Just 'click' the thumbnails for a fullpage image! (1280 +827 nominal)
EWS & DBS (After 01 August 2020)
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 Of the original 250 in the UK 64 now in France,15 are in Poland and just one has been withdrawn due to crash damage leaving just 170 in use in the UK
With sunset less than an hour away '6V07' the 14:17 from Round Oak to Margam-TC passes Eckington Loop heading South.EWS 66112 in mostly original condition doing the duty.
..26 january 2024..
At last! a nice shot of 66004 'Climate Hero'. Here it is working '6V92' the 10:32 from Corby-BSC Steel to Margam-TC in South-Wales.A nice varied collection of wagons with even a couple of Steel-Coils on show.Seen passing Wadborough nr Abbotswood Junction.
..26 january 2024..
This is quite interesting. '0O12' which is a loco transfer move from Margam-TC '11:06' to Eastleigh used to comprise regularly of up to 10 locomotives but now rarely exceeds a pair.Pretty symtomatic of the dire state of play that DB are in at the moment with quite a few drivers being made redundant currently. So here is EWS pairing 66111 & 66119 at Newton -St-Loe steadily making their way to Eastleigh-T.R.M.D.
..25 november 2023..
The Chinese scripted 66136 passes through Basingstoke with '4M73' the 09:48 from Southampton Western Docks to East Midlands-Gateway.
..10 august 2023..
DB-Cargo's 66023 that recently (last Month) was given a Royal makeover to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles the Third speeds down through Clink with '0Z14' a Westbury to Par and return training/route learner?.....
..29 july 2023..
DB's EWS-liveried 66151 runs through Cardiff-Central with '6B06' the 12:45 from Newport Docks to Margam-TC.
..8 june 2023..
'6M41' the 11:45 from Margam-TC to Round-Oak well loaded Steel working passes Cardiff-Central on the Through Lines.'Heritage' EWS liveried 66119 being the assigned loco today.
..8 june 2023..
Sill wearing it's 20+ year old original EWS-Colour scheme 66129 comes off the Batledown Flyover at Worting Junction with a well loaded '4M71' the 09:57 from Southamptom Western Docks -Berth 109 going up to Birch Coppice.
..30 may 2023..
EWS-66188 heads Eastwards at Coedkernew wth '6B27' the13:19 from Llanwern going to Margam with a loaded steel train.
..3 april 2023..
66151 still wearing the original EWS colours after over 20 years of service passes Newport at the usk Bridge with '6H25' the 09:20 from margam going to Llanwern with s load of steel coils in various wagon types.
..3 april 2023..
The UK's Class-66 pioneer 66001 was employed today on this new Unit drag from Ripple Lane to Cardiff-Canton.The 'Flirt' MU eing built brand new in Switzerland by Stadler.Its identity being 756103 for 'Transport for Wales.As yet none of these imported Units are in service although quite a few test workings have taken place. The Convoy is seen passing through Swindon Station as '5Z99'the 05:02 from Ripple Lane to Canton Depot in the Welsh Capital.
..28 february 2023..
DB-GM 66023 powers along the B&H nr Savernake with '6M78' the 07:07 from Tytherington Quarry going to Quainton with a load of aggregate for use in the construction of the upcoming HS-2 rail-line.
..9 december 2022..
'3J13' the 08:46 from Westbury to St Blazey via Salisbury has now been in operation for something approaching 2 months on the local RHTT 'Leaf Busting' duty.As can be seen a high proportion of the Autumn leaves are now gone.Another 2 weeks and the job will be completed for this year. 66129 and 66104 continue to be the booked engines.Seen approaching Clink nr Frome.
..28 november 2022..
'3J13' the 07:46 from Westbury to St Blazey via Salisbury passes the ugly mast-n-cabin that ruined this westbound shot when it was installed here many years ago.66129 with 66104 being the loco's allocated.
..23 november 2022..
RHTT '3J13' from Westbury to St Blazey is operated by 66129 & 66104 has some meaningful work to do as the autumn leaves are now dropping off the shrubs-n- tree's very quickly.Seen at Clink in Frome.
..17 november 2022..
Sadly the nice lighting here at Church Road in Heywood turned to flat dullness just a few minutes before this unique liveried DB-Class 66 appeared with '6C12' the 11:45 from Tytherington Quarry to Westbury Down TC.The loco 66004 carries the legend 'I am a Climate Hero' emblazoned on its flanks.Certainly a change from dull old DB-Red that's for sure.
..15 november 2022..
Another view of '3J23' the 08:46 from Westbury to St Blazey.66129/66069 still the allocated loco's. Seen at Berkley Marsh.
..4 november 2022,,
RHTT '3J13' the 08:46 from Westbury to St Blazey L.I.P via Salisbury rumbles through the now heavily shadowed cutting at Clink Road Junction.Leading is 66129 and the once immaculate & freshly repainted 66069 prior to the commencement of this duty about a month or so ago tagged on the rear.
..3 november 2022..
This years RHTT based at St Blazey '3J13' continues to be operated by DB-Cargo.Here is the still fairly clean EWS liveried 66129 along with DB-Red 66069 passing Styles Hill on the Frome Avoider with the 08:46 from Westbury going back down to St Blazey via Salisbury.Autumn colours are now becoming quite evident here at this increasingly overgrown location.
..17 october 2022..
It never ceases to amaze me that DB-Cargo after spending many thousands of pounds giving a loco a complete body refurbishmant and repaint decide that its first duty upon return to service is being allocated to RHTT duties! Within a couple of weeks the immaculate paint job will be literally buried under a thick coat of grime and filth.........Why? Anyway here is the freshly outshopped 66069 and a scabby old full EWS liveried 66129 with the RHTT-Set going down to its Autumn Base at St Blazey as '3Z99' the 10:14 from Westbury.
..23 september 2022..
The very shabby looking EWS (DB) 66060 is pictured doing a spot of light shunting here at Westbury moving an OBA 4-wheeler around.
..11 september 2022..
Final shot of the day after 8 hours in the blistering sun was of EWS-66133 with 4O21' the 09:15 from Trafford Park bound for the Western Docks-Berth 109.Mount Pleasant footbridge being the location.
..11 july 2022..
EWS 66121 approaches Eastleigh Station with a rake of empty container flats going to Berth-109 in the Western Docks-Southampton.It came from Didcot (dept at 10:02) as '4O44'
..11 july 2022..
45 minutes after it was viewed passing Southampton Central Station '4M71' the 09:49 from Southampton Western Docks to Birch Coppice is seen yet again at Eastleigh waiting time as it was running somewhat early.66061 still being the loco in charge.
..11 july 2022..
66061 continues to wear the original EWS-colours over 20 years after its arrival in the UK from the USA.Here it is passing Southampton Central with '4M71' the 09:49 from Southampton Western Docks-Berth 109 going up to Birch Coppice in the Midlands.
..11 july 2022..
DB's-66172 rattles the pointwork as it passes St Denys going to the Western Docks-Berth 109 from Trafford park departing at 09:15 as '4O21'.Nicely loaded today as yesterdays train was cancelled hence the larger load including boxes at the front for a change!
..24 may 2022..
The freshly DB reliveried 66125 passes Mount Pleasant with the northbound '4E68' 15:15 from Southampton Western Docks-Berth 109 to Wakefield Europort.
..24 may 2022..
Another regular car carrier train apart from the Halewood flow is the one from Morris Cowley M.A.T also to Southampton Eastern Docks.Here is '4O39' the 09:43 departure from Cowley seen at Oakley.Just about a mile behind it is the location of the famous Battledown Flyover where the lines split West of Basingstoke,the other line going to Salisbury and the West.
..24 may 2022..
DB Stickered 66139 passes Oakley with a train of empty car carriers returning North for a reload.This working being '6M48' the 10:34 from Southampton Eastern Docks to Halewood nr Liverpool.The car manufacturer there being Jaguar.
..24 may 2022..
By the time this working was passing at 11:20 the cutting here at Oakley was now completely in the clear and shadowless.This is 66030 still in the old EWS livery working north with '4M71' the09:49 from Southampton Western Docks-Berth 109 to Birch CoppiseExch Sdg's.Nicely fully loaded train as well.
..24 may 2022..
DB in the shape of EWS liveried 66057 made a now rare visit to the line West of Westbury with a returning engineering train from the Limpley Stoke Valley carrying old recovered track sections.The train '6W02' was the 15:24 nominally from Bathampton Junction going to Westbury via Taunton.Viewed near Clink in Frome.
..7 may 2022..
Todays '6B33' the 13:35 from Theale-Puma to Robeston Sdg's was worked by this loco 66136 because the assigned Class-60 60007 was failed at Didcot whist there for refuelling this morning.This DB-Red engine 66136 'Yiwu-London' hauled the first freight train from China to London on the final leg from the Channel Tunnel Yard at Dollands Moor to London and was decaled up as such.All this happened back in 2017. So here it is now passing Coulston on the B&H with '6B33' in nice late afternoon winter lighting...Not a '60' but quite an interesting replacement me-thinks.
..14 january 2022..
DB workings are now quite rare here at Fairwood near Westbury now that DB has nothing to do with quarry work out of the endips anymore.However occasionally weekend engineering work does still produce a DB owned loco. So here is 66006 with '6W03' the 08:30 up from a large engineering worksite at Hemerdon West of Totnes in Devon going to Westbury with a load of spoil/spent ballast.Viewed at Fairwood near journey's end.
..26 december 2021..
This week another pairing of DB-66s have appeared on '3J13' the local RHTT-Working.Now it is 66087 and 66044 in DB-Red.Already they are pretty plastered so no change there.Here seen at Fairwood as they begin the final leg back down to St Blazey in the deep South-West.
..2 december 2021..
Autumn is now firmly in control here at Styles Hill in Frome as '3J13' the 08:50 from Westbury to St Blazey via Salisbury RHTT passes by. 66116 and 66098 continue to supply the power for this now very filthy train-set.
..25 november 2021..
The local RHTT DB-pairing continues to get filthier and filthier.They are actually 66116 leading with 66098 on the rear.Here viewed against the very autumnal backdrop at Fairwood nr Westbury/.The working is '3J13' the 08:50 from Westbury,Normally to St Blazey but today caped at Totnes as I understand the locos or maybe just one was needed to rescue a failed freight '6G09' nr Par (That seems a long way away to me!). ..22 november 2021..
The local RHTT DB-pairing continues to get filthier and filthier.They are actually 66116 leading with 66098 on the rear.Here viewed against the very autumnal backdrop at Fairwood nr Westbury/.The working is '3J13' the 08:50 from Westbury,Normally to St Blazey but today caped at Totnes as I understand the locos or maybe just one was needed to rescue a failed freight '6G09' nr Par (That seems a long way away to me!). ..22 november 2021..
Here is something not so usual these days.A DB loco on a train of aggregates in Westbury.In fact this train started from Whatley as '6Z20' and became '6Z25' the 10:22 from Westbury Up-TC to Acton-TC via Swindon.DB loco;s are not welcome in the quarries these days so a 'Hanson' brought thr train as far as Westbury then this engine 66021 took over from there.Here viewed passing the platforms at Westbury Station as it gets it train under way towards Acton.
..16 november 2021..
'3J13' the 08:50 from Westbury to St Blazey continues to use the same pair of EWS-Red-? loco's 66116 leading with 66098 on the rear of this RHTT-Set.Viewed passing the now russet coloured trees at Berkley in faint morning sunlight.
..12 november 2021..
The local RHTT pairing 66116 & 66098 pass West Woodlands nr Frome as '3J13' the 08:50 from Westbury to St Blazey.Originally I went to Bunns Lane at Witham Friary but the rampant vegetation growth this year has completely ruined that location photograpically,so this was a poor second given the time constraints.
..4 november 2021..
66116 &66098 continue to be the loco's on '3J13' the 08:50 from Westbury to St Blazey RHTT duty.Here viewed approaching Pot Lane Overbridge at Berkley Marsh nr Frome.
..2 november 2021..
Here are the local 'filthy friends' working '3J13' the 08:50 from Westbury to St Blazey via an initial trip down the Wylye Valley to Salisbury.This working being uneffected by yesterdays collision at Salisbury Tunnel Junction as it reverses in Salisbury Station.66116 leads with 66098 sandwiching the single RHTT-Set.
..1 november 2021..
The now grime encrusted '3J13' 08:50 from Westbury to St Blazey L.I.P runs through Bruton in deepest Somerset heading West.66118 leads with an equally filthy 66098 on the rear of this RHTT-Set.
..27 october 2021..
The regular Saturday loco movement from Margam (10:43 departure time) to Westbury and Eastleigh as '0O12' today ran as '6O12' taking one 'TIA' and four 'TDA-s' down to Eastleigh for some mtce work and probably a repaint.Here DB's 66105 is viewed at Arn Hill going south.DB making what is now a quite rare freight movement on this stretch of line.
..23 october 2021..
'3J13' the 08:50 RHTT working from Westbury to St Blazey passes down the Frome Avoider at Styles Hill in a lucky patch of autumnal brightness.66116 now looking very grubby was leading with fellow filthy partner 66098 on the rear of this track cleaning set. ..20 october 2021..
RHTT duty '3J13' the 08:50 from Westbury to St Blazey in Cornwall passes Warminster having nearly completed the first leg from Westbury to Salisbury and return. DB's 66098 leads with 66116 on the back.This loco will lead away from Westbury as it heads West to St Blazey.
..19 october 2021..
Todays '0O12' the 10:20 from Margam to Eastleigh was set to be '6012' but for some reason the expected wagons booked to go into Eastleigh Works didn't materialise so it became '0O12' as usual. Here it is seen climbing away from Westbury with 66086 leading and 66035/66030 in tow. Upon arrival at Westbury the lead loco was 66107 but that was swapped for 66086. Pictured at Dilton Marsh Halt.
..9 october 2921..
66095 with its train of 'nowt' apart from 6 container right out of sight on the back of the train passes Southampton Central bound for Berth-109 in the Western Dock.The train being 4O43' the 03:59 from Wakefield-Europort. I wonder just how much this train generated in revenue for DB.Not a lot I would say,In fact I doubt it it even covered the operating costs!
..8 september 2021..
This is a nice colourful combination! DB-Red 66097 with a 'Points & Switch Carrier' in tow heading for Bristol-West Junction with a load of pre-built track equipment.It ran as '6X52' (an out of gauge load) nominally departing Westbury at 17:10 but in fact departing 2 hours later.Seen at Pot Lane-Berkley Marsh in the low yellowing evening lighting.