86204 hauls a Glasgow-Birmingham New Street service along the Birmingham Canal near Soho South Junction, back in March 1982.

5081 arrives at Toddington hauling 2C713 1630 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse on 7/7/2023.

Seen here passing Farington Junction on a postioning move

.

The "Western Tribute Railtour" was run to mark the end of service with British Rail of the "Western" class 52s. The train is seen here at Highbridge en route to Plymouth. Classmates 1010+1048 were following behind in case of a loco failure.

A visit to Crewe in June 1985 during the major re-modelling work being udertaken. BR 97408 [40118] was recorded moving wagons near Gresty Lane Engineers' Sidings.

All images on this site are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed written permission of the photographer. All rights reserved – Copyright Don Gatehouse

47443 runs into Newton Abbot on 23rd April 1987 with an unidentified working.

33026 ‘Seafire’ approaches West Ealing station with a loaded ballast train on the 20th May 1992.

New on my YouTube Channel, UK Diesel Locomotive Thrash Compilation Best of 2022 youtu.be/5o8hsVsXHj0

What a great shot of Tinsley looking out from the shed on 14/10/79. My own first view of TI must have been around a similar time or just into the 80s, when I'd gone out with my dad on his scrap lorry for the day during the school Hols, and we drove south on the M1 and I looked across and saw what seemed like hundreds of Domino fitted locos "staring" right back at me. I made a mental note that wherever that place is, I need to get there one day ! Photographer unknown / PR Collection

Recorded passing Cockwood Harbour in late June 1989, Class 122 Gloucester Subrban DMBS 55012 was running to time with the BR Tables 135/145 17:07 Plymouth to Honiton via Exeter service. Now, that must have been some journey in a 'Bubble Car' across Devon in it's day!

After withdrawal from passenger duties, this unit was used on route learning duties [977941] before being stored at Thornaby Depot. It was later purchased for preservation and in due course was moved to the Weardale Railway.

All images on this site are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed written permission of the photographer. All rights reserved – Copyright Don Gatehouse

50047 'Swiftsure' approaches Buckhorn Weston with a west-bound service on the 26th of March 1982.

Locomotive Services Limited operated 37688 'Great Rocks' speeds south through Abbotswood Junction heading the 5Z37 1245 Crewe H.S. to Laira T.& R.S.M.D.

The Mk3's are rumoured to be hired to GWR to help ease the issue with the Class 800 shortage.

87035 Robert Burns heads out of Carlisle with an up service in January 1987.

The curved tracks on the right were formerly a double track connection to the Tyne Valley and Settle – Carlisle lines but on electrification was singled with the former up line now serving as a headshunt for the south end of the station.

The tracks below the bridge that the train is crossing was at times a very busy freight route with the right hand lines from Newcastle and Leeds and the left hand tracks from the WCML. At one time the three routes merged and then fanned out into three more directions, but the Waverley line closure in 1969 closed the Canal link and the Caldew Viaduct derailment in 1984 closed the Joint Goods lines leaving the Cumbrian coast line as the only option.

Note to pedants: If you've read this far without reaching for your keyboard to correct me well done! I'm aware there was no AL7, it's just a convenient chronical reference.

An August Saturday in 1988 and the BR Table 51 1E29 06:00 Plymouth to York in the care of 47508 'S.S. Great Britain' 'sails through' Bromsgrove on the approach to the Lickey Incline.

All images on this site are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed written permission of the photographer. All rights reserved – Copyright Don Gatehouse

85030 departs Penrith on 2 September 1989 heading the 0850 Edinburgh & 0910 Glasgow – Manchester Piccadilly.

Once an everyday scene in the mid 1980's, pairs of class 20's feeding Fiddlers Ferry Power Station with coal from the local Lancashire coalfield.

Here 20 180 & 142 climb towards Arpley Junction having passed below Warrington Bank Quay station as a loaded train heads the other way. A pair of draw back locos will be waiting at Latchford Sidings to haul the train south to Warrington MSC Sidings before this pair will no doubt depart north with the empties returning to Parkside or Bickershaw collieries.

A splendid April Saturday in 1990 and a visit to South Wales to feast on the various coal operations in the care of Class 37 locomotives. At the site of the former Nelson & Llancaiach station, 37699 with 14 loaded MDV wagons was one of a pair of such shuttle movements operating to move coal from Nelson East Sidings to Taff Merthyr Colliery for blending.

All images on this site are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed written permission of the photographer. All rights reserved – Copyright Don Gatehouse

Buxworth, 30th July 1994.

37503 & 37417 with 7H51, 08.04 Oakleigh to Tunstead empty ICI hoppers.

37503 still carries Trainload Metals markings, but the name it carried, ''British Steel Shelton'', was removed one year previously.

The loco is still extant, stored at a private site in Pontefract. (I think).

©Dave Peachey.

Another from Bedford back in 1991, this time we see 47421 with an up parcels. 19th September 1991

at Glennfinan Railway Station. For controlling the rail switches. It's no longer in use.

Class 120 Cross-Country DMSL 53670 leads the set EP515 recorded arriving at Narborough station on 1st January 1986. The Derby based 3-car formation was working the BR Table 18 09:14 Birmingham New Street to Leicester.

All images on this site are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed written permission of the photographer. All rights reserved – Copyright Don Gatehouse

Please follow the link to my other Flickr site if you wish www.flickr.com/photos/167278372@N02/

BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0 No. 76084 passes through Clitheroe with a loaded test run (5M50) on the Hellifield Circular route Carnforth - Hellifield - Clitheroe - Blackburn - Preston - Lancaster - Carnforth. 37669 is on the rear. 20/09/2016.

On short term hire, ROG class 37/6 N°37608 ‘Andromeda’ leads 3S01 RHTT set out of Great Yarmouth and back to Norwich the other week with 37069 on the rear

Ken Faulkner, the duty signalman at Leek Brook Junction prepares to release the token for the Leek Line to the driver of BR 20070 [paired with 20026] in February 1985. The 26 loaded sand hoppers [HJV & HKV] had been collected earlier from Oakamoor at the end of the Churnet Valley Line and were on their way via Toton to Worksop.

All images on this site are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed written permission of the photographer. All rights reserved – Copyright Don Gatehouse

Class 802’s at platforms 3 and 4 on a bright sunny morning in Manchester, not that you would know it at this station!

Resplendent in the then new Mainline or Inter City livery HST power car 43 022 stands within the confines of BREL Derby Locomotive Works on final testing before return to service. The Power car was built at the works in 1976 being released to the Western Region based at Bristol St.Philip's Marsh on 04/10/76. It had moved to Old Oak Common Depot in May 1984 but its allocation there was short lived as it then fell due this major works overhaul. After release back to traffic in March 1985 it was reallocated to Laira Depot in Plymouth.

Colas Rail Freight Class 37/0s, 37025 "Inverness TMD" (leased from the Scottish Thirty-Seven Group) and 37254 "Cardiff Canton", top and tail Network Rail's Plain Line Pattern Recognition track inspection train over the Forth Bridge as 1Q96 10:00 from Slateford Depot to Inverness Millburn Yard, running 95 minutes late

The 08:00 Sealink Ferry from Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, Ireland operated by Mv St Columba waits to work the return service at 15:00 [BR Table 269] on a January Saturday in 1986.The Class 101 2-car DMU had not long arrived from Bangor and would work the BR Table 83 13:20 to Llandudno. The Met-Cam unit comprised DMCL 54080 & DMBS 53203.

All images on this site are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed written permission of the photographer. All rights reserved – Copyright Don Gatehouse

40145 near Muscott, Northamptonshire, working 5Z40 Crewe-Euston ECS working. 90001 at the rear which would later work the stock to Mossend.

25th September 2020

Needless to say, "The Royal Duke" is long closed, and demolished!

25058

Birkenhead Duke Street

60052 photographed at Cargo Fleet, Middlesbrough, with 6M71 15:34 Lackenby-Workington steel.train, back in April 1993.

Back out with the camera

Approaching Somerleyton station, the DRS pairing of 66/1 N°66108 and 66/4 N°66429 work 7Z97, Norwich to Norwich via Lowestoft with a snowplough test run

The BR Table 90 SX 15:46 Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield DMU service passes New Mills South Junction in early September 1990. The Chester based Class 108 set CH627 comprised DMBS 51945 and DMCL 52060.

All images on this site are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed written permission of the photographer. All rights reserved – Copyright Don Gatehouse

Merseyrail 507007 New Brighton 13/06/2016.

The 'Glamorgan Growler' had visited Tower Colliery on 6th May 1989 and was returning to Cardiff in the care of 37702 when recorded passing the Abercwmboi Phurnacite Plant at Aberaman in the Cynon Valley.

All images on this site are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed written permission of the photographer. All rights reserved – Copyright Don Gatehouse

Sulzer Class 47, D1935 (47805) "Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013" brings up the rear of the "English Riviera Express" 1Z27 0907 Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear as it passes through Dawlish Warren headed by Steam Locomotive, 46100 'Royal Scot'.

A February 1986 view taken from Raddlebarn Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham in which BR 50010 'Monarch' was hauling the Table 51 1V76 09:36 Liverpool Lime Street to Penzance InterCity service.

All images on this site are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed written permission of the photographer. All rights reserved – Copyright Don Gatehouse

A 2-car class 487 stock unit formed of power cars S58 and S62 is seen at London Waterloo soon after arrival from Bank with a Waterloo & City line tube service. These 1940 built units remained in service until replaced by London Transport designed 1992 stock which BR designated class 482 on introduction in March 1993 but a year later in the run up to privatisation "The Drain" as it was known changed ownership and became part of the London Transport tube network from 01/04/1994.

Newton Heath based class 104 2-car DMU set no. N674 sits in the bay platform at Stalybridge with the local service to Stockport. This shot was taken when there was still 16 trains a day each way. Alas this route is now a parliamentry service with one train a week on a Friday in one direction only leaving Stockport at 09.22. By running this token service the railway do not have to go through the lengthy statutory close notice period for a line closure. The route became largely obsolete when the Windsor link line opened in West Manchester.

BR 37429 'Eisteddfod Genedlaethol' & 37427 'Bont Y Bermo' arrive at Caersws station with the Network SouthEast stock forming the final summer Saturday working in 1989 of the Table 75 1A81 15:06 Aberystwyth to London Euston.

All images on this site are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed written permission of the photographer. All rights reserved – Copyright Don Gatehouse

08 527 is seen descending from Stratford Southern Junction into Stratford Low Level station with 9H24 the 12.27 trip freight from Silvertown Tramway to Temple Mills Yard. The train on this occasion being formed of 16t 'minfits' filled with scrap from T.W. Wards scrapyard at Silvertown.

Cardiff Canton Steel Sector loco 37717 waits in the down Goods Loop at Craven Arms in April 1989 with a consignment of steel forming the 6V75 06:35 Mossend to Cardiff Tidal.

All images on this site are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed written permission of the photographer. All rights reserved – Copyright Don Gatehouse

37 261 named 'Caithness' sits at the most northerly outpost of the UK rail network at Thurso with the 12.05 to Inverness. This train being a portion working to Georgemas Junction before attaching to the 12.05 Wick to Inverness. 37 261 is something of a survivor having been withdrawn in February 1999 it ended up overhauled in 1999 for use on LGV construction lines in France before returning to the UK in 2000. It was then authorised for component recovery at Wigan and certain death by the cutters torch but it lingered at Old Oak Common depot in storage waiting the journey north before being sold instead to Ian Riley Engineering Ltd. It was overhauled with the intention of a return to mainline use and was registered with Railtrack but never actually saw mainline use with Ian Riley. West Coast Rail then bought it in 2004 and it has now ended up with Direct Rail Services at Carlisle albeit currently in their restricted use pool for sandite workings during the Autumn.

The BR Table 51 1V90 10:45 Glasgow Central [with 07:30 ex-Aberdeen portion] to Penzance InterCity service eases through Birmingham, Selly Oak station on a February Saturday in 1986. Having replaced an electric locomotive at Birmingham New Street, 50021 'Rodney' would take the train forward to Bristol Temple Meads where a further traction change [Class 50] was booked for the remaining journey to the Duchy terminus.

All images on this site are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed written permission of the photographer. All rights reserved – Copyright Don Gatehouse

A splendid Sunday morning in early September 1989 and a visit to Hindlow enabled me to capture the arrival of the BR Railfreight pairing of 37686 & 37676 with the 7T81 09:15 from Tunstead. This short distance flow of limestone using ICI's PHV wagons had been introduced in January 1988 following the end of quarrying at Hindlow.

All images on this site are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed written permission of the photographer. All rights reserved – Copyright Don Gatehouse

British Rail

NSE liveried 50028 'Tiger' had worked this train of discharged ballast hoppers through from Ponsandane, Cornwall when recorded arriving at Tavistock Junction in July 1989. The train would be recessed here pending later onward movement to Meldon Quarry for reloading.

All images on this site are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed written permission of the photographer. All rights reserved – Copyright Don Gatehouse

A view taken in November 1983 of Parkhead Viaduct that spans the Dudley Canal taking the former Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway line over Parkhead Locks. This brick viaduct, built in 1880, replaced the original wooden structure erected in 1850.

BR 31196 was ambling across hauling a mixed freight that I understand could well have been the 9V66 12:52 Bescot to Gloucester goods [With thanks to David J. Hayes].

The railway between Walsall and Brierley Hill closed in 1993 and the tracks removed within a couple of years. However, the viaduct is set to carry rail traffic again, being suitably restored and strengthened, it will carry the tracks of the extension of the Midlands Metro network that will link Wednesbury and Brierley Hill.

All images on this site are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed written permission of the photographer. All rights reserved – Copyright Don Gatehouse

Class 25 24601 (formerly D5061) became something of a celebrity when it was transferred to the Railway Technical Centre (RTC) at Derby in 1975 to operate test trains. Re-numbered RDB 968007 (later 97201) and named ‘Experiment’, it received the RTC’s distinctive red and blue paint scheme at a time when there were very few exceptions to the corporate blue livery. It spent time at various locations after withdrawal, before eventual preservation on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway as D5061 in original green livery. This digital representation is based on the locomotive in its preserved state with re-instated side skirts which are regrettably inappropriate for this RTC re-creation (updated 04-Jun-21).

All rights reserved. Not to be posted on Facebook or anywhere else without my prior written permission. Please follow the link below for additional information about my Flickr images:

www.flickr.com/photos/northernblue109/6046035749/in/set-7...

With the gates secured at Coxbench level crossing, BR 20140 & 20182 were being eased forward with their train of empty MGR hoppers while heading for the Denby disposal point for re-loading with coal to supply Willington Power Station in October 1986.

All images on this site are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed written permission of the photographer. All rights reserved – Copyright Don Gatehouse