Thankfully the thick cloud-base cleared just in time for this HST led by 43124 to be captured in its full colours,location is of coarse 'The Hump' at Bathampton adjacent to the loop-line there..04 july 2009..

Arriva-XC with 43384 heads a southbound service through Brent-Knoll.Service shot to bits today due to a derailment at Derby and a failed XC-Hst as well.Various subs and step-ups twisting the schedules..16 june 2009..

43304-XC speeds past Brent-Knoll heading north for Bristol and beyond..16 june 2009..

Looking in immaculate external condition 'Kraut' engined 43071 heads the 07:47 service from Plymouth to the 'Big' City.Viewed shortly after passing Clink-Junction at Frome..13 june 2009..

FGW I/C with 43022 on point seen leaving Bath at Bathampton against a backdrop of some of the Georgian Terraced Houses this City is so famous for..30 may 2009..

Rebuilt from a complete wreck that was dumped out the back at Brush of Loughborough for many years 43301(ex 43101) now works hard for a living every day doing as many as a 1000 miles in a 24hr period.Here it is with an 'out of sight' 43384 running down from York going to Plymouth with '1V23',recorded at Wickwar,north of Bristol..28 may 2009..

Running about 20 mins behind schedule the 06:48 from Penzance to Paddington with 43190 the lead power-car sweeps through Gt-Cheverill at full speed..26 may 2009..

43156 hammers past the Rape-Fields at Cholsey-Manor-Farm as it heads a London bound FGW Express..23 may 2009..

Sporting a nice cast nameplate 'Dartington International Summer School' 43156 runs through Baulking as it speeds towards Paddington..23 may 2009..

The Erstwhile 'Prototype Production Pair of Power-Cars' 43002/43003 (253001) are again currently working as a pair,first time since MTU conversion.43002 at this time un-named but 43003 still carries 'Isambard-Kingdom-Brunel'. Set seen speeding towards Paddington through Goring east of Didcot..23 may 2009..

Arriva XC set headed by 43304 powers through Ram-Hill in the northern outskirts of Bristol with '1S51' from Plymouth going all the way to Glasgow..16 may 2009..

Diverted '1V47'from Edinburgh to Penzance powers through Clink nr-Frome pretty much on time.Leading PC is 43285,43357 brought up the rear.Not bad time keeping after over 400 miles,still a few hundred to go!..2 may 2009..

Doing his impression of a "Blues-Brother" the driver powers 43303 into the setting sun through Berkley nr Frome on "1V47" the Edinburgh-Penzance Arriva XC service(43384 was the rear PC)..25 april 2009..

Dundee to Penzance "1V43" powers through Clink nr Frome with this diverted Arriva XC HST set.43321 was leading with 43302 pushing.Note the tin and plastic "Hut" placed here over 10 years ago as a shelter for the flagman during a resignalling job,been abandoned ever since,another example of Network-Rails sloppy asset management.Nothing ever changes! ..25 april 2009..

One of the few remaining "Valenta" powered- units left are used on the "Network-Measurement-Train" for Railtrack,even these are now in the programme soon to be converted to MTU power....Here 43062 "John Armitt" speeds up through Witham-Friary past the poly-tunnels there with the regular (every 3 months?) test-run. (Note the Pantograph fitted in the roof section of the third carriage)..24 april 2009..

Losing speed on the approach to the Westbury stop a FGW-hst with 43127 in the lead.Location is Fairwood,note the crossover,this is used by stone trains mainly to gain easy entry to the "down" yard..20 april 2009..

Diverted "1S59" trundles past Claverton with 43285 and43287 in charge.Starts at Plymouth,destination-Edinburgh..19 april 2009..

XC set XC03 with PC's 43366/43321 storm through Witham-Friary with the diverted 09:28 York to Plymouth service HST substitute..19 april 2009..

43304 with 43378 on the rear run non-stop through Westbury with the diverted "1S51" from Plymouth going to Edinburgh.Obviously no one in Westbury wants to go to Scotland!..19 april 2009..

Standard fare at Westbury---43141 with a Paddington bound FGW service gets away, after a brief stop..19 april 2009..

43378/43304 storm through Clink nr Frome with the diverted"1V47" Edinburgh-Penzance" Arriva XC service diverted this way due to engineering works south of Bristol..18 april 2009..

In superb light 43357/43285 drone down the Frome Cut-off with the Dundee-Plymouth XC service,running as "1V43",diverted this way due to engineering in the Bristol area..18 april 2009..

Heading north up the Frome Avoider is "1S59" from Plymouth to Edinburgh.Diverted this way due to weekend engineering works.P-Cars were 43303 with 43384 on the rear..18 april 2009..

One-half of the original pair of prototype-production-power-cars 43003(253001) now named "Isambard Kingdom Brunel" pushes away from Westbury with a London(Padd) bound service around the sharpish bend adjacent the Power-Box there..14 april 2009..

43207 with 43285 on the rear-end drone past Freshford on "1S59" today starting from St-Austell and going to Edinburgh..05 april 2009..

43374 heads the diverted "1V27" from Leeds to Plymouth viewed passing Frome on the avoiding line there..05 april 2009..

Wide angle shot of 43374 as it heads the diverted "1V27" from Leeds to Plymouth viewed passing Frome on the avoiding line there..05 april 2009..

Run of the mill FGW-HST 43185 named "Great Western" speeds past Styles-Hill Frome with a Paddington bound express,ironic that this "set" will pass a real Great Western locomotive coming the other way within minutes!..05 april 2009..

Cutting a rather classy dash (compared to the usual passenger traffic) 43384 heads the diverted "1V43" from Dundee going to St-Austell HST for Arriva XC..04 april 2009..

43357 heads north up the Limpley-Stoke Valley with the 15:59 Plymouth to Edinburgh Arriva XC service "1S56".Diverted this way due to engineering works on its normal route between Taunton and Bristol..04 april 2009..

If only any of the more important shots today had-had a bit of light on them like this! FGW-HST 43141 hums west passing Steventon Loops nr Didcot.Note the somewhat obstructive bush in the foreground and the fallen willow in the field have now mysteriously disappeared!..26 march 2009..

Prelude to any Freight on the B&H is the inevitable HST! Here 43146 motors round the sharp curve at Crofton just before the Pumping-Station heading for Paddington making full use of the well canted track here..24 march 2009..

This is how the shot of 59206 should have turned out if the crew of a narrow-boat had been more cooperative and literally kept their heads down! 43174 powers through the Crofton Area with a west bound hst service..24 march 2009..

Not hanging about,HST with 43158 in the lead blasts by at full line speed ,viewed at Fairwood Crossing.(currently closed to vehicles due to collapsed decking)..19 march 2009..

Paddington bound FGW-HST headed by 43042 passes Bathampton with a backdrop of the Georgian City of Bath..16 march 2009..

So here I am plastered in field-mud after frantic dash to get ahead of 60011(that never came anyway due to failure in Frome).A few trains appeared ,this one, FGW hst 43037 heading west in the clearing late afternoon sunshine.Location is Witham Friary..14 march 2009..

Coming under the aquaduct at Wickwar is seen Arriva XC 43304 with "1V31" Edinburgh-Plymouth.These hst's must be a sheer delight after several years of Vger cattle-trucks particularly on these long distance services!..10 march 2009..

FGW-HST 43031 departs Westbury bound for Paddington.In the distance can be seen two local celebrities,DB 59206 and 60011.A quite busy scene. ..21 february 2009..

With it's nice traditional style red-backed nameplate "We Save the Children - Will you?" 43132 speeds along the B&H with the 11:06 ex-Padd to Plymouth..14 february 2009..

Formerly named "Railway Magazine" (Colin Marsden's Pet) 43197 speeds west with a Bristol bound shuttle from Paddington.These sets easily identified as they are not equipped with a buffet-car.Location is a still quite snowy Ashburys Crossing/Footbridge at Shrivenham..10 february 2009..

"FIRST-transforming travel" 43004 speeds westward past Ashburys Crossing/Footbridge nr Shrivenham with a FGW Express..10 february 2009..

Passing Woodborough Loops at high speed is seen 43126 with an express bound for Paddington.Note how the main-lines seem devoid of snow compared to the loop lines,this is due to the "hoover effect" created by multiple passes of HST sets. ..07 february 2009..

Heading West is an HST set with 43036 leading seen approaching the Passing-Loops at Woodborough on the B&H.This year has been the first chance for a long while where "Sun" and "Snow" and "Blue-Sky" have been available all at the same time! ..07 february 2009..

Swinging through the curve at Great-Cheverill on the B&H is viewed 43004 "FIRST transforming travel" with a west-bound diverted HST,prototype MTU rebuild still doing sterling service with FGW..07 february 2009..

Speeding through the snowy somerset countryside nr Frome is seen 43134 with the 11:06 Paddington-Plymouth under a clear crisp winters sky..03 february 2009..

43126 with the 11:54 from Exeter to Paddington speeds past the rapidly disappearing snow at Berkley nr Frome..03 february 2009..

The expression "Nice winter light " hardly applies to this shot taken at "Strap lane" Upton-Noble.In the current cold snap we have seen for the first time for ages "Hoar Frost". This can create a very wintery scene.Temperature even in the mid-afternoon was still 5 degrees-C below freezing.Here we see (just) 43171 heading west with a FGW service..09 january 2009..

An unidentified FGW-HST-Set speeds along the WR mainline between Reading and Didcot,train is approaching Cholsey heading west,note the crows (or rooks) are totally un-phased by the noise of this passing train!..02 january 2008..

Week commencing 15th-Dec saw introduction of the full HST service to the South-West by Arriva.Here we see "1V23" from York to Plymouth at Ram-Hill in the northern outskirts of Bristol.Loco's were 43378 and 43321 with a fully reliveried set..16 december 2008..

Power-car 43091 drones past the dereliction that is Cocklebury-Yard east of Swindon Station heading for Paddington..06 december 2008..

Named "FIRST for the future" 43004 runs into Swindon with an express from Paddington.Coincidentally this was one of the "First" 2 powers-cars to have experimantal use with the "MTU" engines now fitted almost universally to this traction..06 december 2008

43154 heads away from Swindon bound for London rolling through the remains of Cocklebury-yard..06 december 2008..

Named "Railway Magazine" at this time 43197 still in i/c livery sweeps through Miskin in South-Wales with a XC service from Swansea..15 may 2000..

Arriva-XC 43285 with 43303 on the rear speeds south with it's rake of ex-MML stock heading for the West-Country. Location is Elford nr Tamworth and the trees are now beginning to display their autumn colours..16 october 2008..

43185 "Great Western" stands in a seemingly deserted Newport-Gwent with an express from Paddington for Swansea..23 september 2008..

43150 hammers through Acton-Turville with a west-bound FGW express..20 september 2008..

Bringing up the rear of "9S61" was 43301.Seen speeding away from Magor.This resurrected power-car was originally 43101 and had languished for years at "Brush" as a total wreck.Well done for such a superb rebuild!.Also the coaches used are ex-MML in their now obselecent colours,superb though they are they will soon pass into history when they receive the new "XC"colours..20 september 2008..

Recent MTU rebuild 43303 currently working for "Arriva XC" heads the diverted "9S61" from Plymouth to Edinburgh.Unable to travel the direct route from Bristol to Gloucester has been sent via Newport.Working pictured at Magor South-Wales..20 september 2008..

Original "Prototype" power-car 43002 has worn many liveries in the long-long years it has now been in service,also suffered the indignity of the name"Top of the Pops" for while.For now though it remains un-named and wears the now standard corporate "FGW" colours....Seen speeding towards London viewed passing Clink nr Frome..19 september 2008..

43016 on a FGW service to Paddington speeds past the poly-tunnel greenhouses at Witham-Friary nr Frome.note the 3 oiks wearing Hi-viz trackside.This is so the drivers can see them earlier and swerve round them more easily!..18 september 2008..

Glinting in the bright early morning sun 43189 heads a Paddington bound working from the West-Country.Seen approaching Fairwood-Junction nr Westbury..03 september 2008..

As we are now well into August, the sun is beginning to sag a bit in the sky,particularly at 08:00! Rather difficult to find a spot where the light is actually on the train,this location now practically gone now for this year.Not that too many sunny saturdays have passed our way anyway lately...43316/43313 storms down the Frome-Avoider with "1C02" Bristol-Paignton XC summer-saturday-extra..23 august 2008..

Looking towards Shrivenham from Bourton seen behind a westbound HST is the faded old white backing where Semaphore Signals used to be..12 august 2008..

43090 speeds along in nice bright sunny conditions at Bourton.Note the old style liveried buffet-car still in use!..12 august 2008..

FGW operated 43127 heads east towards London over the bi-directional cross-overs at Bourton nr Swindon..12 august 2008..

Arriva XC ex-MML set with 43178 in charge passes Rangeworthy north of Bristol with "9V57" from Edinburgh to Penzance,today running about 30 minutes late at this time.43301 in new XC livery was on the rear,was expecting it to be on the front but forgot train goes into Gloucester and reverses there....Dooooh!..27 july 2008..(footnote---This power car went to Brush Traction for MTU conversion on the 30th, just 3 days later so farewell to the livery and roar on this machine!)..

"Going away shot" of the rear end of "1E47" The Newquay to Newcastle summer service.Only this power-car (to date) has received the new Arriva-xc livery.This unit was originally numbered 43101 and was dumped for years at Brush in an extremly derelict state.Now fully rebuilt with MTU power and running as 43301..26 july 2008..

Ex-MML set with "Valenta" power-car 43178 drums up through Coalpit-Heath with "1E47" Newquay-Newcastle Summer service.On the rear is 43301, newly rebuilt and the first to sport Arriva xc livery..26 july 2008..

"Summer" Hired-In HST set from "National-Express" 43314/43315 draw away from Bristol Temple-Meads past Barton-Hill EWS depot with 1E46 "Paignton-Newcastle" wearing the slightly modified ex-gner livery..26 july 2008..

"Summer" Hired-In HST set from "National-Express" 43315/43314 draw away from Bristol Temple-Meads past Barton-Hill EWS depot with 1E46 "Paignton-Newcastle" wearing the slightly modified ex-gner livery..26 july 2008..

Early morning FGW-HST 43088 rushes up the Frome avoider with an express heading for Paddington.Willow Herb in full flower here enhances this shot with a nice splash of colour..26 july 2008..

43170 formally named "Edward Paxman",now denamed for obvious reasons flies down the Frome Avoider with a Paddington-Plymouth Express..16 july 2008..

MML 43178/43166 with "1E47" Summer-extra runs through Coalpit-Heath heading north..05 july 2008..

National-Express Power-cars now rather conveniently sport their numbers on the front-end! Here we see 43302,mtu powered in the latest ECML livery passing Frome with "1C02" Bristol TM to Paignton.This service will remain "Hired-in HST" now for the remainder of the summer service..05 july 2008..

Valenta power doing the pushing in the form of 43051 with 43302 at the head.........1C02 makes it's way to Paignton from Bristol,seen passing along the Frome Avoiding-Line..05 july 2008..

Arriva Hst set still in MML livery runs down through Defford with the 09:33 Edinburgh to Penzance working (9V57). Power is provided by a pair of original type valenta power-cars 43184 and 43007..08 june 2008..

"New kid on the block" National-Express Liveried 43312 powers away from Bristol-Parkway with 1E46,Paignton to Newcastle.Note ex-gNer stock with the rather naff white-stripe!(43313 was the rear power-car) ..31 may 2008..

As usual sun dipped for the working we were here to capture(Nat-Ex holiday extra).However this shot is still very acceptable---43152 runs through Bristol-Parkway with a Paddington bound FGW service from South-Wales..31 may 2008..

Summers here so it must be ECML HST time down to the Cornish Coast.Here we view Ex-gNer(Now National-Express) 43095 still running with Valenta power exiting Wickwar Tunnel north of Bristol with "1V29" Manchester-Newquay.Power on the rear not supplied by 43314(This was dead as it failed in the midlands somewhere!..31 may 2008..

HST 43036 speeds along the Thames-Valley at Lower-Basildon heading west..08 may 2008..

Great light here today in Somerset,really clear as well.Here we view 43003 "Isambard Kingdom Brunel"heading west through Berkley-Marsh nr Frome.Recently released from Brush this and 43002 were the last pair of "Valenta" power cars to be converted to MTU engines.Worth noting is this unit was part of 253 001,the prototype production HST all those years ago..23 april 2008..

After 43138 draws to a halt Signalman and Driver conduct a short conversation as the token is handed over for the Evesham/Norton-junc single line section.HST's now rule on this line since demise of the class 180 Adalanti's..22 april 2008..

Quite a tranquil summer scene,An unidentified FGW hst about to dive under the old road bridge at Berkley-Marsh nr Frome.Note the ivy encrusted bridge buttruss and old style fencing.How long before some pro-active jobsworth wrecks this location with an ugly ghetto style galvanised spiky compound fence?..02 april 2008..

Westbury Cement-Works Chimney provides the backdrop as FGW pair 43176/43154 sweeps by with a West-Country bound Express..27 march 2008..

Barbie liveried 43025 with the short-lived white front-end seen leaving Westbury with a West-Country bound Express..26 march 2002..

Valenta power-car 43032 still wearing the original "barbie" front end runs through Bayton-farm nr Bratton on the B&H with a West-country bound express..16 march 2002..

Virgin liveried 43008 swings over Cockwood Harbour with a Northbound Cross-Country Service..20 july 2002..

Very shiny 43091 powers out of Twerton Tunnel with a service bound for Bristol TM..01 march 2008..

FGW in now an all MTU fitted fleet.here we see 43147 striding past the poly-greenhouse tunnels next to the line at Witham-Friary.note the 3rd coach (buffet) still in the old barbie livery..27 february 2008..

The original Merlin livery did not last very long before being superceded by the infamous "fag packet" version.Hence combinations of the two could be seen for a few months.An unknown "fag" power car runs through "Strap-lane" near Upton-Noble with a Plymouth service..23 july 1999..

A fine view of the Westbury Cement Works can be had from the hills near the "White Horse". An HST can just be made out moving past the works heading towards Paddington..16 february 2008..

43156 sporting a nice large cast nameplate "Dartington International Summer School" sweeps through Great Cheverill with an unknown working from Paddington..15 february 2008..

Not too many named Power-cars these days on FGW.Here is one that still is, 43127 sporting a "proper" cast nameplate (Sir Peter Parker 1924 - 2002 Cotswold Line 150).Viewed at Fairwood Junction nr Westbury with a Paddington bound service..11 february 2008..

So many HST's were diverted over the B&H that sometimes passing shots such as this are possible.Even an "against the light" situation produces an occasional worthwhile shot.Seen at Wootton-Rivers..09 february 2008..

43145 heads the MML set now seen heading towards Bristol with a diverted working due to mtce work on the line through Swindon area,Location was Wootton-Rivers on the B&H..09 february 2008..

The only odd-ball now in the FGW HST fleet is the MML carriage set "LA79".Usually deployed mainly on South-Wales workings,nice to see it on this occasion on the B&H at Crofton for a change due to Swindon area line closure's..09 february 2008..

MTU fitted 43028 slows past the Locks on the B&H Canal as it negotiates the curves at Crofton.09 february 2008..

"LA79" still comprises mainly "Ex MML stock" Here we view 43122 with 43145 on the rear speeding through Berkley nr Frome with a London bound service..08 february 2008..

MTU'd 43029 zooms through Great-Cheverill on the B&H,destination unknown in a brief patch of sun,,02 february 2008..

43172/43145 draw away from the Swindon stop with a Bristol-Paddington shuttle service.Note coaches used are an old-livery MML set..29 january 2008..

Looking well cared for, 43145 hauls a rake of MML liveried coaches on a diverted Paddington-Bristol service down the "Berks & Hants" at Woolhampton..26 january 2008..

One of the now universally modified MTU engined HST's(43088) swings around the bend away from Woolhamptom village with a London bound service..26 january 2008..

Still helping out on FGW services is a set of MML liveried coaches.Here viewed "galloping" through Newbury Racecoarse Station.MTU 43072 in charge..26 january 2008..

Sporting the original MML livery of Teal green and cream 43053/43050 sweeps over Cockwood Harbour,Dawlish with a Summer Saturday working returning from Paignton to the Midlands..19 september 1998..

Even 10 years ago extra hst sets were hired in by virgin to cope with the saturday traffic flows to the west-country.Here MML set 43050/43053 are viewed rounding Langstone-rock at Dawlish bound for Paignton..19 september 1998..

Still showing off it's inter-city origins 43181 drawing a rake of Merlin liveried stock behind it emerges from the tunnel at Horse-Cove Dawlish with a west-bound service..19 september 1998..

With the full refurbishment of the entire fleet of HST power-cars and stock nearly complete,only a few odd coaches remain in the "barbie" style livery,here we see one such coach in a otherwise fully refurbed train-set.........43027 heads a service down the B&H,destination unknown(diverts on this week-end) through Woolhampton(West of Theale)..12 january 2008..

Running with an I/C set of coaches Virgin liveried HST Power-Car 43063 powers through Yate Common (north of Bristol)with a Midlands bound working from the South-West..11 august 1998..

43005 leads away from Westbury at Fairwood Junction in nice sunny winter conditions..08 feb 1996..

Merlin liveried 43191 seen paired with a "fag-Packet" set swings through Berkley Marsh nr Frome past a field full of ripe Linseed(EU subsidised crop of the year)..08 july 1999..

43029 in "swallow" livery rushes through Badgeworth betweem Gloucester and Cheltenham with an express to the West-Country.This loco has had an interesting history.Final PC in inter/city livery,First loco(as 43001) in FGW Barbie style and also rear PC on train involved in the Upton-Nervatt crossing accident..12 july 1999..

West of England HST service seen pausing at Westbury.Power-car is 43148..Winter 1996..

"Bonnie Prince Charlie" 43117 stands in York with a delayed south-bound express.Reason being OHL wires down further south.In the background can be seen 45112 on "Thunderbird" stand-by duties.Unfortunately it was not required..23 june 2005..

43003 sporting its original set number 253001 from when first introduced over 30 years ago brings up the rear of the 13:52 Exeter-Paddington seen departing from Westbury for the Capital.Partnered by 43002 this train on this day is the FGW Valenta power swansong.Another piece of british railway history disappearing into the past..Finally despatched to Brush Engineering on the 4th jan 2008.RIP Valenta power cars in the West..01 december 2007..

43002(The prototype production power-car) pauses at Westbury on possibly its last day in traffic as a Valenta powered unit.Paired with its original partner on the rear(43003) and given its original set number 253001,The trains prepares to leave for Paddington,as it has done for over 30 years! After the final run of the day 43002 and 43003 were split and the 253001 set numbers removed.May continue in service for a while but will always be paired with an MTU fitted partner(Both 43002 and 43003 were finally taken to Brush for re-engineering on the 4th jan 2008,so ends the Valenta Era of the HST's on the Western)..01 december 2007..

43010 represents the new order on FGW.Refurbishment programme now almost complete.Understand even 43002/43003 are to be re-engined.Location is Bunns lane near Whitham Friary.This is same location as Header shot of my van and a light66+++.Note new fencing,not in shot but visable on the header was a rather nice 5 bar type metal gate.This is now defaced with an extra 18" of scrap-iron and barbed wire.Just shows, get the shot while you can,things change all the time..21 november 2007..

Gner 43114"East Riding of Yorkshire" runs down the Limpley Stoke Valley with 1C02 "Bristol to Paignton" via Westbury seen at Fishermans crossing near Dundas(Loco now numbered as 43314 as it has been converted to MTU power)..08 july 2006..

One of two prototype MTU fitted power-cars 43009 in the now defunct "dynamic-lines" livery swings round Langstone Rock with a Plymouth bound summer service train..15 july 2006..

Gner 43167/43105 on 1E46 Paignton-Newcastle passes Bristol Barton hill depot just to the north of Temple-Meads station..26 august 2006..

1Z87 Plymouth-Paddington NMT had the Prototype "Brush/Hitachi" -battery loco 43089 on the rear(43014 leading).Named "Hayabusa",this is the japanese equivilant of "Falcon".Hence the Falcon motiff on side of loco.This follows the Brush tradition of naming prototypes after birds of prey..09 november 2007..