60001 Steadfast passes the disused North Filton Platform on 23 July 1993 with the 7C42 11:52 Merehead to Hallen Moor stone train. This was part of a short term contract in connection with the construction of the Second Severn Crossing. I don't often take going away shots, but this is the only picture I have of the first production Class 60 in its original livery, and with its Steadfast nameplate. It is also the only time that I saw anything other than a Class 59 on these stone trains. North Filton Platform closed in 1964, but the reason that it doesn't look massively overgrown after nearly two decades, is that it was used by unadvertised workman's trains until 1986.

60001 just catches the very last of the weak late afternoon sunshine on 26 January 2000, as it passes Challow with the Wednesdays only 6B24 15:33 Didcot Power Station to Cardiff Tidal empty oil tanks. I was just walking back to the car when I saw this coming, and luckily managed to find a large enough gap in the roadside bushes to get a reasonably unobstructed view. Not a technically very brilliant picture due to it being taken with the lens wide open on 35mm Fujichrome, but included because of the excellent lighting and the fact that 60001 is one of those locos that always seems to have eluded me.

60001 passes the wind turbines at Maud's Bridge on 13 November 2013 as it heads eastwards with the 6D75 08:45 Scunthorpe to Doncaster Decoy continuously welded rails. As I was in position for the RHTT, and the conventional view from the opposite direction was somewhat restricted, I opted for this side view of the loco, with the roadside grass bank in the foreground.

60001 passes Baulking on 6 March 2015 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. The two large signal gantries obviously have a limited life, and will soon be replaced by the even more intrusive catenary for the seriously delayed electrification scheme, which is already nearly three times over budget!

One of the star attractions at the 2015 Nene Valley Railway's Diesel Gala was 60001, kindly supplied by DBS. It is seen here passing Castor on 11 April 2015 with a very unfamiliar load for the class, as it heads westwards with the 2M44 10:10 Peterborough to Wansford service.

An unusual pairing at Castor on 11 April 2015, during the Nene Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. Visiting DBS 60001 & 31271 Stratford 1840-2001 work the 2E51 14:02 Wansford to Peterborough service. The signal does not indicate a conflicting movement, and did not move all day!

60001 & 31271 Stratford 1840 - 2001 pass Castor on 11 April 2015 with the 2M51 14:50 Peterborough to Wansford service, during the Nene Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. This makes a fine picture, despite the incongruity of a present day liveried loco, leading a late 1980s Trainload Freight loco, which is hauling 1950s carmine and cream stock!

60001 passes the public footpath crossing near Grove on 11 November 2016 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. This was running 17 minutes early. 20 minutes early would have been better, as the sun was fast disappearing into high cloud. On the other hand, a few minutes later there was no sun at all! Note that the middle warning sign has been updated, but clearly the other two have been in situ for a very long time. I seem to remember that the earlier sign stated that "Trains pass this point at 125mph". Perhaps the new "In excess of 100mph" sign is an admission that HSTs are much less likely to travel at 125mph, compared to the days before OTMR black boxes and speed limiters.

60001 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 24 January 2017 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Network Rail's blistering work rate is demonstrated here by the minimal change that has taken place since I last photographed 6B33 here, nearly three months earlier!

60001 passes Standish Junction on 13 January 2018 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z18 06:38 Banbury to Westerleigh Murco 'Severn Aggregator' railtour. 66230 is on the rear. From Westerleigh the tour would travel via the Severn Tunnel to visit Machen Quarry, and then run via Gloucester to visit Sharpness.

60001 passes Standish Junction on 24 July 2018 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. Coincidentally, the last time I saw this locomotive, it was also at this location, but on a much more unusual (for the class) train!

60001 approaches Cam & Dursley station on 16 July 2019 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. Although this was running virtually to time, as is nearly always the case, it had left Robeston early, in this case one hour early.

60002 Capability Brown passes through South Elmsall station with the Pathfinder Tours 'Donny Deviator' railtour on 10 July 1994, at this point running as the 1F52 16:05 Doncaster to Doncaster (via Milford). The tour had started from Derby at 09:05 as the 1Z42 to Doncaster with 58034, this was followed by 37694 & 37698 working top'n'tail with 56077 on the 1F50 11:42 Doncaster to Doncaster (via Silverwood). The next trip was the 1F51 13:48 via Drax. After all this excitement the tour headed back to Derby behind 31271 & 31276 as the 1Z42 1800 ex Doncaster!

60002 Capability Brown is the centre of attention, as it passes Henwick Hall (near Selby) on 10 July 1994 with the 1F52 16:05 Doncaster to Doncaster (via Milford) portion of the Pathfinder Tours 'Donny Deviator' railtour. The road in the foreground has since been blocked as a through route by the construction of the Selby bypass.

60002's exhaust has already blackened the roof, taking away the pristine look of the loco's recently applied EWS livery, as it passes Burton Salmon on 12 March 1997 with a loaded MGR train for Drax Power Station.

Oh no, where's the sun going! 60002 High Peak just manages to hang on the sunshine, as a very small cloud does its best ruin the photo of the 6B33 12:12 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties at Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham, on 16 December 2006.

60002 High Peak passes the site of Uffington loops with the 6B33 12:12 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties on 27 September 2008. The public footpath crossing here provides clear views in both directions, although a longer lens is now required for trains from this direction in order to clear a recently erected radio mast. Uffington station, the former junction for the Faringdon branch line, was situated just beyond the roadbridge in the background.

60002 passes through Heyford station on 27 July 2015 with the 6M17 06:58 Margam to Washwood Heath covered steel wagons. I wanted to take this at an identifiable location, but normally the lighting on the Oxford to Banbury line would be hopelessly backlit for a midday shot. However, after both heavy rain and then sun, the weather finally settled down to the forecast dense cloud, so no problem with backlighting as the train passes through the well maintained canal side station.

Running an hour early, and unfortunately just managing to catch the sun disappearing behind a cloud, 60002 passes Bourton on 8 August 2015 with the 6V62 11:20 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. The track here was recently lowered to allow extra headroom for the forthcoming electrification, allowing the retention of the brick occupation bridge in the background, and the similar structure from which this picture was taken.

60002 passes Denchworth on 22 August 2015 with the 6V62 11:20 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. Unfortunately this corresponded with a cloudy spell. Of course when 66034, which can be seen in the background, passed light engine moments before it was full sun!

Thorne's unusual water tower dominates this view, as 60002 approaches Thorne South on 28 November 2016 with the 6E32 08:55 Preston Docks to Lindsey Oil Refinery empty bitumen tanks. Nearly the end of November, and there is a still a wide range of colours showing on some of the trees.

60003 Christopher Wren nears journey's end, as it passes North Killingholme on 18 February 1995 with the 6K25 14:39 Santon to Immingham iron ore empties. Not a building in sight here, but on the other side of the road is the huge Humber Oil Refinery.

60003 Christopher Wren passes Clay Mills (Hargate) on 25 April 1996 with the 6E54 10:37 Kingsbury to Humber oil empties. There was very little interest in the Class 60s at this time, as they were the new traction that was replacing such vintage locos as the Class 20s. Two decades later the situation is slightly different!

A view of Hinksey Yard (near Oxford) during its moribund period, before being resurrected as a ballast stockpile. 60003 Christopher Wren catches the last rays of the setting sun, as it passes by the virtually deserted yard on 8 December 1992 with the 6E69 13:35 Langley to Immingham oil empties. Luckily, in view of the rapidly diminishing light, this was running slightly early.

60003 Freight Transport Association passes Cwmbran on 26 June 1999 with the 6V75 09:02 Dee Marsh to Llanwern steel empties. Hidden amongst the bushes, the train is crossing over the Afon Lwyd, which has the uninspiring English translation of 'Grey River'!

60003 Freight Transport Association passes Manningford Bruce on 17 February 2001 with the diverted 6C64 11:59 Didcot Power Station to Avonmouth empty MGR. The train's normal route via Swindon being closed for engineering work. Ah, the good old days, with Class 60 haulage and four wheel HAA wagons!

60003 Freight Transport Association passes Worlaby Cars (on the Barnetby to Scunthorpe line) with the 6D73 16:49 Lindsey to Leeds oil tanks on 24 May 2001. This was formerly the site of Worlaby Siding Signal Box, which broke the long section between Elsham and Appleby boxes.

60003 Freight Transport Association passes the partially completed South Marston Junction on 20 June 2001 with the 6A68 16:56 Avonmouth to Didcot Power Station MGR. Note that at this time the newly laid track into the nearby industrial estate only reached as far as the signal on the right.

60003 Freight Transport Association & 60040 pass Moira West Junction on 4 September 2004 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z54 15:26 Burton-Trent to Reading 'Pieces of Eight' railtour. The Swains Park loading terminal dominates the background.

60004 Lochnagar passes Lower Birchwood (near Somercotes) with the 6M47 11:00 Lackenby to Corby steel coils on 9 April 1992. The wide trackbed here is a clue that this was formerly a junction for two colliery lines, both long since closed. The flat area on the left used to be the exchange sidings for Lower Birchwood Colliery, while on the right was the connection for Cotespark Colliery. This was also on the west side of the line, like Lower Birchwood. To cross the main line, the Cotespark line climbed a gradient, and then crossed over the mainline just above the entrance to Alfreton Tunnels (just out of sight in the background). This location is totally unrecognisable today, tree growth having blotted out virtually everything in this picture.

Just as I arrived at Didcot Power Station on 8 December 1992, 60004 Lochnagar was leaving with the 6E11 10:15 MGR empties to Barrow Hill. Therefore, it was take a quick picture, and then back in the car to get to Didcot North Junction for a second picture.

60004 Lochnagar passes Didcot North Junction on 8 December 1992 with the 6E11 10:15 Didcot Power Station to Barrow Hill MGR empties. I had photographed this just minutes earlier, leaving the power station. Note the foundations of the new industrial estate building being constructed on the right. This marked the end of this being a rural location.

60004 runs alongside the Stainforth & Keadby Canal at Crowle on 31 May 1997. It is working the 6E28 07:05 Wolverhampton to Scunthorpe steel empties. A perfect late spring day, with not a breath of wind to disturb the surface of the canal. No boats either!

The race is on at Marshfield on 27 August 1998! 60004 passes by with the 6V75 09:02 Dee Marsh to Margam steel empties, while 158843 is about to overtake it with the 1F12 09:24 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central service. Normally the foreground train would partially obscure a train on the fast line, but here the low empty wagons have allowed some extra space, and by sheer good luck at the critical moment the front of the Sprinter exactly corresponds with a clear gap in the wagon uprights.

60004 passes Melton Ross on 26 July 2003 with the 7C76 12:20 Immingham to Scunthorpe coal, running slightly late. At this time the lengthy run of Class 56 haulage on these trains was coming to and end, in favour of Class 60s. However the following train was still in the still in the capable hands of the veteran class.

60004 accelerates away from a signal check at Shrivenham with the 6B33 13:30 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 8 August 2006. All down trains were being stopped at the signal pictured here due to a signaling fault a mile further up the line at Bourton. An excellent excuse to use a slow shutter speed of 1/250sec to gain extra depth of field on a 200mm lens! During my three hour visit, one HST actually ran wrong line using the up line. The Great Western main line has been signaled for bi-directional working for many years, as can be seen from the two signals on the gantry in the background. However, it gets very little use.

60005 Skiddaw passes Frimley Green on 7 January 1992 with the 6L31 09:56 Micheldever to Ripple Lane oil empties. The loco was on temporary loan to Cardiff Canton, which explains the fact that this is a Railfreight Construction loco, on a petroleum duty. The impressive building in the background is Farnborough Hill Roman Catholic School.

60005 Skiddaw passes the aptly named Railway Cottages at Souldrop on 27 September 1997 with the 6C31 08:37 Mountsorrel to Radlett Redland stone train. At the time this was the only booked southbound freight over the route on a Saturday.

60005 BP Gas Avonmouth passes Little Haresfield with the 6B47 16:10 Westerleigh to Robeston empty Murco oil tanks on 4 July 2008. It is slowing down on the approach to a red signal, just prior to being looped to allow a northbound Cross Country service to overtake it. Note the evidence of recent tree removal by Network Rail on the side of the cutting. Just visible in the background is the signal that controls Standish Junction, where the Swindon line diverges from the Bristol route.

60006 Great Gable rounds the reverse curves at Tackley on 27 March 1993, en-route from Mountsorrel to Denchworth with a Redland stone train for use during the following day's engineering possession, in connection with the installation of new relief lines on the Great Western Mainline.

With engine switched off, and nobody around, 60006 Great Gable stands on the newly laid down relief at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 28 March 1993, after working down from Mountsorrel the previous day with a Redland stone train. Presumably later in the day it would drop ballast somewhere along the new line. It was extremely fortunate that it was parked exactly in the right place for a photo from the bridge!

After taking the more conventional picture from the bridge, I couldn't resist moving down into the field for this low level side view of 60006 Great Gable parked on the recently laid, but not yet commissioned down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on Sunday 28 March 1993. It seemed quite odd to see this loco and train parked in the middle of nowhere, with engine off and not a soul around!

60006 Great Gable passes Kings Sutton on 31 May 1994 with the 6E05 17:39 Didcot Power Station to Barrow Hill MGR empties. Just a slight dark patch on the bodyside gives away the location of the former Trainload sector markings.

Unbranded 60006 Great Gable approaches Wolvercote Junction on 18 July 1994 with the 6E81 18:55 Didcot to Worksop MGR empties. In the mid 1990s there was still a healthy volume of freight traffic through Oxford in the evening, and on this occasion I had also seen 47210, 47367 & 47310, all within 45 minutes.

60006 Great Gable approaches Stenson Junction on 25 April 1996 with a northbound MGR, just as 60098 Charles Francis Brush heads in the opposite direction with a similar train. Although both locos are sporting Mainline's minimalist former Trainload Freight livery, there is a difference in the HAA wagons, with 60098's train being fitted with hoods.

60006 Scunthorpe Ironmaster became the first Class 60 the be scrapped, when it was cut up by Ron Hull of Rotherham at Toton in January 2020. It was noteworthy for carrying British Steel blue, and latterly Corus silver liveries. In both guises it seemed to avoid my camera! On the few occasions that I did see it in these colour schemes, it was usually running light engine. This very poor quality image shows it passing Swarkestone on 16 December 2000, still in ex-works condition, just days after being repainted from blue to silver.

Judging by the shadows in the foreground, I wasn't the only person on the Archers Road footbridge at Eastleigh on 14 September 2002 to witness the Pathfinder Tours 1Z96 17:10 Southampton Central to Derby 'Soton Vinegar' railtour pass through on its way back to the Midlands. The silver livery of 60006 Scunthorpe Ironmaster glistens in the evening sunlight as the train round the curve from Eastleigh station.

60007 heads west past White Waltham on 20 April 2002 with a train of ballast empties. Slightly misty, and only very hazy weak sunshine, but you don't pass up the chance of photographing a Loadhaul Class 60 on a train of gunnells (former PGA stone hoppers).

60007 passes Engine Common (near Yate) with the 6V70 10:00 Cliffe Vale to St Blazey china clay empties on 17 July 2002. At the time I was still lamenting the loss of 37s on these trains, but a Loadhaul Class 60 is certainly a more than adequate substitute!

60007 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth with the 6B33 13:30 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 2 November 2006. The original Loadhaul livery has been defaced by the crude application of the EWS "three beasties" logo on top of the "Load" part of the Loadhaul branding. As the train was on the relief line, and was obviously going to be stopped just up the line at Challow to allow the passage of at least one HST, I decided to try for a second picture further along the line.

After chasing it from Denchworth, and initially heading for the bridge at Baulking, which was unfortunately completely in the shade, I wasn't sure that I would make it in time to the footpath crossing at Uffington to see 60007 with the 6B33 13:30 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 2 November 2006. Leaving the car in the farmyard, and sprinting across the field, I was glad to see a HST coming from the east, which meant 60007 hadn't gone yet. A few minutes later after I was in position on the right side of the line, 60007 passed heading west in glorious autumnal light. This is the site of Uffington loops, lifted shortly after the installation of the Challow to Wantage Road relief lines.

60007 The Spirit of Tom Kendell approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth with the 6B33 13:35 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 18 October 2011. Considering the loaded train was heavily delayed before arriving at Theale, this has done well to regain time, and is in fact only a few minutes late at this point. This explains why it is running main line, having no need to wait in the loop to allow First Great Western HSTs to overtake.

Perfect blue skies at Uffington on 22 October 2011, as 60007 The Spirit of Tom Kendell heads westwards with the 6B33 12:12 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. Running just a little late, the train had been looped between Wantage Road and Challow to allow a pair of First Great Western HSTs to overtake.

60007 The Spirit of Tom Kendell trundles past Broken Cross (near Gloucester) on 29 March 2012 with the 6B13 05:05 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. Although worth travelling over forty miles for this alone, the highlight of this particular visit was 50049 working a Cardiff to Kidderminster loco convoy.

60007 The Spirit of Tom Kendell ambles along the down relief line at Milton on 13 September 2012 with the 6B33 13:35 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties, running almost exactly an hour late. Note the puff of smoke from Didcot Power Station's chimney, as it uses up some of its few remaining hours of generating time.

60007 The Spirit of Tom Kendell runs alongside the farm track near Wantage Road on 15 January 2013 with the 6B33 13:35 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Having chosen this photogenic location, and managed to be clear of any annoying clouds, the whole thing was nearly ruined by a HST approaching at speed from the other direction. Luckily, despite being signaled onto the relief line at Wantage Road, 60007 was travelling at a reasonable speed, but it was a close run thing, with the HST just passing me as I pressed the shutter!

60007 The Spirit of Tom Kendell passes the site of Oaksey station in lovely soft evening light on 15 September 2016 with the diverted and late running 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. I thought the previous day's 45 minute late running train was bad enough, but this was 84 minutes late! On the plus side, the later the better as far as the lighting angle is concerned.

60007 The Spirit of Tom Kendell passes Thorne Junction on 18 December 2016 with the 6M57 11:04 Lindsey Oil Refinery to Kingsbury oil tanks. The Goole line, with its single lead junction, can be seen diverging off to the left underneath the M18 motorway bridge.

60007 The Spirit of Tom Kendell passes through Lowdham station in the pouring rain on 31 March 2018 with the 6E54 10:40 Kingsbury to Humber Oil Refinery empty oil tanks. Lowdham may have lost its goods handling facilities in the 1960s, but it does have a grounded ex BR ventilated van, now used for storage.

60007 The Spirit of Tom Kendell passes Challow on 11 July 2018 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston oil empties. The 'Switch on to Safety' logo was in connection with DB Schenker's safety campaign for their employees.

A welcome change of traction for the 6C48 17:11 Appleford to Whatley Quarry Mendip Rail stone empties. 60007 The Spirit of Tom Kendell passes Compton Beauchamp on 25 July 2018. This was running a few minutes late, and so was the diverted 7A97 16:16 Merehead Quarry to Colnbrook stone train coming from the other direction. This could so easily have been a recipe for disaster, with 7A97 completely blocking the view. Luckily however it had just passed when 60007 came into view.

60007 The Spirit of Tom Kendell passes Grove on 27 July 2018 with the 6C48 17:11 Appleford to Whatley Quarry Mendip Rail stone empties. There is clearly a large mass of dark clouds to the east, but to the west the sun was starting to break through the thin clouds, which although usually welcome, was mixed blessing here, as the sun angle was still virtually head on.

60007 The Spirit of Tom Kendell passes underneath the new footbridge at Uffington on 27 July 2018 with the 6C48 17:11 Appleford to Whatley Quarry Mendip Rail stone empties. Unfortunately, the sun, which against all the odds, had been avoiding the clouds for nearly an hour, had now finally disappeared.

60007 The Spirit of Tom Kendell approaches Didcot North Junction on 2 August 2018 with the 7A15 03:54 Whatley Quarry to Appleford Mendip Rail stone train. This location used to be virtually shadow free at 7am, but lineside trees now make a long lens necessary at this time of the morning.

This location, at Engine Common, near Yate, regularly sees Class 60 hauled empty oil trains from nearby Westerleigh. However, this one is from Theale. 60007 The Spirit of Tom Kendell heads north on 7 July 2022 with the diverted 6B33 13:35 Theale to Robeston empty oil tanks.

60007 The Spirit of Tom Kendell passes Minety on 9 July 2022 with the diverted 6B33 13:06 Theale to Margam empty oil tanks. The train's normal route via the Severn Tunnel was closed for engineering works. I definitely wasn't going to miss a picture of a freight on the Golden Valley route on such a cloudless day, but finding a location with a decent sun angle, and that I hadn't visited many times before was difficult. This location is a little uninspiring, but at least it is different, and the lighting angle is perfect!

60008 Moel Fammau passes Aynho Junction on 22 July 1993 with the 6M23 15:54 Fawley to Bromford Bridge bitumen tanks. The sharply curved up Chiltern line can be seen climbing away in the background, while just visible amid the trees in the distance is the flyover which takes the down Chiltern line over the Oxford to Banbury route.

The weak autumnal sun is trying to come out on 23 November 1996, as 60008 Gypsum Queen II passes Narborough with the 6E27 10:19 Bedworth to Humber Elf oil empties. The construction site in the background was for yet another housing estate, although at least the old goods shed on the right escaped the redevelopment.

60008 Gypsum Queen II passes Clay Mills (Hargate) on 23 May 1998 with the 6E54 10:37 Kingsbury to Humber oil empties. It had just stopped raining (temporarily!), and although still very dull, a Loadhaul liveried loco was always worth taking - definitely the best colour scheme of the original three privatised freight operators. The old concrete supports for a former pipeline on the left immediately identify this well known photographic location.

60008 Gypsum Queen II ambles along the down relief line at Coedkernew on 3 September 1999 with the 6B40 11:55 Llanwern to Port Talbot iron ore empties. Already obsolete even when this picture was taken, the black and orange Loadhaul livery was certainly the most stylish of the original privatised company's colours.

60008 Gypsum Queen II passes Wormbridge on Bank Holiday Monday 5 May 2003 with the 6M84 08:00 Llanwern to Dee Marsh steel. Near this point the Abergavenny to Hereford railway crosses the course of the much earlier horse worked tramway, which linked these two towns from as early as 1829.

60008 Gypsum Queen II approaches the site of Crosby Garrett station on the Settle to Carlisle line with the 6E13 13:00 Newbiggin to Knottingley empty gypsum containers on 30 October 2003. For once an appropriately named locomotive for the traffic carried! Even on a typical dull S&C day (note the clouds over the fells in the background) the autumn colours of the silver birch trees really stand out.

60009 Carnedd Dafydd is just slightly overpowered for the featherweight 6J32 12:10 Immingham to Tinsley steel empties, pictured passing Melton Ross on 30 October 1998. The loco is named after a mountain in the Snowdonia National Park. 

With its Mainline branding now reading 'Mai lin', 60009 Carnedd Dafydd passes Hinksey Yard on 7 April 2001 with the 6V70 02:20 Lindsey to Langley aviation fuel tanks. Photo taken from Tuckwell's Crossing, which has since been closed to the public.

On a very gloomy 27 March 2007, 60009 passes Little Haresfield with the 6E41 11:22 Westerleigh to Lindsey oil empties. It's probably just as well that there is no sun here, as otherwise it would be exceedingly backlit, as unfortunately is the case for most locations on 6E41's route.

Over four decades after it closed to passengers, Charfield station building still survives, although virtually all other traces of the station have disappeared. 60009 passes the site on 2 March 2010 with the 6E41 11:41 Westerleigh to Lindsey oil empties. In 2010 this train is virtually the only working left that brings a Class 60 to the south of England. The ridge of the Cotswold Hills can be seen in the background, with the 1846 built Somerset Monument at Hawkesbury Upton just visible against the skyline on the left.

Not surprisingly still looking smart, as it was less than three months old at the time, 60010 Pumlumon / Plynlimon rounds the curve at Llangewydd with the 6V32 Albion to Waterston oil empties on 15 April 1991. The loco only worked off Cardiff for a further month before moving to Toton.

60010 Pumlumon / Plynlimon slowly approaches a red signal on the down loop at Pilning on 27 April 1991, as it prepares to enter the Severn Tunnel with the 6B08 12:25 Langley to Waterston empty oil tanks. Normally I would have been pleased to get a picture of what was then a brand new locomotive, but unfortunately it was about to get in the way of something much more interesting coming from the other direction!

On 10 August 1991, 60010 Pumlumon / Plynlimon & 60041 High Willhays pass through Atherstone station with the 1T60 16:54 Derby to Crewe (via Nuneaton) stock positioning move in connection with the following day's Trainload Coal Motive Power Day on the North Wales Coast. Unusually, this wasn't an empty stock working, so that those in the know could get some extra Class 60 mileage. Admittedly the weather was poor, bit if I remember correctly I was the only person on the platform to witness this. Of course if this happened today I wouldn't attempt to go to this location, as the platform would be heaving with photographers, all getting in each other's way, such would be the attraction of a pair of Class 60s on a passenger train.

60010 manages to find a brief glimpse of weak autumnal sunshine as it approaches Tackley with the 6V70 02:20 Lindsey to Langley oil tanks on 13 November 1999. I was surprised to get any brightness at all here, as in addition to the thick cloud visible in the background, there were patches of fog drifting across from the nearby River Cherwell.

With Ashchurch station just visible in the background, 60010 powers past Natton with the 6V07 13:21 Round Oak to Margam steel empties on 3 November 2006. Admittedly emphasised by the long lens, but the appalling state of the track is clearly visible here. Considering this is a main line carrying passenger trains at high speed the switch-back nature of the track would not have been tolerated years ago. Hopefully the engineering work scheduled for the following day will see some improvement in track standards here.

Hardly the ideal photographic lighting conditions, with the sun virtually behind the train, but it does show off the recently cleared cutting at Lower Wick to advantage. 60010 heads north with the 6E41 10:42 Westerleigh to Lindsey oil empties on 12 October 2009. Note the change of gradient under the footbridge in the background.

The hills in the background are still shrouded in low cloud and fog, but 60010 manages to find a small patch of sunshine as it passes Broken Cross (between Lydney and Gloucester) with the 6B13 05:05 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks on 3 September 2010. Although at this time there is a still pool of the class active for such trains as this, that are beyond the capabilities of a 66, worryingly, September 2010 marks the first batch of 60s put up for sale by DBS - a whopping 20% of the fleet.

60010 passes Hinksey on 12 April 2013 with the 6E55 13:00 Theale to Lindsey Murco oil empties. The loco is just crossing over a branch of the Hinksey Stream, which is very susceptible to flooding, and which has been a constant source of problems for the railway since broad gauge days. The bridge In the background carries the A423 Oxford southern by-pass.

60010 approaches Haresfield on 1 July 2021 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. On this occasion it was booked to wait in Haresfield loop from 12:45 until 14:02, to allow the 6E45 14:05 Westerleigh to Humber Oil Refinery empties to exit the terminal.

60010 passes Box on 31 December 2021 with the diverted 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. Due to engineering works between Gloucester and Bristol, this train had travelled through the Severn Tunnel, instead of its usual route via Lydney. It would later have to reverse at Swindon, reverse again at Westerleigh Junction, and yet again at Yate, all of which explains the presence of 66080 on the rear of the train. Middlehill Tunnel can be seen in the background.

The 6B33 13:49 Theale to Robeston oil empties is booked to stop at Challow for eight minutes. This doesn't always happen, due to late running, but on 16 August 2022 it was unusually running exactly to time, so 60010 is pictured slowly approaching the red signal on the down relief line.

Running 18 minutes late, 60010 passes Uffington on 28 October 2022 with the 6B33 13:49 Theale to Robeston empty oil tanks. This had the potential to be ruined by a passing car, as the Fernham to Uffington road is between the foreground hedge and the field. Luckily it is a very quiet road, and I particularly wanted to include the oak tree and impressive cloudscape in the picture, which meant standing back a bit. Note how the autumn colours are much more advanced on the nearest oak tree, compared to the ones behind.

60010 passes Uffington on 4 November 2022 with the 6B33 13:49 Theale to Robeston empty oil tanks. Not really much of a corporate image here. No branding on the loco, and at least five different liveries on the tanks!

60010 passes Gossington on 20 January 2023 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. This was running 22 minutes early, after only spending 11 minutes in Haresfield loop, rather than the booked 41 minutes.

Running 19 minutes early, 60010 passes Standish Junction on 24 January 2023 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. DB don't seem to want to admit to owning this loco, as it has no bodyside branding, and even the DB logo on the front end is bleached out to white!

60010 passes South Marston on 28 July 2023 with the 6B33 13:49 Theale to Robeston oil empties. Note the loco's complete lack of DB branding. This would be an excellent location for a sunlit shot of this train, unfortunately it was reluctant to appear on this occasion!

60010 passes Tumpy Green on 8 September 2023 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks  This working is still generally a good bet for a Tug, despite there only being a handful of DB Class 60s left in traffic.

60011 Cader Idris passes Finedon with the 6C31 08:37 Mountsorrel to Radlett Redland stone train on 1 August 1992. This is the site of Finedon station, which surprisingly closed to passengers as early as 1940, although it remained opened for freight until 1964. The spacious track formation here indicates the site of the former relief lines. 

Not long before sunset on 16 July 1996, 60011 passes Bourton with the 6O42 Hallen Marsh to Eastleigh Yard LPG empties. I was surprised to see this, as its booked time here was after the sun had set, and in fact it passed me five minutes before its official departure time of 20:26.

After running round its train near Didcot Parkway station, Mainline blue liveried 60011 passes Foxhall Junction on 29 May 1997 with the late running 6C66 16:09 Didcot Power Station to Avonmouth MGR empties. It will take the bi-directional line as far as Steventon.

60011 passes Up Hatherley with 60068 Charles Darwin dead in tow on 6 April 2009 with the 6E41 11:18 Westerleigh to Lindsey oil empties. 60068 had run into problems two days previously whilst working the 6V98 Lindsey to Westerleigh tanks and due to loss of power arrived very late. Because of this the tatty patch painted Mainline blue liveried 60011 was sent to assist with the return empties. In view of the very small number of Class 60s left in traffic, getting a picture of two locomotives on one train, neither of which is in EWS livery was not to missed. To emphasize the point I chose to go to Up Hatherley where I had seen 60068 on the same train a few weeks before. Unfortunately by the time the train came the lighting was very poor.

60011 passes Uffington on 13 October 2009 with the 6B33 13:33 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Although obviously any Class 60 is infinitely preferable to a 'shed', the tatty patch painted former Mainline blue livery of 60011 contrasts especially well with the red tanks and makes a much more pleasing picture.

On its second day in traffic on the heavy Welsh oil trains after arriving from its repaint at Toton, 60011 rounds the curve at Grange Court with the 6B13 05:05 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks on 14 January 2011. I was unable to get out for its first run on this service the day before, but was keen to get a picture of this (at the moment) unique DB Schenker liveried Class 60 while it was still clean, and while the buffers were still silver. Although unlike the previous day it wasn't actually raining, the weather was still grim, but this livery stands out in any conditions!

With the sanders creating a haze around the locomotive's wheels, 60011 applies all of it considerable power to get the lengthy 6B13 05:05 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks moving past Little Haresfield on 19 January 2011. It is pulling out of Haresfield loop, which is just beyond the bridge in the background. The loco is already showing signs of use and is not quite as pristine as it was during the previous week's initial workings. However, the change from gloomy weather to full sun meant that another picture just had to be taken!

Although the sun is weak and hazy, 60011 is coming straight out of it at Compton Beauchamp on 17 April 2011, resulting in this poor picture. However, the combination of the unique liveried (at the time) 60, slightly unusual (for a Class 60) working and abundant blackthorn blossom, is some compensation. It is working the 6W31 14:00 Barnwood Junction to Hinksey spent ballast.

60011 passes through the extremely overgrown remains of Shrivenham station on 10 July 2014 with the diverted 6A11 22:49 Robeston to Theale Murco oil tanks. I had hoped for a sunny shot here, but a bank of cloud in the east prevented that. However, judging by the amount of vegetation on the old platform, at only 40 minutes after sunrise, I think it might have been a little shadowy!

60011 passes Ley Court (between Grange Court and Oakle Street) with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks on 2 November 2018. Photo taken from a public footpath crossing. The bridge at Grange Court can just be seen in the background.

60011 passes Ley Court (between Grange Court and Oakle Street) on 18 September 2019 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. Luckily Network Rail haven't spoilt this location with their usual palisade fencing, but have merely added some inconspicuous green mesh to the old post and wire fence.

With a fanfare on the horn, the driver of 60011 applies the power at Ham Mill on 19 May 2020, as he pulls away from a short stop at the signal in the background, with the 6M53 16:16 Swindon Stores to Toton Up Sidings steel empties. This was running 25 minutes early, and I correctly guessed that it would not wait in Haresfield Loop for the booked hour, so I decided not to try for a second picture to the north of Cheltenham. A good decision, as it went straight past Haresfield, and was therefore 86 minutes early passing Cheltenham. The buttercups in the foreground of this view, and the houses of Brimscombe in the background, help to break up the overall green which unfortunately dominates landscape views at this time of year.

Running 145 minutes early, 60011 approaches Eckington on 21 May 2020 with the 6M53 16:16 (in theory) Swindon Stores to Toton Up Sidings steel empties. At the booked departure time it had already traversed the entire 'Golden Valley line, and had passed Standish Junction!

60011 passes Purton Common on 28 May 2020 with the 6M53 16:16 Swindon Stores to Toton Up Sidings steel empties. The private road approaching Hills Waste Solution's pit can be seen on the left, and the row of waste containers in the background marks the site of the former Purton brickworks, which closed in 1977.

Making a welcome change from the usual Class 66, 60011 passes Highnam on 2 September 2021 with the 6V05 09:15 Round Oak to Margam steel empties. This was running 28 minutes late, but still managed to get to it destination a staggering 95 minutes early!

60011 passes Gossington on 17 September 2021 with the 6B41 11:19 Westerleigh to Robeston empty oil tanks. This was running 20 minutes early, after having left Westerleigh at 10:31. This early running was early enough to avoid the advancing clouds!

60011 passes Purton Common on 26 May 2022 with the 6V15 20:18 Boston Sleaford Sidings to Swindon Stores covered steel carriers. This was running 15 minutes early, which was unfortunately not early enough to avoid the cloud that rapidly appeared from nowhere, shortly after sunrise. As there was no chance of any sun, I took this picture from what would normally have been the shadow side, therefore saving the other view for when I return, when there actually is some sun!

60011 approaches the site of Bremell Sidings on 9 June 2022 with the 6V15 20:18 Boston Sleaford Sidings to Swindon Stores covered steel carriers. This was running in a later path, having been booked to wait in Ashchurch loop (although it actually waited in Haresfield loop instead), and so was running 40 minutes later than usual here. This was good news as the shadows were less, but it still required a long lens to avoid much more prominent shadows in the foreground. Diana Lodge farmhouse, adjacent to Collins Lane level crossing at Purton, can be seen in the background.

Running almost exactly on time, 60011 & 60010 pass underneath the footbridge at Uffington on 28 February 2023 with the 6B33 13:49 Theale to Robeston empty oil tanks. Other than railtours, I think this is only the second time that I have photographed a double headed Class 60 train. Ironically on the only other occasion it was the same leading loco! 60010 had failed at Theale.

60012 Glyder Fawr passes Sileby on 18 August 1992 with the 6M74 12:23 Temple Mills to Mountsorrel stone empties. This is Redland's innovative self-discharge train, allowing stone to be unloaded at any convenient location.

60012 Glyder Fawr heads eastwards light engine at Compton Beauchamp on 25 June 1996. I don't normally take pictures of light engines, but couldn't resist this, as the loco is relatively clean, and the lighting is spot on. Glyder Fawr is a mountain in Snowdonia, the name apparently meaning 'Heap of stones'!

60012 passes through Ashchurch station with the 6V24 13:45 Saltley to Cardiff Tidal scrap train on a cloudless 25 June 1999. Note the weed covered lines leading into the Army depot on the right, largely disused at the time, but now with much more buoyant traffic levels.

60012 passes underneath the A161 road bridge at Crowle on 28 October 2002 with the 6D93 08:08 Selby to Immingham empty Cargowagons. It is just about to pass the boarded up signal box. This was demolished a few years later.

It's not just the loco and the bogie tank wagons that are red in this picture. The low late afternoon winter sun is tingeing everything red, as the 6B33 13:33 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties passes South Marston, led by 60012.

60013 Robert Boyle leaves Drax Power Station on 17 February 1996 with yet another rake of MGR empties. This was in the days when the power station burnt coal, rather than Canadian Rainforest. The loco's inappropriate Railfreight Petroleum livery is explained by the fact that this in the short lived Loadhaul era.

60013 Robert Boyle passes Elford on 25 May 2001 with the 6M03 08:48 Lackenby to Wolverhampton steel. 60013 is one of the few Class 60s that managed to avoid being painted into EWS red, and in fact was withdrawn in its original grey livery, albeit with the addition of the EWS 'Three Beasties' logo in place of the former Trainload branding.

60013 Robert Boyle passes Whisker Hill Junction (near Retford) on 22 June 2002 with the Past Time Rail 1Z56 14:59 York to Finsbury Park 'Spinnin' State III' railtour. The Class 60 worked the tour between Sheffield and Retford.

60013 Robert Boyle passes Husborne Crawley (on the Bletchley to Bedford line) with the 6H55 10:44 Bletchley to Peak Forest RMC stone empties on 5 November 2005. A very dull day, but at least the sun came out (much to my surprise!) for 40145, which was the main reason for visiting this location.

In crisp early morning light, 60013 Robert Boyle approaches Heck with the 6N81 06:10 Scunthorpe to Redcar coke empties on 14 March 2008. The train is approaching the site of the horrific accident of 2001, which is now commemorated by a memorial garden at the foot of the embankment on which I was standing to take this picture.

Welcome back to some proper traction on the Theale oil tanks! 60013 Robert Boyle passes Denchworth with the 6B33 13:33 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 8 July 2010. After many months of double headed Class 66s, at last a return to something worth photographing, but for how long! Although it was sunny when I left home, it soon clouded up (and of course brightened up again once I got back home!), but at least the dull conditions enabled this shot to be taken from the north side, which allows a wider angle for trains on the relief line at this location.

Well you would do wouldn't you! After seeing 60013 Robert Boyle pass Denchworth with the 6B33 13:33 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 8 July 2010, a quick dash was made to Baulking for a second shot, while it sat in the loop at Challow waiting for a couple of HSTs to go pass. After months of Class 66 haulage, this marks a return to proper traction for this long running train, and in on this occasion a loco in a decent livery as well, rather than drab EWS red!

60013 Robert Boyle passes the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham with the 6B33 13:33 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 31 August 2010. After several months of pairs of 66s on this service, summer 2010 has seen a return of the proper type of locomotive to this weight of train, at least temporarily. A bit of proper maintenance wouldn't go amiss for the 60s, rather than just starting one up from the line of stored locos and then using it until it fails!

Well it was sunny when I left home! 60013 Robert Boyle passes Baulking on 25 November 2010 with the 6B33 13:33 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. The cloud just filled in and got darker and by the time the train appeared it was really grim, but as I had trudged across a field to get to this spot, I thought I might as well take the picture. Note the two oak trees in the background, which even near the end of November are still largely covered in golden leaves.

The oilseed rape is just coming out into flower at Uffington on 7 April 2011 as 60013 Robert Boyle passes by with the 6B33 13:35 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Note the cloud building up from the north. If this train had been just one minute later a large lump of that cloud would have ruined the picture. I'm glad that didn't happen, as I would then really think that this loco / location combination was jinxed. Last year I was just getting out of the car when 60013 went by in full sun running mega early!

Plenty of fresh spring greenery at Baulking on 19 April 2011, as 60013 Robert Boyle heads west with the 6B33 13:35 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties, running very early and without the usual lengthy sojourn in Challow loop. Although a sunny day, the settled high pressure conditions have resulted in a very hazy background, which is partly why I chose this location, as there isn't a lot of background in the picture!

The closure of the Severn Tunnel at weekends during the spring of 2000 resulted in the 6M68 08:45 Burngullow to Warrington Arpley china clay tanks being diverted via the Lickey Incline. Due the load being in excess of the Class 66's meagre haulage capacity, a banker was provided. On 8 April 2000, 60014 Alexander Fleming is pictured half way up the formidable gradient at Vigo, giving the train a hefty push from the rear. In this case the train loco was 66053. There are not many vantage points on the incline to photograph the rear end of a train going up the bank in the evening, but this seems to work quite well, and I deliberately included a large area of sky in the picture to show off the interesting cloud formation.

60014 Alexander Fleming rounds the curve at Llangewydd on 1 July 2000 with the 6V75 09:12 Dee Marsh to Margam steel empties. Although I have visited the more well location near the farm in the background many times, this was the only occasion that I visited this spot.

The shadows are lengthening at Raskelf on 26 November 2001, as 60014 Alexander Fleming heads towards York with the 6V25 12:33 Hartlepool to Margam steel empties. Although latterly the petroleum sector decals seem here were replaced by the EWS 'three beasties' logo, this loco was one of the numerous Class 60s to be stored still wearing its original Railfreight grey livery.

Engineering work resulted in trains being diverted over the Vale of Glamorgan line on Sunday 2 June 1996. One such was the 6B71 10:28 Margam to Ebbw Vale steel coils, seen here passing through Dinas Powys station hauled by 60015 Bow Fell. Note the Buxton depot plaque below the secondman's window.

60015 Bow Fell passes Helpringham on 21 April 2001 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z38 05:35 Preston to Orton Mere 'Nene Navigator' railtour. The Class 60 was used between Toton and the Nene Valley Railway. Helpringham goods shed can be seen in the background. The station closed in 1955.

Running several hours late, and therefore affording an unexpected daytime picture on the Berks & Hants line, 60015 Bow Fell passes Crofton with the 6A11 21:33 Robeston to Theale oil train on 21 July 2006. note that the original triple grey livery has been adapted yet again, this time with the EWS "three beasties" logo on a yellow patch. 

Always a good bet for a Class 60 (although not guaranteed), 6E41, the 11:41 Westerleigh to Lindsey oil empties passes Up Hatherley on 14 Mach 2011 behind 60015 Bow Fell. I had, of course made sure to check that a grey 60 was working the train the night before. No point in going out for the train if its a 'Shed'.

Almost a regular loco on the 6E41 11:41 Westerleigh to Lindsey oil empties in the early part of 2011. 60015 Bow Fell passes Croome on 25 March 2011, with Bredon Hill looming out of the haze in the background. It seems like someone has had a very half hearted attempt at washing the front end recently!

A very unusual load for a Class 60! 60015 passes Balderton Crossing, near Claypole on 30 May 2012 with the 6Z30 08:47 Dollands Moor to York National Railway Museum, conveying 395019 for display at Railfest 2012. Unfortunately the large number of barrier vehicles at the front of the train has slightly reduced the impact of the picture. It would have looked much more impressive if the Javelin EMU was nearer the front of the consist!

60015 passes a slightly misty Barrow upon Trent with the 6E54 10:39 Kingsbury to Humber Oil Refinery empty oil tanks on 17 March 2015. A narrowboat on the nearby Trent and Mersey Canal can just be seen on the extreme right.

60015 slowly approaches Haresfield on 5 June 2018 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. Its ten minute layover in the loop just to the south of here easily allowed for another picture as it departed the loop.

60015 very slowly pulls out of the loop at Little Haresfield on 5 June 2018 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. I had already photographed it a mile further north, just before it entered the loop.

60015 passes South Marston on 26 September 2018 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Photo taken from a footbridge that replaces both the previous footpath crossing, and another one situated by the bushes in the background.

60015 passes Highnam on 26 February 2019 with the 6B41 11:35 Westerleigh to Robeston empty oil tanks. Although taken in perfect winter sunshine, the picture is still lacking something - the Cotswold Hills, which, because of the haze caused by the settled high pressure conditions, have virtually disappeared from the background of this view. Some scenic locations require a lot of effort to get to, but this one merely requires standing on the footpath next to the A48 Gloucester to Chepstow road!

60015 passes Ley Court (between Oake Street and Grange Court) on 18 September 2019 with the 6B41 11:15 Westerleigh to Robeston empty oil tanks. Unfortunately this was running half an hour early, which meant the sun wasn't as far round as I would have liked.

60015 approaches Baulking on 14 February 2023 with the 6B33 13:49 Theale to Robeston empty oil tanks. In contrast to some of my photographic locations, this one requires no long walks, as I was standing on the roadside, right next to my car!

60015 runs alongside the Stainforth & Keadby Canal at Crowle on 8 April 2023 with the UK Railtours 1Z22 06:42 Finsbury Park to Barnetby 'The Last Chance' railtour. Green liveried 66004 is bringing up the rear.

60015 passes Uffington on 13 June 2023 with the 6B33 13:49 Theale to Robeston empty oil tanks. This was running an hour and a half late, which explains the poor lighting angle, with the sun being now very nearly head on.

Wearing inappropriate Railfreight Construction livery, 60016 Langdale Pikes passes Magor on 14 March 1997 with the 6B25 13:15 Westerleigh to Robeston oil empties. Thankfully it was running on the main line. as it is fairly obvious from this view that there isn't much of a shot for anything on the relief line!

60016 Rail Magazine comes out of the darkness, and into the sunshine as it crosses over the River Ely at Miskin on 1 July 2000. The train doesn't seem to match up with anything in the working timetable, so is presumably the late running 7B52 10:41 Port Talbot to Llanwern iron ore.

The isolated church of St. Giles at Hampton Gay (between Oxford and Banbury) stands next to the railway line, with a derelict manor house nearby. Otherwise the area is quite deserted, as no trace of the village survives, and as there is no road access a walk across the fields is required to get to the location. This was the site of a terrible railway accident on Christmas Eve 1874, when a crowded express derailed and ended up in the nearby Oxford Canal. 60017 Arenig Fawr passes the site with the 6M23 14:12 Fawley to Longport LPG tanks on 4 May 1995.

The horses turn their backs on 60017 Shotton Works Centenary Year 1996, as it rounds the curve at Old Denaby on 16 May 2002 with the 6M55 09:52 Lindsey to Rectory Junction oil tanks. The next time I photographed this train here, the reduced load meant that it was unfortunately within the capabilities of a Class 66!

Hardly a taxing train for a Class 60! 60017 passes Castle Donington on 29 November 2012 with the 6D44 11:09 Bescot to Toton engineer's working. An interesting selection of wagons and a welcome change from the ubiquitous 'Shed'. The River Trent meanders through the bushes in the background.

The seed heads from last year's teasels line the field in the foreground, as 60017 passes Knighton on 20 April 2013 with the 6B33 11:27 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. Unfortunately a small cloud decided to get in the way of the sun at the critical moment, which was made more annoying by the fact that for the rest of the day it was virtually 100% sunshine! At least the foreground, loco and part of the train is lit, so not a complete loss.

Very backlit, but a Class 60 in the sun is always worth a picture. 60017 approaches Bromsgrove on 9 July 2013 with the early running 6E41 11:41 Westerleigh to Lindsey Murco oil empties. The London Midland Class 170 just manages to get out of the way in time!

60017 passes Llanhilleth, on the climb to Ebbw Vale, with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z58 09:33 Bristol Temple Meads to Machen 'Taffy Tug' railtour on 25 August 2013. Note the distinctive Edwardian  grade II listed Llanhilleth Miners' Institute building in the background.

60017 rounds the sharp curve at Bedlinog on 25 August 2013, as it heads towards Cwmbargoed with the Pathfinder Tours 'Taffy Tug' railtour, at this point running as the 1Z59 13:04 Machen to Cwmbargoed. Out of sight around the corner is 60063.

60017 passes the site of Chipping Sodbury station on 31 August 2013 with the 6B33 11:27 Theale to Margam empty Murco oil tanks. Unfortunately, after standing around in sunshine for ages, just at the critical moment the sun decided to find some high cloud.

60017 passes Cholsey on 15 November 2013 with the 6E55 13:00 Theale to Lindsey oil empties, with a short load of just eight tanks. The rear tank was making a considerable amount of noise and hunting violently from side to side. I remember seeing this decidedly unsafe phenomenon years ago in the days of short wheelbase wagons, but have never seen it to this extent with bogie tank wagons. A quick check later did reveal that the train made it to its destination without a derailment!

With the preserved Victorian Clay Mills Pumping Station in the background, 60017 heads north on 25 June 2014 with the 6E41 11:41 Westerleigh to Lindsey oil empties. This picture is taken from a footbridge which leads from Clay Mills to virtually nowhere!

60017 approaches Claydon (Gloucestershire) on 23 February 2016 with the 6B41 11:18 Westerleigh to Robeston Murco oil empties. The long lens that was needed here to clear foreground shadows, has foreshortened the perspective, making the bridge near Fiddington in the background appear much closer than it really is.

60017 approaches Wormleighton Crossing on 21 September 2020 with the 6E45 13:05 Theale to Humber Oil Refinery oil empties. This was travelling slowly, as it was about to enter Fenny Compton loop. This was a worry, as the late running 4O69 13:27 Hams Hall to Southampton Western Docks intermodal was approaching from the opposite direction.

Running an hour early (as is often the case), 60017 passes Coates on 7 September 2021 with the 6M53 15:55 Swindon Stores to Toton Up Sidings steel empties. I doubt if you will see many pictures taken at this location, as it requires a long walk, which seemed even longer in the unseasonal 29c heat! The line in this area was built with traditional Cotswold drystone walls instead of the more usual boundary fence, and the slightly tumbledown remains of one can be seen in the foreground.

The red livery of 60017 and the tanks is accentuated by the low late afternoon sun at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 25 November 2022. The 6B33 13:49 Theale to Robeston oil empties was running a few minutes late, and on the main, not the relief line, as booked.

Running 34 minutes late, and with the light getting weaker and redder by the minute, 60017 passes Steventon on 9 December 2022 with the 6B33 13:49 Theale to Robeston oil empties. The train had been on time until Didcot, but then it had a protracted wait to let several late running GWR IET's pass.

My only decent picture of a Class 60 working the Avon Binliner. 60018 Moel Siabod rounds the curve at Thingley on 25 June 1993 with the 6C13 11:22 Calvert to Bath empties. Starting off with Class 47s in 1985, there has been quite a variety of traction on this working, including 37s, 58s & 66s, but 60s only worked the train regularly for a short period. Obviously I will have to make do with this single picture, because the train stopped running in April 2011.

After having just reversed at Cudworth North Junction, 60018 passes the site of Royston Junction on 13 February 1999 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z45 14:02 York to York (via Monk Bretton) 'Yorkian Gargoylian' railtour. 31452 & 31468 are bringing up the rear. The wide area of ballast on the right is where the line from Dewsbury joined the Monk Bretton line.

60018 passes Tupton on 7 April 2002 with the 6V42 09:58 Lackenby to Llanwern steel slabs. Unfortunately I never visited this location when Avenue Sidings occupied the wooded area behind the train, which in the 1970s was home to National Coal Board Hunslet shunters.

60018 rolls downhill past Triley Mill, near Abergavenny with the 6V75 09:29 Dee Marsh to Margam steel empties on 25 February 2006. A bright but very cold day, fortunately this position was sheltered from the biting wind, but note the snow on the Black Mountains in the background above the locomotive.

Although somewhat ruined by that modern scourge of the railway photographer - palisade fencing, this is a location I had not previously visited. Over the years I have taken numerous pictures from the roadbridge near the site of Shrivenham station, seen in the background here, but had never ventured to this spot. 60018 passes the site of the long closed station with the 6B33 13:30 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 15 November 2007.

It is just after 21:00 on a mid-summer evening and the sun is just approaching the horizon as 60019 Pathfinder Tours 30 Years of Railtouring 1973-2003 passes Spetchley with the 6V37 12:59 Lackenby to Llanwern steel train. The date is 16 June 2004, only a few days away from the longest day, which is why it was just possible to take the picture, even though only the side of the loco and the tops of the trees are actually getting any sun. Spetchley is the ideal location for late evening pictures such as this, as nothing at all shades the line.

Definitely running at its top speed of 60 mph, 60019 Pathfinder Tours 30 Years of Railtouring 1973-2003 passes Compton Beauchamp on 18 August 2009 with the 6B33 13:33 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Surprisingly there hasn't been a great increase in the lineside vegetation at this location in the last thirty years. This most noticeable difference since 1979 is the plantation of trees surrounding Galleyherns Farm in the background.

60019 Port of Grimsby & Immingham passes Walden Stubbs in monsoon conditions on 22 June 2013 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z81 09:56 Sheffield to Leeds 'Loopy Doughnut' railtour. The train had originated from Bristol. Luckily the torrential rain only lasted a few minutes, but at least I suppose it does make the picture look atmospheric!

60019 Port of Grimsby & Immingham slowly negotiates Pontefract East Junction on 22 June 2013 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z81 09:56 Sheffield to Leeds 'Loopy Doughnut' railtour. I particularly wanted to photograph the train here, as it shows it coming off the short single track chord from Ferrybridge North Junction. This links the York to Sheffield line with the Knottingley to Wakefield route. The M62 motorway crosses in the background, which seems surprisingly free of traffic at this particular moment. Also surprising, and very welcome, was the brief burst of sunshine on an otherwise generally cloudy day.

60019 Port of Grimsby & Immingham passes Great Heck on 22 June 2013 with the 1Z82 15:45 Leeds to Bristol Temple Meads 'Loopy Doughnut' railtour. Note the green signal on the left. After being double amber for the entire time I was stood waiting, at the critical moment the signal changed, and a Class 91 hauled East Coast service was fast approaching from the rear. Just seconds after I took this picture the view was completely blocked!

60019 Port of Grimsby & Immingham passes Damery on 7 September 2013 with the 6B13 05:04 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. Very head on lighting, and only just about acceptable, but as I was already at this location to photograph D1015, I thought I might as well wait for this. Luckily it was running half an hour early. Had it been right time, not only would the light have obviously been even worse, but more likely, judging by the clouds, there wouldn't have been any!

60019 Port of Grimsby & Immingham just manages to stay ahead of the advancing clouds, as it passes Bourton on 17 June 2014 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. The farmer's dog in the field on the right is distinctly unimpressed!

60019 Port of Grimsby & Immingham passes a field of ripening wheat near Uffington on 12 July 2014, as it heads back to South Wales with the 6B33 11:27 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. The 'tramlines' in the crop provided a convenient path from the road behind the trees in the far distance, ensuring I didn't damage the crop.

60019 Port of Grimsby & Immingham passes Broken Cross on 15 February 2016 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. This was running a few minutes early, although it actually left Robeston two hours early!

60019 Port of Grimsby & Immingham passes the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham, on 18 February 2016 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. After a sunny afternoon, a large mass of cloud arrived from the west half an hour before this was due, and it seemed certain that the shot would be lost. Surprisingly just as it came into view the sun found a hole in the cloud, and although by the time it approached the bridge the sun was starting to fade, it still makes a passable picture.

60019 Port of Grimsby & Immingham passes Uffington on 24 February 2016 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Always worth a picture, and possibly more timely now if the rumour actually turns out to be true that DBS will soon store all its Class 60s due to the downturn in the freight business.

60019 Port of Grimsby & Immingham runs along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 2 November 2016 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Luckily the omission of the catenary post nearest to the bridge has meant that there has been a slight photographic reprieve at this location during 2016.

60019 Port of Grimsby & Immingham pulls out of Haresfield loop with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks on 7 June 2017. The rapid growth of the ash trees on the right requires a much more head on viewpoint than previously, and if they don't get pruned soon, this well known photographic location will be a lot less appealing!

This is certainly not the picture I was anticipating, although it does have a certain novelty value, as getting a picture of a pair of freight trains passing each other along the Chepstow to Gloucester line takes some doing, given the distinct lack of trains. 60019 Port of Grimsby & Immingham passes Purton on 17 June 2017 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks, while the considerably shorter 6V05 09:20 Round Oak to Margam steel empties heads in the opposite direction, hauled by 66143. Unfortunately, unlike the previous Saturday, where 6B13 was 45 minutes early, today it was 36 minutes late, which made all the difference to the lighting angle, and of course allowed 6V05 to get in the way!

60019 Port of Grimsby & Immingham passes Tumpy Green on 18 September 2021 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. The spire of Slimbridge church, which dominates the flat landscape around the River Severn, can be seen in the background. I hadn't initially planned on waiting for this train, but the weather had improved, and despite the forecast, there was hardly a cloud in the sky.

60019 Port of Grimsby & Immingham passes Stroud on 9 October 2021 with the diverted 6B33 11:42 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. This was diverted due to the closure of the Severn Tunnel for engineering works. It was running late, having left Theale 73 minutes behind time. Because of the easy schedule, it had picked up some time, and was only half an hour late here. This was excellent, as at the booked time the whole area was under heavy cloud, but just a few minutes before it was actually due, the sun reappeared!

60019 Port of Grimsby & Immingham passes Standish Junction on 22 March 2022 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. The loco is slowly accelerating its massive load away from the train's booked stop in Haresfield Loop.

60019 Port of Grimsby & Immingham passes Portskewett on 17 June 2022 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. Note the variety of liveries of the tanks, although none of them are as colourful as this train used to be in the mid 1990s.

60020 stands at Banbury stone terminal on 20 July 2000, while the built in conveyor of the Redland self discharge stone train shoots the contents of the wagons into the storage bins. The train would have arrived as the 6G32 00:12 Mountsorrel to Banbury, and would leave later as the 6M31 11:12 Banbury to Mountsorrel empties.

60020 catches one of the few brief glimpses of sunshine that I saw at Appleby Carrs (near Scunthorpe) on 4 May 2002. It is working the 6T25 13:30 Immingham to Santon iron ore. Just behind the train is the site of the 12th century Thornholme Priory, of which virtually nothing now remains except the partly infilled fishponds.

A very grubby 60020 emerges from Wickwar Tunnel with the 6B13 05:10 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks on 9 August 2007. I only just got this one in sun, as can be seen from shadows in the background! The bridge in the distance is a combined footpath and aqueduct.

60020 approaches Wickwar on 30 January 2008 with the 6B13 05:10 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. I wasn't too impressed with this choice of traction, as it was on the train the last time I photographed this working just over a mile south of this spot! The long lens has compressed the perspective here, bringing up the houses at Charfield and the Cotswold Hills in the distance.

60020 passes Steventon with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 19 February 2013. This was running 38 minutes late due to earlier problems with Causeway Level Crossing, which is situated just past the trees near the barn in the background. This is 60020's first appearance on the Theale tanks since its repaint into DBS 'dayglo' red.

60020 passes Wolvercote in glorious evening light on 9 June 2013 with the late running 6E38 17:03 Colnbrook to Lindsey Oil Refinery aviation fuel empties. It is passing the work site for the soon to be reinstated down relief line (which no doubt in future years it would make use of). At this point there is a considerable distance between the lines, with a ditch in between. Unfortunately construction site cranes seem to outnumber Oxford's 'dreaming spires' in the background! However, the Radcliffe Camera, and St Mary's Church, can just be seen on the extreme right.

60020 passes the site of Ashbury Crossing, at Shrivenham on 15 March 2014 with the 6B33 11:27 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. As is quite common on a Saturday, this was running early, catching out a number of photographers! The rustic fence, which has been a feature of this location for at least four decades, succumbed later in the year.

Running an hour early, 60020 passes the site of Ashbury Crossing, at Shrivenham on 30 August 2014 with the 6B33 11:27 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. Note the brand new fence, erected just three days previously. That and the change of the seasons, makes an interesting comparison with the same train, hauled by the same locomotive, pictured five months earlier.

60020 passes over the recently lowered track at Bourton on 8 August 2015 with the 6B33 11:25 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. The track was lowered by 150mm in order to accommodate the forthcoming overhead electrification wires. Close inspection of the high-res version of this picture reveals a cat about to pounce on some unsuspecting prey in the field on the right!

60020 passes through Moreton-in-Marsh station at speed on 2 January 2016 with the Pathfinder Tours 'Min Tug' railtour. The train, which had started from Bristol Parkway, was at this point running as the 1Z61 09:55 Round Oak to Oxford. I wasn't going to miss the chance of getting a picture of a Class 60 on the Cotswold Line, despite the dire weather, and this location has the bonus of a couple of semaphore signals.

60020 runs onto the Kennington up goods loop at the southern end of Hinksey Yard on 2 January 2016, as it prepares to traverse the freight only line to Morris Cowley with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z62 14:23 Oxford to Birmingham New Street 'Mini Tug' railtour. Needless to say, I was the only photographer stood in the drizzle on the A423 Oxford bypass bridge to witness this unusual working.

60020 The Willows passes Hemington on 26 March 2016 with the 6M57 07:15 Lindsey to Kingsbury oil tanks. With bushes growing so close to the line on both sides of the track, this is clearly a location that would not be of any use on a sunny day!

60020 The Willows approaches Challow at approximately 60mph on 20 January 2017 with the late running 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties, while the 1L67 14:36 Cheltenham Spa to Paddington GWR HST heads in the other direction at around twice that speed. 60020 had left 110 minutes late, and had it kept to this level of lateness, then it would have passed here just after sunset. Luckily it did regain some time (the train often leaves late, and usually recovers some time), and was only just over an hour late when it passed in the very last of the afternoon light.

Running exactly to time, 60020 The Willows passes through Lowdham station on 4 October 2017 with the 6E54 10:34 Kingsbury to Humber Oil Refinery empty oil tanks. Note the new platform 'shelter'. It is obviously designed to be vandal proof, but I'm not sure how much use it is to protect passengers from the elements!

60020 The Willows approaches Collins Lane level crossing, Purton, on 7 November 2020 with the diverted 6B33 11:42 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. This had left 63 minutes late, but with an easy schedule, had managed to recover some time, and was only 26 minutes down here. The train's usual route via the Severn Tunnel was closed due to engineering works at Patchway.

60020 The Willows snakes around the reverse curves at Chalford on 21 November 2020 with the diverted 6B33 11:42 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. The train's normal route via the Severn Tunnel was closed for engineering works, and I wanted to get a picture of it in the 'Golden Valley', a route that doesn't normally see a lot of freight traffic. Although most of the autumn leaves had fallen, there was still some colour evident. A sunny day would be useless for this picture, as it is taken from the north side of the line, and at this time of the afternoon in November, most of the valley would be in shadow anyway.

60020 The Willows passes Grove on 2 January 2021 with the 6B33 11:42 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. This had left Theale over an hour late, but due to the easy schedule, was actually two minutes early here!

60020 The Willows passes Uffington on 24 April 2021 with the 6B33 11:42 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. This was running 19 minutes early, but would soon be even further ahead of time, as it would miss out its booked stop at Swindon. The oilseed rape crop was a bit scrappy at this end of the field, and it took a bit of judicious positioning to get the most flowers in the foreground.

60020 The Willows passes Tumpy Green on 7 May 2021 with the 6B41 12:19 Westerleigh to Robeston empty oil tanks. This was running early, as is often the case, although not early enough to be in the decent weather!

After being briefly held at the signal in the background, 60020 The Willows slowly passes Standish Junction on 13 January 2022 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. It had been let out of Haresfield Loop (just around the corner), only to be met by a red signal, as the 1G11 10:28 Paddington to Cheltenham Spa GWR DMU was about to cross in front of it.

60020 The Willows passes South Marston on 19 January 2023 with the 6B33 13:49 Theale to Robeston empty oil tanks. This is the site of South Marston Sidings, which were installed in 1942, and survived until the 1960s.

60021 passes Compton Beauchamp on 22 May 2000 with the well loaded 6M17 16:48 Newport Alexandra Dock to Wembley Enterprise. By this date there were very few mixed freight trains on the national network, so this was worth photographing, even though when it got to my area it was always heavily backlit.

60021 passes through Ninian Park station with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z42 13:50 Margam to Crewe 'Valley Vostock' railtour returning from a reversal at Radyr on 7 February 2004. Eventually the sun decides to shine at the critical moment, after a day of largely cloudy skies. 

60021 Pen-y-Ghent approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth with the 6C23 10:29 Hayes to East Usk empty hoppers on 2 November 2006. The train is traveling on the down relief line, which means it will stop at Challow to allow a passenger to overtake. The fenced area on the right is a road access constructed a few years ago to field used for keeping horses. Luckily the original crushed stone surface as now become overgrown, once more blending into the scene.

60021 passes Challow on 1 November 2014 with the 6V62 11:20 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties, unfortunately just after the sun had disappeared into a bank of cloud in the west. Naturally this was nowhere to be seen when I left the house!

With the late afternoon shadows lengthening across the track, 60021 passes Shrivenham on 5 November 2014 with the 6V62 11:22 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. At the present time this is virtually the only working for Colas's small Class 60 fleet, 60021 having taken over from 60087 to be become the regular loco.

The shadows are lengthening at Milton on 13 December 2014, as 60021 heads westwards with the 6V62 11:20 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. This makes an interesting comparison with the same train photographed here nine months earlier (albeit on that occasion on the relief line). Some rather prominent structures have disappeared from the background!

60021 Penyghent passes Heck Ings on 11 March 2023 with the 6E09 07:33 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax Power Station biomass. Unfortunately this was just after the sun had faded out into high cloud. The East Coat Mainline can be seen in the background.

60021 Penyghent passes Whitley Bridge Junction on 11 March 2023 with the 6M09 16:30 Drax Power Station to Tuebrook Sidings biomass empties. The miserable lighting has allowed this picture to be taken from the north side of the line, which clearly shows the partially removed junction to the now demolished Eggborough Power Station.

Eleven Class brand new Class 60s can be seen in this view of Brush's works at Loughborough on 11 August 1990. In the centre 60022 Ingleborough leads a line up which includes 60026 William Caxton, and three unidentified classmates. On the left is 60025 Joseph Lister, with 60033 Anthony Ashley Cooper & 60030 Cir Mhor behind. In the shed on the right is 60021 Pen-y-Ghent, with another unidentified loco behind. The work's shunter stands in font of another Class 60.

60022 Ingleborough in a almost complete state at Brush's works at Loughborough on 11 August 1990.  Note that although the loco has already been named, it does not yet carry any bodyside numbers or sector branding on the triple grey livery. It was finally handed over to BR at the beginning of the following year. It is seen here in the company of 60026 William Caxton.

In near darkness on 8 November 2003, 60022 brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z27 06:26 Bristol Temple Meads to Roxby Gullet 'Roxby Renegade' railtour, as it slowly negotiates the Roxby line at Dragonby led by 37893 & 37890. I had to settle for this going away shot, as despite the fact that it would soon be returning, the length of time taken for the crew to change ends and the fact that it was travelling at walking speed, meant that it would have been virtually completely dark!

60023 passes the distinctive signal with sighting board at Elsham on 11 March 1997, as it works the 6D73 14:56 Lindsey to Leeds oil tanks. In the background a coach waits for the signalman to open the level crossing gates on the Wrawby to Elsham road.

60023 passes Woofferton on 6 November 1999 with the 6V75 09:02 Dee Marsh to Llanwern steel empties. An ideal photographic vantage point on a sweeping curve with a background of trees and semaphore signals. Although I haven't been there for a few years, I would imagine the silver birches in the foreground are probably no longer just bushes and are blocking out the view, rather than just being a welcome bit of foreground colour!

New steel sleepers await installation at Appleby Carrs on 4 May 2002, as 60023 passes by with the 7C77 13:35 Immingham to Santon MGR, just fifteen minutes behind 60020 on 6T25, but in noticeably worse light!

60024 Elizabeth Fry passes through Winchester station on 28 June 1991 with the 6V13 12:18 Furzebrook to Hallen Marsh LPG tanks. As is the case with a lot of stations, the car park was formerly sidings, but in this case the main part of the goods yard was off to the right of this picture, at almost 90 degrees to the main line.

60024 Elizabeth Fry passes Culham on 15 August 1991 with the 6M23 15:54 Fawley to Longport tanks. In addition to the LPG tanks, this train often conveyed bitumen for Bromford Bridge, and a few fuel oil tanks. On this occasion however, there are no bitumen tanks, but more than the usual number of fuel oil tanks.

Viewed from the lofty farm occupation bridge that spans Cholsey Cutting, 60024 Elizabeth Fry heads westwards along the Great Western Mainline with the 6V13 12:18 Furzebrook to Hallen Marsh LPG tanks on 16 August 1991. Consecutively numbered 60025 Joseph Lister had passed this way just 25 minutes earlier.

60024 Elizabeth Fry passes South Moreton on 28 August 1991 with the 6B23 13:12 Colnbrook to Waterston aviation fuel empties. This was correctly being hauled by a Railfreight Petroleum branded loco, but this certainly wasn't always the case!

60024 Elizabeth Fry passes Baulking on a very dull 21 April 1992 with the 6V13 12:18 Furzebrook to Hallen Marsh LPG tanks. This wide open view, with unobstructed views of the surrounding countryside (and Didcot Power Station in the distance!) has long since been replaced by the usual mass of uncontrolled lineside vegetation.

60024 Elizabeth Fry approaches Swindon station on 28 October 1992 with the 6A15 Waterston to Colnbrook aviation fuel tanks. Extensive renovation work is taking place in the background to one of the Great Western Railway's famous Swindon Works buildings. The tracks curving away to the right is the route to Cheltenham, via Kemble and the 'Golden Valley'.

60024 was one of the first Class 60s to acquire EWS livery. It is seen here in ex-works condition at Melton Ross on 18 July 1996 with the 6D96 13:00 Welton to Immingham oil tanks. I am convinced that the early EWS repaints used either a slightly different colour or a higher gloss finish, as all later locos seem to look very drab by comparison.

60024 passes New Barnetby on 26 July 1996 with the 6D86 13:30 Roxby to Grimsby Tioxide gypsum waste empties. A very dull day, but at least the ex-works loco brightens up the scene. Unfortunately I have got very few pictures of this train, although I did photograph the very last one!

60024 catches the last of the afternoon light, as it passes Melton Ross on 23 November 1996 with the 6D71 13:00 Leeds to Lindsey oil empties. Just 25 minutes earlier Loadhaul liveried 60025 had passed by with the 6K24 13:29 Santon to Immingham iron ore empties.

60024 passes Ulceby South Junction Signal Box, as it rounds the curve from Brocklesby Junction on 27 March 1999 with the 6K25 14:39 Santon to Immingham iron ore empties. Unfortunately the Network Rail vandals demolished the signal box in December 2015.

A ridiculously easy load for 60024 at South Moreton on 9 October 2003. Two empty and two full wagons constitutes the entire load for the 7V27 14:51 Eastleigh to Didcot departmental working. Not much chance of a picture of anything on the fast lines at this time of year!

60024 Clitheroe Castle approaches Wantage Road on 6 December 2014 with the 6B33 11:27 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. Despite the long walk, I particularly wanted to photograph this train at this location, as the farm track running parallel with the line makes an excellent foreground. Also, it is one of the few locations in the Vale of White Horse that is not affected by the lengthening shadows of a winter afternoon.

60024 Clitheroe Castle approaches Appleford on 15 August 2019 with the 6C58 11:45 Oxford Banbury Road to Whatley Quarry stone empties. This was running exactly to time, which was very fortunate, as this corresponded with one of the few lengthy sunny spells. The use of Class 60s on these trains in the dying days of DB Cargo operation, is due to two of the more usual Class 59/2s being sent to Toton for inspection by potential purchasers.

Viewed from the footbridge on the site of Ashbury Crossing, 60024 Clitheroe Castle passes Shrivenham on the dull afternoon of 5 October 2019 with the 6B33 11:50 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties, running exactly on time.

60024 Clitheroe Castle passes Churcham on 8 December 2020 with the 6B41 11:19 Westerleigh to Robeston empty oil tanks. Plenty of sunshine in Gloucestershire, but thick fog when I left home in neighbouring Oxfordshire!

60024 Clitheroe Castle passes Gossington on 20 January 2023 with the 6B41 11:45 Westerleigh to Robeston empty oil tanks. Very backlit, but I had to use the public footpath crossing from which this is taken in order to get back to the car, and it was just a few minutes away, so worth a picture.

60024 Clitheroe Castle passes the site of Oakle Street station on 3 February 2023 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. The station was opened in 1851 by the South Wales Railway, who then closed it six years later. After the company was absorbed by the Great Western Railway, it was reopened, but finally closed in 1964.

60024 Clitheroe Castle passes Uffington on 26 May 2023 with the 6B33 13:49 Theale to Robeston empty oil tanks. Even though only part of the train is visible, there are four different liveries on the bogie tank wagons.

60024 Clitheroe Castle arrives at Banbury on 16 December 2023 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z60 05:45 Gloucester to Banbury 'Festive Midland-Ian' railtour. The train had just crossed over from the up main line, onto the Downs Goods Loop. In addition to visiting various rare section of track, this train also commemorated the imminent withdrawal of DB's Class 60 fleet.

60024 Clitheroe Castle brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z60 05:45 Gloucester to Banbury 'Festive Midland-Ian' railtour at Banbury on 16 December 2023, as 66194 slowly moves the train along the Down Goods Loop, towards the headshunt at Reservoir Junction.

Very rare track for a passenger train! 60024 Clitheroe Castle slowly negotiates Banbury Reservoir Tarmac stone terminal siding on 16 December 2023 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z60 05:45 Gloucester to Banbury 'Festive Midland-Ian' railtour.

You can't go any further than this! 60024 Clitheroe Castle stands just a few feet away from the buffer stop at the end of the Banbury Reservoir Tarmac stone terminal siding. This rare track was one of the highlights of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z60 05:45 Gloucester to Banbury 'Festive Midland-Ian' railtour on 16 December 2023.

A brief burst of sunshine illuminates 60024 Clitheroe Castle, as it runs along he Down Goods Loop at Banbury on 16 December 2023 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z60 05:45 Gloucester to Banbury 'Festive Midland-Ian' railtour. The train had just visited the Banbury Reservoir Tarmac stone terminal siding on the left, and was now heading for a lunchtime break in Banbury station.

60024 Clitheroe Castle passes Northend on 16 December 2023 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z61 12:11 Banbury to Wolverhampton Steel Terminal 'Festive Midland-Ian' railtour. The train had just reversed at the Network Rail limit of the Kineton branch.

One tenth of the Class 60 fleet can be seen in various stages of construction in this view of the Brush Works at Loughborough taken on 11 August 1990. In the foreground, 60025 Joseph Lister is nearing completion, with 60033 Anthony Ashley Cooper & 60030 Cir Mhor behind. On the extreme right, with roof hatches open is 60026 William Caxton. The others are unfortunately unidentified.

60025 Joseph Lister passes through the chalk cutting at Cholsey on 16 August 1991 with the 6B23 13:12 Colnbrook to Waterston oil empties. Just 25 minutes later 60024 Elizabeth Fry would follow it with the 6V13 12:18 Furzebrook to Hallen Marsh LPG tanks.

60025 Joseph Lister approaches Culham on 17 June 1992 with the 6M23 15:54 Fawley to Longport LPG and bitumen tanks. Often 50/50 LPG and bitumen, but on this occasion the grubby four wheel bitumen tanks (destined for Bromford Bridge) completely dominate the train.

60025 Joseph Lister catches some weak autumn sunshine, as it passes South Moreton (Didcot East) on 29 October 1992 with the 6B23 13:12 Colnbrook to Waterston oil empties. The lack of a footpath on the busy road was the only problem at this location in 1992. Now of course a needlessly high parapet and 25kV electfrication make photography here very nearly impossible.

60025 Joseph Lister passes between the grass covered platforms of the long closed Shrivenham station on 19 March 1993, as it heads east along the Great Western Mainline with the late running 6A15 23.55 Waterston to Colnbrook aviation fuel tanks.

60025 passes Melton Ross on 18 July 1996 with the 6E54 10:37 Kingsbury to Humber empty oil tanks. The worst possible lighting conditions - backlit, around the middle of the day, and in high summer. However, it was always worth photographing any loco in the distinctive Loadhaul colour scheme.

Low autumn sun at Melton Ross on 23 November 1996. 60025 works the 6K24 13:29 Santon to Immingham iron ore empties. Just 25 minutes later, 60024 followed it with the 6D71 13:00 Leeds to Lindsey oil empties.

60025 passes through Elton & Orston station on 13 June 1998 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z55 01:47 (yes, really!) Watford Junction to Warrington 'Birthday Bash' railtour. This was run to celebrate 25 years of Pathfinder Tours (originally F&W Railtours). 60025 worked the train between Leicester and Grantham. Pathfinder must like this particular Loadhaul 60, as it also appeared on one of their tours the following year. 

60025 approaches Linlithgow on 24 May 1999 with the early running Mondays only 6N71 17:05 Linkswood to Mossend oil empties. This service provides aviation fuel for RAF Leuchars. Note the two Forth bridges on the horizon. Although this looks like a pleasant spring day, there was in fact a terrific gale blowing and it was all I go do to keep the camera steady and pointing in the right direction. Also the shadow just behind the train was traveling up the line faster than the 60, so I was lucky to get this in the sun!

60025 slowly weaves across from the down platform at Goole station, over the level crossing and into the up goods loop with the Pathfinder Tours 'Spinning Spectre' railtour on 19 June 1999. The train had arrived a few minutes earlier as the 1Z90 05:49 Bristol Temple Meads to Goole, led by 47315, which had taken over the train at Doncaster. 37516 & 37679 had worked between Bristol and Toton, 56098 & 58001 between Toton and Worksop, and 66005 between Worksop and Doncaster. After a 90 minute break at Goole the tour headed back as the 1Z91 15:50 Goole to Bristol Temple Meads, with 60025 being replaced by 37516 & 37679 at Sheffield.

An interesting mixed load for 60025 Caledonian Paper on 26 April 2003, as it passes Maud's Bridge with the 6D65 10:01 Doncaster to Immingham Enterprise service. Unfortunately this was running very early, which resulted in the lighting being much more head than I would have liked. This minuscule load hardly warrants the use of a Class 60, but by 2003 EWS was rapidly disposing of its Class 37 fleet, which would be more appropriate traction for this job.

60025 Caledonian Paper passes Broken Cross (between Lydney and Gloucester) with the 6B13 05:10 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks on 18 February 2008. Note the crude patch painting of the yellow front end, which certainly needs some attention. Luckily the sun is still just glancing across the front end, but the lighting is not as good as when 60071 passed a little earlier, especially as the frost has now disappeared from the ballast.

My first picture of a Class 60 on the move. 60026 William Caxton approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 19 January 1991 with the 6B33 09:57 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. The loco had been delivered from Brush the previous month, and had arrived at Margam on 7 January. Its first outing was on 10 January, when it worked the 18:30 Port Talbot to Robeston empties, followed by the 23:35 loaded train to Theale. The following day it worked the return empties, thus becoming the first Class 60 to complete the West Wales to Theale circuit. 

60026 William Caxton passes Melton Ross on 21 August 1992 with the 6E54 10:37 Kingsbury to Humber oil empties. 60026 was initially allocated to Cardiff Canton, but within a few months had migrated to Immingham, where it spent several years working trains such as this. It returned to its original Welsh home in 2000, although not in one go, as it was allocated to Toton for a few years.

The 6G47 15:50 Immingham to Tinsley steel coils always made an excellent picture in the late 1990s, with the shiny coils contrasting with the bright orange wagons. On a gloriously sunny 18 July 1996, 60026 William Caxton is pictured passing Melton Ross.

60026 approaches Featherstone in freezing conditions on 4 January 1997 with the 6E13 11:10 Kirkby Thore (Newbiggin) to Drax Power Station gypsum empties. Note the dip in the track in the background, caused by coal mining subsidence. The earth bank on the left marks the site of Victoria Colliery, which closed in 1965.

60026 passes Cwm on 2 June 2001 with the Pathfinder Tours 'Onllwyn Orbiter' railtour, at this point running as the 1Z42 16:50 Ebbw Vale to Crewe. 37886 & 37707 had been photographed just 20 minutes earlier, as they hauled the train up the valley.

60026 brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z42 16:50 Ebbw Vale to Crewe 'Onllwyn Orbiter' railtour at Llangewydd on 2 June 2001. 37886 & 37707 were leading the train at this point. A huge radio mast now ruins this viewpoint.

60026 approaches Shrivenham with the 6B33 13:30 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 1 November 2007. As the light was very poor, the opportunity was taken to photograph the train from the north side of the line, which when the sun is out is only possible late on summer evenings. In the background is Chapelwick Farm, which takes its name from the former chapel which was situated near the tall trees visible in the background on the right.

60026 passes Kibworth Harcourt with the 6V92 10:10 Corby to Margam steel empties on 25 June 2008, traveling via the Midland Mainline rather than its usual route via Melton Mowbray. The scatter of orange plastic visible in the ballast is an all too common sight nowadays, plastic track components spilled during track maintenance works and just abandoned. All kinds of discarded materials can bee seen on the lineside, and certainly money could be saved with better stock control.

60026 passes Yarnton (near Oxford) with the diverted 6M04 02:28 Port Clarence to Bedworth Petroplus tanks on 1 September 2008. The major engineering work on the West Coast Main Line has resulted in considerably increased mileage for this train, as instead of traveling down from Teesside to the Midlands in the conventional way, it is seen here approaching the Midlands from entirely the opposite direction! Ironically this massive diversion is caused because its normal route involves just a very short section of the WCML at Nuneaton.

With just over a mile of its journey left to go, 60026 Helvellyn passes Carlton on 2 April 2024 with the 6H12 06:24 Tyne Coal Terminal to Drax Power Station biomass. This was running 16 minutes early. It was a good job that it wasn't any earlier, as the sun had only just come out! This is the site of Carlton Towers station, which was opened by the Hull, Barnsley and West Riding Junction Railway in 1885. It was originally called Carlton, but was renamed Carlton Towers in 1922. That clearly didn't increase patronage, as it closed to passengers a decade later. Freight traffic survived until 1959. The impressive station building, seen here on the left, is now a private residence.

60028 John Flamsteed passes through Oxford station on 13 May 1995 with the 6V53 02:20 Lindsey to Langley Total aviation fuel tanks. At this time the loco was in Immingham's FDAI pool, and therefore the Railfreight Petroleum livery is correct for this working - it wasn't always so! The area to the south of the station was in limbo at this time, with the former scrapyard gone, and the sidings rusting, but before the new car park was constructed, which effectively ruined this photographic viewpoint.

Superb winter lighting at Brampton on 16 December 1995, as 60028 John Flamsteed heads south with the 6E13 12:40 Kirkby Thore (Newbiggin) to Milford Sidings gypsum empties. The gypsum is a by-product of the desulphurisation plant at Drax Power Station. Although this is in one of the flatter parts of the Settle & Carlisle route, there is a still the same dramatic background, and with a little snow on the fells and the clouds luckily confined to the background, it still makes an excellent picture.

How quickly times change! 60028 John Flamsteed passes Compton Beauchamp on 20 June 2001 with the 6A64 07:21 Avonmouth to Didcot Power Station MGR. It wouldn't be long before a grey Class 60 and the venerable HAA coal wagons would be history, but I wouldn't have imagined in 2001 that Didcot Power Station would close after a ridiculously short lifespan of just 45 years.

60028 John Flamsteed's drab unbranded grey livery has not been improved by the evidence of its recent use on iron ore workings. It is pictured here passing the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham, on 28 December 2001 with the 4D16 13:30 Didcot Power Station to Avonmouth MGR empties.

Sunday engineering work on 14 July 2002 sees 60028 John Flamsteed heading north at Cossington with a rake of spoil wagons. This loco spent a number of years in this debranded grey livery, before eventually just acquiring the EWS 'Three Beasties' logo. It never did see the red paintbrush!

60028 John Flamsteed passes Hinksey Yard on 2 January 2008 with the 6E55 13:35 Theale to Lindsey oil empties. Luckily it wasn't running late, otherwise the shadows from the wagons parked on the right would have caused a problem. They are already starting to shade the wheels.

Looking absolutely superb, with its matching rake of deep blue liveried wagons, 60028 passes Great Bedwyn on 24 April 2020 with the 6Z92 08:38 Willesden DC Rail Sidings to Westbury spoil empties. The train would later take a load of spent ballast to Southampton. Bedwyn station is just beyond the bridge in the background, and a Turbo unit can be seen in the turnback siding, having just arrived with the 5K33 ECS, after working the 2K36 09:11 GWR service from Reading. To complete the picture, Great Bedwyn church, along with its magnificent yew tree forms the backdrop.

60028 looks absolutely superb in the spring sunshine, as it traverses the Berks & Hants line on 23 March 2022 with the 6Z50 09:01 Willesden DC Rail Sidings to Machen Quarry stone empties. It is pictured between the villages of Little Bedwyn and Great Bedwyn. The loco has recently had a slight modification, with the formerly black headlight clusters changed to yellow ones.

60028 passes Appleford on 25 March 2022 with the 6Z52 11:18 Oxford Banbury Road to Willesden DC Rail Sidings stone empties. Unfortunately the lighting angle is hopeless for this between Oxford and Didcot, but this is just about the least worst location.

60028 passes Baulking on 30 March 2022 with the 6Z52 11:18 Oxford Banbury Road to Machen Quarry stone empties. As this was a dull day, I decided to visit this location, which would be the wrong side of the line had the sun been out. The train had been running late, but it had just missed out its booked stop at Challow, and so was running exactly on time here.

Sunshine amid the clouds! 60028 approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham, on 7 April 2022 with the 6Z52 11:18 Oxford Banbury Road to Machen Quarry stone empties. When I left home there was so much cloud that I thought it unlikely that this would be in sun. Not only was it fully lit, but so was every other train that I photographed!

60028 approaches Wolvercote Tunnel on 20 April 2022 with the 6Z52 11:18 Oxford Banbury Road to Machen Quarry stone empties. This is about a mile from the train's point of origin, on the redoubled section of the Bicester to Oxford line. This viewpoint is a massive improvement on what it was like before the line's redoubling.

60028 passes Didcot North Junction on 21 April 2022 with the 6Z52 11:18 Oxford Banbury Road to Willesden DC Rail Sidings stone empties. I thought I would take this picture from the footbridge, rather than the roadbridge in the background, as judging by how fast ash trees grow, and how little trackside maintenance Network Rail undertake, this may be the last year before the tree on the right obscures the view!

60028 runs alongside the Kennet & Avon Canal at Little Bedwyn on 9 May 2022 with the 6Z50 09:44 Willesden DC Rail Sidings to Machen Quarry stone empties. The early morning sunshine had unfortunately almost completely faded out into high cloud.

60028 passes Uffington on 17 May 2022 with the 6Z52 11:18 Oxford Banbury Road to Machen Quarry stone empties. I deliberately included the Cow Parsley in the foreground in order to add some contrast to the overall green of the landscape.

60028 passes Appleford on 5 August 2022 with the 6Z52 11:18 Oxford Banbury Road to Willesden DC Rail Sidings stone empties. This makes an interesting comparison with the picture I took of the same loco, on the same train, at this location earlier in the year.

Not all stone trains are long and heavy. Just seven wagons makes up the 6Z21 13:00 Tytherington to Appleford, as it approaches Uffington on 28 October 2022, hauled by 60028. I opted for this 'cloudscape with train' type of picture, as I was not able to get in a more appropriate position, as just one minute earlier I had just photographed 60010 coming the other way with the 6B33 13:49 Theale to Robeston empty oil tanks.

60028 passes Uffington in terrible light on 28 February 2023 with the 6Z22 10:43 Tytherington to Appleford stone train. You can't really get a decent picture of this train, due to the time it runs. I'm not sure if a dull picture is better or worse than a very backlit one!

60028 passes Compton Beauchamp on 3 March 2023 with the 6Z22 10:58 Tytherington to Appleford stone train. I had been waiting for a guaranteed cloudy day to take this picture, as it would be hopeless if the sun was out. The lack of masts on the north side of the line here allows a reasonably uninterrupted view of the train.

60028 passes Grove on 3 June 2023 with the 6Z61 06:13 Merehead Quarry to Willesden DC Rail Sidings stone train. It was sunny when I left home, so I was not impressed that for the short time that I was at the lineside it was 100% cloudy. Naturally by the time I got back home it was full sun again! Admittedly at 08:05 the light would have been very head on here.

60028 passes Queen Adelaide on 15 July 2023 with the 6M89 09:01 Middleton Towers to Ravenhead Sidings sand train. It has just traversed the extremely sharp curve from Ely North Junction. The dark clouds show that rain is not very far away. Ely Cathedral can be seen in the background.

60028 passes Didcot North Junction on 26 September 2023 with the 6Z22 10:12 Didcot Milton Siding to Appleford Sidings stone. This was the previous day's 6Z21 21:11 Tytherington Quarry to Didcot Milton Siding working.

The horses in the field next to Circourt Bridge take no notice of 60028, as it slowly passes Denchworth on 9 October 2023 with the 6Z24 13:10 Appleford to Bristol East Depot stone empties. As this was running early, and was booked to wait at Challow for 24 minutes, it was easily possible to get another picture farther to the west, so I went to Baulking.

60028 passes Baulking on 9 October 2023 with the 6Z24 13:10 Appleford to Bristol East Depot stone empties. After seeing it at Denchworth, I then went to the road overbridge at Baulking, but there were too many shadows, so I came here. No chance of any shadow problems here!

60028 passes Manningford Bruce on 7 November 2023 with the 6Z52 06:20 Tytherington to Willesden DC Rail Sidings, conveying another load of stone for the HS2 project. The stone would be later moved to the railhead at Quainton Road. With many hundreds of such diesel hauled stone trains, and thousands of lorry movements, the HS2 line is never going to be carbon neutral, despite what the publicity says!

Another load of stone from Gloucestershire heading for the HS2 construction project. 60028 passes Uffington on 17 November 2023 with the 6Z52 06:20 Tytherington to Willesden DC Rail Sidings. The wagons would then work forward as the 6Z53 13:47 Willesden DC Rail Sidings to Quainton Railhead.

I hadn't intended to go out on 6 December 2023, but the day started with frost and unbroken sunshine, so I decided to go to Uffington. I had only driven a few miles before the sun gave way to fog, but I carried on, hoping for an improvement. Unfortunately there wasn't an improvement! 60028 passes the footbridge at Uffington with the 6Z52 06:50 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead, conveying another load of HS2 stone.

60028 passes Hungerford Common on 12 February 2024 with the 6Z52 06:50 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead, taking another load of stone from Gloucestershire to Buckinghamshire for the HS2 project. As is often the case, this had left early, but the booked stop of nearly an hour at Bathampton Junction just turned out to be a little longer!

No more red Class 60s in the Vale of White Horse, but in 2024 it is still possible to see a blue one! 60028 trundles slowly along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 8 March 2024 with the 6Z23 15:55 Appleford Sidings to Tytherington stone empties.

60028 passes underneath the footbridge at Didcot North Junction on 20 March 2024 with the 6Z51 06:50 Tytherington to Appleford Sidings stone train, which was running 15 minutes late, after it encountered a delay in the Cholsey area.

60028 passes the historic Crofton Pumping Station on 30 April 2024 with the 6Z60 10:40 Willesden DC Rail Sidings to Merehead Quarry stone empties. This was running 96 minutes late, after spending over two hours in Kennet Bridge Loop, at Reading, due to a points failure at Southcote Junction. Several GWR trains were diverted away from the Berks & Hants line, and travelled via Swindon. Of course there was no mention of this on the GWR website, which implies that their 'Travel Updates' feature is not telling the whole story!

60029 Ben Nevis approaches Whiteball on a slightly damp 30 September 1995 with the 6B68 09:48 Burngullow to Newport Alexandra Dock Junction china clay tanks. It's hard to believe looking at these wagons they were once known as 'silver bullets'!

60029 Ben Nevis passes Dorrington on 23 June 1996 with the 6M30 10:17 Margam to Dee Marsh steel coils. During 1996 I frequently made the 200 mile round trip on a Sunday, just to photograph this one train. Surprisingly, two decades later this train still runs, and even occasionally produces a Class 60, but somehow I haven't got the enthusiasm for the long drive these days!

60029 Clitheroe Castle passes Brentingby on 9 August 2003 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z70 08:10 Crewe to Kettering 'Metropolis Meanderer' railtour. I was surprised to be the only person present at this location. A recognisable location, easily accessible, and with the sun at the correct angle - where were all the other photographers?

60029 Ben Nevis approaches Little Bedwyn on 21 July 2021 with the 6Z24 14:25 Bristol Freightliner Terminal to Willesden DC Rail Sidings stone train, comprising 24 Cappagh blue liveried JNA box wagons. The stone, which is destined for the controversial HS2 project, is quarried at Flax Bourton, and brought to Bristol's former freightliner terminal by road.

60029 Ben Nevis passes Saxondale on 16 July 2022 with the 6M89 09:00 Middleton Towers to Ravenhead Sidings sand train, conveying 2,000 tons of fine white sand to be turned into glass. Unlike certain other companies, DC Railfreight always seem to keep their locos clean!

Viewed from the footbridge that is probably used more by photographers than walkers, 60029 Ben Nevis passes Uffington on 13 June 2023 with the 6Z22 11:11 Tytherington to Appleford stone train. Another immaculately clean DC Rail Freight loco. Take note DB!

60029 Ben Nevis passes through Hungerford station on 6 March 2024 with the 6Z51 08:28 Tytherington to Appleford Sidings stone train. It was very lucky that this was running six minutes late, as the sun was only just starting to come out. Had it been on time there would have been no sun at all. When I arrived an hour earlier, the whole area was enveloped in thick fog!

Another load of stone being diesel hauled many miles across country for the so called 'green' HS2 project! 60029 Ben Nevis passes Froxfield on 30 April 2024 with the 6Z51 06:49 Tytherington to Appleford Sidings.

60029 Ben Nevis approaches Great Bedwyn on 29 July 2024 with the 6Z52 06:25 Tytherington to Wembley Receptions 1-7 stone train. This was running 100 minutes late, due to a fallen tree on the Tytherington line. In just a couple of minutes it would pass a pair of its classmates coming in the opposite direction with the 6Z60 10:13 Willesden DC Rail Sidings to Merehead Quarry stone empties.

60029 Ben Nevis passes Callow Hill on 19 September 2024 with the 6Z33 10:34 Aylesbury North Loop to Tytherington stone empties. This is the view from the Callow Hill to Grittenham road, from the bridge over the strangely named Thunder Brook.

A crisp spring morning at Wychnor Junction on 25 April 1996. 60030 Cir Mhor heads north with the 6E28 07:05 Wolverhampton to Scunthorpe steel empties. The loco is named after the 2,621 feet high mountain on the Scottish island of Arran.

60030 passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth with the 6V99 12:43 Hamworthy to Cardiff Tidal scarp and steel train on 5 October 1999. At the time I thought this location would become restricted by the lineside vegetation seen here in the foreground. Luckily however, this has subsequently been blitzed and the spot is completely clear again.

60030 crosses the River Avon at Eckington on 28 July 2002 with the 6V42 09:58 Lackenby to Llanwern steel slabs. This picture did not result in muddy boots, as use was made of the small wooden platforms provided for local fishermen!

60030 heads south from Milford Junction on 3 August 2002 with the 6V37 13:00 Lackenby to Llanwern steel slabs. Obviously at this time a Class 60 was such a common sight that nobody was bothering to record every single move, as happened a few years later. There were no other photographers, either on the bridge visible in the picture, or the one on which I'm standing.

60031 ABP Connect passes Challow with the 6B33 12:12 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties on 6 December 2008. The loco seems to have been in a minor shunting accident resulting in a damaged front end just above the buffer beam. The outer pairs of lines visible here are the freight relief lines that were relaid in the early 1990s and extend from a few hundred yards behind my position here at Challow to the site of Wantage Road station.

60032 William Booth & 60057 Adam Smith pass Ellistown on 26 May 1991 with the first ever Class 60 hauled passenger train, the Hertfordshire Railtours 1T45 08:30 St Pancras to Coalville 'Coalville Swansong' railtour.

With the West Coast Mainline in the background, 60032 William Booth approaches Arpley Junction at Warrington on 25 March 1993 with a loaded MGR for Fiddlers Ferry Power Station. The loco will shortly run round its train, before taking the line that burrows beneath Warrington Bank Quay station.

60032 William Booth emerges from underneath Slutchers Lane bridge at Warrington on 25 March 1993. This view s now impossible, with the houses on Wilson Patten Street in the background now hidden from view by bushes.

Shortly before the Avonmouth to Didcot coal trains were taken over by Class 66s hauling bogie HTA wagons, 60032 William Booth passes Baulking with the 6A65 08:51 Avonmouth to Didcot Power Station service on 27 August 2001 using the time honoured HAA wagons, that would have been taking coal to Didcot since the power station opened, although principally from the Midlands via Oxford and hauled by classic traction including Class 47s, 56s & 58s. The bridge in the background marks the site of Uffington station.

60033 Anthony Ashley Cooper passes South Moreton on 18 May 1992 with the 6M23 15:54 Fawley to Longport tanks. On this occasion the train is made up of all three products that were conveyed on this service, which wasn't always the case. At the front are the distinctive white LPG tanks destined for Longport, in the centre of the train is a rake of bitumen tanks for Bromford Bridge, and at the rear are a few diesel fuel oil tanks.

60033 Anthony Ashley Cooper approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 19 July 1993 with the Mondays only 6V08 09:00 Fawley to Margam fuel oil tanks. Note that at this time this was a three track main line. The down relief line had just been reinstalled between Wantage Road and Challow, but as can be seen from the rusty rails, was still not yet in use. The up relief line was added later. Didcot Power Station can be seen in the background.

Uncharacteristically smoky 60033 Anthony Ashley Cooper approaches Pilning station on 12 February 1994 with the 6B33 12:25 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. The problem with photographing freight at this location is that if it is routed along the relief line (on the right) there is no possibility of a decent picture, so at least I was lucky on this occasion.

A solitary white calf in the field next to the line watches as 60033 Anthony Ashley Cooper passes Compton Beauchamp on 6 June 1994 with the late running 13:25 Colnbrook to Robeston aviation fuel empties. This view clearly show that there was once an up relief line at this location.

Corus silver liveried 60033 Tees Steel Express pulls slowly out of Ashchurch loop on 16 July 2002 as it works the 6V40 06:02 Lackenby to Llanwern steel train. Ashchurch for Tewkesbury station opened in 1997 on the site of the former Midland Railway station, junction for the Malvern and Evesham lines.

Corus silver liveried 60033 Tees Steel Express passes Melton Ross on 26 July 2003 with 7C78 14:45 Immingham to Scunthorpe MGR imported coal. This locomotive previously carried the British Steel light blue livery. Note the amount of coal dust blowing off the load. A significant amount of this finely ground coal never gets to the power stations, as witnessed by the state of the ballast at some locations on this intensively used route, which can be quite black in places. The footbridge in the background is next to the New Barnetby level crossing.

60034 Carnedd Llewelyn catches the last rays of the setting sun as it emerges from Twerton Tunnel on 12 October 1994 with the diverted 6B17 Theale to Robeston oil empties. Note the newly planted trees in the field on the right, which have since made such views a lot more difficult.

60034 Carnedd Llewelyn rolls down the gradient towards the Severn Tunnel at Pilning on 22 July 1995 with the 6B33 12:35 Theale to Robeston oil empties. Although frequently it waits in the loop on the right, on this occasion it was given clear passage for the trip under the River Severn.

Dwarfed by Washwood Heath's twin gasholders (since demolished) 60034 Carnedd Llewelyn heads east past the yard on 20 November 1999 with a loaded MGR, while in the background 08765 is engaged in a spot of shunting.

A very rare piece of track for a loco-hauled passenger train. 60034 approaches Rawcliffe (on the Knottingley to Goole line) with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z55 07:13 Gloucester to Hull  'Humber Haulier' railtour on 18 March 2006. Needless to say the sunshine earlier in the day had now vanished! The loco carries the former Railfreight triple grey livery with the original markings replaced by a large EWS 'three beasties' logo.

With Goole's 'Salt and Pepper Pot' water towers dominating the background, 60034 pulls away from the station stop with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z55 'Humber Haulier' railtour on 18 March 2006. Apparently one passenger elected to visit Goole, rather than carry on to Hull! 66125 can be seen waiting in the loop to follow the railtour out with the 6H93 17:08 Goole to Peterborough empty sand hoppers (from the nearby glass factory). By this point in the day the weather had really deteriorated, and it was now getting dark.

60034 Carnedd Llewelyn approaches Tredington on 13 February 2008 with the 6V92 10:10 Corby to Margam steel empties. The use of a long lens not only reveals the change of gradient under the farm bridge at Fiddington, but compresses the perspective, making the red brick bridge at Claydon, and (just visible in the haze) the bridge at Ashchurch appear relatively close.

60035 Florence Nightingale passes Rangeworthy on 22 July 1995 with the late running 6B13 05:40 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil train. This picture would look a lot more impressive if the relatively clean train of Murco tanks wasn't interspersed with several exceedingly grubby grey liveried vehicles. At least on this occasion however the sun decided to remain out at the critical moment! The train has just emerged from Wickwar Tunnel, which is a short distance behind the bridge in the background.

On a gloomy 9 September 1998, 60035 Florence Nightingale passes Cathiron with the 6B10 08:57 Peak Forest to Bletchley RMC stone train. There seems to be one track less than when I was last there in 1984, although this has since been reinstated. Note the variety of wagon types in this train.

60035 Florence Nightingale approaches Hatfield & Stainforth station on 30 October 1998 with the 6D68 08:13 Lindsey to Leeds oil tanks. A lineside fence, and masses of bushes have now made this wide viewpoint impossible.

60035 passes Baulking (between Didcot and Swindon) with the 6B33 13:30 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 26 April 2007. The EWS paintwork doesn't look to be in too good condition, with sections on the roof and the number peeling off to reveal the colour underneath. A large mass of cloud was approaching from the south, and a few minutes after this train had passed the sun went in for the rest of the day. Usually with my luck this happens before the train had gone out specifically to photograph arrives. At least I win sometimes!

60035 approaches Potters Grange Junction, Goole on 26 June 2014 with the UK Railtours 1Z60 11:56 York to York (via Hull) 'Yorkshire Detour' railtour. In the background is the Guardian glass works, and hidden by the vegetation just above the locomotive is not only the relatively new line into the glass works, but also the single track line to Knottingley.

Passing through Goole for the second time in a little over an hour, 60035 heads back to York on 26 June 2014 with the UK Railtours 1Z60 11:56 York to York (via Hull) 'Yorkshire Detour' railtour. The train would shortly be branching off onto the single track line to Knottingley. Goole signal box (originally named Boothferry Road, to distinguish it from Goole's other boxes: Potters Grange and Dutch River) can be seen in the background, with just a glimpse of the station beyond.