GWR Hall 4-6-0 4930 Hagley Hall stands at Birmingham Moor Stret station on 22 January 1985, prior to working the 'First Day Covers' special to Stratford-upon-Avon. A short but interestingly formed train. This was to celebrate the release of stamps depicting railway paintings by Terrence Cuneo. 86226 can just be seen in the background, waiting to be named Royal Mail.

A grim winter day at Frampton Mansell, but GWR Hall 4-6-0 4930 Hagley Hall still makes a fine sight, as it attacks Sapperton Bank with the Pullman Rail 1Z49 07:50 Euston to Swindon 'Red Dragon' railtour on 2 February 1985. This was an electric / diesel / steam tour, with 81014 working between London and Birmingham, 47606 between Birmingham and Newport, and 4930 between Newport and Swindon. This was repeated, but in reverse order, on the return, although the steam / diesel changeover point was then Gloucester.

Steam may have come to an end on the Western Region at the end of 1965, but several of the former GWR 57xx 0-6-0PTs lived on for several years with London Transport (until 1971), and with the National Coal Board in Wales. 7754 is seen here inside Mountain Ash shed on 14 September 1973. It would continue working here, with minimal maintenance, for another two years, making it the final GWR pannier tank in revenue earning (as opposed to preserved) service.

Sole surviving Southern Railway 'Lord Nelson' Class 4-6-0 850 'Lord Nelson' storms past Howe & Co's Siding signal box (near Cumwhinton) on 3 March 1984 with the 1L41 12:10 Carlisle to Euston 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' railtour, which it worked as far as Hellifield.

A little snow still lingers at Aisgill on 3 March 1984, as Southern Railway 4-6-0 850 'Lord Nelson' passes by with the 1L41 12:10 Carlisle to Euston 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' railtour, which it worked between Carlisle to Hellifield.

Southern Railway West Country 4-6-2 34092 City of Wells darkens the already gloomy sky at Settle Junction on 7 April 1984, as it works the northbound 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' railtour. The line to Carnforth, via Giggleswick, can just be seen diverging away at a lower level on the right.

Southern Railway West Country 4-6-2 34092 City of Wells passes the closed and derelict station at Newbiggin on 7 April 1984 with the northbound 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' railtour. Obviously a popular spot, as Tom was not the only photographer at this location!

Southern Railway Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35028 Clan Line gets underway from Shrewsbury on 20 October 1984 with the southbound 'Welsh Marches Express' railtour. The GWR lower quadrant bracket signal controls Sutton Bridge Junction.

Southern Railway Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35028 Clan Line emerges from Ludlow Tunnel on 20 October 1984 with the southbound 'Welsh Marches Express' railtour. Ludlow Tunnel is only 192 yards long, and is situated in the centre of the town, directly south of the station.

Viewed from the Llanfrechfa Way roadbridge, Southern Railway Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 35028 Clan Line approaches Cwmbran on 20 October 1984 with the northbound 'Welsh Marches Express' railtour.

A very gloomy day at Petterill Bridge Junction, Carlisle, as LMS 'Black 5' 4-6-0 5305 starts its journey over the Settle & Carlisle line with the SLOA Carlisle to Euston 'Santa Steam Special'. The date is 29 December 1983.

LMS Coronation Class 4-6-2 46229 Duchess of Hamilton storms past Horton-in-Ribblesdale on 29 October 1983 with the northbound 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' railtour. Horton station (still with semaphore signals) can be see in the background.

LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0 5690 Leander makes a spirited departure from Shrewsbury, as it passes underneath Kemps Eye Avenue footbridge on 28 January 1984 with the SLOA Sheffield to Euston 'West Mercian' railtour, which the loco worked as far as Hereford.

1980s mainline steam nostalgia! LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0 5690 Leander takes water at Dorrington on 28 January 1984, whilst working the SLOA Sheffield to Euston 'West Mercian' railtour. Although only three members of the support crew are actually standing on the mainline, numerous members of the public are swarming all over the trackside, and the old cattle dock, in a way that wouldn't be tolerated today.

Just managing to avoid the shadow from a rogue cloud, LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0 5690 Leander rounds the curve at Little Stretton on 28 January 1984 with the SLOA Sheffield to Euston 'West Mercian' railtour, which the loco worked as far as Hereford.

LNER A3 4-6-2 4472 Flying Scotsman bursts underneath the three arch bridge that spans the end of the platforms at Long Preston station. It is working the 1L41 12:10 Carlisle to Euston 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' railtour on 3 March 1984. The A3 worked the train between Hellifield and Carnforth.

Superb dramatic lighting, and an excellent choice of location, as Coronation Class 4-6-2 46229 Duchess of Hamilton crosses Ormside Viaduct on 7 January 1984 with the southbound 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' railtour. The ten arch viaduct spans the River Eden, a couple of miles south of Appleby.

LNER A4 4-6-2 60009 Union of South Africa storms past Long Meg signal box of 31 March 1984 with the southbound 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' railtour. Long Meg sidings served the nearby gypsum quarry, which was situated on the banks of the River Eden, and connected to the mainline by a short branch.

A picture that could have been taken at any time in the first part of the twentieth century, but was in fact taken as late as 6 September 1974. This view of the National Coal Board's Mountain Ash Colliery shed shows the general grime and filth of the coal mining industry. Peckett 0-6-0ST 1859 Sir Gomer is in steam, but judging by the coal covering the track on the right, Barclay 0-6-0ST 2074 Llantarnam Abbey hasn't moved for a while.

Vale of Rheidol 2-6-2T No.8 Llywelyn pulls away from Llanbadarn station on 23 July 1985, whilst en-route from Aberystwyth to Devils Bridge. Llywelyn is one of three large tanks engines built for the Rheidol line by the Great Western Railway in the early 1920s.