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EWS & DBS (After 01 August 2019)
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 Of the original 250 in the UK 64 now in France,15 are in Poland and just one has been withdrawn due to crash damage leaving just 170 in use in the UK
Pictures will appear here after they are transferred from the monthly galleries
DB's 66090 'Matirime Intermodel-Six' dirties the sky as it re-gathers speed from its booked stop in Woodborough Loops.66150 was on the rear-end today.The service being '6C03' the 09:33 from Northolt Sdg's to Severnside-SITA household refuse train.Here seen approaching the long closed former junction station of Patney on the B & H.
..30 july 2020..
DB-Red 66150 was todays rear loco on '6C03' the 09:33 from Northolt Sdg's to Severnside-SITA.The need for a 2nd locol in dictated by the route taken in the Bristol Area to gain access to the SITA site located on the Severn Beach line.66090 was the lead loco as the train is seen entering Woodborough Loops for a brief stop to allow a n Express to overtake.
..30 july 2020..
66090 'Maritime Intermodal-Six one of DB's small band of dedicated 'Maritime-Blue' liveried GM's usually found on Intermodal workings today ended up powering '6C03' the 09:33 from Northolt Sdg's to Severnside-SITA transporting a trainload of household refuse. Here seen slowing to enter Woodborough Loops to allow a following Class-800 'thing' to overtake it.
..30 july 2020..
Maritime Blue 66047 'Maritime Intermodel Two' passes Bratton on the B&H with '6C03' the refuse train from Northolt Sidings going to Severnside-SITA.Just a faint trace of sunlight to raise the contrast slightly.
..13 july 2020..
Currently due to 'social-distancing' MPV's cannot work on their own with both the driver and operative in the same cabin.Hence loco's both ends(For reversal purposes) so those staff members can be kept apart. Here is '3Z15' the 09:12 from Didcot Fueling Point going down to Exeter-Riverside Yard in readiness for a programme of weedkilling west of Exeter.Seen passing Berkley Marsh nr Frome. ..6 july 2020..
EWS 66144 with its load of mainly fresh air passes St Denys nr Southampton with '4O21' the 09:15 from Trafford park-Euro Terminal heading for Southampton Western Docks-Berth 109.
..24 june 2020..
Back to an average UK summer methinks!....EWS-66080 runs up past Clink Road Junction hauling 2-sets of HQA's-10 hoppers in all as '6W05' returning from an engineering possession nr Lostwithiel (08:32 off) in rather dull drizzly conditions.
..14 june 2020..
DB's 66024 still in EWS colours operates '6W04' a 18:34 from Westbury down to Lostwithiel transporting a rather large Balfour-Beatty Crane of some description and a few bogie flats loaded with steel type replacement sleepers.Seen nr Frome at Berkley.
..12 june 2020..
The regular Margam to Eastleigh locomotive-move become something a bit different this weekend.It departed Margam with 3 locomotives consisiting of this engine 66188 plus 66155 and a DB class-60 and 8 TEA bogie-tanks in tow.The '60' dropped off at Newport-ADJ and 66155 was removed at Westbury.Here is what remained as '6O12' (presumably) of the 10:55 from Margam-TC going to Eastleigh East Yard.Pictured passing Arn Hill nr Warminster.
..23 may 2020..
66155 leads MPV-DR98906/DR98956 with 66017 operating a weedkilling lash-up.The working being '3Z15' the 11:47 from Exeter-Riverside to Didcot Fuelling Point. The reason for this arrangement is to allow the weedkiller operative to be separate from the driver under social distancing Covid regulations.Pictured passing Master's Crossing nr Fairwood.
..19 may 2020..
Something that is now far less common than it used to be is an EWS loco around Clink in Frome..Here is 66084 with '6W02' the 13:30 from Bristol-Temple Meads to Westbury Down-TC via Taunton. The working was running over 90 minutes early.The job there was obviously completed somewhat ahead of schedule! Seem shortly after passing Clink Junction in Frome at Berkley Marsh.Pictured with the aid of a 3 mile exercising pushbike ride.
..2 may 2020..
After 3 days in Cornwall RailVac 3-7095150030 hauled by DB-Red 66082 runs up through Clink as '6X54' the 05:30 from Burngullow to Westbury.This working was nearly 4 hours behind schedule.Not that it matters much given the current status we all find ourselves in.
..20 april 2020..
Another Lockdown shot just 150yds from Home------66082 with just a Railvac to tow passes Clink Road Junction as '6X54' the 14:25 from Westbury going down to Burngullow in Cornwall.Once this type of working was usually handled by Colas but perhaps now DB have got the workings?
..17 april 2020..
Still wearing full EWS colours with no DB stickers whatsoever 66207 rumbles past Hungerford Common with '6C03' the 09:33 from Northolt Sidings to Severnside-SITA with yet another load of Home-Counties houshold rubbish.
..16 march 2020..
EWS-66207 with '6C03' the 'Bins' from Northolt Sidings (09:33 dep) to Severnside-SITA passes Patney on the B&H shortly after getting under way again after a short layover in Woodborough Loops to allow GWR's '1C80' to Penzance to pass.
..3 march 2020..
EWS''s 66207 was todays choice for '6C03' the 09:33 from Northolt to Bristol's Severnside-SITS refuse train.Here pictured slowing on the approach to the loops at Woodborough to allow a GWR 'Plastic' to penzance to overtake it.
..3 march 2020..
EWS liveried 66054 draws '4V96' the 12:16 from Banbury Resevoir-Tarmac Sdg's to Bristol-East Depot-DBC through Edington.This train being a divert off the line via Swindon which is closed for the weekend for engineering works.Note the blue-VTG JNA's.These had only previously been seen along this line in the Wellingborough to Whatley GBRf workings.Perhaps that flow has now ended as it hasn't operated now for several months?
..29 february 2020..
Built as long ago now as 1998 66002 the second original 66/0-A prototype which was retained in the USA for some considerable time after mass production of this type had commenced for/endurance testing purposes and is easily identifiable by the lack of buckeye couplings hurries the Pongliner- '6C03' 09:33 from Northolt Sdg's to Severnside-SITA down the B&H at Bratton on a surprisingly sunny afternoon given the predicted weather forecast.
..27 february 2020..
Although DB's hold over the majority of the freight traffic around Westbury has faded away rather oddly it still retains the shunting duties here in both up and down yards.This duty now no longer the domain of venerable old Class-08's and is now usually a Class-66. Here is DB liveried 66150 happily shunting a rake of NR-JNA's in readiness for either a GBRF,Colas or Freightliner train later!
..19 february 2020..
66107 hauls '6C03' the 09:33 from Northolt Sdg's to Severnside-SITA rubbish train through the Limpley Stoke Valley which is its now regular booked routing.Grubby ex-RHTT 66018 was tacked on the back end.Here viewed in weak sunlight approaching Freshford Station.
..15 january 2020..
66199 in a rather workstained version on EWS-Red passes Baynton Farm at Bratton on the B&H with '6C03' the 10:00 from Brentford-Waste Terminal going to the Severnside-SITA Incinerator. A nice colourful train this,particularly when the sun is shining as it was today!
..3 january 2020..
Here is my first freight working of the new decade albeit in somewhat desperate 1600-iso lighting conditions, '6C03' the 10:13 from Northolt in London going to Severnside-SITA.This working today hauled by 66102 still in EWS-Colours now works through the Limpley Stoke Valley regularly since the previous months timetable changes diverted from the route via Swindon.Here seen passing Bradford-on-Avon fully loaded living up to its reputation as the 'Ponglner'----------
..02 january 2020..
EWS's 66080 powers the Pongliner '6C03' --10:53 from Brentford Waste Terminal bound for Severnside-SITA past the flooded meadows at Newton St Loe just west of Bath Spa..Amazingly almost the entire length of this long train is visible due to some quite drastic shrub and tree removal recently on this stretch of line.
..30 december 2019..
With the start of the new winter timetable several freights including this one now run via the B&H instead of the line via Swindon.This is because of all the new additional passenger services along that route. So here is the Binliner '6C03' - 09:33 from Northolt Sdg's to Severnside-SITA nr Avonmouth with a very grubby DB-66018 in charge.Of note is this service brings a DB operated working back onto the B&H again after the loss of the Mendips contract the previous month! The train being pictured at Cowleaze Lane in Bratton on the B&H.
..16 december 2019..
As we are now in the 1st week of December the RHTT season for this year must be pretty well into its last few days? Then with a bit of luck DB's 66151 & 66199 can have a well deserved wash-n-brush up.As it was an unusually clear and sunny morning yet another shot of '3J13' the 08:50 from Westbury to St Blazey-LIP didn't go amiss.Other freight traffic today was virtually non existent. Has Freightliner done something to upset the quarry owners I wonder?
..2 december 2019..
This years RHTT season is now coming to a close in a week or so's time so as the sun was shining today for the first time in many days this shot of our local 'squirter' was taken.66199 along with 66151 approach Frome with '3J13' the 08:50 from Westbury to St Blazey. Its hard to believe that these days this is currently the only DB duty to be seen along here anymore now the Quarry contracts have gone to Freightliner.A sad state of affairs for the once dominant DB Company.
..28 november 2019..
The local 'Squirts' RHTT as '3J13' passes Berkley heading back down to St Blazey-LIP from Westbury (08:50 off).Heavily begrimed 66199 and 66012 doing this dirty little job!
..18 november 2019..
With this engineering service now a regular GBRf job and Westbury now infested with GBRf/Colas & Freightliner loco's the last thing I expected on '6O41' the 10:14 from Westbury to Eastleigh East Yard was this EWS liveried 66154! It seems with several big engineering jobs in progress in the West-Country GBRf have had to resort to using a 'hire-in' from DB because of a loco shortage..Oh well at least the sun was out as 66154 passes Sherrington with a string of JNA's loaded with spent ballast.I suppose this could now be classed as a 'rare' working?
..11 november 2019..
66023 leads '3J13' away from Westbury going back down to base at St Blazey-LIP.The rear loco 66012 which looks quite clean was an exchange for the loco 66168 used until the train got back to Westbury where it was replaced due to its failure for some reason.Here viewed in the still quite sunny morning at Fairwood heading west.
..7 november 2019..
Today this DB 'Maritime' liveried loco 66142 'Maritime Intermodel Three' was working '6A83' the 13:26 from Avonmouth to West Drayton.A somewhat dull day but with DB being banished from these aggregate workings from the end of the month worth a shot! The location is Avoncliff Halt in the Limpley Stoke Valley. where this blue loco is seen passing under the K & A Canal Aquaduct located there.
..25 october 2019..
Finally after several days I have managed a shot of this loco in good light before it moves off to pastures new never to return given the loss of contracts in a week or so by DB working out of the Mendip Quarries. So here is a partially cleaned-up 66142 'Maritime Intermodel Three'.with '6C58' the 11:45 from Oxford Banbury Road going down to Whatley Quarry.Given the weather of late it was something of a minor miracle this was pictured in full light! (Note the black clouds in the background that had been overhead for most of the day).
..24 october 2019..
Sadly the nice clear blue skies that had brought sunshine all morning died about 30 minutes before this loco made its appearance.Maritme-Blue 66142 'Maritime Intermodel-Three' was today working '6C58' the 11:45 from Oxford Banbury Road to Whatley Quarry.With now less than a fortnight to go now before DB lose these mendip contracts this could well be my only shot of this loco locally on a stone working.
..22 october 2019..
The now just about unrecognisable pair of 66160 & 66168 work the local RHTT '3J13' -- 08:50 from Westbury to St Blazey down through Witham Friary in a surprisingly clear morning blue patch.
..22 october 2019..
'6M20' the 10:37 from Whatley Quarry to Churchyard Sidings in London grinds away from Clink Road Junction with a rather smoky EWS-66025 in charge.The wagons being the now regular HRA's with a few HOA's on the back as reinforcements.
..22 october 2019..
RHTT '3J13' leaves a long moist trail behind it just like a snail as it creeps past Arn Hill nr Warminster returning from Salisbury with the 08:50 from Westbury to St Blazey.66168 leads with its grubby parner 66160 behind.
..18 october 2019..
With the shadows lengthening fast '3J41' the 14:53 from Bescot Fueling Point and return runs into Westbury where it will reverse and return via the B&H about 40 minutes later.66018 leads with 66069 on the tail.
..17 october 2019..
DB-Red 66124 pauses in Eastleigh Station for the booked crew change of '6M48' the 10:34 from Southamptpn Eastern Docks taking empty car-carriers back up to Halewood for a further reload of Jaguar cars bbound for export.
..16 october 2019..
The '3J13' RHTT 08:50 from Westbury to St Blazey via Salisbury passes down the Frome Avoiding Line at Styles Hill busily jetting away as it goes.
..15 october 2019..
After a nice period of time in a very warm and clear blue skies of Southern Spain I have returned to the dull,damp and depressing reality of the current UK weather! Here are 66160 and 66168 already looking pretty filthy working '3J13' RHTT from Westbury (08:50 off) returning to St Blazey jetting away as it goes.Looking at the local forecast there is very little prostect of any decent sunlight in the next week or so--------Oh dear!
..14 october 20-19..
Here is the impressively smart and mainly original EWS liveried 66102 with '7Z52' the 14:52 from Southampton-Up yard going to Whatley Quarry.Pictured at Upton Lovell deep in the Wylye Valley.
..20 september 2019..
This early-build EWS-Shed 66025 has a severe coughing fit as it exits Westbury at Fairwood with '6C58' the 11:45 from Oxford Banbury Road going to Whatley Quarry.The exhaust was seemingly quite clear until the driver spied the green signal under the bridge and gave it a large handful of throttle! Well it made a nice change!
..20 september 2019..
Given that it has now been in this livery for about 19 years 66102 looks in pretty nice condition c/w all the original decals etc of the original EWS style GM's. Here it is with '6M20' the 10:37 from Whatley going up to Churchyard Sidings drawing its now regular set of HRA's. Amazingly these DB-Red wagons have so far avoided too much graffiti damage. Perhaps the bright red colour hurts the eyes of the pricks that waste their life doing this crap.
..19 september 2019..
66065 in Big Decal DB-Red passes Arn Hill nr Warminster wirg '7Z52' the 14:52 from Southampton Up yard to Whatley Quarry with a set of empties stone boxes.You certainly need guaranteed sunlight such as was available today to make this 'distance type shot really viable.
..18 september 2019..
DB's World War-One Memorial Loco 66100 'Armistice 100' make a fine sight with a nice matching set of HRA's.The train being '6M20' the 10:37 from Whatley Quarry going up to Churchyard Sidings at St Pancras in London. ..13 september 2019..
With the sun about to disappear for the rest of the afternoon EWS-66207 finally emerges from Westbury about 45 minutes late having arrived there 18 early.This working '6C68' has come from Avonmouth-Hansons Sdg's (12:25 off) and goes to Whatley Quarry. Interestingly this is the only GM in the 66200 to 66250 series currently in use in the UK.Two others are stored and the rest are either in France or Poland!
..12 september 2019..
Pictures like this will soon be a fond memory after Freightliner take over the Mendip Quarry Contracts.So here is a nice clean DB-Red liveried 66065 edging away from Westbury with '6V16' the 11:55 from Fareham returning empty boxes back down to Whatley Quarry.Viewed at Fairwood nr Westbury.
..12 september 2019..
Now in the last dying few weeks of their Mendip Quarry contract a pair of DB operated freights pass at Clink nr Frome.66013 is seen with '6M20' getting away from Clink Road Junction on the 10:37 from Whatley going up to Chuchyard Sdg's whilst '6C31' the 09:20 from Theale powered by 60024 'Clitheroe Castle' draws slowly up to the signal waiting the 'clear' to proceed on down to Whatley.Plenty of colour here but in a few months it will be Green,Green,Green!
..6 september 2019..
Todays '7V16' which for the last few weeks has regularly produced a Class-60 reverted to type today with just a bog-standard EWS-GM.This one being 66194.A tele shot being made very necessary due to the fast moving clouds that had already engulfed the foreground.By the time this slow moving train had reach the overbridge here at Fairwood all about was dark!
..4 september 2019..
'Heritage' GM-66089 with a DB-Red version 66065 on the tail passes Bratton on the B&H with '6W03' a weekend returning engineers train from Langley nr Slough (08:57 away) to Westbury Dn-TC.Not long now before practically the only DB activity around the Westbury area will be these weekend engineering workings.We live in strange times!
..1 september 2019..
Plain old 66110 looking much the same as it has for nigh-on 20 yrs workd '6c68' thew 11:25 from Avonmouth past Pot Lane at Berkley going down to Whatley.Quite a nice set of fairly new silver boxes that are currently reasonably graffiti free!
..23 august 2019..
66110 once again handled '6C68' the 13:58 from Avonmouth Hanson Sdg's to Whatley Quarry.Seen here at Clink Road slowing for the junction.
..21 august 2019..
66110 still in full EWS-colours rolls down the straightaway from Fairwood Junction with '6C68' the 12:25 from Avonmouth's Hanson Sdgs going down to Whatley Quarry.
..20 august 2019..
66199 heads the 12:25 from Avonmouth-Hansons Sdg's going down to Whatley Quarry as '6C68'.Viewed from Fairwood Junction overbridge.
..19 august 2019..
A fairly new working this still running as '7Z52' but maybe that'll change shortly? This is EWS-66012 running away from Fairwood Junction with the 14:52 from Southampton-Up Yard return empties to Whatley Quarry.A good location this as it remains quite shadow free even now at 19:30.
..15 august 2019..
66053 which appears to have suffered a minor graffiti attack heads '6M20' the 10:37 from Whatley Quarry to Churchyards Sidings at St Pancras in London.The train consisting of 22 'HRAs', the shortened version of the older HTA coal hoppers.Here seen at Berkley Marsh at Pot Lane.
..13 august 2019..
Early GM-66012 with yet another train of exclusively boxes only works down to Whatley Quarry from Southampton Up Yard (Departed at 14:52).The reporting number still remains as '7Z52' so perhaps this isn't considered a regular working just yet! Here pictured in the lengthening shadows at Berkley nr Frome.
..12 august 2019..
Here is '4Z42' the 14:32 from Acton-TC to Merehead which runs via Swindon approaching Clink Road Junction.The loco is EWS-66199 looking particulary scabby whilst the boxes behind it look almost new and still currently unsullied by Idiot applied Graffiti.
..2 august 2019..
This is DB's Memorial-Loco to mark the end of 'WW-1' way back in 1918.It is 66100 and carries the name Armistice 100 1918-2018'.As can be seen it is kept in very nice condition.Here it is unusually employed on what is normally a Class-59 duty, the 15:26 from Acton-TC taking empty boxes down to Merehead Quarry as '7C64'.Seen at Berkley Marsh is superb low evening lighting.
..1 august 2019..
66154 was today the rostered loco for '6M20' the 10:37 from Whatley Quarry going up to Churchyard Sidings at St Pancras in London.Here it is seen just after it had gained the mainline at Clink Road Junction which is about 400yds beyond the bridge in the background.The wagons are the remarkably graffiti-free cut down ex-coal hoppers 'HTA type' now known as 'HRA'.