Part 1 (January - April)

Unlike the previous five years, 2013 didn't begin at Wensleydale. Instead as dawn broke on the first Saturday of the New Year I found myself in East Anglia. 47828 awaits departure from Norwich with 1Z01 1120 to Peterborough, an additional train laid on by the local TOC in connection with the FA Cup 3rd round fixture between the two cities' teams (05/01/2013)

47828 is seen again waiting to depart from Peterborough with 5G01 1332 ECS to Ely in order to stable the set before the return leg later that afternoon. Out of sight on the rear of the train was 47802, which worked forward from Ely after a reversal in the station (05/01/2013)

47818 approaches Heaton Norris Junction with 5Z45 0900 Crewe DMD to Stoke Sideways Loop (via Liverpool and Manchester) driver training run (15/01/2013)

A bonus view of 47818 with its train beneath the A6 bridge as 5Z45 waited for the road out onto the main line at Heaton Norris (15/01/2013)

The following day I gambled on the sun reappearing but wasn't successful. 47501 'Craftsman' is seen approaching Heaton Norris with 5Z45 0900 Crewe DMD to Stoke Sideways Loop. Just visible in the gloom on the rear of the train is 47853, which had taken over from 818 for the remainder of the week (16/01/2013)

47245 departs Ashburys on the rear of 5Z37 1330 Ardwick TMD to Carnforth (hauled by 37516) conveying five mkI/II vehicles that had visited the wheel lathe for tyre-turning. The train had just reversed in order to gain access to the Philips Park branch to cross the city towards Manchester Victoria (01/02/2013)

47580 is pictured in Doncaster West Yard shortly after sunrise on a beautiful February morning. I did hang around for an hour or so to see if the shadows on the front end would disappear, but if anything they became worse (02/02/2013)

'County of Essex' had made the journey up from Norfolk a week earlier to test the ETS on some overhauled mk4 coaches in the Wabtec complex. Its next port of call was anticipated to be the Weardale Railway to collect a rake of stock used on the line's 'Polar Express' services at the end of last year (02/02/2013)

47596 'Aldeburgh Festival' awaits departure from Dereham with 1W03 1030 to Wymondham Abbey on the first day of the Mid Norfolk Railway's Stratford Depot Gala (09/02/2013)

The previous night's snowfall is still evident at Thuxton as 47596 awaits the arrival of a Dereham-bound train (09/02/2013)

47579 + 47580 are pictured at Thuxton with 1W07 1245 from Dereham to Wymondham Abbey (09/02/2013)

'County of Essex' and 'James Nightall' are pictured on the north side of Dereham Level Crossing after arriving back from Wymondham (09/02/2013)

After the pair had been split, 47579 is seen passing back through Dereham station before backing onto 1W11 1445 to Wymondham Abbey (09/02/2013)

47580 worked the last train of the day after '579 developed a fault. 'County of Essex' stands at Thuxton with 1W15 1700 from Dereham to Wymondham Abbey as night falls (09/02/2013)

Making its second passenger appearance of 2013 already, 47237 is pictured on arrival at Preston with 1Z54 0600 West Coast Railways charter from St Neots. A steam locomotive took over here for a circular tour of Lancashire and North Yorkshire (16/02/2013)

47747 is pictured outside the DRS depot at Gresty Bridge from a passing charter train. The loco was purchased from Riviera Trains as a sources of spares in 2011 (01/03/2013)

47854 'Diamond Jubilee' awaits departure from Carlisle with Statesman Rail's 1Z57 0549 Droitwich Spa - Fort William charter (01/03/2013)

47826 had been on the rear of the previous day's '1Z57' and is seen here at Fort William the next morning having been temporarily detched from the front of its train to allow the Mallaig service to depart (02/03/2013)

Making is way back south, 47826 pauses at Rannoch with Statesman Rail's 1Z58 0847 return charter from Fort William to Worcester Shrub Hill, which it worked throughout (02/03/2013)

Another view of 47826 at Rannoch catching the early morning sunshine during a pre-planned photo stop (02/03/2013)

Later that afternoon 47826 is pictured again at Carlisle with 1Z58 during a short break to top up the train's water supplies (02/03/2013)

On the second day of the East Lancashire Railway's Diesel Weekend, 47402 approaches the Market Street overbridge on the outskirts of Bury with 2J83 1445 Heywood - Rawtenstall (03/03/2013)

The following Friday saw another 'Statesman Rail' 2-day trip to the West Highland Line. 47760 pauses at Carlisle with 1Z57 0633 Cleethorpe - Fort William (08/03/2013)

Anothr view of 47760 at Carlisle with 1Z57. The loco had been a last-ditch replacement after '826 was failed shortly before departure with the previous day's empty stock move from Carnforth (08/03/2013)