Part 1 (January - May)

86259 'Peter Pan' arrives into Crewe with the Railway Touring Company's 1Z86 0710 Euston - Carlisle charter (14/03/2020)

The second half of the day culminated with my first ever trip down the branch to Heysham Port from Morecambe. 37516 and a number of the BLS team are pictured after the arrival of 1Z57 1334 Leeds Whitehall Road - Carnforth (15/03/2020)

Another view of 37516 at Heysham after arriving with 1Z57. Sister loco 37706 had worked the train over from Leeds via Healey Mills and Copy Pit to Carnforth, where a loco change took place in the Up & Down Goods Loop. 47832 had though remained on the rear of the train all afternoon and was called into action for the short run down to Morecambe (15/03/2020)

A last look at 37516 after the crowds had dispersed slightly. The train was worked back into Morecambe from here by 47832, but unfortunately a combination of port security and the condition of the platform beyond what's needed for the daily Northern service meant it wasn't possible to record the event on camera (15/03/2020)

68023 'Achilles' awaits departure from Manchester Victoria with TPE's 1E53 2115 to Scarborough (15/03/2020)

68023 is pictured again prior to departing Leeds with 1E53. Although these machines have been a regular feature of my commute across the Pennines for the last three months it's rare for me to actually record them on camera (15/03/2020)

GBRf's 66786 speeds south towards Pepper Road with an additional 6D63 1300 Skipton - Hexthorpe Yard (20/03/2020)

Running as 0Z31 1410 Leeds Balm Road Loco to Barrow Hill, 31128 'CHARYBDIS' departs from Freightliner's Midland Road maintenance facility with 55019 'ROYAL HIGHLAND FUSILIER' in tow. The 'Deltic' had arrived earlier in the week for a visit to the lathe to have its tyres turned (20/03/2020)

Creating a smokescreen perhaps more in keeping with its Napier-engined cousin, 31128 is opened up in the cutting at Stourton (20/03/2020)

66703 'Doncaster PSB' rounds the curve at Balm Road in Hunslet with the 6M37 1125 Arcow Quarry - Pendleton loaded stone train. I've been meaning to have a go at this location for a while now but on this occasion the early morning/late afternoon sunshine was conspicuous by its absence (20/03/2020)

Colas Rail's 70816 approaches Stourton with the 6Z26 1447 Hunslet - Oxwellmains cement empties (20/03/2020)

66786 passes Leeds Freightliner Terminal at Stourton with the 4E89 1451 Hexthorpe Yard to Rylstone empty stone train (23/03/2020)

60091 'Barry Needham' trundles along the A/D line through Hunslet with a lightweight load of three empty fuel tanks forming the weekly 6D80 1425 Neville Hill - Lindsey Oil Refinery (25/03/2020)

In these uncertain times, today's exercise opportunity took the form of a mid-afternoon stroll down to Hunslet, carefully timed to be in the vicinity of Pepper Road for about 14.45: hot on the heels of the '60' in the previous photo was 66703 with the loaded 6M37 1125 Arcow - Pendleton (25/03/2020)

An unexpected bonus as I headed back home was 37800 'Cassiopeia' seen here scurrying past Leeds FLT at Stourton running just the 95 mins early as 0M59 1013 Kilmarnock Bonnyton - Leicester having earlier been used by R.O.G. to transfer an EMU north overnight from Ilford (25/03/2020)

April's gallery is going to be a particularly short one due to the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown. I'm fortunate in some ways to live within walking distance of Stourton, but even that can require some careful planning to intercept what are often becoming increasingly haphazard movements. This is a good example of getting the timing completely wrong: running over 30 mins early as an additional 6C80 0810 Skipton to Doncaster Belmont, 56094 + 56049 'Robin of Templecombe' are about to pass under the A61 with a rake of loaded ballast hoppers. Having jogged the last half mile I'd literally got here as the pair were approaching Pepper Road in the background (12/04/2020)

66746 passes through Stourton with the loaded 6M38 1125 Arcow Quarry to Bredbury stone train. The Belmond-liveried loco would normally be starting to tour the Scottish Highlands right now with the luxury 'Royal Scotsman' train, which for obvious reasons is currently on hold (16/04/2020)

Despite the forecast, there was only intermittent sunshine to be found the following afternoon - although ironically I'd just enjoyed a lengthy spell of it as I walked down to Stourton. 66782 passes Midland Road with 6M38 1125 Arcow - Bredbury, which seems to be one of the few freight flows that has continued to run regularly through this part of the world (23/04/2020)

Under clear blue skies, 70808 accelerates past Midland Road with what would normally be the twice-weekly 6S26 1447 Hunslet Yard - Oxwellmains empty cement tanks. Whilst the purists might not approve of the angle of the sun, I'm not really in a position to choose my location right now (24/04/2020)

An immaculate GBRf-liveried 66772 'Maria' accelerates past Midland Road with 6M38 1125 Arcow Quarry - Bredbury Tilcon loaded stone train (07/05/2020)

Running as 0Z70 0800 Grangemouth - Leeds Balm Road Loco Sidings, Colas Rail Freight duo 70806 + 70808 pass Hunslet Station Junction (08/05/2020)

Freightliner's 66526 + 66569 + 66550 await entry onto Midland Road after arriving as 0D03 1309 from Tyne Yard. The trio had just reversed in Stourton Cutting having taken the direct route to Leeds via Garforth (08/05/2020)

A few minutes later 66957 'Stephenson Locomotive Society' ambles back towards Pepper Road after reversing at Engine Shed Junction. The loco had presumably arrived in Leeds FLT with 4E23 0550 intermodal from Felixstowe, as it was in the process of making its way onto the depot for servicing (08/05/2020)

Having deposited its sister, 70806 is seen here departing from Midland Road as an additional 0Z71 1447 to Doncaster CHS (08/05/2020)