Spent a few hours dodging the showers at the Embsay Steam Railway Diesel Gala, which featured 47 004, 31 119, D5600 and 33 109 visiting from the East Lancs Railway.

A selection of images from Autumn 2007, including the DRS powered 'leafbusters'.

Northern Ireland Railways are enjoying a period of growth following many years of under investment. This collection comprises a few shots taken on visits to the province.

Spent half a day at the Spring Nene Valley Diesel Gala. A good line up featured 56 003, 56 098, 33 065 and 67 718 as well as the home based fleet. All photos taken on 3 March 2007

Here's some more scans from the archives - this time all from 1984

Not much action around in January so I've been dipping into the archives of the past 25 years - what a lot has changed!!

The last week end of October was chosen for the Yorkshire Dales Railway disesel gala and was met with splendid weather. I visited on the Sunday morning and witnessed D1524, 31 119 and two shunters running the services. Unfortunately 20 189 was sidelined with a fault. Although its a short branch, the line is picturesque and I managed to get a few decent shots during the morning. All photos taken on Sunday 29 October 2006

Apart from the Rylstone tour at the beginning of the month, December activity was limited to a visit to Skipton to see the 'Hoovers' on 'The Airean Raider', together with a visit by the Blue Pullman. The 'Hoovers' looked superb!!

On 2 December 2006, NENTA organised a railtour from Sudbury to Skipton and then a rare trip aong the freight only branch from Skipton to the Tarmac quarry at Rylstone, near Grassington. Running as 1Z41 and utilising FM Rail class 47s nos 47 145 and 47 703, this gallery includes shots taken from a variety of locations along the branch on a mixed day weatherwise, sunny spells mixed with heavy showers.

Plenty of variety on this trip to Carlisle and Oxenholme, including DRS 37s on the water cannons and 'Eddie the Engine' on the Tesco express. All shots taken on 12 October 2006.

A collection of shots from visits to the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway in 2005 and 2006.

A collection of shots from the Barrow Hill Diesel Gala, featuring EPS 37 603 and newly Corus liveried 20 056, among other exhibits.

A trip on the Northern Belle, steam haulage on the S&C, DRS class 37s at Skipton, shots on the Grassington branch and Fastline class 56 at Tamworth

A few shots featuring Italian Railways, taken from just over the Italian border on a recent visit.

Irish Railways are undergoing a period of significant investment and change as the Irish economy continues to grow strongly. The current situation is a curious mix of elderly GM locos, many of which are due for withdrawal, new CAF MK1V rolling stock and DMUs and expansion of the DART system around Dublin, as well as the new LUAS tram network. This portfolio illustrates the current Irish situation from a recent visit.

Double headed class 33s at Keighley and WCRC class 47/57 at Cononley

Steam at Hellifield, class 47s on Leeds - Cardiff football specials, FM Rail 33 at Doncaster, Stratford featuring Cotswold Rail 47 and brand new GBrF class 66, 57s at Manchester, Blue Pullman at York, Serco class 47s at Leeds and Railtours in the Aire Valley.

Railtours at Colton Junction and Thirsk and the last of the S&C Virgin diversions.

In my opinion, Dutch railways are among the most interesting in Europe. This gallery features images from a couple of recent visits.

Thunderbirds at Hellifield, FM Rail Blue Pullman at Cattal, a rainy afternoon at Barnetby and some FM Rail locos at Derby. Later in the month saw 67 029 at Bradford, another session at Barnetby, 'Hoovers' at York and a class 33 at Leeds, together with 67 029 again at Doncaster.

Plenty of variety this month featuring Thunderbirds at Manchester, Warrington and Hellifield, a brief interlude at Cambridge, S&C diversions, West Coast Rail at Stourton and a session at Acton Bridge.

A busy month - action from Stainforth, Hellifield, Manchester, Bradford and Warrington. Highlights include class 57s on S&C drags and on the Manchester Holyhead route, a class 92 on the S&C and a 'Black 5' departing Bradford Interchange

A busy month - FM Rail action at Skipton, action from South Wales during the last week of class 37s on the Rhymney services, railtours at Colton Junction, together with 87 012 on Christmas mails. Then the year was rounded off with 'The Fusilier Farewell', Duffs and kettles on the S&C and the 'Cumbrian Chopper' at Hellifield.

My railway photography started in about 1975 - and over the following 30 years I amassed a transparency collection numbering well over 20000 slides. Having purchased a decent scanner, I am starting to put some of my favourites from over the years into a collection on this gallery. Shots of sights long consigned into history, and lots of happy memories for me !! Look out for more updates as I work my way through the last 30 years.

Highlights of the month were the NRM 'Cab it' event, and chasing 'Western Champion' around Yorkshire, together with brief sessions at Stainforth and Whitley Bridge.

As the nights draw in and the weather deteriorates, I thought I would throw a few shots from 2004 into a collection - no theme here, just some personal favourites.

Another gloomy day but a great collection of locos at the Barrow Hill 'Diesel Dawn' gala. As well as a good FM Rail representation, and HNRC locos, the highlight was double headed Deltics on the shuttle, including a reincarnated 55 005!!

A very gloomy day but its always a treat on the Severn Valley Railway, one of my favourite preserved lines. Well done to FM Rail for supplying four locos, and 'Western Champion' was looking great.

My first visit to the NVR - a great day, superb weather and a good selection of traction, including two GBrf class 73s. Star of the show for me was 56 057 looking great in 'large logo' livery.

One of the main events of the year - a cloudy day but a pretty good line up of traction for the event. One of the main disappointments was the lack of support from the main freight operators - only Freightliner had any exhibits.

A coupe of days spent in Cumbria, including main line and narrow gauge activity at Ravenglass, 37 425 at Crewe during the Great Gathering weekend, and some local action around Yorkshire.

Limited activity this month but did manage brief sessions at Reading, Didcot and Oxford, and was at Bradord and York to witness the 'Whistling Scotsman' tour featuring 50 031 and 40 145.

For a year up to September 2004, Arriva Northern sponsored the running of 'top and tail' class 37s on two commuter services from Knaresborough to and from Leeds to relieve overcrowding. During the period between the morning and evening peaks, the set completed a return trip to Carlisle over the scenic Settle - Carlisle line. Traction was provided from a pool of three specially modified class 37/4s, no. 37 405, 37 408 'Loch Rannoch' and 37 411 ' The Scottish Railway Preservation Society'. This collection illustrates some of these workings, particularly in the latter days leading up to the final working on 25 September 2004.

Two days at sunny East Lancashire Railway diesel gala on 8/9 July. Some initial disappointment around the non appearance of some of the advertised traction was soon overcome by the rich variety of alternative traction on offer. Photos taken from various points on the line between Rawtenstall and Bury.

Generally good weather during the month, main activity was an afternoon at New Barnetby in the sunshine and some shots of the Rylstone quarry stone trains. Also managed to pop over to Colton Junction to photo the EWS company train at full bore. Finally, managed an evening session at Tamworth and Derby and a spell at Carnforth at the end of the month.

One of the top weekends of the year for me - the KVWR diesel gala is just 20 minutes from home. A geat weekend of action in mostly fine weather (apart from the thunderstorms on Sunday afternoon). Highlights for me were the DRS 33 and 37 and 37 214 - I will long remember the sight and sound of the pair of class 37s storming out of Keighley up the bank to Ingrow - fantastic !!

June 2005 activity including an evening at Stafford

Visit to the NYMR diesel gala on Saturday 14 May 2005

Photos from May 2005 including visits to Selby and Barnetby