In the final stages of it's journey from the Midlands 70001 leads 4O14 Birch Coppice - Southampton through Eastleigh on the 1st of September 2011, since this working has been diagramed for one of the new breed of Class 70's it has been increased in length and this can be seen here with the back of the train not even in the station yet
70001 applies the power at the head of 4V52 Southampton - Cardiff Wentloog through Pilning on the 9th of August 2011, currently the only Welsh Freightliner terminal Wentloog has seen a major upturn in traffic in the past year from seeing the daily 'liner' poorly loaded to being full five days a week and also now an additional saturday run which is now also being complimented by when required afternoon diagrams, good times indeed!
Running nearly 110 minutes late 70001 makes an appearance for Freightliner HeavyHaul while working 6U77 Mountsorrel - Crewe loaded ballast on the 14th of July 2011, seen approaching Wychnor Junction at Catholme its about to cross the junction and head off towards Lichfield and joining the WCML for its onward journey to Crewe
70001 powers through Cholsey Manor Farm with 4M68 Southampton - Birch Coppice on the 3rd of May 2011, the field of oil seed rape is now passed its peak flowering period, on the public footpath which cuts through the field to reach the vantage point you could be forgiven for thinking you were walking on concrete and not soil as its solid and flat after no serious rain for many weeks!
With the sun due to set 20 minutes after this picture was taken i couldn't be happier with the result, 70001 powers through Kings Sutton at the head of 4M99 Southampton - Trafford Park on the 8th of April 2011, the sooner more of this class arrive the better in my eyes as the sight and sound is superb!
70003 brings its rake of discharged coal hoppers through Patchway station on the 14th of September 2011, this was 4F57 Uskmouth Power Station - Stoke Gifford and was the second set to have worked to the South Wales power station this day
70003 hammers around the curve at Rangeworthy with 4V57 Rugeley - Stoke Gifford on the 6th of June 2011, at this point this service was running around 45 minutes late which isn't to bad for this working as it always seems to be late for one reason or another, despite appearances it was only minutes from 'full dull' due to an approaching bank of cloud from the west, and to make matters worse I could barely see due to itchy eyes caused by hayfever, gotta love this hobby at times!
With a nice bit of jet black smoke coming out of the exhaust 70003 powers up on exiting Chipping Sodbury loop with 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton on the 25th of March 2011
On the 10th of March 2011 70003 provides the power for 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton seen passing the barely used station of Pilning, With only one train a week stopping here in each direction the chance of a passenger ruining a shot are next to none!
70003 hammers through the main at Bishton with 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton on the 8th of March 2011, During this period the Class 70's are being used for training for staff based at Southampton and, The class has been fairly reliable on this service so far
Just about dodging the shadows on the beautiful clear blue morning of the 23rd of March 2011 70004 heads 6M55 Portbury - Rugeley through Filton Abbey Wood
70004 'The Coal Industry Society' rounds the curve at Huntingford with 4V46 Rugeley - Stoke Gifford on the 19th of March 2011, The loco could be heard powering a good 1 - 2 minutes before it appeared into view, Nice!
70004 winds its way through the village of Pill with 6M61 Portbury - Rugeley on the 1st of July 2010, when the driver saw me poised in position on the bridge he made this monster growl and also vigerously tooted his horn prompting many locals to come out of the co-op and peer over the bridge to see what all the fuss was about
70005 powers under Bartletts Bridge near Parson Street on the 22nd of September 2010 with 6M61 Portbury - Rugeley loaded imported coal, just out of view at the rear of the train is the junction where the train has joined the main line after leaving the Portbury branch
70006 heads a part loaded 6U77 Mountsorrel - Crewe through Barrow On Trent on the 15th of April 2011, this is the freight only section of line between Stenson Junction and Sheet Stores Junction located near the now disused power station of Willington
70006 thumps towards Severn Tunnel Junction station with 6M04 Portbury - Rugeley on the 21st of October 2010, the route that these diagrams take is rather bizarre as the loaded workings go via Hereford towards Crewe before heading South through Stafford on the West Coast Mainline befroe reaching their destination, a journey that is well over twice the length of the more direct route via Cheltenham
General Electric 70007 powers away from Didcot Parkway after a short stop with 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton on the 3rd of October 2011, at the present time this diagram is usually 66 hauled but on a Monday can throw up a more interesting 70 as it returns to Southampton in time for its evening path to either Birch Coppice or Trafford Park for the coming week
In a very lucky splash of super late afternoon light 70007 powers through Ledburn on the 31st of March 2011 with 4L92 Ditton - Felixstowe running thankfully some 20 minutes early, as at its booked time it was well and truly lights out!
Making a rather impressive noise 70008 heads 4M99 Southampton - Trafford Park through Kings Sutton on the 16th of June 2011, container traffic from the South coast port has seen a significant increase during 2011 and is quite clearly illustrated by the nature of the loading on this working
70008 was a welcome surprise at Hinksey on the 6th of May 2011 working 4O49 Crewe Basford hall - Southampton, after being held on the relief near the footbridge in the distance to allow a Voyager to overtake the 70 was still getting back into its stride and sounding pretty good to go with it
With the hawthorn blossom still in full bloom 70009 rounds the curve on the approach to Tackley on the 6th of May 2011 with 4O14 Birch Coppice - Southampton, the loco could be heard whining long before it came into view, unlike the preceeding shed!
With the River Clyde pushing through after some recent rain 70010 hammers across Crawford Viaduct with 4S41 Garston - Hunterston on the 5th of September 2011, on what was quite a windy day it was a bit of a balancing act perched on the edge of the hill
Making a very pleasing sight 70011 leads 4F56 Uskmouth - Stoke Gifford coal empties through Severn Tunnel Junction on the 28th of September 2011
On the 1st of February 2011 70011heads 4V06 Rugeley - Stoke Gifford through Ram Hill near Coalpit Heath, only 30 minutes before this was taken all around was completely dull but a swift burn off of cloud made the effort more than worth while