Beattie Well Tank 2-4-0WT 30585 stands in the loco yard at Ludborough, on the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway on 19 April 2014, prior to working trains during the line's Easter Steam Gala. The 140 year old loco was visiting from the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, and was the star attraction at the gala. The 0298 Class were built by the London & South Western Railway for London suburban passenger services. Superceded by more powerful locos in the 1890s, all but three of the original 85 locos had been withdrawn by the end of the nineteenth century. Remarkably these three soldiered on working trains on the Wenford Bridge line in Cornwall until 1962!

N15 4-6-0 777 Sir Lamiel arrives at Llandudno Junction on 11 August 1991 with the BR InterCity 11:55 Crewe to Holyhead 'North Wales Coast Express'. This train on several weekends throughout the summer of 1991. The Conwy Valley line can be seen diverging to the right.

N15 4-6-0 777 Sir Lamiel passes Conwy Morfa on 11 August 1991 with the BR InterCity 11:55 Crewe to Holyhead 'North Wales Coast Express'. I'm not sure why I took this from the 'wrong' side, but presumably there wasn't an unobstructed view from the correct side!

N15 4-6-0 30777 Sir Lamiel passes Knighton (between Didcot and Swindon) with the Steam Dreams 1Z82 09:10 Waterloo to Gloucester 'Cathedrals Express' railtour on 11 October 2008. The train is just about to pass the site of Knighton Crossing signal box, which was intermediate between Uffington and Ashbury Crossing (Shrivenham). The former level crossing at Knighton was abolished in the late 1960s and replaced by a road underbridge, which is just to the left of the picture.

Definitely not very good photographic lighting, and a picture that has required a humungous amount of Photoshop manipulation to salvage an image from a 'soot and whitewash' no-hoper. However, I wanted a picture taken from this spot at Bletchingdon, before the long closed Shipton-on-Cherwell cement works in the background finally succumbs to the bulldozers. N15 4-6-0 30777 Sir Lamiel (disguised as 30453 King Arthur) heads north with the Steam Dreams 1Z97 08:45 Victoria to Stratford-upon-Avon 'Cathedrals Express' railtour on 23 April 2010.

Putting out a serious amount of thick black smoke, N15 4-6-0 30777 Sir Lamiel (masquerading as 30453 King Arthur) passes Great Bourton on 23 April 2010 with the Steam Dreams 1Z99 18:10 Stratford-upon-Avon to Clapham Junction 'Cathedrals Express' railtour. Unfortunately the light had all but faded out just a few minutes before the train was due.

S15 Class 4-6-0 828 is watched by an appreciative group of locals as well as the inevitable railway photographers as it leaves Andover station on 15 May 1994. It was working a Waterloo to Salisbury charter, outward via Andover and returning via Southampton. There is still plenty of trackwork at Andover, although judging from the colour of the rails on the right a lot of it sees very little use. The lines on the left are still in use, serving the Army depot at Ludgershall.

S15 4-6-0 828 passes Fairwood on 8 October 1994 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z62 07:10 Wolverhampton to Exeter St Davids 'Exe-Parrett' railtour. Amazingly, just five minutes later, there was a second steam hauled railtour, this time behind GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 5029 Nunney Castle. The Westbury white horse can just be seen though the mist, on the hill in the background.

S15 4-6-0 828 passes through Crewkerne station on 8 October 1994 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z62 07:10 Wolverhampton to Exeter St Davids 'Exe-Parrett' railtour. The steam loco took over the tour at Bristol Temple Meads, working a circular route via Westbury and Yeovil and then back via Taunton. Personally I don't believe this tour is an 'Exe-Parrett', I think it just pining for the fjords!

S15 4-6-0 828 passes Dean on 27 December 1997 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z28 13:18 Southampton Central to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Solent & Sarum Wanderer' railtour. 47736 had worked the outward train from Worcester (depart 08:20) to Westbury, and took over this return working again at Salisbury.

Schools Class 4-4-0 925 Cheltenham pulls away from Gotherington, and passes Dixton on 25 May 2013 with the 10:25 Cheltenham Racecourse (appropriately!) to Laverton service, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 'Cotswold Steam Celebration' event. This was definitely not the shot I had in mind, but a rapidly advancing cloud from behind me was about to meet up with the train, so the picture had to be taken much earlier than planned. I left it as long as possible, but note the shadow in the foreground.

Schools Class 4-4-0 925 Cheltenham passes underneath the road bridge at Hailes, as it works the 11:00 Cheltenham Racecourse to Laverton service on 26 May 2013, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 'Cotswold Steam Celebration' event. Not much exhaust on what is probably the warmest day of the year so far!

Just after dawn on 22 November 1997, U Class 2-6-0 31625 & Class 33 D6593 approach Culham with the 'Pines Express' Guildford to Crewe railtour. Normally pictures taken in these kind of conditions are not worth showing, but I think the result here is very atmospheric. With a little colour in the sky, mist rolling across the fields and the rising sun just highlighting the sides of the coaches and the steam locomotive's smoke deflectors, it makes an interesting picture, and of course with Didcot Power Station in the background, there is no mistaking the location!

U Class 2-6-0 31625 & Class 33 D6593 storm away from the Banbury water stop on 22 November 1997 with the 'Pines Express' Guildford to Crewe railtour - the first ever combination of a preserved steam and diesel locomotive working a train on the national network.

A different Mid Hants Railway perspective on 18 May 2014. U Class 2-6-0 31806 is glimpsed through the trees at North Street, as it works the early morning Ropley to Alton ECS, in readiness for the day's services. I wanted to show the signal, bridge and gate, with the loco as a minor part of the picture. I'm not entirely sure about the result, but know it will definitely be too arty for some!

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

London, Brighton & South Coast Railway E1 Class 0-6-0T W2 Yarmouth stands in the yard at Havenstreet, on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway on 29 May 2013. Built at Brighton Works in 1877 as 110 Burgundy, the loco remained in service until 1927. It was then sold by the Southern Railway for industrial use, and was eventually acquired for preservation, gained its new number and name once it had arrived in the Isle of Wight in 2011.

A panoramic view of Horsted Keynes station on the Bluebell Railway, taken on 30 August 2024. New build London Brighton & South Coast Railway H2 Class 4-4-2 32424 Beachy Head departs with the 16:15 Sheffield Park to East Grinstead service. On the extreme right of the picture is Class 207 DEMU 1305 Brighton Royal Pavilion, which is undergoing extensive restoration. Note the work going on to restore the coping stones on platform 1. Hosted Keynes was formerly the junction for the line to Haywards Heath via Ardingly. The course of this line (which was electrified by the Southern Railway in 1935) is through the trees behind the signal box in the background.

London Brighton & South Coast Railway H2 Class 4-4-2 32424 Beachy Head leaves Horsted Keynes station on 30 August 2024 with the 16:15 Sheffield Park to East Grinstead service. The original Beachy Head (the last of its class) was withdrawn in April 1958, and almost immediately scrapped. The Bluebell Railway built this replica using a boiler from a very similar Great Northern Railway Class C1 'Atlantic'.

London Brighton & South Coast Railway 0-6-2T 32473 drifts into Horsted Keynes station on 20 January 2007 with the 13:55 Kingscote to Sheffield Park service. Unbelievably this was my first visit to the railway since 1972 when I was at school in the area! Of course in those days trains only ran to the south of here from Horsted Keynes to Sheffield Park

One of the star exhibits at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 25th anniversary 'Cotswold Festival of Steam' was A1X 0-6-0T 662, which is seen here working the 09:00 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse brakevan special past Didbrook on 24 May 2009. It then spent the day at Cheltenham giving brake van rides. The diminutive locomotive is dwarfed by the Southern Railway 'Queen Mary' brake van. Although from the same railway company it does look that the little loco was deliberately paired with the biggest brake van available just for contrast!

West Country Class 4-6-2 34016 Bodmin passes Bishopton (near Stratford-upon-Avon) with the Daylight Railtours 1Z97 16:35 Stratford-upon-Avon to Alton 'Classical Connection' railtour on 8 September 2001. The tour had traveled to Stratford in the morning via High Wycombe, but would return via Oxford. Pity about the chocolate and cream Pullman coach spoiling the otherwise perfect Southern Railway train!

The driver of the white van inside the oil depot a Bremell Sidings gets a surprise on 29 November 1991, as West Country Class 4-6-2 34027 Taw Valley passes by with the Flying Scotsman Services Paddington to Hereford 'West Mercian' railtour. The tour had been worked by a diesel from London to Swindon.

West Country Class 4-6-2 34027 Taw Valley heads west at Stoford (near Yeovil) with the Flying Scotsman Services Waterloo to Exeter 'Atlantic Coast Express' railtour on 21 June 1992. There is no mistaking the loco is on home ground with that concrete PW hut (a product of Exmouth Junction Concrete Works) in the foreground.

West Country 4-6-2 34027 Taw Valley passes Chilson with the Didcot to Worcester 'Cotswold Venturer' railtour on 29 August 1993. A warm summer day is hardly conducive to good steam photography, and although Taw Valley is working hard there is virtually no trace of exhaust.  Unfortunately this Cotswold Line location is now virtually useless for photography, as the bushes have grown considerably since this picture was taken. This is a pity as it was a very useful location for northbound trains as the line runs south west here for a few miles resulting in ideal lighting during the middle of the day.

West Country 4-6-2 34027 Taw Valley emerges from Wickwar Tunnel on 29 August 1993 with the Worcester Shrub Hill to Bristol Temple Meads 'Cotswold Venturer' railtour. The people on the footbridge must surely have had their picture ruined by the encroaching evening shadows.

On a very misty 6 April 1996, West Country Class 4-6-2 34027 Taw Valley passes St Athan with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z63 06:28 Crewe to Swansea 'Tawe Taw Tourer' (easier to type than to say!) railtour, which the steam loco had taken over at Bristol Temple Meads. Initially I was with all the other photographers on the bridge in the background, but I decided to venture down the field to a footpath crossing so as to be at a lower level and hopefully not get the exhaust covering the train. A good plan, as the picture taken by those on the bridge was nothing like as good!

The late afternoon shadows are creeping across the tracks, as West Country Class 4-6-2 34027 Taw Valley passes Burton Salmon on 14 August 1998 with the 16:31 York to St Albans 'Yorkshire Belle' railtour. Taw Valley would work the train as far as Toton.

West Country Class 4-6-2 34027 Taw Valley climbs towards Foley Park Tunnel on 2 June 2018 with the 12:00 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster Severn Valley Railway service. Bewdley's down distant signal could certainly do with a repaint!

West Country Class 4-6-2 34027 Taw Valley passes Northwood Lane on 18 September 2020 with the 12:45 Bridgnorth to Bewdley Severn Valley Railway service. This was a bonus, as this should have been at Bewdley long before I got here. However, some late running resulted in this welcome additional picture.

To celebrate HM The Queen's Platinum Jubilee, West Country Class 4-6-2 34027 Taw Valley was painted into this striking purple livery in early 2022, becoming No.70 Elizabeth II. Following the Queen's death on 8 September, the wording 1926-2022 was added below the nameplate. The loco is pictured at Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway on 25 September 2022.

Rebuilt West Country Class 4-6-2 34046 Braunton runs along the Chiltern Mainline at Ardley on Sunday 13 April 2014 with the Steam Dreams 1Z44 10:50 Paddington to Stratford-upon-Avon 'Cathedrals Express' railtour. A very difficult train to photograph (at least south of Leamington Spa) due to the extreme backlighting. However, with the blackthorn out in flower, and the exhaust lifting clear of the train, it makes quite a nice picture. I'm not sure why there are so many people on the high bridge in the background, as the view there is very restricted from this side of the line.

Rebuilt West Country Class 4-6-2 34046 Braunton passes Bourton on 23 April 2014 with the Steam Dreams 1Z43 07:30 Andover to Stratford-upon-Avon 'Cathedrals Express'. An obvious choice of destination for this midweek steam special, as 23 April is not only St George's Day, but also the birthday of William Shakespeare.

Rebuilt West Country Class 4-6-2 34046 Braunton makes light work of the 1 in 60 Sapperton Bank on 17 May 2014 with the Railway Touring Company 1Z37 09:34 Gloucester to Worcester Shrub Hill (via Swindon and Oxford) 'Welsh Borders' railtour. Unfortunately, although the loco is working hard, the warm morning ensures there is barely a trace of exhaust visible.

Rebuilt West Country Class 4-6-2 34046 Braunton storms through the hawthorn lined cutting on the approach to Finstock station, on the Cotswold Line, on 17 May 2014. It is working the Railway Touring Company 1Z37 09:34 Gloucester to Worcester Shrub Hill (via Swindon and Oxford) 'Welsh Borders' railtour.

Rebuilt West Country Class 4-6-2 34046 Braunton and its support coach pass Baulking on 30 June 2014, running as the 5Z30 10:20 Southall Loco Services Ltd to Bristol Barton Hill. Note the correct light engine headcode disc.

Rebuilt West Country Class 4-6-2 34046 Braunton (running as 34052 Lord Dowding) passes South Marston on 15 July 2016 with the Steam Dreams 1Z36 17:36 Bristol Temple Meads to Victoria 'Cathedrals Express' railtour. Admittedly it was an exceedingly dull evening, but I was still surprised to be the only photographer at this location. Obviously this location is not liked by Swindon area steam photographers, as I was also the only person present the last time I was here for a steam tour!

With just 40 minutes to go before sunset, West Country Class 4-6-2 34046 Braunton (masquerading as 34052 Lord Dowding) approaches Kings Sutton at speed on 22 April 2017 with the Steam Dreams 1Z36 18:22 Stratford-upon-Avon to Langley 'Cathedrals Express' railtour.

Rebuilt West Country Class 4-6-2 34046 Braunton passes Badgeworth on 15 November 2023 with the late running Saphos Trains 1Z46 05:30 Peterborough to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Cotswold Explorer' railtour. Class 47 D1924 (47810) Crewe Diesel Depot is bringing up the rear.

Rebuilt West Country Class 4-6-2 34046 Braunton passes Hungerford Common in miserable light on 1 December 2023 with the Steam Dreams 1Z46 07:00 Bury St Edmunds to Bath Spa 'Bath Christmas Market' railtour. D1924 (47810) Crewe Diesel Depot is bringing up the rear, but there was no possibility of a picture of that, as Braunton's exhaust completely obscured it! In the background the early running 7A17 10:49 Merehead Quarry to Colnbrook stone train can be seen waiting in the loop.

Rebuilt West Country Class 4-6-2 34046 Braunton passes Minety on 19 September 2024 with the Steam Dreams 1Z46 13:00 Cardiff Central to Paddington 'Welsh Dragon' railtour. This was the final day of a five day tour. Hidden by the smoke on the rear of the train is D1924 (47810) Crewe Diesel Depot.

Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 34051 Winston Churchill in the National Railway Museum at York on 10 November 1996. This is the only steam locomotive that I can really remember seeing on the mainline during in the 1960s. I was taken by my father to watch Sir Winson Churchill's funeral train pass through Oxford on 30 January 1965. Being only a young child at the time, I was more interested in playing in the stream by the side of the line near Walton Well Road, rather than watching the trains! I do however remember the 'Spam Can' thundering past, just a few feet from our vantage point. All the vehicles used in the funeral train survive in preservation, albeit in different locations.

The only way to successfully photograph steam locos running tender first is to go for a broadside shot, preferably framing the picture with something. So here is the Severn Valley Railway's Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 34053 Sir Keith Park pulling away from Bewdley on 2 September 2017 with the 10:50 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster service, framed by a GPSS (Government Pipelines and Storage System) pipeline marker.

Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 34053 Sir Keith Park emerges from Foley Park Tunnel on 2 September 2017 with the 12:30 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth service. 34053 was withdrawn by BR in October 1965, and then languished at Barry scrapyard, and then various other sites, including next to the Great Western Mainline at Thingley Junction, before restoration of the sad looking hulk finally commenced in the new Millennium. The loco entered service on the Severn Valley Railway in August 2012.

Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 34067 Tangmere pulls slowly into Moreton-in-Marsh station on 24 July 2004 with the VSOE 1Z83 18:25 Worcester Shrub Hill to Victoria luxury excursion. The Orient Express is guaranteed to bring out the local population, and that is certainly the case here.

Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 34067 Tangmere runs alongside the Kennet & Avon Canal on the approach to Crofton with the Steam Dreams 1Z84 08:45 Victoria to Bristol Temple Meads 'Cathedrals Express' railtour on 8 October 2009. Although I suppose it could have been worse, this is definitely not the result I was expecting, with the smoke blowing down over the coaches.

Does the exhaust of Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 34067 Tangmere always blow down and partly obscure the train? It certainly seems so, as this is the second time this year I have suffered this problem with this loco. It is seem here pulling out of Didcot Parkway station on 10 December 2009 with the Steam Dreams 1Z82 09:40 Victoria to Oxford 'Cathedrals Express' railtour. Just two months previously I had seen it near Crofton on another 'Cathedrals Express' (surely the most over used steam railtour name), with similar errant exhaust.

Despite the awful weather, Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 34067 Tangmere makes a fine sight as it passes Whitehill (between Combe and Finstock) on 9 March 2013 with the Railway Touring Company 1Z71 08:30 Euston to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Cotswold Venturer' railtour. I had chosen this location specifically because it can only be used in cloudy conditions such as this, due to the angle of the line. Also, what little wind there was would not blow the exhaust down over the train, which seems to be a common problem with this locomotive.

Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 34067 Tangmere approaches Culham on 26 September 2015 with the Railway Touring Company 1Z25 07:05 Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Cotswold Venturer' railtour. The disused Didcot Power Station dominates the background. The light coloured part of the main building is the former coal bunker, and when this picture was taken had less than an hour left, being blown up as part of the station's decommissioning.

A Southern Railway visitor to the Cotswold Line. Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 34067 Tangmere approaches Chilson under a cloudless sky on 26 September 2015 with the Railway Touring Company 1Z25 07:05 Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Cotswold Venturer' railtour.

Poor old Manston! After failing on the 2N05 14:20 Norden to Swanage service on 8 July 2023, Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 34070 Manston is pictured outside the Swanage Railway's engine shed, in the company of Southern Railway U Class 2-6-0 31806, and LSWR T9 Class 4-4-0 30120.

Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 34081 92 Squadron approaches Castor on 19 Match 2000, en-route from Peterborough to Wansford, maintaining a steam presence during the Nene Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. It's obviously been a very long time since the telegraph pole served any useful function!

An extremely humble job for a Battle of Britain pacific! 34081 92 Squadron passes Castor on 19 March 2000, with a Peterborough to Wansford freight, ironically during the Nene Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. The loco is wearing the original late 1940s British Railways livery.

West Country Class 4-6-2 34092 City of Wells passes Kings Sutton on 12 June 1988 with the Stratford-upon-Avon to Marylebone 'Shakespeare Limited' railtour. Possibly not the best choice of location, with the lengthening evening shadows, but it would certainly be a lot worse now, as those bushes on the left have grown considerably!

West Country Class 4-6-2 34105 Swanage is being prepared for duty at Toddington on 17 October 1993, prior to taking part in the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Gala Weekend. In 2009 the loco doesn't look quite this good, and is out of use on the Mid Hants Railway requiring some major work.

Viewed from Toddington Signal Box, West Country Class 4-6-2 34105 Swanage reverses off shed on 17 October 1993, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Gala Weekend. Although a Southern Railway Bullied design, this loco wasn't built until after nationalisation, entering service in March 1950.

West Country Class 4-6-2 34105 Swanage passes Hailes on 17 October 1993 with the 11:45 Toddington to Gretton service. The visiting Bulleid pacific was one of the visiting star locos of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Steam Gala.

With most heritage railways not having turntables, steam photography on these lines is limited to 50% of what can be achieved during diesel galas, due to tender or bunker first running. However, occasionally photographic opportunities do arise. I spotted this disc roller in a field next to the line at Hailes, during the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's Steam Gala on 17 October 1993. It makes an ideal foreground for West Country Class 4-6-2 34105 Swanage, as it makes its way back to Toddington from Gretton.

West Country Class 4-6-2 34105 Swanage makes a spirited departure from Winchcombe station on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway with the 14:45 Toddington to Gretton service on 17 October 1993. This was during the railway's Gala Weekend. You may have seen this photo before looking slightly different. It was published in Railway Magazine, but unfortunately they managed to print it in reverse! So here it is for the first time the correct way round.

Viewed from the cab of Class 117 DMU DMBS 51363, Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co. pulls into Winchcombe station on 31 May 2016 with the 10:55 Cheltenham Racecourse to Toddington service. The Bulleid pacific had only just entered service on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, after a protracted restoration.

Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co. approaches Hailes on 2 June 2021 with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 11:40 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service. As this was a very warm day, there was no chance of any exhaust, but with guaranteed sunshine, it was definitely worth a picture.

Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co. passes Hayles Abbey Halt on 19 March 2022 with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 10:15 Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse service. Unfortunately the once proud P&O name has now been completely tainted by the modern version of the company (P&O Ferries) scandalously sacking 800 of its workers on one day, with no warning, and replacing them with cheap foreign labour.

As well as the normal trackside viewpoints, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is blessed with a number of panoramic views from the slopes of the nearby Cotswold Hills. One location that I have been meaning to visit for some time is the hill above the village of Laverton. Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co. heads north past the village on 19 March 2022 with the 11:15 Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway service. Bredon Hill dominates the background.

Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co. passes Laverton on 19 March 2022 with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's 12:35 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service. A fluffy white trail of exhaust would have been nice, but it was too warm for that. The church and village of Aston Somerville can be seen in the background, above the fifth coach, and (at least on the high-res version!) Hinton on the Green is just visible, in the far distance.

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

The setting sun glints off Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35028 Clan Line, as it passes Songar Grange on 6 December 1986 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z40 14:40 Stratford-upon-Avon to Letchworth 'Pullman Christmas Party' railtour. Note the evidence in the foreground of the former double track status of the Bearley to Hatton line.

With flags fluttering on the buffer beam, Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35028 Clan Line passes Aynho Junction on 28 April 1990 with the Risborough & District Model Railway Club sponsered Princes Risborough to Derby 'Risborough Venturer' railtour. The train was initially diesel hauled to London, then Clan Line worked the train from Marylebone, passing through Princes Risborough again.

Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35028 Clan Line approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 12 October 1996 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z71 04:50 Crewe to Weymouth 'Bert Hooker Memorial' railtour. Clan Line had taken over from 47627 at Didcot Parkway, and would work the train to Yeovil Pen Mill, where 33202 & 33046 took over for the run to Weymouth.

Complete with 'Golden Arrow' headboard and fluttering British and French flags, Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35028 Clan Line approaches Swanley on 30 May 1998 with a Victoria to Broadstairs VSOE luxury excursion.

A couple of years before the Chiltern Line was redoubled, Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35028 Clan Line emerges from the fog at Ardley on 23 January 1999 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z28 08:42 Paddington to Stratford-upon-Avon 'William Shakespeare' railtour.

After taking on water at Banbury, Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35028 Clan Line accelerates away from the town on 23 January 1999 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z28 08:42 Paddington to Stratford-upon-Avon 'William Shakespeare' railtour.

A fortunate early finish at work on Wednesday 15 March 2000 resulted in me heading down to the Berks & Hants line to see the VSOE special returning from Bath to Victoria. Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35028 Clan Line was working the tour from Westbury, and the assembled photographers were praying that the tour was on time and would reach us before the light went. Fortunately for once the train was on time, resulting in this superb glint shot as the train passed Woodborough loops.

Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35028 Clan Line passes Hinksey Yard, near Oxford with the 1Z83 17:31 Oxford to Victoria VSOE special on 21 April 2007. Luckily the tour was ten minutes late leaving Oxford, as at the correct time the 4L44 Cowley to Purfleet car train was running round in the yard, and the blue covered car transporter wagons on the second line in from the left in this picture extended all the way to the signal in the background, effectively ruining the shot. To the relief of the photographers present on the bridge, the last wagon had just passed under us as the train came into view!

Under threatening skies, Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35028 Clan Line passes Hinksey Yard, near Oxford with the 1Z87 17:51 Oxford to Victoria VSOE special on 14 May 2011. For the second time in two days I found myself being the only photographer taking a photo of a steam special, something that would have been unthinkable a few years ago (unless you had walked miles from the nearest road). I had thought the previous day's occurrence was a fluke, but despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that this is from the Oxford by-pass, I expected someone else to turn up. Neither is there anyone on the new road bridge in the background of this picture, although I suspect, unlike its predecessor this bridge is probably photographer unfriendly!

Running ten minutes late, and therefore holding up the following 1V07 10:11 Nottingham to Cardiff CrossCountry service, Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35028 Clan Line emerges from Newnham Tunnel on 20 August 2012 with the Steam Dreams 1Z74 08:45 Victoria to Cardiff Central (via Gloucester) 'Cathedrals Express' railtour.

Working hard, but without a trace of exhaust because of the warm weather, Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35028 Clan Line approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham, on 15 May 2019 with the Belmond British Pullman 1Z91 08:45 Victoria to Bristol Temple Meads charter.

Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35028 Clan Line passes Compton Beauchamp on 15 May 2019 with the Belmond British Pullman 1Z93 17:11 Bristol Temple Meads to Victoria charter. I was really surprised to be the only person at this location, which although severely compromised by the new 25kV catenary, is still one of the least obstructed, and less backlit locations for an evening picture on the line between Swindon and Didcot. I suppose if it was the vastly overrated Flying Scotsman, rather than Clan Line, then there would crowds of the usual idiots everywhere!

Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35028 Clan Line passes Chilson on 21 August 2021 with the Railway Touring Company 1Z44 07:09 Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Cotswold Venturer' railtour. This was running 18 minutes late due to a bizarre signalling error which saw the train routed up the Banbury line at Wolvercote Junction. Apparently the driver took the wrong route, and then had to set back so that the correct route could be set! Although it was raining heavily to the south of Oxford, the forecast downpour hadn't started here yet, so at least I wasn't getting wet whilst waiting!

The perils of steam photography! The exhaust from Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35028 Clan Line completely obscures the train, as it accelerates away from its brief stop on the down relief line near Denchworth, and passes Challow on 6 October 2021 with the Belmond British Pullman 1Z28 08:46 Victoria to Bristol Temple Meads 'Historic Bath By Steam' railtour. This was midweek, but amazingly, another steam charter was stopped in the loop directly behind it!

Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35028 Clan Line passes Baulking on 18 May 2022 with the Belmond British Pullman 1Z28 08:15 Victoria to Bristol Temple Meads 'Historic Bath By Steam' luxury charter. A very warm day, so no exhaust.