Welcome back to an unexpected weekeday update! I very rarely get chance to phot during the week unless I’m on leave but today I had the chance to phot one of the rarest workings I have seen for a few years and we got the Sun and some Snow thrown in for free!

Late Sunday night a rumour appeared on the gen lists that the 0722 London Paddington – Oxford and the 0901 Oxford – London Paddington would be top and tail 57s on sleeper stock vice HST due to shortages. It is rather rare and I did doubt whether it would work but once the down working was eyeballed I set off for Didcot North. I have to say I did panic slightly when at the booked time a HST rolled in sight but I held on and 5 mins later 57602 leading with 57605 on the tail rolled around the curve, cracking!