Banbury station in a low winter sun. The signalling remains, in essence, resolutely ancient even if some semaphores have been replaced by colour lights. This is the South box. The Chiltern unit left on a stopping train to Marylebone.

To cover for the lack of Virgin services from London to Birmingham Chiltern were runniing most of their Snow Hill trains as pairs of units. Here a 168/165 combo approaches Banbury en-route to Marylebone.

A south bound XC Voyager passing the stone terminal

A pair of 165s speeding towards Banbury.

As I arrived in Banbury on the 08:20 from Marylebone I missed both the 4O14 and 4O27 Freightliners by a whisker. This was the next one, the Leeds to Southampton (4O54). It was noticeable that only very few of the containers were smaller 8'6' boxes. Most were bigger, requiring pocket wagons and low-liners. Enhancement to this route can't come soon enough.

The 09:03 Kidderminster to Marylebone on the approach to Banbury. This is one of four through trains from Kidderminster to Marylebone on a Saturday.

The front end of 221 140 as it slows for its Banbury stop.

This pair of 168s formed the 08:20 from Marylebone. Here it is returning, just south of Banbury, on the 10:52 from Snow Hill (due into Marylebone at 13:01)

Wrexham and Shropshire's 08:55 Wrexham to Marylebone. Now that their DVTs have appeared, the 67s WS&M lease from EWS appear on the London end of the set.

A pair of 221s on a Virgin Blockade buster service to Euston...

...and almost passing, in shot, a northbound Birmingham International bound train.

The second Freightliner I saw was the 4O02 from Lawley Street...

...behind 66575

At King's Sutton the water meadows of the River Cherwell were doing their stuff and allowing the excess water to drain away. A northbound XC Voyager.

Unfortunately, to get back to King's Sutton for my train to Banbury meant wading through the fields! A 165/168 combo heading north on a Snow Hill train.

XC too double up their Voyagers. A pair of 220s head south

The 13:12 semi-fast from Snow Hill with a 165/168 mixed formation.

A Stratford on Avon to Marylebone service slowing for the King's Sutton stop.

Whilst waiting for Tangmere I tried out my panning technique on this First Capital Connect 365 on a Cambridge train.

Tangmere was running a tad late when it eventually appeared.

Noticeable how the steam and smoke hangs around the air smoothed casing on a very still day.

A pair of 365s briefly enter the sun light in the section between the 2 Welwyn North tunnels...

...before bursting into the light at Welwyn North. A very elaborate tunnel mouth.

Grand Central's 13:45 King's Cross to Sunderland graces the 150 year old Welwyn Viaduct over the River Mimram.