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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Viewed from high up on Wain Hill, which gives its name to the nearby Wainhill, 45108 heads north on 6 April 2025 with the 13:40 Chinnor to Princes Risborough service, during the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway's Diesel Gala.

47715 passes Wainhill on 6 April 2025 with the 14:10 Princes Risborough to Chinnor service, during the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway's Diesel Gala. The lighting was getting a little head on, but the faded Network SouthEast livery still shows up well.

1001 & 1013 pass the site of Launton station on 5 April 2025 with the Hastings Diesels Ltd 1Z49 09:02 Hastings to Milton Keynes Central 'East West DEMU' railtour. S60000 Hastings is leading, with three other motor coaches in the train. S60016 Mountfield & S60118 Tunbridge Wells are the third and fourth vehicles, and S60119 is bringing up the rear.

The Hastings Diesels Ltd 1Z49 09:02 Hastings to Milton Keynes Central 'East West DEMU' railtour passes Launton on 5 April 2025, with 1013 bringing up the rear and 1001 leading. It looks like there will soon be a forest in the background!

1013 (with S60119 leading) & 1001 pass Launton on 5 April 2025 with the Hastings Diesels Ltd 1Z50 14:11 Milton Keynes Central to Bicester Village 'East West DEMU' railtour. As with most locations on the newly upgraded East West line, lots of trees have been planted on both sides of the line, presumably to make some work for the autumn leaf busting trains in the future!

The Hastings Diesels Ltd 1Z50 14:11 Milton Keynes Central to Bicester Village 'East West DEMU' railtour passes Launton on 5 April 2025 with 1013 leading, and 1001 bringing up the rear. A very backlit picture, but worth recording, as this is definitely out of the ordinary.

1013 (with S60119 leading) & 1001 pass Charlton-on-Otmoor on 5 April 2025 with the Hastings Diesels Ltd 1Z51 16:30 Bicester Village to Hastings 'East West DEMU' railtour. It's a pity that the two recently painted blue and grey vehicles were at the rear of the train, but this characterful unit is always worth photographing, especially in such perfect weather.

Biffa liveried 66783 The Flying Dustman passes Up Hatherley in superb early morning light on 3 April 2025 with the 4M54 07:00 Cardiff Docks to Burton West Yard scrap empties. Luckily this was running exactly on time, unlike the previous day's train, which was 22 minutes early. At this time of the morning 22 minutes makes a lot of difference to the length of the shadows!

There is evidence of recent extensive lineside vegetation clearance at Southam on 3 April 2025, as Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co. nears the southern end of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway with the 10:00 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service. The previous year only a very much more head on viewpoint was possible.

W55024 passes Southam on 3 April 2025 with the 10:55 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. This location has recently benefited from the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's track clearance gang. Photographers beware - some of the local residents are not very friendly!

37800 Cassiopeia passes Stoke Orchard on 3 April 2025 with the 5Q76 11:06 Crewe South Yard to Newport Docks (Sims Group). Previously this loco has taken a number of Class 319 EMUs for scrapping, but this is a little different, as this unit (319373) had been converted into a parcels unit in a failed attempt by Orion High Speed Logistics to find a new use for the class. All the seats were removed and the unit given a stylish repaint, all of which was a waste of time and money, as here it is being hauled away to be scrapped. I had deliberately chosen this location, as although the lighting is rather head on, I knew that the abundant lineside blackthorn bushes would be in full bloom.

A wave from the driver of the 1P19 08:30 Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour South Western Railway service, as it passes Chalton in perfect spring sunshine on 2 April 2025. The 12 coach train consists of 450085, 450097 & 450109. With the exception of the distinctive tree on the getting a little larger, there seems to be remarkably little change in this view in last few decades. Note the classic Southern Railway concrete footbridge in the background.

444003 & 444040 pass Chalton on 2 April 2025 with the 1P21 09:00 Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour South Western Railway service. Chalton Down forms the backdrop of this view, which is taken from next to the Chalton to Finchdean road.

450082, 450056 & 450098 round the curve at Chalton on 2 April 2025 with the 1P23 09:30 Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour South Western Railway service. Woodcroft Farm is on the right, which includes something you see on every farm, a collection of abandoned machinery and equipment, slowly being covered by encroaching brambles!

Solar power and diesel power. D3462 slowly passes Bishop's Sutton on 2 April 2025 with the 12:00 Alresford to Ropley shuttle service. 1957 built D3462 was withdrawn by BR in 1983, and after a period on the West Somerset Railway, moved to the Mid Hants Railway in 2013.

LSWR S15 class 4-6-0 506 passes Bishop's Sutton on 2 April 2025 with the Mid Hants Railway 13:00 Alresford to Alton service. The loco is wearing Southern Railway Second World War plain black with Sunshine yellow lettering livery.

158883 brings up the rear of the 1L46 13:47 Salisbury to Waterloo South Western Railway service, as it leaves Overton station on 2 April 2025. 159002 is the leading unit. The old South West Trains livery seems to be lingering on for quite a long time, especially on the 158s.

59201 Westbury PSB 1984-2024 passes the premises of the Whitchurch Motor Co, at Overton, on 2 April 2025 with the 6V22 13:34 Woking Down Aggregate Yard to Merehead Quarry stone empties. This is the view looking east from the steps of the station footbridge.

165129 passes Hungerford Common on 2 April 2025 with the 2T21 15:22 Newbury to Bedwyn GWR service. The rear wagon of the 6A70 14:08 Whatley Quarry to Dawley Loop stone train can be seen in the background. This was sitting in the loop, even though it was not booked to do so, but was held here as it had been running nearly an hour early.

60028 passes Hungerford Common on 2 April 2025 with the 6Z25 14:13 Willesden DC Rail Sidings to Tyherington (Grovesend Quarry) stone empties. This was a variation to the more usual 6Z25 13:13 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Tytherington working.

66560 & 66516 pass Hungerford Common on 1 April 2025 with the 6A40 08:40 Merehead Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop stone train. The young ash tree on the left will soon block out this view, with another smaller one in the foreground waiting to complete the job!

60096 Skiddaw passes Hungerford Common on 1 April 2025 with the 6Z52 07:04 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead stone train. It was slowing down ready to access Hungerford loop, where it would wait while the late running 1A76 06:05 Penzance to Paddington GWR service passed by.

After waiting for 20 minutes in Hungerford loop, 60096 Skiddaw slowly begins to move again on 1 April 2025, as it prepares to leave the loop with the 6Z52 07:04 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead stone train. The train is only booked in the loop for 14 minutes, but the 1A76 06:05 Penzance to Paddington GWR service, which is booked to overtake it, was running late, so there was plenty of time for me to walk to this spot from the other end of Hungerford Common.

Under a cloudless sky, 165128 has just passed Hungerford Common on 1 April 2025 with one of its many daily 13 mile shuttle trips along the Kennet Valley, which in this case is the 2T12 10:55 Bedwyn to Newbury GWR service.

66505 passes underneath the road bridge on Hungerford Common on 1 April 2025 with the 6A18 09:18 Whatley Quarry to Oxford Banbury Road stone train. Green Freightliner Class 66s now seem to easily outnumber Class 59s on Mendip Rail stone trains.

Running 65 minutes late, 47739 passes Oaksey on 1 April 2025 with the 5Q89 12:34 Long Marston to Eastleigh East Yard, taking South Western Railways EMUs 701512 & 701509 back from their holiday in Warwickshire! This pair of units had travelled to Long Marston the previous summer behind 69008 Richard Howe. It seems that the usual coupling problems had delayed the departure of this train, and although the lighting is still OK, there were less shadows at the booked time!

Cappagh blue liveried 60028 rounds the curve at Crofton on 31 March 2025 with the 6Z52 07:04 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead stone train. This was running 18 minutes early, unusually in front of the regular 7A40 08:40 Merehead Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop, which was a few minutes late.

6,400 hp passes one horse power! The grazing horse on the right takes no notice, as 66516 & 66560 pass Crofton on 31 March 2025 with the 7A40 08:40 Merehead Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop 'Jumbo' stone train.

Road and rail at Crofton on 31 March 2025. The canal almost gets in the picture on the left, as well. 59102 Village of Chantry rounds the curve with the 6A18 09:18 Whatley Quarry to Oxford Banbury Road stone train.

The 6A50 10:26 Whatley Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop stone train passes Crofton on 31 March 2025, with 66559 leading, and 66533 bringing up the rear. It looks like there will soon be a forest in the field behind the train!

Due to lineside growth along the Kennet & Avon Canal at Bridge 99 near Crofton, there is no longer much chance of a photographing an up train, so I opted for this going away shot of 59001 Yeoman Endeavour, as it worked the 7A60 10:50 Merehead Quarry to Colnbrook stone train on 31 March 2025. This view does however include the concrete Second World War anti-tank obstacles, and the recently installed plaque detailing the restoration of the bridge.

Bridge 99 on the Kennet & Avon Canal near Crofton has long been used by photographers, as it provides an excellent vantage point for down trains, although not unfortunately now for up trains. The bridge, which serves no useful purpose since the construction of the railway, used to be overgrown and with a missing parapet, but in 2017 volunteers restored the parapet, and installed this plaque giving details of the bridge. 60046 William Wilberforce passes by on 31 March 2025 with the 6Z60 10:34 Willesden DC Rail Sidings to Merehead Quarry stone empties.

165034 slowly approaches Oxford on 30 March 2025 with the 2T14 15:00 Bicester Village to Oxford Chiltern Railways service. The Bicester to London line was closed for major engineering works, so a pair of two car Class 165s were taking it in turns to shuttle backwards and forwards between Bicester and Oxford.

57603 Tintagel Castle approaches Oxford on 30 March 2025 with the 5Z83 12:59 Euston to Reading Traincare Depot (via Milton Keynes) route learner, using GWR's Night Riviera Mk3 sleepers. The train has just traversed the line from Bicester, and the rear loco (57602 Restormel Castle) can be seen negotiating the high speed crossover.

Only one box, but at least its behind the loco, and not at the far end of the train! 66731 Capt. Tom Moore A True British Inspiration passes Yarnton on 29 March 2025 with the 4M16 05:45 Southampton Western Docks to Ditton intermodal. It's a pity that Tom Moore's fund raising legacy was slightly tainted by the behaviour of his family afterwards.

The 3Z04 09:00 Didcot Fuelling Point to Didcot Fuelling Point (via Fenny Compton) passes Yarnton on 29 March 2025. There is the perfect sized gap between the lineside infrastructure for an unobstructed picture of DR98954 & DR98904, as the pair head northwards.

66148 Maritime Intermodal Seven passes underneath the A44 road bridge at Yarnton on 29 March 2025 with the 4V43 04:26 Wakefield Europort to Didcot intermodal. This was running 15 minutes late, which would shortly be turned into 14 minutes early running, as it missed out its booked stop at Oxford North Junction.

Seriously rusty 66510 passes Fritwell on 29 March 2025 with the 6Y66 09:45 Bescot Up Engineers Sidings to Haddenham & Thame Parkway ballast. The Chiltern Line was closed further south for extensive engineering works. There were a total of eight trains from Bescot throughout the day, but only three in daylight, and only this one at a decent time of day. This section of line does not normally have any booked freight trains.

60029 Ben Nevis approaches Great Bedwyn on 29 March 2025 with the 6Z25 14:09 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Tytherington stone empties. Five seconds later the sun went in, and ten seconds later the view was blocked by the 1A87 13:55 Paignton to Paddington GWR IET!

66597 Viridor & 59001 Yeoman Endeavour approach Great Bedwyn on 28 March 2025 with the 6V50 14:21 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Merehead Quarry stone empties. The 6V60 14:43 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Whatley Quarry was only four minutes behind this, but that passed in terrible light.

37068 passes Claydon on 1 July 1986 with what is presumably the 6E62 18:20 Severn Tunnel Junction to Whitemoor Speedlink. This view has now been lost, not so much due to the usual lineside vegetation, but to the growth of trees and bushes along the road approaching the bridge over the line.

47426 passes South Moreton on 12 September 1985 with the 1O19 08:01 Newcastle to Poole service. Unfortunately the settled high pressure weather conditions have resulted in the usual poor visibility and hazy background.

47418 approaches Oxford on 23 July 1989 with the 1M48 08:10 Paddington to Manchester Piccadilly service. Five coaches doesn't seem a lot for an inter-regional train, but probably sufficient for a Sunday morning! 47418 was withdrawn the following year after a minor derailment.

A busy moment at Par station on 21 April 1998. 37670 has just deposited five PBA china clay wagons in the Newquay branch platform, and moves off prior to running round the wagons and then tripping them to St Blazey. 47739 Resourceful waits on the right, ready to move forward with the 5C92 15:00 St Blazey to Penzance Royal Mail TPO ECS. This will also have to run round before heading west.

47739 Resourceful slowly passes Par station on 21 April 1998 with the 5C92 15:00 St Blazey to Penzance Royal Mail TPO ECS, before running round and then heading off to the west through the station's mainline platforms. Later in the day this stock would form the 1C92 19:30 Penzance to Bristol 'Cornish TPO'.

56113 rounds the curve at Droitwich on 8 September 1996 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z56 08:38 Bristol Temple Meads to Felixstowe 'Great Eastern Grid' railtour. Droitwich Signal Box can be seen behind the rear of the train. This controls the junction of the Kidderminster and Bromsgrove lines.

47320 approaches Banbury on 11 July 1987 with the 4O94 15:54 Trafford Park to Southampton Maritime freightliner. This was running half an hour ahead of its booked 20:04 Banbury passing time. As far as I can tell, Bowies International were a Cheshire haulage company, so I'm not sure what their vehicles are doing parked in the background.

59003 Yeoman Highlander passes Berkley on 12 October 1994 with westbound stone empties. Mendip Rail had been formed the previous year, to improve the utilisation of the Foster Yeoman and ARC fleets. This explains this Foster Yeoman and ARC combination.

205032 approaches Andover station on 11 May 1991 with the 09:50 Salisbury to Waterloo Network SouthEast service. The widely spaced platforms clearly show that there were once four tracks through the station. Until 1964 this station was a junction, with a line diverging to the south towards Romsey.

207013 heads away from the camera at Hook on 17 July 1993 with what is presumably, as it running on the down fast line, an ECS working. I have included this as it shows the short lived unofficial name Ajax above the centre cab window.

66651 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 20 March 2025 with the 6B33 13:52 Theale to Robeston empty oil tanks. This was running along the down relief line as booked, but it rejoined the main line at Challow without stopping, as the 1B18 14:12 Paddington to Cardiff Central GWR service, which should have overtaken it, was running 17 minutes late.

387152 & 387166 approach Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 20 March 2025 with the 1B18 14:12 Paddington to Cardiff Central GWR service. This was running 17 minutes late, but that delay was nothing compared with the following trains, which were 60 minutes late then cancelled at Bristol, 51 minutes late then cancelled at Swindon, 48 minutes late, 44 minutes late, and finally the inevitable totally cancelled one! Travel by GWR, you might sometimes get to your destination - eventually!

60096 Skiddaw runs slowly along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 20 March 2025 with the 6Z25 13:06 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Tytherington stone empties. As this was booked to wait at Challow for over half an hour, I easily managed to get a second picture (albeit with even more head on lighting) at Baulking.

60096 Skiddaw passes Baulking on 20 March 2025 with the 6Z25 13:06 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Tytherington stone empties. I had already photographed this at Denchworth, but the rapidly disappearing clouds meant that this second shot was almost certainly guaranteed to be in the sun, so it was worth the wait.