Welcome to our powerful search tool. You can specify as little or as much as you like to find what you are looking for, but be warned, if you choose a popular class of engine you may get hundreds of pictures listed!

Your choices

• Colour - Black & White, or both, and Format - Download, Slide, Print or any combination
• Reference - if you know the reference number of the view that you want, just type it in.
• Class - see drop down menus
  • Former GWR types, the well known class number e.g. 5700 (not 57XX) or name is used.
  • Former SR & LNER types- the class number designation (letters/numbers) are used
  • Former LMS and BR Standards- use the power classification e.g. 4MT.  Note, occasionally you will find an LM type listed with the standards and vice versa where the loco number could not be ascertained.
  • For all other items e.g. stations or independent railways, see the drop down lists.
• Locomotive number, (Class field must be filled also) as carried on the engine at the time the picture was taken except that we are unable to incorporate letters in the search, thus DS238 would be listed as 238. For Bullied Pacifics that carried the 21C style of number, please search using the BR number. The number actually carried will appear in the description field. Alternatively you can enter the 21C number you require in 'Description' and search that way.
• Date - this can be just the year e.g. 1968, month and year e.g. Sep-68 or the exact date e.g. 14/09/1968. Please note - many views are undated. By selecting a date or even a year, you may exclude a large number of images.
• Location - usually a station, shed or junction, free text field
• Description - this field contains any other information about the picture. E.g. if you want a snow scene then just type ‘snow’ or if you are looking for a Pullman working then enter ‘pullman’. In some cases more than one engine appears in a view. To find these shots enter ‘plus’ in this field.
• Area Search - you might want to find all of our photographs taken in a particular area. We have divided the country into 20 arbitrary areas - see the map. NOTE: The boundaries are not precise and in some cases overlap e.g. the former WR and LMS routes in the midlands. If you are looking for a location near an area boundary, we recommend that you also search in the adjacent area.

Happy Searching