Hmmm, more choppers? Why not. The hired in Class 20s I had photographed on the Underground stock movement last week had been replaced with GBRF Class 20s for this weeks movements which was a welcome excuse to go back and photograph the same working again.

Again it was bitterly cold but this time I waited in the warmth of the car until nearer the time the choppers were due as I had learned they followed a Chiltern unit along the branch from Princes Risbrough. Shortly afterwards 20301/305 rolled into Platform 2 with the Underground stock with 20304/302 on the rear. Luckily the near platform was completely empty for tonight’s shot enabling a clearer shot and plenty of time to grab some shots before 20304 eventually departed solo making plenty of thrash, nice!

Things are like buses around here at the moment, I thought I may as well make it a hat-trick of night phots and this one is something a bit special! The new Underground S-Stock had started to be delivered a year ago or so and has been slowly trickling in but the hired Class 20s for these workings is rumoured to be coming to an end so I thought it was time I should make the effort and go and see one. The stock is formed of two pairs of 20s sandwiching the S-Stock with two barrier vehicles making a rather unusual sight! The stock runs from Derby via the Midlands down to Banbury where it takes the Chiltern line to Princes Risbrough before reversing to Aylesbury and then reversing again to take the train down to Amersham and onto LUL metals.

I thought the best location to see this working would be Aylesbury so I packed up my gear and set off to await its midnight arrival! Thanks to the usual sat nav generosity in timings I arrived some 45 minutes early and on hindsight would have been better to wait in the car instead of braving a frosty 0 degrees on the platform! Eventually 20901/905 top and tailed 20227/142 arrived with the 7X09 Derby – Neasden into Aylesbury shortly after midnight where a new crew were waiting to take the train South enabling me time to grab a few photos, a brief change of ends and the 20s spluttered away making a lovely sound in the still of the night.