Double-headed Class 35 'Hymeks' haul a rake of empty coal wagons past Badgeworth Lane, Cheltenham on 20th March 1972.

Gloucester Eastgate was the Midland Railway station in the city. Its last year of operation was 1975, by which time it was much reduced in importance. The bridge linking it to the GWR's Central station can be seen in the far right of this 1975 shot.

By this time, both stations were simply known as 'Gloucester', and here we see platforms 2 and 3 in the former Eastgate station.

Eastgate was finally closed on the 1st December 1975. All trace of the station was eventually obliterated, and it's site is now occupied by a road and an Asda superstore (opened in the early 1980s).

This unidentified BR blue Western was pictured speeding through Tiverton Junction in May 1975.

Another Western heads a rake of Mk2s through Tiverton Junction in May 1975.

Surrounded by semaphores, another Western hauls a rake of Mk 1s through Tiverton Junction, May 1975.

The Westerns were being replaced on top link work by EE Type 4 class 50s. The sharply focused BR logo contrasts with the blurred 'InterCity' logo on the air-conditioned Mk2 coach, May 1975.

The 50s were unnamed, unrefurbished and very unpopular at this time as they ousted the popular Westerns. May 1975, Tiverton Junction.

Another unidentified Western rushes through Tiverton Junction, May 1975.

Single car DMU L123 in all-over blue livery departs Heyford with an Oxford-bound service.

Swindon and a Didcot-bound MGR train passes, hauled by a class 47.

Enthusiasts young and old chat to the driver as this original-spec class 50 waits at Swindon.

A class 47 'Brush 4' passes Swindon heading an express bound for Wales.

A Western seen through the clutter of BRUTE trolleys at Swindon.

A class 37 near Cwm Colliery, with a class 9 unfitted freight consisting of coal wagons. Possibly 37177 or 37277.

Cwm Colliery, like many Welsh mines, had its own shunters and sidings. This scene seems to come from a period much older than 30 years ago.

A 37 passes Cwm Colliery, a once everyday industrial scene of winding gear, trains and coal.

An atmospheric study of Cwm Colliery's steam shunter.

With the NCB offices in the background, Cwm Colliery's shunter busies itself shunting the yard.

GWR Castle Class 5080 'Defiant' in the sidings near Gloucester station, on its way to preservation and restoration at Tyseley, 1974.

A view of Gloucester's loop line, looking towards Cheltenham.

Unfitted freights abound in this view of Gloucester loop yard, looking in the Bristol/Swindon direction.

A class 47 heads a special near Heyford.

A class 52 Western seen near Heyford.

This steam special seen near Heyford was headed by 7808 'Cookham Manor' and 6998 'Burton Agnes Hall'.

Panned shot of GWR Manor 4-6-0 7808 'Cookham Manor'

The period vehicles add to this shot of 'Cookham Manor' leading Hall 6998 'Burton Agnes Hall'.

English Electric Class 40, no 40170 seen at Ardley with a rake of bogie oil tanks.

Severn Tunnel Junction and a Western trundles through with a freight.

Two-tone green liveried D1935 heads past Severn Tunnel Junction on an eastbound express. Delivered new to 82A (Bristol Bath Road) in March 1966, this loco moved to 86A (Cardiff Canton) in September 1972 and would have been allocated to one of those sheds when this photo was taken. Renumbered under TOPS to 47257 in June 1974, it later became 47650 in March 1986 and then 47805 in August 1989. Bought by Riviera Trains in January 2005 it is currently still in traffic and named 'Talisman', having previously carried the names 'Bristol Bath Road' and 'Pride of Toton'.

A mixed line up at Barry scrapyard

Bullied West Country 'light pacific' 3407x silently rusting in the Barry graveyard.

The horse seems unmoved by the fate of the two ex-GWR engines behind it.

Collett King 6023 'King Edward II' looks like its career is over, but it was saved for preservation in 1984 and restoration continues to this day.

Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48151 looks almost good enough to fire up and run. This loco was preserved and is now operated on the mainline by the West Coast Railway Company.

The rather abandoned looking Quakers Yard station and all-over blue DMU C331 pauses.

Back to Severn Tunnel Junction and a class 47 passes through. The lighting gantries in the background testify to the extent of the yards.

08654 shunts a load of brand new Ford cars at STJ. Withdrawn in November 1991 from Cardiff Canton, 08654 was disposed of at Booth's scrapyard, Rotherham in May 1994.

Class 52 Western D1073 'Western Bulwark' light engine at Severn Tunnel Junction. Withdrawn in August 1974 from Plymouth's Laira depot, D1073 was disposed of at Swindon Works by the following July.

The superb scene at Severn Tunnel Junction as a class 52 Western heads a Paddington-bound express past the busy yards. Also in view are a class 31, class 45/6 'Peak' and class 47.

47089 'Amazon' trundling past the offices at STJ. A lifelong Western Region engine, it was delivered new in April 1965 to Cardiff Canton, before spells at Bristol Bath Road and Old Oak Common. It was a Bath Road engine again by February 1987 when it ran away with 7A22 14:32 Peak Forest-Bletchley stone train and derailed at Chinley North Junction. It was hit by 31440 and badly damaged, eventually being withdrawn in June 1987. Also in the shot is class 25 no.25284, which was withdrawn in January 1985 from Crewe depot.

Taken near Heyford on 4th October 1971 was this panned shot of Brush Type 4 1728. It was running light engine ahead of the mainline 'Return to Steam' special, hauled by 6000 'King George V'. Delivered new to 86A (Cardiff Canton) in April 1964, this loco subsequently became 47136 then 47621 'Royal County of Berkshire'. Again renumbered to 47839 it carried the names ' RAF Valley' and 'Pride of Saltley' before being bought by Riviera Trains in February 2003. Now named 'Pegasus', it is still operated by RT.

Near Badgeworth Lane, Cheltenham, an unidentified class 45 'Peak'.