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Class 59/1(After 01 August 2021)
Formally ARC Engines but now owned by Hanson in turn owned now by Heidelberg Cement.based at, or around the Mendip-Quarries.
Todays 'Hanson in the Sun' is 59103 with '6V62' the 13:21 from Southampton Up Yard heading from Whatley.Pictured at Clink.
..1 august 2022..
Good Ol Boy-'Hanson in the Sun' 59103 is seen in the nice evening light at Clink with '6C76' the 14:09 from Wembley Reception Sidings 1-7 going down to Whatley Quarry.This loco looks pretty clean and tidy so it is hard to believe it has now been working solidly on these Mendip Aggregate workings now for 32 years!
..26 july 2022..
'Hanson in thre Sun' 59101 draws its completely graffiti stricken set of hoppers up through Clink working '7A17' the 10:24 from Merehead heading for Colnbrook.Its about time Network Rail used some of its resources to prevent this endless graffiti being perpetrated night after night on the wagon stock in so called 'secure railway yards'.Seemingly erecting unnecessary palisade fencing all over the place for no other reason then that they can with no history of vandalization,theft or tresspass has a higher priority! -------------------Nobs!
..15 july 2022..
If it's sunny there is invariably a 'Hanson' around! Here is 59104 at Click with '6V18' the 11:20 from Allington to Whatley Quarry with its string of empty bottom discharge hoppers.It may be 2022 but this scene could have been 20 years ago apart from the childish scribble of the sides of the wagons!
..7 july 2022..
Yet another 'Hanson',this time 59101 with '7C64' the 14:57 from Wembley to Merehead.Note how the still quite new TOUAX hoppers are now completely plastered with sad sad graffiti.As this is a 'Combi' train a second loco is somewhere in the middle of this consist.It is in fact 59004.
..22 june 2022..
59104 has come from Southampton Up Yard (dept at 13:21) going to Whatley with its set of emptied JNA's.Headcode is '6V62' that was once well known for the Fawley Tanks duty taking fuel oil and bitumen down to Plymouth virtually every weekday behind a Class-37.
..22 june 2022..
Currently all 4 59/1's are out and about in regular use .Here is 59103 with '6V18' the 11:20 from Allington to Whatley at Clink.Certainly more appealing I suppose than the generic FL-Green that seems to predominate most days!
..22 june 2022..
'Good Ol Boy' 59103 passes Mark Few's summer residence at Clink with '6V18' the 11:20 from Allington to Whatley Quarry.
20 june 2022..
Yet another 'Hanson in the Sun',this time 59104 seen coming off the line from Whatley Quarry at Clink Road Junction.This is a bit of an oddball as it operates as '6Z20' the 08:13 from Whatley only as far as Westbury Up-TC.From there it is taken over bt DB for the remainder of its journey.This is simply because DB are not allowed to operate trains directly out of either of the Mendip Quarries.Very odd!
..15 june 2022..
'Hanson in the Sun' 59104 with '7C31' the 10:38' from Theale to Whatley Quarry slows as it approaches Clink Road Junction.
..13 june 2022..
Good-Ol--Boy 59104 'Hanson in the Sun' passes Berkley in superb evening light working '7V12' the 15:38 from Woking which tonight is going to Whatley instead of its usual destination of Merehead.
..8 june 2022..
Hanson number 2 approaches Clink Road Junction with '7C31' the 10:08 from Theale to Whatley with its long string of empty hoppers.
..27 may 2022..
Mayflowers are only just beginning to appear here at Berkley as 'Hanson in the Sun' 59104 passes by with '6V18' the 11:20 from Allington going to Whatley Quarry.
..10 may 2022..
'Hanson in the Sun' 59103 creeps past Arn Hill with '7O40' the 13:35 from merehead going down to Eastleigh-FY.Therear of thr train having just crested the summit of the Upton Scudamore Incline.
..25 march 2022..
'Hanson in the Sun' 59102 dodges the shadows at Clink whilst working '7C29' the 06:40 from Acton-TC to Merehead.
..24 march 2022.
Spring is now showing the first signs of 'springing into life' here at Clink as 'Hanson in the Sun' 59101 passes with '7C77' the 12:41 from Acton-TC to Merehead.
..14 march 2022..
'Hanson in the Sun' 59103 with a full load of aggregates runs up through Berkley barely 6 minutes after '6M20' had passed.Both of these trains going up the B&H towards London.This working '7A17' having departed Merehead at 10:24.
..25 february 2022..
Here is an example of G&W's new practice for returning empty aggregate trains back down to the Mendip Quarries.The working is '7C77' has recently started coming from Wembley instead of Acton.Presumeably because of DB's excessive charging for use of the sidings at Acton? Anyway trains from Wembley now are effectively two trains in one consist with the second train locomotive now positioned in the middle of the train-set.The sort of make-up that is in regular use in the USA. Anyway here is 59101 with 66514 'DIT' in the middle of about 27 JNA-boxes (13 and 14).It departed Wembley Reception 1-7 at 12:24 going to Merehead.Viewed at Bratton on the B&H.
..27 january 2022..
'Hanson in the Sun'-59101 operates '7B12' the 11:23 from Merehead going up to Royal Wootton Bassett with its regular loading of aggregate.Thankfully the local farmer has just flailed the roadside hedges here thus allowing a shot off the road of this still reasonably clear section of the embankment here at Standerwick West of the approach to Fairwood Junction.
..20 january 2022..
'Hanson in the Sun' 59101 passes in the distance with '7A77' the 12:03 from Merehead to Theale.Viewed from the Cemetary in Berkley Village nr Frome.
..13 january 2022..
Hanson-59104 approaches a golden Fairwood with '6M20' the 10:39 from Whatley going to Churchyard Sidings in the Capital.
..2 december 2021..
59102 catches a golden glint patch of sunlight as it comes over Clink Road Junction with '6M20' the 10:39 from Whatley Quarry going up to Churchyards Sidings in London.
..18 november 2021..
Good-Ol-Boy Hanson 59104 continues to grind its way out of the Mendip Quarries with its heavy load of aggregates bound for the Theale as it has done now for 3 decades.This working being '6A60' the 08:32 from Whatley Quarry to Theale nr Reading. Here at a very autumnal Berkley in a brief patch of sunlight.
..12 november 2021..
This working '7A17' the 10:24 from Merehead to Acton-TC was only about 5 minutes behind '6M20'.Both trains will be heading up the B&H towards London.Today it was an inevitable 'Hanson in the Sun',todays choice being 59103.Viewed at an increasingly autumnal Clink.
..1 november 2021..
G&W owned 'Hanson' 59103 with '7V12' the 15:38 from Woking is seen going down to Merehead with a set of box empties. Interestingly the field behind the train is being ploughed for possibly the first time in well over 20 years.It was until now just used as a cow pasture...Certainly an interesting development in the fields around Pot Lane! ---26 august 2021..
Its been over a fortnight since I managed a 'Hanson in the Sun' so here is 59103 with '7v12' the 15:38 from Woking the Merehead seen in the superb evening light at Berkley.These 'Hansons' carry the longest lived original livery on the National Network.I do not include any of the many 'heritage repaints' there are out there.This 59/1 livery has now been carried continuously for well over 20 years------amazing!
..25 august 2021..
Nothing like a 'Hanson in the Sun' to start your day off1.here is 59102 shortly after joining the mainline at Clink with '6M20' the 10:39 from Whatley going up to Churchyards sidings in London.Viewed with a threatening sky coming out of the West.This duly delivered an almighty storm of rain about 40 minutes later!