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Class 59/2 (After 01 August 2019)
Former National-Power Engines now owned by Genesee & Wyoming after DBS (was EWS) and stillworking mainly out of the Mendip Quarries.
Bell carrying 59201 approaches Clink at Berkley with the newly retimed '6V18' now 13:30 off Allington-ARC to Whatley Quarry.So instead of passing here at just before 16:00 now passes at around 18:00.Alll very confusing!
..30 july 2020..
59204 along with 66566 today powered '7C29' the 06:41 from Acton-TC to Merehead.Here viewed approaching Clink Road Junction.
..29 july 2020..
59205 hauls the 74-minute late running '7A09' the 07:12 from Merehead going to Acton-TC.Good job it was late I am never 'up' by 08:00 its normal passing time here at Clink nr Frome.
..28 july 2020..
A somewhat splattered looking 59205 heads '7C77' the 12:41 from Acton-TC to Merehead through deepest Wiltshire quite near to Erlestoke on the B&H.
..22 july 2020..
This is '7O40' the FO 13:35 from Merehead going to Eastleigh Aggregate Sidings.59204 was todays traction (always a 59 on this duty because a GM-66 isn't strong enough for this load to ascent the Upton Scudamore Incline).It is seen here at Heytesbury with a few of the new Touax HOA wagons near the front which are now looking quite workstained as well!
..17 july 2020..
59205 with '7C77' the 12:41 from Acton-TC to merehead passes under the high Styles Hill roadbridge on the Frome avoiding line.Clink Junction being just visible in the far background.
..2 july 2020..
Unbranded though now Freightliner owned 59205 with its rake of heavily disfigured hoppers passes Styles hill on the Frome Avoiding Line with '7V77' the 12:41 from Acton-TC to Merehead returning empties.
..15 june 2020..
59202 rolls down the Frome Avoiding Line at Styles Hill with '7V77' the 12:41 from Acton-TC to Merehead.With the time just 2 weeks away from the longest day the sun is now high enough to record workings in this deep cutting quite easily.
..5 june 2020..
The now completely anonymous 59204 works '6M20' the 10:38 from Whatley quarry going up to Churchyard Sidings in the Capital.Seen at Clink nr a very sunny Frome!
..2 june 2020..
59202 with its colourful combo on new/old JNA's rolls through Berkley Marsh with '6V12' the 15:38 from Woking Down Yard to Merehead.
..29 may 2020..
59206 still looks quite immaculate after several weeks in service since its 'Tango' Genesee & Wyoming repaint.Here it is on '6M20' the 10:38 from Whatley Quarry to Churchyard Sidings in the Capital passing Masters Farm Crossing at Fairwood nr Westbury.
..28 may 2020..
Ex-DB 59202 with the sun just glancing off the front-end passes Styles Hill Footbridge on the Frome Avoider with a 150-minute late running '7C81' the 04:45 from Colnbrook-FY to Merehead.
..28 may 2020..
How jammy is this?? I was just passing Clink having just travelled back from Gt Cheverell on my Suzuki-600 after a couple of shots and I saw MF & SmC standing there there looking towards Westbury.Naturally I stopped and nipped over,camera in hand..Amazingly 30 seconds later this passed .Which was nice! Here is newly repainted G&W-Orange 59206 with '7V62' the 13:21 from Southampton-Up Yard to Whatley Quarry.Even luckier it was 10 minutes behind time! A good deal all round me-thinks. ..26 may 2020..
Genesee & Wyoming liveried 59206 continue's its journey down to Whatley from Woking (15:38 off) as '7V12' after its reversal at Westbury. Just enough sun here to defeat the shadows although it was a close run thing.I arrived on my cycle with about 20 seconds to spare so there wasn't enough time to get anywhere else,cycle or car even!
..22 may 2020..
The recently reliveried 59206 which still retains its original name plate albeit now repositioned on the flanks instead of the cabsides.Here it is with the 60 minute early '7V12' 15:39 from Woking to Whatley empty boxes which includes a reversal at Westbury Down Yard.Nice to picture it whilst it is still just about immaculate as well! Here viewed about to crest to summit of the Upton Scudamore Incline prior to the drop down into Westbury.
..22 may 2020..
Bell adorned 59201 approaches Clink Road Junction with '7C31' the 10:08 from Theale to Whatley Quarry.
..20 may 2020..
59201 'B' end leading dodges the lengthening shadows at Clink with '7C64' the 15:26 from Acton-TC to Merehead made up almost entirely of Tuoax-JNA's. .Like most of the Mendip traffic today returning empty trains to the quarries this train was running about 60 minutes early.No doubt when the passenger train timetable returns to something like normal these timings will revert to a more usual scheduled time.
..14 may 2020..
With 59206 now back in service out of the quarries it cannot be too long before more of the now Freightliner owned 59/2 sub-class are called in for Orange repaints.So get yer DB-Red 59/2's while you can! Here is 59203 with an early running '6C76'' the 14:39 from Acton-TC to Whatley passing Clink on a superbly sunny evening here in Somerset.
..14 may 2020..
Today the 'lockdown' allowed some freedom at last so I am now able to travel out occasionally further afield for a few pictures..So here is 59205 working an all-JNA '7C77' the 12:41 from Acton-TC to Merehead.Viewed here passing the now quite parched fields at Baynton Farm nr Bratton on the B&H.
..14 may 2020..
Tonight luck really was on my side.This working '7C66' the 19:07 from Wootton Bassett-FY to Merehead was 48 minutes early here are Berkley Marsh so I was able to photograph it in decent lighting.A RT passing here at 20:25 would have been far too late! So here is the freshly reliveried 59206 in all its G&W glory heading for the Quarry in superb late evening light.
..12 may 2020..
This is the closest bridge to my home at Clink Road Junction a mere 3 minutes away on foot! So with a judicious use of RTT & OTT I can arrive here seconds before the working passes. Here is 59202 with an VSTP working the 09:15 from Hayes & Harlington to Merehead.Seen from Clink Road bridge.
..7 may 2020..
Another superb day in the socially distanced world we now live in.Hence a quick exercise cycle to Berkley was in order (just about a mile) for this shot of 59202 with '7A17' the 10:44 from Merehead to Colnbrook-FY.Thankfully it was running about 45m early so the sunlight was still nicely on the front end of the loco..
..6 may 2020..
Ex-DB 59202 is now looking quite tatty and must surely be a candidate for a G&W-Orange makeover quite soon? Here seen with its rake of mainly new 'Tuoax' jna's on '7V12' the 15:38 from Woking to Merehead. Location is Clink as is currently usual.
..1 may 2020..
This location is barely 150 yds from my home so I am able occasionally to coincide my daily 'exercise plus the missus' with a photo opportunity.This is Ex-DB 59201 that today was employed on '7V62' the 13:21 from Southampton Up yard back to Whatley Quarry with its load of empty boxes.
..14 april 2020..
With 59206 currently away at Toton gaining the G&W Orange paint scheme it won't be too long before all of these GM 59/2's are so treated. Here is logo-less ex-DB 59203 with '7V62' the 13:21 from Southampton Up Yard going down to Whatley Quarry.Seen at Clink slowing for the junction there.
..9 april 2020..
59204 runs through Clink Road Junction with '7C77' the 12:41 from Acton-TC to Merehead. I live just 150yds away from this location so with deft use of RTT & OTT I can coincide my daily bout of permissable exercise whilst 'self isolating' with a walk over this bridge. Timing was pretty slick as I was stood there for just 20 seconds before it passed. The whole virus affair is a complete tragedy and somewhat annoying this lock-down has coincided with the best week of clear skies and sunshine for months and months.
..25 march 2020..
After a solitary walk to this empty quiet location at Berkley Marsh 59203 is viewed with '6C31' the 10:20 from Theale to Whatley Quarry which was running nearly 3 hours earlier than booked.No doubt because the network is becoming fairly empty due to cancellations because of the Covid-19 emergency.
..21 march 2020..
At last the Track Foliage Clearance Gang have sorted out the bushes here at Granada bridge/Arn Hill nr Warminster. When the sun gets higher in the sky in the coming months shadows will no longer be a problem either. So here is Ex-DB 59205 on '7V12' the 13:38 from Woking Down Yard going to Merehead after a reversal at Westbury.Note that 15 of the 18 JNA's in this rake are new 'Touax' leased versions.Not quite so shiny now as they were a couple of weeks ago!
..11 march 2020..
Ex-DB 59205 glows against a darkend sky background as it passes Masters Farm Crossing at Fairwood.The train being '7V77' the 12:41 from Acton-TC to Merehead.Easily distinquisable lately by the stand-out new red JNA 'Touax' boxes in the loading.
..6 march 2020..
59206 'John F Yeoman-Rail Pioneer' the original Schenker-Red loco now looks quite tatty.Apparantly it is set to go in for a repaint very shortly into G&Y-Orange.meanwhile it is seen working '7V16' the 11:56 from fareham to Whatley Quarry.Viewed at Fairwood nr Westbury.
..6 march 2020..
59204 leans through Great Cheverell with '7C77' the 12:41 from Acton-TC to Merehead.The new batch of JNA's from the 'Touax' leasing company were nicely placed right behind the loco today,making a change from the usual heavily graffitied FY & Hanson Hoppers!
..27 february 2020..
This loco 59203 that was formally with National Power,EWS and DB Schenker is now owned by Freightliner.It continues to work out of the Mendip Quarries in Somerset for its latest owners.Here it is passing Clink Road Junction in Frome with '6C31' the 10:20 from Theale-ARC returning a rake of empties to Whatley Quarry-FL HH.
..8 february 2020..
59202 'Alan Meddows Taylor MD-Mendip Rail Limited' slows for an adverse signal at Clink Road Junction prior to taking the route to Whatley Quarry from Theale-ARC (10:08 off) as '6C31'.
..20 january 2020..
Apart from a noticable drop off in traffic (probably due to the coming xmas period) the stone trains up and down the B&H continue pretty much as before.With 14 Class-59's available the pressure is certainly off for suitable traction from Freightliner.....So here is 59204 now with its Schenker logo's removed powering past Great Cheverell with the 11:43 from Whatley Quarry up to Theale. ..3 december 2019..
59203 still retains a 'DB' sticker for now on its nose.Here seen at Berkley Marsh with a '6C31' 09:47 from Theale-ARC to Whatley Quarry.This was runing as an STP for some reason,possible because this was a wagon collection move as the loco went the Theale earlier as a '0Z**'.
..2 december 2019..
59205 now bereft of any ownership decals whatsoever works '7A17' the 10:28 from Merehead to Acton-TC up through a somewhat backlit Clink nr Frome.
..2 december 2019..
59201 still wearing its DB-Schenker decals leads 66537/66578 and 66419 in G&W Orange up through Frome with '0A17' running in the path of '7A17' but only as far as Acton Yard. No trains here at Berkley Marsh but 9 loco's in under 10 minutes on two Convoys going in opposite directions !!!!!
..18 november 2019..
59204 has now had its DB-Schenker logo's removed and is now just plain red.Recently bought by a leasing company I believe,which one I am unsure about and now leased out to Freightliner to continue working out of the Mendip Quarries thus solving the FL haulage dilemma they needed desperately to solve! So here is 59204 with '7A17' the 10:28 from merehead going to Colnbrook-FY.Seen at Berkley Marsh in cool morning sunlight.
..11 november 2019..
DB Schenker-Red 59203 slogs up the Upton Scudamore Incline with '7O40' the FO 13:35 from Merehead going down to Eastleigh.After the end of this month this will be a Freightliner duty and presumably hauled by a Class 66/6 assuming it has the guts to haul this load up the Upton Incline.
..18 october 2019..
59201 with its 'Bell-End' leading works '7C77' away from Westbury going down to Merehead from Acton-TC (12:41 off).Only another 6 weeks and these 59/2 loco's will be transferred away to who knows where working for a still mystery new owner???
..20 september 2019..
DB-59204 continues to operate out of the Mendip Quarries at least for another 6 weeks.Here it is approaching Clink-Jn with '7C31' the 09:20 from Theale going down to Whatley Quarry.
..20 september 2019..
Schenker-Red 59205 brings '7V12' the 15:38 from Woking down through Berkley going to Merehead.By now (18:45) the sun was setting quite quickly and the lighting was getting quite thin and turning quite yellow.
..18 september 2019..
The now quite work-worn 59206 heads into the setting sun with '7C64' the 15:26 from Acton yard going to Merehead.The long long shadows show that the sunny evening is now coming to a close.
..13 september 2019..
Doyen of the 59/2 sub-class 59201 continue's to work out its last summer owned bt DB allocated to the Westbury area on aggregate traffic.Here it is passing Bratton with '6V18' the 11:25 from Allington-ARC going back to Whatley Quarry.Not long now before an endless diet of 66/6 Freightliner GM's on these workings!
..13 september 2019..
Schenker-Red 59204 rolls through the Somerset countryside nr Frome with '7A17' the 10:21 from Merehead going to Colnbrook-FY. Not long to go now before these red machines are no longer on these duties and their involvement in the Mendip Quarries is consigned to the dustbin of history!
..13 september 2019..
Having dragged myself out of bed to take my neighbours to Bristol Airport at 03:30AM I though I would make another special effort and record the early-ish '7A09' 07:17 from Merehead to Acton-TC.Thankfully it was 59206 and not a Hanson! Here passing Berkley Marsh under a soon to dissapate early morning full blue sky!
..2 september 2019..
59201 looking remarkably smart works '7V12' the 15:38 from Woking down past Berkley Marsh going to Merehead Quarry.
..23 august 2019..
59204 hauling a rake of ex-coal hoppers now on aggregate duties slows for Clink Junction going down to Whatley.Not long now before this already very green scene is even greener when the loco's doing the haulage are Freightliner-Green as well!.
..23 august 2019..
Schenker-Rust 59206 in all its workstained glory grinds past Berkley nr Frome with '6C58' the 11:45 from Oxford Banbury Road going down to Whatley with the return empties.
..23 august 2019..
Scabby looking 59206 is working '6V18' the 11:25 from Allington-ARC down to Whatley Quarry.Here viewed at Clink which is only a few hundred yards from my front door.Hence the clutch of shots taken here today..Well I was quite busy in my workshop inbetween the various freights!
..21 august 2019..
59205 one of the Schenker-6 works '7V12' the 15:38 from Woking to Merehead down through Berkley Marsh in nice evening lighting.
..19 august 2019..
DB-Schenker liveried 59206 in all its tatty glory comes away from Westbury with '6C58' the 11:45 from Oxford-Banbury Road to Whatley empties.Not long to go now (about 10 weeks) before these 59/2's are lost to the Mendip freight scene!
..19 august 2019..
DB-Schenker Red 59204 with '7C64' the 15:26 from Acton-TC to Merehead passes Fairwood nr Westbury in nice low evening light.A new angle this for me aided by a conveniently parked 'high cab' Road-Railer which afforded me a nice platform over 20ft in the air..Who needs a pole?????
..15 august 2019..
59206 the longest lived DB-Schenker Red loco working currently will probably lose this livery quite soon after it is sold in the DB 'fire-sale' of the Class-59/2's currently in progress via a closed bid auction.Here it is currently still working out of the Mendip Quarries until sold working today '4Z42' the 14:32 from Acton-TC to Merehead via Swindon and Melksham.Pictured passing Masters Farm Crossing with Fairwood Junction in the background.
..15 august 2019..
Scabby old pioneer Schenker-Red Loco 59206 powers down through Somerset heading for Merehead from Acton-TC as '7C64'. .Unlike the flat-sided hoppers these boxes with the ribbed sides seem to have largely escaped the arsehole graffiti artists that infest the freight yards around the Capital.
..12 august 2019..
DB's Schenker-Red liveried 59205 continues to eek out its remaining weeks working out of the Mendips (The contract moves to Freightliner in early November).Here seen with ''7C77' the 12:41 from Acton-TC to Merehead passing Masters Crossing at Fairwood nr Westbury.
..12 august 2019..
Here is another work-stained member of the 6 strong 59/2 sub-class 59203.Today it is doing '7V12' the 15:38 from Woking Down Yard going to Merehead with its rake of emptied boxes.Pot Lane overbridge at Berkley can be seen in the background.
..1 august 2019..
Here is a combination set to disappear in about 12-weeks time when DB are evicted from the Mendip Quarries.The Loco 59201 is being sold off,probably to GBRf for use in the North and the ex coal hopper HTA's will probably be scrapped due to lack of available work.All a bit of a pity personally methinks! Anyway here at Berkley Marsh is the 59/2 doyen with those EWS hoppers working '6C76' the 14:39 from Acton-TC going to Whatley Quarry. Footnote--The 59/2 actually ended up with Freightliner and continue to work out of the mendips.