Class 165/166

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Class 165/166

Units used mainly in the Thames-Valley from Paddington up to the Oxford area.

166201 today formed '2Z78' which ran from Gloucester to Weymouth in stead of starting at Great Malvern as '2O78'.presumably because of flooding around Worcester. here seen departing from Westbury at Fairwood.These blue/red almost look quite attractive compared to the now normal sludge-green of most of this fleet of DMU's! Note a certain Mr MF grappling with his pole down in the field................!!!!!!

..26 february 2020..

Overlooked by Kelston House this pair of Turbo's form a 5-car service from Portsmouth Harbour (departed at 11:23) going to Bristol Parkway.
The embankments here at Newton St Loe have recently been cleared out removing some quite substantial trees in the process.

..30 december 2019..

Turbo-165131 slows for Avoncliff Halt with '2D17' the 14:38 from Westbury to Bristol-Parkway.Due to the short platform here entry to the train is by just a single door controlled by the Train-Manager/Guard.

..25 october 2019..

Now for sure a minority livery,166211 in the old 'First-Great Western' blue&pink colours passes Arn Hill with '2F95' the 15:00 from Frome to Warminster.

..18 october 2019..

With the FGW-Blue now firmly in the minority this Class-166 Turbo still in blue makes a nice change from the now more usual 'Dirge-Green' that most of the fleet is inflickted with! Here is 166207 getting away from Clink Junction with '2V88' the 08:53 from Weymouth going up to Gloucester.A nice morning but as usual it faded to dullness about a hour or so later!

..29 august 2019..

This is '1V94' the 09:00 from Brighton going to Great Malvern but was actually cancelled beyond Worcester due to late running.
I travelled up to Gloucester here from Cam&Dursley on this Turbo 166208 and the air-con wasn't working so carriage temperatures were pretty uncomfortable to say the least with outside temps in the low 30's.

..24 august 2019..

166209,one of the increasingly less common sets still in FGW-Blue partnered with one of its green brethren rolls into Westbury with 1F09; the 09:30 from Cardiff-Central going down to Portsmouth Harbour.

..17 august 2019..

Unit action here at Westbury! As 158953 approaches the Station with 5O05' an ECS from Bath Spa (10:18 off) to Westbury 165119 heads towards Gloucester with the 08:53 from Weymouth as '2E20'.Viewed at Westbury North Junction.Note how clean the ballast and rails are here after the major rebuild of this junction over the previous Christmas period.

..17 august 2019..

166207 still remains in the now historic FGW-Blue livery and with the benefit of hindsight is a much more pleasurable colour scheme tha nt he current sludge-green we have to put up with now! So here is that Ex-Thames Turbo passing Arn Hill nr Warminster working '2F95' the 15:00 from Frome to Warminster.

..15 august 2019..

Ex Thames-Turbo 166208 approaches Clink Road Junction with '2O89' the 10:42 from Gloucester to Weymouth.I was here really for a following GBRf freight going into Whatley Quarry a few minutes later but the lighting failed for that one so this is a poor substitute!

..15 august 2019..

Ex-Thames Turbo 3-car 166215 continues to wear the old FGW blue/and pinkish livery several years now after GWR-Green was decided on as a replacement.I used to think this livery was crap until the GWR-Green was introduced.Now I realise it wasn't so bad afterall unlike the drab unimaginative sludge we have to put up now!
So here is '2C18' the 12:42 from Gloucester going down to Frome.It is just about to cross over Fairwood Junction nr Westbury.

..29 july 2019..

The Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff-Central duties are now shared between the Class 158/9's and these recently introduced Ex-Thames Turbo's.Here is a 165129/166211 multi-coloured pairing passing Bapton in the Wylye Valley with '1F16' the 11:23 from Portsmouth to Cardiff.Addition seating availability for sure but the level of comfort in these basic commuter DMU's is way less than the 158's!

..1 april 2019..

These ex-Thames Turbo's are pretty much the standard fare now on the local passenger workings.However this one looked particularly clean and anyway the sun was shining so I pictured it anyway! Here is 165131 rolling to a stop at Freshford with '2O89' the 10:41 from Gloucester to Weymouth.Needless to say it was full to standing,I think we need a Class-37 and seven coaches to fulfill the traffic needs during the summer months????

..30 march 2019..

Just a reminder that Ex-Thames Turbo's pretty much monopolise the local services now radiating from Bristol going to Frome and beyond.Here is 166207,one of the very few now left in FGW-Blue colours working '2C18' the 12:42 from Gloucester to Frome.Seen approaching Fairwood Junction nr Westbury.

..11 march 2019..

FGW-Blue 3-car 'turbo' 166203 after going to Frome formed this train, '2F95' the 15:00 from there to Warminster.Here seen climbing the Upton Scudamore bank on a fine blue winters afternoon.

..15 february 2019..

One of the very few Thames-Turbo's that are still in the old FGW-Blue livery is 166203.Here seen departing Westbury with '2C18' the 12:42 from Gloucester to Frome.

..15 february 2019..

On a cold,crisp and quite cold day Thames-Turbo 165105 rumbles under the bridge on Hungerford Common with '1K15' the 10:41 stopper service from Bedwyn going all the way up to Paddington.Almost certainly the seating in these utilitatian 'old' DMU's is vastly more comfortable than the
latest trains (800's) now working out of Paddington to the far West.

..17 january 2019..

Ex-Thames-Turbo 166216 runs through Millbrook with '1F20' the 13:23 from Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff-Central.These 166's are now replacing some of the 158/9's on this route.All part of GWR's master plan to revise services throughout its franchise area.Gone are the 150/1's Going are the HST's as is most of the paying passengers confidence of ever getting a decent train service let alone having a regular seat to sit on!!!!

..9 january 2019..

This week marked the commencement of regular working of Class-166's on the Cardiff-Central to Portsmouth Harbour duties.Something of a downgrade from the Class 158/9's methinks! Here '1F09' the 09:30 from Cardiff-Central to Portsmouth Harbour is seen approaching its Southampton-Central stop.

..9 january 2019..

With the transfer away of all the Class-153's and 150/1's these Ex Thames-Turbo's are the standard fare now around this area on GWR services.Here are 166202 with '2C18' the 12:42 from Gloucester to Frome and 165134 about to depart with '2D17' the 14:38 from Westbury to Bristol-Parkway.Just before this shot was taken the lighting on all platforms came on transforming the brightness! Hard to believe it was only 14:35 in the afternoon.Yes it was that dull!

..5 december 2018..

Signage is seeminly everywhere these days on the railway.This is the now quite badly obstructed view looking east at Westbury.Hopefully the temporary speed retriction signs will be removed eventually if NR remember they are there when the work is completed. This is an Ex-Thames-Turbo GWR-Green 166218 running into Westbury to form '2M09' the 13:31 1/2 from here to Frome.

..31 october 2018..

GWR-Green Thames-Turbo 165104 continues to work out of Paddington down to Bedwyn due to the lack of OHLE beyond Newbury,hence the new-order Class 387's are powerless to get to Bedwyn! The train '1K16 seen not long after departing Kintbury on Hungerford Common.

..1 october 2018..

GWR-green Thames-Turbo 165108 runs up Hungerford Common with '1K19' the 12:36 from Bedwyn to Paddington.These Units will continue to work down to Bedwyn indefinitely because the OHLE has thankfully only come down the B&H as far as Newbury.No Class-389's around here!

..19 september 2018..

166202,one of the few remaining Ex-Thames Turbo's still carrying FGW-Blue colours worked '2O91' the 13:28 from Swindon going down to Weymouth.Seen at Church Road in Heywood against a backdrop of a quite leaden sky!

..16 september 2018..

Here is one of the rare occasions when the sun-angle flatters the GWR-Green livery as applied to most of that companies DMU fleet these days.However all things considered it is still an extreemly poor choice of colour in my opinion. So here is Ex Thames-Turbo 166213 catching the side-on sunlight nicely at Church Road in Heywood Village nr Westury whilst it was working '2F98' the 17:06 from Bristol-TM going to Warminster.I suppose these units are an improvement on the older Class-150's,at least providing more seating.

..13 september 2018..

FGW-Blue Turbo 166203 rattles down through Upton Noble at Strap Lane with '2O86' the 08:42 from Gloucester going to the seaside at Weymouth. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but this Blue livery now seems far more appealing than the dull drudgy GWR-Green most of these Units are now afflicted with!

..13 september 2018..

Looking quite smart given the crap GWR-Livery Turbo 166219 is seen at Fairwood with '2V88' the 08:53 from Weymouth to Gloucester.At least there is a bit more room for the passengers in these Thames-Valley Rejects given that they are 3-cars instead of the two as was normal when Class-150's regularly did this duty earlier this year.

..31 august 2018..

Although most of the Thames-Turbo's transferred to operate out of Bristol were Class-166's a few Class-165's came as well.Here is 2-car 165132 passing Berkley Marsh nr Frome with '2V88' the 08:53 from Weymouth heading for Gloucester.

..30 august 2018..

These ex-Thames Valley Turbo's are pretty much standard-fare now on many of the services around the Westbury area.Here is 166219 in the GWR-Green colours with '2C22' the 17:44 from Bristol-Parkway to Frome.Certainly an improvement for the customers over the older Class 150's that used to do this duty. Viewed at a rather parched Berkley Marsh just a mile or so from its destination.

..1 august 2018..

The Class-165 variation of the Thames-Turbo classes have now started to filter down from the London area to Bristol.Here is 165119
operating '2M08' the 11:47 from Westbury going over the Swindon as the 'Trans-Wiltshire Express'.Seen at Ladydown in Trowbridge. Note how 48 hrs later the sky is completely different?

..13 july 2018..

An older style livery for Chiltern-Railways is worn by 165037 as it runs up through Kings Sutton with '1U43' the 15:43 from Marylebone to Banbury stopping service.Note how even more ironwork has been erected around the underline culvert buttresses in the H&S paranoid world we live in today!

..5 july 2018..

Ex Thames-Turbo still in FGW-Blue 166207 rattles under Church Road in Heywood with '2O71' the 08:23 from Bristol-Temple Meads going to the seaside at Weymouth.

..24 june 2018..

166202 sits on the Saint Phillips Marsh Depot access lines waiting to go down into Bristol Temple Meads to take up an allocated duty.
Note the Cityscape of residential tower blocks.

..22 june 2018..

166221 in the now comparatively rare FGW-Blue livery c/w its 'Reading Train Care Depot' nameplates passes Didcot-North-Jn with '2L22' the 09:29 service from Didcot-parkway only as far as Oxford.

..20 june 2018..

Networker-166219 in GWR-Green passes a very yellow Fairwood nr Westbury with '2C22' the 17:44 from Bristol-Parkway to Frome.
I was here for a couple of empty 'Stones' shots but pictured this purely because is was sunny (honest!).

..14 may 2018..

Obsolecent liveried 166211 works away from Trowbridge with the 12:51 from Great Malvern going to Dorchester-West as'2O90'.
Today it was unable to to its normal destination-Weymouth to to a 48 hr engineering over-run because a track machine failed and a wait was needed to rob a spare from another similar unit,but only after that had finished its work elsewhere!!!!!

..14 may 2018..

Well I suppose a FGW-Blue one is better than GWR-Green given the now comparative rarity of these older liveried versions.This is Ex-Thames-Turbo 166215 approaching Frome at Bratchbridge Junction with '2V86' the 16:10 from Weymouth going to Bristol-Temple Meads. Despite appearances this shot recorded on a public foot crossing adjacent to the junction here at Blatchbridge.

..22 april 2018..

Thames-Turbo 166220 works away from Westbury at Fairwood with '2O90' the 12:51 from Great Malvern going down to the seaside at Weymouth.With most if not all the Class150/1's (no vestibules) been taken off lease and sent to pastures-new in the north these units are now standard fare and quite commonplace in this area.

..20 april 2018..

Still in FGW-Blue Ex-Thames Turbo 166207 ambles away from Westburyviewed at Fairwood Junction with '2C18' the 12:42 from Gloucester going only as far as Frome. Well! the sun was out!

..16 april 2018..

Thames-Turbo 165131 still in FGW-Dynamic Lines Blue livery today spent its time operating Didcot-Parkway to Oxford Shuttles.This working was '2L25' the 10:37 from Oxford.This newly introduced service is required because the Class-387 EMU's that now do the Paddington to Didcot service cannot get to Oxford for obvious reasons....Note the currently abandoned electrification infrastructure lying dormant in the background.Imagine this shot with all the empty bases having poles and crap fitted.A complete photographic waste of time! Enjoy it whilst you can!

..5 april 2018..

Cascaded 'Thames Turbo' 166210 speeds through Berkley with '2O90' the 12:51 from Great Malvern going to the seaside at Weymouth.All pretty commonplace now through here since GWR have taken most of their predecessor 150/2 Sprinters off-lease and sent them northwards!

..26 march 2018..

166209 is a recently transferred 'Turbo' from the Thames-Valley now working out of Bristol-St Phillips Marsh.Here it is working '2V88' the 08:55 from Weymouth to Gloucester although it only got as far as Bristol-TM due to operational difficulties (Snow ????).It is shown running into Westbury-Wilts.

..20 march 2018..

In just a glimpse of weak sunniness Turbo-166219 clatters past Heywood with '2M12' the 14:04 from Frome going across to Swindon.I havn't done a shot from this side of this bridge for well over 15 years!.Roll on Summer!

..19 february 2018..

Now that these Thames-Turbo's have been cascaded from the Thames Valley over to Bristol this service from Westbury to Swindon and return has had a significant upgrade from a single car 'dogbox' 153 to treble the capacity.Here is 166210 on the 13:29 from Swindon to Westbury '2M11' viewed at Heywood between Trowbridge and Westbury.Another area recently cleared of bushes and scrub.We really are doing well for long-lost shot locations now available again!

..19 february 2018..

The recent introduction of Ex-Thames Turbo's in and around Bristol seems to have turned into a flood.With Class 150/1's rapidly going off lease these are to be the new norm.No doubt a bit of an improvement on the older 150's. So here is 166210 working '2D17' the 14:38 from Westbury going up to Bristol-Parkway at Freshford in the Limpley Stoke Valley.On the bright side Three-carriages has got to be better than two for the long suffering FGW passengers particularly during the morning and evening commutes into Bristol!

..16 february 2018..

Ex-Thames Turbo 166206 was today employed on the Westbury to Swindon and return 'Trans Wiltshire Express'.Indeed posters on Chippenham Station appear to be actively promoting them so I presume they will be permanant? Here is 166206 getting away from Chippenham with '2M11' the 13:29 from Swindon to Westbury.
What a sad place this station has now become.Auto barriers everywhere and the jobsworth refused to allow us to enter the station,even onto the platform with no track!.However unimpeded access can be had via the Public Footbridge and the Lift. So 3 sets of barriers,all of which need to be manned = three basic minimum wage's = about 45 Grand a year additional running costs for this station.What an absolute 'box ticking' complete waste of resources
just so some office-wally can tick a spread-sheet box???? Remember every train now checks all tickets regulary so 'WHAT' is the point ?????? GWR should be ashamed of themselves.

..15 february 2018..

The still FGW-Blue 2-car Thames-Turbo 165027 with the 09:32 from Banbury bound for Paddington as '2V23' approaches Didcot North-Junction.

..12 february 2018..

This I think is the new order for some of the trains bound for Weymouth from Bristol and beyond now that some 150/1's have gone off lease.Two days ago this working was an immaculate FGW-Blue Turbo,now todays offering is this GWR-Green thing! So here is 166206 passing Network Rails latest dumping ground for surplus ballast and other crap.Typically when a 'cutting crew' sorts out the vegetation another gang on gophers dumps a load of crap! The working being '2E24' the 13:08 from Weymouth going up to Gloucester.I suppose it is better than a Class-150 but still inferior to a 158!

..7 february 2018..

With GWR's unwanted 150/1's starting to go off-lease these recent acquisitions by Bristol-SFM Depot from the Thames-Valley have started in the last week or so to occasionally turn up on the diagrams operating to Weymouth.This shot albeit a 'GAW' is my best effort so far of one of these doing that service. So here is a positively gleaming FGW-Blue 166207 working the 08:40 Gloucester to Weymouth service as '2O86'. Viewed at Fairwood nr Westbury.Regretably the return service was shrouded in clouds and even in the Limpley Stoke Valley was mostly quite back-lit without a long long walk!

..5 february 2018..

As the GWR Fleet re-organisation continues across the region the Thames-Turbo's displaced by EMU's east of Didcot are being redeployed on various services in and around the Bristol area.This service '9C71' the 10:00 from Cardiff-Central to Taunton being a case in point.Indeed this week a batch of GWR 150/1's have been assigned 'off-lease'. So here is 166208 passing Llandevenny east of Newport on this Cardiff-Taunton service.

..2 february 2018..

Turbo-165109 scuttles north away from Mortimer at Great-Park with '2J22' the 10:06 from Basingstoke going only as far as Reading.Working this shuttle service this DMU will pass through this location probably about 16 times at least today going backwards and forth.

..17 january 2018..

Annoyingly this working '5Z51' was supposed to make another test run from Westbury down to Frome and return before heading back to Bristol.Unfortunately this was scrubbed and it continued on to Bristol straightaway thus gaining 50m on the booked schedule so a chance of a shot with a bit of sun on the nose was lost.Hence this picture is a kinda consolation given the Units '5X51' test runs significance.So here is 166205 approaching Westbury with the 11:36 from Weymouth to Brisol St Phillips Marsh H.S.T.D gauging test run.

..1 december 2017..

With the new year 2018 now just a month away many of the services out of Bristol are to be replaced with displaced 'Thames-Turbo-s'.Several are already working out of Bristol-TM on local workings.Here is one of those now based there, 166205 working '5Z51' on a test-service checking gauging at all stations between Bristol and Weymouth (platform edges etc).It is seen on the return run that departed Weymouth at 11:36 approaching Westbury at Fairwood.

..1 december 2017..

Ex-Thames Valley Turbo's have now been cascaded into the Bristol area diagrams.Here is 166205 waiting time at Bristol-Temple Meads in platform-1.Its next dury being the 19:33 from here to Avonmouth.So far only Class-166's have been transferred,no doubt quite a few 165's will follow later.

10 november 2017..

Further evidence of the forthcoming 'Turbo Invasion' is this passing-shot of 166216 with '2D12' the 12:09 from WSM to Bristol-Parkway passing 155204 on '2Y16' going in the opposite direction on the same shuttle service.Never viewed these DMU types here before so this meeting of a Pair is a first for me here at Malago-Vale in Bristol!

1 november 2017..

Former Thames Area 'Turbo' 166204 has now been transferred to Bristol as part of the cascade of DMU's currently slowly under way in this area.It is seen leaving Parson Street with '2D10' the 11:10 from Weston-Super-Mare to Bristol-Parkway.This particular Unit carries a nameplate remembering 'Norman Topson MBE' who worked on the railway for 53 years ending his career (retiring) at Twyford in Nov-2015,two years ago.Sadly he won't be able to see his namesake '166' as now it will never go through Twyford again whilst in use in the west at Bristol!

..1 november 2017..

The GWR DMU cascade of Units from the Thames-Valley to the Bristol area is now beginning to happen slowly but surely.
Here is 3-car Turbo 166216 passing the site of the once very busy Malago-Vale carriage sidings in western Bristol,now just housing and rampant Buddleia bushes.It was working '2Y14' the 11:12 from Bristol-Parkway going to Weston-Super-Mare.A shuttle type service it seems to operate for most of the day.

..1 november 2017..

FGW-Blue 'Turbo' 166203 gets away from Worcester Shrub Hill with '1W00' the 08:21 service from London-Paddington going to Hereford.This station here is pretty much a time-warp with no evidence of the dreaded palisade fencing,still with some sidings and (for now) plenty of semaphore signals to provide masses of old world railway atmosphere.An enjoyable place to re-sample the 20th century!

..28 august 2017..

This week saw the introduction of ex-Thames-Turbo's on the Bristol-TM to Avonmouth route.Praised as 'new' trains on the local media by GWR when in fact they have already covered many millions of miles in and out of Paddington! Here is 166212 in GWR-Green running out past Barton Hill--Depot on '2K20' the 12:03 from BTM to Avonmouth.Note how totally deserted Barton Hill Depot is.Only a matter of time before this goes the same way as Bath Road did,abandonment then dereliction followed by demolition!

..7 july 2017..

This is the returning ecs from Castle Cary (12:55 off) to Reading Traincare Depot '5Z39' after delivering a jampacked trainload of Glastonbury Festival visitors. This time 165102 was leading with 166214 in behind.Viewed off the old S&D trackbed at Cole where that famed long lost railway used to cross the WR mainline until 1966.

..21 june 2017..

If it's June in Somerset then its got to be Glastonbury Music Festival time.As usual GWR were providing additional services from Paddington to Castle Cary for the attending music lovers.The most unusual service is this one '1Z33' which allows Thames-Turbo's to make their annual visit down here via the B&H.Here we have GWR liveried Turbo's 166214 and 165102 working the 10:36 from Paddington to Castle Cary.Seen passing Cole just a few miles for journeys end.Today the temperatures were merciless with the mercury nudging towards 35-degrees C.I don't envy those passengers the queues that are awaiting them at Cary fpr Buses and also whilst gaining entrance to the Pilton Festival Site!

..21 june 2017..

Turbo's 165119 and 165117 accelerate away from Oxford passing Hinksey with '1P41' the 12:02 from Oxford to Paddington.Note the full sidings in the yard here.All the sidings are shiny indicating continuous regular use.One of the few sites in the south of the UK that is these days!

..25 march 2017..

GWR's (so says the mini sticker in the cab window) 165105 runs up past the gathered group of photographers here at Kings Sutton to picture the
   evenings Class-68 hauled trains.This working '2M50' the 15:57 from
Paddington going only as far as Banbury.I finally made it here for the evenings Class-68 Gala because the forecast was perceived to be clear
   skies which they were. A 200+ mile round trip being considered only worth
   it if the shots were a sure thing!

..15 august 2016..

Now looking rather dated,a pair of 165-turbo's in the old 'dynamic-lines'
livery style passes Duffield Road on the eastern end of Sonning Cutting.
165116 leads 165103 on '1P41' the 12:09 from Didcot-Parkway to Paddington.Note the patch of Ragwort providing a colourful foreground to this otherwise very green location.

..06 august 2016..

Now in the increasingly common GWR-Sludge Green as are most of the Class 166 turbos now 166210 motors through Sonning Cutting at Duffield Road with '1K53' the 11:39 from Bedwyn to Paddington.Not long now before this seemingly timeless looking scene is totally ruined by the Idiots
that had the brainless idea to electrify this route!

..06 august 2016..

166219 speeds through Sonning Cutting with the famed Warren Road Bridge in the background.This GWR Turbo-Unit was working '1K45' the 09:39 from Bedwyn to Paddington.

..06 august 2016..

Warren Road Bridge is the location of this high-high shot looking down into the famous Sonning Cutting nr Twyford.A FGW/GWR combo is pictured passing underneath as '2P37' the 09:48 from Reading to Paddington.Sludge-Green 166216 was leading the older styled 165108.

..06 august 2016..

43042/43026 working '1L20' the 05:50 from Swansea to Paddington runs parallel with 165120 which was operating a Didcot-Parkway (08:03) to Paddington 'stopper' service '2P31'.Apart from a few mast-bases that were installed ages ago and the mass tree clearance undertaken quite recently there is still no evidence of the approaching electrification.This will of course totally ruin the view from the several bridges that overlook this famous cutting here at Sonning west of Twyford.

..06 august 2016..

After the final day of the Glastonbury Festival FGW was running quite a few STP workings up to London from Castle-Cary to help clear the area of the hordes of extreemly muddy festival goers.This was just about the most interesting working of the day bringing a Sludge-Green 166-Turbo down to Somerset instead of its usual routes in the Thames-Valley.So here are 166205 (GWR-Green) and 165134 running as '5Z36' ECS from Paddington to Castle-Cary.35 minutes later it passed this spot here at Clink nr Frome fully loaded with passengers going up to Reading and London.I have to say Sunday nights Festival closing 2 hour set by Coldplay was very good indeed.Thanks BBC!

..27 june 2016..

This is the view afforded from the new bridge that has been recently built to allow increased access to Newbury Racecoarse for the Punters.It also doubles as a nice high clear location for afternoon traffic on the B&H heading West! This is '1K68' the 15:18 from Paddington to Bedwyn slowing foe its Newbury stop,165107 doing the job.No Green on this one just the older and actually much nicer looking FGW-Blue colours.

..05 may 2016..

166204 with its freshly washed windscreens zips up the 'fast' at Ruscombe on '1D39' the 13:50 from Paddington to Oxford.In the distance can just be glimpsed '6V18' to Whatley from Allington with the ex-works 'AI' 59004 at the helm.

..05 may 2016..

GWR 166204 works '2N40' the 13:27 from Paddington to Oxford past Stanlake Lane Roadbridge at Ruscombe in the Thames Valley.All very green!

..05 may 2016...

Thames-Turbo 166210 wearing the now quite common place GWR-Green speeds up the slowline here at Sonning Cutting past Butts Hill Road on '2P44' the 10:37 from Oxford heading for Paddington (Where else??).
I was under the impression that entry doors on all modern trains had to be quite visible for the 'partially sighted' due to recent H&S regulations. Amazingly GWR/FGW cannot even get this simple regulation right.The new door colour is pretty well camourflaged.I have a job seeing the doors and I have reasonable eyesight!

..05 may 2016..

A pair of Thames-Turbo's pace each other as they pass through Sonning Cutting on the approach to Twyford.The working are '1P37' the 09:50 from Moreton in the Marsh with 165107(non-stop through Twyford) and '2P41' the 10:48 from Reading using 165113.Both are going to Paddington.

..05 may 2016..

GWR-Green 166214 passes Butts Hill Road in Sonning Cutting with '1K45' the 09:39 from Bedwyn heading for the Capital (Paddington).

..05 may 2016..

2-car 165132 in the now seemingly quite colourful old FGW livery speeds east through a still unsullied by OHLE (for a while longer at least) Sonning Cutting at Butts Hill Road with '2P37' the 09:48 from Reading to Paddington service.

..05 may 2016..

GWR-Green 166208 and 165127 in FGW-Blue are working the morning strengthened 08:43 service from Bedwyn to Paddington '1K41'.Viewed in the deep deep cutting at Sonning west of Twyford in the Thames-Valley.

..05 may 2016..

166210 wearing the new GWR-livery which regretfully even in full sunlight still looks pretty dour stands in Twyford whilst the passengers sort themselves out.The service is '2N22' the 08:55 from Paddington going to Oxford.

..05 may 2016..

A busy scene here at Twyford with the rush-hour in full swing.165101 is going away from the camera as '2R15' the 07:42 Paddington to Reading whilst 165116 prepares to depart for Paddington with the 08:31 from reading to Paddington '2P31'.Both Units being '165's' are still in FGW-Colours as it seems that the game-plan is to repaint the Class-166's first into GWR-Green.

..05 may 2016..

Running well away from its usual duties GWR-Green Thames-Turbo 166216 speeds past Shockerwick Footbridge west of Box with an ECS '5Z40' from Reading-Traincare Depot going to St-Philips Marsh HSTD.It had been selected as an exhibit at the Open-Day there planned for the 2nd of May.

..30 april 2016..

Here is 166204 a GWR liveried Thames-Turbo seen using the through lines at Newbury Station working an ECS '5K54' the 13:40 from Bedwyn going to Reading TrainCare-Depot.Note the distinctive red nameplate affixed to the lead carriage.It is a dedication to 'Norman Topsom MBE' a long serving railwayman who worked as the Stationmaster at Twyford Station and retired after a 50yrs+ long career in late-2015.During his time there he must of flagged this particular unit away many thousands on times!

..23 april 2016..

Here is my first encounter with GWR liveried Thames-Turbo.
3-car 166204 gets away from Newbury Station with the 12:49 from Reading to Bedwyn service.

..23 april 2016..

Still wearing the 'squiggly lines' FGW livery 2-car 165132 runs into Didcot-Parkway with '2P48' the 11:37 from Oxford to Paddington.These Units are set to be replaced on these Oxford-Paddington services once the hugely delayed and in reality totally unneccessary electrification is finally completed in this area.

..13 january 2016..

FGW 3-Car Turbo c/w its partially obscured running number 165113 gets away from Oxford with '2P40' the 09:37 service heading for Paddington. Oxford Station is just visible in the background.

..26 september 2015..

Dymanic-Lines blue liveried 165117 motors up through Culham in the early morning weak sunshine on '1D15' the 07:50 Paddington to Oxford service with what remains of derelict Didcot 'A' coal power-station in the background.The staged complete demolition in stages took another section out less than an hour later.The Coal Bunkers in front of the tall chimney being the target. Thanks 'N-Power' for your thoughtlessness!
Click HERE to see it come crashing down.

..26 september 2015..

Turbo's 165112 and 166208 are working '5Z35' from Paddington down to Castle Cary in order to return as '1Z35' with a few hundred happy campers that had been attending the Glastonbury Pop Festival.Thankfully no rain of any significance this year so these workings are not going to get too filthy after its passengers have been rolling around in fields for a couple of days! Seen passing Clink nr Frome. The spectacle of these Units is set to become a regular thing in a few years time after they are cascaded into the Area after being replaced by EMU's in the Thames-Valley.

..29 june 2015..

Todays 'extra' for the Glastonbury Pop Festival operating from Paddington to Castle Cary as '1Z32' was again made up of a pair of Thames-Turbo's.Currently these Units have no place in the local regular work patterns but that is set to change once the Electrification of the Thames-Valley is completed (When ever that is?????).Anyway here are 165130 and 166213 speeding down the Frome-Avoiding Line going to Castle Cary.It then goes back to Old Oak Common rather wastefully as ECS.

..25 june 2015..

Once '1Z32' had reached Castle Cary and disgorged its load of Glastonbury Pop Festival Visitors into the waiting buses for onward movement to Pilton. 166201 and 165125 quickly became '5Z32' (departing Castle Cary at 12:30) to run ECS back to London-OOC.It is seen passing Fairwood Foot-Xing travelling at speed as once again it will avoid Westbury Station by using the avoider.

..24 june 2015..

Up until a few years ago the Glastonbury Pop Festival used to produce a few Loco hauled trains starting from London.However these days in less enlightened times the most interesting working going to Castle Cary is a duo of Thames-Turbo's which never ever pass this way in the normal run of things.Here is pairing 165125 and 166201 running at speed at Clink nr Frome.Working as '1Z32' the 10:33 from Paddington to Castle Cary.It used both the Westbury and Frome Avoiding Lines with its full payload of Pop Festival Punters.

..24 june 2015..

'Turbo' 166217 gets away from Moreton in Marsh with the 09:51 from Great-Malvern going all the way to Paddington.This area still retains original GWR signalling c/w the pole topping finnials.Amazingly none of the signal ladders on the poles here have not been subjected to the OTT protective H&S climbing cages as have so many other places! Note the working Signal-Box on the end of the 'up' platform.

..11 april 2015..

'Turbo' 165131 gets away from Platform-5 at Twyford with '2H30' the 16:50 service down the short branch to Henley-on-Thames.By now the late afternoon sun had turned the low light available very yellow.

..07 march 2015..

Thames-Turbo Twin-pairing led by 165129 runs down the main at Milley Bridge-Shottlesbrooke with '1P41' the 12:01 from Oxford heading for the Capital.Plenty of activity here connected to the upcoming electrification.The bones of the new higher signal gantry plus thorough clearance of line side vegetation in readiness for the masts&wires.

..07 march 2015..

2-car Turbo 166208 restarts the '2R47' 15:12 service from Paddington to Reading away from Taplow.Note the rebuilt but still substantially original GWR Footbridge spanning the tracks here.Unfortunately it will be swept away in the name of progress???? in the next few years.

..18 february 2015..

'2S32' the 10:40 from Windsor&Eton Central runs over the junction on its approach to it destination Slough.Todays 'Unit' is 165131 and the entire journey only takes 5 minutes.This shuttle service operates every 20 minutes so not not too much of a problem if you miss one!

..18 february 2015..

Yet another 'Turbo' pairing speeds under the recently rebuilt minor road bridge at Lower-Basildon.This pairing 165116 and 166204 formed '2Z48' the 12:12 from Oxford to Paddington.I suppose even these relatively modern UK built DMU's will be displaced from this route once the wires go live.I wonder what? will be their replacements.

..06 december 2014..

166211 leads another pair of 'Turbo-s' going to Paddington from Great Malvern (09:51 off).This service was '1P40'' and was using the 'fast' as it passes under the recently raised road bridge here at Lower-Basildon.Note the piles of new replacement wider concrete trunking sections that will replace the existing set-up once the electrification is fully installed over the next year or so.

..06 december 2014..

'2P46' the 11:07 stopping service from Oxford to Paddington made up with a pair of Network-Turbo's with 165122 leading passes the Lower-Basildon road bridge heading east.

..06 december 2014..

Network-Turbo 166202 makes use of the ladders at South-Moreton to gain the fast-line with '1P41' the 12:01 from Oxford heading for Paddington.Do not be misled by this seemingly 'All Day' sunny type shot. This was the only picture I managed in sun from 09:30 in the morning until nearly 15:00 later in the afternoon.Hard going but the wait was eventually worth it! See HERE

..05 november 2014..

A pair of Turbo's led by 165131 passes Lower-Basildon with '2N52' the 16:25 from Paddington going to Oxford.Note a pair of the local bird population gazing on discussing the merits of the up-coming electrification of this route!

..07 august 2014..

Network-Turbo 165117 hurries down the slow lines at Duffield Road in Sonning Cutting.It is working '2R37' from Paddington going only as far as Reading.Although Network-Rail have done considerable vegetation clearance at the tracksides in readiness for construction of Masts and OHLE the severe tree growth here in the famous cutting totally masks the sheer size of the original construction.A pity,not that N-Rail really care!

..07 august 2014..

A pair of Turbo's pass one another at Didcot-North. 165116 is going to Oxford from Reading '2L40' whilst 165102 heads for Paddington from Banbury as '1P25'.

..22 july 2014..

This is the 06:04 from Oxford going to Paddington.Seen passing Cholsey-Manor Farm at 06:41. Unit 165105 was leading the pair.The big question is What? am I doing here at such an early time.Well the answer is in the background.This was the final week before the lefthand trio of cooling towers at the now redundant Didcot 'A' Power Station were demolished and I was keen for a few last shots before they were gone forever.This duly happened a few days later in the early hours of the 27th, just 5 days later.RIP Didcot you were shafted by the Eurocrats!

..22 july 2014..

At last a shot in the sun! However it is just a mundane 'Turbo' 165109 working '2P62' the 15:07 from Oxford going to Paddington.Seen taking the route for Didcot-Parkway Station here at Didcot-North.The evils of electrification are going to extend north from Didcot as far as Oxford so even this location is going to be ruined soon by gantrys and wires!

..19 july 2014..

'Turbo' 165111 with most of its Unit-number strangely blocked out rolls into Moreton in Marsh with '1W25' the 15:22 from Paddington going to Great Malvern. Plenty of ex-GWR style semaphore signals still in use here.No doubt all will be swept away in the not to distant future.

..07 june 2014..

If its the end of June then it must be Glastonbury Festival time.The majority of the extra trains to Castle-Cary have been made up with HST's.However a couple of services from London today were run using Turbo's usually employed on Thames-Valley services. So here are 166203/165120 speeding down past Clink nr Frome with '1Z31' the 10:35 from Paddington going to Castle-Cary only.It then ran back to London-Old Oak Common ECS.These Festival extra's are possibly the first time Turbo's have run revenue earning services west of Bedwyn on the B&H so a quite rare working!

..27 june 2013..

165033 operated by Chiltern Railways speeds north away from Kings Sutton on a stopping service '1D49' from London-Marylebone (17:09 off) going to Stratford-on-Avon.This is what the previous picture of 67017 should have looked like! Naturally the camera never plays up when the subject is a plain old DMU ! I think its called Sods-Law.......

..10 june 2013..

Turbo 165132 + an unidentified classmate works the 16:25 from Paddington to Oxford past the hangers at Culham just north of the station there.

..04 june 2013..

Chiltern Railways operate the Oxford to Bicester shuttle trains.Here is '2T10' the 11:00 from Oxford going to Bicester.The 2-car DMU 165022 is seen at Mill Lane Crossing on the approach to Islip Station.Its hard to believe that within a couple of years this low-key singe line byway will be transformed into a double tracked mainline with 25 Kva overhead electrification.Even the rail-link beyond Bicester all the way to Bletchley is set to become operational again. Sadly this crossing will be closed and traffic will have to take the 'Long Way Round' afterwards!
To see what a superb setting this crossing is click HERE

..04 june 2013..

Here is the local shuttle service that works between Reading and Basingstoke.This particular service is '2J41' the 14:39 off Reading to Basingstoke. Turbo 165120 was operating the service.It is seen departing from Bramley going south.

..01 june 2013..

Turbo-165136 heads away from Reading-West at Southcote-Junction with '2J25',the 10:39 from Reading going to Basingstoke.

..25 may 2013..

165111 departs Twyford heading for Paddington with '2P37' from Reading.Not long to go now before this high clear shot is ruined forever by OHLE spreading like a cancer from Airport-Junction!

..25 may 2013..

165117 and 166205 make up a 6-car combination on '1D61' the 18:18 away from Paddington going to Oxford.Another trainload of knackered commuters going home to another evening of Eastenders and Coronation Street! The working is seen north of Radley.

..22 may 2013..

165135 is seen again today, this time on '1K38' the 13:30 off Reading to Westbury only.Here it it viewed running at full speed past Woodborough on the B&H. The next appearance of this 165/166 type of DMU out of its regular area is set to be as the stock for running the shuttle-trains in connection with the Glastonbury Festival.Signs have already been erected at Castle-Cary showing where the driver has to stop---'165/166 5-Car stop'---.So thats something to look forward too!!!!!

..06 april 2013..

Next up was '1K34' the 11:30 off Reading to Westbury.The overbridge leading to Baynton Farm at Edington was chosen for this one as it's one of the few places where the light is just coming onto the front of these rather rounded front Units at this time. 3-car 165111 was doing this duty.

..06 april 2013..

165135 after a brief turnaround at Westbury formed '1K37' going back to Reading departing at 11:47.Here the 2-car Turbo speeds past Great Cheverell heading East. Amazingly whilst stood there for just 15 minutes three seperate cars stopped and asked the time honoured question 'Is ++++ + S++++ T++++ C+++++'. ??????????? The answer that it was a 2-car Thames-Turbo left them quite perplexed!

..06 april 2013..

With the substitute Turbo Shuttles between Reading and Westbury ending tomorrow on the 7th today seemed a good day to get a few shots of these (for now) unique workings whilst the spring sunshine was at last showing itself for hours on end! Here is 165135 arriving at Westbury with '1K30' the 09:33 from Reading going only to Westbury. Amazingly these Shuttles had the entire B&H to themselves today with no booked HST's or Freight whatsoever.

..06 april 2013..

Another of the 2-hourly shuttles from Reading to Westbury passes Great Cheverell.Rare Visitor Turbo-165110 just managing to pass this location in a patch of sun as the skies above were becoming increasingly thick with cloud cover.This working was '1K38' the 14:42 off Reading going to Westbury.

..31 march 2013..

'1K30' the 10:42 from Reading to Westbury leans into the curve at Great Cheverell just West of Lavington on the B&H.165110 doing the duty.This is yet another substitute connecting service to Westbury whilst Reading is closed for the entire Easter period.Passengers could then use HST services to either London Waterloo or Penzance from Westbury that were also diverted away from the Reading Area.

..31 march 2013..

Thames-Valley Turbo's were again used today on Reading to Westbury Shuttles whilst the Easter Blockade continues at the Main Station at Reading allowing no through trains whatsoever.Here is 165112 heading towards Reading with '1K33' the 11:14 from Westbury.It is seen passing the site of the long removed Bratton Station on the B&H although the old goods shed remains as an industrial unit.This type of unit never actually gets to Westbury on normal service days so the sight of one of these here is rare indeed.
..31 march 2013..

An interesting working took place today.Running as '3Z11' from Reading-TMD down to Castle-Cary and return.This is a gauging train in readiness for the Reading to Westbury 2-hourly shuttles whilst Reading Station is closed for complete major work on the remodelling there.This is due to happen from 29/03 to 07/04 this year.Also included in the duty was a trip on down to Castle-Cary because this 'Tick in the Box' will allow this type of Unit (165/166) to be eligible for use on the Glastonbury Festival Shuttles this Summer. Anyway here are 166211/165130 passing Styles-Hill during an inevitable dip in the sunlight heading for Castle-Cary.Possibly the first time ever one of this type of unit has passed this way.

..17 february 2013..

Chiltern-Railways 165006 slows for the Islip stop with the 11:30 from Bicester to Oxford '2T11'.This 2-car unit runs the entire service all day shuttling up and down hour after hour.Note the various junk dumped in the yard here.Out of shot are two Portacabins used as a basecamp for a crew of men working on this stretch of line cutting back the trees etc in readiness for doubling this stretch in the near future.Electrification is even on the cards in the long run!.

..15 february 2013..

A pair of 3-car Turbo's numbers 166206 and 166216 pass each other at speed beside the lake at Hinksey. My vantage point,the footbridge which crosses the railway yard and lake here is set to be replaced in the near future with a structure somewhat higher to allow the OHLE to clear it underneath.Almost certainly it will gain a cage and 6ft high sides thus ruining yet another photographer friendly location.

..15 january 2013..

When the BBC percieved clear spell finally got this far east at Didcot there was basically nothing left worth photographing.However this view of 165102 rounding the curve past the Yard at Didcot with the 14:07 'All Stations' to Paddington was worth a punt!

..10 november 2012..

165135 'Turbo' crosses over at Didcot-North to take the route into Didcot Parkway station.This was the 16:37 'All Stations' from Oxford to Paddington.

..22 may 2012..

'Turbo' 165101 gets away from its Didcot stop with the 05:57 stopper service,all stations to Oxford.In the background can be seen 66044 about to go north to Kineton to return with a loaded MOD freight.

..22 may 2012..

The 14:07 from Oxford (All Stations) service to Paddington slows for the Didcot stop seen here passing the North-Junction there.166122 with 165124 make up this 5 coach train.

..03 march 2012..

166209 forming the 17:07 Oxford-All Stations-Paddington takes the Didcot-Parkway route for its booked stop there.Seen at Didcot-North.
..19 april 2011..

The 11:07 of Oxford stopper going to Paddington slows for Didcot at the North-Junction passing a dumping ground that is so typical of todays Railways.165116 doing the business. ..19 april 2011..