Oxford to Hatton Bank

Ok this collection doesn't start at Oxford but just to the north at Tackley on a new route for me. 221101 passes through Tackley with 1V91 0733 Birmingham New Street to Reading VXC service.

66017 runs south with 4O53 0430 Wakefield Europort to Southampton intermodal working.

FGW 165135 makes its station stop at Tackley forming class 2 local train 2L23 0853 Oxford to Banbury. No one boarded or got off the unit.

The sun has come out as 220003 forges north to Manchester Piccadilly with 1M05 0840 off Reading.

A move to another new location and a farmer’s overbridge at Aynho Junction. An unidentified class 220 Voyager unit passes with 1O09 0754 Manchester Piccadilly to Brighton.

Chiltern Trains 168111 leaves the line from Marylebone and joins the one from Oxford. It is rostered on 1G18 0920 Marylebone to Birmingham New Street.

66063 approaches Aynho Junction with an unidentified intermodal service probably for Southampton.

220017 comes up the 1 in 361 at Aynho Junction with 1M07 0846 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly Cross Country service. Meanwhile Chiltern Trains 168005 waits for the road off the Marylebone line with 1G20 0950 from Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill. The junction signalbox was located in the VEE of the lines to the right of the Voyager and behind the two cabinets.

168005 now has the road away from Aynho Junction and the driver powers his unit up now he is clear of the junction pointwork.

164014 swings left onto the Marylebone line with an up train, 1H29 0952 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone.

Another unidentified class 221 Voyager set passes southbound with 1O10 0644 from Newcastle to Bournemouth.

A well loaded Freightliner appears with newly arrived (at the time) 66587 at the head of 4M55 0858 Southampton Maritme to Birmingham Lawley Street working.

168106 passes milepost 81 1/4 miles from Paddington via Didcot and Oxford. This train, 1H31 1012 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone will take the 20 mile shorter route to London via High Wycombe.

An unknown class 221 Super Voyager passes an unknown class 220 Voyager set at Aynho Junction. The 221 is working 1V93 0854 Manchester Piccadilly to Reading, while the class 220 set is employed on the opposite diagram, 1M10 0940 Reading to Manchester Piccadilly.

The northbound set speeds by lit by a hot July sun.

165137 wears the new corporate livery of First Group and is employed this day on 2L41 1122 Oxford to Banbury, a local all stations stopper.

Some VXC workings run as class 9 to distinguish them from other slower types of class 1 trains in an effort to give them better regulation. This unknown class 221 set forms 9S61 0946 Bournemouth to Edinburgh.

Another Chiltern Trains unit swings left at Aynho Junction, 168215 forms 1H33 1052 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone.

A total surprise for me at Aynho Junction is 31349 Cerberus running south with possibly a route learning working.

Turning round for the going away shot as the type 2 rattles the pointwork into the up loop.

This two car set, 165012, is rostered to 1D24 1054 Marylebone to Stratford on Avon working.

The 198 foot high spire of the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul at Kings Sutton rises above the trees as 66578 wheels a train of fresh air south with 4O54 0613 Leeds to Southampton Maritme freightliner. There was at least 1 container on the train right at the back of the rake.

About a minute after 66578 went south, sister 66579 appeared northbound with 4E44 0525 SX Southampton Millbrook to Leeds freightliner.

Another move to a location I have been to before, just north of Kings Sutton. 168111 runs south working 1H36 1152 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone.

Unknown class 221 Super Voyager passes to the north of Kings Sutton forming 1S62 1046 Bournemouth to Edinburgh XC. The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul dominates the scene from the popular road over bridge just north of the town.

The usual staple diet of Chiltern Trains class 168 and 165 units continue to pass by. Here 168109 forms 1G28 1150 Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill service.

The view from the other side of the bridge is not so inspiring but is worthy of inclusion. 220029 is well lit by the hot sun as it drops down the 1 in 386 gradient with 9O14 0600 Glasgow Central to Bournemouth service.

66540 lifts a lightly loaded, just three containers, 4M58 1100 Southampton to Ditton freightliner past Kings Sutton.

66053 runs light south possibly back to Didcot passing milepost 83 1/4.

A class 221 Super Voyager set powers north with 1M13 1240 Reading to Manchester Piccadilly Cross Country train.

First Great Western operated and liveried 165137 forms a class 2 local service, 2L49 1322 Oxford to Banbury passing Kings Sutton.

A final shot at Kings Sutton sees 66147 not being overly worked with a lightly loaded 4M35 1115 Southampton Western Docks to Birch Coppice intermodal.

Whilst driving about looking for locations armed with my trusty OS maps, I found an overbridge near Fenny Compton so I stopped for a quick look and fortunately took my camera with me JUST as 60065 appeared with 6E55 1333 MWFO Theale to Lindsey empty bogie tanks. What timing!!

An occupation overbridge near the village of Bishops Itchington is the location now and Voyager 220014 speeds by with 1O19 1254 Manchester Piccadilly to Guildford cross country train.

Another southbound working is 165014 with 1H48 1452 off Birmingham Snow Hill to London Marylebone.

A lengthy freightliner service, 4M61 1300 Southampton to Trafford Park, twists on the super elevation of the track here with 66532 providing the motive power.

This southbound unit is 165011 and forms 1M52 1541 Stratford on Avon to Marylebone service.

Four car non tilting 220023 approaches from the south with 1M18 1540 Reading to Manchester, it passes milepost 97 1/4.

This three car class 168 unit, 168113 is bound for Birmingham Snow Hill having departed London Marylebone at 1520 with headcode 1G42.

66101 appears with 4O26 1553 Washwood Heath to Southampton Western Docks Intermodal. I was being covered by the little annoying corn flees here, they got everywhere and even inside the camera.

The early evening sun shines down on the doyen of the Voyager fleet, 220001. Its diagram now has it working 1O23 1454 Manchester Piccadilly to Brighton.

In dull conditions 66589 powers north with 4S59 1500 Southampton to Coatbridge freightliner. Tucked inside is 57005 possibly heading for Crewe Gresty Lane.

Virgin Cross Country service 1O24 1249 Edinburgh to Bournemouth formed by an unknown class 221 Super Voyager set.

The view looking up part of the flight of locks at Hatton on the Warwick and Birmingham Canal.

Turning round for the view looking down the flight. It is known as "The Stairway To Heaven" and the total of 21 locks was opened in 1799.

Another move and the last one of the day, first up is 168109 approaching a footpath overbridge near to the bottom of Hatton Bank with 1K49 1700 Marylebone to Kidderminster.

150010 is a first generation sprinter set and is employed on 2H26 1725 Stourbridge Junction to Leamington Spa. It descends Hatton Bank with its destination just a few miles away.

220022 comes up the grade on Hatton Bank with 1M23 1740 Reading to Manchester Piccadilly Cross Country working.