A photo to illustrate the difference between EMT Meridian liveries depending on which shift carries out the repaint apparently. You can clearly see on 222006 that the yellow comes to a point above the coupling, but on 222017 the yellow stays clear and leaves red underneath to frame the coupling

4936 'Kinlet Hall' and 5029 'Nunney Castle' shunt after being watered at Gloucester station

47773 waits on the stock near Horton Road as we see the engines in the background waiting for my train to get out of the way so they can continue

Josh watches as a 323 bound for Lichfield departs Aston

66709 stood in for a class 56 on Fastline 4O90 and is seen, nearly bowled by coal, at Bescot. Josh has by now passed out on the left

67017 leads a Northern Belle from Chester to Northampton thorugh a low lit and little photographed Witton station

This is a daylight version of the HDR panorama of Birmingham New Street station from Platform 6b

66581 on coal at Tamworth

66581 approaches Tamworth with a coal train for Freightliner

Two Voyagers pass north of Tamworth, displaying both varaints of CrossCountry colour schemes

A closer look at 221133 as it arrives at tamowrth

43321 leads refurbished set XC01 on the 09:00 Glasgow-Plymouth service speeding through Tamworth

My lords! 87002 becomes the first of it's class to run on the UK mainline again since their wholesale withdrawal. It is seen on Rail-Blue charters Birmingham International to Glasgow charter, 1Z87 as it speeds past Daresbury near Warrington

87002 the first Class 87 under Glasgow Centrals roof for a long time! The stock from Cargo-D just adds to the authentic look of the scene. Huge quantities of enthusiasts give the game away though

323215 is stabled overnight at New Street on platform 2b

This will become a relic of the past, and is one of the few bits of the original New Street to have survived into the 21st centruy

What will become of the horse? Whilst many wouldn't notice it's removal I fell it's improtant that this should remain a part of New Street when redeveloped

323222 on platform 12b awaiting cleaners attention before the next days duties

I've wanted to do this shot for a long time, on the 'b; ends you can see through all the staircase doors when there aren't many units in. Sadly this is not the view with them all clear, but you get the idea

Oh yes. 433357 the latest MTU powercar to work for CrossCountry is seen as it monsters the Lickey incline at Pikes Pool on a sunny morning. Worth the cycle even if I ahd only managed 4 hours sleep between the 87 tour and setting off!

5043 'Earl of Mount Edgecumbe' is seen steaming on the national network after an absence of over 40 years! It performed three test runs today, the second shown here as it terminated at Shirley next to the signalbox

A vertical shot of the double-chimney Castle and signalbox. It sounds absolutely awesome (the Castle, not the signalbox)

153356 passes through Kings Norton to join the camp hill line whilst returning fresh from Eastleigh works to Tyseley

What a moment. Well worth waiting for after a near 45 year absence from hauling trains was 5043 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe' returning, albeit sadly short lived