Newest Additions - Just click on the small image for a full page picture
With the shadows lengthening by the minute in the low afternoon light, 43321 manages to find a slice of sun as it passes Pilning with the diverted 1V50 Leeds - Plymouth Arriva Cross Country service on the 27th of November 2011
66093 leads 6W42 Lydney - Westbury via East Usk up the incline at Pilning on the 27th of November 2011, this engineering service ran in conjunction with a possesion between Westerleigh Junction and Gloucester, meaning it had to travel the long way round to get back to its Wiltshire destination
43304 leads 1V48 Leeds - Plymouth on the 27th of November 2011, due to weekend engineering work this service was diverted via Gloucester and Severn Tunnel Junction hence why it can be seen here as it thunders through Pilning
150219 + 150239 pair up to form 1O93 Cardiff Central - Brighton, seen here on the approach to Pilning on the 27th of November 2011
66598 traverses the point work on departing East Usk yard with 4F56 Uskmouth - Stoke Gifford on the 25th of November 2011, not 15 minutes before the same working had passed under the bridge heading into the yard from the opposite direction to perform a run round that was needed for it to continue on its journey east, an impressive quick operation indeed!
Wearing the traditional RHTT livery 66035 leads 3S59 Bristol Barton Hill - Bristol Barton Hill through Somerton near Newport on the 25th of November 2011, filthy classmate 66079 is seen bringing up the rear of the train, very lucky that this was a short train as the shadows can be seen chasing the 66's up the line!
66145 heads the lenghty 4E66 Margam - Redcar coke empties through Somerton near Newport on the 25th of November 2011, to the very extreme left of the picture is the now nearly derelict East Usk Yard
Running bang on time 66589 powers through Somerton near Newport with 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton on the 25th of November 2011
With two very differing parts making up the backdrop for the frame in the shape of a densely poulated residential area in the foreground, and rolling countryside in the distance, recently overhauled 60054 rumbles through Somerton near Newport with 6B13 Robeston - Westerleigh on the 25th of November 2011
After a resurrection of coal services from Portbury to Rugeley power station just a couple of days previous, 66531 storms through Gossington with 4V06 Rugeley - Stoke Gifford returning a rake of empties that originated at Portbury the night before, 17th of November 2011
43378 breaks the Voyager dominated Arriva XC service as it passes Gossington on the 17th of November 2011 with the long distance 1V50 Edinburgh - Plymouth, what is a comparatively dull livery based predominantly around grey and dark maroon is still quite eye catching and probably alot easier to keep clean looking than a bright livery
Beach bound 158886 passes Gossington shortly after departing Cam and Dursley with First Great Western's 1O98 Great Malvern - Brighton service on the 17th of November 2011
Deflector less 60049 soaks up some super Autumnal light as it powers through Gossington with 6B13 Robeston - Westerleigh on the 17th of November 2011, with nothing to shade the line this is a great location to capture this working in the months where the sun sits lower in the sky
4 car 220019 speeds through Gossington with Arriva XC's 1V49 Manchester Piccadilly - Bristol Temple Meads on the 17th of November 2011
66590 hauls 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton up the gradient on the approach to Pilning on the 17th of November 2011
66551 leads 6Y33 Haresfield - Taunton Fairwater as its about to pass through Parson Street on the outskirts of Bristol on the 13th of November 2011, 66597 which is out of view on the rear had led the service to East Usk from Haresfield before 66551 took over after reversing for the final leg to Taunton
Still gleaming after its recent overhaul at Toton TMD 60054 heads 6B33 Theale - Margam through Ram Hill near Coalpit Heath on the 12th of November 2011, although pretty smart at the moment when more and more examples of the class are released in this livery the non DB Schenker members will become more sought after
66151 powers 4D10 Didcot Power Station - Avonmouth through Ram Hill near Coalpit Heath on the 12th of November 2011, the more conventional shot in the cutting between the trees at this location is at present no good as trees are now encrouching up the bankside and covering parts of the subject, this however is a nice alternative, the length of the shadows give away the fact that even though its only lunchtime we are now approaching Winter
37676 + 37685 power through Flax Bourton on the 6th of November 2011 with 1Z27 Exeter St Davids - Preston 'Positioning Growler' tour, bringing up the rear of the train and providing the train heat is WCRC stablemate 57601, behind the locos is the former underground fuel depot located in Tyntesfield sidings, considering the site has been out of use and disconnected from the mainline for a number of years now the site still remains very well maintained
66147 eases through Portskewett on the 1st of November 2011 with 6V67 Redcar - Margam loaded coke, between the trees towards the rear of the train part of the original Severn Bridge can be seen, it was opened in September 1966, now thats way before my time and anything that happened that long ago or especially that year really isn't that relevant anymore!
66113 ambles along the relief at Coedkernew between Newport and Cardiff on the 1st of November 2011 with 6H24 Llanwern - Margam, the consist being made up of European coded hooded steel coil carriers, more than likely these are the very same wagons that Colas operate from Llanwern to mainland Europe
After a spell on the Bristol based RHTT set 66176 is showing all the signs of its recent duties with dirt splattered sides and front, for now it has escaped the water canons and is seen passing Coedkernew with a delayed 6H22 Llanwern - Margam empty steel slab carriers on the 1st of November 2011
Just a few miles from its destination unbranded 57316 is seen leading Arriva Trains Wales 1V31 Holyhead - Cardiff Central through Coedkernew on the 1st of November 2011
Now that Autumn is well under way Aberthaw's demand for coal has increased and is taking in coal from a range of sources, one of them being Portbury located on the Severn Estuary, seen here powering towards Pilning is 66151 with 4C70 Aberthaw - Portbury on the 25th of October 2011, later in the day it will return to the hungry South Wales power station with another 21 HTA's loaded with imported coal
66519 slowly works its way up Pilning loop with 6C38 Cardiff Pengam - Avonmouth stone empties on the 25th of October 2011, once arriving at Avonmouth the wagons will be loaded with grit stone for onward movement to Theale the same day
With its patchwork state roof 66050 grinds its way through Brentry on the freight only Avonmouth branch with 6B68 Avonmouth - Aberthaw on the 25th of October 2011, with the golden morning light shining brightly it was a tight squeeze trying to fit the loco in a gap amongst the long Autumn shadows
43150 hammers under the doomed bridge at Lower Basildon with 1A15 Bristol Temple Meads - London Paddington on the 22nd of October 2011, the photography friendly bridge is soon to be replaced by something far more hideous with high ugly metal sides that will require the use of a stepladder to see over
GE pioneer 70001 makes light work of 4O27 Garston - Southampton on the 22nd of October 2011, approaching the ever popular location of South Moreton, although im sure that when the electrification of the Great Western mainline goes ahead this will be a shot that will be consigned to the history books
On the 22nd of October 2011 Freightliner workhorse 66567 powers a healthy 4O14 Birch Coppice - Southampton towards South Moreton
'Metronet. Renewing the Tube' branded 66721 heads 6E10 Appleford - Ferme Park spoil empties on the 22nd of October 2011, only a short distance into its journey the coulourful combination are seen here at South Moreton
Running a mere 511 minutes late, 6O46 Halewood - Southampton Eastern Docks heads towards South Moreton with 66103 at the helm, hauling its impressive rake of multi coloured car carriers on the 22nd of October 2011, neatly hidden away inside the STVA branded wagons are Range Rover Evoque's for export which have been constructed at the Jaguar Land Rover plant at Halewood in Liverpool
Direct Rail Services duo 20308 + 37606 pass Gossington on the 20th of October 2011 with 6M56 Berkeley - Crewe, the cracking low Autumn light shows off the far from smooth front of the 20, even though the inward morning working was over 2 hours late arriving at Berkeley the return departure was still predictably early with there only being 1 FNA to load
TATA steel liveried 60099 thumps through Gossington on the 20th of October 2011 with 6E41 Westerleigh - Lindsey, thankfully this service was running around 30 minutes early as the cloud was starting to build from the West, after many ill fated attempts at this loco im glad to have finally nailed it
43304 provides proper traction for a Arriva XC service at the head of 1V50 Edinburgh Waverley - Plymouth on the 19th of October 2011, shortly after departing Bristol Temple Meads the service is seen still gathering pace as it heads towards Parson Street on the South side of Bristol
On its first day on RHTT duties 66079 positively shines in comparison to classmate 66175 bringing up the rear of the train, here the pair are on the approach to Parson Street with 3S59 Bristol Barton Hill - Bristol Barton Hill on the 19th of October 2011, this leg of the working sees the pair head as far South as Weston Super Mare before heading back to Bristol Barton Hill
One of First Great Western's odd ball 3 car Class 158 units is seen on the approach to Parson Street station the 19th of October 2011 with 2C73 Cardiff Central - Taunton, inbetween coach one and two a small slither of yellow can be seen which is the original front of the unit when it was in a 2 car formation
43180 rushes through Southern Bristol towards Parson Street with 1C09 London Paddington - Paignton on the 19th of October 2011, this service takes the more unusual route of going via Bristol Temple Meads rather than the more conventional route via the Berks and Hants
43073 storms through Cossington towards its next station stop of Leicester on the 18th of October 2011, this working being 1B48 Nottingham - London St Pancras International
66704 catches a very welcome burst of sunshine as it heads South towards Leicester through Cossington on the 18th of October 2011 while working 4E88 Hotchley Hill - Drax empty gypsum containers
Seen passing the quiet location of Cossington on the 18th of October 2011 is 43076 at the head of East Midland Trains 1B28 Nottingham - London St Pancras International, the livery currently being used by this operater is quite eye catching but being predominantly white needs regular cleaning to keep it looning smart
There can't be many locations where you can capture two different countries in your image but this is one of them, 66051 powers through Hallen Marsh over the busy M5 motorway near Avonmouth with 6W24 Clifton Down - Hinksey Yard via Bristol Parkway on the 16th of October 2011, with the industrial estate of Avonmouth visible this side of the River Severn and around four miles in the distance is Wales and as far as i can work out the area towards the centre of the picture is roughly where Severn Tunnel Junction is!
66565 heads 4O02 Lawley Street - Southampton towards South Moreton on the 15th of October 2011, even though we are now well into Autumn there seems to be little evidence of life at Didcot Power Station in the background
66956 hauls the Saturday only 4O29 Crewe Basford Hall - Southampton towards South Moreton on the 15th of October 2011
66592 heads the earlier running on a Saturday 4O27 Garston - Southampton on the approach to Didcot North Junction, the rather unsightly pile of sleepers that inhabit this location have now been here so long that a Buddleia plant has started growing through the heap. 15th of October 2011
After just departing Appleford smart GBRf 'Metronet' example 66721 approaches Didcot North Junction on the 15th of October 2011 with 6M10 to Acton Lane, Willesden with a rake of spoil empties, the inward working would have been loaded with spoil from the Bluebell Railway for processing at the Oxfordshire tip
70007 whines its way towards Didcot with 4O14 Birch Coppice - Southampton on the 15th of October 2011, of the Class 70's that are currently in the UK this one is the only one to arrive in the country by rail, this member of the fleet was used to officially launch the 'Powerhaul' brand at the Innotrans rail exhibition during September 2010 in Berlin before being forwarded through Europe and then the Channel Tunnel before commencing its duties for Freightliner
5043 approaches Didcot North Junction with 1Z43 Solihull - Bristol Temple Meads 'The Berks and Hants Aquae Sulis' on the 15th of October 2011. Now im not normally a steam fan and generally try to avoid them if im honest! But as i was here for other workings i thought i would include this as it doesn't look to bad once i had done a bit of work to remove the hideous wires that cross this location
Network Rail's 950001 track assessment unit heads through Pilning with 2Q08 Didcot - Didcot on the 14th of October 2011, after entering the loop shortly after exiting the Severn Tunnel it proceeded to pass straight through the loop and out the other end without stopping so i guess that the loop was the section of track that needed to be tested
70009 slows to enter Hullavington loop as it passes through Farleaze on the 14th of October 2011 with 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton, at the current time the Freightliner Intermodal sector Class 70's are becoming quite a regular feature on this service, i would imagine that this could well be down to the increased weight and length of the service which can now reach 30 wagons per train
First Great Westerns 43086 speeds through Farleaze with 1L46 Cardiff Central - London Paddington on the 14th of October 2011
66505 heads a lightweight 4O09 Trafford Park - Southampton through Hinksey on the 3rd of October 2011, within a hour or so of this photo being taken the Indian summer that had graced England for nearly a week came to an abrupt end, while driving home along the M4 a thick wall of fog and cloud was rapidly heading East, back to normality!
With the trees and bushes already showing slight hints of Autumn, original liveried GBRf 66713 shines superbly in the sunshine as it leads a very impressive 23 fully loaded IOA's through Hinksey on the 3rd of October 2011 while working 6O96 Mountsorrel - Eastleigh
43148 leads First Great Westerns 1P56 Hereford - London Paddington through Hinksey on the 3rd of October 2011, the set contains the full 8 coaches including a proper buffet car where for around the same price as your average house you can purchase a rather awful cup of coffee!
66016 works a very healthy looking 6A48 Bicester - Didcot Yard MOD stores under the great vantage point of the footbridge that overlooks both Hinksey Yard and Hinksey Lake on the 3rd of October 2011
Looking rather stylish in debranded DRS Malcolm livery 66412 now on long term hire to Freightliner hauls 4O49 Birch Coppice - Southampton through South Moreton on the 3rd of October 2011, maybe the first candidate for a 66 to receive 'Powerhaul' livery?
66147 leads 4O23 Hams Hall - Southampton through South Moreton on the 3rd of October 2011, with the shadows encrouching fast in the super Autumn sun it was hard to believe the temperature was still near 25 degrees and feeling more like the summer of 2011 that never happened!
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 can throw up a more interesting 70 as it returns to Southampton in time for an evening path to either Birch Coppice or Trafford Park the same evening
66518 powers 4O54 Leeds - Southampton on the 3rd of October 2011 on the approach to South Moreton, quite happy with this one as not only was the HST bearing down rather rapidly but being a Monday the load is normally next to nothing on this particular working
43069 gets 1L46 Cardiff Central - London Paddington under way again after its stop at Didcot Parkway seen here heading towards South Moreton on the 3rd of October 2011
150120 stands at Avonmouth station in preperation to work 2K29 to Bristol Temple Meads on the 1st of October 2011, seen in the background is the huge concrete building of CWS Flour Mills which was built in 1907 but has not seen use for many years, in contrast to the ultra modern eye sore that is the wind turbine alongside
66589 slowly works its way towards Pilning on the 1st of October 2011 with 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton, the heat haze can be seen towards the rear of the train in this telephoto shot on a day where temperature records were broken in Gravesend, Kent for the warmest October day on record
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
Scruffy Freightliner veteran green pairing 86609 + 86604 pass Cranberry with 4L75 Crewe Basford Hall - Felixstowe on the 30th of September 2011, a pretty rare sight for this working is the fact that its fully loaded, normally the first 4 or so spaces are fresh air!
66535 glides through Cranberry with a well loaded 4O49 Crewe Basford Hall - Southampton on the 30th of September 2011
66147 eases its lightweight load of two PCA tanks through Cranberry on the morning of the 30th of September 2011 while working 6B11 Warrington Arpley - Bletchley Cemex, the tanks can be seen both still wearing the now long redundant eye catching RMC livery
In some glorious morning light 90041 storms through Cranberry with 4L97 Trafford Park - Felixstowe on the 30th of September 2011, this working is currently booked for Class 70 haulage but of late anything from a 66 to a 90 can turn up on it
66508 powers 6V87 Purley Yard - Bristol Barrow Road through Shrivenham on the 29th of September 2011, since the Bristol Binliner ceased operating in the Spring of 2011 Freightliner have been making use of the sidings near Lawrence Hill at Bristol Barrow Road to stable a rake of stone hoppers before later being forwarded to either Avonmouth, Neath or Cardiff Docks for loading for their next working to the Eastern side of England
60071 makes light work of its consist of empty tanks whilst working 6B33 Theale - Robeston on the 29th of September 2011 as it passes Shrivenham
59206 still to date the only member of the 59/2 fleet to receive the attractive DB Schenker red livery approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing near Shrivenham with 7C54 Oxford Banbury Road - Whatley stone empties on the 29th of September 2011
66031 leads 4D12 Didcot Power Station - Avonmouth on the 29th of September 2011 through Shrivenham, the consist is made up the rather charm free rake of the rather boring EWS liveried HTA hoppers, apart from that is the 3rd hopper that is which has had a makeover during recent times in some sidings somewhere!
66558 works 4V50 Southampton - Cardiff Wentloog through Shrivenham on the 29th of September 2011, a recent surge in container traffic can see upto 4 different Freightliner diagrams at present per day grace this stretch of the GWML between Didcot and Swindon
66532 heads the Bristol 'Wineliner' through Bourton on the 29th of September 2011, the majority of this traffic has originated from the biggest wine warehouse in Europe which is situated in Avonmouth near Bristol, the containers are then tripped between Avonmouth and the Bristol Freightliner Terminal near Parson Street in Bristol and vice versa by road and can regularly be seen using the busy A4 route between the two sites, on this day the reporting code was 4L32 Bristol Freightliner Terminal - Tilbury
66535 powers through Bourton near Swindon with 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton on the 29th of September 2011, this working is now easily identifiable by the consist made up of low liner and pocket wagons to allow 9 feet 6 inch containers to be loaded throughout the train if needed
66031 powers through Compton Beachamp on the 29th of September 2011 with 6D11 Avonmouth - Didcot Power Station, the uniform level of coal in the HTA's is created as the train creeps under the loading silo at Avonmouth as opposed to the look of some coal workings which are loaded using diggers that create a uneven look to the load
In the super morning sun of the 29th of September 2011 66046 powers 6M50 Westbury - Bescot via Hinksey departmental through Compton Beachamp
59103 traverses the point work and curve on the approach to Westbury on the 28th of September 2011 with 7V67 Sevington - Merehead empty stone boxes
59104 makes the perfect pairing of a Hanson liveried locomotive with matching Hanson hoppers on the 28th of September 2011 as it heads towards Fairwood Junction with 6V18 Hither Green - Whatley stone empties
59001 leads a not so 'Jumbo' 7C77 Acton Yard - Merehead, made up of just a single portion of Yeoman hoppers as it prepares to cross Fairwood Junction for the last leg of its journey on the 28th of September 2011
59004 picks up speed shortly after its departure from its stop at Westbury with 7V07 on this day running from Fareham - Merehead and is seen approaching Fairwood Junction, in the background the now disused chimney of the LaFarge cement works, although for the time being the facility still receives the occasional delivery by rail, 28th of September 2011
158763 speeds towards Fairwood Junction on the 28th of September 2011 with First Great Westerns 2C18 to Frome, in the not to distant future there are plans to split and form the rest of the 2 car 158 fleet into 3 car versions
43031 heads 1C83 London Paddington - Taunton towards Fairwood Junction on the 28th of September 2011, the majority of HST sets that pass the area do not stop at Westbury and bypass the station by using the station avoid which can be seen on the right
Making a very pleasing sight 70011 leads 4F56 Uskmouth - Stoke Gifford coal empties through Severn Tunnel Junction on the 28th of September 2011
66053 heads its monster rake of HTA hoppers while forming 4E66 Margam - Redcar on the 28th of September 2011 as it passes through Severn Tunnel Junction and heads up the Lydney line, once it reaches its destination the hoppers will be loaded with coke and returned South for use at Port Talbot Steelworks
66572 heads through Severn Tunnel Junction on the 28th of September 2011 with 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton Freightliner service
On one of the hottest days of the year 66176 makes its maiden journey for the current Autumn with the Barton Hill based RHTT set through Severn Tunnel Junction, with 66175 tagging along on the rear the pair at this stage for obvious reasons still look pretty clean, 28th of September 2011
60007 makes a rather swift getaway after its scheduled stop at Undy and is seen thumping its way through Severn Tunnel Junction on the 28th of September 2011 with 6B13 Robeston - Westerleigh, after initially being released from overhaul on the 23rd of August on test the 'Tug' was then put through the paint facility at Toton and out shopped in standard DB Schenker livery with added 'SWITCH ON TO SAFETY' decals
The first overhauled Class 60 in the shape of former LoadHaul branded 007 shows off its shiny new red coat while working 6B13 Robeston - Westerleigh for the first time on the 28th of September 2011, the loco is adorned with the slogan 'SWITCH ON TO SAFETY' and named 'The Spirit Of Tom Kendel'
With a friendly wave from the driver 43004 heads 1L38 Swansea - London Paddington through Undy on the 28th of September 2011, note the copy of the days free METRO paper being put to good use as reinforcement for the sun visor!