a public footpath crossing.

20228 & 20137 look superb in the late afternoon light, as they pass Laverton on 25 July 2025 with the 2W17 17:18 Broadway to Toddington service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Although the highest TOPS numbered Class 20, 20228 was not the last loco to enter service. It was in fact the first of the second batch of locos that were ordered after the failure of the Class 17 Clayton centre cab locos. It entered traffic in January 1966 as D8128.

47105 & 50021 Rodney pass Laverton on 25 July 2025 with the 2B16 16:25 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Note the very different bodyside height of the two loco designs. I have only got a few pictures of Class 47/50 combinations in BR days. Hardly surprising, as the two types could not work in multiple.

50021 Rodney & 47105 pass Laverton on 25 July 2025 with the 2T18 18:15 Broadway to Toddington service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. This was the final train of the day, and an excellent way to end a day's photography. 

D6700 passes Stanton on 25 July 2025 with the 2C11 11:15 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. Note the attention to detail, with the correct headcode being displayed. The pioneer Class 37 was visiting the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway for their Diesel Gala.

Faded green 20137 & immaculate blue 20228 head north at Stanton on 25 July 2025 with the 2B10 10:25 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala.

Welcome back Rodney! Three decades after it left the railway, 50021 Rodney arrived back at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway in July 2025, to take part in their Diesel Gala. In the intervening years it had spent some time well away from normal Class 50 territory, at the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway, in Scotland. It is pictured here passing Stanton on 25 July 2025 with the 2C12 12:00 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service.

50021 Rodney passes Hayles Abbey Halt on 25 July 2025 with the 2C12 12:00 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Note how parched the landscape is - the result of several recent heatwaves.

50021 Rodney emerges from Greet Tunnel on 25 July 2025 with the 2C12 12:00 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. This a bonus shot, as I didn't expect to beat the train here from Hayles Abbey Halt. In the event I had less than a minute to spare.

D6700 approaches Greet Tunnel on 25 July 2025 with the 2B12 12:40 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway' Diesel Gala. I opted for a slightly different viewpoint for this picture, looking through the weeds growing above the tunnel portal. Stopping down to f16 ensured that everything was in focus.

45149 emerges from Greet Tunnel on 25 July 2025 with the 2C42 12:45 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. The Peak is now looking very much like I remember the class from BR days, with patchy faded paintwork, although without the other common feature that I remember - severe oil stains!

50021 Rodney slowly approaches Greet Tunnel on 25 July 2025 with the 2B13 13:25 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. The Malvern Hills can just be seen through the heat haze in the background.

A Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway English Electric meeting. 20228 & 20137 arrive at Toddington on 25 July 2025 with the 2C14 14:15 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service, while 50021 Rodney waits for it to enter the station, so that it can proceed north with the 2B13 13:245 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway train.

50021 Rodney & 47105 arrive at Toddington on 25 July 2025 with the 2C15 15:00 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Diesel Gala. Class 50s did not very often work with 47s in BR days, as the locos could not work in multiple.

Sunshine amid the clouds at Hungerford Common on 24 July 2025. 60029 Ben Nevis slows down on the approach to the loop with the 6M02 07:04 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead HS2 stone train. It looks like it won't be long before the lineside bushes make this view impossible again.

Paddington goes to Hungerford! 'Paddington in Peru' liveried 802106 passes Hungerford Common on 24 July 2025 with the 1A77 08:35 Plymouth to Paddington GWR service. Although I knew it was coming, it was still a 50/50 chance that the end with the vinyls would be leading.

Is somebody expecting snow in July? Running nearly four hours late, Swietelsky liveried 37405 & Colas liveried 37116 pass Hungerford Common on 24 July 2025 with the 7Z41 08:27 (12:23 actual) Fairwater Yard to Wolverton Centre Sidings snowplough move.

37116 & 37405 pass Hungerford Common on 24 July 2025 with the very late running 7Z41 08:27 (12:23 actual) Fairwater Yard to Wolverton Centre Sidings snowplough move. I had given up on this and was half way home before it left, but decided to return to Hungerford, as this is not something you see every day!

33035 stands outside the Wensleydale Railway's loco shed at Leeming Bar on 20 July 2025. The loco, which entered service as D6553 in May 1961, and was preserved in 1997, is owned by Pioneer Diesels Ltd.

The Wensleydale Railway's resident Class 03 shunter is pictured at Leeming Bar on 20 July 2025, with one of the line's Pacer units in the background. After its BR career, 03144 spent some time with the Territorial Army, before entering preservation.

Sandwiched between 03144 & 37250, Northern liveried 142060 stands in the siding at Leeming Bar on 20 July 2025. The Wensleydale Railway is rather over supplied with Pacer units, only a few of which are actually in use.

Leeming Bar Signal Box, pictured on 20 July 2025. The box, which replaces the demolished original box, came from North Wootton (near Kings Lynn). It was moved to the Wensleydale Railway in 2008. The box was originally much shorter than this, and in fact the lower section seen here very skillfully disguises a new concrete block base.

In a scene reminiscent of the 1953 Ealing film 'The Titfield Thunderbolt', Class 121 DMU 55032 has one of its radiators topped up at Finghall Lane on 20 July 2025. Whilst working the Wensleydale Railway's 12:00 Leeming Bar to Leyburn train, one of the unit's engines shut down due to lack of coolant. Anything that came to hand, including this kettle, was used to add water, but although the unit carried on to Leyburn, and then returned to Leeming Bar, it was decided to get Pacer 143623 ready at short notice for the next train.

55032 stands at Leyburn station on 20 July 2025, waiting to work the retimed 13:45 Wensleydale Railway service to Leeming Bar. It was late arriving at the station, as it suffered low coolant problems, and had to have its radiator topped up at Finghall Lane.

143623 is pictured in a torrential downpour at Leyburn station on 20 July 2025. It had just arrived with the delayed 14:30 train from Leeming Bar, and would shortly be heading back with the 15:30 Leyburn to Leeming Bar service. The Wensleydale Railway's trains for this day were all due to be worked by Class 121 'Bubble Car' 55032, but when that suffered coolant problems, the Pacer was hurriedly substituted for the last train of the day.

DMBS 51353, formerly from set L416, and latterly 117301, stands at Leeming Bar on 20 July 2025. When the DMU arrived at the Wensleydale Railway the original intention was to restore it to operational condition, but as it was in poor condition it was sold to the Leeming Bar Community Hub.

A rainy day on the Wensleydale Railway on 20 July 2025. 47714 is in the foreground, and in the background 143623 has just arrived with the 15:30 train from Leyburn. Just visible behind the Pacer is Class 121 55032, which had been removed from service with coolant problems.

1013 (with S60119 leading) approaches Potters Grange Junction, Goole, on 19 July 2025 with the Branch Line Society 1Z65 06:10 Hastings to Goole Glassworks 'Salt and Pepper Shaker' railtour. After reversing in the station, the train would traverse the line on the right, to the Guardian Glass factory.

1013 (with S60118 Tunbridge Wells bringing up the rear) approaches Potters Grange Junction, Goole, on 19 July 2025 with the Branch Line Society 1Z65 06:10 Hastings to Goole Glassworks 'Salt and Pepper Shaker' railtour. The railtour is named after the two distinctive water towers visible in the background, which are known locally as the Salt and Pepper Pot, although nobody seems to know for sure which is which!

With Goole's 'Salt and Pepper Pot' water towers, after which the train is named, visible in the background, 1013 (with S60118 Tunbridge Wells leading) takes the Guardian Glass factory line at Potters Grange Junction in the rain on 19 July 2025 with the Branch Line Society 1Z65 06:10 Hastings to Goole Glassworks 'Salt and Pepper Shaker' railtour. The track to the train's immediate right is the line to Rawcliffe and Knottingley, and the main line to Doncaster can just be glimpsed through the bushes on the right.

1013 (with S60119 bringing up the rear) takes the Guardian Glass factory line at Potters Grange Junction, Goole, on 19 July 2025 with the Branch Line Society 1Z65 06:10 Hastings to Goole Glassworks 'Salt and Pepper Shaker' railtour.

170474 leaves Goole station in the rain on 19 July 2025 with the 1J47 12:00 Scarborough to Sheffield Northern service. The large brick building in the background is the former North Eastern Hotel, now a branch of Costa Coffee.

In torrential rain, 1013 (with S60119 leading) runs 'wrong line' along Goole Up Goods Loop with the Branch Line Society 1Z66 13:55 Goole Glassworks to Hastings 'Salt and Pepper shaker' railtour. The train had just crossed over both main lines at Potters Grange Junction, which can just be seen through the rain in the background.

1013 (with S60118 Tunbridge Wells bringing up the rear) leaves Goole Up Goods Loop in the pouring rain on 19 July 2025 with the Branch Line Society 1Z66 13:55 Goole Glassworks to Hastings 'Salt and Pepper shaker' railtour. Even the narrow bodied 'Hastings Gauge' vehicles in the train are getting brushed by the trackside bushes!

350109 & 350252 pass Barby Nortoft on 18 July 2025 with the 1Y42 13:06 Birmingham New Street to Euston London Northwestern Railway service. During my brief visit, this was the only train that passed in sunshine!

New and old Freightliner liveries at Barby Nortoft on 18 July 2025. 90041 Peter Waterman OBE & 90049 slowly pass the large Great Bear distribution centre with the 4L67 10:20 Trafford Park to Felixstowe North freightliner. This was running 32 minutes late.

90010 275 Railway Squadron (Volunteers) & 90016 pass Barby Nortoft on 18 July 2025 with the 4M63 09:12 Felixstowe North to Garston freightliner. Slightly spoiling the picture in the background, 350264 & 350241 are standing at a red signal with the soon to be delayed 1Y44 13:36 Birmingham New Street to Euston London Northwestern Railway service.

70016 very slowly passes Barby Nortoft on 18 July 2025 with the 6B71 07:16 Tunstead to Northampton Castle Yard stone train. Every single wagon has been attacked by some moron with a spray can. Unfortunately this is becoming an increasingly common sight.

56115 passes Stokesay on 27 May 1996 with the 6V78 15:30 Dee Marsh to Margam, which on this occasion consists entirely of eight distinctive blue covered scrap wagons. Usually there were just a few of these wagons tacked on the end of the more usual rake of steel empties. The Long Mynd and Wenlock Edge form the background to this view, with Stokesay Castle on the right.

47513 Severn passes through Kemble station in the rain on 16 March 1989 with a Cheltenham Gold Cup race special. In the 1980s there were at least three loco hauled trains going to Cheltenham on Gold Cup Day, so it was always worth venturing out, whatever the weather!

59005 Kenneth J Painter passes Twerton on 12 August 1993 with the 7C42 11:52 Merehead to Hallen Moor stone train, taking another load of stone to the construction site of the Second Severn Crossing. This viewpoint has completely changed. Trees now block out the view on the right, and the cricket pavilion on the left has been destroyed.

Running an hour late, 20304 & 20305 pass through Hexham station on 14 September 1996 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z58 04:49 Bristol Temple Meads to Newcastle 'Geordie Choppers' railtour. At 633 miles, this was my longest single day's railtour photography, and something that would not be possible with today's electric cars!

20304 & 20305 pass Settle Junction on 14 September 1996 with the late running Pathfinder Tours 1Z58 13:45 Newcastle to Bristol Temple Meads 'Geordie Choppers' railtour. The train is taking the line to Carnforth. The tracks on the left mark the southern end of the famous Settle & Carlisle line.

45138 approaches Wickwar Tunnel on 10 August 1985 with the 1M28 15:04 Paignton to Nottingham service. A day out to the West Country for the loco, after spending the previous week working Midland Mainline trains out of St Pancras. It would return to Midland Mainline duties the following day.

47487 approaches Shipton station on 12 June 1982 with the 1A75 07:05 Hereford to Paddington service. Unfortunately I took this a little too early, so this is a severe enlargement from a portion of the original Kodachrome 64 transparency. This is the only time that I saw this locomotive. It was withdrawn in 1988, and cut up the following year. The brickwork in the foreground marks the site of the former end loading dock. Just visible in the grass in the middle distance are the remains of the foundations for Shipton's goods shed. Like most of the stations on the Cotswold Line, this was a Brunel designed broad gauge timber structure.

37378 stands at the head of a train of Tiger PBA china clay hoppers at Bescot on 15 March 1989. Formerly 37204, the loco had been renumbered the previous year, after it was fitted with regeared bogies. This is the view from the waste ground near Friar Park. Traffic on the M6 motorway can be seen in the background.

56103 & 56113 pass Compton Beauchamp on 12 July 2025 with the 1Z61 16:53 Bristol Temple Meads to Derby section of the Branch Line Society's 'Tytherington Quarrier' railtour. Unfortunately this tour had turned out to be slightly misnamed, as due to a points failure it did not traverse the Tytherington branch. The train had originally started from Derby at 04:45, and would not get back until 23:56. Very nearly a whole day's journey!

159008 passes through the chalk cutting at Lower Wyke on 12 July 2025 with the 1L26 06:40 Exeter St Davids to Waterloo South Western Railway service. 159007 should have been attached to this train at Salisbury, after it had arrived with the 1A26 07:36 from Castle Cary. However that was running 54 minutes late on the approach to Salisbury, so the connection was not made. Obviously the original plan was for this unit to wait, as it was 15 minutes late when it passed me.

159016, 159105 & 159021 pass Lower Wyke on 12 July 2025 with the 1L32 08:24 Exeter St Davids to Waterloo service. South Western Railway is now nationalised, but judging by the obsolete South West Trains livery on the middle unit, it could be some time before a Great British Railways livery is applied.

Running 35 minutes late, 60029 Ben Nevis passes through the heavily overgrown cutting at Lower Wyke on 12 July 2025 with the Branch Line Society 1Z58 08:50 Acton Yard to Yate 'Tytherington Quarrier' railtour. 57303 is bringing up the rear. As the name suggests, this train should have traversed the Tytherington branch, but that was prevented by a points failure.

57303 brings up the rear of the late running Branch Line Society 1Z58 08:50 Acton Yard to Yate (should have been Tytherington) 'Tytherington Quarrier' railtour at Lower Wyke on 12 July 2025. 60029 Ben Nevis is the leading loco.

56103 rounds the curve at Crofton on 12 July 2025 with the 4V23 11:04 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bristol East Depot stone empties. This working was in order to get the loco to Bristol to work the returning Branch Line Society ' Tytherington Quarrier' railtour, which explains the silver painted buffers. The Kennet & Avon Canal's Crofton Pumping Station can be seen in the background.

60026 Helvellyn passes Little Bedwyn on 11 July 2025 with the 6V25 09:53 Quainton Railhead to Tytherington HS2 stone empties. This was running 19 minutes early, despite the fact that earlier in the journey it had been 72 minutes late! The dust blowing up in the background is obviously not from the empty wagons of this train, but from the loaded wagons of the 6A70 14:08 Whatley Quarry to Dawley Loop train, the back of which can just be seen above the footbridge.