Just 'click' the thumbnails for a fullpage image! (1280 +827 nominal)
EWS & DBS (After 01 August 2016)
The Original 66 type to enter the Country in 1998. Of the original 250 in the UK 64 now in France,15 are in Poland and just one has been withdrawn due to crash damage leaving just 170 in use in the UK
This is something of a rarity around Westbury these days----A DB operated engineering train!... So here are EWS liveried pairing 66093 top-n-tailed with 66011 sandwicing a rake of yellow-NR JJA's.Seen as '6W03' coming up from Exeter-Riverside Yard going only as far as Westbury Down-TC.Pictured in near perfect lighting at Fairwood on the final approach to Westbury itself.
..5 february 2018..
Thanks to the activities of the local 'Cutting Crew' several long lost photographic locations are again available for use albeit probably just for the next year only given the speed these shrubs grow these days.Here is one that has been lost for several years but now thankfully now useable again.66132 approaches Clink working '6V33' the 07:19 from Wembley Euro Frt Ops Centre to Whatley Quarry to collect a load of aggregates.
..25 october 2017..
EWS-GM 66122 hauls '6M20' the 10:37 from Whatley Quarry to Churchyard Sidings at St Pancras out through Berkley Marsh nr Frome. It was a pleasant surprise to see the older orange RMC 'rust-buckets' back on this duty.They certainly add a spot of variety to the local aggregate wagon scene!
..20 july 2017..
Working what appears to be an early running '6C76' the 14:40 from Acton-TC to Whatley is EWS stickered GM-66122.Lighting here briefly was quite excellent making for a well balanced shot requiring little or no processing in PS!
..13 july 2017..
'6C58' the 12:05 from Oxford-Banbury Road to Whatley Quarry although not listed on RTT was running anyway! Here it is passing Great Cheverell with EWS-GM 66061 in charge.Today this line was particularly busy with all the Paddington to Bristol HST services being diverted this way due to ongoing engineering work between Chippenham and Wootton Bassett.
..12 july 2017..
66044 in DB-Red still looks reasonably clean and shiny some time after it received its new paint-job.Here it is seen in the Wylye Valley at Norton Bavant working the 14:47 from Eastleigh East Yard to Westbury engineers train '6V41' that comprised of 40 'coalfish' type 4-wheelers.A pity this location did not allow more than 5 or 6 to be seen.Oh well-whatever!
..10 july 2017..
DB stickered GM-66088 approaches Clink Road Junction with '6C58' the 12:05 from Oxford Banbury Road to Whatley Quarry via the B&H.
..10 july 2017..
DB-Red 66044 climbs the Upton Scudamore Incline at Dilton Marsh with '6O41' the 10:14 from Westbury Down-TC heading for Eastleigh East Yard. Load today being a heavy crane DRK-81601-ZOA c/w its pair of support runners VR-97401-KFA and VR-97402-KFA.
..10 july 2017..
Todays '6V41' from Eastleigh-East Yard up to Westbury -Dn TC was a nice mixed bag of various wagon types.66102 with a couple of IOA's probably off repair at Eastleigh-Works plus bagged ballast in 4-wheelers and a load of new concrete sleepers.Viewed running slowly through Millbrook west of Southampton Central.
..6 july 2017..
'4O40' the 09:43 from Morris-Cowley at Oxford bound for Southampton Eastern Docks with its 'blue sausage' load of BMW-Mini's for export speeds through Eastleigh.66034 still in 'heritage' EWS livery doing the job.
..6 july 2017..
66177 c/w its 'cheapo' cab cooling white roof which last weekend was substituting for the failed 60163 on the 'Torbay Express' from Bristol to Kingswear today found itself working '4O43' the 06:43 from Birch Coppice to Southampton-Western Docks Berth-109.Seen passing Eastleigh under an extremly hot sun at Campbell Road.
..6 july 2017..
GM-66137 which was dual logo'd as DB & EWS runs up the relief on the approach to Eastleigh with '6M48' the 10:34 from Southampton Eastern Docks going up to Halewood nr Liverpool with its train of empty car-carriers.
..6 july 2017..
The ECS from yesterdays somewhat disastrous 'Torbay Express' returned to Eastleigh-Arlington from Bristol-Temple Meads (10:10 off) today.Here it is seen in equally disastrous lighting conditions passing through Wylye in the Valley of the same name. EWS-66177 with its curiously painted cab roofs was doing the duty as it did yesterday substituting for 60163.
..3 july 2017..
After last month initial 'Torbay Express' of the season from Bristol-Temple Meads to Kingswear was hit by the imposition of a 'steam-ban' that required 60163 'Tornado' to be piloted by an EWS-GM Shed todays 2nd run '1Z27' the 08:00 off BTM got even worse! 60163 failed and the train ran but with just this loco 66177 'Snowy' in charge.So I guess that makes this working with approx 500 people on board not a very happy place to be!.Things got even worse on the return journey back to Bristol for '1Z28'.A massive signal failure between Tiverton and Taunton brought the entire mainline to a grinding halt.Expected arrival at its destination looks to be about 3 hours late.A memorable day but,for all the wrong reasons. This shot was taken at Clink nr Frome with the down '1Z27' this morning.
..2 july 2017..
Here is EWS's GM-66171 working '6Z41' a TThO-Q working from Acton-TC (14:11 away) to Whatley Quarry.Seen at Pot Lane nr Frome. Given the current boom that aggregates seems to be experiencing this is a 'Q' working that run very regularly.
..22 june 2017..
Here we have a twelve coach fully loaded 'Torbay Express' from Bristol-TM (08:00 off) going down to Kingswear in Devon.I bet the fare paying passengers that parted with £110 each for an expected journey behind an unassisted 60163 'Tornado' were not very impressed when EWS-GM 66102 was added to the front! Some pathetic excuse about lineside fires yesterday in Yorkshire caused by a steam excursion led to this debacle. However 'words' must have been had as the return journey that evening had 60163 leading. The outgoing diesel tour '1Z27' is viewed approaching Frome with 60163 inside wasting coal.
..18 june 2017..
Todays 10:37 departure from Whatley Quarry was destined for Hayes & Harlington-Tarmac so runs as '6A26'.Here gathering speed at Berkley shortly after crossing onto the mainline at Clink Road Jn. DB Stickered 66023 was doing this duty today with the usual mix of HOA & IIA bogie hoppers.
..14 june 2017..
'Heritage' liveried EWS-GM 66169 powers around the 'Rhubarb Curve' between Dr Days Junction and North Somerset Junction in the City of Bristol working the 13:30 from Avonmouth-Bennetts Siding to Westbury Down-TC.This 'tuesday-only' working runs as '6Z84'.The load of aggregates which is being carried in HTA ex-coal hoppers is eventually destined for Theale nr Reading.
..13 june 2017..
Todays '6M20' from Whatley Quarry to St Pancras-Churchyard Sidings-Tarmac ran in the earlier path of 08:30 off the Quarry instead of the usual 10:37 departure.Here the well loaded train of 21-hoppers was headed by DB-Cargo's 66108.Seen here getting away from Clink Road Junction in Frome at Berkley Marsh.
..13 june 2017..
DB contiues to repaint their fleet of GM-66's into the bright-red current livery.This loco 66044 being one of the recent recipients.Here seen at Fairwood nr Westbury with '6M20' the 10:37 from Whatley going upto Churchyard Sdg's at St Pancras in London.The regular mix of HOA's and IIA's making up the train usually about 19 bogies long.
..1 june 2017..
EWS-GM 66030 hauls its well loaded lengthy Intermodel '4O26' from Trafford Park-Euro Terminal going to Southampton Western Docks-Berth-109 down past Mount Pleasant in the suburbs of Southampton.
..10 may 2017..
This is an interesting working, '6Z86' the returning MMA-Box empties from Wembley which have brought in aggregates to the new Stone Terminal recently activated here at Mount Pleasant.66013 is viewed getting away with the return working going via Romsey,Andover and Woking.The train was somewhat delayed because the points (the one the loco is moving over in the shot) suffered a failure and the train was unable to leave until a gang of five track workers arrived (within 30 minutes after the failure was noted!!!) who after 20 minutes of faffing about got it working again properly.Quite slick really I have to say!
..10 may 2017..
Yes the moment you have been all waiting for!--Blue Sausage-Time! 66021 runs down through Eastleigh with '4O21' the 09:43 from Cowley(Oxford) MAT going to Southampton Eastern Docks.Although completely covered the train is known to be exclusively BMW-type Mini's for export.Viewed from Campbell Road Bridge.
..10 may 2017..
Positively glowing in the strong sunlight DB-Cargo liveried 66128 rolls through Eastleigh with '4O43' the 06:43 from Birch-Coppice Exch Sdg's going to Southampton Western Docks-Berth 109.Another well loaded intermodel working for DB.
..10 may 2017..
EWS's 66102 rounds the corner on the recently re-installed 'up' relief line here at Eastleigh going to Halewood (Jaguar) with '6M48' the 10:34 away from Southampton Eastern Docks.The STVA car carriers are returning north empty to collect more Jaguars for export via this southern port.
..10 may 2017..
66109 and its train of HTA's making a passable impression of a now quite rare coal-train which is in fact hauling aggregates from Avonmouth-Bennetts Sidings (13:30 off) to Westbury as '6Z84.Here passing Oldfield Park in Bath. At least some of the many hundreds of now redundant 'HTAs' have found alternative work carrying stone instead of coal.Some are even being modified with shorter wheelbases to make them even more suitable.Scapping wagons that are in some cases less than 15 years old is the unpalatable alternative!
..9 may 2017..
This is the returning 'loaded' working back up to Wembley from Whatley Quarry that came in as '6V98'.The report code for thie escapes me at this time ????? Anyway it was still 66181 with its set of ex-RMC's plus an odd IIA grinding its way up to speed after coming off the sharp junction on to the mainline at Clink. For sure DB-Cargo are an equal opportunities employer as the driver of this working was a lady with long blond hair!
..8 may 2017..
As this working was running about 90 minutes behind schedule it has allowed me to picture it here at Great Cheverell with the sunlight nicely on the front of the loco EWS's-66181.Also the older ex-RMC 'rust buckets' are regulars on this working '6V98' the 11:07 from Wembley Euro Frt Ops Centre to Whatley Quarry.All in, all making a nice combination!
..8 may 2017..
EWS's 66115 cruises past the wide open spaces that are currently being enjoyed here at Fairwood nr Westbury.The working is '6M20' the 10:37 away from Whatley Quarry going up to Churchyard Sdg's at St-Pancras.
..8 may 2017..
With the Hawthorn Bushes now beginning to bloom nicely '6C76' the 14:40 from Acton going to Whatley Quarry passes by. EWS-66104 being the loco up front.
..5 may 2017..
With the unexpected sunny spell continueing at trip was made to Norton-Bavant in the Wylye Valley for this working '6V41' the 14:47 from Eastleigh-East yard up to Westbury engineers.Ex-EWS DB stickered 66109 doing the assignment.
..5 may 2017..
After a Bank Holiday weekend with lots of engineering activity I would have though that this working today would have bound to have been well loaded with various engineering bits-n-pieces bound for Eastleigh.Well 'Sods Law' dictated that todays '6O41'the 10:14 from Westbury was in fact '0O41' instead with 66034 running LE.Oh well,what a waste of a sunny situation! Location is Penleigh nr Westbury.
..2 may 2017..
DB-stickered GM-66197 crawls slowly up past Dilton Marsh with '6O41' the morning 10:14 from Westbury to Eastleigh engineers working.Caught in a brief encounter with some lucky weak sunshine.
..28 april 2017..
I pictured this loco 66115 yesterday noting that it seemed rather smoky! Well today it was just as bad as ever so something is obviously amiss in the injection system somewhere on the loco.Anyway here it is going to Churchyard Sidings @ St Pancras in London from Whatley Quarry leaving there at 10:37 as '6M20'.Seen at a rather hazy Great Cheverell due to the loco's ill health!
..27 april 2017..
Smoky 66115 still in work-stained EWS-maroon gets away from Clink-Junction with '6A26' the WO from Whatley Quarry to Hayes & Harlington.
..26 april 2017..
This 'tele' shot was forced upon me by the clouds that had just engulfed the bridge I was standing on for about 20 minutes in unbroken sunshine! So basically it was this shot or nothing. So here is Schenker-Red 66097 emerging from the long-long tunnel here at Chipping Sodbury with '6C03' the 13:15 from Southall going to Severnside-Sita nr Avonmouth with another load of refuse.Known locally as the 'pongliner' the title becomes obvious as it passes!This service is actually on diversion today as its normal route via Bath is closed whilst the Station at Bath Spa is modified ready for the soon to appear IEP's.
..23 april 2017..
One of the latest repaints into DB-Cargo colours is 66128 here seen passing through Newport with some steel products as '6M30' the 10:55 from Margam-TC going to Dee-Marsh via a reversal at Llanwern probably to collect some further traffic.
..23 april 2017..
The still gleaming 66041 with 66024 sandwich a train of new sleepers bound for use in an engineering occupation somewhere east of Bristol either nr Keynsham or Bath-Spa..Working is listed as '6W11' the 14:40 from Westbury to Bristol-East via Taunton.Here viewed at the now incredibly pristine Fairwood nr Westbury.Even the famous White Horse has had a recent smartening up performed on it as well!
..22 april 2017..
Amazingly this loco 66024 was pictured just 10 days ago over in Cambridgeshire on a working to Warrington.Now its hauling stone out of the Mendips! So here is 66024 still in full EWS livery c/w its little 'Margam' Sheep logo rolling past Masters Crossing nr Fairwood-Westbury with aggregates empties from Oxford-Banbury Road (12:05 away) going to Whatley Quarry as '6C58'.Note the lone brand new JNA-Box behind the engine.
..19 april 2017..
Still in the well faded Ex-EWS colours 66024 runs through Great Cheverell on the B&H with '6M20' the 10:37 from Whatley going up to Churchyard Sidings-Tarmac at St-Pancras.Same old rake of various HOA's/IIA's. Come back orange ex-RMC rust-buckets,all is forgiven!
..18 april 2017..
Glowing in the morning crisp and clear lighting 66041(The currently officially assigned Westbury yard shunter) heads '6O41' the 10:14 from Westbury to Eastleigh engineers which today consisted of HQA's and a few JNA's as well.Here viewed just after passing under the A303 road at Wylye.
..18 april 2017..
Having rescued '6C58' with its failed loco 66162 off the B&H yesterday today 66041 took that broken-GM to Eastleigh as '0O41' and returned on this working '6V41' drawing quite a reasonable load including 15 loaded HQA's. Here seen at Arn Hill nr Warminster about to drop over the summit of the Upton-Scudamore incline down to its destination Wesbury Down-TC.
..11 april 2017..
Todays 12:05 Oxford-Banbury Road to Whatley Quarry via Reading '6C58' suffered a complete failure of 66162 somewhere near Crofton. Resident Westbury Shunter 66041 was scrambled up the B&H to rescue it and its train.Here it is nearing journeys end 150 minutes down on the booked schedule passing Berkley Marsh nr Frome in a lucky brief splash of sunlight! 66162 fault must have been terminal because next day it went DIT down to Eastleigh for repairs (hopefully!).
..10 april 2017..
Recent DB-red repaint 66149 c/w Big DB logo today worked the 'MO' 11:07 from Wembley Euro Freight Operations Centre to Whatley Quarry '6V98'.Here at Fairwoods Masters Farm Crossing hauling its rake of ex-RMC orange rust-buckets (My favourite stone hoppers).DB seem to have gone a bit mad latetly with the spraygun with quite a number of the GM-66's now getting a refurbished look with new paint.
..10 april 2017..
'6M89' a loaded train of sand approaches March-East Junction going to Warrington-Arpley from Middleton Towers (13:39 off).66024 c/w a Margam 'sheep' emblem was in charge of the filthiest rake of 'HOA' hoppers I have seen for quite a while.Even the Schenker-Red fairly recent repaints look completely plastered!
..8 april 2017..
DB-stickered ex-EWS 66127 with a set of almost new JNA's passes Whittlesea working '6M70' the 12:36 from Chesterton-Jn (Redland Sdg's) to Mountsorrel.Whittlesea being the location.
..8 april 2017..
66050 c/w its cabside nameplate 'EWS Energy' heads westwards through Whittlesea working '6L90' the 08:22 from Middleton Towers to Warrington-Arpley.The load being carried in these relatively new DB-Red boxes is yellow sand.
..8 april 2017..
66164 approaches Westbury with '6A26' the WO 10:37 from Whatley Quarry to Hayes & Harlington.The sun today was 'in' and 'out' all the time but somehow I managed to hit the bright moments every time which was quite pleasing for a change.Warm as well!
..5 april 2017..
Gleaming freshly reliveried 66041 lifts '6O41' the 10:14 from Westbury to Eastleigh East Yard up over the Westbury Avoiding Line at Dilton Marsh.Sadly this location is now heavily overgrown and this is the first shot I have taken here for many years.When I was a very young trainspotter this location was the main gathering point for the locals because of all the summer-saturday WR Steam and Warships that mostly went around the Avoider but also you were able to see the Warminster trains and also delegate somebody to run across the field (to the left of 66041) to spot the small GWR numberplates over there on the station-line.Happy days,just a small matter of about 55 years + ago.
..5 april 2017..
DB-66023 brings its set of empty stone boxes through Arn Hill nr Warminster returning to Whatley Quarry from Hamworthy-BCI as '6V52'.This recently re-introduced flow which returned freight to Dorset for the first time for several years can run up to 4 times a week.A nice addition once again to the local quarries portfolio of destinations for stone delivery.
..3 april 2017..
One of the latest DB repaints 66041 with its large DB logo runs through Arn Hill with '6V41' the 14:47 from Eastleigh East Yard to Westbury.The main load today being a load of brand new concrete sleepers plus a few scrap bits and pieces desined for the track recycling centre at Westbury.
..3 april 2017..
Running nearly an hour late for some reason '6M20' the 10:37 from Whatley Quarry to Churchyard Sdg's (Tarmac) creeps up through Berkley Marsh nr Frome.DB-GM 66164 still in EWS colours doing the duty.
..3 april 2017..
DB-66017 emerges from Middle Hill Tunnel through the site of the long removed station at Box with the Binliner '6C03',the 13:19 from Southall to Avonmouth.Annoyingly it was bright sunlight for a full 20 minutes waiting for this service to pass.Naturally the only cloud in a massive pool of blue sky above me did its job at the wrong moment and killed the brightness.Oh well there is always next week (perhaps).
..2 april 2017..
The 10:37 from Whatley Quarry to Churchyard Sdg's at St Pancras in London passes Berkley Marsh with the usual set of mixed HOA's & IIA's. DB's 66098 was doing the duty today on which turned out to be a very sunny day.Annoyingly I was lumbered with family commitments so this was the only shot of the day-Oh-Well?
..30 march 2017..
DB-66145 plods south past Barby Nortoft with '6L11' loaded aggregates boxes from Dowlow-Brigg Sdg's to Bow-East (DB) in London.These distinctive red boxes also visit Southampton regularly (TO) with a new flow to a recently recommissioned yard at Northam.
..27 march 2017..
The first day of British Summer Time coincided with quite a busy day at Westbury with several engineers trains and Cross-Country diverts due to work on the line between Bristol and Bridgewater.This is '6W01' containing old ballast coming from Ponypridd from where it departed at 11:56.No doubt it will eventually end up down at Eastleigh where there is a depot to process this type of track waste.Loco is EWS style 66164 and the working is seen arriving at its destination passing the Power-Box there.
..26 march 2017..
66187 c/w its budget air -conditioning white roof modification drones north through Hinksey in Oxford passing the still very busy yard there.This working being '6M48' the 09:28 from Southampton Eastern Docks going up to Halewood for a reload of Jaguar cars for export via Southampton. No signs yet of the over-budget and un-needed electrification here at Hinksey currently.No mast-bases whatsoever.Also currently the famous open footbridge that spans the yards here remains as built and is a pleasant location (for now) to observe the railway activity.
..25 march 2017..
66005's red EWS colour scheme still looks quite smart given that it is now approaching 19 years since it was in the first batch of three production GM-66's to arrive in the UK way back in 1998. Here it is working '6V41' the 14:47 from Eastleigh East Yard to Westbury.It is seen passing Arn Hill nr Warminster in a clear patch of sun in a mainly overcast sky.
..20 march 2017..
66015 works '6W04' the 10:10 from Aberthaw to Westbury Up-TC engineers train through Freshford in the Limpley Stoke Valley in just about the only patch of sunshine to be seen all day.Even this only lasted about 20 seconds so this sunny shot can be seen as somewhat of a miracle!
..19 march 2017..
DB-GM 66145 leans through Great Cheverell on the B&H with '6M20' the 10:37 from Whatley Quarry going up to Churchyard Sdgs -St Pancras.
..14 march 2017..
66034 in 'heritage' EWS style passes Norton Bavant with Battlesbury Hill forming the backdrop.The working is '6O41' the 10:14 from Westbury to Eastleigh East Yard infrastructure duty.,one of the dwindling duties that DB now perform out of the Westbury Yards.Times are tough for the DB staff there with talk of quite a few redundancies and various other cost cutting measures as well---Scary!
..13 march 2017..
The recently repainted into DB colours and still immaculate 66149 continues to work regularly out of Westbury.Hopefully I will get a sunny shot of it before it moves off to pastures-new.This was a close call however as it worked '6A83' the 13:26 from Avonmouth-Bennetts Sdg's to West-Drayton-A.R.C.Seen here at Heywood prior to taking the B&H towards London.Shot taken from a public-foot crossing.
..10 march 2017..
Another shot grabbing in the all too brief splash of sunshine was this working that passed just 2 minutes after '6A26' had cleared Clink Road-Junction going the opposite way.Here is 66127 with a set of one of my favourite aggregate hopper types which were formally in the Peak District working for RMC.The train is '6V33' the WO-Q 07:20 from Wembley Euro Freight Ops Centre going to Whatley Quarry for a load of aggregates.Pictured off the roadbridge overlooking the junction there.Note the sun is now quite high enough to allow shadowless shots going west by 11:00 (10:00 in BST from the end of the month!).
..8 march 2017..
EWS-66005,one of the first batch of three production GM's to enter the country way back in August-1998 grinds over Clink Road-Junction in Frome with '6A26' the WO-Q 10:37 from Whatley Quarry going up to Hayes & Harlingtom Tarmac Sidings.Although the weather-maps etc predicted a 100% day of cloud and rain I somehow managed this shot is a brief break in the gloom.Plenty of that so far this March for sure!
..8 march 2017..
EWS-66024 c/w its little 'Margam sheep emblem' passes Fairwood Junction with the slightly delayed '6M20' the 10:37 from Whatley Quarry to St-Pancras Churchyard Sdgs.Load being the usual HOA and IIA's.The odd Schenker-Red one seems to have gone astray!
..2 march 2017..
One of the very latest DB owned GM's to get the 'Pink' makeover is 66149 c/w the new revised DB insignia on its flanks.Here it is at Norton Bavant in the Wylye-Valley with '6V16' the 11:47 from Fareham-ARC returning empty boxes to Whatley Quarry.
..23 february 2017..
Of all the shots here at Freshford this afternoon over a period of 3 hours this was the only one without much sun if any on it.Sod's Law once again I suppose.This monster convoy of nine locomotives ran from Margam-L.I.P over to Westbury as '0X12' departing there at 10:55.Identities are as follows from rear to front--66066/66065/66149/66155/66111/66138/66158/66112 and the leading loco being 66207.Note the pair of DB-Cargo Red engines appear to have different style large 'DB' stickers applied.
..18 february 2017..
66164 in 'Heritage' EWS colours works past Norton Bavant with its load of new concrete sleepers amongst other things.It is going the Eastleigh-East Yard from Westbury as the 10:14 off there '6O41'.Access to this occupation bridge is over an incredibly muddy field.I actually spent longer cleaning off my shoes afterwards than I did waiting for the train to appear!
..17 febraury 2017..
As is the usual procedure '6M20' the 10:37 from Whatley Quarry going up to St Pancras (Churchyard Sidings) follows '1A78' departing Westbury shortly afterwards.This is 66069 grinding through Great Cheverell with the set of DB owned HOA and IIA's heading east.
..16 february 2017..
Now that we are half way through February this shot off the road bridge at Norton Bavant is once again possible without too many shadows!Here is the 10:14 away from Westbury going to Eastleigh East Yard as '6O41'.A pretty light load today of just five YKA-Ospreys in tow.66084 in budget DB livery doing the duty.
..16 february 2017..
The 2nd faithful regular in the afternoons down through Berkley Marsh is '6V18' the 11:20 from Allington-ARC going to Whatley Quarry.Today was the turn of GM-66024 instead of a more usual Class-59.Use was made of my 70-200L lens to reach out over the lengthening shadows here at to produce this relatively shadowless shot.As it was now well past 16:00 this shows that there is now enough light around given a decent sky to produce a reasonable shot!
..13 february 2017..
These redundant HTA ex-coal hoppers continue to see use on aggregate workings even though they have now been displaced by newer HOA's on the Mendip diagrams.This set is seen on '6A83' the 13:26 from Avonmouth-Bennets Yard heading up to West-Drayton-ARC.66084 in base-DB livery doing the duty.Location is Fisherman's Crossing at Lower Stoke in the Limpley Stoke Valley.
..13 february 2017..
The mist that had been threateningly drifting around this location finally closed in just as '6V33' the 07:20 from Wembley Freight Operations Centre to Whatley Quarry passed Fairwood nr Westbury.Moments later it was 'lights-out' for the rest of ther day.Shed 66054 with it set of old orange RMC 'rust-buckets doing the duty.This is the only working now that these ex-RMC's are seen around the mendip Quarries.A couple of years ago they were a permanant fixture on '6M20' every day from Whatley-Q up to St Pancras.
..25 january 2017..
This location was just about the only place for miles around this morning which was even partially clear of mist or cloud after 11:00.Luckily the light perked up just as this working '6A26' the 10:37 from Whatley Quarry going to Hayes & Harlington appeared under the roadbridge at Fairwood.Nondescript EWS 66164 was todays work horse on this jobby.
..25 january 2017..
EWS-66107 drags a empty CWR-train through Trowbridge at the White Horse Business Park after its 7-hour return journey from Bromfield (south of Craven Arms).Working being '6W97' the 05:15 away from Bromfield.This train certainly took the 'long way round' as it ran via Shrewsbury,Wolverhampton,Cheltenham and Bristol!
..23 january 2017..
Todays '6O41' ran as an 'X' due to it having the 'Points & Crossings' Carriers as the load.It was actually fully loaded with new trackwork as well as it passes Norton Bavant going to Eastleigh from Westbury (10:14 away).66155 in plain DB (ex-EWS} colours was doing to duty in the nice crisp january light.
..19 january 2017..
Today the WO 10:37 from Whatley Quarry to Hayes & Harlington '6A26' was hauled by a pleasantly clean original liveried EWS 66116.Load being the now usual DB owned set of HOA's in various liveries.Here ist is passing a partially shadowed Great Cheverell on the B&H going east.
..18 january 2017..
With all the end of the year holidays now out of the way some freight is finally starting to dribble back through the system.This is an VSTP trip from Didcot (09:43 off) down to Whatley Quarry reporting as '6V33'.This normally originates from Wembley.No doubt the set of wagons were being held at Didcot during the Christmas break in proceedings.Loco in use here is 66059,one of the several GM's that is equipped with headlights for use on the Lickey-Incline when banking freights in the darkness.Not that that happens very often these days given the state of DBC's freight portfolio!)
..4 january 2017..
Early series EWS-GM 66019 was in charge of todays '6O41' the 10:14 from Westbury to Eastleigh departmant working.Load being mainly track-panel carriers and a couple of graffitied JNA's.Norton Bavant in the Wylye-Valley being the location.
..30 december 2016..
66003 which is actually the first production EWS Class-66 (66001/2 should be considered as prototypes) shunts Westbury 'Up' sidings.Since DBC got rid of all their 0-6-0 Class-08's the practice here is to use a Type-5.Tug- 60054 is actually the current official shunt loco but although visible in the yard was standing idle,hence the GM here!
..22 december 2016..
66040 c/w new style 'Led' lighting which is certainly a much more intense set-up,particularly when all three headlights are lit such as here passes Fairwood working '6M20' the 10:37 from Whatley Quarry to Hayes and Harlington.Note the blue sky.The first I have seen for over a week hence the lack of photographic activity lately!
..14 december 2016..
As '1A78' the 06:45 from Penzance to Paddington slows for its booked Westbury Station stop '6V33' the 07:20 from Wembley Euro Frt Ops Centre to Whatley Quarry approaches Fairwood Junction .It was powered by 66140 that is still in full EWS styling.Wagons in use for this working are older ex-RMC's of various types with a few HOA's mixed in.With just a few days to go before the shortest day of the year shadows at this location can be quite a problem hence the use of a longish telephoto to get over them.The passing HST didn't help composition much either!
..14 december 2016..
EWS liveried 66006 lifts '6O41' over the Upton Scudamore Incline.It leaves Westbury at 10:14 going to Eastleigh East Yard.Todays load being about 16 older styles 4-wheelers.I understand that these smaller wagons are set to be eliminated from the wagon fleet eventually!
..1 december 2016..
This pair of GM's 66238 and 66160 have remained working this 'RHTT' since it started running way back in the middle of October,now over 6 weeks ago.Quite a testament to their reliability I suppose although the work isn't particularly strenuous.Here the '3S13' 08:45 from Westbury to St Blazey via Salisbury ambles away from there at Fairwood as the last few traces of a particulary heavy frost begin the dissapate.
..30 november 2016..
66125,one of the dwindling band of UK based DB-Cargo GM's works '6V33' the 07:18 from Wembley Euro Frt Ops Centre to Whatley Quarry to collect a load of aggregates.Nice to see this old rake of ex-RMC rust-buckets again. Until about a year ago these wagons were a regular out of Whatley on '6M20' They certainly make a change from rather bland HOA's or JNA's. Here viewed passing a still quite frosty Fairwood shortly after departing from Westbury on the final leg down to the Mendip-Quarry.
..30 november 2016..
Once a very common sight but now a rather threatened species are Steel Trains in and out of South-Wales.This is '6V05' the 09:16 from Round Oak heading for Margam-TC nr Port-Talbot.DB-stickered 66103 being in charge as it passed Undy just west of Severn-Tunnel-Junction.A great day today weather-wise to picture the much reduced available freight workings in this area.
..29 november 2016..
The 'Rail Head Treatment Train' based at Bristol-Barton Hill water-jets pretty much all of South-Wales and some lines around Bristol during its marathon tour of overnight duty. Here it is with 66106 leading and a fairly grubby 66104 doing the job which is '3S59'.Viewed at Severn-Tunnel- Junction about to dive under the river and return to England and a quick trip down to Portbury before ending its duty after over 16 hours on the move!
..29 november 2016..
The now nicely grubby '3J13' the 08:45 from Westbury to St-Blazey via Salisbury powers down past Witham Friary on the journey back down to St-Blazey.This leg however the water-jetting is not used.66238 leads with its dirty little friend 66160 tagging along.Of note is this 'pair' have remained on this duty now for about a month.Quite a testement to the reliability of these 25 year old GM's!
..28 november 2016..
The St Blazey based RHTT '3J23' heads for home as the 08:45 from Westbury via Salisbury.66238 leads whilst its equally grubby partner 66160 is on the rear.As can be seen from the state of the now heavily overgrown cutting here on the approach to Clink Junction nr Frome there is a very definite need for these workings until NR get their act together and start clearing their property of rampant scrub and trees.This of coarse they will never do!
..11 november 2016..
Still in its original EWS livery 66075 steers '6O41' the 10:14 from Westbury- Down TC to Eastleigh East Yard past the extreme autumnal colours here at Norton Bavant.I am making the most of this years superb show of colour as one good night of storms and wind and it will all be gone for another year!--
--11 november 2016----
Early EWS-GM 66012 now sporting DB branding which itself has now been superceded by DBC hums through Great Cheverell with this mornings '6M20' the 10:37 from Whatley-Quarry going up to Churchyard Sidings in London.Once the preserve of older orange RMC-rust buckets this train is now regularly HOA's and IIA's.A pity,those older hoppers added welcome variety to the local freight scene!
..10 november 2016..
Although this particular Schenker-Shed has been repainted into the newer red livery now for just over a year this is my first viewing of it! Here is 66058 'Derek Clark' working '6O41' the 10:14 from Westbury Down- Sidings to Eastleigh East Yard,passing Norton Bavant in the Wylye Valley.Of note is that Schenker have finally come to their senses and placed the proper sized nameplates in the traditional position on the bodyside instead of squashing it up under the cab windows!
..10 november 2016..
Dirty-Duo 66238 & 66160 trundle down through Berkley Marsh with '3J13' the 08:45 from Westbury to St Blazey via Salisbury.No prizes for guessing which end the water-jetting equipment operates from!
..9 november 2016..
This is 66051,along with 66133 they operate '3S59' the Bristol-Barton Hill W.R.D based RHTT that deals with most of South-Wales and lines around Bristol.This duty lasts from 21:07 departure time from Barton Hill until 13:08 approx next day.A mammoth duty lasting 16 hours.Viewed in Temple Meads where it reverses after coming of the Depot earlier.
..2 november 2016..
The St Blazey based RHTT '3J13' jets its way through Warminster returning from the Salisbury leg of this mornings 08:45 from Westbury to St Blazey.An unsighted 66160 was leading whilst 66238 was on the rear.
..2 november 2016..
EWS-66082 rounds the bend through Warminster 'under' the bushes as the weak sun decides to just break through the cloud cover again briefly. Working is the regular morning '6O41'-10:14 from Westbury to Eastleigh. Load was a set of HQA's and a large Crane but that went unseen due to the overgrowth here.
..27 october 2016..
'6B35' the 13:10 from Acton-TC to Cardiff Docks (Ryan's) made up of ex-National-Power hoppers in either original albeit very faded livery ofr Schenker-Red approaches Standish-Junction with EWS-66131 in charge. I don't expect the driver of this working is particularly happy at this time given that DB-Cargo have just announced that up to 30% of its drivers are set to be made redundant some time in the near future.What can that company do ? given the governments seemingly complete ignorance of the needs of heavy industries so important to railways!
..21 october 2016..
Yet another RHTT type working reaches Westbury every evening during the leaf busting season.This one is '3S59' the 20:29 from Bristol-Barton Hill and return via Westbury,Gloucester,Avonmouth and most of S-Wales. It was powered by 66133 with 66051 on the other end.Here it is seen on the rather awkward 'down reception' siding which has a wire fence all along the long disused platform edge making use of a tripod impossible.hence this shot is hand held using 3200-iso.I think I shot off about 30 shots to obtain about 25% with sufficient sharpness.Given exposure was 1/4 second that was not a too bad success rate!
..19 october 2016..
Here is a general view overlook the 'Up' sidings area at Westbury.153370 sits in Platform-3 with '2E26' the 15:08 from Weymouth going to Gloucester.The recently arrived '3J41' with 66096 &66031 plus a smoky Colas-70804 probably about to work an engineers to Eastleigh plus another DB-Shed in the distance.This place has understandably become quite popular lately given that the local freight traffic is holding up well and now host's quite a variety of various companies locos.
..18 october 2016..
This is the Didcot to Didcot RHTT '3J41'.It departed there at 14:53 going down to Reading then up the B&H as far as Westbury.It then retraces its route back to Didcot after a short pause here.66031 leads with 66096 on back-up.Viewed passing the Westbury Power Box on its arrival off the Berks & Hants.
..18 october 2016..
66238 brings up the rear of '3J13' the 08:45 from Westbury to St Blazey RHTT working with 66160 leading.Although a rear-end shot,still worth the effort as in a few weeks these two locomotives will be almost impossible to recognise given the amount of filth that will be covering them!.Location is Fairwood Junction.For the record that is not a 'Public Safety' Camera Van in the yard opposite.A couple of S&T personnel are investigation the brick built Relay-Building adjacent to the lead- loco.Apparantly it is cracking up and in danger of collapse!
..18 october 2016..
With the autumnal colours now really beginning to show, '3J13' the St-Blazey based RHTT gets away from Westbury on the final leg heading for home completing its duties.It departed Westbury at 08:45 running via the Wylye Valley to Salisbury then back via Westbury again.Loco's in use today are 66160 leading with 66238 on the rear.After just a few days use it is starting to take on its traditional 'Mud' livery.In a few weeks the train will be a uniform dark grey/brown! Viewed at Fairwood Junction nr Westbury.
..18 october 2016..
'6O41' the 10:14 from Westbury to Eastleigh East Yard plods up past Dilton Marsh Halt on the incline away from Westbury.Coincidentally today news has broken that DB-Cargo are going to shed 900 jobs in its UK-sector due to a dramatic fall off in traffic in the coal and steel sectors.That's in the short-term.No doubt in the long run that company is probably looking for its own 'Way Out' from the UK freight scene ? Oh yes I nearly forgot loco in charge today was 66007 with a long long rake of JNA's.
..18 october 2016..
A very red looking 66051 eases through Clink nr Frome with '6C31' the 08:40 empties from Theale to Whatley Quarry.Amazingly this area just 60 minutes earlier was shrouded with fog but seemed to lift in a few minutes revealing a clear blue sky (For a while anyway!)
..11 october 2016..
This is an odd-ball working '6N75' 17:21 off Westbury going to Worting Junction via a run-round at Woking.Possibly going up to perhaps collect some scrap track panels/sleepers etc.All the wagons were completely empty.DB branded 66174 was in charge of this lightweight working as it passed Arn Hill nr Warminster whilst the shadows were lengthening although it was only 17:30.A sure sign that Autumn is fast approaching along with the early nights!
..22 september 2016..
EWS-66164 with the usual mix of HOA's and IIA's runs through Berkley Marsh with '6M20' the 10:37 from Whatley Quarry up to Churchyard Sdg's in London.Note the lone Schenker-Red HOA in the set.It seems that DB have given up repainting their wagons.None have had a livery change now for many months!
..15 september 2016..
Todays '6B35' which would normally go through the Severn Tunnel was today (and for the next 6 weeks) being diverted up via Kemble and Gloucester to get to S-Wales.here it is seen crossing over to gain access to the Golden Valley route.66015 having left Hayes & Harlington at 10:46 going to Moreton on Lugg.Note the wheels appear to have had at some time the 'white rim' treatment.Perhaps this loco was on railtour duty fairly recently?
..13 september 2016..
DB liveried 66053 draws its train of mainly various liveried HOA's through Clink nr Frome with an early running (08:30 off) '6M20' from Whatley quarry going up to Churchyard Sdg's at St Pancras in London.
..13 september 2016..
66012 takes the Wylye Valley route at Wilton-Junction with '7V07' the 12:41 from Chichester returning empty boxes to Merehead.The first five JNA's being from the new batch recently introduced into the Mendips.Note the overkill fencing on the bridge in the distance when that crossing was an internal part of Wilton's Army-Erskine Barracks Complex.It was probably that high to stop serving squaddies from tossing themselves off!
..8 september 2016..
As usual '6M20' quickly followed '1A78' after it had cleared Clink Road Junction in Frome.It was barely 5 minutes behind it here at Masters Farm Crossing on the approach to Fairwood Junction. EWS-66164 was todays loco from Whatley Quarry (10:37 off) to Churchyard Sdg's-Tarmac.Until the recent introduction of a batch of brand new HOA's for MRL this set now regularly used on this turn was their only appearence around this area.
..01 september 2016..
66074 hauls its set of new JNA's through Berkley Marsh going to Merehead with the 15:38 from Woking working as '7V12'.It was only 18:50 but the shadows are already creeping across the tracks here signalling the approach of the end-game for this years 'after-tea' photography.Tonight was particularly busy with 4 freights passing here in just 11 minutes!
..31 august 2016..
'6Z47' the 08:49 from Wembley Euro Freight Operations Centre to 'Ryans' on Cardiff Docks passes a somewhat backlit Shrivenham at the Ashbury's Crossing which is now just a foot/horse crossing overbridge.The wagons are a rake of ex-National Power bogie hoppers that have mostly acquired a coat od Schenker-Red paint.A few however still retain the original NP livery of blue.cream.Albeit now very faded.It is such a pity that the 59/2 locomotives that were bought at the same time to haul these wagons on dedicated flows don't have that livery today. Much more pleasant than EWS-66199 as seen here!
..30 august 2016..
Early GM-66006 albeit with all the updates,horn grill,buckeye couplings and wing mirrors passes Weston north of Winchester on '4O21' the 09:15 from Trafford Park in Manchester.Destination will be Berth-109 in the Western Docks at Southampton .These Schenker run container trains are termed 'Intermodal' rather than 'freightliner' probably due to some copyright regulations!
..26 august 2016..
EWS liveried 66131 was todays choice for '6M20' the 10:37 from Whatley Quarry going to Churchyard Sidings (St Pancras) Here seen on a glorious day approaching Crofton on the B&H. If only more days were like this!
..26 august 2016..
Today's '6O41' produced a bit of a surprise in that Colas 66848 was tucked inside behind normal fare for this train 66020.Load was a couple of sets of HQA's.Pictured at a now very bushy Dilton Marsh,a very small station located on a quite steep part of the Upton Scudamore Incline south of Westbury.
..23 august 2016..
Todays '6B35' to Moreton-on-Lugg started from Wembley Euro Freight Ops Centre.Here hauled by 66176 it is passing the recently cleared eastern aspect of the ugly new Shrivenham Station Road Bridge.At least there is a pavement here now to offer some refuge from the endless traffic over this now widened bridge.Wagons are the old ex-RMC's that used to be used on '6M20' regularly out of Whatley Quarry.
..16 august 2016..
DB-Cargo 66134 emerges from the heavily shadowed cutting here at Kings Sutton with '6O42' the 11:31 from Halewood (Jaguar Cars) going down to Southampton East Docks with a train load of new 'Jags' for export.
..15 august 2016..
This was a bit of a bonus (Thanks NH for the forewarning).EWS 66003 swings through Great Cheverell with a massive long train of 44 brand new boxes and hoppers on delivery to Merehead from the manufacturer on the Continent.25 JNA's and 19 HOA's all branded with MRL and VTG signage. it ran from Wembley Eurofreight Ops Centre (14:20 off) where they arrived in the country after being tripped through the Channel Tunnel.Being an VSTP working the report code was '6Z18'
..12 august 2016..
DB-Cargo/Schenker 66114 brings '6M20' the 09:37 from Whatley Quarry going to Churchyard Sidings-Tarmac in London up through Berkley Marsh with its usual mixed rake of various hopper types.To date only about seven or eight of these GM-66's owned by Schenker have acquired their bright-red livery.Only about 150 or so to go for the UK based fleet!
..12 august 2016..
66002 now without EWS branding and just a DB sticker to denote ownership passes under Arn Hill working '6V41' the 14:47 from Eastleigh East Yard to Westbury afternoon engineers.Today it was hauling a pair of heavyweight cranes as its main load.66002 was the 2nd pre-production prototype GM-66 and remained in the USA for many months after it was constructed being used as a test mule.
..11 august 2016..
66005,one of the first batch of three production GM-66's to enter the country in august 1998 traverses Sonning Cutting still wearing its original EWS livery.It is operation '6L35' an empty car carrier service from Didcot back to Dagenham Dock-Reception.No signof the dreaded over engineered electrification infrastructure here yet but that is set to change within weeks or maybe even days? Imaging this shot with all that crap in the way ???
..09 august 2016..
66003 runs through Sonning Cutting on the GWML with the 04:45 empty refuse container train from Severnside-Sita to Brentford T n W.Works- R.T.S.This new working reports as '6A03' and certainly adds a new splash of colour to the freight scene in this area.
..09 august 2016..
DB-Cargo Inter-modal '4O52' the 09:31 from Wakefield-Europort going to Southampton West Docks-Berth-109 drones south past Weston on the approach to Wallers Ash Loops.After a long day with a diet of Freightliner-GM's an EWS liveried Shed 66076 made a nice change!