OK, I know this is Winsford, nowehere near Shap! But having missed one pair of 86/6s (4L89) already that morning I was pleased to catch up with the second pair on the agenda. Here, 86628+86621 accelerate through Winsford station after turning out of the Down Slow just south of the station, with 4S52 08:02 Basford Hall - Coatbridge, on May 1st.

The unmistakeable profile of Docker Viaduct (or Docker's Garth - or even Dockray - Viaduct, if you prefer) sees 66411 heading north with 4S43 06:31 Daventry - Mossend, under beautiful blue skies on May 1st.

The classic view at Beckfoot, just north of Grayrigg, sees 390003 hurrying south with 1M13, 09:49 Glasgow - Euston, on May 1st.

Differing shades of green in abundance as 66583 ambles south at a relatively sedate pace with 6M11 06:06 Hunterston - Fiddlers Ferry coal service, passing Beckfoot, on May 1st.

Already running some 40 minutes early despite being only as many miles from Carlisle, 57304 makes a colourful sight in the stunningly beautiful setting of the Lune Gorge, as it passes with 6Z57, the 13:30 Carlisle - Chirk logs.

Even with a Pendo, the Lune Gorge still makes an unparalled photographic location: 390044 hurries south with 1A80, 14:34 Carlisle - Euston, on May 1st.

A new spot for me was Great Strickland, just north of Bessie Ghyll. 86632+86612 make a lovely sight amid typical Cumbrian scenery as they head south with 4M74, 13:54 Coatbridge - Basford Hall, on May 1st.

Freightliner's 66525 heads a long rake of ballast wagons north past Great Strickland, forming 6Z65 14:00 Crewe - Carlisle, on May 1st.

A relatively rare DRS loco failure near Lockerbie saw 4M44, 08:21 Mossend - Daventry, running many hours late on 1st May. With its errant classmate removed at Kingmoor for attention, pioneer 66401 takes 4M44 south past Great Strickland at 17:21. Normally the train would be at Daventry by this time of day!

Having been held in the loop at Clifton & Lowther for 15 minutes or so to allow expresses to pass, 60091 makes slow but steady progress southward past Great Strickland on May 1st. It would have left Redcar some six and a half hours earlier at 11:11 with 6M46, and the lengthy train of limestone empties is now almost at its destination of Hardendale.

With characteristic 86/6 transmission whine aplenty, 86638+86604 charge upgrade towards Grayrigg summit with 4S52, 08:02 Basford Hall - Coatbridge, photographed at Docker on May 4th.