Looking very smart in its fairly recently applied coat of red paint, Baguley Drewry rail inspection car AD9127 basks in the sunshine at Winchcombe on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on 23 August 2008. These quaint petrol engined vehicles were used for general permanent way and engineers inspection use during the 1960s. This picture was taken from on board the 11:15 Cheltenham Racecourse to Toddington train.

On 30 November 1984 a broken fishplate caused the derailment of the 1A75 07.05 Hereford to Paddington service near Stoulton. There were no serious injuries, but the coaches were thrown well clear of the track, resulting in the line being closed for several days. The following day, Saturday 1 December 1984, Cardiff Canton's Cowans Sheldon 76 tonne diesel crane ADRC96704 is getting ready to lift the last two remaining coaches. This particular crane was originally built in 1961 as a steam crane. Some idea of just how dull the weather was can be gauged by the fact that this picture was taken on Kodachrome 64 at 1sec f5.6 at midday!

London Midland Region Matisa Neptune track recording unit DR50006 heads west at Chinley on 19 June 1984. These vaguely comical little machines were used to produce a readout of track alignment problems and had the ability to spray paint on the track to notify PW workers of areas that needed attention.

Heading for display at the Rail Alliance Rail Live 2017 event, Balfour Beatty Rail Services Plasser & Theurer Dynamic Track Stabilisers DR72213 & DR72211 pass through Ascott-under-Wychwood station on 19 June 2017, running as the 6J09 10:14 Woking to Long Marston. This had been running late for most of the way, but was almost back on time here, after missing out its booked stop in Kennington loop. That didn't stop it having to wait for a short while at the signal behind the bushes in the background.

The totally illogical way that the Great Western Mainline electfrication is progressing is illustrated here at Steventon, as the line of masts suddenly stops in the middle of nowhere for no good reason. Plasser & Theurer 09-32 RT Tamper / Liner DR73108 Tiger passes by on 5 January 2017, running as the 10:00 Bristol Kingsland Road to Oxford Down Carriage Siding.

Plasser & Theurer 09-32 RT Tamper / Liner DR73108 Tiger passes South Marston on 20 June 2017, running as the 6J05 10:00 Bristol Kingsland Road to Reading Triangle Sidings. This was not the angle I was going to use for this picture, but the tamper missed out its booked stop at Swindon, suddenly becoming half an hour early. I hadn't checked, and was not ready in my intended position! However, this view does show the new signals which control the crossover and access to the virtually closed South Marston Industrial Estate branch.

Plasser & Theurer 09-3X-D-RT Tamper / Liner DR73113 catches the afternoon winter sun as it heads south down the Cherwell Valley near Tackley on 17 December 2008. For a short distance north of Tackley the railway is relatively unobstructed with trees and on a long curving embankment, which offers a number of excellent viewpoints for southbound trains in the winter.

I readiness for overnight engineering works, Plasser & Theurer 09-3X-D-RT Tamper / Liner DR73115 had to move from Gloucester to Ashchurch on 25 May 2013. It seen here passing Claydon (Gloucestershire), less than a mile from its destination. It will however have to proceed straight on to Bromsgrove, in order to cross over onto the up line, before heading back south again.

With a toot to acknowledge the PW look out man, Plasser & Theurer 09-3X-D-RT Tamper / Liner DR73115 passes Compton Beauchamp on 7 July 2014, running as the 09:02 Didcot Fuelling Point to Swindon Cocklebury. For some strange reason this was not looped at Challow, and was therefore holding up the 1B17 09:15 Paddington to Newport HST, which was closely following it at very low speed.

Plasser & Theurer 09-3X-D-RT Tamper / Liner DR73115 goes for another ramble around the Western Region! It is pictured here passing Hay Lane (near Swindon) on 10 July 2014, whilst working the 08:30 Bristol Kingsland Road to Bristol Kingsland Road (via Didcot).

Plasser & Theurer 09-3X-D-RT Tamper / Liner DR73115 passes Wootton Bassett on 10 July 2014 with the 08:30 Bristol Kingsland Road to Bristol Kingsland Road (via Didcot) crew training run. The new houses occupy the site of the former Wootton Bassett station's goods yard.

With the tower of St Mary's church dominating the background, a pair of Network Rail Plasser & Theurer track machines head south from Wellingborough on 11 January 2014. 09-3X-D-RT Tamper / Liner DR73117 leads USP 5000-RT Ballast Regulator DR77907.

Network Rail Plasser & Theurer 09-3X-D-RT Tamper / Liner DR73117 & USP 5000-RT Ballast Regulator DR77907 pass Steventon in fading light on 16 February 2018, running as the 14:52 Reading Triangle Sidings to Severn Tunnel Junction. For DR77907 this is an almost immediate trip back from whence it came! This is the last pair of masts going westwards without any wiring in the short unfinished section through the village of Steventon.

Plasser & Theurer 09-3X-D-RT Tamper / Liner DR73120 & USP5000RT ballast regulator DR77909 run along the down main line at Grove on 14 November 2019 with 6Q53 10:23 Reading Triangle Sidings to Gloucester Horton Road, which was then oddly stopped at a red signal at Challow, to allow the following passenger trains to overtake it on the relief line! Normally of course it would be the track machines that would use the relief line.

Plasser & Theurer 09-2X-D-RT Tamper / Liner DR73121 approaches Standish Junction on 1 July 2021, running as the 6Q54 11:44 Swindon Transfer to Kings Norton On Track Plant Depot. I seem to have caught all three LED headlights during their 'off' cycle.

An hour late and going in the wrong direction! On 9 May 2024 there should have been a 6Q54 10:21 Swindon Transfer to Swindon Transfer (via Reading and Yatton) track machine move. Instead at short notice it turned into the 6Q54 10:00 Reading Triangle Sidings to Swindon Transfer, which confused Realtime Trains totally! Plasser & Theurer 09-2X-D-RT Tamper / Liner DR73121 passes South Marston, running 15 minutes early on the new schedule.

Plasser & Theurer 09-3X-D-RT Tamper / Liner DR73122 passes Hungerford Common on 11 January 2024, running as the 6Q55 09:15 Reading Triangle Sidings to Fairwater Yard. Due to recent heavy rainfall, the road just off to the right of the picture was completely flooded, but just passable with care.

Plasser & Theurer 07-16 Universal Tamper / Liner 73220 moves slowly along the as yet unballasted down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 21 February 1993, during a Sunday engineering possession of the Great Western Mainline. The relief lines were being reinstated at this time between the site of Wantage Road and Challow stations, although as can be seen here, work on the up relief line had not yet started. 73220 was cut up at York in October 2006.

This is my only picture of an item of rolling stock actually using the siding at Ascott-under-Wychwood. Plasser & Theurer 07-16 Universal Tamper / Liner 73223 sits in the siding on 17 June 1980. Ironically I saw this same track machine at work at the same location over a decade later, but by that time the siding had been lifted. After the singling of the Cotswold Line in 1971, the siding was retained to serve a small coal yard, the evidence of which can be seen on the left.

Plasser & Theurer 07-16 Universal Tamper / Liner 73223 ambles along the up main line at Woodley, near Reading on 14 June 1987. This location is on the section of track much frequented by steam photographers in the 1960s (and before) between the deep cutting at Sonning and the embankment that takes the line over the valley of the Rover Loddon and on towards Twyford.

Any residents of Ascott-under-Wychwood living near to the station, and hoping for a lie in on Sunday 13 January 1991, were in for a surprise, as weekend engineering work on the railway involved the extremely noisy tamping of the track. Plasser & Theurer 07-16 Universal Tamper / Liner 73223 is seen here at work on the level crossing, with sections of the roadway having been removed to gain access to the ballast.

Plasser & Theurer 07-16 Universal Tamper / Liner 73223 is pictured at work at Ascott-under-Wychwood on 13 January 1991. Note the three sets of measuring wheels in the foreground used to assess track geometry. On the right of this picture the remains of the former coal yard can be seen, while the posts of a new fence separating the yard area from the line have yet to receive any wire. This is the start of the fourteen mile single track section of the Cotswold Line to Wolvercote Junction.

Plasser & Theurer 07-16 Universal Tamper / Liner DR73224 runs 'wrong line' past Evenlode on Sunday 27 November 1988, during an engineering possession of the Cotswold Line. Although the trackside at this location is still relatively free of vegetation, in the 1980s the roadside hedge was low enough for this picture to be taken from the road. Unfortunately that is no longer possible. The village of Evenlode can be seen in the background, with Manor Farm, and the 13th century church just visible amongst the trees.

Plasser & Theurer 07-16 Universal Tamper / Liner 73225 approaches Rigg on 23 October 1998. Needless to say I hadn't travelled up to the Gretna to Annan line just to see this, but was on my way to the Scottish Highlands, and had stopped off here to see the Carlisle to Eastriggs MoD stores train. This ran 'as required', and clearly on this day, like a lot of others, it wasn't required!

Plasser & Theurer 07-16 Universal Tamper / Liner 73241 stands at Ongar station on 24 September 2017. The Epping Ongar Railway's tamper is non-operational, which is just as well, as the track behind it has been removed, leaving it marooned!

Plasser & Theurer 07-16 Universal Tamper / Liner DR73259 heads east past Worting Junction on 16 July 2001. Formerly painted in all over yellow, like all BR owned track machines, this machine had recently acquired the slightly impractical mainly white livery of private operator Balfour Beatty.

Plasser & Theurer 07-16 Universal Tamper / Liner 73265 stands in the siding near the end of Gillingham station's platform on 25 July 1992. The large Kemira Fertiliser building in the background is now occupied by the removal company, Johnson's of Shaftesbury.

Plasser & Theurer 07-16 Universal Tamper / Liner 73265 heads west past Berkley on 12 October 1994. It's difficult to see from this angle, but at this time these machines had huge numbers painted on the side. This one also has the last three digits of the number on the front of the vehicle, loco style.

Fastline Plasser & Theurer 07-275 Switch and Crossing Liner/Tamper DR73307 heads north past Botany Bay (near Retford) on 10 March 2009, just managing to find a gap in the gathering clouds. The fence in the foreground looks a little insecure by modern standards!

Plasser & Theurer 07-275 Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73309 is highlighted by a brief patch of sunshine, as it ambles along the down relief line at Coedkernew on 14 March 1997. This machine has subsequently been seen on several preserved railways, including the Severn Valley, Gloucestershire Warwickshire, Pontypool & Blaenavon & Lincolnshire Wolds Railway.

Jarvis liveried Plasser & Theurer 07-32 Duomatic Tamper / Liner 73423 heads north up the Highland Mainline at Bardrill (near Gleneagles) on 23 April 2003. Bardrill is a seemingly remote spot down a narrow road that sees virtually no traffic, yet as can be seen by the lorry in the background is only a few hundred yards from the busy A9 road to Perth and Inverness.

Colas Rail Plasser & Theurer 08-275 Switch & Crossing Tamper 73901 ambles past Kemble Wick en-route to Swindon on 5 March 2010. A substantial amount of work has been carried out to stabilise the cutting side here, with a new concrete sectional retaining wall replacing the original brick one, and improved drainage. A landslip here caused the derailment of a Class 158 in 2007. The short (409 yards) Kemble Tunnel can be seen in the background. This was built purely to hide the line from Squire Gordon of Kemble House!

Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73905 heads east at Brimpton on 23 November 2007. Note that how in addition to the running number and operator's name (Amey), this piece of equipment, in common with a lot of on track plant also carries the maker's name and model number.

Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73905 passes Uffington on 16 April 2014, running as the 10:19 Kemble to West Ealing Plasser Sidings. I had carefully positioned myself underneath this tree especially for this picture, as I realised that the small gap would be ideal for a photograph of this short vehicle.

Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73905 heads away from the camera at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 22 September 2014 with the 10:07 West Ealing Plasser Sidings to Swindon Cocklebury. What is not apparent from this picture is that it is rapidly being overtaken by a HST, which would speed past a fraction of a second after this picture was taken.

Colas Rail Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73905 passes through Shipton station on 15 September 2016, running exactly to time as the 6J44 11:00 Honeybourne Sidings to Woodborough. The resident bird population are going to be well fed this autumn, just look at the quantity of hawthorn berries on the bushes!

Colas Rail Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73905 passes Uffington on 19 October 2018, running as the 10:15 Rugby to Westbury (via Oxford). Just a few minutes later another tamper passed in the opposite direction, ironically also from Rugby, but this time going to Didcot, via Cheltenham!

Viewed from the little used new footbridge in the fields near Uffington, Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73905 heads west on 29 March 2019, running as the 6J44 10:00 Didcot Fuelling Point to Bristol Kingsland Road. Short trains are always difficult to photograph well, so I decided to include the footbridge to add some foreground interest.

Colas Rail Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73905 heads north at Standish Junction on 11 April 2019. It is running on the Bristol to Gloucester line, whilst the line in the foreground, at a higher level, is the route to Swindon.

Colas Rail Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73905 runs along the up relief line at Challow on 29 November 2021. This is the start of the four track section of line, which extends as far as Wantage Road.

Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73905 passes Ebley on 2 June 2023, running as the 6J44 10:32 Rugby Carriage Sidings to Swindon Transfer. The bridge in the background marks the site of Cashes Green Halt (closed in 1964).

Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73906 ambles along the up line at Fritwell (on the Chiltern Line between Aynho Junction and Bicester) on 9 June 2008. Someone was presumably getting bored during some extended engineering possession and decided to decorate the buffers with smiley faces!

With the 981 feet tall Bredon Hill dominating the background, Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73907 heads south past Fiddington on 23 August 2012. Although the sun was trying to come out, the Colas Rail orange livery (in remarkably clean condition for a tamper) certainly brightens up the scene. In my opinion this is one of the better times of year for photography, with the fields of ripening grain amid the various shades of green far more attractive than the monotonous monotone green landscape of June and early July.

Colas Rail Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73907 passes Bourton on 12 August 2016. This was running between Rugby and Slough. The West Coast line seems the obvious route, but presumably this would normally have gone via Oxford. As the line was closed for flood alleviation works at Hinksey, this has travelled the long way round via Gloucester.

Colas Rail Plasser & Theurer 08-16/4x4C-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73911 passes Uffington on 23 September 2016, running as the 6J45 10:00 Bristol Kingsland Road to West Ealing Plasser Sidings. In contrast to the previous freightliner, which was running half an hour late, this was running half an hour early.

A named track machine! Clearly showing its locomotive style cast Lynx nameplate, Plasser & Theurer 08-16/4x4C-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73912 waits in the siding near Evesham signal box on 19 August 2009, prior to moving off to the worksite a few miles to the east.

Plasser & Theurer 08-12/4x4C-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73913 heads east along the relief line at Potbridge (between Basingstoke and Woking) on 3 February 2007. Although admittedly a lot of track machines are of similar appearance, this is one of only two machines on the national network of this exact configuration.

SB Rail Plasser & Theurer 08-16/4x4C-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73916 First Engineering passes Ascott-under-Wychwood Signal Box on 19 July 2019, running as the 09:37 Worcester to Oxford Down Carriage Sidings. This was in preparation for several day's worth of crew training runs on the Cotswold Line. These were booked to start from Oxford at 09:23, with two trips to Moreton-in-Marsh and back. Clearly that wasn't going to happen on this first day, as this picture was taken at 10:48, and Oxford is still some distance away!

Having just come off the double track section of the Cotswold Line at Charlbury, SB Rail Plasser & Theurer 08-16/4x4C-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73916 First Engineering passes Cornbury Park on 21 July 2021 with the 09:23 Oxford Down Engineers Sidings to Oxford Down Engineers Sidings (via Moreton-in-Marsh) crew training special. Extensive vegetation clearance here a few years ago only seems to have encouraged the Sycamore tree on the right, which will soon almost block out this view.

After already having performed one out and back trip to Moreton-in-Marsh, SB Rail Plasser & Theurer 08-16/4x4C-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73916 First Engineering heads back up the Cotswold Line again on 21 July 2021 with the 09:23 Oxford Down Engineers Sidings to Oxford Down Engineers Sidings (via Moreton-in-Marsh) crew training special. It is pictured here passing Chilson.

Viewed from the end of Shipton station's down platform, SB Rail Plasser & Theurer 08-16/4x4C-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73916 First Engineering heads back to Oxford, after its second round trip of the Cotswold Line on 21 July 2021 with the 09:23 Oxford Down Engineers Sidings to Oxford Down Engineers Sidings (via Moreton-in-Marsh) crew training special.

Travelling very slowly over a temporary speed restriction, SB Rail Plasser & Theurer 08-16/4x4C-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73916 First Engineering passes Shorthampton on 23 July 2021 with the 09:23 Oxford Down Engineers Sidings to Oxford Down Engineers Sidings crew training special. This was returning from the first of two out and back runs to Moreton-in-Marsh.

Having already made one trip over the Cotswold Line from Oxford to Moreton-in-Marsh, SB Rail Plasser & Theurer 08-16/4x4C-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73916 First Engineering heads up the Cotswold Line again on 23 July 2021 with the 09:23 Oxford Down Engineers Sidings to Oxford Down Engineers Sidings crew training special. It is seen here passing Shorthampton. I chose a going away shot, as not only is the lighting angle much better, but the view from the other side of the bridge is now almost completely obstructed by bushes.

SB Rail Plasser & Theurer 08-16/4x4C-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73916 First Engineering approaches Charlbury on 23 July 2021 with the 09:23 Oxford Down Engineers Sidings to Oxford Down Engineers Sidings (via Moreton-in-Marsh) crew training special. Hidden from view behind the hedge, a group of rail workers were manually replacing a few damaged wooden posts in the lineside fence. At least that means there doesn't seem much possibility of a palisade fence appearing anytime soon!

Colas Rail Plasser & Theurer 08-16/4x4C80-RT Tamper DR73920 approaches the footbridge at Yarnton on 5 January 2022, as it heads north along the Cherwell Valley Line, running as the 6J81 11:02 Swindon Transfer to Rugby. The logs in the foreground are from tree clearance work that took place here a couple of years earlier. Why someone has recently decided to stack them up against the railway fence is a mystery.

Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR 73923 Mercury heads east past Pencoed on 15 July 2002. This tamper would lose its red roof in favour of a more standard white a few years after this picture was taken, and taken, later still, it would acquire the Colas orange body, yellow ends, black roof colour scheme.

Colas Rail Plasser & Theurer 08-16/4X4C100-RT Tamper DR73924 passes Wolvercote on 30 May 2021, running as the 13:54 Westerleigh to Honeybourne Staff Hut. I only just got this, as it was running 25 minute early. As I walked up to the bridge, I expected to see it stop at the signal in the background, in order to allow the 1P63 15:55 Moreton-in-Marsh to Paddington GWR Class 800 to come off the Cotswold Line. Instead, it just carried on, with the inevitable result that the passenger train was delayed at Charlbury! This bizarre signalling move had no benefit, as it just had to sit at Ascott-under-Wychwood for much longer than originally booked.

Colas Rail Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73930 approaches Melton Junction on 5 September 2014. It has just passed through Melton Mowbray station, which is just beyond the bridge in the background.

Colas Rail Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73935 passes Cholsey on the foggy morning of Sunday 14 October 2012. I had gone to this location for 60059 on the 6A70 08:32 Didcot to Colnbrook tanks, but after the sun initially started to come out, the fog then rolled back in, and by the time 60059 passed it was so thick that the bridge was no longer visible! Therefore this colourful tamper in the very weak early morning sun is some slight compensation for my early morning walk!

Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73935 passes Uffington on 22 January 2017, running as the 6J42 10:00 Gloucester Horton Road to Oxford Down Carriage Siding. Note the frost covered base for a forthcoming electfrication mast in the foreground.

Balfour Beatty loaned Plasser & Theurer 08-16/4x4C100-RT Universal levelling, lining and tamping machine DR73937 to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway in 2003. On 4 October, it is seen in the yard at Winchcombe (pictured from a passing train).

Plasser & Theurer 08-16/4x4C100-RT Universal levelling, lining and tamping machine DR73937 awaits collection by Balfour Beatty, in the yard at Toddington on 24 October 2003, after being used for track maintenance by the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

Making a change from the usual bright yellow track machines, Fastline operated Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73941 ambles along the up relief line near South Moreton on 12 November 2007. Note that even here there is new spiked fencing by the lineside. Who on earth is going to clamber down from the road and fight their way through the overgrown wood just to get on the line at this point!

Plasser & Theurer Unimat 09-4x4/4S Dynamic Tamper DR75008 passes Uffington on 29 March 2019. This was running as the 6Q75 09:50 Cheltenham Spa to Eastleigh East Yard, although originally the path was for a 6J75 07:00 Stafford to Eastleigh, but Realtime Trains said that was cancelled at Cheltenham due to: 'Problems with engineering equipment outside engineering works'!

Colas Rail Plasser & Theurer Unimat 09-4x4/4S Dynamic Tamper DR75010 Roger Nicholas passes Grove on 20 January 2022, whilst running as the 6Q58 10:03 Swindon Transfer to Swindon Transfer (via Didcot) crew training run.

Consecutively numbered DR75010 Roger Nicholas & DR75011 Andrew Smith come off the Cotswold Line at Wolvercote Junction on 23 November 2022. The Colas Rail Plasser & Theurer Unimat 09-4x4/4S Dynamic Tampers were running as the 6Q58 11:42 Honeybourne Sidings to Reading Triangle Sidings, which was running 12 minutes late at this point. It would be a full hour behind time when it reached its destination. The rainbow in the background was a bonus, but it did mean that I got soaked on the walk back to the car!

Colas Rail Plasser & Theurer Unimat 09-4x4/4S Dynamic Tamper DR75010 Roger Nicholas runs along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 24 November 2023. This was the 6Q58 12:21 Reading Triangle Sidings to Swindon Transfer, running 24 minutes late.

Neatly framed by the overhead gantry, which otherwise is nothing but a photographic nuisance, Plasser & Theurer Unimat 09-4x4/4S Dynamic Tamper DR75011 Andrew Smith passes Uffington on 20 April 2021. It is nearing journey's end, as it is running as the 10:27 Swindon Transfer to Challow. It would then sit on the up relief line for most of the day, before returning to Swindon in the evening, via a reversal at Foxhall Junction.

Plasser & Theurer Unimat 09-4x4/4S Dynamic Tamper DR75011 Andrew Smith heads north at Yarnton on 7 March 2022, running as the 09:53 Bristol Kingsland Road to Rugby Depot Access Line. Colas certainly seem to keep their track machines in pristine external condition.

Plasser & Theurer Unimat 09-4x4/4S Dynamic Tamper DR75011 Andrew Smith passes Gossington on 15 September 2023, running as the 6Q59 10:07 Castle Cary to Westerleigh. I was a little surprised to see this approaching on the maps, as it had just passed Yate, where it should have reversed onto the Westerleigh branch. I assumed it was going to Gloucester to reverse instead, which is clearly what it did, as eventual arrival at Westerleigh was 80 minutes late.

Volker Rail Matisa B 45 UE tamper DR75301 heads south along the East Coast Mainline at Burn on 17 October 2013, running as the 12:00 Chevington Loop to Doncaster Paper Sidings. Based in Doncaster, Volker Rail performs various specialist rail infrastructure contracts, one of which involved the modernisation of the rail network in the army depot at Bicester.

The Swiss built Matisa B14UE tamper is a well proven design of modern track machine, used by a number of private operators. Volker Rail's DR75405 is pictured running along the up relief line at Cossington on 16 March 2020.

Colas Rail Matisa B14UE tamper DR75406 Eric Machell runs along the up relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 22 September 2014, running as the 10:00 Bristol Kingsland Road to Honeybourne (via the Cotswold Line). The trees behind the tamper mark the site of a former pond, which was formed when material was dug out to form the nearby bridge approach embankments.

Friday often sees track machines moving around the network in readiness for weekend engineering work. Such was the case on 31 October 2014, when the Great Western Mainline saw three such moves within a little over an hour. One of these, the 09:33 Severn Tunnel Junction Sidings to Didcot Fuelling Point, is pictured passing milepost 61½, near Grove. Unlike the other two workings, which were unsurprisingly routed along the relief lines, Colas Rail Matisa B14UE tamper DR75406 Eric Machell has been allowed to run along the up main.

Colas Rail Matisa B14UE tamper DR75406 Eric Machell passes Grove on 22 October 2018, running as the 6L83 10:05 Didcot Fuelling Point to Westbury. This was running 50 minutes late, but that was still nowhere near enough to get the sun on the front, hence this going away shot.

Colas Rail Matisa B14UE tamper DR75406 Eric Machell passes Uffington on 19 September 2019, running as the 6J83 12:20 Rugby to Westbury. Note that this is the point where the overhead catenary changes from full width spans, to cantilever posts on the north side of the line.

Colas Rail Matisa B14UE tamper DR75406 Eric Machell passes Abbotswood on 22 September 2020, en-route from Bromsgrove to Castle Cary. Although not much of a speed machine, the unit was doing its best to accelerate away from its booked pathing stop in the loop just around the corner!

Two track machines traversed the Cotswold Line on Monday 4 March 2013, after use during weekend engineering work. They were both heading north, which was not ideal from a lighting point of view. The Chipping Sodbury to Honeybourne working was still backlit, but approximately an hour later, Matisa B41UE Tamper DR75407 passes Shorthampton in much better light, en-route from Oxford to Worcester.

A busy moment at Little Haresfield on 29 August 2014. Matisa B41UE Tamper DR75407 heads north, running as the 10:43 Swindon Cocklebury to Worcester. This has delayed the 1V49 09:07 Manchester Piccadilly to Bristol Temple Meads CrossCountry service, which has just received the green light. It had just crawled past me under adverse signals, as the tamper has just crossed over from the 'Golden Valley' route at Standish Junction, near the bridge in the background. In addition, 60040 was waiting in the loop just behind me, and would follow the Voyager with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks.

Colas Rail Matisa B41UE Tamper DR75407 Gerry Taylor crosses over the A40 dual carriageway at Elmbridge on 23 March 2020. At this point the A40 forms the Gloucester bypass. It is noteworthy that either side of Gloucester the A40 reverts to a single carriageway.

Volker Rail Matisa B66UC tamper DR75503 Gill Cowling passes underneath the A161 roadbridge at Crowle on 4 December 2019, running as the 6Q69 10:34 Wakefield Kirkgate to Scunthorpe Frodingham. Although this was running more or less on time, a duplicate set of timings suddenly appeared on Realtime Trains, showing a 11:57 departure, and claiming it was running 79 minutes early!

A close up view of Volker Rail Matisa B66UC tamper DR75504, as it passes Crowle on 8 April 2023, running as the 6Q70 09.57 Doncaster Divisional Civil Engineer's Sidings to Scunthorpe Frodingham. If only all passenger rolling stock was this clean!

The Windhoff electrification train, with 99 70 9131 001-8 leading, passes Milton on 8 March 2014 with the 09:00 Swindon Transfer to Swindon Transfer crew training run. After a run to Bristol, this consisted of a couple of out and back trips to Didcot.

The bringer of doom (if you're a railway photographer), or the bringer of progress (if you're a passenger). Brand new Windhoff electrification units 99 70 9131 001-8 & 99 70 9131 005-9 pass Bourton on 16 February 2014 with the 6Z09 11:30 Swindon Transfer to Swindon Transfer (via Didcot) crew training run. This was the first of five round trips run during the day. These units (or factory trains, as Network Rail optimistically call them) were to be used for the Great Western Mainline electrification programme.

Brunel returns to the line that he helped to engineer in the 1850s! An impressive cavalcade of Network Rail overhead line electrification vehicles with DR76901 Brunel leading passes Daylesford on the Cotswold Line on 3 September 2021. The train, which also includes: 97308, DR76921, DR76919, DR76923 Gavin Roberts & DR76922, was running as the 6X81 15:26 Long Marston to Kings Norton On Track Plant Depot. This was running 10 minutes early, and it suddenly occurred to me that the 1W29 14:50 Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street GWR IET was due from the opposite direction. It certainly was a close run thing, as I found out when I turned round!

Windhoff overhead line electrification vehicle DR76901 Brunel brings up the rear of the 6X82 06:57 Swindon Transfer to Crewe at Tackley on 25 June 2024. The three vehicles at the front of the train are: DR76906, DR76923 Gavin Roberts & DR76903. A pair of light grey KFA cable drum carrying wagons are in the middle of the train.

Windhoff electrification units 99 70 9131 005-9 & 99 70 9131 001-8 pass Shrivenham on 16 February 2014 with the 6Z09 11:30 Swindon Transfer to Swindon Transfer (via Didcot) crew training run. I had deliberately chosen this location, as the short train would just fit in the available gap in the bushes, and the side view would clearly show all the equipment onboard the vehicles.

The all singing, all dancing, Windhoff electrification units have not been the success that was hoped for. Talk of the Great Western Mainline electrification being completed in record time due to the use of these expensive machines seems a little premature now that the whole project is years behind schedule. DR76905 (99 70 9131 005-9) & an unidentified classmate pass Bourton on 24 June 2016, running as the 04:15 Southcote Junction to Swindon Transfer.

The 6X82 06:57 Swindon Transfer to Crewe passes Tackley on 25 June 2024. Windhoff overhead line electrification vehicles DR76906, DR76923 Gavin Roberts & DR76903 lead the train, followed by two KFA cable drum carrying wagons, with DR76901 Brunel bringing up the rear. This train, which ran in the opposite direction the day before, was running 15 minutes early.

Network Rail electfrication maintenance vehicles DR76911 & DR76913 approach Uffington on 9 March 2022 with the late running 6Q08 08:30 Swindon Transfer to Swindon Transfer (via Newbury and Bristol) route learner. I was lucky to get this in the sun, as the clouds were building up rapidly from the west.

Network Rail electfrication maintenance vehicles DR76911 & DR76913 round the curve by the Crofton Pumping Station on 9 March 2022 with the 6Q08 08:30 Swindon Transfer to Swindon Transfer (via Newbury and Bristol) route learner. As I had already seen this near Uffington running 31 minutes late, I was a little surprised to see it here now running 59 minutes early!

Signs of impending electrification at Farleaze (near Hullavington) on 10 September 2014. Windhoff electrification units DR76913 (99 70 9131 013-3) & DR76911 (99 70 9131 011-7) head east with the 09:57 Swindon Transfer to Swindon Transfer (via Bristol Parkway) crew training run, while on the right a Network Rail track worker pauses while the train passes. He, along with a large gang of chainsaw operators and scrub clearance workers were starting to cut back the lineside vegetation in readiness for installation of the catenary. Note the temporary blue health & safety fencing protecting the workforce. Just to the right of this picture the hawthorn bushes and Rosebay Willowherb were being obliterated as the train passed.

Signs of impending electrification near the site of Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham, on Sunday 2 August 2015. The capped tops of the piles that have been driven into the ground are clearly visible on both sides of the line, while one of the causes of all this disfigurement, Windhoff electrification units DR76913 (99 70 9131 013-3) & DR76911 (99 70 9131 011-7) passes by with the 19:56 Swindon Transfer to Moreton Cutting.

DR76922 brings up the rear of the early running 6X81 15:26 Long Marston to Kings Norton On Track Plant Depot Network Rail electrification train at Daylesford on 3 September 2021, just as 800024 approaches from the opposite direction with the 1W29 14:50 Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street GWR service. The other vehicles in the train are: DR76923 Gavin Roberts, DR76919, DR76921, 97308 & DR76901 Brunel.

Running 77 minutes early, the 6Q55 08:30 Banbury to Oxford Down Engineers Siding passes Heyford on 27 February 2022. Plasser & Theurer USP 6000 ballast regulator DR77010 leads 09-2X-D-RT Tamper/Liner DR73122. They were returning from an overnight engineering possession between Banbury and Fenny Compton.

Plasser & Theurer USP5000C Ballast Regulator 77324 brings up the rear of a train of long welded rails at Bourton on 17 October 1998. At the front of the train, heading towards Swindon, power is being provided by Mainline blue liveried 37274.

Plasser & Theurer USP5000C Ballast Regulator DX77327 heads north along the West Coast Mainline at Shallowford on 12 August 1989. Over three decades later, this machine is still in use by Colas Rail.

Colas Plasser & Theurer USP5000C Ballast Regulator 77327 passes Rodbourne on 19 July 2016, running as the 7Z09 10:12 Swindon Cocklebury to Bristol Kingsland Road. Unless you falsify history by cloning out the tall radio mast, this location is compromised when a full length train is involved. However, this track machine neatly fits in the gap between the modern infrastructure!

Plasser & Theurer USP5000C Ballast Regulator DX77332 heads north past Culham on 2 August 1991. Didcot Power Station dominates the background. This 2,000 megawatt coal fired station was approximately half way through its 45 years life when this picture was taken.

A toot from the driver of Volker Rail Matisa R24S Ballast Regulator DR77802, as it passes Swainsthorpe on 14 May 2019 with the Norwich to Norwich (via Stowmarket - twice!) driver training run. Volker Rail operate just two of these track machines.

Plasser and Theurer USP 5000 RT Ballast Regulator DR 77901 passes Fiddington on 8 March 2016, running as the 11:06 Honeybourne Sidings to Port Talbot Sidings. I did not walk the considerable distance along a muddy track to this location just to photograph this, but just two minutes earlier 37602 & 37605 had passed by with the early running 6M56 13:41 Berkeley to Crewe nuclear flask, and just five minutes before that, 56098 was photographed with the 6Z34 09:46 Cardiff Tidal to Chaddesden scrap empties.

Colas Rail Plasser and Theurer USP 5000 RT Ballast Regulator DR 77901 passes Cassington on 28 January 2019, running as the 6L88 10:55 Honeybourne Sidings to Slough Estates. With the perfect angle for the winter sunshine along the southern end of the Cotswold Line, it was just a question of finding a suitable photographic location that wasn't in shadow. I decided to photograph it coming underneath the brick bridge on the Yarnton to Cassington road, which despite the addition of the inevitable palisade fencing, is still a very photogenic location for such a short train.

Plasser and Theurer USP 5000 RT Ballast Regulator DR 77905 & 09-3X-D-RT Tamper / Liner DR73111 run along the mainline at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 4 July 2011, presumably heading back to Didcot from the previous day's engineering possession at Hullavington. DR73111 is one of the various pieces of track plant that is named. A traditional cast nameplate proclaims it as Reading Panel 1965-2005.

Fridays often see the movement of track machine in preparation for weekend engineering work. Friday 16 February 2018 saw three movements through Cholsey station within half an hour. Plasser & Theurer USP 5000-RT Ballast Regulator DR77907 & 09-3X-D-RT Tamper / Liner DR73113 pass through the station, running as the 10:00 Severn Tunnel Junction to Reading Triangle Sidings.

Running over half an hour early, Plasser and Theurer USP 5000 RT Ballast Regulator DR 77909 passes the site of Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham, on 15 December 2017, running as the 10:04 Lydney Junction to Reading Triangle Sidings. It is passing one of the many worksites that have been established near the line in connection with the staggeringly mismanaged electfrication project.

Cowans Sheldon twin jib cranes DRC78235 & DRC78266 bring up the rear of the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot departmental working on 16 September 2013. The two highly colourful Colas track machines are pictured passing Bourton. The train was being worked by 66161. I had photographed the same two cranes, on the same working, earlier in the year, although on that occasion they were at the front, rather than the rear of the train.

Seldom photographed in daylight on the mainline, Network Rail Loram C2103 rail grinder with DR79257 leading passes Bishop Wood (between York and Doncaster) on 26 July 2008. The full consist being: DR79257, DR79256, DR79255, DR79254, DR79253, DR79252, & DR79251. This is one of three similar American built modular grinder units at work on the national network. Rail grinders are used to extend the life of lines, by grinding away irregularities and re-profiling the rail. This usually takes place at night and is both noisy and a spectacular display of sparks!

Harsco RGH20C rail grinders DR79263 & DR79273 pass through Finstock station on 6 March 2017, running as the 6U03 10:40 Worcester to Reading Triangle Sidings. This was running 20 minutes early, as the HST it should have passed somewhere on the double track section between Ascott-under-Wychwood and Charlbury, was in fact still the other side of Oxford, running 15 minutes late. Some excellent quick thinking by the signaller allowed the track machine to keep running, and to clear Wolvercote Junction with a couple of minutes to spare before the HST needed to access the single line.

Harsco RGH-20C Switch and Crossing Rail Grinder DR79723 trundles very slowly along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge Denchworth on 10 February 2014, en-route from Reading Triangle Sidings to Gloucester Horton Road. It was following close behind a tamper, which was being held at Challow. This was lucky, as its slow progress meant it did not get in the way of the 6Z08 09:39 Llanwern to Washwood Heath covered steel wagons, hauled by 56094 & 56113, the tail end of which can just be seen in the distance.

Network Rail Harsco RGH20C rail grinders DR79273 & DR79263 pass through Cholsey station on 16 February 2018, running as the 11:00 Swindon Cocklebury to West Ealing. Visible in the background, behind the track machines, is the rather wobbly trackwork of the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway.

Luckily Network Rail Harsco RGH20C rail grinders DR79273 & DR79263 are running on the down main line, rather than the relief line at Denchworth on 15 April 2019, resulting in an unobstructed picture. The pair are running as the 6U03 10:00 Oxford Down Carriage Sidings to Cardiff Canton Sidings. A conveniently short train to fit in the gap between the overhead support, and the bushes behind me. With a palisade fence to contend with, this location is definitely not what it was!

Network Rail Harsco RGH20C rail grinders DR79273 & DR79263 approach Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on the down relief line on 29 April 2019, running as the 6U03 10:00 Didcot Fuelling Point to Canton Taff Vale Sidings. The new footbridge in the foreground is as yet untouched by vandals, probably due to its remoteness. Despite being just a short distance from the road, the footpath is across the field from the village, a long trek that will probably soon be all but impassable, as the farmer has not marked out the course of the path through two fields of rapidly growing beans.

Network Rail Harsco RGH20C rail grinders DR79273 & DR79263 wait at a red signal at Challow on 24 September 2021, whilst heading west as the 10:22 Reading Triangle Sidings to Chipping Sodbury. This being a Friday, there were a number of such track machine moves, and just 25 minutes later, Harsco YZA Multi Purpose Stoneblower DR80302 passed by in the opposite direction.

Loram rail grinders DR79301, DR79302, DR79303 & DR79304 pass Uffington on 6 December 2024, running as the 4Q01 09:53 Reading Triangle Sidings to Bristol St Philips Marsh. I had to recompose the picture slightly as it approached, in order to include the whole train, so there is a bit less overhanging oak tree than I had anticipated!

Network Rail Stoneblower DR80205 passes Thrupp on 2 April 2021, running as the 6U25 09:53 Tavistock Junction to Banbury Reservoir Sidings. As the approaching view was exceedingly backlit, I opted for this wide viewpoint going away shot.

Network Rail Stoneblower DR80205 finds a sunny gap amid the clouds, as it passes Kintbury on 12 April 2021, running as the 6U25 10:11 Castle Cary Up Sidings to Southall Infrastructure Services Unit. The bridge in the background crosses the Kennet & Avon Canal.

Network Rail Stoneblower DR80210 passes the public footpath crossing at Standish Junction on 24 January 2023, running as the 6U30 10:36 Castle Cary Up Sidings to Gloucester Horton Road. The Javelin Park EfW refuse powered power station can be seen in the background.

Network Rail Stoneblower DR80211 passes Denchworth on 7 September 2015, running as the 10:04 Didcot Fuelling Point to Canton Taff Vale Sidings. A conventional picture would be very backlit, so I opted for this going away shot, hoping there would be just enough room to fit this short vehicle in the small gap between the bridge and the signal gantry. There was, just! It is surprising how quickly this relatively slow track machine seemed to be moving when viewed through a wide angle lens. Note the capped electrification pile in the foreground.

A close up view of Network Rail Stoneblower DR80211, as it runs along the down relief line at Grove on 26 April 2022. Photo taken from a public footpath crossing, which for some reason hasn't been replaced by a footbridge, unlike several others in the area.

Network Rail Stoneblower DR80211 runs along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 10 August 2023, as it makes the short journey as the 6U31 13:04 Didcot Fuelling Point to Swindon Transfer. After a sunny morning, the clouds were now starting to make their presence felt.

Network Rail Stoneblower DR80211 passes the site of Bredon station on 27 June 2024, running as the 6U31 09:56 Gloucester Horton Road to Crewe. Bredon station closed in 1965, but as the railway passes right through the centre of the village, it would surely be viable today, as the village has seen massive housing development since the 1960s.

Network Rail Stoneblower DR80214 approaches Collins Lane level crossing, Purton, on 17 January 2023, running as the 6U34 09:05 Ashford Crane Depot to Warrington Bank Quay - a very long journey for a track machine! I had completely forgotten about this, and it was only when I saw the green signal that can just be glimpsed through the bush on the left, that I remembered it was coming, just giving me enough time to get in a suitable position!

Network Rail Stoneblower DR80215 waits in the siding at Crianlarich on the night of 30 August 2016, prior to heading out for some work on the West Highland Line. That's what you call a powerful set of headlights!

Network Rail Stoneblower DR80215 passes through Ascott-under-Wychwood station on 4 January 2019, running as the 6U25 10:20 Oxford Down Carriage Siding to Worcester. It had been held for a few minutes at a signal further back towards the bridge in the distance, As it pulled away there was the biggest cloud of clag I have ever seen coming out of a track machine. A pity the signal wasn't in a more photographable position! In theory there should have been two track machines within half an hour, with the 6Y55 09:30 Long Marston to Chelmsford coming from the opposite direction. I had thought of going to Charlbury to get both in one picture, but the light angle would be totally wrong. In the event, 6Y55 ran two hours late, by which time I was back home!

Fridays often seen an increased number of movements of track machines, in preparation for weekend engineering work. Such was the case on 26 February 2021, when there were several daylight workings on the Didcot to Swindon line. Harsco YZA stoneblower DR80217 passes Uffington, running exactly on time, with the 6U37 10:08 Woking Up Yard Reception to Canton Taff Vale Sidings.

Harsco Track Technologies Switch & Crossing Stoneblower DR80302 heads south from Cheltenham on 16 March 2009. It is pictured passing Up Hatherley. This is one of three such machines currently in service with Network Rail.

Harsco YZA Multi Purpose Stoneblower DR80302 passes the site of Ashbury Crossing at Shrivenham on 28 January 2015, running as the 11:02 Hither Green to Maindee Civil Engineer's Depot. At this particular moment even the HSTs were passing this spot at track machine speed, due to a suspected lineside trespasser in the vicinity!

A pair of Harsco YZA Multi Purpose Stoneblowers trundle along the down relief line at Denchworth on 9 October 2015. DR80302 & DR80303 are working the 6U41 10:30 Woking Up Yard to Swindon Cocklebury. Amusingly this was shown on Realtime Trains as a Diesel Electric Multiple Unit timed at 134mph, which now seems to be the standard exaggerated speed for track machines! The fog had taken until midday to clear, and although I managed to get every picture in the sun, the cloud soon started to build up. This was not quite what the Met Office had forecast!

Harsco YZA Multi Purpose Stoneblower DR80302 trundles along the up main line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 27 May 2020, running as the 10:00 Little Mill Junction to Woking Up Yard. Although it is a hideous eyesore, at least the overhead catenary doesn't get in the way of such a short train.

What seems to be my most photographed track machine, Harsco YZA Multi Purpose Stoneblower DR80302 passes Uffington on 4 June 2021, running as the 09:35 Bristol Kingsland Road to Whittlesford Reception Siding (near Duxford).

Harsco YZA Multi Purpose Stoneblower DR80302 passes Challow on 24 September 2021, running as the 10:40 Bristol Kingsland Road to Broxbourne Down Tamper Siding. Only with a track machine move would you get something travelling between Bristol and Broxbourne!

Harsco YZA Multi Purpose Stoneblower DR80303 passes Claydon on 11 September 2023, running as the 6U42 10:00 Gloucester Horton Road to Walsall Tamper Sidings. The western escarpment of the Cotswold Hills can be seen in the background.

The bright yellow livery of Robel Mobile Maintenance Train DR97503, DR97603 & DR97803 is accentuated by the setting sun, as it passes Ascott-under-Wychwood on 20 June 2022, running as the 14:16 Chaddesden Sidings to Long Marston, for display at the Rail Live event. This was running 23 minutes late, but this was clearly due to an error during the train planning, as it couldn't possibly have headed north from Oxford up the Cotswold Line at its booked time, as the 1P42 19:05 Great Malvern to Paddington IET was heading the other way along the single track Charlbury to Wolvercote Junction section!

The impressive Network Rail Robel Mobile Maintenance Train (DR97808, DR97608 & DR97508) passes through Cholsey station on 16 February 2018, running as the 11:20 Rugby District Electric Depot to Horsham. The three part unit includes a centre section which allows work to be carried out on the track under cover.

An interesting working took place over the northern section of the Cotswold Line on 31 July 2017, although because it didn't involve a locomotive, was probably ignored by most photographers! Windhoff overhead line electfrication MPVs DR98006, DR98013 & DR98002 are pictured passing Badsey with the 6Y55 09:08 Crewe to Long Marston. This is probably the closest the Cotswold Line will get to electfrication, and although the similar RHTT & weed killing MPVs have been common visitors to the Cotswold Line for a long time, this was definitely something different, and well worth recording, despite the poor weather.

An impressive cavalcade of Windhoff overhead line electfrication MPVs passes Shorthampton on 30 April 2019. DR98011, DR98009, DR98004 & DR98003 are working the late running 6Y53 09:30 Long Marston to Chelmsford, and whilst not actually a revenue earning freight, anything other than a dark green DMU is now very rare on the southern end of the Cotswold Line!

Plasser & Theurer GP TRAMM (Track Renewal And Maintenance Machine) DX98212 stands in the sunshine at Crianlarich station on 28 April 1998. These are two part vehicles. The B section nearest the camera is unpowered. The powered A section has a larger crew cabin, as well as a small crane.

Plasser & Theurer GP TRAMM (Track Renewal And Maintenance Machine) DR98221 approaches Didcot North Junction on 26 November 1989. In the background is the inappropriately named Hill Farm, which is surrounded by a totally flat landscape, with not a hill of any kind to be seen!

Plasser & Theurer TASC 45 track & service car DX98501 ambles through Glen Falloch, between Crianlarich and Ardlui, on 6 April 1998. This was one of a small fleet of these machines built specifically for work in the Scottish Highlands.

Plasser & Theurer TASC 45 track & service car DR98503 is seen here at Tulloch on 11 April 2000. It was built in 1985 specifically for minor works at remote Scottish locations (Tulloch is certainly remote!). The low sided container underneath the grab could be tilted sideways for dropping ballast onto the line. This vehicle has now been scrapped.

DR98957 & DR98907 have just passed through Shipton station with the 3S31 07:38 Kings Norton to Ledbury (via Oxford) rail head treatment train on 30 October 2007. As can clearly be seen, the unit is spraying the rail with water to clear away leaf mulch. This picture was almost blocked out by the late running 08:52 Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill First Great Western service, which passed a few seconds later.

DR98907 & DR98957 are pictured near Grintleyhill Bridge, Combe with the 3S31 07:38 Kings Norton to Ledbury (via Oxford) sandite working on 16 November 2007, heading back to Ledbury, having reversed at Oxford. You would think it would be easy to include autumn foliage in railway photos, but it seems to be very difficult, as the best trees don't seem to grow near the line. Although there is some reasonable colour in the background of this picture, frustratingly there were several large beech trees near where I was standing that no matter how hard I tried to find a different vantage point could not be included in the picture!

I am wisely sheltering under the canopy at Wilmcote station on 22 October 2009, as MPVs DR98958 & DR98908 pass through with the 3S87 09:10 Kings Norton to Stratford-upon-Avon and return Rail Head Treatment Train. Miserably dull and pouring with rain, but at least this viewpoint shows off the underside of the canopy, which would have been in shadow on a brighter day. Always look on the positive side! The superb Great Western Railway footbridge also helps add interest to the picture.

In the pouring rain, MPVs DR98908 & DT98958 pass through Wilmcote station on 22 October 2009 with the 3S87 09:10 Kings Norton to Kings Norton Rail Head Treatment Train, just after it had reversed at Stratford-upon-Avon. Wilmcote station retains plenty of Great Western character, with both station building and the small waiting room on the opposite platform still extant and in excellent condition. Incidentally the standard of brickwork on these buildings is far in excess of what you would find with present day construction, which probably explains why they have survived so well. Also, the GWR covered footbridge means I didn't get wet whilst waiting for this train!

DR98958 & DR98908 approach Kidderminster on 5 October 2018 with the 3S02 08:49 Kings Norton to Kings Norton (via Worcester and Leamington Spa) Rail Head Treatment Train. The Severn Valley Railway's 50035 Ark Royal can be seen in the background.

DR98959 & DR98909 pass Baulking, on the Great Western Mainline between Swindon and Didcot, with the 3S32 08:29 Ledbury to Didcot Railhead Treatment Train on 27 October 2008. This location is not much use for a normal length train, as only a short section of track is visible, but is ideal for this working. It is one of the relatively few locations on the GWML where there is a display of autumn foliage in the background, which after all is the reason that this train is operating! The Armco barrier visible in the background is where the Stanford-in-the-Vale road parallels the railway for a short distance. This road was only constructed in the 1970s, when a large fuller's earth quarry was opened nearby obliterating the course of the original road. The quarry closed in 2005.

Clearly demonstrating why it is known as the 'Golden Valley', this view of the Gloucester to Swindon line at Sapperton shows the autumn colours at probably near their best on 28 October 2008, as Network Rail MPVs DR98959 & DR98909 climb the 1 in 60 gradient towards Sapperton Tunnel with the 3S32 08:29 Ledbury to Didcot Railhead Treatment Train. Note the spray coming up from the rail in the centre of the formation as the train lays sandite on the rails. Sapperton Bank was a formidable incline in steam days with banking required for most freight trains. Nowadays there is no freight, but the uncontrolled lineside vegetation since the demise of steam has made sandite trains such as this essential during the leaf fall season.

Not as photogenic as the Hunslet Barclay Class 20s that were formerly in charge of weedkilling duties on the Cotswold Line, but interesting nevertheless. DR98909 & DR98959 approach Finstock on 24 May 2012 giving the ballast a good dose of chemicals. Ironically I had previously photographed another member of the Windhoff MPV fleet at this location, on that occasion performing their other function - clearing leaves from the line.

Network Rail MPVs DR98910 & DR98960 pass Up Hatherley on 23 July 2016, running as the 06:45 Margam to Kings Norton On Track Plant Depot. It was a completely cloudless morning when I left home, but the sun disappeared as I crossed the Cotswolds, to be replaced by thick fog. Luckily there was no fog here, just lots of cloud! Fortunately the sun soon started to break through.

With the giant Honda car factory at South Marston (near Swindon) dominating the background, DR98912 & DR98962 pass Bourton with the 3S32 08:29 Ledbury to Didcot Railhead Treatment Train on 31 October 2008. This is the third occasion within a week that I have gone out to photograph the train, but in each case decided not to wait for the 3S33 13:07 return working from Didcot due to the rapidly worsening weather. In fact this picture gives a false impression of the conditions, as cloud was building steadily and the area behind the factory was the only completely clear piece of sky! The MPV is just passing the crossovers which are used during single line working. The lines here are signaled for bi-directional working.

The problem and the cure! MPVs DR98962 & DR98912 pass a good show of autumn leaves at Finstock on 9 November 2008. The working is the 3S31 09:55 Kings Norton to Ledbury (via Oxford) Rail Head Treatment Train, especially designed to deal with fallen leaves from trackside trees such as these. The leaves looked even more impressive until the sun went in a few minutes before the train was due! Due to pathing difficulties on the single track sections of the Cotswold Line, the 2008 timetable for these trains sees the weekdays workings running during the night, with only this Sunday working running during daylight. Finding a location to include show of autumn leaves on the Cotswold Line is not as easy as you would think from looking at the map.

MPVs DR98912 & DR98962 pass Cornbury Park (near Charlbury) with the 3S31 09:55 Kings Norton to Ledbury Rail Head Treatment Train on 9 November 2008, shortly after its reversal at Oxford. Although one of the few locations on the Cotswold Line that is actually less grown up with vegetation than when I used to regularly photograph the Class 50s in the 1980s, the view from the bridge looked a little bland. I wanted to include the Scots Pine tree in the background, but that would also include a lot of featureless sky in the picture. Both problems were solved by standing on the parapet of the bridge on the opposite side of the road. This included the overhanging beech branches, adding colour to the foreground and covering up most of the blank sky.

MPVs DR98962 & DR98912 pass the site of Ashbury Crossing at Shrivenham with the late running 3S33 Didcot to Kings Norton Rail Head Treatment Train on 3 December 2008. Booked to leave Didcot at 13:07, it hadn't even arrived at Didcot at that time, as its previous working the 3S32 08:29 Ledbury to Didcot ran over an hour late. MPVs are obviously very low down on the list of vehicles to be cleaned, as the smiley face picked out in the dirt on the front still shows just as it did nearly a month previously at Finstock!

Running 15 minutes late due to a late running First Great Western service (no surprise there then!), MPVs DR98912 & DR98962 approach the site of Yarnton Junction with the 3S31 09:55 Kings Norton to Ledbury (via Oxford) Rail Head Treatment Train on 7 December 2008, the final daylight working over the Cotswold Line for the season. The menace of palisade fencing has even invaded this remote spot. Despite the fact that the fence visible here would hardly be a deterrent to trespassers, the bramble choked former occupation crossing near where I am standing now has a single panel of palisade fencing standing in glorious isolation. You really have to question the logic of this particular waste if money!

DR98962 & DR98912 pass the site of Yarnton Junction with the 3S31 09:55 Kings Norton to Ledbury Rail Head Treatment Train on 7 December 2008, after an unexpectedly quick turnaround at Oxford. Having arrived at Oxford 15 minutes late due to a late running First Great Western service, it then passed me at Yarnton 20 minute early heading north, presumably due to the southbound First Great Western Turbo service being canceled. The RHTT should have waited for this to clear the single line at Wolvercote Junction.

On 10 December 2008 with only a couple more days to go before the end of the 'leaf fall season', DR98962 & DR98912 approach Baulking (between Didcot and Swindon) with the 3S33 13:07 Didcot to Kings Norton Rail Head Treatment Train. Universally ignored by most railway photographers (as of course the early diesels were in the final days of steam), I rather like these vehicles, possibly because nobody else does!

Having just reversed at Basingstoke, Network Rail MPVs DR98965 & DR98915 pass Potbridge on 11 November 2016 with 3S86 05:23 Effingham Junction to Effingham Junction Rail Head Treatment Train. This had previously visited Wimbledon, Shepperton, Kingston, Twickenham, Windsor and Staines. My main reason for visiting this location was to get a picture of 47812 hauling a Class 442 unit from Eastleigh to Ely. However, shortly after taking this picture, the train was reported as cancelled, so it was a 100 mile round trip for a MPV RHTT picture!

Network Rail MPVs DR98917 & DR98967 head east past Swarkestone on 9 May 2003. This is the only photograph I have of one of these Windhoff built sets running without either weedkilling or sandite tanks installed. The original intention was that they could also be used as a kind of freight DMU, but that idea was never taken up.

Viewed from Dunstall Bridge, DR98923 & DR98973 head south from Moreton-in-Marsh with the 3S31 07:38 Kings Norton to Ledbury (via Oxford) sandite working on 23 October 2007. The station can just be seen in the distance, with semaphore signals in abundance, even for the little used down refuge siding.

DR98973 & DR98923 approach Chilson with the 3S31 07:38 Kings Norton to Ledbury (via Oxford) sandite working on 23 October 2007. The Cotswold Line has become very difficult to photograph due to rampant growth of lineside vegetation. This spot was chosen as the unobstructed gap was just big enough for the MPV, and it is one of the very few locations where it possible to get the sun on the front for a northbound train during the middle of the day. The train is on its way back to Ledbury, having reversed at Oxford.

Even track machines eventually get preserved! 1964 built Plasser & Theurer VKR 05-E tamper DX74108 looks quaint by modern standards. Preserved in 1985, as noted by the wording on the side, it is pictured at Rolvenden, on the Kent & East Sussex Railway on 27 May 1991.

Track relaying work at Shipton station on the Cotswold Line, on Sunday 5 October 1997. An Atlas 1604K road rail excavator shovels ballast up to the edge of the newly laid steel sleepered track. Note the mould in place in the foreground for the thermit welding of the rail sections. Unusually, apart from this token ballasting, there was no ballast train in the vicinity, and when the line opened in the afternoon, something I have not seen before or since happened - the passenger train traversed the unballasted track (admittedly at reduced speed).

The business end of Railcare Railvac unit 99 709 515 004-8, pictured at Long Marston on 23 April 2018, just after arriving behind 50008 Thunderer as the 6X50 11:40 Toton to Long Marston. The train is seen waiting at the locked gates. It was some considerable time before someone arrived to let the train in. The size of the hose on the back of the Railvac unit shows that it is considerably more powerful than a Dyson! It is used to suck up spent ballast, especially from around pointwork, etc. Note the lines of stored stock in the background, with EMUs 319459 & 319444 in the front.

Railvac unit 99 709 515 005-5 and Ballast Feeder 99 709 552 020-8 are towed past Aldington on 2 September 2019 by 50008 Thunderer, running as the 6X50 14:50 (13:00 actual) Long Marston to Doncaster Wood Yard. This extremely early running only lasted as far as Worcester.

Off the rails! Geismar sleeper changer 99709 906005-2 is sat in the back of the small engineer's yard at Tulloch on 29 August 2018. This picture was taken in the last few seconds of sunshine before it started raining. Just look how dark the clouds are in the background!

Geismar sleeper changers 99709 906006-0, 99709 906002-9 & 99709 908002-7 stand in the short engineer's siding at Tulloch on 29 August 2018. These machines are so lightweight, that they carry the warning that they cannot be relied upon to operate spring loaded points.

Rexquote Gigarailer 180s road-railer 99709 940018-3 sits amid the Rosebay Willowherb at Shorthampton on 24 July 2009. This section of the Cotswold Line is being redoubled with initial work involved in realigned the single track, which was 'centered' at most locations in 1971. As a prelude to all this there has been a massive clearance of vegetation, and indeed this location has never been as clear as this in all the years I have been taking pictures on the line. Obviously work was going on elsewhere, as there was nobody at all around, and although the whole line was closed for the engineering possession, it seemed very strange to see this vehicle parked in the middle of nowhere with nothing happening.