Very pro-active Company with interests in Liners/Aggregates/Coal and anything else available! 25 locomotives built in 66/6 guise.6 have been re-exported to work in Poland leaving just 19 now in the UK Fleet.
Another load of empty JNA's being returned to Whatley.This time as '6C68' the 09:58 from Avonmouth.Yet another green FL-66,this time its 66606,albeit one of the re-geared versions.
..25 july 2023..
'The Poppy' 66614 passes Clink with '6V62' the 13:31 from Southampton Up Yard with empty JNA's bound for Whatley.Nice to see a complete matching set of the older Ex-MRL boxes on this working.
..19 july 2023..
66604 with '6V18' the 11:17 from Alington to Whatley creeps slowly up to the Signal for Clink Road Junction as the cause of the delay,802108 on '1A88' the 12:15 from Penzance to Paddington sweeps by.
..19 july 2023..
66604 with '6A24' the 10:18 from Whatley going to Appleford takes the Westbury Avoiding Line route at a now increasingly overgrown Fairwood Junction.
..17 july 2023..
'The Poppy' 66614 in its interim Freightliner livery with the main decal in a revised 'font' and the wording 'a Genesee & Wyoming Company' inscribed below it approaches Clink Junction wirh '6V62' the 13:21 from Southampton Up yard to Whatley Quarry empties.
..5 july 2023..
Workstained FL-66618 passes Clink with the returning empties from Southampton Up Yard (13:21 off) going today to Whatley.Its code being '6V62' that for a long time was firmly assoc with the Fawley Oil/Bitumen Tanks going down to Plymouth on a daily basis.
..2 june 2023..
Re-geared 66605 in G&W Tango Colours slows for Clink Road Junction whilst working '6V18' the 11:17 from Allington returning empties back to Whatley Quarry.
..1 june 2023..
66618 on '6A24' the 10:18 from Whatley to Appleford crawls slowly over Clink Road Junction.
..24 may 2023..
Here at Berkley the Mayflower is now in full bloom as '6V12' the 15:38 from Woking booked to go to Merehead.In fact this train ended up going to Whatley instead for some reason? 66618 being the loco today.
..23 may 2023..
Re-geared FL-Green 66618 looking somewhat dusty is seen a Clink with '6V18' the 11:17 from Allington to Whatley.
..10 may 2023..
66603 eases away from Clink Junction with '6M20' the 10:38 from Whatley going up to Churchyard Sidings at St Pancras in the Capital.Seen at Berkley nr Frome.
..04 may 2023..
66618 'Railway Illustrated Annual Photographic Awards' runs through the hawthorn laden cutting just East of Clink Junction with '7B12' the 11:23 from Merehead with another consignment of stone for the Discharge Terminal at Royal Wootton Basset.
..25 april 2023..
'Poppy' 66614 catches the low evening light at Berkley Marsh with '6C49' the 17:10 from Appleford returning empties the Whatley Quarry.
..19 april 2023..
Regeared 66603 powers over Clink Road Junction in Frome with '6A24' the 10:18 away from Whatley heading for Appleford North of Didcot.
..13 april 2023..
Current Mendip Quarry stalwart 66603 a regeared-version of the ubiquitous Class-66 powers up through Berkley with '6A24' the 10:18 from Whatley to Appleford.
..4 april 2023..
Re-geared 66605 now adorned in G&W-Tango colours approaches Clink Junction with '6V16' the 11:55 from Fareham returning empty JNA's to Whatley.
..08 february 2023..
After yesterdays continuous rain and dullness today brought a little respite before tonight's and tomorrow's predicted heavy rain again. So here is FL-66602 approaching Clink Road Junction with '6V16' the 11:55 from Fareham-Hanson Agg's to Whatley Quarry empty Stone JNA's.A lenghy telephoto being necessary to overcome the long shadows.
..13 january 2023..
Today's '6C31' the 10:09 from Theale to Whatley Quarry was hauled by regeared HH-GM 66602 is seen passing B&H Lock number-56 in cold crisp frosty conditions.
..9 december 2022..
FL-HH 66604 heads '6M20' the 10:38 from Whatley to Churchyard Sidings at St Pancras in London.Seen just after passing Clink Road Junction in Frome.
..17 november 2022..
Yet another member of the 66/6 class,this time 66602 does a turn out of the Mendip Quarries. Here it is seen returning '6C48' the 12:49 from Appleford empties back down to Whatley Quarry.Here pictured at Clink in Frome,
..14 september 2022..
Recently reliveried G&W-66605 powers over Clink Junction with its loaded aggregate train going to Theale from Whatley as '6A74 the 10:04 away from the Quarry.
..19 august 2022..
Anothe pile of green dross passes Clink in Frome.This time it is local resident 66620 coming back fromSouthamptom Up Yard (13:21 away) to Whatley as '7V62'.
..12 august 2022..
Here is the very recently re-liveried 66605.Its been on the quarries-rota now for about 10 days or so and this is the first time I have nailed it on a working with the sun on the nose. The train being '6C28' the 15:57 from Exeter-Riverside Yard to Whatley via a reversal at Westbury.Seen at good old Berkley in the superb late evening sunlighting.
..5 august 2022..
Regeared heavyweight 66620 continues to wear the 'tag' applied by some nobhead without a tangible life sometime ago as it grinds down through Berkley with the empties-'6C76' the 14:09 from Wembley Reception Sdg's 1-7 heading down to Whatley Quarry this evening.
..5 august 2022..
Mendip Quarry regular 66621 c/w its train of almost brand new blue VTG 'JNA' boxes approaches Clink Road Junction with '6C48' the 12:49 from Appleford to Whatley Quarry.
..29 july 2022..
This was a fairly unusual happening.This train '6V62' from Southampton Up Yard (13:21 nominally) returning emptied JNA stone boxes to Whatley Quarry was unable to depart from that yard in the distance by its usual route via Eastleigh due to a points failure (workmen could be seen in the distance working on the problem). So as an alternative it ran via Southampton instead which involved the loco 66621 having to access the rarely used very rusty headshunt and run-round loop to get the train sorted out for its southerly departure.Here it is actually leaving as seen at Mount Pleasant.This is the first time I have ever seen a loco against the buffers in this very old headshunt!
..11 july 2022..
66620 c/w its recent 'tag' powers away from Clink Road Junction with '6A60' the 08:32 from Whatley going up to Oxford Banbury Road.New VTG's were the order of the day today.
..8 july 2022..
Mendip regeared regular 66620 passes the long forgotten 'temporary' Bothy on the approach to Clink Road Junction on '6C48' the 12:49 from Appleford to Whatley with its train of almost new JNA's.Sadly they are only a few days old and the graffiti dick-brains have already left their mark on some of them!
..7 july 2022..
Yet more green machinary,this time of the re-geared variety 66610 passes Berkley Lane with the 14:09 from Wembley Reception Sidings 1-7 as '6C76' going down to Whatley.The more eagle eyed will have spotted the temporary fencing panals of Pot Lane bridge in the distance where the Nobs that are Network Rail are busy ruining this location photographically with totally un-necessary palisade fencing simply because they can!!
..20 june 2022..
Team-Green foot soldier 66617 slows for Clink Road Junction with '7C31' which on Fridays goes to Whatley instead of Merehead having departed Theale at 10:08 earlier that morning.
..17 june 2022..
Re-geared FL-66620 with its 'hopper only' load bound for Wootton Bassett from Merehead as '7V12' the 11:23 off passes Fairwood on the approach to Westbury.
..16 june 2022..
FL-Re-geared 66618,one of the 66/6 sub-classes that are so popular on these Mendip workings approaches Clink Road Junction with '6V18' the 11:20 from Allington going down to Whatley Quarry with its string of discharged hoppers.
..15 june 2022..
More Green at Clink! Here is 66620 with '6C48' the 12:49 from Appleford going down to Whatley.Thankfully a few 'TOUAX' JNA's to break up the greenness!
..27 may 2022..
Favoured FL-66/6's continue to work out of the Mendips on a regular basis.Here is 66613 with '6M20' the 10:38 from Whatley Quarry passing Berkley Marsh heading up to Churchyard Sidings in London.
..27 may 2022..
A very green-scene! 66614 with '6C68' the 11:38 from Avonmouth to Whatley Quarry empties is seen approaching Clink Road Junction in nice bright conditions. The aggregates from this flow to Avonmouth are then shipped along the Bristol Channel for use in the construction of the new Hinkley Point-C Nuclear-PS that is due to open in 2026.
..18 may 2022..
Freightliner's re-geared 66615 brings '6C48' the 11:54 empties from Appleford to Whatley Quarry under the A361 roadbridge at Clink in weak sunlight.
..3 may 2022..
66618 'Railway Illustrated Annual Photographic Awards-Alan Barnes' passes Berkley with '6M20' the 10:38 from Whatley Quarry with its regular consignment of aggregate for Churchyard Sidings in London.
..11 april 2022..
66615 heads '6C74' the 14:55 from Theale to Whatley Quarry.Now that BST has kicked in from last Satiurday these evening workings going back to the quarries are now available for photography (If the sun is shining of course!
..1 april 2022..
66618 'Railway Illustrated Annual Photographic Awards-Alan Barnes' slows for Clink road Junction at it passes the signal 'W110' protecting the junction.The train being '6C68' the 11:38 from Avonmouth returning empty boxes to Whatley Quarry.
..31 march 2022..
The GM regeared 66/6 variant is now firmly part of the game plan for Mendip stone traffic.Particularly for Class-6 workings. This is a rather rust stained 66617 viewed coming under the A361 Frome Bypass Bridge nr Clink with '6C48' the 12:49 from Appleford to Whatley.
..24 march 2022..
66616 with '7C31' slows for Click Road Junction in the morning sun.The working departed from Theale at 10:08 with its destination being Whatley Quarry.
..24 march 2022..
66617 is viewed at Fairwood with the now regular empties flow (6C68-the 11:38 from Avonmouth) serving Hinkley Nuclear PS via Avonmouth Docks returning to Whatley Quarry.
..22 march 2022..
Re-geared FL-HH 66618 gets away from Clink with the 10:38 from Whatley '6M20' to Churchyard Sdg's in the Capital.
..22 march 2022..
66617 with '6C48' the 12:49 from Appleford to Whatley Quarry empty boxes slows for Clink Road Junction.
..21 march 2022..
Regeared FL-GM 66618 slows for Clink Junction with its load of empty boxes from Appleford (12:49 off) going down to Whatley Quarry.
..15 march 2022..
FL's 66618 kicks out some heavy exhaust fumes as it draws '6A60' the 08:32 from Whatley Quarry to Oxford Banbury Road loaded stone over Clink Road Junction in Frome.
..14 march 2022..
66616 leads '6C58' the 12:10 from Oxford-Banbury Road to Whatley empty boxes on a nice clear afternoon past Baynton Farm on the B&H.This being the first decent cloudless afternoon now for nearly a month! Interestingly many of the boxes in use for this working are actually Freightliner's own in green livery which is quite unusual?
..7 march 2022..
FL's re-geared 66616 is seen approaching Clink Road Junction in readiness to take the junction and proceed on towards Whatley Quarry using a longish telephoto to overcome the lengthening shadows.The train being '6V18' the 11:20 from Allington to Whatley.
..25 february 2022..
Regeared 66622 creeps very slowly away from Westbury at Fairwood with '6C48' the 12:49 from Appleford to Whatley Quarry.With the time in the late afternoon now approaching 16:00 the lighting is quite golden and the shodows are lengthening by the minute----nice!
..27 january 2022..
Another FL- 66/6,this time 66604 viewed passing Berkley Marsh with '7V16' returning empties to Whatley from Fareham (departing at 11:55).
..20 january 2022..
Just like Omicron' the 66/6 variant now seems to be the predominant strain of GM's working out of the Mendips/ This is 66606 returning to Whatley with the empties from Avonmouth (11:38 off).Seen coming up the straightaway from Fairwood Junction nr Westbury.
..20 january 2022..
These 66/6 versions with Freightliner are now it seems the preferred loco's for use on Mendip Stone Traffic if a Class-59 in unavailable.Understandable really as these re-geared versions do have a considerable advantage over the standard type.So here is 66606 powering through Berkley with '6M20' the 10:39 from Whatley heading up to the capital at Churchyard Sidings.
..17 january 2022..
66604 with its empty string of JNA's passes Fairwood with '6C68' the 11:38 from Avonmouth back down to Whatley Quarry.
..14 january 2022..
Freightliners 66622 grinds through Berkley Marsh with '7B12' the 11:23 from Merehead going to Royal Wootton Basset with yet another load for the busy terminal there.Viewe over the headstones in Berkley Cemetary nr Frome.
..13 january 2022..
With the remains of the heavy overnight frost still evident in the shadows here at Bratton Old Station Yard FL's 66619 'Derek W Johnson' passes by on the B&H going to Hayes & Harlington from East Usk Yard in Newport.
..13 january 2022..
66604 ambles down the straightaway from Fairwood Junction with '6C48' the 12:10 from Oxford Banbury Road to Whatley Quarry empties having been halted on the Westbury Avoiding Line to allow a GWR passenger working to get ahead from Westbury Station.
..12 january 2021..
Despite the gloom I decided to come here to Ladydown nr Trowbridge for a spot of freight-action.With headlights blazing here is 66622 on '6C48' the 12:49 from Appleford returning empty JNA's to Whatley Quarry.
..10 january 2022..
66606 works this set of wagons from Westbury Tarmac Sidings to Whatley nominally as '6C68'.Probably because this was where they originated from earlier prior to going to the Tarmac Sidings.Viewed at Clink Road in Frome.
..05 january 2022..
Looking for DB-Red or even G&W-Orange on this duty but all I ever seem to see is FL-Green. So here is re-geared 66622 with '6M20' the 10:38 from Whatley to Churchyard Sidings in the Capital. Berkley now looking quite brown now the autumn hues have rotted away.
..10 december 2021..
Here is '6C68' the 11:38 from Avonmouth returning empties to Whatley Quarry.Freightliners 66606 being in charge of a set of seemingly graffiti free JNA's as it departs Westbury at Fairwood on the final leg down to the Mendip Quarry.
..25 november 2021..
Here is '6C68' the 11:38 from Avonmouth returning empties to Whatley Quarry.Freightliners 66606 being in charge of a set of seemingly graffiti free JNA's as it departs Westbury at Fairwood on the final leg down to the Mendip Quarry.
..25 november 2021..
The previous week end BST ended and the lighting angle here at Clink is now an hour later hence the loss of sun on th front-end of these workings even though it is still well before 11:00. so here is '6M20' the 10:38 from Whatley to Churchyard Sidings comprising a mixed set of very badly grafittied bogie hoppers.66617 was todays very green traction.
..1 november 2021..
66616 passes Heywood shortly after passing through Trowbridge with '6C48' the 12:49 from Appleford to Whatley Quarry empty stone boxes.
..25 october 2021..
'The Hope Valley' 66601 draws '6C68' the Avonmouth-Hanson-Agg Sdg's to Whatley Quarry towards Clink on an unexpectedly clear blue sky morning....Moral of the story is never believe the BBC Weather Forecast because more often than not it is wrong!
..01 october 2021..
Doyen of the 66/6 sub-class 66601 'The Hope Valley' has been busy doing the Mendip Stone trains now for a few weeks.Here it is viewed getting away from Fairwood Junction going to Whatley Quarry with '6V16' the 11:55 from Fareham.
..29 september 2021..
A pretty clean Freightliner re-geared GM 66604 comes up the straightaway from Fairwood Junction with '6V16' the empties from Fareham going down to Whatley Quarry.
..27 september 2021..
Freightliner's 66617 from the increasingly common batch of regeared versions here on the Mendip Stone Circuit grinds up through Berkley Marsh with '6A74' the 08:58 from Whatley Quarry to Theale Stone Terminal.
..21 september 2021..
66601 'The Hope Valley',doyen of the regeared 66/6 sub-class passes Berkley with '7V16' the 11:55 from Fareham bound for Whatley Quarry. Seen at Berkley Marsh slowing for Clink Junction to gain the Whatley Branch.
..20 september 2021..
Doyen of the 66/6 regeared sub-class 66601 'The Hope Valley' makes one of its fairly regular appearences on the Mendip Stone Circuit. Here today it was working '6V18' the 11:20 from Allington to Whatley Quarry.Seen on the approach to Clink Road Junction in Frome.
..7 september 2021..
66621 works a partially unloaded set of jna boxes from Bishops Lydeard (09:42 off) to Whatley Quarry as '6Z24'.I believe this is a set from Exeter that were left in a siding ay Bishops Lydeard due to the returning working from there the previous Friday had some kind of issue in the Taunton area.
..6 september 2021..
66621 draws its train of heavily grafittied Mendip Hoppers through Berkley as '6C76' the 14:39 from Acton-TC to Whatley Quarry.
..25 august 2021..
The afternoon 'jumbo' from Whatley Quarry to Dagenham Dock '6L21' which departs the quarry at 13:23 leaves a nice trial of dust behind it as it passes through Great Cheverell on the B&H.66617 in the old Freightliner colours doing the job.
..25 august 2021..
These green re-geared 66/6's now seem to predominate of the heavier workings out of the Mendip Quarries leaving only the very heaviest workings for the good old 59's of all denominations. So here is 66621 approaching Clink Road Junction with '6V18' the 11:20 from Allington going to Whatley.
..24 august 2021..
66604 drives through the Canyon of Green that used to be Styles Hill working '7V77' the 12:41 from Acton-TC to Merehead.
..24 august 2021..
The 12:41 from Acton-TC to Merehead '7C77' was today operated by 66616,here seen approaching Clink Road Junction.