66846 rolls past Hullavington in pretty neutral lighting with 6V62 Tilbury Riverside (Colas) to Llanwern Exchange Sdgs - 12/03/14
More empty hoppers from a coal fired power station, this time the working is 4V06 06.52 Rugeley B power station to Stoke Gifford in the hands of Freightliner's 66523 which has just exited the Wickwar tunnel. Rugeley B (Rugeley A was closed and demolished in the 90s) generates an output of 1000 megawatts, half that of Ratcliffe on Soar - still, it's not how big your power station is, it's what you do with it that counts - right girls? More power station related fun facts to follow another day - 27/02/14
Having visited Wickwar recently to catch the two class 20s going to Okehampton, getting good sun until the main event arrived(!) I decided on a repeat performance with the 60 hauled Westerleigh tanker services. Sure enough, good sun (a bit low still though) catches 66037, running down from Ratcliffe on Soar power station in South West Nottinghamshire for re-loading at Portbury, the working is 4V70 - 27/02/14
Another shot to pass the time waiting for 0Z20, a very pleasing shot of the much photographed (well by me anyway) 6C72. Nice to not be right on top of the subject matter for a change, after much deliberation I decided I couldn't quite include the large tree in full or the subject would have been too small. 66617 doing the honours today - 25/02/14
Talk about a close call, 66548 and the first two wagons find the sun at Rangeworthy (or rather the sun finds them), the rest of the consist is lost in a patch of gloom. The working is 4V46 Rugeley B power station to Stoke Gifford - 24/02/14
66601 climbs the rise into Bruton station with 6C84 from Taunton's fairwater yard and bound for Westbury, if only I'd recorded the time! - 12/02/14
66846 passes Styles Hill, Frome with a short load of old ballast forming 6Z29 10.55 Exeter Riverside to Westbury - 10/02/14
66116 rolls through Trowbridge with a working from Southall West junction to Westbury, wasn't quite sure what to expect and I'm still not too sure what 3 small flat wagons were all about - 09/02/14
66110 leads 66078 through Bapton in the Wyle valley with 6041 Westbury to Eastleigh working - 07/02/14
Freightliner's 66524 running over 80 minutes late at Clink Road junction, Frome with a working from Exeter Riverside to Stud Farm. A busy morning between Taunton and Westbury - 09/01/14
Barely one hour after 6C72 passed this way, 66550 on the return 6C73 working from Westbury virtual quarry bound for Fairwater yard at Taunton, another view of the contrasting conditions of the HOBC wagons in the consist - 09/01/14
From Fairwater to Fairwood, 66607 nearing Westbury with 6C84 formed today of 10 empty and rusty HQAs for the virtual quarry - 09/01/14
66550 passes the gallery at Fairwood junction with 6C72 Fairwater yard Taunton to Westbury working, shame about the dull weather but the scene is brightened slightly by the 9 recently painted HOBC wagons forming the majority of the consist - 09/01/14
Unmistakeably Cocklebury Lane Chippenham*, 66571 with 2 boxes and a lot of thin air composing the 11.00 departure from Bristol which, on Fridays, appears to be destined for Southampton rather than Tilbury - 29/11/13
*On a previous visit to this location I was fortunate enough to observe Muntjac deer in the vegetation behind the locomotive. I also heard them, they bark much like a dog (and are often referred to as "barking deer" (thanks Wikipedia)). They are a non-indigenous species being introduced to the UK in the 20th century - Much like the class 66 really! - 29/11/13
*On a previous visit to this location I was fortunate enough to observe Muntjac deer in the vegetation behind the locomotive. I also heard them, they bark much like a dog (and are often referred to as "barking deer" (thanks Wikipedia)). They are a non-indigenous species being introduced to the UK in the 20th century - Much like the class 66 really! - 29/11/13
66547 pulls away from Chippenham station with 4M18 originating at Fairwater yard Taunton and bound for Washwood-Heath in the West Midlands, a short load of recovered sleepers for disposal - 29/11/13
66603 with the much-photographed 6C73 reloaded at Westbury and well on the way back to Fairwater yard at Taunton. The location is Bunns lane near Frome - 22/11/13
66141 leads 66193 on the day's RHTT jaunt returning to Cornwall, Strap Lane - 22/11/13
66085 getting down and dirty with companion 66112 at Broughton Gifford near Melksham with another RHTT round robin originating at Didcot and returning there via such places as Reading and Westbury. A very fetching sleeveless blue vest sported by the driver's mate, not sure if its DBS standard issue - 18/11/13
Light engine and a 66 at that!? The demise of local favourite Tuesdays only 6V62 has been fairly well noted with the decision to move fuel by road from Fawley to Bristol SPhM, the last scheduled movement was 29/10/13 so imagine my surprise when the working popped up on screen again the following Tuesday. Intrigued I ventured out to Claverton in the Avon valley and sure enough 66143 running exactly to time as per.. minus any load. Warleigh Manor can just be glimpsed behind the locomotive. Crying shame there was no load with the lighting being this good - typical - 05/11/13
66603 passes Wyke Champflower with 6C73 from Westbury to Fairwater yard, Taunton. Footnote, as I arrived at this location a Railtrack van arrived just after me and parked up, after 45 mins (with the engine running all the time) 2 Railtrack employees got out, turned the ignition off and and cut down some lineside vegetation for half an hour before jumping in their van and turning the engine on again. I left after 2 hours and when I drove away the van's engine was still running! In summary, 2 hours, 30 mins work and 90 mins sitting in a van with the engine running!!??- It wasn't even cold, they had the side door open all the time and the guys sat in the open doorway most of the time - nice work if you can get it! -24/10/13
RHTT, actually known as RHTTB (Red Hastily Turns To Brown) headed by 66154 with 66085 at the rear passing Edington on the B&H approaching Westbury. This working is 3J41 Didcot to Didcot via Reading, Westbury and a few other places - 16/10/13
Partners in grime again, 66187 brings up the rear of 3S12 RHTT working at Upton Scudamore, 66074 was leading - 10/10/13
66595 seen at Ladbrook Lane between Corsham and Thingley junction. The working is of course 4L32 Bristol to Tilbury - 09/10/13
Unmistakably Berkley, in gloomy lighting 66132 gathers speed having just joined the main line at Clink road junction Frome with 6M20 Whatley to Churchyard sidings working. This working generally incorporates a variety of different hoppers and is thus the spice of life - 07/10/13
Truly a shedload of 66s - last time I purposely went out to catch this working it was only 1 locomotive. 66063 leads a further 7 class members* forming 0X12 working out of Bath - 21/09/13
*for those who like these things, other numbers are 66065/074/143/087/152/127/067
*for those who like these things, other numbers are 66065/074/143/087/152/127/067
66532 approaches Twerton Tunnel Bath with good old 4L32 Bristol to Tilbury. The structure on the hill in the distance is the main house at Kelston Park and dates back to the 1760s - 12/09/13
66567 passes Newton St Loe approaching Bath with 4L32 Bristol to Tilbury freightliner. This location is commonly referred to as Twerton Meadows - 05/09/13
Twerton Meadows again, 66543 leads 4L31 freightliner from Bristol, this time the destination is the Sufflok port of Felixstowe. The village of Saltford can be seen in the distance - 05/09/13
I was intrigued to know what a working from Hoo junction in Kent to Cardiff Tidal would yield, turned out to be GBrf 66733 leading 66726, apart from that I'm none-the-wiser. Seen at Oldfield Park Bath - 10/06/13
66115 seen passing Norton Bavant en-route from Fawley to Bristol St Philips Marsh with the ever reliable Tuesdays only 6V62. Evidence of some very heavy "pruning" at this spot - not me this time! - 12/03/13
66742 passes slowly through Stafford with 6M09 Tyne Dock to Ironbridge Biomass load - 27/02/13
66004 with the main reason for my trip to Bourton, east of Swindon (not Java) - 4D11 Avonmouth to Didcot A power station loaded coal hoppers - 19/02/13
66542 heads eastwards at Bourton with 4L31 Bristol to Felixstowe service - 19/02/13
DRS liveried 66420 pulls a very respectable (assuming the containers are loaded!) 4O51 Cardiff to Southampton service through Bourton - 19/02/13
Very rare working this, 66556 speeds through Bourton with 4L32 Bristol to Grain service. Looks can be deceiving as this is actually Freightliner's first mainline trial of their new containers which utilise adaptive camera technology (first seen in Bond film Die Another Day). Apparently it has less of an impact on the environment. Don't know if Bond was driving but it certainly looks better on an Aston Martin (doesn't everything) - 19/02/13
66620 seen at Compton Beauchamp heading east with 6M40Westbury VQ to Stud farm - 19/02/13
66502 seen at Shrivenham with 4V50 freightliner service from Southampton en route to Cardiff (Millbrook to Wentloog if you prefer). I would normally have positioned the loco a bit more "bottom right" in the shot but I wanted to include the guy in the high-vis top right. He appeared in a little van, sat himself down in this spot for about 30 minutes and then up and left. Obviously not great fishing at Shriveham! - 19/02/13
66004 powers through Shrivenham with 4D12 empty coal hoppers from Didcot A power station bound for Avonmouth - 19/02/13
With horsepower to spare 66132 leads 66017 up through Upton Scudamore between Westbury and Warminster with a very short 6O41 Westbury to Eastleigh trip - 08/02/13
Bang on time 66051 passes through Avoncliff in the Avon valley with 6V62 Fawley to Bristol St Philips Marsh tanks - 29/01/13
66025 glides through Upton Scudamore with the usual Tuesdays dose of fuel for St Philips Marsh Bristol from Fawley, 6V62 - 22/01/13
6V62 yet again, 66204 passing Bapton in the Wyle valley - 18/12/12
66955 with 4L32 Bristol to Tilbury intermodal passes 66114 waiting for the road with 6B49 Llanwern to Swindon steel working at Royal Wootton Bassett. The steel train was waiting for over an hour as another freight and 2 passenger workings passed, no wonder the driver has his feet up! - 07/12/12
As with 70020 (see not 59s (or 66s)), a barely adequate record at Callow Hill Brinkworth of 66177 powering through with 6D11 coal from Avonmouth bound for Didcot A power station. This was my first visit to this location and any future visits will probably be at a time of year when the sun is a bit higher in the sky - 05/12/12
66053 passes Pig lane Farleaze with 6D11 Avonmouth to Didcot A power station coal - 04/12/12
66024 trundles past Pig lane Farleaze with 6B49 steel from Llanwern to Swindon -
04/12/12
04/12/12
66623 Bill Bolsover pulls away from Chippenham with a rake of IOA wagons forming 6M40 Westbury to Stud farm working. Backlit again, when will I learn (probably when I have sufficient decent images to be choosey) - 03/12/12
Emerging from the gloom 66148 passes Bathampton with a diverted 6D13 Avonmouth to Didcot coal train. This and other services were routed off the "top road" due to a landslip at Westerleigh - 30/11/12
My first encounter with a trainload of HTA coal hoppers (and matching locomotive). 66124 is seen at Bathampton with 4D08 Didcot to Avonmouth empties, diverted over this route due to a landslip at Westerleigh near Bristol - 30/11/12
Also diverted off the normal route due to the Westerleigh landslip, 66099 at
Bathampton with 6B35 Hayes to Moreton on Lugg empties. Nice to see an aggregates
working that hasn't originated from the Mendips (not that I mind those, it is
called Pete's mostly 59s after all) - 30/11/12
Bathampton with 6B35 Hayes to Moreton on Lugg empties. Nice to see an aggregates
working that hasn't originated from the Mendips (not that I mind those, it is
called Pete's mostly 59s after all) - 30/11/12
66011 leads the 3S13 RHHT past Wanstrow with 66094 on the rear - 19/10/12
66094 leading this time as 66011 brings up the rear at Norton Bavant, in the distance is Battlesbury Hill - 17/10/12
66094 and 66011 pass Blatchbridge, Frome with the RHTT working returning south - 17/10/12
66079 pictured climbing out of Old Dilton with 6O41 Westbury to Eastleigh - 16/10/12
66621 pulls away from Hawkeridge junction with 6M40 Westbury to Stud farm empty IOAs - 16/10/12
66115 rolls through Freshford in the Avon valley with 6V62 fuel tanks from Fawley for Bristol (and later onward to Plymouth - 02/10/12
66095 approaches Upton Scudamore with 6V62 Fawley to Bristol (& Plymouth) oil tanks - 25/09/12
66102 draws away from Fairwood junction, Westbury with empties for Whatley quarry - 25/09/12
Classic Fairwood. everyone's got one - 66615 arrives at Westbury with 6C72 from Fairwater yard, Taunton - 18/09/12
66066 rolls through the Avon valley near Claverton with 6V62 Fawley to Bristol (& ultimately Plymouth) oil tanks - 18/09/12
66066 pulls past Westbury cement works with 6M20 Whatley to St Pancras - 11/09/12
66569 approaches Thingley junction with 4L32 Bristol FLT - Tilbury - 07/09/12
One of my favs, 66103 rolls through Norton Bavant with 6V62 Fawley to Bristol (& Plymouth) oil tanks - 28/08/12
66613 rolls through Sydney Gardens, Bath with 6B37 from Theale to Cardiff Pengam returning aggregate empties. This location pretty good for diesels, not just the ubiquitous steam train shots! - 07/08/12
66503 powers through Oldfield Park, Bath with 4O24 Bristol FLT to Thamesport (Grain) freightliner train - 03/08/12
66535 draws 4O24 Bristol FLT to Thamesport (Grain) freightliner train through Oldfield Park, Bath - 20/07/12
With only one wiper working 66529 with 6A21 the Cardiff Pengam to Theale stone
train pulls away from Westbury having just joined the B&H line via Hawkeridge
curve avoiding Westbury station - 10/07/12
train pulls away from Westbury having just joined the B&H line via Hawkeridge
curve avoiding Westbury station - 10/07/12
66622 pulls up the rise to Bruton station at 10.12 with the 6C84 Taunton Fairwater
yard to Westbury train - 27/06/12
yard to Westbury train - 27/06/12
66507 brings 6A21 Cardiff Pengam to Theale stone train through Great Cheverell -
26/06/12
26/06/12
66572 at Shockerwick approaching Box with 4O24 Bristol Railport to Grain container train - 22/06/12
66622 leaves Clink road junction, Frome behind heading for Westbury with a train from Fairwater Yard, Taunton - 19/06/12
66006 storms through Patney with 6Z17 Whatley to Hayes- 15/05/12
66540 passes through Bathampton with 4O24 Bristol FLT to Thamesport (Grain) - 11/05/12
66619 passes Clink road junction, Frome with a train from Fairwater yard, Taunton bound for Westbury virtual quarry - 14/06/12
66107 pulls away from Great Elm having just left Whatley quarry with 6M20 load for St Pancras - 16/04/12
A nice view of the varied rooftops of Frome, 66011 coming off the Whatley quarry line at Frome North junction with 6M20 Whatley to St Pancras working - 29/03/12
66011 pulls slowly towards Clink Road junction, Frome with 6M20 Whatley quarry to St Pancras train - 29/03/12