The working i had been perched up on the top of a precariously positioned step ladder appeared running around 60 minutes late but boy was it worth the wait! 66303 in the now obselete Fastline livery passes Abington at the head of DRS's fully loaded 4M44 Mossend - Daventry on the 27th of April 2011, even the grass land of the usually rain soaked Scotland is showing signs of the current continuing dry spell
Recently painted 66304 heads DRS's 4M34 Coatbridge - Daventry near Cranberry on the 15th of September 2011, a fully loaded train made for a very pleasing sight. The blue sky is a bit of a misguiding feature as behind me the sky was full of cloud and within a couple of hours the cloud built rapidly to take over the majority of what blue sky remained
66304 speeds through Saltford on the 30th of June 2011 with 4L30 Bristol Freightliner Terminal - Felixstowe, at the current time this loco is sporting the now obselete Fastline livery but is on long term hire to Direct Rail Services, but is seen here now on short term hire to Freightliner! The consist on this working is quite eye catching and not the 'usual' 40ft dominated Freightliner rakes, infact only one 40ft box is being transported today and with the majority of the rest of the 20ft containers displaying 'Warning Bulk Liquid'
The last remaining DRS Stobart example in the shape of 66414 heads a fully loaded 4S44 Daventry - Coatbridge through Slindon on the 19th of August 2011
Hired help 66417 speeds towards South Moreton on the relief with Freightliner's 4L32 Bristol Freightliner Terminal - Tilbury on the 2nd of September 2011
6M67 Bridgwater - Crewe threw up a first on the 23rd of March 2011 as DRS regular 66422 was teamed up with ex Fastline shed 66303, The ex Fastline fleet now seeing use with DRS as its rumoured 66411 - 66420 will be going off lease very soon
66423 heads a fully loaded 4M82 Coatbridge - Daventry through Wandel on the 28th of April 2011, looking back at the photo im glad that the lorry in the background wasn't a second earlier!
A gleaming 66424 passes Stoke Hammond on the 24th of March 2011 with a relatively well loaded 4M71 Tilbury - Daventry
66427 shines in the super early evening light of the 27th of April 2011 while passing through Wandel with 4M82 Coatbridge - Daventry, this view will soon be ruined when part of a massive 152 turbine wind farm ruins the hill sides forever, behind the last wagons in view a temporary car park can be seen for construction workers, we may have a energy issue for the future but is this really the best sollution?
On the 24th of February 66427 heads 4M71 Tilbury - Daventry 'Sugarliner' through Stoke Hammond, This train usually loads towards the front which is very handy!
On my summer hit list for 2011 were two main workings and after nailing the first earlier in the week in the shape of the clay i was more than happy to bag the second, 66428 passes just to the south of Lydney with the then friday only 6Z90 Stockton - Cardiff Tidal loaded scrap on the 3rd of June 2011, this was at the time DRS's only revenue earning working that ventured into South Wales
66429 passes Cranberry on the WCML with 4M34 Coatbridge - Daventry on the 30th of September 2011, this service carries a variety of goods as can be seen from the second wagon with a Morrisons refrigerated container on board, rail is now an increasingly important player in the thoughts of the major supermarkets with most major chains now moving a considerable amount of goods by rail
Freightliner hire in 66429 passes the superb location of Cholsey Manor Farm on the 3rd of May 2011 with 4M61 Southampton - Trafford Park, by the looks of one of the light clusters on the front its recieved a replacement painted in the very pale yellow which adorns 66430-433
Not the ideal angle but taken for a record shot 66429 on hire to Freightliner Intermodal sporting its filthy DRS livery hauls 4M94 Felixstowe - Lawley Street through Stoke Hammond on the 24th of March 2011
A clean 66430 passes through Stoke Hammond on the 31st of March 2011 with a fully loaded 4M71 Tilbury - Daventry, the weight of the cargo is clear by the fact there is only one container on each half of the mege-fret's and also the visible bow under the weight!
On hire to Freightliner Intermodal DRS machine 66431 climbs towards Pilning on the 27th of August 2011 with 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton, not only does this working on weekdays load very well but as can be seen here the Saturday diagram introduced in the Spring of this year is now reaching capacity as well
In the stunning evening light 66433 hammers down the incline towards Abington with 4S44 Daventry - Coatbridge on the 28th of April 2011, a great end to a truly superb 3 days