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The first shot was taken as train slowed for the junction at Stoke Prior before it turned onto the single line to Droitwich and Worcester.
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After a quick drive down to Ashchurch with a couple of minutes to spare, the second shot presented itself. It is interesting to note that the trees on the up side
of the line were still quite small in 1993. They subsequently grew very tall and last year, 2004, were felled.
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There was plenty of time to run over to Stoke Edith, on the Worcester - Hereford line, to obtain the next shot. The sun still co-operated for this pleasantly
rural view.
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This was the final shot of the day - the one I mentioned above without sun which so infuriated some of the more vocal enthusiasts. It is the classic view at Stoke Edith
which I expect is now so overgrown as to be unusable.
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Staying with railtours for the moment, this photograph shows 20090+20120 frightening the children as they make an enormous noise while storming out of Birmingham's Snow Hill tunnel as they work
Hertfordshire Railtours' "The Velvet Glove" on 6 May 1991. Any loco was most unusual here at this time - this train had 3 on as 47813 was on the back having hauled the train into Snow Hill where it reversed.
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A set of new tube stock for London Underground was moved from Old Dalby to Amersham on 14 July 2010. Running as 8X09, the train left Old Dalby shortly after 11 am but, because of pathing necessities, wasn't due to pass Hatton until 20.09. My original plan had been to go somewhere north of Tamworth for a shot in the afternoon but I completely forgot
about the working until it was too late. So my best bet for a photograph was either the Dorridge area or just south of Hatton station and I chose the latter thinking that Dorridge would probably be heaving with people. The train was hauled by a pair of de-branded DRS class 20s, 20304 + 20305, with another pair 20301 + 20302 dead in tow on the back and
is here seen amidst the Angustifolium Epilobium, commonly known as Rosebay Willowherb, accelerating down Hatton Bank under quite a cloud of exhaust smoke a few minutes late and just catching the last dregs of light. I knew that it wouldn't be going too quickly at this point so just about got away with a shutter speed of 1.640 and an aperture setting of f2 on ISO 320.
The two TEA barrier wagons came from Long Marston in February 2009 and here they are approaching Evesham at that time.
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This photograph, taken on 1 May 1992 at Honeybourne Junction, does not have much technical merit, but does show a train on the former east loop. 20901+20904 have just brought the weedkilling train back from Long Marston
and, when the main line is clear, will use the crossover in the foreground and then return south to Oxford. At this time the tip, just visible in the background, was still in use and saw trains of spoil from Bescot once or twice each week.
The current view is largely unchanged except for the usual unchecked of lineside trees. To be fair, a much more unrestricted vista is available, but a reasonably long
lens is needed. Here is a 2008 shot of a class 66 with a 73 standing in approximately the spot.
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It wasn't long before the line was clear and the weedkilling train was allowed access to the main Cotswold Line. It is here seen crossing over the spur where, if I remember correctly, it reversed at headed south towards Moreton-in-Marsh
and Oxford. This location is set to change during 2010 when the single track here is doubled and the arrangements to allow train onto the branch are revised with the track through the former branch platforms at the station being relaid with the
connection to the main line placed at the south (east) end.
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DRS has an occasional presence on the northern end of the south Cotswold Line in the form of nuclear flasks from Bridgwater in Somerset. Although booked to run to run this way habitual early running often means that 6M67 is diverted and goes straight up the main line, or Old Road,
to Birmingham via the Lickey Incline. Luckily, on 4 June 2009, the booked route was taken and here are 20304 + 37069 with a single flask just after passing under the M5 motorway en-route to Worcester. Less luckily, the sun didn't cooperate and came out from behind thick clouds a couple of
minutes after the train had passed by.
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The relocation of three withdrawn class 37s from Barrow Hill to Long Marston took place on Friday 19 March 2009 with 20901 + 20905 providing the power. I was a bit ambivalent about photographing this move because it wasn't the sort of thing I am particularly bothered about, but the combination of perfect light and the
recollection that I didn't have a shot of any class 20s at Evesham spurred me into action. It is quite likely that a repeat here won't be possible bearing in mind the imminent demise of the signalbox and associated semaphores, hence yet another trip to this well-used location. It's also a good spot to get a clear view of
the consist of the train, which comprised 37412 , 37672 and de-branded 37029 with 4 PFA flats to provide brake force. The rather colourless ensemble, 6Z37, is here seen passing the lower quadrant inner
home signal at Evesham running in the region of one hour late after losing some time both north and south of Birmingham and consequently missing its path onto the single track Cotswold Line. There was just time for a brisk walk and short jog around the corner to the other end of Evesham station for another shot as
6Z37 pulled away with a good dose of whistle and English Electric exhaust noise.
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The nuclear flask train was Bridgwater to Crewe have been running in recent weeks, usually with a combination of classes 20 and 37 in charge. I don't often bother with these very short trains but the shot at Eckington Bridge
is ideal for the length of them so here are 20314 + 20308 crossing the River Avon with 6M67. It was running very early, as is not uncommon, passing me at 15.36 after missing out the extended layover in Gloucester Yard.
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This photograph from Manchester Exchange was taken during the morning of 27 February 1986 and shows 20084, the only member of the class at that time with additiional fuel tanks, with 20032 on a Peak Forest to Salford
stome train. I was standing alongside a chap with an early video camera - one of those the size of a suitcase linked to the recorder (a slightly larger suitcase) by some impressively thick cables. He had said that he knew
the driver of this service and had been promised some good sound effects as the train accelerated away from the speed restriction through Victoria station. In the event, it was halted at an adverse signal and the noise as it
pulled away with the heavy load was quite unforgettable - I do wish I had a copy of the video made that morning - and by the look on his face, the driver was enjoying his performance too...
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Class 20s were not all that common on the line through Leamington Spa in 1984, so it was with some pleasure that I took this photograph of 20166 on the trip either from Bescot or Nuneaton. The train ran only to Banbury as it returned a little
over one hour later with a rake of mineral wagons. The date of the picture is 21 December 1984 and the cab door had this seasonal greeting chalked on it. The locomotive and brake van were held in the centre
road for some minutes until 47481 with the 06.45 York - Portsmouth Harbour had come and gone.
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About eighteen months after the picture above was taken, I photographed 20070 + 20026 thrashing through Leamington Spa with a Tyseley to Banbury road learning special. These trains ran quite frequently at this time and used just about motive that happened
to be spare at the time. I saw 20s, 31s, 37s, 45s and 47s at various times and missed 40012 through being unable to take the time off at work at short notice. As far as I can remember, there were 3 or 4 return trips each day and the diagram seemed to be
for 3 days at a time. The bracket visible above the cab of 20070 at one time held held a lower quadrant semaphore signal which controlled the up through road; the one on which this train is running.
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Returning to the Birmingham area, here is a picture of 20125 at Small Heath, Birmingham running on the up main line, it's destination being Tyseley. The scene here was changed
not long after this photograph was taken by the construction of a filling station on the piece of land on the extreme right of the picture. Single 20s were not
uncommon at this time, 5 March 1986, especially on relatively lightweight trains but what a great sight it makes with a brake van on the rear of the consist.
Today a similar working would no doubt be vastly over-engined and hauled by a 66.
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Here is a pair of the class 20/9 "Killer 20s", 20901 + 20904, in action on the Bicester to Claydon LN & E Junction line on 4 May 1989. The line had only recently been singled and the way the rails have been slewed across can be clearly
seen in the background. I was standing on this bridge near Launton complete with 3 cameras and tripod when a car pulled up and a local told me in no uncertain terms that I was wasting my my time as nothing was due at this time in the afternoon
and that he would definitely have known if anything out of the ordinary was due because he had many contacts who worked for the railway. The chap, without his camera because nothing was due, was ever so frustrated when this appeared...
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Saturday 17 December saw another move of stored Virgin HST stock to Long Marston. This time, the motive power was 20905+20096 - another first for the recently revitalised branch, although the weedkilling 20s did work here in May 1992.
Today's train originated from Bicester on Friday 16 December and was staged overnight at Gloucester from where it left at 08.52 as 5Z22 . My first shot was taken at Ashchurch where, as I thought, the rising sun would just be high
enough for a tastefully backlit shot at 09.08. The power cars are 43121 and 43158.
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After runnning-round at Worcester, 5Z22 headed up the Cotswold line to Honeybourne, where the branch to Long Marston was taken. The pair of newly repainted HNRC class 20s is seen here approaching the yard in dappled sunshine at 10.45.
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Once authority to enter the yard had been given, 20905+20096 whistled their somewhat faded and pink HST stock into the exchange sidings from where 12081 will later move them to the storage area.
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The departure of 20096+20905 was slightly delayed while one of the operatives from the site fetched and fitted a point clip to the switch leading from the exchange sidings to the main line. This did not take long, and the
locos are sen here leaving the site for the run back to Gloucester. Bearing in mind the poor state of the track and the branch being low on Network Rail's priority list, I wouldn't be surprised to see these lighter locomotives
used on trains to this location more regularly. The shunting locomotive, 12081 also from the HNRC fleet, can just be made out as it approached the newly-arrived stock in the sidings.
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While waiting for an Adelante from the Cotswold Line to appear at Norton Junction on the hot afternoon of 24 July 2006, I became aware of a faint whistling noise in the distance and realised that the 6M67 Bridgwater to Crewe
nuclear flask train must be waiting at the signal around the corner. Once 180110 had cleared, 20309 + 20308 hauling a solitary FNA crept into view and passed the
well-maintained signal box with its small garden. This view could almost be one taken on a model railway...
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Heavy backlighting really shows the details of the train and locomotives at Manchester Exchange on 27 February 1986 as 20128+20006 head east with a train of empty oil tanks. I was told at the time that this was a Stanlow to Leeds working, but
I have nothing to confirm this.
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The Sutton Park line was very busy with freight in 1990 and a location I visited on several occasions. 13 July of that year was beautifully sunny and I photographed 22 freights with 6 different class of loco, one class 47 hauled ECS and a couple
of track machine movements in a little under 5 hours. This picture shows 20025+20096 with an eastbound ballast train which had probably originated at Bescot. It was sometimes difficult to identify train movements on this line other than the
freights listed in the WTT. Trip movements were frequent and were often running as "Y", meaning that the destination varied with traffic requirements.
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Moving to the other side of Birmingham and into the Black Country, here is a shot of 20151+20059 near Dudley Port on the Stourbridge Junction to Bescot freight line on a murky 17 May 1991. The train is the Round Oak to Boston empty steel and class 20s were about to
finish on the working, to be replaced by 37s. The locos took the train to Round Oak early in the morning and were booked to return later to pick up the empties. On this occasion, they duly appeared heading south light engine, only
to return some 20 minutes later, still with no train. About 35 minutes later they came back again, this time clearly going to Round Oak as they returned with the train. What was that all about? Had a crew member been left behind? For some reason best known only to me, I took this picture in vertical format which has resulted in the rather odd shape as I tried to crop it to fit this page. If you're viewing this on a small monitor then the proportions will be
better if you right click on the picture to expand it.
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The next 2 shots shows class 20s on MGR duties around Nottingham. The class's work on these coal trains was drawing to an end around here by this time, mid-1991, as both Gedling
Colliery and Staythorpe power station were about to close. The frst picture shows 20148+20185 approaching Nottingham station with a loaded MGR for Staythorpe on 16 April 1991. The 156 unit just managed
to avoid being a total nuisance!
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The second view is a little further west at Beeston and depicts 20169+20210 passing the former freightliner depot on 10 April 1991. This train would have originated at Gedling colliery
and was destined for one of the Trent Valley power stations.
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These shots are the result of a trip to Liverpool Docks on 24 July 1990. Class 20s were shortly to finish working the MGRs from the docks to
Fidlers Ferry power station and indeed, on this day 56025+56026 made an exploratory light engine trip down the branch. The first shot shows 20013+20141
running through a long abandoned yard with the empty HAAs before crossing and then running alongside a public road before entering the docks and
being loaded with imported coal.
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The next shot shows the train some 2 hours later returning through the yard, this time pictured from the adjacent road bridge. I must admit that I am
very partial to this type of industrial scenery and it is a matter of great regret that locations such as this are now so few and far between. The amount
of work being performed by the locos can be judged by the exhaust shown up so well by the backlighting evident at this time of day.
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Unfortunately, all this effort was to no avail and the train stalled on the climb towards Bank Hall station. From the bridge at this location, occasional bursts
of power could be heard but no movement resulted. After a wait of nearly 2 hours another pair of locos appeared, coupled up and with a huge racket got everything
moving. By this time the light had all but caved in, but there was no way this shot was going to be missed!
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This is a shot of 20031+20069 at Water Orton taken from the embankment of the M42 on 11 August 1990. The train was Midlands Railtours "The Yorkshire Explorer" which ran to many of
the freight only lines in that county. The stock was that sponsored by Pilkington Glass and usually known as the "K" set after the company's product. It was exceptionally popular
for steam hauled tours in view of its authentic 1950s livery.................
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Another railtour took 20081+20016 from Sheffield to Bristol on 27 April 1991. The train, chartered by the Class 20 Society and runnning as 1Z40 (20+20?), is seen passing the clutter of the coal yard adjacent to Droitwich
station at 11.43 having run via Bromsgrove and the single line curve from Stoke Works Junction. This yard, previously rail-connected, has gradually become more of an eyesore as the years have passed and is now, of course, protected from the railway by pallisade
fencing. There are no fewer than 9 lower quadrant semaphore signal arms visible in this picture and this is still the case in 2005. There are not many locations of which this can be said.
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The most likely train in which to find class 20s in the Midlands is currently one of the DRS nuclear flask workings from either Bridgwater or Berkeley. This picture shows 20307+20308 crossing the Warwickshire Avon at Eckington Bridge with the former
on the beautiful evening of 24 April 2002. The train had been looped just south of here and was therefore thrashing quite well at this point. I believe that this was the first working of this train to run without barrier wagons.
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Class 20s were for many years associated with MGR traffic to Ironbridge Power Station situated at the end of a branch from Madeley Junction on the Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury line.
By January 1991 appearances were becoming rarer as 58s took over the traffic. This picture, taken at 15.11 on 4 January 1991 and thus just catching the last of the sun, shows 20021+20132
storming on full power through Cosford station having been checked at the outer home signal.
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With few booked passenger workings, class 20s have always been popular traction for railtours. The "Stilton and Branston Ploughman" run on 5 July 1987 was no exception and I was especially
pleased because it gave the chance to photograph a locomotive-hauled train on the normally DMU only North Warwickshire line. It was also the first time I had recorded 20s, 20022+20126, on this line.
The spot selected was a rural view just south of Wood End tunnel. The train was late and with the sun going in and out the wait was a little fraught. However, when the special finally appeared the sun,
although not at full strength, was not at all bad.
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After visiting Stratford-upon-Avon the train returned north via Bearley Junction, where it is pictured below with some happy-looking bashers visible, then on the single line to Claverdon and Hatton North Curve - more very rare line for loco haulage.
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Moving into Stratford-upon-Avon itself, this photograph shows 20903+20902 bringing the weedkiller into the station just before 07.00 on a dull 25 May 1991. This train was the first use of the
Hunslet Barclay "killer 20s" here, previous years' having been hauled by either a 47 or 31. MPVs now work this train - we have sadly missed out on the class 37 hauled version so popular elsewhere.
The scene at Stratford has dramatically changed since the date of this picture. The semaphore signals and the siding on the extreme left of the picture have gone, the station now being remotely controlled from Bearley Junction and the signal box
was removed - along with my main source of "gen" at the time! The gasholders, for so long a feature of this part of the town have also been demolished.
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A pair of the HNRC class 20s saw some activity on Tuesday 8 January 2008 when 20905 + 20901 took 4 Arriva-liveried coaches from Crewe to Long Marston. The train was booked to run on either the 7th or 8th and the weather forecast for the latter was
for heavy rain in the Midlands. This fortunately didn't materialise, although a 40 minute late start from Crewe threatened to put a dampener on the proceedings because of the few available paths along the Cotswold Line from Norton Junction to Honeybourne. In the event
5Z90 was diverted from its booked route via Walsall and Sutton Park and ran via the much quicker and shorter route through Bescot to New Street and thence back on route at Kings Norton. This allowed for its original path from Worcester and it did, in fact, manage to run a
few minutes early. In view of the amount of cloud I decided to go to Honeybourne where a decently wide shot can be had to show off the contrast between the locomotives and stock and here is 5Z90 arriving in the platform much to the bemusement of the solitary passenger waiting for
his train south!
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It doesn't usually take long to drive from Honeybourne to Long Marston and I arrived in plenty of time to set myself up for my usual arrival shot. I'm sort of surprised that this shot is sharp because the wind was blowing an absolute gale into my face at this exposed location
and it took some effort to hold the camera steady. The light grey livery of the 20s is a distinct advantage on a dull day as it shows up much better than EWS maroon or the dark green of some class 47s. It was good to see something different appear in the distance and then to hear the whistling
as 5Z90 came into earshot.
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The sun briefly appeared just as the gate to the site at Long Marston was opened and the train moved into the exchange sidings. Very little time was wasted in uncoupling the locomotives from the Arriva stock
and 20901 + 20905 soon came back onto the branch and made a lovely sound as they accelerated away light engine towards Honeybourne, Evesham and Bristol Temple Meads.
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