38 views of Virgin Trains activity on the WCML, nearly all taken on the Lancaster-Shap section. 2004 was notable for the end of locomotive-hauled passenger trains on the WCML as Pendolino EMUs replaced the Class 87s and Mark 3 coaches which have provided inter-city services since electrification in 1974. The final picture shows 87001 & 87026 running light from Polmadie to Euston after delivering ECS to Glasgow: the final appearance by Virgin West Coast class 87s on the northern WCML in 2004 - and perhaps for all time. (Not quite, in fact, as 87002 reached Carlisle on 7 February 2005.)

15 photos of engineering trains and activity on the northern WCML.

8 photos of multi-train scenes, the West COAST main line, and Carnforth Station clock.

Two shots from December 2004 when GBRf entered the mail by rail market working Royal Mail 325s between London and Glasgow. These trains initially ran to help with the Christmas rush, but continued afterwards to the end of March 2005 on a trial basis, which subsequently became permanent.

EWS mail trains over Shap ceased by the end of September 2003, except for the Lodon - Carlisle TPO (1C00 / 1A93), which ran for the last time on 9 January 2004.

12 photos, mainly of Freightliner 66s.

42 photos, mainly of English Welsh & Scottish 66s and 92s, but also including classes 37, 56, 67 and Royal Mail 325 EMUs.

19 photos of Direct Rail Services' classes 20, 33, 37 and 66, and one of 87022.

19 photos of class 142, 144, 150, 153, 156 and 175 DMUs.

Two photos of 5971 Olton Hall (aka Hogwarts Castle), and 9 of 37197, 37261, 47851, 47854 and 57601.

47 photos of steam-hauled specials on the main line, featuring 76079 & 34067 Tangmere on the S & C, 62005 running as 'Lord of the Isles,' 6201 Princess Elizabeth on its ill-fated run over Shap, 6233 Duchess of Sutherland, 60009 Union of South Africa, 71000 Duke of Gloucester's return to the main line after overhaul, 3440 City of Truro re-enacting its 1904 100mph(?) exploits, and 4965 Rood Ashton Hall.

10 photos of 67019 & 67002 and 67005 & 66075(!!) top'n'tailing the royal train, plus 40145, 50031, 33202 & 33103.

10 photos, including four of 37408 and 37411 top'n'tailing for Arriva Trains Northern.

11 photos of 34067 Tangmere on the Victoria - Dover leg of a Pacific-hauled special from London to Paris and back, run by the Railway Touring Co (www.railwaytouring.co.uk) to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the 1929 naming of the GOLDEN ARROW / FLECHE D'OR boat train service between the two capitals.

2 photos of 37689 - much better than Tangmere, some would say! - standing in for 34067 on the return from Dover, leading to the very rare sight of a 37 on a passenger train at Victoria.

Photos taken on the French leg of this tour are in my OVERSEAS RAILWAY SCENES Gallery.

12 pictures taken during The Duke's first run over Shap since its latest overhaul. The loco performed faultlessly, coming within 1.5 seconds of breaking the record (5 mins 58 seconds, set by 6233 Duchess of Sutherland on 17 May 2003) for the northbound ascent of Shap by a preserved steam loco with a 13 coach train.

10 photos which do not warrant a themed collection of their own, including 56078 at Healey Mills in its last week of service, 91s at York, and HSTs at Burlescombe on the Western main line in north Devon.

A small collection of 10 pictures, mainly night shots but featuring 37s in EWS, Mainline and Loadhaul liveries.

16 pictures taken after a somewhat dispiriting visit to Crewe's Railway Age (www.therailwayage.co.uk) was offset by an interesting session on the station. Highlights were 57304 dragging green 47830, and Royal 67005 on a rake of Mk 2s in ye olde BR Intercity livery!