the evening draws in at an unusually busy International.

The classic scene at Chirk as a WSMR service heads for Birmingham and beyond.

The only other services were by ATW seen here slowing for the station.

The cold draws in for the night as a 158 drifts away.

A test train hammers around the bend towards Derby with 37's on full power.

The fastline coal approaches Water Orton.

An unexpected but welcome 47375 heads towards a sea of anticipating froth at Water Orton...

...As another heads away from the brimming platform.

An unbeknownst location for me, but sure to be used again. A Freightliner complete with EWS wagons traverses the Sutton park Line.

The grid thunders up the incline through the New Hall Valley.

The crompton is a welcome sight after seemingly endless Santa Specials at Loughborough.

D5401 gets dragged out of and uneventful Loughborough.

D6535 runs towards the platforms at Loughborough past its frozen associate.

The Peak gets framed at Rothley.

An important loco for some, the 27 gets snapped at Rothley.

On the approach to Loughborough, the skies darken and the wind blows as D5401 glides by.

The short & sweet working from Tyseley to Leeds passes Water orton with some rough sounding wagons.

A rareity again, especially one with such livery. Babbage heads for Water Orton

Almost bowled, but not quite! 47727 rolls towards Water Orton, over an hour late.

Dead on time, 31106 two tones towards Water Orton with a test train for Exeter.

The fields near Heamies Farm watch 66542 pass through.

90046 passes through the sodden land north of Norton Bridge.

60087 breaks the peace of Heamies Farm with a coal working north.

Rarer traction on this test train, with 67006 & 67005 taking charge just outside Norton Bridge.

The Queensville Curve jsut outside Stafford sees a Pendolino fly by.

90049 restarts after a signal check on the approach to Stafford.

Banbury suffers from the mist as a London bound Chiltern service exits.

The WSMR service arrives into Banbury, through the mist...

...and dissapears just as quickly. With a bit more noise this time.

Rugby's new platforms make for many new angles, and busy ones at that.

The wires undergo stringent tests in an attempt to avoid any more catastrophes.

Rugby's not quite finished yet, as the bags of ballast tend to indicate.

The WCML certainly is more impressive nowadays, when it all works.

I can feel this angle is going to be overused...

A 321 approaches from the south.

Nice hat.

A rarity, as 67027 takes charge of an intermodal heading north.

The Royal Q makes it's way past the NEC into Birmingham International on another round of OHLE tests.

The tests continue after a short stop at International, and here 67006 leads the pair past the airport.

Whilst waiting for the tugs, anything was photographed at Crewe.

60047 leads the pack into the sidings...

...among excited enthusiasts.

Just before entering the shed the tugs stand.

The avoiding line at Crewe gets visited by, amongst other freights, a Freightliner 66.

Coal through the fasts at Crewe.

Marshbrook looks fantastic in the sun and snow.

A sprinter makes it's way south amongst the hills.

At least something was seen pulling ballast at Shrewsbury.

A Coradia approaches Shrewsbury.

A lone 67001 trundles down through Sutton Park.

Babbage makes his way up the incline through Sutton Park.

The 97's follow Babbage up the incline in Sutton Park with the first of thier training runs.

57006 carries on the spoon legacy with ease at Water Orton.

60009 thunders through Water Orton under a varied sky.

97304 leads the pair along the Sutton Park line through the New Hall Valley.

The pioneer shed powers through Water Orton just over 10 years after she arrived at the docks.

Freightliner provides yet another service through Water Orton heading east.

At a crossing just outside Sutton Park, a trio of Sheds make thier way down the line with a Bescototon.

Charles Babbage interrrupts the plesant crossing with a ballast service heading north.

The trusty crappy old wagon working is seen heading south.

97304 returns alone heading back north.

Another day, another 97, this time seen along the Whitacre line.

A very modern looking West Coast just outside Lichfield plays host to a 90 hauled intermodal.

After having slightly messed up the first shot, this had to suffice. 97304 hurtles across the Trent at Croxall.

A XC 170 glides towards Birmingham.

At Bletchley the 321 draws into the platform amongst the commuters.

An intermodal makes its way through the catenery heading south.

90047 thunders north.

An enterprise heads south with 66034 at the helm.

60020 tugs the cement north.

Mixed weather at Bletchley as the Bletchley to Bedford unit arrives.

A pair of cans head north in the ever decreasing sun.

37259 gives a show after restarting from the signal at Sutton Bridge Jn. on her journey up the Cambrian.

At Welshpool, the sun shines and the hills rise from the distance as 37259 patiently waits for the approaching unit.

The sky was quite colourful at Welshpool.

Poweing through Abermule, 259 heads for Tywyn amongst the ever increasing hills.

A quick afterthought, but pleasing none the less, 259 makes her way through Aberdovey Gold Club, as do the sheep.

37259 powers away from Tywyn station heading for the dropsite.

Looking down on 37259 as she stands at the avalanche shelter waiting for the workers to clear.

The coast at Friog with the tractor in the corner and the sea heading off into the distance.