60036 Sgurr na Ciche passes Bourton on 28 October 1992 with the late running 6A14 Robeston to Theale Murco oil tanks. Although photography is still just about possible at some locations on the now electrified Great Western Mainline, this view, with the outskirts of Swindon visible in the background, is now completely lost in a sea of wires and posts.

60036 Sgurr na Ciche passes Grovesend Colliery Loop (on the freight only line between Morlais Junction and Court Sart Junction) on 2 October 1993 with eastbound steel empties. This Saturday train doesn't seem to match up with anything in the working timetable.

60036 Sgurr na Ciche slowly traverses Llanwern West Junction in the rain on 19 November 1994 with the 6B92 10:05 Llanwern to Llandarcy empty oil tanks. The works that are virtually hidden by the mist and rain in the background have since been demolished, as has the Bowls Club clubhouse on the right.

60036 Sgurr na Ciche approaches Croome on 29 September 1995 with the 6M24 12:45 East Usk to Bescot MGR empties. The loco is named after the Munro (Scottish mountain over 3,000 feet) in the remote area between Loch Cuaich and Loch Morar, to the east of Mallaig.

60036 Sgurr Na Ciche passes Rangeworthy on 13 January 1996 with the 6V70 07:45 Bescot to St Blazey china clay empties. This was a welcome Saturday morning freight, running at just the right time for the best lighting. Until late 1995 it had been worked by pairs of Class 37s. The train originated at Cliffe Vale the previous day, staging overnight at Bescot.

60036 Sgurr na Ciche passes Haughton on Sunday 30 June 1996 with the 6M29 08:23 Margam to Dee Marsh steel coils. This is the site of Haughton Halt, which was opened by the Great Western Railway in 1934. Situated in the middle of rural Shropshire, some distance even from the small village of Haughton, and not near any other sizable settlements, it was no surprise that it closed in September 1960.

A dull autumn day at Duffryn on 8 November 1996. 60036 Sgurr na Ciche heads westwards with the 6B33 12:34 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Not only does the Transrail Class 60 date this view, but so too does the presence of the now demolished gas holder in the background.

60036 passes Marshfield on 27 August 1998 with the 6M86 10:59 Margam to Dee Marsh steel coils. This used to be my default photographic location when visiting South Wales, but I cannot envisage ever going back now, what with the intrusive electfrication catenary, and lack of anything interesting to photograph, that cannot be seen nearer home.

60036 GEFCO takes the Doncaster line at Brancliffe East Junction with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z42 07:50 Banbury to York 'Siberian Hamster' railtour on 16 December 2000. A bitterly cold day, and no doubt the tour participants were glad of the heat provided by the generator van seen here behind the loco. Brancliffe East Junction Signal Box had closed in 1998, but at this time was still relatively intact. However, it wasn't long before it got vandalised, despite its remote location, and was subsequently demolished.

60037 Helvellyn passes Acton Turville on 13 March 1995 with the late running 6B33 12:34 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. 6B33 still runs, but not with 60037, which has been dumped at Toton with a whole bunch of its classmates for a long time now.

60037 Helvellyn passes Ponthir on 23 July 1995 with the 6S55 Alexandra Dock to Irvine china clay tanks. Theoretically this had a departure time of 16:35, but passed me at 15:15! The previous day this train had worked up from Cornwall behind 37670 & 37669, the last time that Class 37s were booked on this working.

With Llanwern Steelworks dominating the background, 60037 Helvellyn passes East Usk Junction on 18 August 1995 with the 6B20 12:05 Heathfield to Waterston oil empties. The lines in the foreground lead to Uskmouth Power Station.

With just two colourful Murco liveried tanks amongst the oil stained TEAs, 60037 Helvellyn passes the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham, on 29 December 1995 with the 6B33 12:34 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties.

60037 Helvellyn passes Stanwardine-in-the-Fields, deep in the Shropshire countryside, with the 6M30 10:17 Margam to Dee Marsh steel coils on 18 August 1996. Note the reddish deposits on the roof of the loco, which indicate that it has recently been used on the Port Talbot to Llanwern iron ore trains.

Looking very smart in the sadly missed Loadhaul colour scheme, 60038 passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 19 March 1997 with the 4D16 13:30 Didcot Power Station to Avonmouth MGR coal empties. Obviously there are no HSTs in the vicinity at this time, and it therefore has no need of the relief line on this occasion.

60038 prepares to leave Westerleigh oil depot on 27 July 1998 with the 6B47 20:25 Westerleigh to Robeston oil empties. With a departure time like that it is obvious why this train had to be photographed in high summer. Luckily the area around the oil depot is relatively free of obstructions, so the very low sun at that time in the evening is not a problem. A decade later in 2008, the train departs several hours earlier, giving more choices of photographic location en-route, although obviously it is more backlit when it leaves Westerleigh.

60038 has just passed Madeley Chord Junction, as it traverses the stub of the Newcastle-under-Lyme to Market Drayton line on 7 November 1998 with the Pathfinder Tours 1T55 14:10 Silverdale Colliery to Watford Junction 'Cheshire Mole' railtour. 56114 can be seen on the rear, with the steeply graded line to Silverdale Colliery curving off into the woods. Once clear of the points, 56114 would then take the tour down the chord to the West Coast Mainline. The start of the chord is just visible to the left of 56114.

60038 AvestaPolarit approaches Claydon with the 6V92 10:10 Corby to Margam steel empties on 5 April 2007. The new road bridge near Ashchurch station can be seen in the background, and the tower of Ashchurch church is visible on the right. The use of a long lens also means that the bridge at Bredon can just be seen in the distance.

60038 AvestaPolarit departs from Onllwyn with the Pathfinder Tours 'Principality Railtour' on 14 April 2007. Five minutes before it was running as the 1Z37 06:19 Birmingham International to Onllwyn, now after the briefest of stops it is running as 1Z74 13:33 Onllwyn to Birmingham International. Unfortunately the tour only went as far as the Network Rail limit, and nowhere near the colliery, which can be seen in the background.

60038 AvestaPolarit brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z74 13:33 Onllwyn to Birmingham International 'Principality freighter' railtour on 14 April 2007 as it passes Tonna on the Cwmgwrach branch. 37422 Cardiff Canton & 37410 Aluminium 100 can just be seen at the head of the train.

60039 Glastonbury Tor climbs through Harbury cutting in atrocious light with the 7V33 11:08 Barrow Hill to Didcot Power Station MGR. Despite the awful conditions, I have included this picture as it shows the loco clearly working a revenue earning train on 6 May 1991, three days before it was officially taken into BR stock! Note also the inappropriate Railfreight Construction livery.

60039 Glastonbury Tor passes South Moreton on 15 August 1991 with the 6B23 12:45 Colnbrook to Waterston aviation fuel empties. 47295 can be seen in the distance, heading in the opposite direction with another train of empties, the 6L58 14:20 Banbury to Ripple Lane.

60039 passes Worlaby Carrs on 24 May 2001 with the 6T27 16:46 Immingham to Santon iron ore. This location is at the end of a long straight minor road, over one and a half miles from the village of Worlaby, which stands on higher ground to the north east.

Snow and semaphores. 60039 approaches Barnetby station on 31 December 2001 with the 6K22 09:42 Santon to Immingham iron ore empties. The Barnetby area lost its iconic semaphore signals in 2015. Despite the loss, and the decline in variety of freight traffic and traction, the location still attracts numerous photographers.

60039 passes through Barnetby station on 31 December 2001 with the 6T24 11:33 Immingham to Santon iron ore hoppers. A light dusting of snow the previous day was just enough to provide some seasonal whiteness, without causing any problems on the roads en-route to the location.

Viewed from the end of Cam & Dursley station platform, 60039 works the 6E09 10:27 Margam to Lackenby steel empties on 1 June 2002. The A4135 Stroud to Dursley road crosses the line in the background, with the more modern M5 motorway bridge in the far distance.

60039 heads south along the East Coast Mainline at Fenwick (between Selby and Doncaster) with the 6D43 14:12 Jarrow to Lindsey empty oil tanks on 13 September 2003. It is something of a challenge finding decent photographic locations on lines with overhead catenary, in fact I try to avoid them if at all possible, as what would otherwise be a useable location is often spoilt by a badly positioned mast. However this turned out to be a reasonable location to spend a few hours in the autumn sunshine.

60039 passes Spetchley with the 6Z98 Lindsey to Westerleigh oil tanks on 8 October 2008. Not a lot left of the numbers on this loco, either on the side or on the front! I didn't realise quite how lucky I was with the sun on this picture until I turned round. The other side of the footbridge was completely in shade from a cloud that I hadn't noticed creeping up on the sun! 

60039 passes Up Hatherley in the gloom on 14 January 2011 with the 6E41 11:41 Westerleigh to Lindsey oil empties. Unfortunately the drab EWS livery looks terrible in poor light (especially when filthy, as here). EWS's successor's new livery is another story, as 60011 was really standing out just over an hour earlier at Grange Court.

60039 runs along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 26 February 2014 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Luckily the sun was now making its afternoon reappearance, after succumbing to heavy cloud during the middle of the day.

60039 Dove Holes approaches Didcot North Junction on 12 August 2019 with the 6C58 11:45 Oxford Banbury Road to Whatley Quarry stone empties. With DB Cargo losing the Mendip Rail stone contract in a few months time, I thought the appearance of a Class 60 on this working was worth recording, despite the dodgy weather. Anyway, it was probably best that there wasn't any sun, as the line from Oxford to Didcot runs more or less north to south, so the sun would have been very head on here.

60039 Dove Holes passes Highnam on 2 September 2021 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. This is the first picture that I have taken at this particular spot. A cutting topped by tall trees means that shadows would be a problem had the sun been out, but there was no chance of that on this particular morning!

Even near the Summer Solstice it is very difficult to take pictures clear of shadows at 21:00. Such is the case here as 60040 Brecon Beacons passes through Quainton Road station with the 6A71 19:25 Northolt to Calvert binliner on 27 June 1995. Although the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre's signal box and signal gantry are well lit, unfortunately most of the station isn't. However, this was the only way to record this unusual view of a mainline freight train passing through the middle of a preservation centre.

60040 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 22 October 1997 with the 6C64 11:59 Didcot Power Station to Avonmouth MGR empties. The relief lines here were laid a few years earlier specifically for the use of these trains, but more often than not, I saw the MGRs using the main, as here.

60040 passes Woofferton on 6 November 1999 with the 6M84 05:29 Margam to Dee Marsh steel train. Note the variety of wagons, with a random mix of three different types of covered steel carriers at the front, and open wagons carrying steel coils at the rear of the train.

60040 crosses over the Bishton Flyover at Llandevenny on 17 July 2002 with the 6E09 10:27 Margam to Lackenby steel empties. This is the point where the relief lines change from being on the south side of the main lines, to being on either side.

Eagerly awaited by the large crowd of photographers on the footbridge, 60040 The Territorial Army Centenary approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing at Shrivenham on 3 December 2008 whilst working the 6C54 13:13 Oxford Banbury Road to Whatley Mendip Rail stone empties. The branding on the side of the locomotive includes the Army's latest recruiting phrase: 'Army - Be The Best'. This loco has become something of a celebrity, despite the fact that its so-called one off livery is very little different from the standard EWS colour scheme.

Class 60 sunset? Running over an hour late, 60040 The Territorial Army Centenary passes Ollerton in near darkness on 12 December 2009 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z60 14:30 Tuxford to Westbury 'Pye Bridge Pie-Man' railtour. The assembled photographers had to watch the fine evening light gradually disappear, and indeed some had understandably given up after the sun had set! Prior to setting the sun had tinted the clouds in the background pink, but such was the lack of light that this picture was taken at 1/500sec f2.8 at ISO 3200.

60040 The Territorial Army Centenary slowly passes North Stafford Junction on 12 November 2013 with the 6M57 07:15 Lindsey Oil Refinery to Kingsbury oil tanks. Autumn colour is provided by the young trees growing on the site of the former Willington Power Station, on the right of the picture.

60040 The Territorial Army Centenary emerges from the fog at Bourton on 1 July 2014 with the diverted 6A11 22:49 Robeston to Theale Murco oil tanks. An early start was required for this 05:38 picture, but as this train was booked via Swindon, instead of its usual route via Newbury, and the Met Office had forecast a sunny morning, it had to be done. Only during the longest summer days can a picture be taken from the north side of the line at this spot. Therefore, I was not impressed to find the location in thick fog when I arrived. I had contemplated driving straight back home, but miraculously just before the train appeared, the sun broke through the fog, but only just in this one spot, which I think produces a very atmospheric picture - well worth getting up early for!

With the soon to be demolished Didcot Power Station in the background, 60040 The Territorial Army Centenary approaches Cholsey on 8 July 2014 with the diverted 6A11 22:49 Robeston to Theale Murco oil tanks. Unusually this was running on the up main line, rather than the nearer relief line. This train's customary very early running (a 100 minute early departure from Robeston on this occasion) had been converted to a few minutes late running by this point. This was lucky, as a ridiculously early start was required to be in position here even for the booked time! Note the tubular steel pile on the extreme left, part of the forthcoming electrification works. For some reason this particular pile has been left only partly driven in.

60040 The Territorial Army Centenary slowly passes Haresfield on 29 August 2014, as it prepares to enter the loop with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. As it was just a short drive of less than a mile to Little Haresfield, a second picture was taken, despite the grim weather.

60040 The Territorial Army Centenary pulls out of the loop at Little Haresfield on 29 August 2014 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. There had been a shower of rain between me seeing this train a little further north at Haresfield and arriving here, but that was as nothing compared with the downpour that happened shortly afterwards, as I was going home!

Unfortunately from a photographic point of view, running along the down main rather than the down relief line, 60040 The Territorial Army Centenary passes Cholsey on 2 January 2015 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties.

8 January 2015 was a day of two halves. The morning was dark and rainy, but this gave way around midday to some superb winter sunshine. I had not initially planned to go out, but the good light prompted yet another visit to the very familiar location of Circourt Bridge, Denchworth to photograph the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. 60040 The Territorial Army Centenary runs along the down relief line, prior to a ten minute stop at Challow.

A slight whiff of exhaust, as the driver applies power to get 60040 The Territorial Army Centenary moving again at Challow on 8 January 2015 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. I had already photographed the train at Circourt Bridge, but as this was on my way home, I couldn't resist another picture. Often the train draws up much nearer the signal than this, and this long lens view from the roadside would not then be possible. The driver had already taken advantage of the short stop to get his picture of the train!

Making a welcome change from the usual Class 66 hauled coal trains, and bringing back memories of the class's use on the Avonmouth to Didcot Power Station MGRs in the late 1990s, 60040 The Territorial Army Centenary passes Barrow upon Trent on 17 March 2015 with the 6Z37 11:32 Ratcliffe Power Station to Arpley Sidings empty coal hoppers.

60040 The Territorial Army Centenary passes the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham, on 4 February 2017 with the 6B33 11:25 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. Although this had left Theale at the correct time, it was nearly an hour early here, having missed out its booked stops at Milton and Challow. It was however held at Swindon, leaving there just a few minutes early.

60040 The Territorial Army Centenary passes South Marston in a snow flurry on 11 February 2017 with the 6B33 11:25 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. I wouldn't normally go out in such awful weather, not even for a Class 60, but as this was following just six minutes behind 68023, that I had just photographed on a rugby special, it seemed churlish not to brave the cold for just a few more minutes for a final picture of a freight passing this spot before the wires go up.

60040 The Territorial Army Centenary passes Engine Common on 7 July 2022 with the 6B47 19:05 Westerleigh to Robeston empty oil tanks. The use of a long lens was required due to intrusive shadows in the foreground.

Having just passed underneath the M5 motorway, 60040 The Territorial Army Centenary approaches Gossington on 15 September 2023 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. Photo taken from a public footpath crossing.

DB Class 60 sunset? With just a few days to go before rumour has it that DB's last four Class 60s will be withdrawn, 60040 The Territorial Army Centenary passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 24 November 2023 with the 6B33 13:49 Theale to Robeston empty oil tanks.

Extremely unusual motive power for the 6E11 11:47 Appleford Sidings to Milford West Sidings containerised flyash empties. 60040 The Territorial Army Centenary passes Yarnton on 8 December 2023. With just a handful of DB Class 60s left in traffic, this may very well be one of its last workings.

A perfect summer evening at Coedkernew on 20 July 2000. 60041 heads west with the early running 6B60 18:58 Llanwern to Port Talbot iron ore empties. The industrial buildings of Newport and Uskmouth dominate the background.

60041 passes Steventon with the 6B33 13:30 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 22 May 2007, running 20 minutes early. Didcot Power Station dominates the background and the A34 road bridge can be seen crossing the line in the distance. 

60041 passes Coaley with the 6B13 05:10 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks on 18 September 2009. This was very much a rush shot, as I had walked the few hundred yards from the footpath crossing to the west where I had seen 6E41, and was still not in the right position when the 60 could be seen approaching around the corner!

Official entry to traffic dates for locomotives are not always to be believed, even if they are only 'week ending' dates. 60042 Dunkery Beacon is recorded as being accepted by BR on 29 May 1991, but here it is working a westbound MGR at Arleston on 17 May! Around this time brand new Class 60s could often be seen working MGRs in the midlands regardless of their intended sphere of operation, which is why we see this construction sector liveried loco hauling coal.

A long lens dramatically compresses the perspective and emphasises how short the train is, as 60042 The Hundred of Hoo approaches the site of Wantage Road station on 6 November 2007 with the late running 6B24 10:36 Didcot to Wentloog MoD stores train. Using a lens this long (200mm) almost reminds me of the time when I used to use a Pentax 6x7, such is the limited depth of field!

A brief burst of sunshine illuminates 60043 Yes Tor, as it passes South Moreton on 29 September 1996 with the late running 6A54 09:25 Brentford to Appleford Binliner. There was a very smart turnaround at Appleford, as just 45 minutes later it was back with the empties!

Just 45 minutes after passing by in the other direction with the loaded train, 60043 Yes Tor passes South Moreton on 29 September 1996 with the 6A55 11:33 Appleford to Brentford Binliner empties. The outward run was 50 minutes late, this return working was mere 35 minutes late.

60043 passes Lowgill on 29 March 1997 with the 6M19 11:12 Jarrow to Stanlow oil empties. The loco had just been repainted into the then relatively new EWS livery, and had therefore lost its original Yes Tor name.

60043 emerges from the fog at Little Haresfield on 27 March 2007 with the 6B13 03:48 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. Although partly lost in the gloom, you can just about see in the background where it is pulling out of the loop after allowing a couple of passenger trains to pass.

60044 Ailsa Craig & 60061 Alexander Graham Bell pass Mostyn on 11 August 1991 with the 1T60 16:40 Llandudno to Crewe special, one of a number of special trains operating along the North Wales Coast, during the Trainload Coal Motive Power Day. Both locomotives were brand new, and had only been in service for a few weeks.

60044 Ailsa Craig approaches Didcot North Junction on 18 July 1994 with the 7V85 13:00 Barrow Hill to Didcot Power Station MGR. Over a quarter of a century after this picture was taken, the field behind he loco still survives, but with Didcot's urban sprawl now just one field away, it is only a matter of time before it is filled with houses.

60044 Ailsa Craig passes a field of poppies at Culham on 22 June 1995 with MGR empties from Didcot Power Station. At this time Didcot was receiving both imported coal from Avonmouth and the domestic product from the Midlands.

A clean looking 60044 Ailsa Craig approaches Wolvercote Junction on 30 June 1995 with the 6M58 17:25 Didcot Power Station to Toton MGR empties. The interim Mainline Freight livery was the blandest of the privatised freight company's colour schemes, made even more spartan here by the omission of the 'Mainline' wording, which was normally applied below the logo.

Christmas Eve 1996 was a perfect sunny winter's day. Despite the cloudless sky it was freezing cold standing waiting for 60044 Ailsa Craig to appear at Kempston with the 6A61 08:25 Cricklwoood to Forders Sidings Binliner. However, the wait was certainly worthwhile! The train has just passed underneath the A421 Bedford bypass, and is only just over a mile from its destination.

60044 passes Coedkernew on 3 September 1999 with the 6M86 10:59 Margam to Dee Marsh steel coils. This was just one of three Cass 60s to carry the distinctive Mainline blue livery. Note the mark on the bodyside where the former Ailsa Craig nameplate has been removed.

60044 leans into the curve at Kintbury with the 6Z20 09:45 Whatley to St. Pancras stone train on 2 April 2007. A very odd combination of liveries, with an EWS branded Mainline blue loco hauling a rake of ex National Power hoppers! This was one of those infuriating situations when a freight train was approaching from both directions and a snap decision had to be made as to which one to photograph. It was touch an go as to whether I was going to get blocked out on this shot. As I pressed the shutter the Class 59 on the westbound stone empties was just about level with me!

With the 650 ft tall chimney of the disused Didcot Power Station dominating the background, 60044 passes Milton on 13 December 2014 with the 6B33 11:27 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. As is often the case on a Saturday, this was running early, and it got even more ahead of time later on by being routed via the main, rather than the relief line.

Recently named 60044 Dowlow looks superb as it passes Denchworth on 9 October 2015 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. This is the kind of lighting that I like, but unfortunately it doesn't happen that often. A dark menacing mass of clouds in the background, and yet more or less uninterrupted blue sky where the sun actually is.

A different perspective on the well known (at least in recent years) bridge at Compton Beauchamp. The lichen encrusted parapet and the blue engineer's bricks make a striking foreground for the picture, as 60044 Dowlow heads west on 27 May 2016 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties.

60044 Dowlow runs slowly along the relief line at Melton Ross on 6 November 2017 with the 6M00 14:27 Humber Oil Refinery to Kingsbury oil tanks. Although there was no sign of any clouds appearing, this superbly lit picture was the last of the day, as the shadows were beginning to lengthening, and nothing else of interest was due for a while.

60044 Dowlow passes Thurgarton station on 10 March 2018 with the 6E54 10:40 Kingsbury to Humber Oil Refinery empty oil tanks. The little station has no car parking, and is a long walk from the village, so is consequently little used.

60044 Dowlow approaches Lowdham in the pouring rain on 12 March 2018 with the 6M57 06:04 Lindsey Oil Refinery to Kingsbury oil tanks. This makes an interesting comparison with the 6M00 14:19 Humber Oil Refinery to Kingsbury tanks, photographed here a few months earlier. The tanks are different, the trees are now leafless, and the weather is even worse!

Under a perfect blue sky, and with Gloucester Cathedral in the background, 60044 Dowlow passes Highnam on 26 June 2018 with the 6B47 18:14 Westerleigh to Robeston oil empties. The tree on the right was deliberately included, not only to provide a frame for the picture, but to add a vertical element to the picture.

60044 Dowlow passes Wellhouse Bay (near Purton) on 28 June 2018 with the 6B47 18:14 Westerleigh to Robeston oil empties. This is the point where the Severn Railway Bridge formerly crossed the river. The bridge was damaged by a couple of barges in 1960, and after standing for several years with a couple of spans missing, was finally demolished during the late 1960s.

60044 Dowlow runs alongside the muddy banks of the River Severn at Gatcombe on 21 July 2018 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. The footpath crossing is an odd survivor, as not only does it only lead down onto the foreshore, but the small fence in the ballast dividing the path from the running line, while perfectly safe, seems very casual by Network Rail's current paranoid standards. Note the substantial stone built base for the disused PW hut, which is still there, underneath the vegetation.

60044 Dowlow passes Bredon on 16 July 2019 with the 6M53 16:20 Swindon Stores to Toton Up Sidings steel empties. Just five minutes behind this was even more power, on much less train, with 68005 Defiant & 68001 Evolution working the 6M56 17:50 Berkeley CEGB to Crewe Coal Sidings low level nuclear waste container.

60044 Dowlow passes the site of Oaksey Halt on 23 July 2019 with the 6M53 16:20 Swindon Stores to Toton Up Sidings steel empties. Luckily the cloud in the west held off, although it did look touch and go for a while earlier on.

Not quite sunny, but an awful lot brighter than it had been a few minutes earlier, as is obvious from the dark background. 60044 Dowlow passes Manningford Bruce on 27 August 2019 with the 6C58 11:45 Oxford Banbury Road to Whatley Quarry stone empties.

60044 Dowlow approaches Standish Junction on 1 September 2020 with the 6B41 11:19 Westerleigh to Robeston empty oil tanks. After a sunny start, the clouds were now rapidly building up, although in this case, as this would be hopelessly backlit, the fact that a large cloud was obscuring the sun was almost an advantage!

60044 Dowlow passes Ley Court (between Grange Court and Oakle Street) on 20 February 2023 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. This had left over two hours early (not at all unusual), but had encountered a delay at Whitland, and at one point was running nearly two hours late. It had picked up some time, and was only 74 minutes late here.

60045 Josephine Butler approaches Arpley Yard, Warrington, on 25 March 1993 with MGR empties from Fiddlers Gerry Power Station. 31199 waits in the background, ready to perform its drawback duties. This view is now largely obscured by bushes.

60045 Josephine Butler passes Winwick on 15 August 1996 with a loaded MGR destined for Fiddlers Ferry Power Station. The 1,989 megawatt plant closed on 31 March 2020, after 47 years of providing power for the National Grid.

60045 Josephine Butler passes Coalpit Heath on 10 April 1997 with the 4D16 13:30 Didcot Power Station to Avonmouth MGR empties. Ironically the train has just passed over the course of a line that served a nearby colliery, one of a number in the immediate area that were operated by the Coalpit Heath Colliery Company in the nineteenth century.

60045 Josephine Butler runs slowly  along the up relief line at Milton on 15 April 1997 with the 6A64 07:21 Avonmouth to Didcot Power Station MGR. The village of Steventon can be seen amid the trees in the background.

60045 The Permanent Way Institution passes Baulking on 27 August 2001 with the 6C64 11:59 Didcot Power Station to Avonmouth MGR coal empties. The warm sunny day had tempted me to cycle to this location and surprisingly considering it was a Bank Holiday the weather forecasters for once got it right!

60045 The Permanent Way Institution passes Llangewydd on 16 March 2002 with the 6V05 09:55 Round Oak to Margam steel empties, which was running over two hours early. A tall radio mast now disfigures the background of this view.

Unfortunately in gloomy conditions and in a filthy external condition, 60045 The Permanent Way Institution passes the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham on 23 February 2012 with the 6B33 13:35 Theale to Robeston empty Murco oil tanks.

3100hp bird scarer! A startled partridge takes flight as 60045 The Permanent Way Institution passes Uffington on 27 October 2012 with the late running 6B33 12:12 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. Interestingly, although this picture is taken at 1/1000sec, and therefore both the train and the bird are pin sharp, the tips of its wings are slightly blurred, proving just how fast a partridge flaps its wings when trying to flee from a train! Note the massive oil stain down the side of 60045.

60046 William Wilberforce catches the late afternoon light, as it heads north at Cossington on 24 February 1992 with Ely to Peak Forest RMC stone empties. Note the missing bridge in the background. Work was underway to replace the bridge deck.

The sun sets in the west on 29 May 1997 as 60046 William Wilberforce passes Saunderton Lee with the 6A71 19:40 Northolt to Calvert Binliner (I could easily smell the contents from this side of the fence!). Any later and photography would have been very difficult, as already the wheels are in shade and the fence posts are casting odd shadows on the loco's bodyside.

Even without the sign behind the locomotive, there is no mistaking where this is. The Middlesbrough transporter bridge dominates the background as 60046 William Wilberforce rounds the curve to the west of Middlesbrough station with the 6N31 12:00 Lackenby to Tees Yard lime empties on 26 November 2001.

With my one time favourite location of Circourt Bridge in the background, 60046 William Wilberforce passes Denchworth on 1 February 2020 with Chiltern Railways DVT 82309, running as the 6Z20 08:14 Bristol Barton Hill to Wembley. This is my first picture of a DCR Class 60, and therefore it is slightly ironic that it is working such a ridiculously short train, rather than the bulk loads that the class was designed for.

Running 42 minutes early, 60046 William Wilberforce passes Uffington on 1 February 2020 with the 5Q21 12:38 Wembley to Bristol Barton Hill, conveying Chiltern Railways DVT 82305. Both this, and a slightly earlier duplicate path for the same train, had initially been shown as cancelled, but luckily, in view of the perfect photographic weather, it did actually run as planned.

60046 William Wilberforce passes Uffington on 7 February 2020 with the 5Z20 10:09 Bristol Barton Hill to Wembley, conveying Chiltern Railways DVT 82305, which hopefully has been dragged from London to Bristol and back again for more than just the addition of the Chiltern Railways lettering to the bodyside!

60046 William Wilberforce runs along the down relief line at Challow on 8 February 2020 with the slightly overpowered 5Z22 12:43 Wembley to Bristol Barton Hill, conveying Chiltern Railways DVT 82302. The few clouds in the background give a false impression, as behind me there were an awful lot more, and I was quite lucky to get this in the sun.

60046 William Wilberforce passes Hungerford Common on 21 August 2020 with the 6Z93 09:15 Westbury to Willesden DC Rail Sidings recycled ballast. The small patch of sunshine was following the train along, and was a welcome bonus, as there was so much cloud around that I was convinced that this was just going to be a very dull record shot.

60046 William Wilberforce passes South Marston on 19 September 2020 with the 5Z20 08:48 Bristol Barton Hill to Wembley ECS, conveying Chiltern Railways Mk3 coach 12623. Always worth photographing, but 3,100 hp does seem a bit excessive to move one coach!

60046 William Wilberforce passes Uffington on 19 September 2020 with the 5Z21 12:46 Wembley to Bristol Barton Hill ECS, conveying Chiltern Railways Mk3 coach 12605. Unfortunately the sun dipped slightly just as this passed.

60046 William Wilberforce passes underneath the recently reconstructed Hanney Bridge, near Grove, on 26 September 2020 with the 5Z20 08:11 Bristol Barton Hill to Wembley ECS, conveying Chiltern Railways Mk3 coach 12605.

60046 William Wilberforce rounds the curve next to the Crofton Pumping Station on 9 March 2022 with the 6Z50 09:01 Willesden DC Rail Sidings to Machen Quarry stone empties. I was convinced that this was just going to be a dull record shot, as the cloud cover was quite extensive, and as I heard it approaching it was very dark. It was still dark when it appeared from round the corner, but then amazingly the sun came out for about 20 seconds! The pumping station in the background was built in 1812 to supply water to the Kennet & Avon Canal. It contains the oldest working beam engine in the world, that is still in its original location.

60046 William Wilberforce passes Claydon on 9 August 2022 with the 6Z50 07:52 Chaddesden Sidings to Machen Quarry stone empties. This was definitely one not to be missed, with perfect lighting, and the unusual sight of a DCR Class 60 with blue box wagons on the Birmingham to Gloucester line.

60046 William Wilberforce passes Knighton on 10 August 2022 with the 6Z52 11:18 Oxford Banbury Road to Machen Quarry stone empties. After not visiting this location for many years, this is my second visit in as many days!

60046 William Wilberforce heads west along the Great Western Mainline near the site of Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham, on 11 August 2022 with the 6Z52 11:18 Oxford Banbury Road to Machen Quarry stone empties.

60046 William Wilberforce approaches Didcot North Junction on 12 August 2022 with the 6Z53 11:18 Oxford Banbury Road to Chaddesden Sidings stone empties. As usual, the DC Rail Freight loco is in almost pristine condition (take note DB Cargo)!

60046 William Wilberforce passes Uffington on 14 September 2022 with the 6Z52 11:18 Oxford Banbury Road to Machen Quarry stone empties. Unfortunately the clouds had not yet dispersed, and although I thought I was going to get this in sun, the light died just as it came into view!

60046 William Wilberforce passes Appleford on 11 October 2022 with the 6Z52 11:18 Oxford Banbury Road to Machen Quarry stone empties. This train leaves the stone terminal directly behind the 1T21 10:03 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways DMU, but on this occasion that was running 21 minutes late, so then the Class 60 lost its path through Oxford, and was consequently 17 minutes late here. The delay has not helped the already very head on lighting.

60046 William Wilberforce passes Wolvercote Junction on 23 November 2022, running as the 0Z60 09:51 Chaddesden Sidings to Appleford Sidings light engine. You wouldn't think that light grey would be a very easy colour to keep clean on a locomotive, but DC Rail Freight certainly seemed to have managed it. This loco almost looks ex-works!

60046 William Wilberforce approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 25 November 2022 with the 6Z22 10:34 Tytherington to Appleford stone train. Unfortunately this runs at a very awkward time for photography, being backlit virtually everywhere.

60046 William Wilberforce passes Knighton on 21 November 2023 with the 6Z52 06:50 Tytherington to Willesden DC Rail Sidings, with another load of stone for HS2. A very dull day, but the autumn foliage helps to brighten up the scene.

Running 20 minutes late, 60046 William Wilberforce passes underneath the road bridge at Hungerford Common on 11 January 2024 with the 6Z52 08:28 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead, with another load of stone for the already massively over budget HS2 project.

60046 William Wilberforce passes Lock 56 on the Kennet & Avon Canal near Crofton on 26 January 2024 with the 6Z52 06:50 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead stone train. This was running 24 minutes early, after missing out its booked stop at Bathampton Junction.

60046 William Wilberforce passes Woodborough on 18 April 2024 with the 6Z51 06:49 Tytherington to Appleford Sidings stone train. I was extremely lucky with this picture. Not only had a very large cloud just moved away from the sun, but a couple of seconds later 800315 blocked out the view, as it headed west with the late running 1J73 08:38 Paddington to Westbury GWR service.

60046 William Wilberforce runs onto the up relief line at Challow in some very lucky sunshine on 24 April 2024 with the 6Z51 06:10 Tytherington to Appleford Sidings stone train. The green signal in the background was a bit worrying, as this indicated that the 1C09 10:00 Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads GWR service was only seconds away from completely blotting out this picture!

60046 William Wilberforce & 60028 pass Great Bedwyn on 29 July 2024 with the 6Z60 10:13 Willesden DC Rail Sidings to Merehead Quarry stone empties. This was just a couple of minutes after 60029 Ben Nevis passed by in the opposite direction with the heavily delayed 6Z52 06:25 Tytherington to Wembley Receptions 1-7 stone train. A pair of Class 60s on a train is not an everyday sight, and consequently there was quite a crowd of photographers at this location!

60046 William Wilberforce passes Manningford Bruce on 16 August 2024 with the early running 6Z52 06:39 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead stone train. The DC Rail Freight 60 makes a pleasant change fro the Freightliner 66s that now monopolise this line.

60046 William Wilberforce passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 23 August 2024 with the 6Z52 08:42 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead stone train. The train would come to a stand at the next red signal, for its booked 22 minute stop, to allow three GWR trains to pass.

60046 William Wilberforce runs along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 28 September 2024 with the 6Z24 13:48 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Bristol East Depot stone empties. I was very lucky with the light here, as there was huge mass of black cloud approaching from the west.

Catching the last of the evening light at Wolvercote Junction on 18 August 1993, surprisingly clean 60047 Robert Owen heads north with the 6E81 19:55 Didcot Power Station to Worksop MGR empties. This was the last summer that all of Didcot's coal came from the Midlands, as at the time the new bulk handling terminal was being commissioned at Avonmouth, allowing imported coal to be brought to Didcot via the Great Western Mainline.

60047 Robert Owen passes Lowgill on 16 December 1995 with the 7F60 09:21 Carlisle to Fiddlers Ferry loaded MGR. 60047 had only just received the 'Big T' Transrail livery, having previously worn Railfreight Coal colours.

60047 passes through the remote Elton & Orston station on 14 March 2016 with the 6E82 12:16 Rectory Junction to Lindsey empty oil tanks. The station is situated midway between the two villages, with only a few roadside houses in the vicinity.

In July 2018, Colas sold its entire Class 60 fleet to GBRf, and although by early 2019 a start had been made to paint the locos into GBRf colours, some locos were put to work still wearing the distinctive Colas livery, albeit with the 'Colas Railfreight' wording truncated to just 'Railfreight'. 60047 Faithful passes Heck Ings on 22 February 2019 with the 6M36 09:54 Drax Power Station to Liverpool biomass empties.

60047 Faithful passes Hensall in the rain on 12 March 2019 with the 6M36 09:54 Drax Power Station to Liverpool biomass empties. Note the switchback nature of the line, as the gradient changes twice as the line crosses the A645 level crossing. The heavy rain wasn't the main worry here, but the imminent approach of another ex Colas Class 60 with the 6H12 06:24 Tyne Coal Terminal to Drax Power Station biomass from the other direction was causing concern, as it was only a few hundred yards away!

Running 27 minutes late, 60047 Faithful passes Heck Ings on 16 July 2022 with the 6M09 16:30 Drax Power Station to Tuebrook Sidings biomass empties. GBRf seem in no hurry to repaint this former Colas loco into GBRf colours, which is fair enough, as the paintwork still seems to be in excellent condition.

60048 Saddleback takes a break from its usual heavy aggregate trains, and instead has two Class 312 EMUs in tow, as it passes North Fen (near Waterbeach) with the 2G33 10:40 King's Lynn to Cambridge Network SouthEast Gala special on 14 September 1991. The loco is still looking clean after five months in traffic.

60048 Saddleback passes Hampton Gay on 4 May 1995 with the 7V23 14:36 Barrow Hill to Didcot Power Station MGR. The former Railfreight Construction decals have been removed, but the loco has yet to receive its new Mainline Freight logo.

Hatfield Colliery dominates the background of this view, as 60048 Eastern approaches Hatfield & Stainforth station with the 6N04 09:00 Lindsey to Jarrow oil tanks on 30 October 1998. Note the unusual style of nameplate, with a large white surround to the actual name. This was unveiled on 29 August 1997 to mark the Eastern Group's reopening of the Hunterston terminal, and replaced the original name Saddleback, which was named after an English mountain, and not the breed of pig!

60049 brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z36 06:18 Swindon to Thoresby Colliery 'Dukeries Collier' railtour at Shirebrook on 12 February 2000. 58025 is leading. The spoil heap of the closed Shirebrook Colliery has since been removed, and replaced by a giant Sports Direct warehouse.

60049 brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z37 13:54 Thoresby Colliery to Swindon 'Dukeries Colliery' railtour on 12 February 2000. Out of sight at the front, 58025 leads the tour back towards the mainline along the sharply curved Thoresby Colliery branch.

60049 passes Skegby on 12 February 2000 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z37 13:54 Thoresby Colliery to Swindon 'Dukeries Collier' railtour. The train had just reversed at High Marnham Power Station, which can be seen in the background. It looks like the driver, when moving from 58025 (hidden by the bushes at the rear of the train) to 60049 forgot to alter the loco's lights. This is one of the very few occasions that I have photographed a train moving forward, but still displaying red tail lights. I hope someone noticed before it got back onto the mainline!

On a bitterly cold 7 December 2010, 60049 passes the frozen fields near the site of Uffington station with the 6B33 13:33 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Despite the gloomy weather, I think that the frost on the vegetation, and the remnants of the autumn colours on the trees in the background make an atmospheric picture.

60049 passes Baulking in glorious light on 9 December 2010 with the 6B33 13:33 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. After a lengthy period of sunshine, a large bank of cloud decided to ruin things just before this train was due, but shortly before it appeared in the distance, the sun slowly reappeared, only to vanish again just as the train had passed! The dark clouds in the background certainly add to the effect, and the picture is well worth the long trudge from the car, especially after I thought it was going to be a no-hoper.

60049 rumbles slowly along the down relief line at Denchworth on 14 July 2011 with the late running 6B33 13:35 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. If it had been on time there would have been a fair chance of it being in the sun!

60049 passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 16 October 2012 with the 6B33 13:35 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. It is ironic that this is now one of the most interesting Class 60s, as it still retains EWS livery, amid a sea of dayglo DBS red. I was certainly pleased to get this shot, especially as the sun had only just emerged from behind very large cloud. I make no excuses for yet another picture at this location, as after visiting this spot since 1973, it looks like I will just about get four decades worth of visits before the wires go up and ruin the location forever.

60049 weaves from the main to the relief line at Challow on 10 October 2013 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot departmental working, which on this occasion is mainly loaded ballast wagons. With a cloudless morning and the prospect of a Class 60 on either this, or the following 6M26 service, it was well worth while making the short trip to this location.

Unfortunately corresponding with a patch of high cloud, 60049 passes Shrivenham on 30 November 2013 with the 6B33 11:27 Theale to Margam Murco empty oil tanks. This was running nearly an hour early, and consequently I only just managed to get the picture. Walking up to the bridge I could see the train coming, and just had enough time to get the camera out the bag. I was walking back to the car a few seconds later. Probably one of my shortest ever visits to a railway location!

60050 passes Smardale on 31 May 1999 with the 6O20 10:24 Milford to Killoch MGR empties. This side view shows the majority of the small hamlet of Smardale, including the distinctive Smardale Hall, a grade II listed tower house.

60050 passes Gascoigne Wood on 20 March 2000 with the 6D04 11:18 Hull Dairycoates to Rylstone Tilcon stone empties. The rusting line in the foreground leads into the former Gascoigne Wood 'super pit' - the largest deep mine coal complex in the world at the time of its construction in the 1980s.

60051 Mary Somerville passes South Moreton with the 6B23 13:12 Colnbrook to Waterston oil empties on 21 June 1991, ironically exactly one month after it failed on the same train and had to be rescued by 37372! At this time Class 60s were still being constructed and this working was generally the only chance of seeing one in the Thames Valley. After the mass introduction of Class 66s, the heavy haulage Class 60s would gain a cult following, but at this time this was definitely not the case, especially when they replaced pairs of 37s on workings such as this!

60051 Mary Somerville has just passed through Culham station on 13 May 1992, whilst working the 6M23 15:54 Fawley to Longport LPG tanks. Note the buildings on the left which were once part of nearby RNAS Culham, one of the many airfields opened locally in the 1930s. Part of the site is now used for nuclear research.

60051 Mary Somerville passes South Moreton on 22 May 1992 with the 6M23 15:54 Fawley to Bromford Bridge bitumen tanks. No LPG for Longport on this occasion. During the first couple of years of Class 60 operations in the Thames Valley, 60051 seemed to be the loco that always appeared on the various petroleum workings.

60051 Mary Somerville passes Denchworth on 17 August 1992 with the 6V13 12:18 Furzebrook to Hallen Marsh LPG tanks. This view clearly shows the down relief line under construction, with sleepers in position in the background, and fresh ballast poured on top of a plastic liner in the foreground.

Shortly after sunrise on 29 October 1992, 60051 Mary Somerville passes Challow with the very late running 6O43 02:07 Hallen Marsh to Eastleigh empty LPG tanks. The tanks would later be tripped to Furzebrook for refilling. The extensive works taking place on the site of the old station are in connection with the reinstatement of the relief lines from here to Wantage Road. The trailing point for the down relief has already been installed, and the old platform in the foreground has just been obliterated.

60051 passes Gossington with the 6E41 11:41 Westerleigh to Lindsey oil empties on 8 April 2010. This pictures is taken from a public footpath crossing, with the stile conveniently used to gain a little extra height in lieu of a stepladder! Note the line of cars on the A38 in the background. This was caused by extensive roadworks near the roundabout at nearby Slimbridge.

60052 Glofa Twr - The last deep mine in Wales - Tower Colliery passes Shrivenham with the 6C23 10:29 Hayes to East Usk empty hoppers on 9 November 2006. Unfortunately the cloud that can be seen bubbling up in the distance spoilt the picture of the next Class 60 on the 6B33 Theale to Robeston tanks a short while later. Despite the fact that this picture is taken well into November, there seems very little sign of autumn colour on the bushes and trees.

60053 John Reith passes Radley on 24 April 1991 with the 7V85 13:00 Barrow Hill to Didcot Power Station MGR. It's a pity that whoever pruned the tree in the garden on the right didn't also do something about the lineside trees ion the left!

The midday sunshine is only just beginning to melt the frost at Aynho Junction on 7 December 1991, as 60053 John Reith heads north with the 6E50 09:45 Langley to Lindsey empty oil tanks. The loco was less than a year old at the time.

60053 passes a nice selection of vintage railway infrastructure at Elsham on 11 March 1997, as it heads west with the 6G47 15:15 Immingham to Tinsley steel coils. Unfortunately the semaphore signals and wooden crossing gates have now gone.

60053 Nordic Terminal passes Allandale with the 6D17 14:00 Grangemouth to Mossend oil on 18 September 2002. The distinctive white backed nameplates can clearly be seen. This loco was formerly named John Reith, but was renamed in 1997 in connection with one of EWS's major customers at the time.

60053 Nordic Terminal approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing, at Shrivenham on 18 October 2007 with the 6B33 13:30 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. The rabbits in the field don't seem at all concerned about the noisy train passing over their heads. In fact, the one on the extreme right is actually running towards the line!

Brand new 60054 Charles Babbage passes South Moreton on 21 June 1991 with what I ordinarily would have assumed was the 6B23 13:12 Colnbrook to Waterston oil empties. However, that had passed by just five minutes earlier. It was certainly the right place to be for some Class 60 photography, at a time when the class was very much a new novelty.

Running very slowly, 60054 Charles Babbage passes Swarkestone on a slightly misty 4 September 1991 with the 6V52 08:48 Lindsey to Langley aviation fuel. The loco had only been in traffic four months when this picture was taken.

An immaculate 60054 Charles Babbage passes Melton Ross on 18 July 1996 with the 6D73 14:56 Lindsey to Leeds Total oil tanks. Charles Babbage (1791-1871) is considered to be the father of computing. His 'Difference Engine' of 1823 was an early mechanical computer, although theoretically sound, its extreme mechanical complexity rendered the design impractical.

Railfreight Petroleum liveried 60054 Charles Babbage is pictured in a highly appropriate location, as it passes Stanlow Oil Refinery with the Pathfinder Tours 1T71 11:35 Crewe to Liverpool Lime Street 'Crewe Cut' railtour on 3 May 1997. The location may be fitting, but a passenger train is definitely not normal for a Class 60. The tour arrived at Crewe from Eastleigh behind 33116 & 33051.

60054 Charles Babbage passes Maud's Bridge on 20 February 1999 with the 6M05 09:30 Roxby to Northenden empty GMC binliner. Not a very inspiring location, and very backlit, but as the sun suddenly appeared from behind the large mass of cloud, just as the train approached, I thought it was worth a picture.

60054 Charles Babbage passes Burbage Common on 2 March 2002 with the 6G64 08:52 Washwood Heath to Bardon Hill stone empties. Despite being partly shaded by bushes, this is the most well used photographic location between Nuneaton and Leicester.

60054 Charles Babbage passes Claydon with the 6V07 13:21 Round Oak to Margam steel empties on 5 April 2007. I do not normally swap lenses at a location, believing that each viewpoint has a "right" focal length. However, after taking several shots here with a long lens in order to bring up the church in the background and produce a better perspective, I decided to switch to a wider view to include the overhanging Black Poplar branches with catkins in full bloom. Also, I knew that 60054 was on this train, and as it is the only Class 60 to retain Railfreight sub sector livery (in this case petroleum), I wanted a wider shot so that the livery was more visible.

60054 Charles Babbage passes Stoke Orchard with the 6V92 10:10 Corby to Margam steel empties on 1 July 2008. I suppose nowadays two decades is quite a long time for a particular locomotive livery to survive in traffic. In 2008 this is the only Class 60 to carry a variant of the Trainload Freight livery, in this case showing the decals of the petroleum sub sector. Originally the entire class was introduced in one form or other of this livery.

60054 Charles Babbage passes Coaley in nice soft autumnal light on 18 September 2009 with the 6E41 10:42 Westerleigh to Lindsey oil empties. For a long time this has been the only Class 60 to retain its original Railfreight livery, and considering the time that has elapsed since it was painted it is not in too bad a condition. Some later repaints look a lot worse!

60054 Charles Babbage emerges from Wickwar Tunnel on 25 September 2009 with the 6B13 05:10 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. Unfortunately the sunny start to the day soon gave way to heavy cloud, which at the time this train was due still had the occasional clear spot. Typically the sun came out just after the train had passed.

The sole surviving Class 60 in its original livery, 60054 Charles Babbage passes under the M5 motorway at Lower Wick on 12 October 2009 with the 6B13 05:10 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. The angle of light is just about acceptable, but of course would become useless once the clocks are altered at the end of the month.

Travelling very slowly on the approach to a red signal near the site of Wantage Road station, 60054 is pictured working the 6B33 13:35 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 17 November 2011. Unfortunately the sun was starting to go in an out of a bank of cloud, and did so several times during the infuriatingly long time it seemed to take to reach me from when I first saw it in the distance. Even though not fully out, at least it was bright at the critical moment. Although the red signal cleared to green (with feathers for the relief line), the train didn't seem to make any attempt to accelerate, as was moving at a snail's pace as I started the long walk back to the car.

60054 passes Whittlesea on 31 May 2014 with the 16:15 Whitemoor Yard to Spalding engineers train. A really dull day, but as this was on the route home from a few days in Norfolk, it was definitely worth the short wait at Black Bush level crossing, on the edge of the town.

60054 runs alongside the Kennet & Avon Canal near Crofton on 24 January 2015 with the 6B33 11:27 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. This train was diverted away from its normal route via Swindon due to engineering works in the Reading area.

60054 passes Bourton on 12 August 2016 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Note the two electrification mast bases directly above the loco, also the two new rather flimsy looking plastic covered signals in the background, which replaced the much sturdier former gantry, which obviously had to be removed to allow the future installation of 25kV overhead wires.

An empty oil train passing a (now no longer rail connected) fuel depot. 60054 passes Purton Oil Depot, at what was formerly known as Bremell Sidings, with the diverted 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 14 September 2016. This was diverted via the Swindon to Gloucester Line due to the closure of the Severn Tunnel. It had left Theale 100 minutes late, but had managed to recover over half of that, and surprisingly managed to avoid getting held up any more at Swindon, which was experiencing problems due to a line blockage on the route to Bristol.

60054 passes Standish Junction on 24 September 2016 with the 6B13 05:02 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. I was very lucky with the sun here, as it was still behind a big black cloud as the train was approaching. How touch and go it was can be seen from the dark background. Pity those poor photographers just around the corner at Haresfield! Note the variety of liveries amongst the tank wagons. Just visible near the rear of the train is an especially bright ex-works tank, which I couldn't resist photographing.

60054 runs alongside the minor road near Ley Court on 2 November 2018 with the 6B41 11:35 Westerleigh to Robeston empty oil tanks. There is very little likelihood of a car getting in the way of the picture at the crucial moment here, although a tractor is a possibility. This is one of network of very lightly used single track roads in the Oakle Street and Grange Court area of Gloucestershire.

60054 emerges from the shadows, into a very lucky patch of light at South Marston on 1 February 2020, as it works the 6B33 11:42 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. I really didn't think I would get this in the sun, as there didn't seem to be any holes in the cloud, but just as the loco passed the last of the posts on the right, the sun came out from behind me, the clouds being sped along by the extremely strong wind.

60054 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 22 February 2020 with the 6B33 11:42 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. This was one of those all too common occasions when the intermittent sunshine that encouraged me to go out, had completely disappeared by the time I got to the lineside!

60054 passes Challow on 21 March 2020 with the 6B33 11:42 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. With a lot of GWR passenger services cancelled due to the Coronavirus emergency, there was no need for this train to use the relief line for its booked brief stop.

Making a welcome change from the usual Class 66, 60054 passes Stoke Orchard on 12 August 2020 with the 6M81 03:45 Margam to Round Oak steel. The lineside trees have grown quite large since I last took a picture from this angle in 1987!

With a toot from the driver, 60054 passes Claydon on 12 August 2020 with the 6V07 14:27 Round Oak to Margam steel empties. Just a few seconds later the sun came out from behind a large slow moving cloud!

60054 passes Tumpy Green in the rain on 7 May 2021 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. Photo taken from a very narrow no through road, which is surprisingly busy, thanks to the Tumpy Green Equestrian Centre, which explains what you can see on either side of the line here.

For some unexplained reason, the 6B33 13:35 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties was re-routed back to its old route via Swindon on 15 November 2021, running as the 6Z33 13:12 Theale to Robeston. Unfortunately by the time it got to Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, the earlier sunshine had disappeared, but as I was there anyway, I took the picture. This also shows the point where it went from running 35 minutes late, to 13 minutes early, by missing out its booked stop at Challow. This bizarre signalling decision caused delays to the following passenger services.

Hatfield Colliery dominates the background of this view, as 60055 Thomas Barnardo approaches Hatfield & Stainforth station on 19 January 1998 with what is presumably the 6N04 08:50 Lindsey to Jarrow oil tanks. Exactly the right time, but a much shorter load than normal.

60055 Thomas Barnardo passes Uffington on 1 May 2020 with the 6Z60 10:00 Cardiff Canton Sidings to Willesden, conveying six JRA wagons, that had been receiving maintenance. This had left Cardiff 42 minutes early, and was over an hour early by the time it got to Swindon. It then sat there for 40 minutes, making it just 32 minutes early here.

60055 Thomas Barnardo passes Challow on 1 August 2020, hauling Chiltern Railways Mk3 coach 12627, running a few minutes early as the 5Z20 08:48 Bristol Barton Hill to Wembley ECS. If it had been at the correct time, it would have been in full sun!

60055 Thomas Barnardo slowly pulls away from a signal check at Didcot North Junction on 17 March 2022 with the 6Z53 11:18 Oxford Banbury Road to Newton Abbot Hackney Yard stone empties. It was cloudy when the train approached the signal, and obviously there was no sun as it moved away, but annoyingly, while it was in a totally unphotographable position behind the signal, the sun was out! This was the first working of yet another new DC Rail Freight stone contract.

60055 Thomas Barnardo approaches Culham on 24 May 2022 with the 6Z52 11:18 Oxford Banbury Road to Machen Quarry stone empties. This loco had replaced blue liveried 60028, which had worked this train for several weeks, but failed whilst working the inbound loaded train on 17 May. Note the steel electfrication piling tube being slowly enveloped by the undergrowth in the foreground. The dark clouds in the background indicates that rain wasn't very far away, and it had started before I got back to the car, which was nearly half a mile away.

60055 Thomas Barnardo slowly passes North Oxford Golf Course on 16 June 2022 with the 6Z33 11:18 Oxford Banbury Road to Willesden DC Rail Sidings stone empties. This was a last minute replacement for the 6Z33 11:18 Oxford Banbury Road to Bristol Freightliner Terminal working. As is often the case, this was running early, as it left the stone terminal as soon as the 1T21 10:03 Marylebone to Oxford Chiltern Railways DMU was out of the way. Although the newly mown grass field gives a good impression of a golf course, the golf club is actually on the other side of the line, behind the bushes. Stray golf balls on the track seem to be a hazard here, as two balls can just be seen lying on the ballast in the shadow of 60055's buffer beam!

60055 Thomas Barnardo passes the public footpath crossing at Grove on 22 September 2022, running as the 0Z61 13:45 Appleford to Tytherington light engine. It was having a couple of days of running around on its own, as a little earlier it had worked the 0Z60 11:45 Didcot Milton Siding to Appleford, and the previous day the 0Z61 10:30 Tytherington to Appleford, and the 0Z62 17:40 Appleford to Didcot Milton Siding!

Due to an incident at Steventon, trains were severely delayed between Didcot and Swindon on the morning of 25 April 2023. Caught up in the chaos was the 6Z21 06:42 Appleford to Tytherington stone empties, which sat in the loop at Challow for nearly two hours. At the booked time the sun would have been right behind it, and even running late the conventional shot at Uffington would be hopelessly backlit, so I decided to go for this broadside view. 60055 Thomas Barnardo passes Uffington, running 112 minutes late.

Running 25 minutes early, after missing out its booked stop at Swindon, 60055 Thomas Barnardo passes South Marston on 28 July 2023 with the 6Z26 11:11 Tytherington Quarry to West Drayton Frays Sidings stone. The early running didn't last, as it was routed onto the up relief line at Challow, and waited until its booked time before rejoining the main line at Wantage Road.

60055 Thomas Barnardo passes Uffington on 22 August 2023 with the 6Z22 06:45 Bristol East Depot to Appleford stone train. This was running 16 minutes late, as there were signalling problems in the area. Down trains were either passing me at little more than walking speed, or taking advantage of the bi-directional signalling, and running on the up line.

60055 Thomas Barnardo approaches Uffington on 23 August 2023 with the 6Z22 06:45 Bristol East Depot to Appleford stone train. I had gone to this location as the sun angle would be better than the majority of places on the Swindon to Didcot line. Naturally as soon as I arrived, any hint of brightness disappeared!

Unfortunately missing the sun by a few minutes, 60055 Thomas Barnardo passes Uffington on 25 August 2023 with the 6Z22 06:45 Bristol East Depot to Appleford stone train. DC Rail certainly keep their Class 60s much cleaner than DB Cargo!

Running 19 minutes late, and therefore missing out on any chance of decent light, 60055 Thomas Barnardo passes Didcot North Junction on 30 August 2023 with the 6Z22 10:12 Didcot Milton Siding to Appleford Sidings stone. This had worked up from Tytherington overnight as the 6Z21 21:07 Tytherington Quarry to Didcot Milton Siding.

60055 Thomas Barnardo passes Baulking under a cloudless sky on 4 September 2023 with 6Z23 13:56 Appleford to Tytherington stone empties. I had tried to photograph this the previous week, but one of the few clouds on a mostly sunny day managed to completely ruin the picture!

60055 Thomas Barnardo passes South Marston on 5 September 2023 with 6Z23 13:56 Appleford to Tytherington stone empties. Unfortunately the lighting angle is a bit head on, but the choice of better locations in the Vale of White Horse is a bit limited!

60055 Thomas Barnardo passes a freshly sown field at Bourton on 6 September 2023 with 6Z23 13:56 Appleford to Tytherington stone empties. The bridge in the distance used to be one of my favourite locations, but the 25kV wires mean there is now virtually no possibility of a picture from there anymore.

Running exactly on time, 60055 Thomas Barnardo passes Baulking on 7 September 2023 with 6Z23 13:56 Appleford to Tytherington stone empties. If it wasn't for the embankment strengthening works, this section of line would be just as overgrown as the rest of the line!

60055 Thomas Barnardo approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham, on 8 September 2023 with 6Z23 13:56 Appleford to Tytherington stone empties. Unusually, this was running early, as the late running 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties was in the loop behind it at Challow.

60055 Thomas Barnardo passes Didcot North Junction on 20 March 2024 with the 6Z23 13:56 Appleford Sidings to Tytherington stone empties. This was running 25 minutes late, as it had been unable to get a path out of Appleford at the booked time, partly due to the late running 1Q66 12:16 Woking to Waterloo (via Oxford) Network Rail test train.

The cows take no notice, as 60055 Thomas Barnardo slows down on the approach to Hungerford Loop on 21 May 2024 with the 6Z51 06:49 Tytherington to Appleford Sidings stone train. This location was completely cleared of vegetation on 2018, but is now becoming very overgrown again.

60055 Thomas Barnardo approaches Hamstead Level Crossing, near Mash Benham, on 21 May 2024 with the 6Z51 06:49 Tytherington to Appleford Sidings stone train. The train had just spent nearly an hour in Hungerford Loop.

60055 Thomas Barnardo passes Midgham on 16 September 2024 with the 6Z52 06:46 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead stone train. Not a very scenic location, which explains why this is the first time that I have taken a picture here.

60055 Thomas Barnardo runs along the up relief line near Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 13 November 2024 with the 6Z52 07:03 Tytherington to Quainton Railhead stone train. As indicated by the sign, this picture is taken from the approach to the little used footbridge just to the east of Circourt road bridge. There was a worrying few minutes just before I took this picture, as the 6V53 10:38 Oxford Banbury Road to East Usk Yard stone empties was approaching very slowly from behind me, as the far end of the down relief line at Challow was already occupied by the 6C31 10:10 Theale to Whatley Quarry stone empties. Luckily the Class 60 was also travelling slowly, so it all worked well, although the back end of 6V53 can be seen on the left.

60056 William Beveridge passes Burton Salmon on 25 October 1995 with a Gascoigne Wood to Fiddlers Ferry Power Station MGR. The combination of a filthy debranded grey loco and equally dirty HAA coal hoppers, does not make for a very colourful picture!

60056 William Beveridge passes Swarkestone on 9 May 2003 with the 6Z74 05:07 Newport Docks to Beeston scrap empties. The loco is named after the Liberal politician, whose 1942 Beveridge Report laid the foundations for the welfare state.

Running three hours late, 60057 Adam Smith & 60032 William Booth pass Ellistown on 26 May 1991 with the Coalville to Nuneaton leg of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z36 'Coal Scuttler' railtour. This had just visited the Coalville Open Day. A broken rail was the cause of the delay. Both locos are brand new, in fact 60057 was not actually accepted into BR stock until the following week!

60057 Adam Smith & 60032 William Booth pass Burbage Common (between Narborough and Hinckley) with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z36 'Coal Scuttler' railtour on 26 May 1991, run in connection with the Coalville Open Day. The train is pictured here returning from the open day, running a staggering 3 hours late! This was due to a broken rail on the line into the site, which caused massive delays to the numerous railtours converging on the site, one of which didn't even get there! After a very dull day, the sun almost came out here, highlighting the locos against a dark sky. Unfortunately in order to cope with the previously poor lighting I had Kodachrome 200 in the camera, so the picture is a little grainier than I would like.

Still sporting its original Railfreight Coal livery, 60057 Adam Smith has just passed under the WCML at Warrington, and is about to enter Arpley Yard on 25 March 1993 with a train of MGR empties from Fiddlers Ferry Power Station. The massive Lever Brothers plant dominates the background. Unfortunately I never went to this classic location when pairs of Class 20s worked these trains, but at least a clean triple grey 60 is infinitely preferable to a 'Shed'!

60057 Adam Smith rounds the curve at New Barnetby on 8 December 2001 with the 6K23 11:40 Santon to Immingham iron ore empties. The well known bridge at Melton Ross can be seen in the background, complete with some of the seemingly ever present photographers!

60057 Adam Smith approaches Hatfield & Stainforth on 11 March 2004 with the 6M55 09:52 Lindsey to Rectory Junction oil tanks. The gloomy conditions have at least allowed a picture to be taken fro the north side of the line, for a change.

60059 Samuel Plimsoll heads north from Banbury on 17 May 1993 with the 6E53 16:05 Didcot Power Station to Worksop MGR empties. Crossing the bridge is a reminder of Banbury's once famous local industry. The Northern Aluminium Co opened a factory at Banbury in 1931, and it became a major employer in the town. The company was trading as British Alcan Extrusions during the 1980s and 1990s, but after yet another takeover in 1996, the Banbury plant was closed in 2007.

60059 Swinden Dalesman approaches Stenson Junction on 22 May 2001 with the 6E54 10:03 Kingsbury to Humber oil empties. The pair of signals on the left no longer have any trains to control, as all lines into the former Willington Power Station, just out of sight on the left, had recently been lifted.

60059 Swinden Dalesman passes Tupton on 7 April 2002 with the 6V37 13:00 Lackenby to Llanwern steel slabs. 60059 managed to hang on to its obsolete Loadhaul livery for nearly another decade, becoming one of the last locos to retain this colour scheme.

I was particularly glad to see 60059 Swinden Dalesman on the 6V92 10:10 Corby to Margam steel empties on 18 February 2008, as I had been unable to get to the Berks & Hants line two days previously when it worked the diverted 6B33 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. It is pictured here passing Fiddington (near Ashchurch) in nice winter afternoon light, even if the haze in the background means that Ashchurch church can barely be seen.

60059 Swinden Dalesman approaches Cossington with the 6M87 11:35 Ely to Peak Forest Cemex stone empties on 28 July 2008. The train was moving very slowly and I thought that the HST seen receding into the distance would block the shot. That was well out of the way, but the sun was being uncooperative, although at least it managed to stay out on the front of the train!

60059 Swinden Dalesman passes Ruscombe in superb light on 22 July 2012 with the 6A70 08:32 Didcot to Colnbrook aviation fuel. This train only travels via the Thames Valley on a Sunday, and works down to Didcot the previous day as the 6V70 14:11 Lindsey Oil Refinery to Didcot.

Here's something you don't see everyday - Class 60 clag! The driver of 60059 Swinden Dalesman applies the power as he passes Wolvercote on 22 July 2012 with the 6E38 17:03 Colnbrook to Lindsey Oil Refinery aviation fuel empties. Luckily this was running exactly to time, as the foreground shadows were advancing rapidly across the line.

Horribly backlit, but it makes a welcome change from the usual Class 66 on the 6A49 12:10 Didcot to Bicester MoD stores. 60059 Swinden Dalesman passes Hinksey Yard on 3 May 2013 with a load that would hardly tax its 3,100hp.

Super power for the 6A48 14:16 Bicester to Didcot MoD stores on 3 May 2013. 60059 Swinden Dalesman rounds the curve through the village of Islip in a few seconds worth of sunshine, amid the clouds that were rapidly building up from the west. This was just a week after I had photographed 56303 at this location, but I returned again, as although not ideal, the lighting angle here is the most favourable on the Bicester to Oxford line.

60059 Swinden Dalesman passes Baulking on 29 March 2014 with the 6B33 11:27 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. I deliberately chose a wider than normal view for this train in order to include the overhanging tree branches with their flower buds. It also clearly shows that the public footpath closely parallels the line at this point. Although it was a sunny day, some high cloud just took the edge off the light when this passed, although I suppose it does result in less harsh shadows in the trees on the right!

60059 Swinden Dalesman slowly approaches Eggborough on 26 March 2016 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z36 05:55 Eastleigh to Eggborough Power Station 'Generating Finale' railtour. Out of sight around the corner, 66059 is on the rear of the train.

After doing a circuit of Eggborough Power Station, 60059 Swinden Dalesman heads away from the doomed coal fired plant on 26 March 2016 with the Pathfinder Tours 'Generating Finale' railtour, now running as the 1Z37 15:55 Eggborough Power Station to Ferrybridge Power Station. The UK's coal fired power stations are rapidly being taken out of use, and Eggborough is set to close in 2017. This will leave the country seriously short of generating capacity, and with no new large scale plants coming on line, the very real prospect of future power cuts.

60059 Swinden Dalesman passes Ackworth in a torrential downpour on 26 March 2016 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z38 16:55 Ferrybridge Power Station to Eastleigh 'Generating Finale' railtour. This was running 15 minutes late, and it was nearly dark. ISO 1600 was required, with a shutter speed of 1/500sec, and the lens wide open at f2.8. Although the rain was heavy here, it was nothing compared to what happened half an hour later, as I was driving through Goole. For about 20 seconds, so much rain came down that visibility virtually dropped to zero, and the road was turned into an instant lake!

60059 Swinden Dalesman approaches Lowdham on 30 September 2017 with the 6M00 14:19 Humber Oil Refinery to Kingsbury oil tanks, passing the now disconnected siding. The weather was really grim, with some slight drizzle acting as a prelude to the evening's heavy rainfall. However, as I was actually passing this spot en-route to Yorkshire, I thought it worth recording. I had just arrived, and walked to the extreme end of the platform, when the level crossing barriers descended, so there was no need to check the phone for the train's whereabouts!

60059 Swinden Dalesman approaches Crabley Creek on 3 December 2019 with the 6J94 12:25 Hull Hedon Road Sidings to Belmont Down Yard steel. The flood bank next to the tidal River Humber provides the elevated viewpoint, and the inclusion of the brick pumping station on the right balances the picture nicely. The southern edge of the Yorkshire Wolds can be seen in the background.

Running 54 minutes early, 60059 Swinden Dalesman passes Ley Court on 12 August 2020 with the 6B41 11:19 Westerleigh to Robeston empty oil tanks. This mega early running is quite common, as I know to my cost, having missed it by a couple of minutes the day before!

Although it looks like it could be a train of empties from Westerleigh, this is in fact the loaded 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks, diverted via the Severn Tunnel, and passing Little Haresfield on 27 August 2022, running nearly an hour early behind 60059 Swinden Dalesman. The train would reverse at Gloucester and return a couple of hours later. 158769 can be seen in the background, working the 2O76 10:41 Gloucester to Weymouth GWR service

60059 Swinden Dalesman runs along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 14 September 2022 with the 6B33 13:49 Theale to Robeston empty oil tanks. After a few years of running via the Berks & Hants line, this train is now back on its original route.

The afternoon of 22 September 2022 was mostly cloudy, but one train that did come in the sun while I was at Grove was the 6B33 13:49 Theale to Robeston empty oil tanks. 60059 Swinden Dalesman runs along the down relief line, prior to its booked stop at Challow. The driver looks like he's had a hard day!

60059 Swinden Dalesman emerges from Wickwar Tunnel on 26 July 2023 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. The footbridge in front of the tunnel mouth also serves as an aqueduct for a small stream.

60059 Swinden Dalesman passes Lower Wick on 16 August 2023 with the diverted 6B41 11:45 Westerleigh to Robeston oil empties. It would not normally be possible to get a picture of this train heading south at this location, but the Gloucester to Chepstow line was closed for engineering works, so the train had reversed at Gloucester. It would travel to South Wales via the Severn Tunnel.

Freight passes passenger at South Marston on 5 September 2023. 60059 Swinden Dalesman heads west with the 6B33 13:49 Theale to Robeston empty oil tanks, just as 802014 heads in the opposite direction with the 1A24 14:30 Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington GWR service.

60059 Swinden Dalesman passes Baulking on 7 September 2023 with the 6B33 13:49 Theale to Robeston empty oil tanks. This train used to be formed of a uniform rake of tanks, but this mixed livery combination is now the norm.

Looking immaculate on what must be one of its first revenue earning workings, 60060 James Watt climbs through the cutting at Harbury on 26 June 1991 with the 7V85 14:26 Toton to Didcot Power Station MGR. The official introduction to traffic date was two days later, but that was usually quoted as a week ending date.

My one and only visit to Warrington on 25 March 1993 saw plenty of Class 60 activity, with trains arriving and departing Arpley Yard. There were also various light engine movements, such as 60060 James Watt, pictured here.

60060 James Watt passes Coedkernew on 18 August 1995 with the 6M86 11:00 Margam to Dee Marsh steel coils. Judging by the number of people in the cab, this is also being used as a route learning trip. By this date the loco's Railfreight Coal sub sector markings had little meaning.

Still in Railfreight Coal livery, although bizarrely with one EWS liveried roof panel, 60060 James Watt passes Marshfield (between Cardiff and Newport) with the 6B13 05:40 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks on 27 August 1998. For some reason around this time there were various odd instances of either wrong colour roof panels or incomplete liveries amongst the Class 60 fleet.

60060 James Watt passes Shrivenham on 9 November 2006 with the 6B33 13:30 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. A fair number of Class 60s received this hybrid livery, with the EWS 'Three Beasties' logo on a yellow panel, covering up the previous Trainload sector decals.

60061 Alexander Graham Bell & 60044 Ailsa Craig pass Abergele on 11 August 1991 with the 1T60 14:30 Crewe to Llandudno special, one of a number of trains operating over the route with Railfreight traction, during the Trainload Coal Motive Power Day. The distinctive upper quadrant signals in the foreground certainly add to the picture, the typical North Wales seaside caravans are less photogenic.

60061 Alexander Graham Bell passes through Barnetby station on 12 March 1998 with the 6K23 11:24 Santon to Immingham iron ore empties. For some reason I only visited this location a few times, an inexcusable omission, given the fantastic display of semaphores, which can be seen in the background.

Prospective passengers at Brandon are temporarily distracted on 21 August 1999, as 60061 Alexander Graham Bell passes through the station with the 6L39 09:05 Peterborough to Norwich Trowse Redland stone hoppers. The train would have arrived at Peterborough the previous day as the 6E89 09:36 Mountsorrel to Peterborough.

Running 20 minutes late, 60062 Samuel Johnson approaches Standish Junction on 5 July 1991 with the 6B17 17:45 Westerleigh to Robeston Murco oil empties. At the time the loco was only two weeks old, and this was a bit of a novelty, but nearly three decades later, this loco is only too common on this working!

60062 Samuel Johnson passes Denchworth on 14 March 1994 with the 6B23 13:12 Colnbrook to Robeston empty aviation fuel tanks. In those days I used to think the recently erected signal gantry had spoiled this location, but now of course there is no view at all from this bridge, due to the line's electfrication.

With its distinctive uniform rake of brick red coloured containers, 60062 Samuel Johnson passes Elsham on 31 December 2001 with the very last 6D86 13:15 Roxby to Grimsby Tioxide gypsum waste empties. Even though it was a completely sunny day, the temperature was so low that the seasonal snow was still much in evidence.

60062 passes Stoke Orchard with the 6V07 13:21 Round Oak to Margam steel empties on 1 July 2008. I had gone to this location to see 60054 on 6V92, but despite the strong winds bringing in large banks of clouds from the south west, it seemed possible that I might get another picture in the sun, and so it proved! Note the variety of wagon types in this short train. Although a fairly good location for southbound trains, the northbound shot from this bridge is severely restricted, and it is not a pleasant spot to wait for any length of time due to the constant stream of vehicles going to the nearby recycling centre.

60062 heads west through the Vale of White Horse with the 6B33 12:12 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties on 11 October 2008. The location is near the site of Knighton Crossing, just to the west of Uffington. A fine panoramic view that doesn't require any effort to get to, as it is just by the side of the Longcot to Uffington road. The large crowd of photographers that had gathered to watch Sir Lameil pass by had all now disappeared!

Due to engineering works, the 6A11 22:49 Robeston to Theale Murco oil tanks was diverted away from its normal route via the Berks & Hants line on 16 July 2013. Instead it travelled via Swindon and Didcot. Luckily its two hour early start had been reduced to just a few minutes early running by the time it passed Challow, as 05:42 is quite early enough to be out taking pictures! With no other trains around at this time of day, it has no need of the relief line, and 60062 Stainless Pioneer is pictured passing the site of Challow station on the main.

60062 Stainless Pioneer passes Compton Beauchamp on 16 July 2013 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Much earlier in the day, it had headed in the other direction along this route with the loaded train, being diverted away from its normal route via the Berks & Hants line.

60062 Stainless Pioneer is under full power as it pulls its heavy train out of Haresfield Loop, and passes Standish Junction on Saturday 31 August 2013. The working is the 6B13 05:04 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. Considering that this train started out from South Wales two hours before its booked departure time, and managed to increase this early running by another thirty minutes, I was surprised that I was able to get this picture of the train now running pretty much spot on time!

60062 Stainless Pioneer passes Baulking on 3 September 2013 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Note the recently installed signal bases, which will obviously soon completely ruin this well known photographic location. Not that it matters that much, as the forthcoming electrification of the Great Western Mainline will mean this location will be lost anyway!

Running 87 minutes late, 60062 Stainless Pioneer passes Clay Mills on 25 June 2014 with the 6M00 11:40 Humber Oil Refinery to Kingsbury oil tanks. This late running would have meant a much better lighting angle, if only the sun had come out! The 1S51 12:25 Plymouth to Glasgow Central CrossCountry HST can just be seen disappearing in the distance.

60062 Stainless Pioneer rumbles along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 30 December 2014 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Running a little early, its wait a little further up the line at Challow was extended to half an hour. This would normally be a cue for an attempt at a second picture. However, at not long after the shortest day, the lack of locations free of shadows in the late afternoon makes this a pointless exercise.

60062 Stainless Pioneer passes Moredon in superb early morning light on 21 May 2019 with the 6V15 20:18 Boston Sleaford Sidings to Swindon Stores covered steel carriers. After not running for a couple of months, this was the second Tuesday in a row that this train ran. In the distance a coach crosses the bridge at the site of Bremell Sidings.

60062 Stainless Pioneer passes Coates on 21 May 2019 with the 6M53 16:20 Swindon Stores to Toton Up Sidings steel empties. The earlier cloudless morning had turned into quite a cloudy afternoon, and it seemed likely that this picture would be ruined, as the sun was on the very edge of a large black cloud. Luckily I got away with it this time! This is the site of Coates Goods Station, which was the freight handling facility for nearby Kemble station. It had originally also been Kemble's passenger station, and was named Tetbury Road until 1908.

60062 Stainless Pioneer passes Challow on 16 November 2019 with the 6B33 11:50 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. This was running 19 minutes early, but that wasn't early enough, as the sun had just disappeared, shortly after I arrived at the location!

60062 Stainless Pioneer passes Churcham in superb autumnal light on 29 November 2019 with the 6B41 11:15 Westerleigh to Robeston empty oil tanks. This was running nearly half an hour early, having missed out its booked stop at Gloucester.

60062 Stainless Pioneer approaches Wickwar Tunnel on 2 September 2020 with the 6B41 11:19 Westerleigh to Robeston empty oil tanks. You have to question the logic of Network Rail's lineside clearance policy, as although most of the vegetation has recently been cut back here, the largest tree has been left untouched. It hasn't even been trimmed, and the branches are still almost touching passing trains.

A view that didn't exist only a few minutes before this picture was taken! 60062 Stainless Pioneer passes Rangeworthy on 16 September 2020 with the early running 6B41 11:19 Westerleigh to Robeston empty oil tanks. Less than ten minutes earlier a group of Network Rail track workers had cut down a tree on the left that was almost blocking out this view.

60062 Stainless Pioneer passes Over on 22 September 2020 with the 6B13 04:19 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. This was already running early, and by missing out its booked stop at Gloucester, it would soon be running nearly an hour ahead of the booked time.

Running an hour early, 60062 Stainless Pioneer passes Standish Junction on 25 September 2020 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. A change of loco would be nice, as this has been working South Wales oil trains for some time!

60062 Stainless Pioneer passes Moredon on 1 June 2021 with the 6V15 20:18 Boston Sleaford Sidings to Swindon Stores covered steel carriers. Coincidentally, I photographed this same loco at this spot two years earlier. In the intervening time the lineside bushes have grown, requiring a more head on viewpoint. The other noticeable difference is that the later season in 2021 means the hawthorn bush on the left is still in full bloom.

60062 Stainless Pioneer very slowly approaches Standish Junction on 1 June 2021 with the 6M53 15:55 Swindon Stores to Toton Up Sidings steel empties. It would be held briefly at the signal controlling the junction, in order to allow 166212 to pass with the 2V68 13:11 Weymouth to Gloucester GWR service, which was running an astonishing 61 minutes late!

60062 Stainless Pioneer approaches Collins Lane level crossing, near Purton, on 8 June 2021 with the 6M53 15:55 Swindon Stores to Toton Up Sidings steel empties. This was running 16 minutes early, but as usual by the time it got to the Gloucester area it was nearly an hour ahead of time.

60062 passes Coates in an unbelievably lucky patch of sun on 26 July 2022 with the 6M53 15:55 Swindon Stores to Toton Up Sidings steel empties. A few seconds later the sun disappeared behind a massive bank of clouds, not to reappear for some time. This was the first occasion that this loco had visited the area since having its extremely eye catching 'Steel on Steel' livery applied. As usual, it was running an hour early, and would get even earlier later on by missing out its booked stop in Haresfield loop.

'Steel on Steel' flame liveried 60062 Sonia emerges from Foley Park Tunnel on 20 May 2023 with the 11:00 Kidderminster to Highley service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. The stock is the immaculately restored ScotRail push pull set. 47712 Lady Diana Spencer is hiding in the tunnel, on the rear of the train.

With the front half of the train in the weak early morning sunshine, but the back half still in the fog, 60062 Sonia passes Purton Common on 22 June 2023 with the 6V15 20:21 Boston Sleaford Sidings to Swindon Stores covered steel carriers. The sun had only just started to come out from behind some clouds, so this turned out a lot better than I expected! It doesn't look like the loco is in the best of health, as there is a huge oil stain down the bodyside.

Just over a month after being introduction into traffic, 60063 James Murray passes Worting Junction on 29 July 1991 with the Mondays only 6V08 09:20 Fawley to Clydach LPG tanks. The secondman is clearly relaxing, with feet up against the windscreen!

60063 James Murray passes the listed Brunel designed broad gauge goods shed (still with visible GWR writing) at Stroud on 4 August 1991, as it works the Pathfinder Tours 1Z62 13:20 Kemble to Gloucester mini railtour, one of a number of specials run in connection with the Gloucester Rail Day. Out of sight behind the bushes on the rear of the train are 20210 & 20169.

60063 James Murray passes Kings Sutton on 8 August 1991 with the late running 6V54 Ripple Lane to Banbury oil tanks, The low angle of the sun and consequent low light readings, required this to be taken on the extremely grainy Kodachrome 200 film, which thankfully due to its extreme sharpness cleans up reasonably well.

60063 James Murray passes Denchworth on 17 August 1992 with the 6B23 13:12 Colnbrook to Waterston aviation fuel empties. The down relief line is in the process of being laid, with a wobbly line of sleepers in the background, and fresh ballast spread over a black plastic liner in the foreground.

60063 James Murray passes through Patchway station on 23 July 1993 with the 6B33 12:35 Theale to Robeston empty oil tanks. At this time the loco was only a couple of years old, and in contrast to today's mass following, the class was not generally liked by the majority of enthusiasts, as they were replacing more vintage traction. How times change!

60063 James Murray approaches Standish Junction on 9 October 1993 with the early running 6B25 12:45 Westerleigh to Robeston Murco oil empties. I wouldn't have travelled to Standish Junction just for a backlit picture of a 60, but being a Saturday morning, there was something much more interesting due from the other direction a few minutes later!

60063 James Murray approaches Baulking with the 6B33 13:30 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 12 October 2006. The bi-directional signal gantries were erected at the same time as the relief lines to the east were relayed between Wantage Road and Challow in the mid 1990s, and the signal on the left displays a flashing amber as the first indication to up train drivers that they are going to be looped at Challow, Two miles distant. Note how the white underside of the leaves of the White Poplar trees in the background really stand out at this time of year.

60063 approaches the site of Oaksey station in the pouring rain on 21 November 2009 with the diverted 6E41 10:13 Westerleigh to Lindsey oil empties. The normal route via Cheltenham was closed due to engineering works and consequently the rare opportunity to photograph a tank train on the 'Golden Valley' route was not to be missed. This was the second week of the engineering works, but the previous week's attempt was thwarted by a Class 66 being allocated to the working. However, this time as I knew 60063 was allocated to the train, it was just a question of waiting in the rain, which was no fun, as just like the previous week it was 100 minutes late! Note the marks on the side of the loco from where the James Murray nameplate has been removed.

60063 James Murray passes Standish Junction on 25 October 2010 with the 6B13 05:05 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil train. Running slightly late and quite obviously not looped at Haresfield (just round the corner in the background) this train reminded me of the good old days - in other words it could be heard long before it came into view. Obviously the audible approach warning was not as noticeable as a pair of 37s or a 50, but pretty impressive for today's railway!

60063 runs along the down relief line at Denchworth on 7 May 2013 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Although the sun is very high in the sky during the middle part of the day during May, and consequently not the best quality of light, at least a day with nearly 100% blue sky meant no constant looking to see where the next cloud was coming from!

Running bang on time, 60063 rounds the curve at Tumpy Green on 15 July 2013 with the 6B13 05:07 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. A little later would have been better, as the sun is only just starting to glance across the front end. At least the shadows from the hedge had retreated away from the track. Railway photographers always complain about something!

60063 worked the diverted 6A11 22:49 Robeston to Theale Murco oil tanks on 18 July 2013, bringing the unusual sight of an eastbound loaded oil train to the Vale of White Horse line. I had a cunning plan to photograph this at Bourton, just after sunrise, with the very first light illuminating the train. Unfortunately, it ran fifty minutes early, which meant it passed me well before sunrise! So, purely for the record, and with apologies for the very poor technical quality, here is 60063 passing Bourton in the darkness, with some of the lights of Swindon visible in the background.

60063 passes Acton Turville on 18 July 2013 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Typically, after standing around for ages in full sun, just at the time the train appeared some clouds were starting to build up, and one of them got in the way!

Returning from Ebbw Vale, 60063 passes Llanhilleth on 25 August 2013 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z58 09:33 Bristol Temple Meads to Machen 'Taffy Tug' railtour. Although the South Wales valleys are recovering from the scars of the former coal mines, there is some more recent industrial decay here, with the concrete floor of a former industrial unit standing out starkly on the left.

The local residents of Bedlinog come out to see the unusual sight of an eleven coach train wending its way up the valley to Cwmbargoed. 60063 brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z59 13:04 Machen to Cwmbargoed 'Taffy Tug' railtour on 25 August 2013. 60017 can just be seen leading the train into the trees in the distance.

60063 approaches Bedlinog on 25 August 2013 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z60 16:08 Cwmbargoed to Bristol Temple Meads 'Taffy Tug' railtour. This proved to be the ideal spot to photograph this train as it headed back down the valley, as not only is it a nice clear location with a rock cutting as a background, but also the sun decided to co-operative, in marked contrast to Cwmbargoed, a little further north, which was underneath the ominous dark clouds that can be seen in the background.

After a bright start, the weather had totally collapsed by the afternoon of 10 October 2013. However, as I was already at Challow, I decided to wait for 60063 on the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. I chose this unusual viewpoint, to show it pulling away from its short stop in the loop, and passing underneath the signal gantry.

60063 passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 15 April 2014 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Having visited this spot for over four decades, frequent visits are now been made to make a final record of the location before the wires go up, and the viewpoint is ruined for ever.

Red meets blue! 60063 passes Baulking on 15 April 2014 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties, while the 1A20 14:00 Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington First Great Western HST heads in the opposite direction. Both trains were travelling at reduced speed due to a temporary speed restriction.

With the Victorian Clay Mills swage pumping station, and the major engineering works at the modern replacement visible in the background, 60063 passes Clay Mills on 25 June 2014 with the 6E08 13:03 Wolverhampton Steel Terminal to Immingham covered steel wagons.

60063 passes Shrivenham on 18 February 2015 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. This was one of those days when the weather was actually much better than forecast, with just a few clouds around midday in an otherwise sunny day.

60063 emerges from Patchway Short Tunnel on 19 July 2016 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. This picture is taken with a long lens from Cattybrook footbridge, and clearly shows the difference in gradient of the two separate lines. The up line tunnel is one continuous bore, but the down line has one long and one short tunnel, which explains the vegetation that is just visible inside the tunnel above 60063. Due to the extreme heat (33.5°C at Brize Norton) causing problems with GWR's timetable, this train was running 22 minutes early, not having had to be held at Bristol Parkway, and had a clear run through the Severn Tunnel. The HST that should have overtaken it at Bristol Parkway was an hour late!

60063 passes Gossington on 17 December 2018 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. The sun had almost completely faded out into high cloud, and I thought that would be the last I would see of it for the day, as the Met Office had forecast. However, shortly afterwards the sun was back to full strength.

60063 runs along the down relief line at Challow on 4 January 2019 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Its arrival and departure from the loop, to allow the 1C17 14:00 Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads Class 800 EMU to overtake, were both exactly to time.

After walking back along the edge of the field on the right, after taking a picture of 60063 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 4 January 2019, I couldn't resist taking this second picture as it sat at the end of Challow loop.

60063 passes Churcham in stunning light on 19 February 2019 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. When I got to this location the sun was just barely shining through thin cloud, but as I stood in the field waiting for this train, it just got better and better, although clearly just to the south there is no sun at all! Full sun, with black clouds in the background - perfect.

60063 rounds the curve at New Barnetby on 2 December 2019 with the 6E46 04:14 Kingsbury to Humber Oil Refinery empty oil tanks. How long before the fence in the foreground (which is missing various sections of wire) is replaced by the usual palisade monstrosity?

Wearing the interim Loadhaul branded grey livery, 60064 Back Tor passes Brocklesby on 18 July 1996 with the 6K22 09:30 Santon to Immingham iron ore empties. The name Back Tor could well have appeared on a Class 44 locomotive, as it is one of the Peak District summits. Certainly if they had produced more and had to resort to lesser peaks for names!

60064 Back Tor passes Melton Ross on 18 July 1996 with the 6T26 15:04 Immingham to Santon iron ore. By pure coincidence, one of the other three Loadhaul branded grey Class 60s was also on the iron ore circuit, and had passed by just over an hour earlier. There was a slight livery variation between the two, as 60064 lacked 60070's orange stripes behind the cab doors..

An interesting meeting of Class 60s on Didcot Power Station coal trains at Foxhall Junction, Didcot on 13 March 1997. What makes this particularly noteworthy is the fact that each loco is in a different temporary livery applied by the newly privatised freight companies to the former Trainload Freight liveried machines. Loadhaul 60064 Back Tor has just run round its train near Didcot Parkway station and is approaching with the 6A64 loaded train from Avonmouth, while on the left Mainline 60086 Schienhallion waits with the 6C67 returning empties, which will shortly run round and head back to Avonmouth.

Clearly showing its Loadhaul branded former Railfreight grey livery, 60064 Back Tor runs along the up relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 17 March 1997, heading for Didcot Power Station. Just three locos acquired this colour scheme.

60064 Back Tor passes through the cutting near East Hardwick on 12 April 1997 with the 6E31 11:45 Wolverhampton to Lackenby steel empties. I wouldn't normally a take picture from the shady side, but there was no possibility of a more conventional shot here.

60064 Back Tor passes through Oxford station on 16 August 1997 with the 6Z91 Lindsey to Langley bogie oil tanks. The end is nigh for the sidings in the foreground. The buddleia is taking over, as the site is in limbo after the scrap dealer left the site. It would soon become Oxford station's car park.

60064 passes Melton Ross on 30 October 1998 with the 6K23 11:24 Santon to Immingham iron ore empties. At this time there was a still a constant procession of freight trains at this location, attracting photographers from far and wide.

60064 Back Tor rounds the curve at Godnow Bridge (between Thorne and Scunthorpe) on 5 December 1998 with the 6D23 11:43 Rotherham to Immingham steel empties. Only three Class 60s carried this Loadhaul branded grey livery.

Only the daffodils on the side of the cutting liven up this gloomy scene at Sutton Bridge Junction on 27 March 2004, as 60064 passes the semaphore signals with the 6V75 09:29 Dee Marsh to Llanwern steel empties. Only two other locos carried this interim Loadhaul branded triple grey livery.

Brand new 60065 Kinder Low approaches Culham on 10 July 1991 with the 7V85 14:26 Toton to Didcot Power Station MGR. Over the next eighteen months, Class 60s gradually took over these working from Class 56s & 58s. Official sources say that this loco entered traffic in September 1991, so it proves that you can't always believe what you see in print!

60065 Kinder Low passes Hinksey Yard (near Oxford) with the 7V06 11:16 Rufford to Didcot Power Station MGR coal train on 1 August 1991. According to most printed sources, this loco was not accepted into traffic for a further six weeks, and would then be based at Cardiff in the petroleum FPEK pool, which would certainly be more appropriate to the livery carried here. Class 60s in inappropriate liveries did often appear on the Didcot coal trains, but I don't ever remember seeing another brand new loco on test from Brush and prior to it being accepted by BR.

60065 Kinder Low passes Denchworth on 2 October 1991 with the 6V13 12:18 Furzebrook to Hallen Marsh LPG tanks. Although the weather was lousy, it was certainly worth hanging around, as half an hour later 37901 passed by with the Leicester to Cardiff scrap train.

60065 Kinder Low passes through Sonning cutting on 26 March 1992 with the 6V53 02:20 Humber to Langley aviation fuel tanks. A ridiculously short load for a Class 60 on this occasion. Note the bridge reconstruction going on in the background.

60065 Kinder Low brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z16 06:25 Crewe to Robeston 'Dyfed Dub-Dub' railtour, as it approaches its destination in the rain on 8 January 1994. D400 & 50007 can just be seen at the head of the train, making the class's debut at the West Wales refinery.

60065 Kinder Low stands on the bridge over the Robeston to Hubberston road, while the front of the train waits at the entrance to Robeston (Milford Haven) Oil Refinery. D400 & 50007 are the lead locomotives (out of sight around the curve), the date is 8 January 1994, and the train is the Pathfinder Tours 1Z16 'Dyfed Dub-Dub' railtour, which had originated from Crewe.

60065 Kinder Low has lost most of its front end numbers in this view at Marshfield on 24 July 1996. It is working the 6B40 Llanwern to Port Talbot iron ore empties and is about to be overtaken by the 09:00 Brighton to Tenby Regional Railways service worked by 158826. Would anyone want to travel from Brighton to Tenby?

60065 passes a gloomy Badgeworth on 31 October 2006 with the 6V92 10:10 Corby to Margam steel empties, with three coils being retuned, presumably for rebanding. Note the recently replaced section of rail on the left hand track in the foreground.

60065 Spirit of Jaguar brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z29 05:45 Bristol Temple Meads to Monk Bretton 'Ousing Dove' railtour at Goole on 15 October 2011. 66024 can just be seen on the front, heading for a circular tour of Hull, before heading back to Goole again.

Freight meets passenger at Compton Beauchamp on 21 June 2014. 60065 Spirit of Jaguar heads the 6B33 11:27 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties, while travelling at approximately twice the speed in the opposite direction is 43169, leading the 1A17 12:30 Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington First Great Western service.

A Transrail Class 60 convoy at Great Rocks on 9 August 1995. 60066 John Logie Baird, 60097 Pillar & 60005 Skiddaw head north past the site of the former Longsiding Lime Works. The flat area on the left was once occupied by sidings for the works.

60066 John Logie Baird passes Great Heck on 18 July 1996 with the 6M36 18:55 Selby to Dove Holes RMC stone empties. This was running early, passing me ten minutes before its official departure time. This was lucky, given the rapidly advancing shadows.

60066 John Logie Baird passes through Hexham station on 14 September 1996 with the 6E48 04:35 Stanlow to Jarrow oil train. This was taken on possibly my longest one day photographic trip - Oxfordshire to Hexham and back, over 600 miles in one day! Not something I would consider doing nowadays.

A pair of Transrail liveried Class 60s pass Melton Ross light engine on 11 October 2003. 60066 John Logie Baird & 60082 have obviously been used on Immingham to Santon iron ore trains, and are now heading off for some weekend maintenance.

60066 looks superb in its 'Drax Powering Tomorrow' silver livery, as it approaches Stocks Lane, Steventon, on 10 March 2015 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Note the black electrification mast base only partly driven in to the ground in front of the third wagon.

A definite improvement over the normal DBS red livery on this train! The 'Drax Powering Tomorrow' silver liveried 60066 passes Baulking on 20 March 2015 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties.

60066 approaches the southern entrance of Wickwar Tunnel on 15 April 2015 with the 6E41 11:35 Westerleigh to Lindsey oil empties. Due to the strong backlighting, I wouldn't have bothered with this had it been an ordinary DBS red 60, but the 'Drax Powering Tomorrow' silver livery adds something to the picture.

60066 pulls out of the loop at Little Haresfield on 18 April 2017 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. Unfortunately the first small cloud of the morning decided to drift in front of the sun at the critical moment, but thankfully it really was a small cloud, affecting just one tree in the middle distance!

Shortly after sunrise on 6 November 2017, 'Drax Powering Tomorrow' silver liveried 60066 passes North Kelsey Moor with the 6M57 07:18 Lindsey Oil Refinery to Kingsbury oil tanks. With the sun so low even my chosen spot by the farm crossing was partly in shadow, but a little further up the field there was this convenient gap in the bushes.

60066 passes Oaksey in superb light on 13 August 2019 with the 6M53 16:20 Swindon Stores to Toton Up Sidings steel empties. Initially I was going to go to Defford for this, but as the weather looked dodgy, and I thought I might just get a dull record shot, I decided to come here, as it was only half the distance. A wise decision!

60066 passes Moredon on 20 August 2019 with the 6V15 20:18 Boston Sleaford Sidings to Swindon Stores covered steel carriers. I was a little worried when I first checked on this at 05:00, to find it had passed Gloucester, and was running 82 minutes early! If it kept that up, it would have passed here before sunrise. I assumed it would wait in Haresfield Loop, and luckily it did, eventually passing the small gallery of photographers at Moredon exactly on time.

60066 passes Bredon in miserable light on 20 August 2019 with the 6M53 16:20 Swindon Stores to Toton Up Sidings steel empties. This was running exactly on time here, but a little further north the curse of Birmingham struck, and the train ended up running an hour late.

60066 passes the site of Bremell Sidings on 27 August 2019 with the 6M53 16:20 Swindon Stores to Toton Up Sidings steel empties. After a very mixed day weather wise, the sun had finally made an appearance, and although I was stood under a large blue patch, it looked a lot cloudier further north. In view of this, I was a little surprised that no other photographers turned up.

60066 approaches Chalford on 3 September 2019 with the 6M53 16:20 Swindon Stores to Toton Up Sidings steel empties. A cloudy afternoon meant that it was possible to get a picture of the train traversing the reverse curves, as the line descends from Sapperton Tunnel into the Stroud Valley. Unfortunately most of the best vantage points that photographers used in steam days have long since been lost to uncontrolled lineside vegetation, but this view still gives a good impression of the sinuous nature of the route of the line in the valley of the River Frome.

60066 passes Defford on 17 September 2019 with the 6M53 16:20 Swindon Stores to Toton Up Sidings steel empties. A long lens was required to avoid the foreground shadows, and I was worried that this might mean the back of the train would be cut off by the bushes. However, it has just fitted in the gap perfectly. The middle of the train is passing over the Eckington River Avon bridge, and Eckington church tower can just be seen amid the trees in the background.

Absolutely typical, you go out specifically for one train, and while everything else passes in sunshine, the most important one comes along during a cloudy spell. Drax silver liveried 60066 approaches Hungerford Common on 15 January 2020 with the 6B33 13:46 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties.

Perfectly framed by a very conveniently positioned oak tree, 'Drax Powering Tomorrow' silver liveried 60066 approaches Collins Lane level crossing, Purton, on 22 March 2022 with the  6M53 15:55 Swindon Stores to Toton Up Sidings steel empties. I had arrived at this location in plenty of time, as this train is notorious for running early. This was a good move, as it ran even earlier than usual, passing this spot 70 minutes ahead of time.

60066 passes Coates on 1 June 2023 with the 6M53 16:16 Swindon Stores to Toton Up Sidings steel empties. I could have got a second picture of this, as for once it did actually take its booked lengthy stop in the Gloucester area. Of course there was no way of knowing this was going to happen at the time!

60066 enters Eckington loop on 8 June 2023 with the early running 6M53 16:16 Swindon Stores to Toton Up Sidings steel empties. This train is booked to recess in Haresfield loop for over an hour, something which it rarely does. As expected, on this occasion it ignored Haresfield, but instead used the loops at Gloucester, Cheltenham and Eckington! This is my first picture of anything other than a railtour using the loop.

60067 James Clerk-Maxwell passes through Oxford station on 2 October 1991 with the 6V53 04:20 Humber Oil Refinery to Langley aviation fuel tanks. 60067 was brand new when this photo was taken, having been in traffic for less than two weeks. Strangely, although allocated to Immingham's FPDI petroleum pool, the loco sports Railfreight Coal decals!

60067 James Clerk-Maxwell was still less than a year old when it was photographed running light engine past Melton Ross on 21 August 1992. The loco is named after the nineteenth century Scottish scientist who discovered the link between electricity and magnetism.

60067 James Clerk-Maxwell passes Aynho on 29 June 1993 with the 6E05 17:39 Didcot Power Station to Barrow Hill MGR empties. Not a very inspiring location, but nice evening light, and an immaculately clean loco.

60067 James Clerk-Maxwell passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 16 March 1994 with the 6A64 07:21 Avonmouth to Didcot Power Station MGR. In the background one half of the field has just been planted with young trees. Twenty years later they had grown considerably, completely blocking out the view of the Petwick Farm, near Challow, in the background.

60067 James Clerk-Maxwell nears journey's end, as it passes Carlton on 17 February 1996 with the 6E13 11:10 Kirkby Thore (Newbiggin) to Drax Power Station gypsum empties. The ballast in the foreground seems to consist of a high proportion of coal, dropped from the wagons going to and from Drax!

Work stained 60067 James Clerk-Maxwell passes Stenson Junction on 25 April 1996 with the 6M57 06:47 Lindsey to Kingsbury oil tanks. This used to be a very well known photographic location, but since the tracks on the right were lifted after Willington Power Station closed, the location has lost some of its appeal. More recently various clutter and fences have further spoiled the view.

60068 Charles Darwin passes a deserted Hinksey Yard on 8 December 1992 with the 7V65 08:25 Rufford to Didcot Power Station MGR coal train. Note the recently refurbished wagons towards the rear of the train and the recently re-laid track on the down line. However, at this time the wartime yard was largely disused, with just the odd rake of derelict wagons quietly rusting away. Oxford Ice Rink can be seen in the background, its modern design being accused of spoiling the famous Oxford skyline when it was constructed in the early 1980s.

With the industrial background of Newport contrasting markedly with the surrounding countryside, 60068 Charles Darwin passes Coedkernew on 1 May 1998 with the 6B33 13:40 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Note the three recently repainted grey tanks, and the two colourful Murco tanks, amid the drab brown ones.

60068 Charles Darwin passes through a frosty landscape at Bourton on 29 December 2000 with what is presumably the late running 6C61 07:20 Didcot Power Station to Avonmouth MGR empties. Both this and the farm occupation bridge in the background were excellent photographic vantage points, both now unfortunately completely lost due to the route's electfrication.

A rather grubby unbranded 60068 Charles Darwin passes Compton Beauchamp on 25 May 2001 with the 6D13 06:43 Avonmouth to Didcot Power Station imported MGR coal train. The use of four wheel HAA wagons would soon end on these trains, being replaced by the much higher capacity HTA bogie hoppers.

60068 Charles Darwin passes Up Hatherley with the 6E41 11:18 Westerleigh to Lindsey oil empties on 16 March 2009. This was one of those irritating occasions when a pair of interesting trains are approaching from opposite directions and a snap decision has to be made as to which to photograph. An easy choice here, as a 60 easily beats a shed! 66019 can be seen heading in the opposite direction with the 6A32 Ashchurch to Didcot MoD stores, which ironically I had missed when it went up to Ashchurch earlier in the day while I was walking between locations! Although I would have liked to have photographed it, if it had been 43304 on 1V31 that I had missed instead I really would have been annoyed!

60069 Humphry Davy approaches Oxcroft Junction on 1 September 1991 with the 2G88 11:30 Doncaster to Worksop special. This was one of several tours run in connection with the Worksop Depot Open Day. 20142 & 20215 are bringing up the rear. The reason that 60069 looks so clean, is because it is brand new, and presumably on one of its very first workings.

60069 Humphry Davy leaves Didcot Power Station on 20 February 1993 with the late running 6E13 12:15 Didcot to Barrow Hill MGR empties. It had been delayed by the unusual presence of a DMU railtour traversing the flyash loop.

60070 John Loudon Mcadam crosses over Humber Road at Immingham on 18 February 1995, as it sets out on its journey with the 6T26 15:04 Immingham to Santon iron ore hoppers. I thought this different viewpoint was worth trying, despite the risk of a large lorry getting in the way at the critical moment. This is an A Road, but as it only goes to the Immingham complex, the traffic whilst generally large, is fairly infrequent.

A little weak spring sunshine at Walton Well Road, Oxford, on 20 April 1996. 60070 John Loudon Mcadam heads south with the 6V53 02:20 Lindsey to Langley aviation fuel tanks. Oxford North Junction, where the line to Bicester diverges, is just beyond the footbridge in the background.

60070 John Loudon Mcadam passes Melton Ross on 18 July 1996 with the 6K23 11:24 Santon to Immingham iron ore empties. I'm not quite sure how appropriate the John Loudon Mcadam name is for a railway locomotive, as of course Mcadam was a famous nineteenth century road engineer!

Immaculately clean 60070 John Loudon Mcadam passes Melton Ross on 18 July 1996 with the 6T25 13:04 Immingham to Santon iron ore. This was in the days when a visit to the area yielded a constant procession of freight trains, still with some variety of motive power.

With Middlesbrough Football Club's newly constructed Riverside Stadium dominating the background, 60070 John Loudon Mcadam passes Cargo Fleet on 22 September 1997 with the 6E40 10:23 Corby to Lackenby steel empties.

60070 John Loudon Mcadam shakes the foundations of the former level crossing keepers house near Cefn Cribwr, as it negotiates the weed choked Port Talbot to Tondu freight line with the Worksop Depot CTC 1Z58 06:22 Worksop to Cardiff Central 'Class 58 Farewell' railtour on 1 July 2000. The slightly prematurely named farewell tour had the main tour locos, 58024 & 58037 on the rear at this point.

A welcome Sunday afternoon freight at Broken Cross (near Gloucester) on 29 February 2004. 60070 John Loudon Mcadam rumbles past with the 6E48 12:02 Llanwern to Lackenby steel empties. The loco is wearing the interim Loadhaul livery, which was simply a rebranding of the original Trainload Freight colour scheme.

60071 Dorothy Garrod passes Hinksey Yard on 25 June 1993 with the 7V06 11:16 Rufford to Didcot Power Station MGR. The loco is named after the British archeologist Dorothy Annie Elizabeth Garrod CBE FBA (1892 - 1968).

60071 Dorothy Garrod passes through a frosty landscape at Bourton on 29 December 2000 with the 6A64 07:21 Avonmouth to Didcot Power Station MGR. Two decades later this view has been obliterated by 25kV wiring, and no coal trains now venture this way, as Didcot Power Station is nothing but a memory.

60071 passes the site of Crosby Garrett station on 30 October 2003 with the 6M52 10:16 Drax Power Station to Newbiggin gypsum. Note the Fulham F.C. sign in the windscreen! Crosby Garrett station closed in 1952. Note the unusual station layout, with sturdy retaining walls backing onto the platforms, with cut outs for the waiting rooms.

60071 Ribblehead Viaduct rounds the curve at Tackley on 7 September 2007 with the 6E55 13:30 Theale to Lindsey oil empties. The grassy bank behind the train is now a nature reserve (note the information sign board in the bushes at the top). Unfortunately the wildlife friendly vegetation has made an possibility of a photographic viewpoint from the reserve very remote!

60071 Ribblehead Viaduct passes Stoke Orchard on 18 September 2007 with the 6V92 10:10 Corby to Margam steel empties. Although there is just a little brightness, this was unfortunately during one of the day's numerous cloudy periods.

60071 Ribblehead Viaduct passes Cossington with the 6Z87 08:10 Doncaster Decoy to Stud Farm departmental working on 28 January 2008. This was a day of variable weather. I had started out from Yorkshire in cloud, came through a sunny patch near Doncaster, back into cloud again, and then through thick fog on the M1. It was sunny for a good while at Cossington, but as soon as I headed towards Leicester, I was back into the cloud again, which persisted for the rest of the day.

60071 Ribblehead Viaduct passes Broken Cross (between Lydney and Gloucester) with the 6M96 05:48 Margam to Corby steel coils on 18 February 2008. It was bitterly cold, with frost still on the ballast and the low early morning sunshine providing perfect illumination, despite the hazy conditions. Indeed the visibility in the distance was so poor that the line of the hills in the background can only just be seen in the gloom. This was the first of what turned out to be three Class 60 hauled trains seen during the day.

60071 Ribblehead Viaduct passes Gossington on 5 March 2010 with the 6E41 11:41 Westerleigh to Lindsey oil empties. Just visible in the field on the right are the minimal earthworks of the First World War branch line that diverged here to serve the Slimbridge Munitions Depot. Situated next to the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal, the explosives depot, which was officially known as His Majesty's Magazine No. 23, Gloucester, was connected to the main line by a lightly laid standard gauge track.

It's 2010 and this is the 6E41 11:41 Westerleigh to Lindsey oil empties, therefore the loco must be 60071 Ribblehead Viaduct! Although other locos have worked it, this one seems welded to the front, at least when I contemplate going out for it! It is pictured here passing Frocester on 2 August 2010. The loco is easily recognised from a fair distance by the virtually white bodyside numbers.

After almost coming to a stand under adverse signals near the site of Uffington station by the bridge in the background, 60071 Ribblehead Viaduct slowly gets the 6B33 13:35 Theale to Robeston empty Murco oil tanks moving again on 29 September 2011. The reason for the signal check was the fact that it was running just five minutes behind 59206 on the 7C54 stone empties. Two freight trains in five minutes and neither of them a red shed - perfect!

Still carrying the flag for the obsolete EWS livery, amid an ever increasing sea of dayglo DBS repaints, 60071 Ribblehead Viaduct approaches the site of Wantage Road station on 2 February 2012 with the 6B33 13:35 Theale to Robeston empty Murco oil tanks. The cloud of steam in the background is emanating from Didcot Power Station, which is obviously using up some of its few remaining generating hours prior to closure in 2015.

60071 Ribblehead Viaduct passes the site of Ashbury Crossing at Shrivenham on 11 February 2012 with the 6B33 12:12 Theale to Margam empty Murco oil tanks, watched by a large gallery of photographers. This has become one of the classic photographic locations on the Didcot to Swindon line, a far cry from the 1980s, when you were far more likely to meet a horse rider or dog walker rather than another photographer!

60071 Ribblehead Viaduct passes through Thorne South station 18 October 2013 with the 6D75 08:45 Scunthorpe to Doncaster Decoy continuously welded rails. A new footbridge has recently been installed at this station, and as can be seen from this view, the massive disabled friendly access ramps completely dominate the small station. Although it wasn't the thick fog that the Met Office had predicted, the weather was still exceedingly grim.

Unbranded Railfreight grey liveried 60072 Cairn Toul passes Kings Sutton on 20 July 1995 with the 6M23 14:23 Fawley to Longport tanks. The white tanks contain LPG, whilst the black tanks on the rear of the train contain (and are coated in!) bitumen. These will be detached at Washwood Heath.

In near darkness on 16 December 2001, 60072 Cairn Toul passes through Shawford station with the 6Y81 Southampton Western Docks to Mountfield containerised  gypsum. This was unusually running in daylight (nearly!) and is included here despite the poor quality, as it is the only picture I have of a Class 60 on this train. This was purely a stop off en-route to visit a friend at Botley, near Southampton, just in case anyone thinks I travelled down from Oxfordshire on such a miserable day just for this!

Hardly a worthwhile load for a 3100 hp Class 60! 60072 Cairn Toul passes Beighton with the ridiculously short 6M73 11:36 Doncaster Decoy to Toton departmental working on 25 November 2008. A welcome change from the regular Class 66 on this working and even more so as it features one of the few remaining locos in the former Trainload Freight grey livery, albeit with a large EWS logo. The train is just about to cross the River Rother.

For once a convoy with a decent loco on the front! 60072 leads 66133, 66250 & 66226 northwards past Croome on 29 July 2001. The 60's front end could certainly do with a repaint, with part of the number missing, and a patchwork of faded yellow paint.

60073 Cairn Gorm approaches Leven Viaduct on 25 April 1992 with a Workington to Padiham Power Station coal train. This flow only lasted a short while (Padiham closed the following year), and it was notable for its use of ex ARC wagons. The sand on the left is Plumpton Bight, forming part of the estuary of the River Leven. The signal in the background is by the site of Leven Junction, where the Lakeside branch (closed in 1967) diverged to the right.

60073 Cairn Gorm approaches Aynho Junction on 22 July 1993 with the very early running 7V23 14:36 Barrow Hill to Didcot Power Station MGR coal train. The speed restriction signs are for the approach to and exit from the junction. Kings Sutton church can just be seen on the horizon.

A visit from the weedkilling train is definitely needed at Kempston on 25 July 1997. Instead, 60073 brings another load of London's rubbish to dump in a hole in the ground. The train is the 6A61 08:25 Cricklwoood to Forders binliner. Interesting enough, but even more ratable traction appeared on this train the following year!

60073 passes Severn Tunnel Junction station on 27 August 1998 with the very lightly loaded 6V05 09:20 Round Oak to Margam steel empties. Whoever replaced the missing number 3 on the loco's front end clearly used the wrong sized numeral!

60073 with the 6C23 11:17 Hayes to East Usk approaches Knighton with a mixed consist of vintage Gunnel wagons and new EWS hoppers on 1 May 2007. This location is approximately  200 yards east of the now completely overgrown location at the site of Knighton Crossing, where I photographed 56038 in 1980.

60073 passes Oakley with the 6B42 07:00 Toton to Forders departmental working on 16 August 2007. Another day when it was sunny virtually all the way whilst driving to the location, only for the clouds to roll in from the west as soon as I got out of the car!

60073 Cairn Gorm approaches Steventon Stocks Lane with the 6B33 13:33 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 29 September 2009. This was my reason for visiting this location, as I knew this particular loco was on the train. Unfortunately by the time it was due it was completely cloudy. This did however allow me to vary the viewpoint by shooting from the north side of the line.

60073 Cairn Gorm passes Hinksey Yard on 29 November 2010 with the 6E48 14:09 Didcot Power Station to Lindsey oil empties. A bitterly cold day, and although Oxfordshire had still yet to receive the snow that was affecting other parts of the country, this train has brought a little of its own down from the north on its overnight run, as can be seen on the loco's front valance and the tops of the wagons. The Met Office had promised it would brighten up in the afternoon. Needless to say it didn't, and the light was absolutely abysmal by the time this train appeared.

60074 Braeriach passes Portway a loaded MGR on 5 June 1993. This was long before this particular locomotive acquired something approaching cult status by virtue of its unique blue livery. In fact at this time certain photographers ignored the Class 60s, as they were felt (with some justification) to be replacing their favourite classes of heritage diesels.

60074 Braeriach slowly approaches Hallen Marsh Junction on 24 July 1996 with a loaded MGR coal train for Didcot Power Station. The train is just a few minutes into its journey, the loading bunker being clearly visible directly above the locomotive. The area around Avonmouth still gives the impression of heavily industrialised area, although sadly most of the former rail served industrial sites are now no longer used.

The last rays of the setting sun glint along the side of 60074 and its train and turn it golden on 6 April 2000. It is working the 6M17 16:48 Newport Alexandra Dock Junction to Wembley Enterprise service, and is seen here passing Bourton on the Great Western Mainline just to the east of Swindon, which can just be seen in the distance. The glancing sun is also highlighting the mark left by the removal the previous year of the original Braeriach nameplate. This train could often be fairly lengthy, although like on this occasion, usually had a number of empty flats in the consist.

60074 Teenage Spirit has managed to avoid my camera ever since it was painted in this one off light blue livery, so despite the terrible weather I went out to Baulking on 30 April 2009 to get my first picture of it in this guise. I had made sure it was actually at Theale before I left home, so barring failures, I was guaranteed to get a picture of it working the 6B33 13:42 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. And so here it is passing Baulking in the rain and within a few seconds of being blocked out by an HST (note the green signal in the background, which normally only clears when a train is just passing Uffington).

60074 Teenage Spirit ambles along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth with the 6B33 13:42 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 12 May 2009. Although it cannot be relied upon, this train is normally looped here to allow a couple of First Great Western HSTs to pass (four on this occasion!). This makes it easily possible to get a second photo further up the line, and so I nipped around to the next bridge and got an even better picture as it passed the site of the long closed station at Challow.

After waiting in the loop to be overtaken by no less than four First Great Western HSTs, 60074 Teenage Spirit slowly accelerates past the site of Challow station with the 6B33 13:42 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 12 May 2009. The 35 minutes that had elapsed since I saw it just a mile up the line at Circourt Bridge had allowed the sun to come out fully, which not only shows off the loco's unique livery, but also the deplorable state of the paintwork on the bridge in the background. The platforms at Challow were still largely intact until the construction of the freight loops in the early 1990s. The bank in the foreground is now all that remains to mark the station's site.

60074 Teenage Spirit ambles through the Vale of White Horse near Uffington with the 6B33 12:12 Theale to Margam empty Murco oil tanks on 23 May 2009. I am not having much luck with this particular location, as on my previous visit the train ran so late (due to the failure of 59202) that I had given up an had gone home. Today however, the previously sunny day had deteriorated into all over cloud by the time the train appeared. Considering this location is a fair walk from the nearest road, I am beginning to think it is jinxed!

With barely any audibly hint of the enormous power being used to gets its nearly 3000 tonne train moving (over 2000 tonnes of which is the payload), 60074 Teenage Spirit pulls slowly out of the loop at Little Haresfield on 30 May 2009 with the late running 6B13 05:10 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil train.

60074 Teenage Spirit runs alongside the River Severn at Gatcombe on 2 June 2009 with 6B13 05:10 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil train. Even on a weekday a number of photographers had tuned up at this remote spot for this train, which resulted in a road tanker driver having to wait until it had been, as photographer's cars were preventing him turning round!

60074 Teenage Spirit passes Churcham on 4 May 2010 with the 6B13 05:05 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil train. After a period of haulage by pairs of Class 66s, commonsense seems to have prevailed, and 60074 has once again become a regular performer on this working. With the loco at Margam the previous night and a sunny day forecast, this shot was more or less guaranteed provided the clouds didn't build up too soon, and the loco would actually start this particular morning. Luckily the clouds held off until later and obviously 60074 did start!

Severely backlit, but worth a picture nonetheless. 60074 Teenage Spirit passes Standish Junction on 25 October 2010 with the 6E41 11:41 Westerleigh to Lindsey oil empties. The line going off to the left is the 'Golden Valley route to Swindon.

60074 Teenage Spirit cautiously pulls out of Woodborough loop on 10 November 2010 with the 6L21 13:30 Whatley to Dagenham Dock stone train. I wouldn't normally bother to take a picture in such severely backlit conditions, but the combination of the autumn colours on the trees and the unique liveried Class 60 changed my mind!

Caught in a very lucky minute's work of sunshine, 60074 Teenage Spirit passes Uffington on 30 July 2011 with the 6B33 12:12 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. As is often the case on a Saturday, the train had left Theale well before time, and was actually passing Didcot at the booked departure time. I wasn't sure whether this location would give a clear enough view for the whole train, but I needn't have worried, as it just neatly fits in the gap.

With a toot and a wave from the driver, 60074 Teenage Spirit passes the gallery of photographers at Shrivenham (Ashbury Crossing) on 2 February 2013 with the 6B33 11:27 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. Luckily this was running early, as some totally unforecast cloud was already beginning to bubble up.

60074 Teenage Spirit passes Denchworth on 16 February 2013 with the 6B33 11:50 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. No need for the relief line today, as it speeds along the main line, running 24 minutes early. Unfortunately the Met Office had been a little over optimistic about the amount of sunshine, and although there had been a short spell of sun just before 60074 appeared, it was mostly cloudy. At least the loco's unique light blue livery shows up well in poor light.

60074 passes Steventon on 19 January 2016 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Pleasant enough in the low winter sunshine, but it would have looked so much better had it not been repainted from its earlier light blue livery. Now it's just another anonymous Class 60 in DBS's over the top dayglo red livery.

60074 passes Grange Court on 22 February 2016 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. Just visible behind the bushes on the right is a line of rotting sleepers. This is all that is left of the former up loop, which has been lifted since I was last at this location to photograph this train.

After a day of unbroken sunshine, the afternoon sun starts to fade away into high cloud, as 60074 passes Melton Ross on 2 December 2019 with the 6E54 10:34 Kingsbury to Humber Oil Refinery empty oil tanks. This was running 14 minutes early.

How embarrassing! On its way to be named Luke at Westerleigh on 12 August 2020, freshly painted 60074 failed whilst working the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. I had positioned myself at the footpath crossing near Ley Court (west of Gloucester), and with hardly a cloud in the sly, and the westbound DMU out of the way, there didn't seem to be anything preventing a perfect picture as the train approached. However, it then failed just a few miles from where I was waiting, and after a delay of more than two hours, was rescued by the loco off the 6V05 09:15 Round Oak to Margam steel empties. Note the covered up nameplates on the side of Puma Energy liveried loco, as it is hauled past Ley Court by 66198.

60074 Luke passes Standish Junction on 1 September 2020 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. I am not having much luck photographing this loco since it was repainted into Puma Energy blue-grey livery. On its first working it failed a few miles before it got to me, and then on a second attempt I missed it by a few minutes, as it was 95 minutes early, whilst working the 6B33 11:42 Theale to Margam empty tanks on 29 August. As in theory it should spend most of its time working the Westerleigh and Theale trains, eventually I hope to get some sunny pictures!

60074 Luke emerges from Wickwar Tunnel on 2 September 2020 with the 6B13 03:14 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. This train would normally leave Robeston at 05:00, but the earlier departure didn't make any difference to the time it was booked here, as the schedule just saw it recess at Margam for much longer than normal.

My first picture of the Puma blue-grey liveried 60074 Luke in the sun, and without a Class 66 on the front! It is seen here passing the recently cleared location of Rangeworthy on 16 September 2020 with the 6B13 04:19 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks.

60074 Luke does its best to hide its own train behind a smoke screen, as it passes evidence of recent lineside vegetation clearance at Gossington on 17 September 2020 with the 6B13 04:19 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. When the loco was approximately half way from the bridge in the background, it let out a huge pall of clag, that had only partly dispersed when I took the picture. The pollution was enough to make me cough as it went by! Although the departure time was the same, this was running in a two hour later path here.

60074 Luke passes Churcham on 18 September 2020 with the 6B13 04:19 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. This was running half an jour early, which has helped with the lighting angle. Normally such early running would get checked at either Gloucester, or more likely, Haresfield loop. However, on this occasion it just carried on, arriving at Westerleigh 51 minutes early.

60074 Luke passes Little Haresfield on 19 September 2020 with the 6B13 04:19 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. There wasn't much consideration given to saving fuel here, as the train had just been let out of Haresfield loop (just behind the bridge in the background), only to come to a stand a short distance further on, with the wagons still next to where I was stood. This was so that a GWR IET could come off the Swindon line at Standish Junction. In view of the enormous amount of power needed to get this massive train moving, you would have thought the sensible signalling procedure would be to hold it in the loop for just a couple of minutes longer.

60074 Luke approaches Standish Junction on 25 September 2020 with the 6B41 11:19 Westerleigh to Robeston empty oil tanks. This was running 25 minutes early, and this picture was taken just 44 seconds after I took a picture of a railtour coming from the other direction. Very lucky, especially as it involves crossing a busy road with a blind bend approaching the bridge!

60074 Luke passes the site of Oaksey Halt on 16 March 2021 with the 6M53 Swindon Stores to Toton Up Sidings steel empties. As is often the case, this was running early, passing me eight minutes before its booked Swindon departure time of 15:55. What I hadn't noticed when I took the picture, was the three deer running across the field away from the noise of the train!

60074 Luke passes Purton Common on 15 June 2023 with the 6V15 20:21 Boston Sleaford Sidings to Swindon Stores covered steel carriers. This was running 110 minutes late, so I decided to photograph it coming under the bridge, as this spot was now shadow free, which it wouldn't have been at the booked time. Also, the nearby waste disposal site had now opened, and there was constant procession of vehicles crossing the private road bridge.

60074 Luke passes Minety on 15 June 2023 with the 6M53 16:16 Swindon Stores to Toton Up Sidings steel empties. As usual this had left early, and it was 25 minutes ahead of time here. By the time it passed Gloucester it was running 95 minutes early!

60075 Liathach passes Kings Sutton on 27 June 1994 with the 6E05 17:39 Didcot Power Station to Barrow Hill MGR empties. At this time a lot of the triple grey liveried locos were losing their sector decals, leaving a very plain loco, as seen here.

An absolutely filthy 60075 passes Killingholme on 27 March 1999 with the 7C08 15:12 Immingham to Scunthorpe MGR. The train will shortly be turning sharp left, to join the line from Barton-upon-Humber, at Ulceby station. The flare stacks of Lindsey Oil Refinery can be seen in the background.

60075 passes Claydon on 13 May 2008 with the 6M41 12:20 Margam to Round Oak steel train. Quite an interesting mix of wagon types in this train, despite the uniformity of the product carried. The use of a long lens (needed to clear the bushes in the foreground) has accentuated the Cotswold Hills in the background.