The lineside hawthorn bushes are in full bloom, as 69008 Richard Howe passes Denchworth on 7 May 2025 with the 5Q75 09:21 Eastleigh to Long Marston, taking South Western Railway EMU 701052 for its second period of storage.

165129 passes the hawthorn blossom at Thrupp on 2 May 2025, as it heads up the Cherwell Valley with the 2M24 10:33 Didcot Parkway to Banbury GWR service. Like everywhere else, this location is nothing like as open as it used to be in the 1980s.

70017 passes Thrupp on 2 May 2025 with the 4O90 06:04 Leeds to Southampton Maritime freightliner. It's hard to believe now, but there used to be three tracks here, with the Woodstock branch running alongside on the left, until it diverged to the west just around the bend in the distance.

57311 The Institution of Mechanical Engineers runs down the Cherwell Valley at Thrupp on 2 May 2025 with the Locomotive Services Ltd 5Z81 08:15 Crewe Holding Sidings to Eastleigh Arlington ECS. This was in preparation for the following day's Saphos Trains 1Z82 06:34 Poole to Kingswear 'English Riviera Express' railtour.

59001 Yeoman Endeavour passes Uffington on 1 May 2025 with the 6C48 12:49 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties. This left 28 minutes early, and arrived at Whatley 30 minutes early, but was more or less on time here.

37884 Cepheus passes Uffington on 1 May 2025 with the 5Q76 08:58 Ely Papworth Sidings to Newport Docks (Sims Group), taking former South Eastern EMUs 465248 & 465240 on their final journey. It is slightly ironic that the Class 37 is nearly twice as old as the units that is taking to be scrapped!

47739 passes Norton on 30 April 2025 with the 5Q75 09:21 Eastleigh to Long Marston, taking South Western Railways EMUs 701519 & 701509 for their second period of storage. Presumably one day these units will stop being shuttled backwards and forwards to Warwickshire!

With Worcester Cathedral in the background, 701509 brings up the rear of the 5Q75 09:21 Eastleigh to Long Marston at Norton on 30 April 2025. Along with 701519, it was being taken for storage by 47739. Note the missing panel behind the windscreen, revealing a mass of wiring.

After reversing at Worcester, 47739 passes Norton for the second time on 30 April 2025 with the early running 5Q75 09:21 Eastleigh to Long Marston. It is taking South Western Railways EMUs 701509 for 701519 for storage. Both units had only left Long Marston a few weeks earlier!

A last minute substitution on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. After GWR Modified Hall Class 4-6-0 7903 Foremarke Hall arrived at Toddington on 30 April 2025 with the 14:10 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service, it set fire to the track in the station! Although only a small fire that was quickly put out, the steam loco was removed and moved forward to the headshunt. D6948, which should have been attached to the rear, in order to work the next southbound service, was instead moved to the front of the train. It is seen here running round the train.

Modified Hall Class 4-6-0 7903 Foremarke Hall in disgrace! After having set fire to the track in Toddington station, the loco was removed from the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 14:10 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service on 30 April 2025, in favour of Class 37 D6948. It is seen here making its way back to the station from the headshunt that can be seen in the distance.

D6948 approaches Toddington station on 30 April 2025 with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 15:20 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. This was running 36 minutes late, as GWR Modified Hall Class 4-6-0 7903 Foremarke Hall had to be removed from the previous northbound train, after it had caused a small track fire.

168214 & 168326 pass milepost 23 near Charlton-on-Otmoor on 29 April 2025 with the 1T43 15:40 Marylebone to Oxford service. This is a Chiltern Railways train, so naturally it was running exactly on time. Take note GWR!

Running 18 minutes early, 47739 passes Charlton-on-Otmoor on 29 April 2025 with the 5Q76 16:18 Bicester MoD to Willesden South West Sidings, taking South Western Railway EMU 701009 back to Wimbledon, after its 19 months in storage. From Willesden it would proceed as the 5Q66 19:28 to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings.

60046 William Wilberforce passes Bonemill Lane, Newbury, on 28 April 2025 with the 6Z52 07:04 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead stone train. This was not a good day for freights on the Berks & Hants line. The 6A40/7A40 from Merehead, which should have passed by just before this, didn't run, and in the afternoon a points failure near Reading resulted in the afternoon westbound trains being diverted.

'Paddington in Peru' liveried 802106 passes Bonemill Lane, as it slows for the stop at Newbury on 28 April 2025 with the 1A77 08:35 Plymouth to Paddington GWR service. It's still April, but already the countryside has taken on the green monotone of early summer. The copper leaved bush on the left is the exception!

The Scottish Railway Preservation Society's 37403 Isle of Mull passes Clay Cross on 26 April 2025 with the UK Railtours 1Z37 07:58 Carnforth to Kings Norton Signal SY522 'The Really Good Positioning Move' railtour, which would later carry on to London as the 1Z38 15:31 Kings Norton Signal SY522 to Stratford. As the name suggests, this was a one way tour in order to position the loco and stock in London for the following day's 'East Anglian Freighter' railtour.

37403 Isle of Mull passes Whitnash on 26 April 2025 with the UK Railtours 1Z38 15:31 Kings Norton Signal SY522 to Stratford 'The Really Good Positioning Move' railtour. 20007 & 20205 are hidden by the foliage on the rear of the train.

20007 & 20205 bring up the rear of the UK Railtours 1Z38 15:31 Kings Norton Signal SY522 to Stratford 'The Really Good Positioning Move' railtour at Whitnash on 26 April 2025. Growling away at the front of the train was 37403 Isle of Mull.

66131 slowly approaches Milford Junction on 24 April 2025, as it prepares to enter the loop with the 6M16 05:40 Wilton EFW Terminal to Knowsley Freight Terminal Binliner empties. The Leeds to Selby line crosses the bridge in the background.

Freight overtakes passenger! 60002 Graham Farish 50th Anniversary 1970-2020 passes Milford Junction on 24 April 2025 with the 6N61 12:00 Drax Power Station to Tyne Coal Terminal biomass empties. Waiting in the loop in the background is the Midland Pullman 1Z32 06:05 Paignton to Scarborough 'Yorkshire Coast Pullman' railtour, with 43049 Neville Hill leading.

With 43049 Neville Hill leading, the Midland Pullman 1Z32 06:05 Paignton to Scarborough 'Yorkshire Coast Pullman' railtour pulls out of Milford Loop on 24 April 2025, after its booked pathing stop, which saw it overtaken by the 6N61 12:00 Drax Power Station to Tyne Coal Terminal biomass empties. Not only do you not normally see a passenger train overtaken by a freight, but there can't be many instances of a train running from a coastal holiday resort on one side of the country, going to another resort on the other side! 150215 can be seen in the background at Milford Junction, waiting to follow the HST with the 2Y74 11:41 Sheffield to York Northern service.

800207 passes Goole on 24 April 2025 with the 5Z83 16:08 Hull to Doncaster Carr IEP Depot ECS, the return working of the earlier 5Z82 14:41 Doncaster Carr IEP Depot to Hull. The only LNER trains to pass through Goole are empty stock workings such as this.

60026 Helvellyn leaves Drax Power Station on 23 April 2025 with the 6N61 12:00 biomass empties to Tyne Coal Terminal. Dominating the background are the four relatively new biomass wood pellet storage domes, while on the right is one of the plant's 12 giant cooling towers.

Running 50 minutes late, 801211 passes Burn on 23 April 2025 with the 1E08 09:00 Edinburgh to Kings Cross LNER service, which on this occasion had started from Dunbar. The concrete track in the foreground is the remains of West Lane, which was realigned when this new section of railway was opened in 1983.

69011 passes Burn on 23 April 2025, unfortunately running as the 0N71 11:45 Doncaster Up Decoy to Tyne Yard light engine, rather than the much more photogenic 6X71 point carriers, although a northbound picture at this location is now all but impossible.

60002 Graham Farish 50th Anniversary 1970-2020 passes Milford Junction on 23 April 2025 with the 6H70 12:19 Tyne Coal Terminal to Drax Power Station biomass. Luckily this was travelling very slowly, as when it first came into view in the distance, the whole scene was under a dark cloud. Only as the loco started to negotiate the pointwork did the sun come out.

60026 Helvellyn passes through Hensall station on 22 April 2025 with the 6H12 06:24 Tyne Coal Terminal to Drax Power Station biomass. I was slightly worried about this, as it was booked to pass here almost at the same time as the 4M36 09:54 Drax Power Station to Tuebrook Sidings empties. However, not only was that train 25 minutes late, but this one was 13 minutes early!

66077 Benjamin Gimbert G.C. passes over Station Road level crossing in Hensall on 22 April 2025 with the 4R50 10:31 Drax Power Station to Immingham biomass empties. In contrast to the nearby level crossing on the main road, the barriers here can go down some considerable time before the train is due.

66092 passes Hensall on 22 April 2025 with the 6H62 08:15 Immingham to Drax Power Station biomass. After a sunny start to the day, the clouds were rapidly building up, and within half an hour it would be fully cloudy.

60026 Helvellyn does its bit for the environment at Heck Ings on 22 April 2025, as it pulls away from Drax Branch Junction with the 6N61 12:00 Drax Power Station to Tyne Coal Terminal biomass empties. This is the largest and blackest cloud of exhaust that I have ever seen from a Class 60.

In an extremely lucky few seconds of sunshine, 57002 Winston Churchill passes Uffington on 17 April 2025 with the Locomotive Services Ltd 1Z29 10:42 Paddington to Kingswear private charter. The Winston Churchill nameplate had been unveiled (on this side only) at Paddington a couple of hours earlier. The loco is carrying a 'The Chairman's Train' headboard. At Bristol Temple Meads the loco was swapped for GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 5029 Nunney Castle & 57311 The Institution of Mechanical Engineers for the run to Devon.

Another pair of former Greater Anglia EMUs made their way to the scrapyard on 17 April 2025. 57303 is pictured passing Uffington with 321312 & 321319 in tow, running as the 5Q26 06:28 Walton Old Junction MSC Sidings to Newport Docks (Sims Group).

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!