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Class-60 Special Liveries including Loadhaul and Mainline versions as well.
A couple of interesting liveries were introduced when the BR freight business was sectorised in readiness for privitisation.Mainline and Loadhaul being the most distinctive. Also several 'one-off' colour schemes were added during the EWS and D B Schenker era.
Puma Tug 60074 'Luke' manages to pass Cowleaze Lane in Bratton for a change in reasonable lighting with '6B33' the 13:35 from Theale returning empty TEA's to Robeston.
..10 september 2020..
Having missed this loco due to its failure last week on '6B13' in scorching temperatures I was able to chalk up a sweet success today amazingly in 95% cloud conditions.Here is 'Luke' 60074 with '6B33' the 13:35 from Theale returning discharged fuel tanks to Robeston in West-Wales.I know it was a very cloudy and windy day today but see-ing nobody here at Great Cheverell for this working was quite a surprise!
..21 august 2020..
Well this day was a complete disaster! Firstly it was too damned hot!(34 degrees C and rising). I ventured north to Standish Junction to picture 60074 in its new 'Puma' livery going to Westerleigh from Robeston as '6B13'.If it had passed here at its correct time the lighting would have been quite satisfactory however the thing failed in mid-section as it was nearing Gloucester.After a 2 hour -plus delay whilst 66198 was borrowed from a southbound '6V03' it eventually got going again.Sadly it passed here at Standish at 14:20 by which time the light was completely wrong.What a sod!.Picture included purely as a record shot showing what might have been. Oh well just a 120 mile round trip for nothing...... .............it'll be on '6B33' soon enough so I'll get it then!
..12 august 2020..
60066 'Powering Tomorrow' or if you prefer the 'Silver Drax' draws '6B33' the 13:46 from Theale to Robeston empty fuel-tanks thorough Great Cheverell.I wasn't aware this loco was on this duty today so it was quite a pleasant surprise particularly as the sun was shining quite nicely!
..29 january 2020..
Despite the almost complete lack of decent light a shot at 1600-iso had to be had of the 'Silver-Drax' 60066 as it worked '6B33' the 12:15 from Theale returning emptied 'TEA' fuel tanks to Robeston in West-Wales.Viewed off the recently extended platform at Freshford in the Limpley Stoke Valley.
..4 january 2020..
Here we have what is for certain my final shot ever of a mast free lineside in and around the Bourton/Shrivenham and Compton Beauchamp area.Days after this shot was taken masts appeared here closing the gap between Bourton and Compton Beauchamp.Nice to finish on a fairly memorable loco.So this is 60066 the 'Drax' heading westward with '6B33' the 13:00 from Theale back to Robeston with its long rake of discharged fuel-tanks.
..29 november 2016..
Having done the long shot of 60066 'Drax' for insurance against the sun disappearing as quickly as it arrived this is the more wide version of events here at Magor at the working '6B13' the 04:56 from Robeston to Westerleigh passed by.A nicely lit scene that required just a small bit of tweaking on the background under the road bridge.Considering what was on offer 30 seconds earlier I would accept this level of light every time!
..5 november 2016..
After much agonising about whether the clouds would clear in time for the passing of '6B13' the 04:56 from Robeston to Westerleigh(Murco) our prayers were answered just as it was approaching the overbridge in the background.Highlight being the elusive 60066 'Drax-Tug'.Here it is passing Magor on the slow.Unfortunately as it was on a later path than normal it didn't have its usual stop before Severn Tunnel-Junction so the planned chase and a 2nd picture wasn't available today.
..5 november 2016..
Silver-60066 'Powering Tomorrow----Drax' was pressed into use again this week after a month or so in the Storage-Pool.Here it is creeping slowly down the former Midland Mainline to Bristol which nowadays ends at the Westerleigh Oil Terminal.The train is of course '6b13' the 05:00 from Robeston to Westerleigh.Hopes were high for a spot of sunshine but this shot was not even a near-miss! According to a friend on mine with solar-panels this is the worst July for 4 years for number of hours of sunshine in the month!
..28 july 2015..
The Silver 'Drax-Powering Tomorrow' 60066 Tug was known to be working '6B47' at an unusual departure time from Westerleigh of 14:07 returning empties fuel-tanks to Robeston.The burning question was 'Where could you picture it?' when that time of day was difficult virtually everywhere sun angle wise.So it was decided to spend £6:50 and go over the Toll-Bridge into S-Wales for just this one photograph.The location is Purton beside the Severn Estuary north of Lydney.Just for a change the headless-chicken mode paid off!
..23 may 2015..
The somewhat elusive 'Drax Nightmare' silver dream machine 60066 today made a brief escape from South-Wales to operate the Robeston to Theale-Tanks and return.This is it on the return leg '6B33' which departed Theale at 13:00 heading for Robeston.The spot chosen to picture it was Steppingstone Lane in Bourton where the track has just recently been regraded and renewed to pass under the pair of local bridges a few inches lower than previously to allow OHLE to be fitted underneath without the need to rebuild the bridges themselves.
..21 may 2015..
How could I resist a second effort at this silver-sixty 60099.After the first shot at about 110mm in 35mm terms this version was at 40mm so fairly wide angle but still worth the effort.It is about to pass New Barnetby 'manned' or on this particular day 'womanned' level-crossing with '6E46' the 04:24 from Kingsbury returning empties to Lindsey.When the resignlling in this area is completed before the end of 2015 this crossing is set to be automated with bells,barriers and traffic lights.Lovely?
..18 april 2015..
The 'TATA' 60099 is seen coming under Knabb's Bridge at Melton Ross approaching New-Barnetby.The working is '6E46' the early morning 04:24 from Kingsbury heading for Lindsey-ORF with a long rake of EWS badged TEA's.
..18 april 2015..
'6D42' from Eggborough-PS (12:06 off) to Lindsey Oil Refinery chugs past Elsham with 60099 the 'TATA-Tug in charge.The midday clouds were starting to build up but luck was with us as this mini-celebrity passed us by.
..17 april 2015..
Today there was an 86% partial eclipse of the sun in the morning.Typically the clouds cleared away shortly after this event passed with only a slightly darker period of dullness to mark it as the sun was well obscured! Anyway the sun came out so a trip to this location at Chipping Sodbury was undertaken to picture the quite elusive 'Drax-Tug' that is now back in regular service.So here is 60066 'Powering Tomorrow--Drax' powering '6B33' the 13:00 from Theale to Robeston today! The end leading is the one badly damaged last year in an incident in Liverpool Docks.hence the much more shiny cab roof!
..20 march 2015..
Current 'Must See' Schenker-Class 60 is 60066.It was repainted over a year ago with much publicity but shortly afterwards was damaged in the Liverpool Loader Sidings.Having suffered severe crushing to its cab roof (The end leading here) a prolonged visit to Brush-Loughborough was needed to have it repaired. It returned to service a few months ago and only in the last week or so has made an appearance 'Down South'. So here it is thudding through Wickwar with the 05:00 from Robeston heading for Westerleigh on the '6B13' fuel supply train.Not quite as sunny as I had hoped but it will do for now!
..17 march 2015..
60066 'Powering Tomorrow Drax' has just returned to use after a long layoff having required a major repair to a cab roof which was badly damaged (The one seen leading here).After repair it was sidelined until its current comeback! So here is that Celebrity which incidentally cannot be used with the new Biomass hoppers! passing Acton-Turville with '6B33' the 13:00 from Theale heading for Robeston.The very bright front end on 60066 played havoc with the 'TV' setting on the EOS camera giving a quite underexposed shot.I should have gone manual on this engine knowing its very silver livery! This shot concluded an amazing day when 11 freights with 9 different types of load were pictured all in bright sunshine in just 6 hours.
..10 march 2015..
The other 'target' in Wales was 60066 in the new 'Biomass' colours.However this failed on the Friday and although repaired did no work on the Saturday.As it was my first encounter with this 'other' Silver-60 yet another glinty type shot was in order.It was standing in the yard at Margam,engine running and lights on. Use of a 200mm lens was needed to produce this effort.
..11 january 2014..
I couldn't resist this glint-type low sun shot with the light reflecting off the flank of 60099 as it rolled slowly on into the yard at Margam with '6B16' from Trostre.Although fairly dirty (Note the cleaned rear cab) it still looks very colourful.
..11 january 2014..
After 60099 had passed Port Talbot 'Headless-Chicken Mode' kicked in and a quick drive through the lanes to Margam Knuckle Yard was undertaken.This is a bit of a grab shot as we only had just enough time to get over the foot-crossing to gain a picture shooting position. So here is the silver 'Tata -Tug' with '6B16' arriving in the yard with its train of Tilbury bound Ferryvans from Trostre (14:15 off). So eventually 'Mission accomplished'---- a shot of 60099 but it was a long time coming and only minutes before the sun finally dropped out of the sky for the day!
..11 january 2014..
Whilst hanging around at Bridgend waiting for the Margam to Llanwern 'Tripper' messages showed that 60099 had gone to Trostre (West of Margam) with a working.So more miles west were undertaken to find a spot to picture the return.This place nr Port Talbot fitted the bill as shots were now governed by the failing late afternoon light. So here is the 'Tata -Tug' returning to Margam from Trostre with '6B16'.The load being for tomorrows steel working from Margam going to Tilbury. Ferryvans making a nice alternative in low afternoon light to rusty old steel carriers!
..11 january 2014..
Next stop on our whistle-stop tour of the south of the Country was Standish-Junction and as usual it was a rush,getting into position barely 3 minutes before the Robeston to Westerleigh Tanks '6B13' duly appeared.I had no clue as to the identity of the loco operating this working today so when 'Teenage Spirit' 60074 hove into view it was quite a pleasant surprise! The pointwork in the foreground is the divergance for trains going via the Golden-Valley down to Swindon.
..10 october 2013..
'Teenage Spirit' 60074 thuds its way up the Upton-Scudamore Incline here seen passing Dilton Marsh Halt on '6O41' from Westbury to Eastleigh conveying a lengthy string of loaded 'JNA' type bogie low-sided boxes.A much travelled engine this.two days ago was in Scotland and later this evening was seen going north through Banbury again heading northwards.Things are looking up around Westbury,this is the third 'Tug' to see use on this working in just over a week!
..05 july 2013..
Here we have Bloooooo 60074 'Teenage Spirit' hauling 129 tons of scrap----errr---- I mean GM-66185 in Schenker-Red on '0V41' from Eastleigh going to Westbury.The wagon consist was cancelled at the last minute which was a pity!.. The Trainless-Pair are seen at Arn-Hill nr Warminster.
..04 july 2013..
'Teenage Spirit' 60074 speeds through Badminton running exactly to time with '6B33' from Theale returning to Robeston Sidings.Its hard to believe that these 'TEA' bogie tankers used to be a bright red in colour once!
..14 february 2013..
The uniquely liveried 60099 in TATA-Silver made a brief overnight visit from Eastleigh to Westbury.Here it is returning on '6O41',seen passing Norton-Bavant in the Wylye-Valley in the usual crud as there always is something interesting is about!
..06 february 2013..
'6B13' the loaded fuel-tanks from Robeston going to the depot at Westerleigh with 'Teenage Spirit' 60074 chugs slowly down the branch nr Westerleigh Village.Note the new wooden sleepers placed ready for replacement of old and rotten ones still in use.The air was filled with the aroma of fresh creosote where quite a few had already been swapped.
..28 may 2012..
A general view of the 14 Class-60's parked up in the largely derelict sidings opposite the Toton-TMD in Long Eaton.Interestingly the only business operational in the background is a scrapyard.I bet the owners often look long and hard at the 1500 tons of valuable scrap parked just over their fenceline!
..29 march 2012..
60006 was named 'Great Gable' when first built but was soon renamed as 'Scunthorpe Ironmaster' and repainted in light-blue (Almost identical colour to that 60074 carries now).However when 'Corus' took over British Steel it was repainted in that Companies silver.Loco is now defunct and fit only for spares.It is seen here trapped between 60081 and 60083.Nice bodyshell shame about the dereliction inside! Pictured at Toton Yard.
..29 march 2012..
60081 with its faded green livery stands with equally green cab windows in the sunshine in the Toton Yards waiting to be further dismantled for spares and eventually to be broken up for scrap.Such a waste,at least a fair number of its classmates now have a reasonably bright! future.
..29 march 2012..
The former 'Celeb' Tug 60081 'Isambard Kingdom Brunel' heads a line-up of 14 derelict Class-60's.Behind is 60006 another distinctive repaint.Regretfully these engines parked on the opposite side of the mainline to the Toton-TMD here at Long-Eaton will probably never work again and are being retained purely as a source of spares for those still working.In the distance a further group of another 10 Tugs stand parked-up. Almost 25% of all 60's ever built all in one shot! The actual numbers in this line-up of 14 Class-60 locomotives is------ 60081/06/83/93/04/89/23/78/53/05/31/25/14 and 60097.
..29 march 2012..
After picturing the Arriva-67 at Ponthir a headlong dash was needed to get back to Duffryn to see 60074 on '6B33' from Theale to Robeston.Luckily despite being the Welsh-Rush Hour we arrived with about 40 seconds to spare before 'Teenage Spirit' made its appearance.Its quite nice sometimes when a plan comes together!
..27 march 2012..
The '6B13' Robeston to Westerleigh 'Tanks' passes Magor luckily on the 'main' as this makes for a much more balanced shot.The working was over 30 minutes late so was probably being fast-tracked to make up some time.Here is the recently refurbished 60074 still retaining its 'Teenage Spirit' colours after its overhaul at Toton.
..06 march 2012..
One of only three Class-60's to gain Mainline-Blue as a livery 60044 the former 'Aisla Craig' runs past Arn Hill north of Warminster working '6V07' from Chichester taking empty aggregate boxes back to Torre-Merehead.This loco in 2018 (over 10 years later) continues to find employment but now in Schenker-Red colours along with a replacement nameplate 'Dowlow'.
..18 december 2011..
The 'TATA' Silver Dream Machine 60099 chugs northwards past Cam&Dursley on '6E41' from Westerleigh going up to Lindsey.Always a problematical location here as there is a real danger the southbound '6B13' will block your shot.Lucky today as just over 4 minutes were to elapse before the southbound Sixty appeared!
..20 october 2011..
60074 runs past Severn-Tunnel-Junction with the 'for now' retimed '6B47' from Westterleigh going to Robeston.Now making an appearance here about one hour later at 19:50 than previously the lighting (due to low sun angle) has started to got decidedly yellow.The 2nd Severn Crossing is well displayed as a backdrop from this vantage point on the Station Footbridge.
..09 august 2011..
'Teenage Spirit' 60074 looking quite well worn and workstained passes Acton-Turville with '6B33' from Theale going back to Margam/Robeston with the discharged bogie-tanks.This working has remained virtually 100% a Class-60 duty due to the heavy loads involved.Various trials with pairs of 66's and 59/2's have petered out and Schenker have realised there is a definate need for Tug-Power.Hence the 'Super-60' programme now going on at Toton! ..02 august 2011..
The Theale to Margam/Robeston '6B33' empty fuel-bogies hauled once again by 'Celeb' 60074 seen emerging into the Cloudlight at Chipping-Sodbury.If I had a pound for every failed B33 shot taken here I recon I could almost buy a tank of fuel for my own car!
..30 july 2011..
60099 failed this morning at Heywood Village nr Hawkeridge-Junction Westbury on its way to Theale.Rescued by 66063,this loco went to Theale with the drag and is seen here returning to South-Wales with the back-working '6B33'.99 reportedly ran low on coolant so possibly a 'quick-fix'.If not a trip to Toton will shorly follow so our chances at picturing this 'Celeb' locally will be over,at least for a while. '6B33' seen exiting Chipping-Sodbury Tunnel at Old Sodbury.
..04 june 2011..
Returning from Llanwern to Margam with a set of swb SNCF type steel-hoods is 60099.Bursting out into the strong sunlight from Gaer Tunnel Newport.This scene now slightly spoiled by the palisade fenced relay-boxes and the newly installed signal gantry built for the resignalling scheme around the Newport area recently.
..03 june 2011..
After two previous attempts this week I finally managed to get a 'sun' shot of 60099.Here at East-Usk on 6B03' from Margam to Llanwern.Added bonus,it was the clean-cab end leading.60's have a habit of dirtying the cab roof when travelling with the exhaust at the rear due to air-currents sucking the exhaust downwards into the gap between loco and wagons.
..03 june 2011..
60099 the TATA-Tug slowly approaches East-Usk Junction heading '6B03' nominally from Trostre but today starting from Margam going to Llanwern.A pretty heavy working this and very suitable for '60' employment.Note the fresh ballast,also the lack of the semaphore signal that previously was here and the remaining base of the old Signal-Box that stood until recently.All products of the S&T improvements around here in the last year or so.
..03 june 2011..
Nothing like what I had in mind for this working but that big ball in the sky had other idea's hence this effectively a 500mm tele-shot to salvage at least something,what I'm not sure!.Naturally seconds later sun appeared fully and remained so for over 30 minutes Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Anyway here is DB-TATA 60099 on '6B33' passing Callow-Hill Brinkworth running regretfully about 20 minutes ahead of booked time.
..02 june 2011..
To see the Standard-Lens Shot in the dull 2 secs later click HERE
Of all the 'celeb' repainted Tugs this one has proved the most difficult to catch in the South.If it came our way it was usually just for a day or so or the weather was crap! Well actually it was crap today but a lucky break in the horizon to horizon cloud banks enabled me to produce this picture of the elusive TATA liveried 60099.Viewed passing Badminton with '6B33' from Theale going back to Robeston in West-Wales.Ample compensation for the appalling conditions that met my attempt to photograph the 'New' Blue Valenced A4 going to Bristol on the Bath-Route about 90 minutes previously.
..26 may 2011..
When something goes the Eastleigh in the morning on '6O41' 9 time out of 10 it returns on '6V41' back to Westbury.Thankfully that rule of thumb applied today particularly as 60040 was on the morning train.Arn-Hill again (Sorry about that) but just about the only place with the sun on the nose at this time of day without going at least 20 miles! Seen with a load of old sleepers and rails in a final burst of sun before it faded for the rest of the evening.
..04 may 2011..
Todays '6O41' was the selected duty for the 'Army'.This Loco 60040 is still running around on just 5 traction-motors which probably explains why it has not been on the Fuels or Heavy-Aggregate workings lately.Here it is seen passing Little-Langford in the Wylye-Valley going to Eastleigh with the daily infrastructure duty.A lot of high thin cloud reduced the sunlights strength slightly but still reasonable for a half decent picture.
..04 may 2011..
The last time this engine worked this train was on 19 june 2008.Reason then was, as a freshly repainted 'Star' it was to go on display at that weekends Open-Day at the Merehead-Quarries.I stood here for an hour and when it finally showed was 'done' by a small cloudette,the first one since I had arrived.Needless to say sun was back out within seconds of it passing not to fail again until sunset.So I felt a bit hard done by.Anyway nearly 3 years later the chance came again and as you can see 'Success!'--------60040 on '6C41' from Newport-ADJ passes Ladydown nr Trowbridge on a cloudless afternoon.
..03 may 2011..
Rather conveniently after 60040 arrived on '6W53' it was barely 90 minutes before it was off the Newport-ADJ again on '6B65'.This time with a few 'JNA-s' and some side-tippers plus some older 'seacows though these are obscured under the bridge.Location is obviously Hawkeridge-Junction nr Westbury.
..03 may 2011..
Finally a shot of this 'Celeb' on something other than an Fuel-Train in the sun! Here is 60040 slowing for Hawkeridge-Junction with a returning '6W53' from Lydney via ADJ.Load was a serious looking 20 JJA's.In the dull the paint looks quite drab but in this light the engine still has a bit of a zing to it!
..03 may 2011..
Sergeant Sixty----Serial number 60040 passes Arn-Hill nr Warminster on '6V41' from Eastleigh to Westbury.That's twice now its been on this working within a fortnight,both times in lucky patches of cloud!
..29 april 2011..
The Blue Celebrity 60074 'Teenage Spirit' seen at Crofton on the B&H working '6Z20' from Whatley probably going to Hayes&Harlington judging by the wagon type.
..16 november 2010..
Extra '6Z35' from Moreton-on-Lugg going to Hayes appears up the incline out of Patchway Tunnel into the station of the same name.Celeb 60074 'Teenage Spirit' amazingly doing the job in glorious sunshine! Note the use of an old rake of 'PGA' wagons.
..06 october 2010..
'Teenage Spirit' 60074 passes Westerleigh Village on '6B13' from Robeston to the Westerleigh Oil-Terminal. Now in September 2011 this loco is stopped and awaiting a full CEM overhaul as part of the 'Super-60' refurbishment programme.Almost certain to re-appear in Schenker-Red so if you ain't got your 'blue' shots by now all is lost!
..21 april 2010..
The 'Army' 60040 powers past Badgeworth east of Goucester on '6E41' from Westerleigh heading for Lindsey with its uniform train of empty EWS bogie-tanks.2 years later this loco became part of the Schenker rebuild program for about 2 dozen 60s.Upon its release back into traffic it had lost the red livery depicted here gaining a somewhat more shocking-shade! Albeit retaining its existing nameplates. To see it as it is in 2012 clickHERE.
..05 february 2010..
Interesting passing shot at Yate.'6B13' with 60011 (then in Mainline-Blue but now the original Schenker Red Tug) waits for the NMT to clear before crossing onto the Westerleigh Branch.
..06 november 2009..
60059 'Swinton Dalesman' in its faded 'Loadhaul' style creeps up the Westerleigh Branch from the Oil-Terminal with the returning fuel empties to Robeston '6B47'.In 2012 there are local council plans to build a foot/cyclepath right next to the line here.Almost certainly Failtrack will follow up shortly afterwards with an obligitory 6ft high spiky fence.These two 'developments' of coarse spelling the death-knell of yet another local iconic location!....
..11 august 2009..
Loadhaul 60059 eases down the single line to the Westerleigh Oil Terminal.Here just gone under the main London to Cardiff mainline at Westerleigh Village.
..30 july 2009..
'Teenage Spirit' 60074 eases through Severn-Tunnel-Junction with '6B13' from Robeston going to Westerleigh.Another 3 million quids worth of over-taxed fuel to feed the West-Countries Roads!
..02 june 2009..
60074 still operates today in 2014 albeit now wearing the standard 'Schenker-Red' livery.However for a number of years it carried the light-blue colours of the Teenage Cancer Trust and was named 'Teenage Spirit' (Somewhat similar to the old 'British Steel' pair that were around in the 1990's Click HERE to view one of these in service). It is seen passing Westerleigh Village with '6B47' returning empty tanks to Robeston in S-Wales.
..16 may 2009..
The then very tatty 60059 'Swinton Dalesman' rolls around the curve at Chapel-en-le-Frith with '6M22' with the empty cement-tanks returning to Tunstead from Leeds-Hunslet.It was a cold dull late winters afternoon and after this passed I headed for a much needed hot cup of tea and a good warm-up!
..17 october 2008..
To mark he loss of this striking livery that adorned 60040 for a few years but now gone under a coat of Schenker-Red (As of june 2012). I though I would drag out this shot of it shortly after it was originally painted.Here it is sweeping through Wolfhall Junction on the B&H returning the empties from Hither-Green back to Whatley Quarry on '6V18'.
..15 july 2008..
60007 in the now historic obsolete 'Loadhaul' livery chugs south at Stoke-Prior near Bromsgrove.The Black-Tug is working '6V92' from Corby taking empty steel carriers back to Margam. A memorable day this because I lost my mobile-phone around here somewhere thrashing around in the bushes clearing a few brambles!
..26 february 2008..
Occasionally '6B33' to Margam gets routed via the B&H from Theale instead of going via Swindon.Today was such a day (a saturday) and luckily 60059 in albeit filthy Loadhaul-Livery was on the duty.Here the Tank-Train is seen passing Great-Cheverell with the sun just glancing of 2/3rd's of the loco's front-end. This engine in April 2012 has emerged in the Schenker-Red colours as it was one of the 60's selected in the DBS life-extension program for these engines. Better RED than dead!
..19 february 2008..
Mainline-Blue 60078 crests the top of Upton Scudamore Incline prior to the drop down into its destination Westbury.It was working '6V41' the afternoon engineers from Eastleigh.Todays load being a loaded cwr-set.This engine had less than 4 months to run before withdrawal.Now over 7 years later it is consigned to the dump in the 'New Bank Sidings' at Toton with little hope of ever returning to service.
..12 april 2007..
60078 that once carried the unpronouncable name of 'Stac Pollaidh' crests the summit of the Upton Scudamore Bank prior to dropping down to Westbury with '6V41' from Eastleigh.Todays load on this regular engineering working being a CWR-Train.Sadly within 3 months of this shot being recorded this loco was taken out of use and has resided stores at Toton yard ever since.That's over 10 years of waste for an asset that deserved far better!
..12 april 2007..
Carrying its old 'Loadhaul' colours 60059 approaches Circourt Bridge nr Denchworth with '6B33' from Theale to Margam. 6 years on in 2012 this engine remains in service but now runs in the Schenker-Red livery still carrying the 'Swinton Dalesman' nameplates albeit without the secondary 'Tilcon' subplates.
..18 november 2006..
The 'Corus' liveried 60006 'Scunthorpe Ironmaster' and 66208 lift '6O41' the 10:14 Westbury to Eastleigh engineers up the Incline through Upton Scudamore.Neither of these locomotives are now working on the network 12 years later in 2016.60006 went into store about a year later in November 2004 at Toton and will almost certainly never move under its own power again and 66208 ended up being exported to France along with well over 70 of its classmates to work to ECR and given the dire- state of the UK freight scene these days will probably never return!
..29 september 2003..
Blue 60044 powers through Barnetby with '6E46' from Kingsbury going to Lindsey Oil Refinery.
..16 september 2003..
When it was still looking quite smart! Loadhaul 60059 'Swinton Dalesman' draws Sundays-only '6V42' from Lackenby (09:45 off) to Llanwern in S-Wales carrying a consignment of extremely heavy steel slabs for processing there.At this time these trains were a 7-day a week operation but the protracted recession since about 2007 (5 years ago) has put paid to this flow due to a world lack of demand for steel. Location in Saltley in the middle of Birmingham.60059 lives on but now wears the fluorescent-red of D B-Schenker.
..03 august 2003..
Mainline-Blue 60011 rumbles over the riverbridge in Bradford-on-Avon with the 'Thursday only' fuel-train from Fawley going to Margam in S-Wales.This used to run as '6V34'.Of coarse now in 2012 it has ceased to run,the depot at Margam has been flattened and locomotive facilities in the whole of South-Wales is now reduced to a couple of open-air sidings in Margam Knuckle Yard!
..06 march 2003..
I didn't get too many shots of this loco in the sunshine so looking back this one was quite welcome.60081 in Mock-GWR Green c/w brass name and numberplates thuds up the Wylye-Valley at Bapton with '6V01' (I think?) from Woking going to Llanwern dragging a set of 'MEA' boxes.
..23 january 2003..
The Mock GWR -Green 60081 in all its lined -out glory approaches Burton-on-Trent at Wetmore-Farm with a southbound loaded steel train coming from Immingham as '6M88' (Q) and going to Wolverhampton Steel Terminal.
..10 september 2002..
No its not 'Teenage Spirit'. Here is one of the original pair of blue 60's,the other being 60033. 60006 wearing its 'British Steel' Blue livery stands in the yard at Ebbw-Vale Steelworks awaiting time for a journey back down the branch to either Port-Talbot or Llanwern. When 'Corus' took over BSC this '60' was reliveried into a new 'Silver' livery. Unfortunately things went very downhill shortly afterwards---------Ebbw-Vale was closed and the entire line was closed for many years (Now reopened for passenger trains).60006 was stored in Nov/2004 and 10 years on in 2014 remains so. Things change fast in Freight Industry,usually for the worst!
..04 december 1999..
Forget 60074,this was the real-deal! 60033 'Tees Steel Express' in British Steel Blue is seen heading west at the summit of Stormy Bank well west of Cardiff.This was '6B33' from Theale returning the empty fuel tanks back to Margam Yard only as this was a Saturday, (And a mighty hot one as well I seem to remember!)
..08 august 1998..
60038 in the then current 'Loadhaul' livery rolls past Water Street Junction on the approach to Margam with a train of coils from either Ebbw Vale or Llanwern.Now 22 years later Ebbw-Vale no longer exists,Llanwern is a shadow of its former self and 60038 lies dumped at Toton out of use since Dec-2008.I expect the old fence in the foreground is now a 6ft high galvanised palisade type as well.Nothing ever changes for the better these days does it?
..18 april 1998..
Loadhaul adorned 60038 thumps past Stormy east of Pyle in South-Wales with a loaded slab train from Port-Talbot probably going to Llanwern for the consignment to be rolled and turned into coils.I remember this was a mega-hot day and with no timetables or sheets to refer to it was a case of 'wait and see' what turned up.After this passed and a British-Steel Blue-60 came the other way shortly afterwards it was time to bail-out and seek shelter from the burning sun!
..08 august 1998..
'Scunthorpe Ironmaster' 60006 in its original British Steel-Blue thuds slowly up past Aberbeeg at Cwm Road with a loaded steel working from Margam going up to the then still extant Ebbw vale Steel-Works.At this time this line was just freight only for trains to and from that Steel-Works.Fast forward to 2017 and the Steel-Works is long gone and the entire site cleared,60006 now lies dumped at Toton fit only for spares and has done so since Nov-2004 and this Line now has a thriving passenger service serving Cardiff.No freight now whatsover! Life goes on (apparantly!)
..4 april 1998..
Here is one of just three Class-60s to make it into Mainline-Blue livery.This particular one 60078 currently lies derelict at Toton with no plans presently to return it to service.Its been that way since August 2007! So here it is passing Berkley-Marsh nr Frome with an empty stone working coming up from Exeter-Riverside to Westbury.This flow was for the Honiton By-Pass road project.Note the background was at this time devoid of any development or bush growth.All that is now changed.
..19 april 1997..
This is 60044,one of only 3 Tugs that ever got repainted into 'Mainline Blue' livery.Interestingly also it is the only one of the 100 strong class to be named after an Island! 'Ailsa Craig'. Here the apparantly recently repainted 60044 is passing Arn-Hill nr Warminster with the then daily 'LPG' train from Furzebrook in Dorset going to Avonmouth '6V13'.These trains ceased in July 2005.By that time it had long been a GM-66 duty so was (at the time not really missed much!).