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Class 59/1(After 01 August 2022)
Formally ARC Engines but now owned by Hanson in turn owned now by Heidelberg Cement.based at, or around the Mendip-Quarries.
Its hard to believe that this loco's paint-job is now over 20yrs old and still looking very smart with no blemishes! This is 'Hanson in the Sun' 59204 slowing for Clink Junction with '6C48' the 12:49 from Appleford to Whatley Quarry empty JNA's.
..21 july 2023..
59104 is again working '6C31' the 10:08 from Theale to Whatley.Seen at Clink.
..17 july 2023..
Hanson's 'Good Ol Boy' 59104 slows for Clink Junction with '6C31' the 10:08 from Theale returning empty hoppers to Whatley Quarry.
..13 july 2023..
Here is '6V64' the 14:48 from Wembley Reception Sdg's to Merehead with just 59103 only leading.Viewed at Berkley Marsh.A very quiet afternoon here today as '6L21' failed on the Whatley Branch completely blocking it and at least 6V18,6V62 and 6C48 were stuck in various loops or sidings awaiting developments.They all eventually got to the Quarry all between 240 and 350 minutes late!!!!!!!!! Naturally '6L21' was cancelled.
..12 july 2023..
'Good Ol Boy' 59101 hauls '6V18' the 11:17 from Allington to Whatley slowly towards Clink Road Junction.Just JNA boxes today.
..6 july 2023..
'Good Ol Boy' 59102 with '6V07' the 13:41 from Chichester Reception Sdgs to Merehead approaches Frome at Berkley.
..13 june 2023..
A bonus working this evening was '7C66' the 19:07 from Wootton-Bassett to Merehead which was actually running 128 minutes earlier than booked,hence passing here in nice early evening lighting.The loco 59103 completed the entire class of four 'Hanson's in the Sun' to pass here in just one hour!
..2 june 2023..
'Hanson in the Sun' 59102 slows for Clink Junction with '6C76' the 14:31 from Wembley Reception 1-7 going to Whatley.Little did I realise that within an hour I would view the entire fleet of four 'Hansons' all returning to the Quarries from various start points!
..2 june 2023..
'Good Ol Boy' 59102 passes through Berkley Marsh with '6V12' the 15:38 from Woking to merehead empty boxes.The Westbury White Horse being clearly visible despite being 7 miles away!
..26 may 2023..
59103 fresh from having its wheelsets 'turned' at Bristol-SFM a few days ago slows for Clink Jn with '6C31' the 10:08 from Theale to Whatley empties.
..24 may 2023..
'Good Ol Boy' 59103 passes the long abandoned Workman-Bothy that made an appearence here over 30 years ago during a period of hand signalling in the area.The train being '6C48' the 11:17 from Appleford to Whatley returning empties.
..10 may 2023..
59101 is looking quite tatty these days with patchy paint and several rust stains in evidence. Here it is at Clink wit '6v18' the 11:17 from Allington to Whatley.
..03 may 2023..
59103 with '6C31' the 10:08 from Theale to Whatley Quarry passes Great Cheverall with its long rake of completely grafittied hoppers.Not a single one was scribble free......
..03 may 2023..
59101with '6C68' the 09:58 from Avonmouth to Whatley empties approaches Clink Road Junction in readiness to take the route down to the quarry.
..20 april 2023..
'Good Ol Boy' 59/1 Pioneer-59101 crawls away from Clink Junction with todays '6M20' the 10:38 from Whatley gong to Churchyard Sidingd in London.Note the almost brand new blue liveried VTG hopper dirctly behind the loco has already suffered badly from the dickbrains with spraycans that seem to infest to infest Merehead Yard sidings in the dead of night!
..18 april 2023..
For a couple of weeks all trains due to traverse the B&H between Westbury and Reading are being diverted via Swindon because of engineering works near Newbury.So here is '7C77' the 12:20 from Wembley Reception Sdg's 1-7 to Merehead Quarry passing Church Road in Heywood Village nr Westbury on the diversion route (via Melksham and Swindon).Good Ol Boy 'Hanson in the Sun' 59104 handling the working single-handed today. ..22 february 2022..
'Hanson in the Sun' 59101 is seen approaching Fairwood Junction with '6Z16'' the 10:18 from Whatley bound for Appleford nr Didcot.
..15 february 2023..
'Hanson in the Sun' - 'Village of Mells' 59103 approaches Clink Road Junction in the cold January lighting with '6C31' the 10:08 from Theale empties to Whatley Quarry.
..20 january 2023..
These long serving GM-59/1's currently wear the longest lived livery in use today,excluding all the repaints that are now quite prevelant as well. Here is 'Hanson in the Sun' 59103 with '7C31' the 10:08 from Theale going down to Whatley with its train of empty hoppers.Pictured at Berkley in the cold bright sunlight.
..18 january 2023..
'Good Ol Boy' 59104 powers away from Clink with this morning working '6Z16' that departed Whatley Quarry at 10:18 going to Appleford nr Didcot.
..18 january 2023..
After a protracted Xmas & New Year Break plus last weeks Rail Strikes the Quarry services have finally returned to something approaching normal service.God knows when these Railway Unions that seem to think they are some kind special case re- inflation etc with their ongoing dispute will get a dose of reality? Anyway here is 59101 passing a glinty Clink road junction with '7A17' the 10:24 from Merehead to Colnbrook loaded stone.
..9 january 2023..
Hanson's ''Good Ol Boy' 59103 still looks pretty good even though it is now well over 30 years old.Here seen powering up through Berkley Marsh with '6Z16' the 10:18 from Whatley Quarry to Appleford.Excluding heritage repaints these 59/1' now have the longest serving original livery still to be seen on todays national network.
..28 november 2022..
59101 passes an autumnal looking Clink on is way down to Whatley Quarry with '6C48' the 12:49 from Appleford.
..18 october 2022..
59101 with its multi coloured mix of various old/new JNA's passes Berkley with the evening '7C64' 14:39 from Wembley Sidings to Merehead.Todays working being a 'combi' with FL-Green 66560 just visible assembled in the middle of the train.
..25 august 2022..
Hanson in the Sun' 59101 c/w its now patchy low bodyside paintwork passes Berkley with '6C64' the 14:39 from Wembley Sidings 1-7 going to Merehead.
..8 august 2022..
'Village of Whatley' 59101 cruises through Berkley with '6C64' the 15:02 from Wembley Reception Sdg's 1-7 heading for home at Merehead.No hoppers this evening,simply JNA's.
..3 august 2022..
'6C64' the 15:02 from Wembley Reception Sidings 1-7 going to Merehead passes through Berkley.Good Ol Boy 59101 on the job today. No 'combi' on this working on this occasion.