The English Electric Type 1 "Class 20" was the first of the new diesel locomotive classes to enter service way back in 1957.
A personnal favourite of mine these small yet capable locos are renowned for there reliability and after over half a century of service some are still earning there keep with main-line operators while a good many can be seen on preserved railways.
Originally designed for short trip workings between yards hence the modest 1000hp output and single cab, they soon appeared on longer range workings and occational passenger turns. They are probabley best remembered running in pairs "nose to nose" hauling MGR coal trains in the north east and west.
Unfortunaley they was not common on the Marches route but i did manage to catch up with a few over the years.
So i hope you enjoy my tribute to these small yet loud locos.

All lccomotives built with power ratings between 1001 and 1499hp fell in into the type 2 catagory. At one time this included 11 different classes amounting to well over 1000 locos though the vast majority had been withdrawn by the mid-80's. Possibly the best remembered classes included the baby sulzers "class 24, 25, 26 and 27" and the Brush type 2 class 30 "later class 31".
Although all of the baby sulzers was withdrawn by the early 90's a fair number survive in preservation and are very popular attractions on Britains preserved railways.
Although now 50 years old some class 31's can still be seen operating on the main-line and a large number of these useful locos have been preserved.
The class 25 was a common feature on the Marches route during the 70's to early 80's and are best remembered for working Crewe-Cardiff passenger services, the class 31 was a fairly frequent visitor on the route mostly on Cival engineers duties and the occational passenger turn.

The English Electric Type 3 "Class 37" has been one of the workhorses on Britains railways for the last 46 years.
Although much reduced in numbers during the past few years a large number still remain operational with main-line operators and the number of preserved examples is ever growing this just goes to show what a reliable, capable and popular class they are.
Very much part of the railway scene on the Marches route where they was used on a variaty of freight workings and some passenger duties until fairly recently, alas today the sight and sound of a Tractor on this route is now a rare occurence but they will never be forgotten thats for sure.
Here are a few photos of this fantastic class "most in Hereford" during the early 90's, during then you would not have had to wait long before one "or 2" made a appearence..
The 98 class 33 locomotives was classified as a type 3 like the 37 and they deserve a breif mention, used mostly on the Southern region these small yet capable locos gave exellent service on both freight and passenger workings, some to this day remain in service with main line operators and a large number have been preserved.
The class 33 was used for a numbers of years during the 1980s on Cardiff to Crewe services and was a frequent sight on the Marches route.

Large and powerful the type 4's bore the brunt of express passenger services and heavy freight workings for many years. With the introduction of the HST and more powerful Type 5 locomotives during the 80's most of the Class 40's and Peaks was consigned to the scrap yards but a fair number of both types survive in preservation and these impressive locos can still be seen at work today.
The imfamous Class 47 "loved by some and hated by many" has been a stalwart on Britains railways since entering service in 1961, with over 500 built they became the most common loco class and could be seen at work almost anywhere doing almost anything. though much reduced a good number can still be seen working on the main line and a large number have been preserved.
The class 50 has to rank as one of the most popular loco classes built in Britain, 50 of these impressive though tempremental locos was built and worked mostly express passenger services until there withdrawal in the early 90's, a large number have been preserved and they remain very popular attractions on preserved railways.
Both class 40's and the Peaks was fairly frequent visitors on the Marches route and during the 80's class 50's was regular on Paddington-Hereford sevices. The class 47 was a daily visitor on Freight, Parcel and Passenger turns until recently.

The most powerful British diesel loco catagory, type 5's now dominate the Modern railway scene.
The best known type 5 is the Class 55 "Deltic", being the odd one out as it was designed and used for express passenger services on the ECML. Entering service in 1961 these legendary locomotives gave exellent service for 20 years and altough all was withdrawn over 25 years ago the survivors still attract huge interest and devotion from people of all ages.
the 135 class 56's was built in the late 70's early 80's and was the first of the new type 5 heavy freight locomotives, they gave exellent service on all types of freight workings until they was withdrawn in 2002/3 "rather early in my opinion" a few still operate on the main line and several have been preserved, though the vast majority are stored out of use "what a waste".
The class 58 like the 56 was designed for heavy freight work and the 50 members of the class gave good service mostly on MGR coal sevices until like the class 56's was slated for early withdrawal and again most are stored out of use.
The 100 class 60 locomotives entered service in the the early 90's, renowned for there exellent pulling power most of the class are still in service and can be seen on a variaty of freight workings throughout the country.
The overseas built class 59, 66 and 67's now dominate the freight scene and these rather mundane locomotives can be seen all over the country.
The Deltics and Class 58's was extremely rare visitors on the Marches route though Classes 56 and 60's was very common on a variaty of freight workings. Though a few freights are handled by class 60's most freights on the route are now handled by class 66's

During the dieselisation of Britains railways the Western region became the only region to obtain locomotives with Hydraulic transmission, as all others opted for diesel electric.
6 diffent types entered service, the class 14, 22, 35, 42/43 and class 52.
After some initial teething problems most settled down to give exellent service but the standardisation of BR in the early 70's became a huge problem for the hydraulics as they was deemed non-standard and all was slated for early withdrawal. the class 22's and 42/43 Warships was the first to go in 1971/2 followed in 1975 by the class 35 Hymeks and the last class 52 Westerns had gone by 1977. A huge waste considering some locos had managed less then 10 years of service.
Thankfully the Hymeks, Warships and most certainly the Westerns obtained a huge following during there all to breif service and several members of these impressive classes survive today in Preservation.
Warships and Hymeks was common visitors on the marches route during the 60's to mid-70's but sadley all had gone by the time i was born.

Britains electric locos fell into 3 catagorys, the southern regions ED's "electic diesel" these included the class 73 who collects current from the regions 3rd rail and also has a small diesel power unit, the DC overhead locos "used on the woodhead route until all was withdrawn by 1980 and the more widespread AC overhead locos.
Some class 73's still operate on the main line while a large number have been preserved.
The AC electric locos was until recently common sights on both the WCML and ECML hauling mostly passenger services and some freight, though modern units have replaced all on the WCML passenger duties they are still a common sight on freight and ECML passenger turns.
A small number of DC and AC locos have thankfully been preserved.

Pictures of diesel shunters and steam locomotives are included in this section along with other railway related photographs.

A selection of scanned imagies from a recently re-discovered collection.
Various loco classes are included at work in Hereford and Newport stations during 1997 and 1998.
Many thanks to my Brother Mike, who found the photographs and allowed me to include them on this site as he took some of the photos.

During march 2008 the ELR at Bury held a diesel gala, locomotives taking part included 37109 "making its gala debut after entering preservation last year", 50015 "thankfully back operational after several years out of use" and the only current main line certified class 55 Deltic, 55022. Also taking part was a class 24, 33 and class 40, D335.
Though the weather was dull all day and chilly the event was very much enjoyed and another visit to Bury in the near future is a certainty.
Many thanks to all involved with the ELR for making this event possible.
Also included is a few fots i took at Manchester Piccadilly whilst on our way home.

During october 2007 the Severn Valley Railway held a diesel gala. Though most of the line was out of use following severe flood damage earlier in the year i had a exellent 2 days at the event.
here is some photos i took during the event.
May i take this oppertunity to thank all at the SVR for making the event possible after such a tough year.

Ok its only a game and not as good as the real thing but it is fun and very addictive, here are some of my screenshots.

Here are some photos i took during my 2 day stint at the SVR during there diesel gala that took place during April 2008.
A fantastic selelction of diesels was in action including visiting 37901 from the Llangollen Railway and 50044 who made the short trip from Tyesley to take part. Other locos from the SVR's home fllet was in use. A fantastic 2 days of hereitage traction and thrash was enjoyed by all.
Many thanks to all involved with the SVR for making the event possible and i will certainly be visiting again for the next diesel installment.

Here is a collection dedicated to tractors and other machines, since childhood i have always been facinated in the humble farm tractor, from the vintage Fordsons to the classic Countys. Even today i still have a effection for these hard working machines that includes the modern comuputer filled examples.
Also included is a selelction of classic and vintage trucks and some veteran steam powered machines..

here are some wildlife and nature related photos.

Here are some photos of various aircraft both old and new.. Also in this section some ships..