1 October 2008 Blue sky all around.... but raining in Bradwell! 87002 worked up on Monday evening from Warrington to Willesden with 325003. It is seen returning from Willesden at 4pm on Wednesday as 0Z87 to Warrington to resume its standby mail duties and looks superb despite the weather.

2 October 2008 The 323 repainting programme is drawing to a close. The final Centro liveried unit to visit Wolverton is the last of the class, 323243.

2 October 2008 323243 is hauled under Stratford Road by 08629. It should emerge next Thursday in LM colours.

2 October 2008 90043 heads north with a late running 4M81 on a distrupted afternoon due to yet another fatality in the Harrow area.

2 October 2008 Sadly the light didn't hold for 4M88 which was in the hands of 86610/637 just over an hour late in the rain at Bradwell.

2 October 2008 Following immediately behind 4M88 was a 6Z98 Wembley-Bescot engineers. Not just unusual traction in the form of the 90, but 67024 and 66053 along for the ride too.

2 October 2008 Running some 3 hours later than originally expected and with GBRF power rather than EWS, 66713 brings 442 2404 to Wolverton, the eleventh member of the class for Southern. It was running as 5M42 from Ashford Chart Leacon.

2 October 2008 66720 follows with 4M23 to Hams Hall, slowing to allow 5M42 to reverse into centre sidings.

2 October 2008 I headed for McConnell Drive in the hope of catching the 442 being taken into the works. Instead, I caught 323241 being propelled towards the main line at 1640. The 323, together with the 442, newly arrived 319369 and a Colas track machine were all still in a crowded Centre Sidings at 1815. A problem with the 323 before departure?

6 October 2008 Of the two Loadhaul 60s, 60007 has been rare in the area. I originally intended to go to Woburn Sands but ended up near Lidlington, where number 7 is seen around 100 late. Note the Margam depot sheep on the front.

6 October 2008 180103 became the first Adelante to head for Northern, leaving Wolverton as 5Z80 to Newton Heath - thanks to John.

7 October 2008 Tuesday was dull and wet, normal conditions for the Tunstead tanks and a bit of a surprise after an extra train ran on Saturday. 60100 rattles across the Bletchley south crossovers in the rain.

7 October 2008 Marginally better light for 90046 on the Felixstowe-Crewe at Bletchley.

8 October 2008 A very welcome return for 86259, now named Les Ross, seen heading for Euston at Wolverton - its first visit to the southern WCML in preservation and in glorious light too.

8 October 2008 47773 had brought the 86 to New Street, but 86259 continued solo to Euston as 0Z29 to work the Royal Scot charter as far as Crewe on Thursday.

8 October 2008 In the past 4L75 was a regular 86 diagram, but of late almost solid 90s. This week, however, 86s returned on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 86604/613 are in charge at Wolverton on Wednesday.

8 October 2008 66144 with the 6A15 Bescot-Forders dodges the Wolverton shadows.

8 October 2008 We had been caught out when 57601 tore through Wolverton on the fast with 1Z95 from Carlisle to Euston. 47851 leads the return 5Z95 ecs back to Carnforth at Bradwell with the 57 on the rear.

8 October 2008 90019 heads north at Milton Keynes having lost the sun a few minutes earlier. Only a few weeks of the loco hauled diagram remain.

9 October 2008 Thursday's 4L75 with 86604/613 in charge once again on the Wolverton bends.

9 October 2008 Thursday's highlight was 30777 Sir Lamiel working from Carnforth to Southall. By 4pm the shadows from the new flats make photography difficult at Wolverton, this shot taken from the north end of the down fast platform - far from an ideal place to stand, but just enough sun for the loco and support coach.

9 October 2008 The final reliveried LM 323, 323243, leaves Wolverton and heads for Soho. Presumably the Longsight batch will receive similar treatment in due course if they are indeed transferred to London Midland.

9 October 2008 Another view of 1G21, this time taken from the "wrong side" of the Stoke Hammond bypass, just south of the Soulbury Road bridge. Once again the sun disappeared seconds before, but with the road cropped from the foreground it presents quite a pleasing view.

9 October 2008 Just before 6pm and after its 90 minute waterstop in the carriage sidings, Sir Lamiel eases forward through platform 5 at Bletchley watched by the enthusiasts of tomorrow?

9 October 2008 Sir Lamiel pulls out onto the up slow to follow the Desiro south for Southall.

9 October 2008 Excellent for video but not so effective for stills! Sir Lamiel disappears in the steam.

9 October 2008 With the steam clearing, a going away shot as a record!

9 October 2008 86259's return to the south end of the WCML in passenger service was on the Euston - Crewe portion of the "Royal Scot" to Carlisle with the Duchess. It is seen with the return leg at Milton Keynes, unfortunately having pulled right up to the end of the platform! I really must invest in a tripod - the camera was wedged on the camera bag for the 2 second exposure!

10 October 2008 321424 heads for the capital at Skew Bridge south of Bletchley.

10 October 2008 Two weeks later than last year, but once again in the hands of DRS 66s, the water cannons head for Wembley as 6Z73 from Crewe. This year's locos are 66426/425 and are unlikely to remain clean for long.

10 October 2008 Immediately behind 6Z73 and around an hour late, 86604/613 put in their third appearance for the week, this time on 4L97 from Trafford Park to Felixstowe at the A4146 bridge.

10 October 2008 Three for the price of one! 6A15 with 66163/015 on the front and 66144 on the back heads for Forders. From Jason's shots it appears 66144 was added at Northampton.

13 October 2008 60059 worked 6H72 on both Monday and Thursday, it is seen passing Bow Brickhill on a gloomy Monday morning.

14 October 2008 66728 named Institution of Railway Operators at March back in April, in charge of 4M23 at Wolverton

14 October 2008 Having arrived at Wembley at lunchtime, the first of the new London Midland 350/2s, 350231, was taken forward to Northampton by 66067 as the 7X42 Wembley-Northampton. It is seen passing a very dark Wolverton at around 3.45pm.

14 October 2008 350231, showing the black and yellow gangway door in contrast to the 350/1s which have full yellow doors.