A pair of 50's on the mainline seen here passing Acton-Turville with a Football Special carrying Chelsea fans to Cardiff for the Season opener Charity Shield match against Arsenal.50049 lead with 50031 tucked inside,doubt most of the footy fans even looked up from their morning copy the Sun!..07 august 2005..

Early Morning Commuter services in the late 90's were loco-hauled on the Rhymney to Cardiff line.Here seen approaching Gilfach nr Bargoed is 37673.This loco passed away in may 2008 at EMR Kingsbury..12 july 1999..

47830 speeds through Clink-Junction nr Frome with the afternoon Penzance-Paddington LCHS service..16 august 1999..

After a brief stop the morning Exeter to Paddington service is viewed departing Westbury with 47811 at the head..05 august 1999..

Running in original guise as D444 with no fixed headlight 50044 is seen in revenue earning service with a shuttle service between Bargoed and Cardiff.These 'extras' co-incided with major sporting events at the then new Millenium Stadium in the Welsh Capital.Location is between Bargoed and Gilfach before the entire area was heavily barricaded off with spiky fencing!..21 august 1999..

'Lea & Perrins' 37185 hammers up through Oxford passing Hinksey-Yard with '4Z17' from Eastleigh to Garston with a load of newly manufactured Transit-Vans.At this time this type of 37 hauled working was getting quite rare,37185 lasted just a further 10 weeks before being sidelined.Eventually getting the chop at 'CF Booth Rotherham' in january 2006.It was a bitterly cold day and after 3 hours one of our party, Bob Foster gave up and went home,naturally this came about 10 minutes later! ..16 january 1999..

At this time barely a year old so was still quite a novelty ! 66001 in the 'less dull' version of the EWS-Red heads a '6V05' Round Oak to Margam covered steel working.Train viewed skirting the Severn at Purton..09 january 1999..

In old money D300, tops 40100 inside 'A' Shop Swindon-Works undergoing the last-rites,having its re-usable parts removed before the shell in cut up for razor-blades.This was to happen before the end of the month ..06 june 1981..

Final Destination for 40026 was Swindon Works,it did linger on till sept 1983 but was then broken-up.Interestingly this was the only loco in the sequence D210 to D235 that was not named,believe there was a plate cast (Media) but it never carried?..06 june 1981..

Scene at the north-end of Westbury Station about 35 years ago! D1935 still in 2-tone green and pre-tops numbering runs off a stone working it had just brought in from one of the local quarries.The Signal-Box of coarse is long gone but the engine is still with us earning a regular living with 'Riviera'. 1st tops number was 47257 then 47650 then 47805.Now known as 'Talisman'..Circa 1974..

Looking fit for further duty 40066 sits in the yard at Swindon.Was here to be broken up for spares(Many parts fitted 37's and 50's) Pity. ..06 june 1981..

'Bone' 58006 rolls past Wanstrow on the Merehead Branch with a loaded stone in the early afternoon.Destination either Eastleigh or Wootton-Basset..17 april 1998..

Here is 'Loadhaul' 60038, that lost this livery many years ago,becoming a member of the 'Red' team. Pictured passing Water-Street-Junction at the throat of the long closed Marshalling-Yards at Margam.At this time steel coil trains were so common you were never sure what working was what?..18 april 1998..

Doing duty on Swindon to Castle-Cary shuttles associated with the Glastonbury Pop Festival Fragonset liveried 31452 with purple 'Wessex' 31601 on the rear heads towards Swindon on the single-line through Melksham.Here seen passing the back of the local 'Leekes' superstore..June 2004..

Suppose the late 'Nineties' was the best time to picture '60s' as class was fully in use and GM's were just a distant thought.Here, coming down the branch from Ebbw-Vale with an empty coil working is 60046 passing the signal-box at Park-Junction.Train turning right so bound for Margam and beyond.No spiky-fence cage between the running tracks then to protect the signallers car from the local numties! That was to come in the paranoid 21st century! ..18 april 1998..

Long stored LH Tug 60007 seen working the Furzebrook to Hallam-Marsh LPG Tanks past West-Dean in fading afternoon winter's light (At least you can read the sticker on this one!)..10 january 1998..

This engine became something of a 'Pet' at Old Oak Common,hence the repaint into near original colours,done at the 'Factory'.47004 is seen on the Bath-Binliner-Train that transports household-crap to Calvert landfill site.The empty train seen approaching the Bath area at Shockerwick.Stops were made at Bath,Bristol Barrow Road and Westerleigh to load the train before returning to Calvert in the Midlands..19 february 1998..

Then carrying the name 'Croydon 1883-1983' 73208 seen speeding south through Coulsden heading for Gatwick Airport on one of the dedicated trains for this service.Engine now works for GBRF in BR-Blue livery and has the name 'Kirsten'..18 september 1997..

The 'Minehead-Rocks' was the highlight of the summer of 97.Most days a train departed from Merehead to Minehead via Westbury[reversal).Traction invariably Class-37's but an occasional 47 and 58 did a turn,even a pair of 33's once after the booked 37 was impounded after it ran down a trespasser!-----Here is 37886 doing the first leg to Westbury at Fairwood-Junc with its load of gravel and rocks..29 september 1997..Footnote--Loco still with us,wnxx on 20 september 2007 and stored at Millerhill near Edinburgh.....

A pair of rather careworn 47's heads the weekly Polybulk China-Clay service from Cornwall (Burngullow) to Dollands-Moor for export to Italy via the Chunnel.47276/47379 power through Great-Cheverill on the B&H.Both were gone by early 2001,victims of the mass influx of the 'red-death'..08 december 1997..

Wearing the colours of the day 86204 'City of Carlisle' pauses at Stafford on a Euston bound service.Note the buffer fitted hst set on the next platform.Engine lasted just another year,was withdrawn in august 1998 and broken up at Immingham? during july 2003.No chance of this one going to Bulgaria! ..17 june 1997..

Running down the'slow' at Peterstone between Newport and Cardiff is 56092 with a feeder service from Newport ADJ to Swansea-Burrows.Loco had 2 years left in traffic and met its end at Wigan-CRDC in july 2001..19 july 1997..

Plain two-tone-grey 47379 ambles through Norton-Bridge with a set of ferry-vans heading north and taking the Stoke line,destination unknown.What is known is loco got the chop at Wigan CRDC in december 1999..05 september 1997..

Then numbered 90147 instead of 90047 to denote that the ETH was isolated for freight-work.Loco seen heading south through Norton-Bridge north of Stafford with a morning southbound Liner service.In a reversal of fortune this engine still survives today as 90047(again) but the station at Norton-Bridge is now gone! Along with the Power Signal-Box and even the Footbridge,just visable at top of the shot.Goes to show nothing remains the same on todays railway,mainly keeps contracting!..05 september 1997..

I/C 47805 speeds through Cogload-Junction with a full matching set of mk-2 coaches with a cross-country service from the north.Engine now with Riviera-Trains and carried the name 'Talisman'..15 august 1997..

An interesting one this! 43028 with 43041 powers through Holywell-Junction on the North-Wales Coast Line with a service from Holyhead to Euston.Note the oddball livery on the front P/C.It only lasted about a week as was done(I believe) unofficially to commemorate the ''Irish mail'' at Neville-Hill Leeds Depot and was removed when officialdom spotted it..29 july 1997.. Note--any info on this paint-job would be gratefully received......

With its load of Ten Seacows full of ballast from the Quarry at Penmaenmawr decal-less Loadhaul 37516 is seen approaching the seaside station of Abergele & Pensarn on the line from Holyhead to Chester..29 july 1997.. Footnote--This engine after years of inactivity is now operational again and runs with WCRC and is painted in that companys Maroon livery....

Shortly after the ROSCO's were sold off 'Porterbrook-Leasing' painted two Class-47's in their livery.Here 47817 heads north through Norton-Bridge on the WCML with a Cross-Country service,going via the Stoke line..05 september 1997..

37711 with the still visable scar on the bodyside where the 'Tremorfa Steel works' nameplate used to be is seen hauling '6V62' down through Frome with its mixed tanks of diesel and bitumen.Engine decals don't actually concur with the load!(metals not petroleum). Engine lasted until 03/2006 when it was broken-up at EMR-Kingsbury..22 july 1997..

Pretty much an unrepeatable shot now.here the Prototype 59001 in original livery drawing yellow ARC bogies passes 37707 parked outside the Westbury Power-Box coupled to a set of freshly built and painted 4-wheel boxes.Note-prior to renumbering to 37707 this loco was 37001 and before that D6701,1st production 37 after the prototype D6700.Still around today,stored at Bescot since 01/2005. ..13 august 1997..

'Bone' 58024 draws away from Clink-Junction with a set of boxes bound for Westbury from Whatley-Quarry..21 august 1997..

Seen during its 'Transrail' period 60096 heads west with a steel empty at Coedkernow in South-wales..19 july 1997..

Sporting the 'sand and cycle' circular cast headboard 37411 is seen shortly after departing Frome with the returning Weymouth to Bristol saturday service..24 july 1997..

Another 'Lost' Tractor.Here is 37420 'The Scottish Hosteller' pictured approaching the Frome stop with the 08:40 from Bristol to Weymouth.It was later repainted in R-Railways colours for use on the N-Wales coast services but eventually got the chop at Ron Hull's at Rotherham in August 2000. ..08 june 1995..

This was my favourite 'Slug' 37902.Strange to see it power by as it was very quiet just like sheds are now! Seen here passing East-Usk-Junction going to Llanwern with a transfer freight from Port-Talbot carry Steel Blooms..06 march 1997..

Southampton to Pengham(Cardiff) F-Liner service passes Green-lane just a few miles short of its destination.47337 doing the honours. Interestingly this machine is still with us as a GM-rebuild,now renumber 57602 'Restormal Castle' and spends most of its time now on Sleeper services for FGW..22 march 1997..

Easing down the 'slow' at Green-lane on the 4-track between Newport and Cardiff is 'Coal' 37894 drawing a loaded set of Seacows..22 march 1997..Footnote--Loco met its end at EMR-Kingsbury in August 2008......

RES liveried 47's were at this time standard traction on the regular London-Victoria to Bath VSOE trains.Here is 47782 at Beckford Gardens in the outskirts of Bath.This loco survived until April 2007 when the Gas-Axe at Thompsons Scrap reduced it to tiny pieces! ..23 july 1997..

After these 25Kva EMU's were made redundant on the Liverpool-St to Clacton services in East-Anglia several were retained by 'Regional-Railways' for use on the Birmingham to Manchester services.Here is 309624 c/w a non standard 'Airport' livery recorded during a short stop at Stafford with a northbound evening service..13 february 1997..

This was a 'Pathfinder' Tour,not sure about details,seen departing past Jersey-Sidings Weymouth at the start of the return-leg.Power was provided by 33051 'Shakespeare Cliff' then still in 'Dutch'Livery..18 january 1997..

Sweeping round the bend at Hiemes-Farm north of Norton-Bridge is 312728,one of the 1st generation EMU's that were used at this time on the WCML..14 february 1997..

On a superb Summer day 59005 brings in a set of empties off the Trowbridge line passing parked 60075 outside the Power-Box at Westbury.Still in the original FY livery,a far cry from the current 'Ice-cream van' style this engine now wears!..13 august 1997..

AC Electric 86214 with a set of Mk-2's in tow swings round the curve at Hiemes-farm north of Norton Bridge heading south..14 february 1997..

Location here is Hiemes-Farm just north of Norton-Bridge on the WCML.56086 with loaded coal from Oxcroft going to Oakleigh..14 february 1997..

A reguler train each morning out of Westbury was the 10:00 empties to Meldon Quarry,a solid 37 turn often with two on.here is 37667 with seacows passing Berkley nr Frome shortly after leaving Westbury..04 december 1996

56119 draws a set of Hooded HAA's loaded with coal,probably going to the local steel works Llanwern just up the road..06 march 1997..

An 'Enterprise' type working here,from Newport ADJ to St-Blazey in Cornwall.Consist was an empty slurry 'silver-bullit' tank and a good load of coal.Loco's were two of St-Blazey's finest, 37670/37671.Amazing that 37670 still around 12 years later (2009) even sporting the new DBS-Schenker livery!,37671 still clings to life,'Tre-Pol and Pen' has been dumped at Tyne-Yard for a very long time as it was withdrawn back in 2000..06 march 1997..

60017 on a 'tripper' along the 4-track between the various steel works in South-Wales is seen passing East-Usk.Note the backdrop of industrial equipment at Llanwern Steel-Works..10 years later it was all gone,nothing is now visable from this location..06 march 1997..

Dutch Liveried 37255 powers past East-Usk-Junction with a train of seacows,probably after a visit to Machen Quarry..06 march 1997..

59005 was used as part of a trial by EWS on the Iron ore circuit in South-Wales.Here it is seen passing Green Lane on the 4 track between Newport and Cardiff on Empties going back to Port-Talbot..22 march 1997..

47150 rolls through Coedkernew with a feeder service from Swansea to Newport ADJ.This loco was to become the last Class 47 in revenue earning service for Freightliner over 10 years later..22 march 1997..

Transrail 60080 drops down through East-Usk with a rake of empty steel carriers..06 march 1997..

60027 heads west at Green-lane on the 4-track between Newport and Cardiff with a train of empty steel coil carriers probably going to Port-Talbot..22 march 1997..

Blasting through Chippenham Station is the Calvert to Bath/Bristol/Westerleigh Avon-Binliner with an ex-works Mainline liveried 'Bone' 58046 in charge.At this time containers were blue and loadings were much larger and train ran everyday,now? still running just! Will probably cease running altogether in the next 12 months(2009)..27 october 1995..

Hindsight is a wonderful thing! 59104 in the then current ARC mustard livery looked quite distinctive.Here seen passing the now (2009) destroyed vantage point at Berkley near Frome.The gippo's have ruined the lane to the bridge and Failtrack have erected a Mast and Cabin right in front of where to Locomotive is pictured.The world 'IS' full of tossers!..04 september 1995..

Back in 95 the Glastonbury Pop Festival extra's used to go as far as Southampton.Here is seen 37412 with the midday extra from Castle-Cary to Southampton-Central here passing Norton-Bavant just east of Warminster..26 june 1995..

Hard to believe when this shot was taken class-66's were not even designed.One each of the three sub-classes are seen here,59201/59101 and 59003 all in the original as delivered liveries.This gathering is seen at Basford-Hall Crewe during an open-day held there..27 august 1995..Footnote,how times change,now 201 is EWS Red/59101 is a 'Hanson' and 003 is long gone,exported to Germany to become the first GM-Shed type on mainland Europe!

Looking a bit the worse for wear,D5222 or 25072 stands on display at Basford-Hall during the open day there.Was used as yard shunter at Whatley-Quarry for a while previously,naturally it suffered a major failure from trying to push 1000's of tons of stone about!..27 august 1995..

Rush-Hour at Fairwood!.As 37703 and 37803 wait at the signal for the tracks to the down-yard to clear 59001 heads west with a set of empties for the Quarries..03 march 1995.. Footnote--37803 was the first 'mainline' liveried loco I was able to see!

37402 brings the morning Weymouth to Bristol train through Witham-Friary,next stop is Frome.note the 3rd coach is thinly disguised as 'Regional-Railways' livery simply by painting the NSE red stripe blue! ..12 april 1995..

At this time recently resurrected from the dead 56003 (Still bearing the scorch-marks of the fire that caused its withdrawal) runs paired with 73129 on a Toddington to Cheltenham Race-Coarse working during a Gala on that line.Location is Hailes-Abbey.Loco now has a 2nd mainline career as the purple-monster 'Artimis' 56312..24 September 2005..

Fresh from its final overhaul is seen 47555 'The Commonwealth Spirit'.Standing on display at Basford-Hall Crewe during the '95' open day there.Loco lasted until Jan1999 when it was withdrawn along with most of the rfd 47 fleet with the arrival of the 66's and the demise of Tinsley..27 august 1995..

43170 'Paxman-Pioneer' brings up the rear of a Paddington to Bristol service seen at the intermediate stop,Chippenham.PC carries the original 'Great Western Merlin' colours whilst stock is still the old I/C..18 august 1997..

Disturbing the Seagulls at Abergele is 37244 with some seacows on a ballast working from Penmaenmawr just round the cornetr on the North-Wales Line..29 july 1997....

ADB968021 previously 84009 was converted for use as a mobile "Load-Bank".Sadly by this time was no longer required and was broken-up by the end of the year at Gwent-Demolition in S-Wales.Viewed her at Basford Hall during the open day there..27 august 1995..

59002,at this time not even a teenager! rolls into Westbury with an empties working probably from Wootton-Basset past the Power-Box.How reserved and clean looking this livery looks compared with the stripy lash-up these loco's are now being afflicted with nearly 15 yrs later..25 may 1995..

56057 "British Fuels" sidles down past East-Usk Junction with coal empties.This loco still works to this day as 56311, a member of the "Colas" private owners fleet..30 march 1998..

A working long since ceased is the LPG train from Purbeck Island up to Avonmouth transporting LPG.Seen passing Heystbury nr Warminster in low evening light.All these wagons are now disposed of,were scrapped weeks after the flow ceased!such is the un-joined up thinking that now afflicts the UK freight scene!..09 march 1998..

Cheltenham Gold-Cup race day special from Paddington to Cheltenham seen speeding through Shrivenham,coaches all appear to be Mk 1's.Bushes then (10 yrs ago) were far less obstusive than they are now..19 march 1998..

Target Train of the day was this working which eventually appeared right at the "fag-end" of the day.A pair of Cromptons 33025 and 33030 seen passing Wandsworth Road Station in the heart of London against a backdrop of the now disused Battersea-Power station hauling this "Park-Royal to Angerstein-Wharf stone working..12 february 1998..

A pair of very tatty looking "dutch" liveried JB's were used on this trial which combined the "Quidhampton" slurry tanks and these polybulks that were being taken to Andover for loading with grain in the sidings there.Engines involved were 73108 and 73110.Quite an unusual working! seen at Grateley between Salisbury and Andover..17 january 1998..

Unsure quite what this working was,presume it originated at Meldon Quarry,destination unknown.Consist was ex-TML boxes hauled by 37244 and 37676.The racket they were kicking out as they breasted Bruton Bank on the approach the station there was rather noisy to say the least!..05 march 1998..

1998 was the last year in service for this engine.47484 was reliveried into mock GWR livery as part of the 150yr GW Celebrations and retained the colours to the end of its working life.Here it is seen working the Calvert-Bath/Bristol Binliner service,viewed speeding through Shrivenham with the then sky-blue containers heading for Bath..19 march 1998..

Sticker-less Loadhaul 37516 growls away from Westbury with a train of Ciab hoppers bound for Barry in S-Wales.Seen at Hawkeridge..27 march 1998..

Seen about to negotiate Fairwood-Junction on the outskirts of Westbury is 37695 with the morning empties heading for Meldon-Quarry in Devon..23 march 1998..

L-Haul Tug 60038 powers away from Llanwern over the junction heading towards Newport with a long train of Steel-Coils..30 march 1998..

Hired by EWS for a short period was a pair of Class 59's for evaluation trials prior to that company ordering the (as we now know as) Class 66's.Here is seen a very rust stained 59004 approaching Llanwern Junction with a loaded iron-ore train from Port-Talbot..30 march 1998..

Wearing the then newish livery of EWS 37703/37704 are seen departing Westbury with a working going to Barry in South-Wales..03 april 1998..

Green Celeb 37403 seen taking a break from Valley passenger trains, here with a Newport adj to Swansea Burrows enterprise trip working.Viewed passing Peterstone on the 4-track between Newport and Cardiff..04 april 1998..

Growling out of Challow loops is seen 37515 with an Engineers stock move from Didcot heading west---destination unknown..16 january 1998..

A pair of JB's on a freight! 73117 and 73132 seen hauling a rake of Brett hoppers on a Purley to Cliffe working through Wandsworth-Road in London on 3rd-rail power.73117 still survives today,preserved at Barrow-Hill but 73132 was withdrawn later that year and was finally broken-up in 2006..12 february 1998..

Slug 5 seen approaching Newport-ADJ from the west with a local steelslab stock transfer from Port-Talbot to Llanwern..14 january 1998..

"Gartcosh" 37886 seen on the outskirts of Salisbury with the returning "Quiddy" tanks to Eastleigh.Note the old southern "Whistle" steam-age sign in SR colours..24 january 1998..

Standing on the "east chord" waiting a path into the cement works this is a flyash delivery from Longannet to Westbury.Loco was 37051,note differant profile of the various presflo's in this train..20 january 1998..

Ex Lner class J27 65846 stands parked next to an old clerestory wooden coach in York MPD.Think it was withdrawn by this time though other members of the class lasted another year in service..August 1966..

"V2" 60828 or 4798 in Lner speak sits abandoned in the scrap-lines at York amongst about 1/2 dozen A1 pacifics.This loco has been modified with seperate cylinder blocks (3 in all).The give-away is the A3 style outside steampipes.Monoblock loco's like 4771"Green Arrow" had no o/s pipes..August 1966..

A pretty poor picture really, but if you saw original slide this came from you would be impressed!....A1 Pacific 60155 "Borderer" stands seemingly ready for action.However was in fact in the scrap-line.It's short working life over!..August 1966..

V2 60963 sits stored at York Sheds,One of the very few V2's to receive a double chimney,still did not prevent an early withdrawal..August 1966..

BR Mogul 76059 stands in the neck of Eastleigh MPD as it comes off shed ready for another turn of duty..Spring 1966..

Back in the days when traffic around Newport in South-Wales was still quite substantial 56133 named "Crewe Locomotive Works" rumbles through the centre of the station there with an "Enterprise" type train conveying Steel and Domestic Coal. ..27 march 1996..

"First Group" did us proud in the last 10 years with liveries,5 changes in total.Inter-City/Merlin/Fag-Packet/Barbie and now the current one,Dynamic-Lines.Wonder how long that one will last? Anyway, here we see an interim combination of Merlin and Fag-Packet cruising down through Strapp Lane nr Bruton with a Paddington to Plymouth service.Power-Car is unidentified..23 july 1999..

"No-heat" 37678 made an appearance on the Bristol-Weymouth service for a few days.here it is seen at Feltham-Lane on the single-line running into the stop at Frome on the return leg..23 july 1999..

47845 "County of Kent" sweeps round the curve at Shaldon Bridge with a north bound Virgin summer service train from Paignton. Almost exactly 3 years later was rebuilt as the prototype 57/3 57301 and named "Scott Tracy".As such is running to this day!..31 july 1999..

Shove-Duff 47702 "County of Suffolk" runs down through Shaldon-Bridge on the Exe Estuary with the summer saturday Preston to Paignton working.This was notable as it invariably used a "West-Coast" set of Mk-3's complete with a DVT.Todays was 82143.This was this loco's final summer for Virgin,was wnxx by december,lingered on until january 2005 when scrapped at Toton by HRNC..31 july 1999..

47806 runs up the Exe Estuary with a northbound Virgin service near to Shaldon-Bridge Marina.Now running as 57309 and named "Brains"..31 july 1999..

Still retaining Inter-City livery but drawing a repainted set of trailers 43099 swoops round the quite sharp bend at Shaldon-Bridge with a northbound working.Shortly after this time, shot was ruined by "good old railtrack" with the installation of an unsightly fence right along the top of the parapets of the sea-wall..31 july 1999..

37423 then named "Sir Murray Morrison" rattles over Blatchbridge-Junction as it regains the mainline after the stop at Frome with the morning Bristol-Weymouth service.Still in service with DRS spends most of it's time now with it's new girlfriend "Caroline" on Inspection specials,by dint of the ETH capability..27 july 1999..

Unusually employed on a Exeter-Paddington morning service was 47768,probably due to unavailabily of "First"s own loco's.During this welcome period of LCHS running this was the only time a RES loco was observed (By me) on a timetabled train,The location was Fairwood Junction nr Westbury....Note the dead-cat lying in the down-main.Just used up it's ninth life!..12 august 1999..

60026 ambles slowly down through Cwmn with a set of empty steel coil carriers.Scenes like this on the Ebbw-Vale line are now history as the steel works there are now just a memory.Line remains open for the new re-introduced passenger services down the line currently just to Newport..12 july 1999..

Against a backdrop of a field of Linseed 58040 and 58045 are viewed with a short set of empty boxes heading for the quarries.Unbelievably both engines are supposed to be the same colour!.Viewed at Berkley between Westbury and Frome..08 july 1999..

Nameless 37424 swings under Linsvale bridge on the Frome Station loop with the evening Bristol to Weymouth working..08 july 1999..

47847 when it was just another I/C 47 runs through Holywell-Junction on the North-Wales Coast route.Working was the midday Holyhead to Euston service.DVT 82126 behind loco would take over at Crewe with help from a pushing 25kva loco for rest of journey to the capital..15 may 1999..

This locomotive 47826 was to remain Inter-City right to the end of LCHS with Virgin and is still with us today plying it's trade for "West Coast Rail".Viewed here with a weekend diversion through the Limpley-Stoke Valley on a north bound service.Bristol to Taunton being unavailable.Location is Claverton nr Bath..14 march 1999..

RfD 47033 hauls a long train of Rover-Cars for export through Southampton from Longbridge,the then very active manufacturing plant for Rover in the midlands.Today (10 years later) Loco,Rover factory,wagons and probably most of the cars are long gone.Such is the speed of change in the Industrial UK. Location is Moreton Cutting just east of Didcot..17 march 1999..

Running in the short lived "Merlin" livery 47846 storms through Great-Cheverill on the B&H with an Exeter to Paddington morning service with a nice I/C set of mk2 stock in tow.Loco was rebuilt in 2003 as 57308 and named "Tin Tin",and is still working to this day..16 april 1999..

After being restored to near original condition prior to donation to the National Collection at the NRM York 37350 (D6700) roamed the system doing useful work until the end of 1999.Here it is seen departing Westbury with a sunday engineering train heading for Exeter..17 april 1999..

Dutch coloured 31203 rounds the bend at Ladydown nr Trowbridge with the OOC to OOC Vacuum training train via Melksham and Swindon.This train ran for several weeks to give refresher coarses to drivers for the few remaining vacuum wagons sets left on the region at this time..19 march 1999..

Pairs of Bubbles were used on this line from Bletchley to Bedford.In the last 10 years line has been fully modernised from the run down set up in 1999.Here we see 55031 leading a pair of 121's at Kempston near Bedford with a west bound working..01 june 1999..

A nice surprise whilst photographing Bubbles and Fragonset 31's on the Bedford-Bletchley line was the appearance of this Engineers-train heading towards Bletchley.Viewed passing Woburn-Sands is 37883 looking quite smart in the then relatively new ew&s livery..01 june 1999..

The afternoon Eastleigh-Westbury Engineers drops down Upton-Scudamore incline on the final approaches to Westbury just 2 miles away.Today the working hauled by 58027 had some kind of self-discharge set in the consist..15 april 1999..

A light sprinkling of snow produced this wintry scene even though it was in fact mid-april! Here is viewed 37414 arriving at Bruton Station with the morning service from Weymouth to Bristol..15 april 1999..

Returning to the quarries for a refill is seen 37264/37505.These workings from Merehead to Exeter were in connection with the building of the Honiton Bypass on the A303.Location of this scene is Somerton..16 may 1999..

Rounding the sharp curve approaching Degenwy Station with a working from Llandudno-Town to the Junctionis seen 101683.Note the check-rails on both tracks..In the distance can be seen "The Great Orme" that overlooks Llandudno Town..15 may 1999..

Running at full line-speed 37418 runs through Holywell-Junction with a Holyhead-Crewe train.The remnants of the once extensive 4-tracks that ran pretty much all the way from Chester to Bangor can still be seen here..15 may 1999..

Mainline Liviried Tug 60077 hurries through Bridgend with a "Steel-Coil" heading east.Note 1/2 a mercedes stuck to the wall of the local scrap-yard as an advertisement!..24 may 1999..

Running as "5Z31" this was an interesting working.Running from OOC to OOC via the B&H,Melksham and Swindon.Apparantly used as a Vacuum braked train trainer to keep driver knowledge up until this type of system was phased out.....Class 31's were used for this duty.Here is viewed Dutch-liveried 31203 with its set of vacuum wagon stock passing the very tidy restored canal lock-gates at Little-Bedwyn on the B&H..17 march 1999..

An interesting working for a while was the Slag trains from Llanwern Steel-Works down to Cardiff Docks.This waste material was used to help construction on the Cardiff bay Project.Usually diagrammed for 37/9 or 37 heavies with an occasional 56.Returning empties seen at the junction nr Pengham waiting the road for trip to Llanwern is 37704..24 april 1999..

Raising a fair racket multiple-working 37693 and 37351 thud up through Frome with a loaded ballast from Meldon..10 may 1999..

Local Stalwart 37412 speeds round the bend at Ferry-lane in the Limpley Stoke Valley with the morning train from Weymouth to Bristol..13 may 1999..

Newport ADJ to Swansea-Burrows Enterprise trip seen passing Pengham nr Cardiff.At this time this was still the Welsh-Capitals F-liner depot.The gantry in the background was dismantled and re-used just down the road at Wentloog.Loco on this working is 56049,one of a batch of 56's selected for infrastructure use,but after relivery into engineers dutch was never used..24 april 1999..