I'll add a few new old pics to this new gallery as I scan them then shunt them off into their respective class by class folders after a couple of weeks. That way its easier for you lot to see whats new! Aren't I kind? ;o)

I've resisted doing this for a long time, mainly to save the blushes of the people in the pictures, but Mum had a tidy up of her spare room and found a couple of gems from a few years back. This collection will only grow slowly, but oh the quality!

This small collection is dedicated to the memory of Chris Broadhurst. Rest In Peace, my friend.
An inventive, sometimes ingenious engineer and a fine Railwayman who will be sorely missed by everybody who ever had the pleasure of knowing him. Chris was probably the only reason we bought the 20 in the first place, which he saw as a stepping stone to us getting a 37, which we did a few years later. Without his patience, sense of humour, and virtually unparalleled knowledge of locomotive mechanical and electrical workings we wouldn't have bothered. Now, 16 years later, the 20 is still giving pleasure to those who turn out to ride behind 'The Old Dog'.

This is something I'd wanted to do for a while, but we only got round to it this year. I shan't go into a rant about the conditions that chickens are kept in for commercial egg or meat production, but if you ever want to know some of the more unpleasant things that go on, there is plenty of information on the net. Once the girls get to about a year old they become less regular layers (ie not daily) and therefore, uneconomic from the farmers point of view. They are sent for slaughter and end up in pies, nuggets and pet food etc. Luckily, there is a small number of rescue organisations that take chickens from battery, barn or free-range farms for rehoming. We got 6 girls from Little Hen Rescue in Norfolk (one extra for a friend at work who lost one to illness), and it's one of the best things I've ever done. It's like having a chill-pill at the bottom of the garden. I could (and do) spend hours just watching them do all the chickeny things they've never done before, and the eggs are absolutely delicious. If you've ever wondered about getting chickens, I can't tell you how much of a difference they have made to me. I wouldn't be without them now. Thanks to Lucy at Wickes for all the advice and help, and convincing Candy that getting chickens was a good idea, and a HUGE hug and thanks to my wife Candy for putting up with me and the girls.

To give ourselves some sort of incentive to get out and about a bit more, we decided to do a Good Beer Guide pub in every county of England and Wales (and maybe Scotland - its a LONG way from here) during the year. These are most of the pubs we visited, along with some of the other bits and bobs we saw.

Another chance to see.... 37036 + 37090 (OK, 605 and 606) in action on the GEML. I couldn't do much with them really as I was on lates for three of the four days they were out. Still, some damned good thrash and some excellent regulation by the driver to prevent bowl-outs by passing trains (especially at Pudding Mill Lane on Thursday!) have resulted in some fairly good pics - thanks Phil, I owe you a beer or 6. No apologies for caning my 100-400L telephoto lens to death. I love it, so tough! The gallery also includes whatever else was about at the time too, including what was probably the last Freightliner 57 to visit Ipswich.

This is the railway stuff I took in the first 6 months of 2006 that is a) in my opinion worth putting up, and b) doesn't get a gallery all of its' own.

As you would expect from the gallery title, this is my stuff from the 2nd half of the year.

Oh no.... MORE blummin' train photos!

More of the same I'm afraid!

More of the same. Same stuff, different day.

A shortage of motive power saw the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railways 24081 hired in for the summer 2009 season. My last of the preserved examples required for haulage and the Sheringham Beer Festival saw a few of us down there for the first time in a while. I didn't realise how 'retro' the cabs were on 24s! And WHAT a racket!

Another trip out with 40145, this time from Birmingham International to Buxton, Leeds and Morecambe. Tops and tail with 37248 from the start, at least there was very little chance of getting 'Ronnied' on this one! A very good day, yet more proof as if any were needed that 40145 is one of the best locos on the mainline today.

I hadn't had 40145 on the main line for a while, and there is no better place for hard work than the West Highland. One plus the other was a tour I really couldn't miss. On the day it was load 11 plus 57601 for heat (which was a whirring pile of rubbish, but the extra weight was welcome). Unfortunately, circumstances meant that we had 57601 back as far as Craigendoran Jct, where the 40 ran round and replaced the awful, staggering pile of shite we'd had to put up with. Once the premier power was back where we'd paid for it to be, it was absolutely hellfire. Under Glasgow was unbelievable, but the highlight for me was the G&SW at night, full moon, full thrash... Now that WAS good :o)
Oh, did I mention that 57601 is absolute rubbish?

The blisteringly early start (0440 ex Carlisle) was a bit of downer, and 57601 screeching away on the back end all the way to Inverness was tiresome but the thrash, MY GOD!!!
46 minutes and 23 seconds of continuous full power after departing Inverness on the return trip - you HAD to be there. I have never experienced such relentless thrash anywhere. This was the best ever, and NOTHING will beat it, and before anybody asks me, yes it WAS worth flagging 37670 to do it!

It was a tough choice whether to lineside or to do the tour, but the chance of a 'part fare' from Ipswich to Thetford was the clincher for me. In fine form as always, 40145 was thrashed to within an inch of her life, and didn't miss a beat. Marvellous!

A few shots taken during May 2009 to record the passing of long time Ipswich 'gate guardian' 47370, which had stood in the same spot of 6 1/2 years, awaiting the call to the breakers yard. She was finally dragged off on the 25th May to Felixstowe, then taken by road to Thompsons of Stockton for scrapping. I couldn't believe it when the fitters actually cleaned the old girl before she went. Well done guys!

The first 'revenue' freight on the MNR for several years and a DRS stoneblower move on the same day. I hadn't been to Dereham for some time due to too many other things going on at home, but I was glad to get out and about after too long away. Thanks for letting me do the last bit Chris. What a way to go route refreshing!

Another tour in East Anglia using Oliver Cromwell, and this time I could get out with the camera! I managed to get Ollie at Forest Gate, Stowmarket, Norwich and a newly opened up location south of Manningtree. I also squeezed in my annual visit to Rubbish-on-Sea (aka Yarmouth)...

What a surreal day. Our very own private railtour, with 37423 and the immaculate inspection saloon 'Caroline'. Thanks to DRS for a cracking day and a special thanks to JAD for the invite.

I had to go to Ilford Car Sheds for a meeting today, and while I was there took the opportunity to have a stomp round the yard.
And they PAY me for this? :o)

On a serious note, Ilford depot is a busy, dangerous place to be. I had permission to be where I was and rest assured, that anybody there who shouldn't be, will be dealt with by the police.

37608 and 37609 did another tour of the area on 23rd - 25th August. Thanks to work etc. I could only photograph them at Colchester on the 25th, IF they were on time... I was lucky. Even the sun was out!

These were originally going to be part of 2006 (Part 2) but as I've made a bit more of an effort than in previous years, and got some pretty good shots I've given them a gallery of their own. It started off with a quote of 8 class 20s and 2 class 37s working off Stowmarket. What we got was 10 class 20s (20306 to 20315 inclusive) and no fewer than 5 37s (038/059/194/218 and 229). I didn't get pictures of all the locos involved as some were only here for a few days (20314/315 and 37194/229).

DRS was again the preferred operator for the bulk of the RHTTs in the GE area. Circuits were broadly similar to last year, but the missing bridge at Ely meant some obvious alterations to the plan! Locos used so far include 20306, 20307, 20308, 20310, 20311, 20312, 20313, 20314, 20315, 37038, 37601, 37603, 37667, 57009 and 57011.

Pictures 10-18 and 73-88 were taken with the permission of DRS - Stowmarket depot is a working depot and just like any other is private property.

With the appearance of no less than SEVEN of the former Freightliner 57s and two 37s for the start of the season (with a third 37 after a week or two), my enthusiasm for the RHTTs this year is, not surprisingly, rather less than previous years. Nonetheless, the use of the 37s means I'm still keeping an eye on them, so the RHTTs get a gallery of their own.

Not a bad year as far as locos go, with 20313, 20314, 37087, 37194, 37261, 37607 and 57s 004/007-012 all getting in on the act. Not so many pics of the RHTTs this year for various reasons. Lets see what 2009 brings... For me, whatever it is, it'll be better than 2008.

There were lots of early rumours about what may have been turning up for this years programme, and in the end a real mixed bag of traction ended up at Stowmarket. We started the season with 20304, 20305, 37059, 37069, 37601, 37604, 57003, 57007, 66420 and 66426. 37059 didn't last long and was replaced by 20301 after a couple of weeks, so I'm glad I made the effort in the early days! I really must say a HUGE thanks to JAD for the RHTT stuff this year. He knows why...

Feathered ones you bunch of pervs! They seem to have taken over from Routemasters (and trains), so I've stuck in a gallery of my bird pics too. The smaller birds are normally too quick for me, hence my attraction to the waders around Manningtree. It was the Little Egrets there that got me started...
Updated 02/07/2007: Its official folks! Birds and trains are neck and neck, and its anyones race. If I get a photo of a Kingfisher, the birds may well win...
Another update 05/04/2008: FINALLY caught up with a Kingfisher. And a Barn Owl.... AND a Goldcrest. And some other things, including a 'Dunno' - suggestions welcome!

Any corrections to wrong descriptions would be welcome!

A Sunday with nothing planned for me and I took advantage of it! Blue Triangle were running a special Sunday service , about once a month Witham - Braintree - Dunmow - Harlow using some ex LT vehicles. Sunday 28th May produced RT3062, RM298, RML900 and T22. Excellent value at £6 for a day rover!

One of Pathfinders tours of London area branches using a couple of 37s top and tail on 6 coaches. With a train the same length as an 8 car EMU you can get to a lot of places you can't get to with a 'big' train. This one went from Paddington to St Pancras, and took in Ardingly, Victoria, Blackfriars, Orpington, Cannon Street, Hayes, London Bridge and Waterloo on the way. I thought I'd be going barmy by the end of the day, but I actually quite enjoyed it. Front bay behind 37410 helped though :o)

Another one of Pathfinders jaunts, and for me the final part in the jigsaw of London terminals. Thanks to this one running via Charing Cross, I've now been hauled by Class 37s in, and out, of all the London termini that 37s can go to. As well as Charing Cross it did Uckfield and East Grinstead, along with London Bridge, Victoria, Blackfriars and Gordon Hill before ending up at Kings Cross. We bailed at Blackfriars in favour of getting home in time for last orders...

The combination of a rest day, top and tail 37s and the threat of a sunny day proved too much of a temptation. 37605 and 609 doing the honours, along with a few shots of other bits and pieces in between.

What can I say? A day of very mixed emotions for me. One of Chris' engines, on his home patch, but of course, no Chris. It hurt like hell that he wasn't with us today, but he would have loved every minute of it. D1015 (or D1032 as displayed on one side) performed perfectly as always, thanks to the efforts of the DTG. A somewhat pedestrian run via Seven Sisters, Cambridge and Thetford on the outward was more than compensated for by the blast up the GEML on the way back from Norwich. If I had to choose between the run off 'Oliver Cromwell' earlier this year, and the run behind D1015, it would be a tough one...

I hadn't done 1015 since its' first tour back in 2002, so it was about time I had another go. I'd been hanging on for something that wasn't too much of an endurance test, and went somewhere I hadn't been for a while, so when a straight out and back trip from Paddington to Milford Haven came up, that was the one. At the back all the way there was fairly tedious, but the trip back more than made up for it! Its a really tough call between 1015 and 40145 as to which is my favourite preserved mainline loco, but having said that, I haven't had 55022 since Martin Walker got it going again...

For the first time since 1999, 20069 left the Mid-Norfolk Railway for a short holiday at another railway. We had the pleasure of attending the Nene Valley Railways diesel gala which took place on 3rd-5th October. While the loco was away, we took the opportunity to turn the 20 on the turntable at Wansford, mainly to start to even out any odd tyre wear that we may have accumulated over the past 16 years, and also to allow me to get some different photos of the old girl now and again! I was only att he NVR on the Friday but enjoyed what little time I had there... Apart from when the 31 bolted on, denying me my turn at thrashing the nuts off the 20 through the tunnel! Next time we go anywhere with the 20, it had better NOT be my wedding anniversary weekend...

The first hydraulic to work in Norfolk! The Barry Island Railways resident Class 14 'Teedy Bear' took a 6 week break in Norfolk. I was lucky enough to be the 'pilotman' on its first day out. Huge thanks to Austin for letting me have so much time on the handle. A bit hard on the dentistry, but what a gutsy machine!

More recent views of DMUs and EMUs than in the pre-digital gallery.

Exactly what it says on the tin. This folder contains any of my digital photos that I consider worthy of display that were taken on the "mainline" railway. Some of them may not be technically brilliant, but the subject matter makes them worth a look. This gallery now contains shots from 2001 (when I got my Canon D30) to the end of 2005.

Something I hadn't done for a LONG time. Visits to Booths and Ron Hulls scrapyards, followed by Barrow Hill, Toton and the GCR(N) at Ruddington. Special thanks to the guys at Ruddington for letting us have a look round late in the day. Thanks also to Geoff Tibble for the driving, and Jed for his incisive wit and observations ;o)

I hadn't been to the GC for a long time, and had never done one of their diesel galas, so paid a visit on the Saturday of the 3 day event. The weather was a let down, and the train service left a lot to be desired in the way of on-the-day organisation but it was still a good day out and one I shall probably do again.

Finally we managed to get a GE steam loco on on the Mid Norfolk! Stratford built N7 69621 paid us a visit late April - early May 2009, and I was lucky enough to be about on two of its running days. One at Dereham doing a feew odds n ends on 20069 while Andy did some more of his excellent work overhauling the cab interior, and another visit purely to go linesiding.

Its been a long time since I'd been to Keighley, so the re-entry into traffic of 37175 provided me with the perfect excuse. Despite the best efforts of GNER not to run a service we managed to get there and back in a day, have everything and STILL had time for a pint (or two) as well. A good day, despite the on-train antics of a few drunken looneys.

My first attempts at a lunar eclipse, although not my first attempts at the moon. All handheld with my trusty 100-400 telephoto, and this after beers in Peterborough and during beers at the Dove! Just to make things simple, the filename is the time the picture was taken...

Another of Pathfinders branchline tours involving 2 x 37 and 6 coaches, this time in Glasgow. I don't know what had happened to 37406 in the 3 weeks since Buffer Puffer 4.0, but it was a right crate this time round...

As I am a volunteer driver at the Mid Norfolk Railway, I have quite a lot of pictures of the Wymondham - Dereham line, and the events that take place there. Some of the slides and prints dating back to 1991 are in with the Pre-Digital preserved stuff.

Two days of loco and coaches on the MNR to celebrate the launch itno traffic of the 'blue and grey' set of air braked Mark 2 coaches. Locos in use were 20069, 31438 and 50019 along with the resident 3 car Metro-Cammell DMU. I had the pleasure of driving 50019 on the Saturday and 20069 on the Sunday.

Just a few shots taken at the Mid Norfolk Railways Diesel Gala on Saturday 18th March. What the photos can't show is just how COLD it was that day... Good job the ETH worked! I didn't get any on the Sunday as I was too busy enjoying (making!) the thrash on 20069 and 31438 :o)

Highlights were the return to service of 47596, and a visitor to the line, in the shape of the SELG's 33065.

Another three day "do" at the Mid Norfolk , this time enhanced by the re-entry to traffic of 31235 and 31438, and the appearance of 37038 courtesy of DRS. Its still utterly diseased. The poor old girl needs some proper attention, before summat goes bang! Shame the weather didn't hold out. Friday was good, Saturday was flat and grey, and Sunday we had flooding at Yaxham...

Our annual spring diesel gala saw the visit of no fewer that FOUR locos from DB Schenker - 37425, 60059, 66144 and 67008. Also in action over the three days were 20069, 31438, 50019, 56040 and 73210. Our biggest line up (so far), and it turned out as our busiest weekend ever. Thanks to everyone who a) made it happen, and b) turned out in support of us. Heres to the next one!

The first visit of a 37 on passenger workings in the preservation era was bound to draw the crowds. I took the opportunity of the best part of a day linesiding (Saturday) and a half day on the train (Sunday), the other half spent being a gopher helping on 20069. Never before have I had a day like Saturday, and I don't think I'll have one like it again. The weather was ON OUR SIDE! Patchy cloud was making me twitchy, but at just about every spot we picked, we were in the right place at the right time. Thrash was delivered almost precisely to order by the drivers (thanks to all of them for being so co-operative). BIG thanks to Andy for doing the driving between phot-spots and for suggestions before some of the shots...

I was only there for part of the Saturday and the day followed the usual format. A few extra trains, a couple of visiting machines (courtesy of DRS again) and THRASH BY THE BUCKETLOAD!
688 was hellfire... I wonder if 37423 will be as good when its finished ;o)

A busy couple of weekends at the Mid Norfolk. The first weekend saw DRS visitors 20307 and 20315 added to the home fleet (such as it was) for the weekend. The next weekend we were graced with the presence of 73136, which arrived with our new resident machine, 73210, which looks particularly fine in its fresh coat of InterCity livery. Despite being the lowest powered and quietest 'mainline' loco on the line, I'm quite looking forward to properly acquainting myself with it. The Saturday evening also saw the first loaded test run of the Class 56 Loco Groups machine, 56040.

It was always going to be a much quieter affair than the March gala, but the appearance of DRS 37510 was enough to ensure that I enjoyed myself!
290 down, 1 to go, 18 lost...

I've been to the Nene Valley a couple of times for their diesel galas, and to be honest, theres just TOO much stuff out which means a run or two if you're lucky with whatever takes your fancy. The Friday before their gala this autumn was an English Electric day with just ("just" he says!) 20007 + 20137, 31271, 37518 and 40106 out. Much better! If they do it again, I'll be going back :o)

First visit to the Nene Valley for a while. Nothing had really changed since my last visit, and I'm glad I took a couple of hours out during the day, otherwise it would have been too much. Grids are good, but on load 4 at 25mph its like a racehorse pulling a milkfloat.

The long-awaited return of a Britannia to the GEML. Not being a regular on the steam tours doesn't mean I don't know what's what, and there was NO WAY I was going to miss this. The run down in the morning was a cracker for the most part thanks to some late running service trains which meant we didn't get put away for anything before our booked water stop at Colchester. The run from there to Haughley was 'pedestrian' thanks to a number of trains all trying to get through Ipswich in the same direction at the same time, but despite that we were only 1' late arriving at Norwich. The return trip was beyond all my expectations. 'Oliver Cromwell' was worked hard, and provided all the steam, and more, that the driver wanted. High point for me though was Manningtree. Eased a bit over the bridges, once we got to the level crossing the regulator was WIDE open, and that beautiful chime whistle was being used to full effect. Anybody on the platform who didn't have the hairs on the back of their neck standing up didn't deserve to be there, and were probably dead from the heart upwards...
This trip up the GEML comes second only to the frenzied fling on the last Class 86 tour by Bob Batt a few years ago, but for sheer enjoyment of what the real railway was all about, this was it.
If you ever get the chance to ride behind this beautiful, impressive and inspiring machine, do it.
I don't think I'll enjoy anything on rails as much as this, ever again.

Spare today, but no cab pass available :o(
So an hour or two at Bethnal Green phoptographing livery variants on the WA, and oddly enough being shown a copy of 'The Sun' on the Up road and being waved at with less than five fingers on the Down road by one particular driver who didn't want their picture taken, and who won't be going home early on spare turns next time they expect a flyer...
Then on to Pudding Mill Lane for 60010, then Stratford for 31190 and 106, but I sailed too close to the wind and only managed a going away shot of 106 (it was THAT close!)...

The other thing I used to take a lot of pictures of was Routemasters. Obviously on 'last days' etc, I slipped in the odd shot or two of whatever else was out and about. This collection will grow bit by bit, but don't expect many pictures after 9th December 2005 when the last 'regular' RM route in London (159) went plastic... RM RIP!

Basically, three trips over the line with 33065 on the blue and grey Mk2s! Not many pics I'm afraid, mainly due to me being pilotman, shunter and for a trip and a half, driver as well! Not many people out for it, but thanks to the ones who did show up. The ones who didn't missed something a bit different, and missed thrash by the bucketload too. None of this half-power bimbling about, oh no!

Five return trips between Dereham and Wymondham using the Straford 47 Groups pair of Brush Type 4s, 47580 and 47596. A long day, but a good one...

Thanks to still being jet-lagged after finishing nights FOUR days ago, I was up and about in PLENTY of time to see the gen about the Sizewell flask running today. Having caught 37259 and 37605 at Ipswich and Westerfield, I carried on to Stowmarket with Jed to get 37087 and 37667. I had a few things to do after that, but still managed to get 37611 and 37069 at Hackney and Walthamstow before heading back to Ipswich for 259 and 605 going back to Willesden. I honestly can't remember when I last photographed SIX mainline 37s on the same day. It's a LONG LONG time ago! Thanks to all the people who posted updates on the progress of 6L70, 1Q18 and 6M69 - it makes a very pleasant change to get gen rather than dispense it :o)

Thanks to 20107 being on the list of attractions I simply WASN'T going to miss this one. I'd also forgotten what an eye-wateringly beautiful part of the world the Dorset coast was, having not been there since family holidays in the late 1970s. The combination of a good mix of power, and the stunning scenery in the area mean I will definitely be going back again.

The results of a few days staying Metz, with a LONG drive to Ocquerre chasing construction trains on the new LGV Est line from Paris to Strasbourg. This is only my top 25, the other 450 will have to wait!

English Electric Type 1s - we were so impressed with the class, we bought one (20069 on the Mid Norfolk Railway). Usually found in pairs because of the single cab arrangement. With the first examples entering traffics back in 1957, these are one of the oldest types still to be found plying their trade on the national network.

Sulzer Type 2s. Fun little machines I suppose, with lots of noise for not a lot of go in most cases. Had a few 26s and 27s in Scotland, which is just about the only place anybody had them unless they are VERY old! 24s had succumbed by the time I started and as for 25s, the only one I had in service was Ipswich - Parkeston and back - see http://fcwg.fotopic.net/p24654148.html for the evidence!

Say what you like about 31s, they've saved our bacon more than once or twice. Nice to drive as well, if a little slow off the mark.

Originally confined mostly to the Southern region, these noisy Sulzer Type 3s later spread their wings to all sorts of places.

Although class 20s come a very close second, 37s are, and always will be, my personal favourites, and like the class 20, we bought a 37 too (37032 at the North Norfolk Railway). The sound of one working hard on a heavy train still makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck even after all these years...

Refurbished examples of the class. All have had their generators replaced by alternators and therefore have no field diverts as such.
37/4 have ETH, 37/5 are the 'basic' model. 37/7 are 'heavywights and are ballasted up to 120 tons. 37/9 aren't really 37s any more on account of having the EE 12CSVT power unit replaced with Mirlees or Ruston engines.

I only had D200 on the mainline 'proper' but thanks to the CFPS and 40145 my affection for this class remains as strong as ever. The high point of many a schoolday was copping a Kingmoor or Springs Branch 40 on the 10.09 Whitemoor - Parkeston at dinnertime...

Never very common in East Anglia, these are probably my favourite Sulzer locos.

OK. I know... But they are still a good all-round workhorse even after 40 years. One of the most numerous locos from the 'Modernisation' plan has meant their inevitable survival into the 21st century.

English Electrics answer to the Class 47? Love 'em or loathe 'em, their popularity means that percentage-wise there are more class 50s preserved than just about anything else on the railway.

Unfortunately, I'm not old enough to have any decent phots of these legendary machines in 'proper' service. However, with 55022s exploits a few years ago I have got a few of that along with some of the other preserved machines.

I've lumped these together as apart from the 56s I don't really have enough of the others to give them galleries of their own. Heavy freight is the name of the game, and all of these classes are still capable of it today, even if some of them have to do it overseas!

The newest diesel locos at work in the UK. General Motors powered class 66s and 67s can be found just about anywhere. The Creeping Red (and Green!) Death meant the end of many many older locos, but they are still a part of the railway scene and will be for many years to come.

They may seem to be too boring for people to make a fuss of, but they are an ever changing, and under-rated part of the railway scene. They are also pretty good at doing what they are supposed to do (except maybe 150s and 153s)...

Both AC and DC stuff in here. Despite having had 300k miles off 86s I'll try not to put too many in here... Roarers were far more rateable!

I thought I'd put these on AGES ago! A couple of days in France chasing 37s back in early 2000. Absolutely hellfire, and the best 37 thrash I've ever heard, bar non.

I'll see how this one pans out once I start loading the pics up. There well over 250+ ex BR mainline locos now operating on 'preserved' railways in the UK. Thanks to the hard work of the owners and their supporters, these machines are all we have left of what we used to do...

The humble pilot. Once upon a time, almost everywhere had one, but something that has all but disappeared from todays scene. Get them rods flailing!

I'm not into steam as much as some people I could mention, but thanks to the efforts of the 'Old Farts' club on a Tuesday night I know more than I thought I did, and appreciate a lot more too! Thanks gents.... :o)