With poor winter weather, here are some raids of the archives, starting off with D1023 and its trip from Kings Cross to York way back in 1976

Just north of Rugby on the West Coast main line to the north lies the tiny village of Cathiron. A footbridge crosses the line here, and despite the new (and very high) fence erected during the line upgrade, some interesting shots can be obtained. En route to a business event the following day, I grabbed an hour late in the day on 8 Sept 09 for these shots.
Also in this collection, a couple of shots of D1015 Western Champion returning to Eastleigh after the Pathfinder railtour to Wales from Didcot

The Isle of Wight has always been a fascinating place for the transport enthusiast. Being cut off from the mainland so to speak, it has always seemed a 'snapshot in time' in terms of equipment and motive power. Here are some shots from a visit on 12 Sept 2009, and some much earlier images from the early 80s, just for contrast.
More images to come over the next few days!

From early 1994 and for approx 5 years or so, I worked for Eurostar's PR team based at Waterloo International. I was able to record some of the unusual and interesting events and workings. All Eurostar services now operate of course from St Pancras.

While my native Hampshire basked in the forecast summer sunshine, I headed west on the promise of countrywide blue skies, in search of 60s. Although caught all three planned 'tugs', it wasn't without a fight. The Robeston - Westerleigh was over three hours late after detaching a leaking TEA in S Wales, but the delay gave me time to nip to Pilning for the 67s, and still get back to Westerleigh to fot it on the branch. The fine day was only spoiled by the Portuguese truck driver who sideswiped me at 60mph on the M4 on the way home.

You'll be in for quite a surprise! More than a week after departing from the Mid Hants Railway, 56 098 has only made it as far as Fleet Services on the M3, where it has remained 'sans' bogies, due to weight issues. These photos taken on 18 July 09

On 1st & 2nd May 1994, Exeter Riverside Yard played host to a huge event - the Exeter Rail Fair - celebrating the city's 150th anniversary of links with railways. This collection shows just some of the huge amount of exhibits on display.

Two extremes here - firstly 60019 Bittern caught at Bentley, Hampshire, en route from the Mid Hants Railway at Alton to Southall prior to working a steam excursion. Then a dash over to Ebbsfleet for a trip to St Pancras by Javelin. Top speed of the day was 140mph, with an average of 126 mph for the 17 minute run.

A quick stop at a new location for me - poor weather but a highly lucky shot of 60163 Tornado returning north after a weekend of operation in Hampshire.

A week's holiday in the West of England in August 1982 provided a stunning variety of viewpoints and motive power. In the company of Mr Walker and Mr Gould, the visit provided a classic snapshot of loco haulage on BR lines in the 80s.

In the late 70s/early 80s, railtour visits to works were always a great opportunity to see locomotives under construction, repair, or being cut up. These shots show visits to Doncaster works in 1979 and 1980, and the variety of motive power present.

May was a busy month, with lots of events. Kicking things off was 47 245 on 4 May, heading the Royal Wessex charter to Swanage. Later on the Bank Holiday weekend, a pair of 37s on the 'Wessexman' railtour, followed by the Eastleigh 100 night photo shoot. An unexpected conclusion was provided by some rotting 58s discovered at the rear of Eastleigh works, only visible from the long term car park of the airport.

A couple of historic shots here. The first shots are from a visit in the late 80s, ostensibly to photograph the preparation of 73 112 for its naming ceremony 'University of Kent at Canterbury'. I was a PR officer for BR Southern Region at the time, and it was my job to organise the naming! Of course, I grabbed a few fots of a class 33 and 73 while I was there.

The second visit was in December 93. Again, as part of PR work,although this time for Network South Central and a preparing for a steam run to Brighton on the 28th. Luckily for me, there were a couple of Class 56s on shed.

Stewarts Lane Depot stands on the site of the former Longhedge Railway Works, in Battersea, close to the River Thames and both Victoria and Waterloo stations.

It remains home to the Gatwick Express, Venice Simplon Orient Express (VSOE) and occasional steam locomotives which operate the VSOE trains from London Victoria.

If its freight you're after, then Eastleigh is a good place to start. Having taken the day off on 18 March 2009, I spent a couple of hours there with these photos taken from the bridge that leads to the entrance to the works. It is located just south of the station, with easy parking available nearby.

Family and sporting commitments precluded no more than a brief visit on Sunday 15 March to this excellent event. The following pictures were taken at Medstead & Four Marks diring a brief spell there on the Sunday morning

One the way home, a first visit to this excellent location just off the M4. It lies to the east end of the Llanwern Steelworks, between Newport and Severn Tunnel Junction.

Another dip into the archives reveals this gem. 56 035 working into (and out of) London Waterloo with a service train. With many thanks to the Class 56 Group (see attached link to their site) this working has been identified as follows: date was 16 March 1990. The locomotive worked 1318 Salisbury to Waterloo, and 1640 return.

Strawberry Hill is a quaintly named suburban unit depot in SW London, situated between Teddington and Strawberry Hill on the Kingston Loop line. The depot lies within a rail triangle, where the Shepperton line branches off from both directions. It is the very fact that the lightly used Shepperton branch is there that allows the line to be used for testing of new or modified DC motive power.

I was permitted to visit on 3 July 1994, and shown around some of the units present. A particular bonus was 92 006, which was hidden away with Test car 6 in one of the sheds.

The first trip with the 'new' steam locomotive 60163 Tornado on 14 February 2009 attracted a huge amount of interest on South Western lines. The train worked a circular tour from Waterloo to Salisbury and Eastleigh.

Saturday 7 February 2009, and a brief excursion to make the most of fine winter sunshine after a week of snow. Thanks Phil for the driving!

Paddington station in West London has long had a reputation for a wide variety of railway motive power, both in regular usage and visiting on special workings. I started my working career on the railways there in the late 1970s, as station announcer, before moving into operations and diagramming.

With an interest in trains and photography, I carried a small compact 35mm camera most of the time, and recorded special workings and items of interest when time and duties allowed.

The UK VSOE Pullman operated from London - Southampton Docks on 17 Jan 2009, in conjunction with an ocean liner service. It was hauled by Merchant Navy class 35028 Clan Line, and was caught here passing St Cross, just south of Winchester

To mark the demise of Old Oak Common depot, which closed at the end of 2008, I am uploading here a number of images taken in the late 70s and early 80s. Please check back as I will be adding to this collection over the next few days

Ten years ago, I left my job working for Eurostar UK to work for a US company for a while. One of the perks at EUKL was the BR status pass. In my last weeks of employment, I travelled on day trips from my home in Alton, Hampshire. Here are some of the shots i took.

Some of my best shots of Class 50's in action from years gone by...

It's cold outside, so here's another look at the B/W archives from June 1980, and a trip to Cornwall with one of the country's greatest railway photographers, John Vaughan. Several of these shots were taken with a Pentax 6x7 camera, lent to me for the day by the great man.

A few minutes at the end of the day at Elford, a great location near Tamworth. There are three bridges there, all offering good photographic possibilities. These shots were from the northernmost of the three. Check out Rich Sulzmann's site views from some of the others

The Mid Hants Railway annual 'Over the Alps' events offers the chance to walk the entire line (10 miles) - of course with no trains running. It does however provide a unique perspective to view this wonderful line and the glorious Hampshire countryside.

A quick dip into the archives - back to November 2004 for some views of Woking, Clapham and King's Cross.

A few days away on a walking holiday with friends allowed a few brief interludes for railway photography, including the Spitfire Railtour with 2 x 37s

In typical Saturday weather on 6 September 2008, Spitfire Railtours operated the Dorset Dumpling railtour from Waterloo to Weymouth, topped n' tailed by 33 025 and 73 136

A brief visit to the footbridge west of Millbrook station, Southampton, and engineering work to replace track at Bentley station, between Alton & Aldershot

As we approach the 20th anniversary of this tragic accident, here are some photos I took whilst on duty there as a Press Officer for British Rail.

The incident occurred on the morning of 12 December 1988, when the 0718 from Basingstoke to Waterloo stopped at signal WF47 near Clapham Junction. It was struck in the rear by the following train, the 0614 Poole - Waterloo, and moments later, by a down ECS train. Tragically, 35 people were killed

Another visit to this popular location to catch the Hastings unit private charter run

A variety of shots around west London in the late 70's/early 80's, showing the variety of motive power

The last weeks and months of the Class 52s in late 1976/early 1977, captured at Paddington station and around west London

A short visit to this popular location in the Thames valley

A few minutes at Pudding Mill Lane DLR station, which lies beside the busy main line out of Liverpool Street.

Oh, the best laid plans. A Saturday am jaunt over to Winchester, to catch the Class 47 railtour to Portsmouth. Not a cloud in the sky when I left home (only 15 miles away...) - nicely clouded over by the time the train arrived. Had originally intended to go to St Cross, jut just couldn't find the footbridge - of course had left the OS map at home... D-oh.

A week later i managed to locate the bridge for the return leg of the Class 20 railtour. Although the weather was shocking, it was well worth the effort for the shot of the two 20s heading north

The morning of Sunday saw the NE Hampshire area hit by a major snowstorm. Although most had melted by later afternoon, the morning saw Alton covered in a blanket of snow some 2-3 inches deep.

The summer months of 1980 were a fantastic time to visit the Duchy. The majority of trains were loco hauled, with Classes 50, 37 and 25 in abundance.

Some photos around Alton on Sat 9 Feb. Images include the visit of 73 209 & 206 on a railtour from London to the Mid Hants Railway

A variety of images in cornwall taken during the early 80's.

A few hours in mid Summer 2006 at two of the busiest railway photography locations in the South of England

High summer at Kenny O, when DMUs ruled the line between Clapham Jcn and Willesden Junction. On this particular day, a test was being carried out by Eurostar with the Class 92s and barrier wagons. The train reversed at KO before returning to North Pole International

The depot and works at Stratford, in East London, were a mecca for railway enthusiasts for many years. Originally opened by the Eastern County Raily Co in 1847-8, the facility grew in size to cover many acres.

It weathered the transition from steam to diesel, and serviced many classes on locomotives. At the time of the visit pictured here (9 August 1990) the works had already begun to lose contracts to Crewe and Springburn, and in October of the same year, closure was announced. The works shut for the last time on 31 March 1991.

The spirit of Stratford lives on within the International Eurostar station which is built on the same location as the historic railway depot and works.

Some views of Richmond, Clapham Junction and Woking in April '88.

Before Class 56s started to operate from Hither Green Depot in SE London, a period of crew training was undertaken. The first trip took place on 21st August, when 56 034 piloted unit 5355 on a run via Dover and Ramsgate

Never before seen photos from the Paddington rail crash, when 50 041 Bulwark derailed just outside Paddington station with the up Night Riviera sleeper train. Thankfully, nobody was seriously injured. These photos were taken with the permission of the Duty Station Manager at the time.