66701 Whitemoor is pictured at Bardrill (between Blackford and Gleneagles) on the Highland Main Line with the 6S60 22:50 Harwich Parkeston Quay to Aberdeen Guild Street Carless mud oil tanks on 16 June 2006. Considering this is one of the classic locations in mid Scotland, within easy reach of the A9 (seen here in the background), I was surprised that I was the only person here on this day, as shortly after this train the Class 50s headed north on their record breaking tour to Wick and Thurso.

A new freight service conveying ballast from Mountsorrel to Eastleigh commenced operation in November 2010, bringing the welcome sight of a GBRf Class 66 to the Oxford area. Although this in no way brings back the traction variety of the good old days, it does at least bring a different coloured 'Shed' to the area! During the second week of operation, 66701 Whitemoor is pictured approaching Kings Sutton in the last weak light of 24 November 2010 with the 6O96 10:25 Mountsorrel to Eastleigh.

66701 passes Hinksey Yard on 20 January 2016 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties, passing 70807, which is stabled between infrastructure duties. Despite the fact that the suburbs of Oxford are just a short distance away, the growth of the trees here is such that not a single house can be seen in this view.

The horses in the field next to the line at Barnetby are obviously well used to the passage of trains, and therefore take no notice as 66701 passes by on 6 November 2017 with the 4R70 09:10 Drax Power Station to Immingham coal empties. 66701 was formerly named Whitemoor, but that name was transferred to 66730 in 2011.

66701 passes Oakley on 9 June 2021 with the 6Y48 09:01 Eastleigh East Yard to Hoo Junction Up Yard departmental working. Although this was nearly 09:30, there were still some areas of fog in the vicinity, as can be seen in the background.

66701 approaches Kings Sutton station on 28 March 2022 with the 6O01 10:05 Doncaster Up Decoy to Eastleigh East Yard rails. This loco carries what amounts to GBRf's 'heritage' livery, being the only one to retain their original colour scheme.

66701 approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham, on 10 May 2022 with the 5Q55 10:33 Stewarts Lane to Newport Docks (Sims Group), conveying former Southern EMUs 455810 & 455825 on their final journey to the scrapman. I only just got this in the sun, with the shadow of the clouds rapidly advancing across the foreground field.

66702 Blue Lightning runs along the down relief line at Denchworth on 20 April 2016 with the 6V79 11:56 Angerstein Wharf to Pengam stone empties. With the partially inserted pile in the foreground, and rows of masts in the background, it looks like this location is living on borrowed time. With no possibility of a wider view from the bridge, there will be no chance of a decent picture once the wires go up. It was only in recent years that I have returned to this location, as when the signal gantry was put up in the 1990s I thought that was far too visually intrusive!

There is still plenty of autumn colour on the trees at Heck Ings on 29 November 2016, as 66702 Blue Lightning passes underneath the East Coast Mainline with the 6E94 23:53 Hunterston to Drax Power Station GBRf coal hoppers.

66702 Blue Lightning passes through Heyford station on 15 June 2019 with the 4E34 05:48 Southampton Western Docks to Doncaster Iport intermodal. Note how the tall trees in the background effectively prevent any picture being taken from what used to be an excellent location on the roadbridge in the background.

66702 Blue Lightning passes Up Hatherley on 18 September 2019 with the 6V84 07:43 Clitheroe Castle Cement to Avonmouth cement tanks. The shiny tanks are not looking quite so pristine now, after the vandals have got at them.

66703 Doncaster PSB 1981-2002 approaches Irchester on 9 August 2003 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z71 12:22 Kettering to Crewe 'Metropolis Meanderer' railtour. 37694 & 37521 can just be seen on the rear of the train. These then worked the tour back from Acton Canal Wharf Junction, giving me a chance to get a picture of the tour with much more ratable traction later in the day at Ardley. The 37s are approximately on the site of Irchester Junction, where the branch line to Rushden and Higham Ferrers diverged. It followed the hedge line by the large tree on the right.

On a bitterly cold 15 December 2007, 66703 Doncaster PSB 1981-2002 passes Fritwell with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z11 06:28 Gloucester to Dollands Moor 'Moor and More' railtour. This is the northern end of the Chiltern Line, between Ayhno Junction and Bicester and does not normally see loco hauled trains of any kind, only a steady stream of Class 165 & 166 Chiltern Railways units. Such is the intensity of the service, that the track has been redoubled in the last few years to increase capacity.

As the weak winter afternoon sun slowly starts to fade away into high cloud, 66703 Doncaster PSB 1981-2002 passes Wolvercote with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties on 16 December 2014. Very little progress seems to have been made with the reinstatement of the relief line at this location in the last ten months, although Port Meadow is considerably drier than when I photographed 47773 passing this spot earlier in the year!

66703 Doncaster PSB 1981-2002 passes underneath the footbridge near Great Bowden on 30 March 2021 with the 6M79 12:01 Angerstein Wharf to Bardon Hill stone empties. This was running 58 minutes late.

66703 Doncaster PSB 1981-2002 passes Yarnton on 19 April 2021 with the 4O69 13:15 Birch Coppice to Southampton Western Docks intermodal. This had been running 26 minutes late in the Leamington Spa area, but by completely missing out the booked stop at Banbury, it was six minutes early here.

66704 Colchester Power Signalbox rounds the curve at Crofton with the 6E31 09:20 Taunton Fairwater Yard to Peterborough scrap sleepers on 21 November 2006. The promising bright start didn't last long, and by the time this train arrived thick cloud had rolled in from the west. For once it was possible to fit the complete train in the picture, as the stone trains that are the main freight traffic on this line are much longer than this, and often less than a third of the train is visible in this view! Coincidentally it was exactly four months ago that I was last at this location, when there was a considerably different appearance to the vegetation.

With the spire of St Peter's church at Offord D'Arcy rising above the trees in the background, 66704 Colchester Power Signalbox approaches the adjoining village of Offord Cluny under overcast skies on 16 August 2007 with the 4E31 06:34 Taunton Fairwater Yard to Peterborough scrap concrete sleepers.

66704 Colchester Power Signalbox passes Claypole (Balderton Crossing) on 30 May 2012 with the 4L78 11:43 Selby to Felixstowe intermodal. This was a lucky shot, as a down HST service is literally just out of the picture on the right, bearing down at 125mph, ready to block out the view just one second later.

Literally in the very last few seconds of sun before an enormous bank of dark clouds extinguished the sun for most of the rest of the day, 66704 Colchester Power Signalbox passes Baulking on 30 June 2014 with a rather short 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. With GBRf having taken over this working from Freightliner, it gave the opportunity to photograph three different liveried 66s within half an hour, with 66587 representing Freightliner, and 66149 DBS.

A foggy morning at Godnow Bridge on 5 November 2018. 66704 Colchester Power Signalbox runs alongside the wonderfully named North Soak Drain at Godnow Bridge with the 4R75 04:29 West Burton Power Station to Immingham coal empties. I certainly wouldn't have bothered to take this mundane picture of a Class 66, were it not for the reflection of the loco in the still water.

66704 Colchester Power Signalbox passes Uffington on 7 February 2020 with the 6G04 05:15 Penrhiwceiber to Hinksey Sidings spoil train, with 66723 Chinook bringing up the rear. This is certainly the first time that I have photographed a train which originated from Penrhiwceiber (in the Welsh Valleys, between Mountain Ash and Abercynon)!

66704 Colchester Power Signalbox is glimpsed through the trees, as it passes Yarnton on 26 March 2021 with the 4M19 11:50 Southampton Western Docks to East Midlands Gateway intermodal. The footpath in the foreground leads from the village of Yarnton to the A44 near Stonehouse Farm.

66704 Colchester Power Signalbox approaches Tackley station on 4 May 2021 with the 0O69 11:00 Longport to Eastleigh Works, conveying 69001 (the former 56031) & 66794 (the former German Railways 29005) for repainting. This was running 29 minutes late, which meant it passed in sunshine, rather than in the gloom of a shower of rain.

66704 Colchester Power Signalbox passes Bredon on 2 July 2022 with the 6M90 05:56 Gloucester New Yard to Clitheroe Castle Cement empty cement tanks. This actually left Gloucester 88 minutes late, and when I arrived at this location I happened to check the map app, and noticed that it was in the section, so I had just enough time to walk to the bridge for this record shot.

With Low Farm visible in the background, 66705 Golden Jubilee passes Eaton (near Retford) in typically miserable summer weather on 22 June 2002 with the Past Time Rail 1Z56 14:59 York to Finsbury Park 'The Spinnin' State III' railtour.

66705 Golden Jubilee shows off its unique Union flag livery, as it passes Hinksey Yard on 19 October 2011 with the 5O08 10:00 Donnington to Eastleigh, conveying two EMU translator vehicles. Locomotives have acquired names since the earliest days of the railways, and in more recent years we have become used to some units receiving names. However, now this naming has even extended to barrier vehicles! These two are 975978 Perpetiel and 975974 Paschar. This train should have been a little more interesting, with a Class 508 unit between the two barriers.

In severe need of a good wash, 66705 Golden Jubilee passes Tredington (between Ashchurch and Cheltenham) with the 4V94 10:36 Ironbridge Power Station to Portbury biomass empties on the sunny afternoon of 2 January 2014, running 50 minutes early.

A miserable dull day allows a picture to be taken from the north side of the line at Baulking, the last time before the wires go up. 66705 Golden Jubilee passes the piles for the electfrication masts on 16 March 2016 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties.

Temporary and permanent disfigurement at Challow on 21 March 2016. The portakabin will presumably disappear once the Great Western Mainline electrification is complete, but the new palisade fenced enclosure in the background is obviously here to stay! 66705 Golden Jubilee passes these eyesores on 21 March 2016 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties.

66705 Golden Jubilee passes Fiddington on 16 July 2018 with the 6Z70 02:45 Aldwarke to Swindon European Metal Recycling scrap empties. This location has recently been cleared of all lineside bushes, making it an excellent location if the sun is out, which of course it was until just before this train came!

Intermodal trains through Oxford have added variety in 2018, with GBRf supplying an alternative to the ubiquitous Freightliner and DB Cargo services. 66705 Golden Jubilee passes Hinksey Yard on 24 October 2018 with the 4O69 13:24 Hams Hall to Southampton Western Docks.

With Goole's landmark 'Salt and Pepper Pot' water towers and the spire of St John the Evangelist church dominating the scene, 66706 Nene Valley slowly weaves across onto the Knottingley line at Potters Grange Junction on 11 March 2010 with the 6H29 09:43 Hull Docks to Drax Power Station coal train. A sunny day had been forecast, and although bright early on, the largest black cloud in the sky was in front of the sun when the train appeared in the distance. I turned this bad luck to my advantage by moving to what would normally be the shady side, for this view which includes the Goole water towers - an angle that would not be possible if the sun was out.

66706 Nene Valley approaches Goole with the 6H29 09:43 Hull Docks to Drax Power Station coal train on 12 March 2010. Typically this was during a cloudy spell, which had been preceded by a an unexpected sunny period. However, unlike the previous day's working, at least the weather forecasters had predicted that today would be cloudy! The train is proceeding at slow speed, after being signal checked prior to taking the Knottingley line just after Goole station.

Superb early spring afternoon lighting at Thrupp on 7 March 2011 as 66706 Nene Valley passes by with the late running 6O96 10:27 Mountsorrel to Eastleigh ballast. This may appear to be a quiet rural location and is in fact surrounded by fields, but it can be surprisingly noisy. Kidlington Airport (recently ridiculously rebranded as London Oxford Airport!) is nearby and numerous private light aircraft keep taking off and going round in circuits (and seemingly following the railway line). There were at least three in the air at one point, which makes hearing an approaching train quite difficult. This is unfortunate, as you can't see very far down the line at this location!

66706 Nene Valley brings up the rear of the 6M26 08:50 Eastleigh to Stud Farm ballast empties at South Moreton (Didcot East) on 19 December 2014. 66716 is the lead loco. The late running 1A12 07:40 Paignton to Paddington First Great Western service can be seen approaching in the distance, led by 43155.

66706 Nene Valley passes Melton Ross in lovely autumnal lighting on 6 November 2017 with the 6M81 13:45 Immingham to Ratcliffe Power Station coal hoppers. Late afternoon shadows in the immediate foreground necessitated the use of a long lens.

66706 Nene Valley approaches Tackley on 20 March 2021 with the 6Z20 11:00 Kineton MoD to Newport Docks intermodal, with just two boxes, and, hidden at the back, a single open wagon. Note the green LED banner repeater signal in the background.

66707 Sir Sam Fay Great Central Railway passes Manningford Bruce with the 4E31 06:34 Taunton Fairwater Yard to Peterborough scrap concrete sleepers on 9 August 2007. It had just overtaken 59101 on the 7A09 07:12 Merehead to Acton Yard Yeoman 'jumbo' stone train, which was being held in Woodborough loop.

With the 'Golden Sunrise' Chinese takeaway on the left (unfortunately not open at this time of day!), 66707 Sir Sam Fay Great Central Railway slowly traverses the sharp curve from Knottingley South to East Junctions and approaches England Lane with another load of coal for Drax Power Station on 11 March 2011. A day of sunshine and cloud, when generally speaking the sun came out at the right time. Although there is a dark area across the middle of this picture, at least the loco is fully lit!

66707 Sir Sam Fay Great Central Railway passes Tumpy Green on 7 May 2021 with the 6M42 09:20 Avonmouth Hanson Sidings to Penyffordd Cement Works empty cement tanks. This had left over an hour early, and was over 80 minutes early here. It kept it up, and arrival at Penyffordd was over two hours ahead of time!

66708 passes Watford (the small Northamptonshire village, not the Hertfordshire town!) with the 4L22 14:10 Hams Hall to Felixstowe Intermodal service on 21 September 2006. This location on the Northampton loop line is from the embankment leading to the site of a former footbridge in the fields between Watford and Long Buckby.

66708 rounds the curve at Lymington Junction with the 1Z82 09:28 Victoria to Weymouth GBRF staff special on 22 August 2007. 73209 & 73204 can just be seen on the rear of the train. I had hoped that the 73s would be leading, but hadn't time to wait around for the late afternoon return working, so had to make do with a 'shed' picture. At least the sun was out, which was a bit of luck, as the clouds only cleared away a few minutes before the train (which was running exactly to time) appeared.

66708 Jayne passes Clay Mills on 25 June 2014 with the 6K50 15:13 Toton North Yard to Crewe Basford Hall, conveying long welded rails, with three open wagons at the rear. This train had worked down from Yorkshire earlier in the day as the 6M73 10:52 Doncaster Decoy to Toton North Yard.

The last ever batch of Class 66s arrived in the UK on 13 February 2016 aboard the ship Happy Dragon. Two days later, on the fortunately sunny morning of Monday 15 February, they were moved in convoy by classmate 66708 Jayne to Doncaster. Running 20 minutes early, 66708 Jayne leads 66777, 66776, 66779, 66778, 66774, 66773 & 66775 past Broken Cross with the 0X66 10:45 Newport Docks to Doncaster Roberts Road. The reason that 66779 is wrapped in plastic, is that being the final Class 66, GBRf have decided to mark the event by painting the loco in green livery, and naming it Evening Star. That sounds familiar!

66708 Jayne slowly approaches Didcot North Junction, after traversing the Didcot avoiding line on 19 April 2019 with the 4E34 05:29 Southampton Western Docks to Doncaster intermodal. The fact that most of the train is hidden around the curve is irrelevant, as the only boxes on the train are the ones seen here, the train being mostly empty.

66708 Jayne runs along the up relief line at Cossington on 20 January 2020 with the 4E27 12.55 Hotchley Hill (East Leake) to Middlesbrough gypsum empties. This train would return later, having run round at Humberstone Road (Leicester).

66708 Jayne passes the newly planted apple trees in 'Jim's Orchard' (near Elmbridge) on 23 March 2020. The train is the 6M42 09:06 Avonmouth Hanson Sidings to Penyffordd Cement Works empty cement tanks, which was just pulling away from its booked hour long layover at Gloucester.

With the hawthorn bushes and oilseed rape field in full bloom, the unique Medite liveried 66709 Joseph Arnold Davies passes Swarkestone on 9 May 2003 with the 4M21 05:42 Felixstowe to Hams Hall intermodal service.

66709 Joseph Arnold Davies slowly approaches England Lane level crossing at Knottingley on 11 March 2011 with a rake of empty ex Fastline hoppers returning from Drax Power Station. 66709 certainly stands out in a crowd with its unique Medite livery and short sighted spotter friendly cabside numbers!

66709 Sorrento passes Fenwick on 17 September 2012 with the 4R41 10:06 Ferrybridge Power Station to Immingham coal empties. Although not immediately obvious from this angle, the design on the side of the loco depicts a fully loaded container ship. This is another unique Medite Shipping Company (MSC) livery. The loco formally wore a different (also unique) colour scheme.

66709 Sorrento passes Walden Stubbs on 22 June 2013 with the 6N07 06:45 Thoresby Colliery to Butterwell Opencast coal empties. The reason that this train works from one colliery to another, is to take coal from Butterwell to be blended at Thoresby.

66709 Sorrento speeds through Tackley station on 19 April 2017 with the 6M46 15:00 Fenny Compton to Bicester, conveying just a couple of container flats. With DBS having lost the MoD traffic to GBRf, there is a more colourful look to the these trains (much more colourful in this case!).

66709 Sorrento passes Challow in some unexpected weak sunshine on 16 August 2022 with the 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. The loco's bodyside graphics depicts a heavily loaded container ship.

66710 Phil Packer passes the site of Bletchingdon station on 14 March 2011 with the 6O96 10:27 Mountsorrel to Eastleigh ballast, unusually running more or less on time. The bridge that the train is crossing spans both the River Cherwell and the Oxford Canal. Business is certainly booming on the old station site, with constant fork lift activity while I was there. This was something of a problem, as occasionally clouds of coal dust would waft across the line as an over enthusiastic fork lift driver put on a bit of speed!

66710 Phil Packer passes Souldern Wharf on 25 July 2011 with the 6O96 10:27 Mountsorrel to Eastleigh ballast. It was more or less full sun when I left home, but naturally at around the time the train was due a large bank of cloud was coming in from the west threatening to put out the lights for a good part of the afternoon. Luckily just as the train came round the corner, the sun partly came out again, giving a nice soft light, which considering the lighting would otherwise be very overhead and contrasty during the middle of the day in the summer, is probably an advantage.

I had to visit Warwick on 1 August 2011, and so took the opportunity to call in at Hatton to photograph the 6O96 10:27 Mountsorrel to Eastleigh ballast. Just as one week before, it turned out to be 66710 Phil Packer. So here is another picture of what is turning out to be my most frequently seen loco on this train!

66710 Phil Packer passes Haywood (Rushy Moor) on 12 March 2012 with the 4D18 Ferrybridge Power Station to Doncaster Decoy coal empties. The loaded train had working in earlier in the morning as the 6Y09 from Immingham. Due to the exceedingly straight track, the slow speed of the line, and the early operation of the nearby level crossing barriers, there is plenty of warning of approaching trains at this location!

66710 Phil Packer approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham on 28 January 2015 with the 6B11 12:20 Colnbrook Lafarge to Pengam stone empties. The sun just dipped slightly at the critical moment, but luckily it wasn't one of the really dark clouds that were rapidly building from the west!

66710 Phil Packer passes Uffington on 30 September 2015 with the 6V79 11:56 Angerstein Wharf to Pengam stone empties. Virtually every single wagon seems to have been vandalised, with some near the rear of the train almost completely covered in graffiti.

66710 Phil Packer approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, in stunning lighting on 18 January 2018 with the diverted 6V42 08:13 Wellingborough to Whatley Quarry stone empties. This was running well over an hour late, not helped by being held near Cholsey while various passenger trains weaved across onto the relief line, due to the down main being closed at Didcot. This late running resulted in a much better lighting angle, but more importantly meant that it actually passed me in a very surprising patch of sunshine amid an increasingly cloudy afternoon.

66710 Phil Packer passes through Hungerford station on 6 March 2024 with the 6Z59 02:36 Tytherington to Appleford Sidings stone train. This picture was just a few seconds away from being ruined by the 6C31 10:14 Theale to Whatley Quarry stone empties, the back end of which had only just disappeared from view.

66711 passes slowly through Church Fenton station on 7 May 2007 with the 6H90 11:35 Tyne Dock to Drax Power Station coal train. At the time this service had only just stared running, bringing a welcome diversity to the liveries of Class 66s taking coal to Drax. Church Fenton station is something of a surprise, being a four platform station in a very rural location.

66711 emerges from the fog at Yarnton with the 4M21 03:26 Felixstowe to Hams Hall Intermodal train on 29 November 2008. Ironically I had photographed this train at the same location earlier in the year with 66713 in charge. Although still very dull, the fog had started to thin a little, as when I arrived at the footbridge the tree visible above the purple container was only just discernable in the murk.

66711 heads westwards along the Great Western Mainline at Baulking on 3 September 2013 with the 6B85 14:00 West Drayton to Moreton-on-Lugg stone empties. GBRf 66s are not common in this area, and at last I have finally got a picture of one in decent light in the Vale of White Horse. It was touch and go however, as the sun was on the very edge of a large dark cloud!

A busy moment at Walton Well Road, Oxford, on 30 January 2015. 66711 runs slowly along the down relief line with the 6M27 10:24 Hinksey to Stud Farm ballast empties, while the 1O08 07:27 Manchester Piccadilly to Bournemouth CrossCountry service has just got the 'feathers' to proceed into the platform at Oxford station. In the background a HST and a couple of units are stabled in the carriage sidings. Unfortunately this viewpoint is now spoiled by the Castle Mill student accommodation blocks, which have quite rightly provoked a massive local outcry, due to their poor design and obstruction of local views. My reason for taking a picture at this location, on this particular day, is that it is exactly 50 years since I was taken by my father to see Sir Winston Churchill's funeral train pass this spot. We watched the train from the footpath that used to approach the line approximately by the second wagon. As I was only six years old at the time, I was more interested in playing in the stream just behind the loco, but it is the only occasion that I can remember seeing a steam loco on the mainline in BR days.

66711 Sense passes South Marston on 10 November 2017 with the 6V78 09:50 Grain to Llanwern steel empties. This recently started GBRf working echoes the Colas train of a couple of years earlier. I thought this picture was going to be ruined, as just before the train was due, the sun disappeared into the edge of a large bank of cloud in the west. Luckily, at the very last moment the sun weakly came out again, and whilst not full strength, was an awful lot better than it was just seconds before! In view of the cloud, I decided not to wait for the 6B33 Theale to Robeston tanks. This was a wise move, as the train had failed at Didcot, and didn't pass this spot until after dark!

66711 Sense passes Uffington on 31 March 2021 with the 6B59 10:48 Acton to Portbury Auto Terminal stone empties. This was supposed to be a sunny afternoon, but after I had arrived at this location the sun disappeared, and it just got darker and darker!

66711 Sense approaches journey's end on 17 August 2021, as it passes Carlton with the 6H12 06:24 Tyne Coal Terminal to Drax Power Station biomass. It is just about to pass over the Hanger Lane level crossing, which is a user operated crossing, giving access to farmland and a single house.

66712 Peterborough Power Signabox very slowly traverses the down relief line at Challow on 14 May 2018, prior to waiting at the end of the loop for nearly an hour with the 6V32 10:51 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties.

In 2008, the 4M21 03:26 Felixstowe to Hams Hall Intermodal regularly brought a GBRf Class 66 to the Oxford area on Saturday mornings. On a freezing cold 2 February 2008, with frozen floods visible in the field behind the loco, 66713 Forest City heads north at Yarnton. Considering the angle of the light, it was probably fortuitous that the sun started to disappear as the train approached, softening the previously very contrasty lighting, and yet still giving the impression that the sun was out. Less than a minute later however, it had gone completely and the scene looked very dull.

My first picture of a GBRf Class 66 on the Cotswold Line. 66713 Forest City is about to pass under Grintleyhill Bridge, Combe on 11 August 2011 with the 6W82 09:41 Bescot to Moreton-in-Marsh (via Hinksey) engineer's train, conveying ballast and track panels for track redoubling work at Littleton and Badsey.

66713 Forest City passes through Tackley station on 3 October 2011 with the late running 6O96 10:23 Mountsorrel to Eastleigh ballast. Contrary to appearances, the car on the left is not waiting to cross the railway, but is in fact parked in what is effectively the end of the village street. The crossing is now just a footpath.

The 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties is an awkward train to photograph, as for most of its route the train is backlit. Probably the best location is Wootton Bassett, where the sun is just about on the front. On 10 July 2014 the train was unfortunately ten minutes late, which didn't help with the lighting, but here is 66713 Forest City passing the extensive Network Rail worksite on the site of the old station.

66713 Forest City passes Baulking on 20 March 2015 with the 6V43 11:56 Neasden Charrington to Pengam stone empties, a working that was formerly in the hands of Freightliner. The bright sunny afternoon was in marked contrast to the morning, although the cloud did then help with the viewing of the solar eclipse.

66713 Forest City clearly has its sanders on, as it passes Bourton on 25 July 2016 with the 6X93 18:28 Portbury Coal Terminal to Dollands Moor Honda cars for export to Ghent, Belgium. If only this had been running six minutes late, as it was the previous week, then I would have obtained a full glint shot. The clear sky and broken cloud visible in the background was only a thin strip near the horizon, the rest of the sky being a mass of very dark cloud. Unfortunately the sun was only just starting to drop out of this cloud, and would not be fully out for a few more minutes.

66713 Forest City passes Oddington on 6 August 2018. Realtime Trains described this as the 0M46 11:28 Eastleigh to Bicester MoD light engine move running 99 minutes late, when in fact the loco had been part of the 0M27 11:57 Eastleigh Arlington to Leicester loco convoy as far as Hinksey Yard, along with 47749 & 47727.

66713 Forest City passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, in a very lucky sunny spell on 12 April 2021 with the 5Q30 08:33 Ely Papworth Sidings to Newport Docks (Sims Group), conveying former Greater Anglia Class 317 EMUs 317667 & 317665 for scrapping.

Running almost an hour late, 66714 Cromer Lifeboat approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham, on 8 September 2023 with the 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. The train's late running wasn't helped by being stuck behind the 6Z23 13:56 Appleford to Tytherington stone empties.

After waiting in the loop at Woodborough for nine minutes, 66714 Cromer Lifeboat moves off again on 18 April 2024 with the 6Z59 02:35 Tytherington to Appleford Sidings stone train. This is another load of stone for the HS2 project, Appleford temporarily taking over from Quainton as an unloading point.

Running exactly on time, 66715 Valour approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 9 December 2021 with the 6B77 10:45 Colnbrook Lafarge to Avonmouth West Wharf stone empties. The loco's unusually shaped nameplate also carries the text: In memory of all railway employees who gave their lives for their country. The loco was named on Armistice Day 2003.

66716 passes Church Brampton on 22 September 2010 with the 4M23 10:59 Felixstowe to Hams Hall intermodal. Considering this was the latter half of September, it was a very hot day, as can be seen by the driver with hand out of the open window.

I don't normally bother photographing light engine convoys, but the inclusion of a couple of flat wagons here almost constitutes a train! 66716 The Locomotive & Carriage Institution 1911 - 2011, 66706 Nene Valley & 66726 Sheffield Wednesday form the head of the train, with 66724 Drax Power Station bringing up the rear. They are pictured passing over the footpath crossing at Cromwell Moor on 15 October 2011.

Showing evidence of its recent use on the Kent RHTT circuit, absolutely filthy 66716 Locomotive & Carriage Institution Centenary 1911 - 2011 passes the Great Western electrification depot at South Moreton (Didcot East) on 19 December 2014 with the 6M26 08:50 Eastleigh to Stud Farm ballast empties. A considerably cleaner 66706 is bringing up the rear.

66716 Locomotive and Carriage Institution Centenary 1911 - 2011 passes Bourton on 9 April 2015 with the diverted 6M26 06:00 Eastleigh to Stud Farm ballast empties. Completely hidden by the train, although just visible in the background, are a long line of regularly spaced blue plastic covered rolls of material for forthcoming track relaying.

66716 Locomotive and Carriage Institution Centenary 1911 - 2011 passes Thrupp on 8 September 2020 with the 4O69 13:27 Hams Hall to Southampton Western Docks intermodal. There were once four tacks at this point, including on the left, the former branch line to Woodstock, which ran parallel with the mainline for some considerable distance.

66716 Locomotive and Carriage Institution Centenary 1911 - 2011 approaches Ings Lane level crossing, near East Cowick, on 15 September 2020 with the 6D09 09:53 Hull Coal Terminal to Ferrybridge gypsum. The line between Goole and Snaith has some severe speed restrictions caused by track subsidence. Note the dip towards the rear of the train.

66716 Locomotive and Carriage Institution Centenary 1911 - 2011 approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham, on 25 January 2021 with the 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. This was just as the sun started to fade away into high cloud approaching from the west.

66716 Locomotive and Carriage Institution Centenary 1911 - 2011 has failed 69005 Eastleigh in tow, as it passes Mount Pleasant (Southampton) on 11 August 2022 with the 4Y19 12:30 Mountfield to Southampton Western Docks gypsum empties. Unfortunately it seems that the Class 69s are not as reliable as was hoped, and 69005 Eastleigh is certainly having a bad time, as it failed on the same train the previous day as well. On that occasion being replaced at Tonbridge by 66796 The Green Progressor. I was not impressed when I arrived at Mount Pleasant to find that this train had come to a stand near Lewisham, but I decided to stick it out for a picture of this unusual double header, by now running exactly two hours late.

66717 Good Old Boy passes Long Buckby on 23 April 2010 with the 4L22 15:16 Hams Hall to Felixstowe North GBRf intermodal service. This location on the Northampton loop line, sees a constant procession of freights, with only local passengers services, as the main passenger route is on the direct line via Weedon.

66717 Good Old Boy passes Rangeworthy on 15 April 2015 with the 6V80 03:56 West Burton Power Station to Portbury Coal Terminal gypsum. This was not my intended location for this train, but the original choice was swarming with Network Rail workers and their vans!

66717 Good Old Boy passes Compton Beauchamp on 12 May 2015 with the 6Z86 09:35 Stewarts Lane to Cardiff Tidal stone empties. The train is completely hiding a line of recently installed steel piles, for the forthcoming electrification masts. A sign that this viewpoint will soon be gone forever.

Running exactly to time, despite the loco having arrived late from Doncaster, 66717 Good Old Boy passes Bretforton on 10 October 2018 with the 6E31 15:14 Long Marston to Hexthorpe Yard, conveying six empty scrap wagons, which had been in store at Long Marston.

Taking a break from Rail Head Treatment Train duties, absolutely filthy 66717 Good Old Boy passes Uffington on 25 November 2021 with the 4V13 09:20 Crawley New Yard to Cardiff Docks stone empties. This was running early, and I had only just arrived in time.

66718 Gwyneth Dunwoody passes Waltham St Lawrence with the 5Z90 09:03 Laira to Ilford ECS with Mk3 coaches 42318, 42299, 42298, 42099, 41140, 41139, 44037 & 40715 sandwiched between First Great Western Mk2 barrier coaches 9481 & 6721. The first coach is in Midland Main livery, while the rest of the rake is in First Great Western livery.

66718 Sir Peter Hendy CBE approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 4 May 2019 with the 6V32 09:48 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. This is my first sighting of this locomotive since it acquired its unusual London Transport Museum livery. I chose this location, as in theory it would allow a second picture, as the train was meant to sit in the loop at Challow for half an hour, easily allowing enough time to get to Uffington. However, as can be clearly seen here, it was routed down the main line, and so that plan was scuppered!

What would the headcode be for a pair of light engines going to Scotland? 0Z66 of course! 66718 Sir Peter Hendy CBE & 66710 Phil Packer pass Ryther on 30 November 2019 with the 0Z66 11:37 (in theory) Doncaster Down Decoy to Millerhill, running a staggering 108 minutes late.

66718 Sir Peter Hendy CBE passes Thrupp on 8 September 2020 with the 6X01 10:18 Scunthorpe to Eastleigh long welded rails. In 2020 this train can almost guaranteed to be an hour early at this point. As usual it was more or less on time at Birmingham, but then missed out its booked stops at Dorridge, Fenny Compton and Aynho, and was therefore 62 minutes early here. On this occasion it continued its speedy progress, arriving at Reading 74 minutes ahead of time. From there on there were some delays, and it arrived at Eastleigh just ten minutes early.

66718 Sir Peter Hendy CBE passes Tackley on 8 September 2021 with the 6X01 10:18 Scunthorpe to Eastleigh long welded rails. Although this train was running roughly to time before Banbury, and again after Oxford, as usual it was running nearly an hour early here, by virtue of missing out its booked stop in Aynho Loop. Coincidentally, I saw this same loco, on the same train, just three miles south of this spot, exactly one year earlier. I'm not too bothered about the blackberry bush in the foreground, but the recently installed palisade fence hardly enhances the picture.

66718 Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill of Imber in the county of Wiltshire passes the site of Coates goods station on 29 May 2023 with the diverted 6O01 10:18 Scunthorpe Trent Traffic Centre to Eastleigh East Yard rails. I had arrived at this location in good time, as I suspected the train would ignore its booked stop in Haresfield loop, which it duly did, and so it was consequently running 27 minutes early.

Still wearing its 'all over muck' livery, courtesy of the loco's recent use on the Kent RHTT circuit, 66719 Metro-Land passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 3 December 2014 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. Note the capped steel pile in front of the loco, indicating the position of one of the forthcoming electrification masts.

66720 Metronet Pathfinder, with its garish 'Metronet. Renewing the Tube' livery passes Goring on the Great Western Mainline with the 4M21 03:26 Felixstowe to Hams Hall Intermodal on 12 April 2008. Note the sign on the left warning drivers of the possibility of leaves on the line. I would have thought the presence of trees next to the line would have been a fairly obvious clue, but I suppose nowadays we have to have a warning sign for everything!

Pass the sunglasses! Arguably the strangest 'livery' applied to any UK locomotive, 66720 shows off its new colour scheme as it slowly passes Wolvercote Junction on 22 August 2011 with the 6O96 10:23 Mountsorrel to Eastleigh ballast. This design is the work of six year old Emily Goodman, who won GBRf's 'design a livery' competition. Each side is different, with the other side being possibly even more bizarre. Caught just a few minutes before a cloud covered the sun, and only a few seconds before a diverted Chiltern Railways Class 168 would have blotted out the view.

66720 brings up the rear of the 1Z50 09:15 Cardiff to Paignton GBRf staff special at Patchway on 21 July 2012. Nothing like as interesting as the much more conservatively liveried 50044 Exeter at the head of the train!

A comparison of ballast wagon types at Hinksey on 7 February 2018. 66720 passes the yard with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. Although I have seen this loco several times, this is only my second photo of it in this 'livery'. The last time I photographed it from the other side, which has a different design.

66720 passes Claypole on 22 July 2019 with the 6E83 08:20 Middleton Towers to Barnby Dun sand hoppers. As this is only a very backlit 'Shed' picture, I wasn't initially going to bother taking it, but then again I have got very few pictures of the bizarre liveried loco.

66720 passes Asfordby on 16 March 2020 with the 6M60 11:07 Whitemoor to Mountsorrel ballast empties. Coincidentally, I almost photographed this colourful locomotive, on this train, at this location several years ago, but it passed by as I was still walking down the footpath to the lineside. In consolation, that was on a miserably dull day, whereas here we have perfect spring sunshine.

66720 passes Tackley on 12 June 2021 with the 4E34 05:48 Southampton Western Docks to Doncaster Iport intermodal. This was running 63 minutes early, which was fortunate, as the sun is still just about catching the front of the loco.

A colourful sight at Didcot North Junction on 20 October 2011. 66721 Harry Beck is less than a mile into its journey with the 6O10 09:25 Appleford to East Grinstead spoil empties. Although both the loco and wagons are advertising the fact that they are 'Renewing the tube', this train is in fact helping out the Bluebell Railway. The loaded train brings out spoil from Imberhorne Cutting, which was filled in when the line from Horsted Keynes to East Grinstead was closed. Note the hot air balloon in the background.

66721 Harry Beck was painted into this distinctive London Underground map livery in 2013, and ever since then has conspired to avoid my camera! That finally changed on 25 March 2020, when I finally got a picture of the loco in its white livery, and in fine spring sunshine as well. It is seen here passing Bredon with the 6V84 07:44 Clitheroe Castle Cement to Avonmouth cement tanks, running 32 minutes early.

Running almost an hour early, 66721 Harry Beck passes Baulking in miserable light on 23 February 2021 with the 6B58 10:45 Colnbrook Lafarge to Portbury Auto Terminal stone empties. This is the return working of a train taking stone for the HS2 construction project. I'm not quite sure how HS2 can make any claims that their construction is anyway 'green', as the stone has certainly had a long journey, as it is brought down to Portbury by ship from Glensanda quarry in Scotland!

66721 Harry Beck passes Uffington on 24 March 2021 with the 6B59 10:48 Acton to Portbury Auto Terminal stone empties. Unfortunately the sun dipped on this, with most of the train not fully lit, although of course the sun reappeared whilst the rear of the train was still passing me! Some Photoshop magic has therefore been applied to make it look like it did a few seconds before, and a few seconds after!

66721 Harry Beck passes Yarnton on 5 June 2021 with the 4E34 05:48 Southampton Western Docks to Doncaster Iport intermodal. This train is booked to wait at Oxford North Junction for 45 minutes, but very often doesn't. I was hoping that this would be the case on this morning, as it would be less backlit. Of course, just because I wanted it to run early, it didn't. Instead it waited at Oxford until the booked time.

66721 Harry Beck passes the Grade II listed water tower at Kemble on 20 April 2023 with the diverted 6O01 10:18 Scunthorpe Trent Traffic Centre to Eastleigh East Yard rails. This was running half an hour early, after having missed out its booked stop at Haresfield. This was a definite bonus as far as the lighting angle was concerned. This train would normally travel via Oxford, but the Oxford to Didcot line is closed because of subsidence problems with Nuneham Viaduct over the River Thames.

Running nearly an hour late, 66722 Sir Edward Watkin passes Baulking on 9 September 2014 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. The rear of the train is passing the site of Uffington station, which closed in 1964.

GBRf continues to win traffic from the ailing DB Cargo, and in April 2017 the latest acquisition is the MoD traffic from Bicester. 66722 Sir Edward Watkin is pictured passing Kennington with the inaugural 6O44 08:16 Bicester to Marchwood MoD stores on Monday 3 April 2017. Unlike DB's local locos, 66722 has had to make the long light engine trip from Kent, running as the 0M44 03:20 Tonbridge West Yard to Bicester.

66722 Sir Edward Watkin & 66725 Sunderland approach Appleford on 15 August 2019 with the 6V64 01:38 Carlisle New Yard to Warminster MoD, conveying a lengthy train of Army Foxhound vehicles. These two locos had worked this train (in top'n'tail mode) from Elgin to Carlisle the previous day. Just visible near the rear of the train is the bridge that carries the line over the River Thames. This steel arched bridge was built in 1927, replacing a 1850 wrought iron bridge, which in turn replaced the original 1843 timber structure.

66722 Sir Edward Watkin passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 14 September 2022 with the 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. Note the parched field in the foreground, caused by the summer's record breaking temperatures.

Footpath crossing warning notices at Grove on 22 September 2022. 66722 Sir Edward Watkin approaches the little used crossing with the 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. This was running a little late, due to defective track in the Didcot area.

66723 Chinook passes Compton Beauchamp in golden evening light on 18 July 2016 with the 6X93 18:28 Portbury Coal Terminal to Dollands Moor, conveying Honda cars for export to Ghent, in Belgium. This is a trial working, running through the summer of 2016. Whilst it is great to see British built Hondas going for export, it does seem a little strange that the train has just passed by the junction for the rail connected Swindon plant, which if used would have saved an awful lot of lorry movements getting the cars to the Bristol area. This train was running six minutes late, which was just enough to result in the track being in shadow. However, the low light still makes an excellent picture of an interesting working.

66723 Chinook passes Up Hatherley on 29 July 2016 with the 6V80 19:31 (the previous day) Gascoigne Wood to Portbury Coal Terminal gypsum. I chose this spot, as it is one of those locations that is so hemmed in with trees, that only in dull conditions such as this is it possible to get a decent picture.

With the sad remains of the disused Didcot Power Station dominating the background, 66723 Chinook approaches Culham on 28 March 2018 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. Note that the bodyside number has been altered to read ZA723, in recognition of the RAF's Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters, which also explains the bodyside graphic.

66723 Chinook passes Moredon in fine early morning light on 25 June 2018 with the 6V71 00:22 Tuebrook Sidings (Liverpool) to Swindon European Metal Recycling scrap empties. The bodyside features the RAF flag, Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter graphic, and the modified number ZA723.

After having photographed 66723 Chinook ten hours earlier at Moredon with the empties, here it is again with the return loaded working. It is pictured passing a pile of new track panels next to the reinstated relief line at Wolvercote on 25 June 2018 with the 6Z71 16:01 Swindon European Metal Recycling to Aldwarke scrap.

66723 Chinook passes Uffington on 26 July 2018 with the diverted 6V42 08:02 Wellingborough to Whatley Quarry stone empties. Note the bodyside Boeing Chinook helicopter graphic, and the modified number ZA723.

66723 Chinook passes Fenwick on 22 April 2019 with the 4D08 09:43 Tees Dock to Doncaster Iport intermodal. This is a relatively new flow, as the large Doncaster Iport complex was only opened to traffic in 2018.

66723 Chinook brings up the rear of the 6G04 05:15 Penrhiwceiber to Hinksey Sidings spoil train at Uffington on 7 February 2020. The lead locomotive (66704 Colchester Power Signalbox) can just be seen underneath the footbridge.

66723 Chinook passes Pershore on 14 June 2021 with the 6X90 03:35 Kirkdale Carriage Sidings to Long Marston, conveying brand new MerseyRail EMU 777002 for display at the Rail Live event. 66715 is out of sight on the rear of the train.

66724 Drax Power Station passes South Moreton on 8 May 2008 with the 0Z72 09:40 Kidderminster to Furzebrook stock move conveying D444 (50044) Exeter, 37906, 37275 & 20096 from the Severn Valley Railway to the Swanage Railway's Diesel Gala. I don't normally bother with these light engine moves, but the odd variety of liveries (very odd in the case of the two tone green 50!) and odd combination of traction meant that it was worth taking a picture for a change. 20096 & 37275 had been brought down to the SVR from Barrow Hill two days previously.

66724 Drax Power Station passes Church Brampton on 22 September 2010 with the 4L22 15:16 Hams Hall to Felixstowe North intermodal service. The sun is partly obscured by thin high cloud, which in this backlit situation is an advantage, still looking bright but without excessive contrast. Note the long disused platelayers hut, a relic from the steam age, which hardly fits with the image of an electrified railway and Class 66 hauled container train!

66724 Drax Power Station passes Chelmscote on 27 March 2012 with the 4M23 10:45 Felixstowe to Ham Hall intermodal. Although not ideal, at least there is a long stretch of empty flats and then a continuous run of boxes, which does look a little better than a gappy random loading, as is sometimes seen.

66724 Drax Power Station approaches Hatton North Junction on 19 April 2018 with the 6E45 12:05 Theale to Immingham empty oil tanks. It would be too much to expect this perfect sunny day to correspond with GBRf using one of its more interesting livered locos on this train, but it was still well worth a picture nonetheless. As is often the case, this had left Theale much later than booked, but by missing out various scheduled stops, had regained quite a lot of time by this point.

66724 Drax Power Station passes Bremell Sidings oil depot (no longer rail connected) on 6 July 2018 with the 6Z44 11:03 Crawley New Yard to Cardiff Tidal stone empties. This was bring diverted via the Golden Valley route due to the closure of the Severn Tunnel for engineering works.

66724 Drax Power Station passes Barby Nortoft on 2 June 2020 with the early running 4M23 10:36 Felixstowe North to Hams Hall intermodal. This view looks considerably different to when I was here a decade earlier.

66724 Drax Power Station passes Grove on 22 September 2021 with the 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. After early fog, and then thick cloud, it was at last turning out to be a mostly sunny afternoon.

66724 Drax Power Station passes through Tackley station on 7 December 2021 with the 6M26 08:50 Eastleigh East Yard to Mountsorrel ballast empties. This is the view from the recently installed temporary footbridge, which replaces the former level crossing at the end of the platforms.

66724 Drax Power Station passes Stroud on 7 July 2022 with the 5Q55 08:57 Stewarts Lane to Newport Docks (Sims Group), conveying former Southern EMUs 455830 & 455837 for scrap. Although it looks like a rural location, this is surrounded on all sides by houses.

With just five wagons in tow, 66725 Sunderland passes Badgeworth on 15 November 2023 with the early running 6M42 09:20 Avonmouth Hanson Sidings to Penyffordd cement tanks. As well as the nameplate this loco also features a Sunderland scarf motif on the bodyside.

The farmer's baler drops another load of straw bales onto the field in the background as 66726 Sheffield Wednesday passes Frinkley Lane (near Grantham) on 6 September 2012 with the 4E33 11:20 Felixstowe to Doncaster Railport intermodal.

66726 Sheffield Wednesday passes Castle Donington on 29 November 2012 with the 6L28 04:36 Carlisle to Whitemoor, conveying just five MRA side tipping wagons of spent ballast. The River Trent runs through the bushes in the background, with water filled gravel pits in the distance.

A meeting of loaded coal trains at Whitley Bridge Junction on 13 March 2014. 66726 Sheffield Wednesday passes its ultimate destination (after a reversal at Sudforth Lane) with the 6C72 09:45 Hull Coal Terminal to Eggborough Power Station, while behind it, the 6B53 09:43 Redcar High Level to Eggborough Power Station nears its destination, headed by 66596 (hidden by the trees).

With its destination a few hundred yards away in the background, 66726 Sheffield Wednesday passes Whitley Bridge Junction on 13 March 2014 with the 6C72 09:45 Hull Coal Terminal to Eggborough Power Station coal train. I had photographed it going the other way, for a reversal at Sudforth Lane, an hour earlier.

66726 Sheffield Wednesday passes Hinksey Yard on 23 July 2018 with the 6Z71 15:00 Swindon European Metal Recycling to Aldwarke scrap. Unfortunately this was running early, which meant it passed Hinksey just as one of the rapidly diminishing clouds passed over!

66726 Sheffield Wednesday approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham, on 10 February 2021 with the 6X32 09:05 Old Oak Common EMU Depot to Newport Docks (Sims Group), conveying Heathrow Express EMUs 332011 & 332009 for scrapping. Unfortunately the more interesting 66791 was bringing up the rear.

66726 Sheffield Wednesday passes Uffington on 23 September 2021 with the 4V13 09:20 Crawley New Yard to Cardiff Docks stone empties. This was one of those unfortunate days when the sunny spells didn't often correspond with the trains!

With the 660 ft tall chimney of the disused Eggborough Power Station dominating the scene, 66726 Sheffield Wednesday heads south along the East Coast Mainline at Heck Ings on 15 March 2022 with the 6Z85 09:27 Gascoigne Wood Down to Doncaster Up Decoy engineer's train.

66726 Sheffield Wednesday passes Knighton on 9 August 2022 with the 5Q55 10:38 Stewarts Lane to Newport Docks (Sims Group), conveying former Southern EMUs 455807 & 455801 for their appointment with the scrapman. This was running 25 minutes late, as a signalling problem near Challow saw single line working in force, with consequent massive delays.

66727 approaches Castor on the Nene Valley Railway with the 2M49 13:48 Peterborough to Wansford service on 1 March 2008, during the line's Diesel Gala. I was very lucky with the sun for this picture, as a large cloud was ominously close to the sun as the train approached. Also it was fortunate that nobody was wandering up the public footpath on the right at the crucial moment. 66727 attracted a good deal of attention during the gala, which does seem slightly odd when there is so much heritage traction around!

Hardly ideal lighting conditions, with the sun very nearly straight down the track, as 66727 passes Brimpton on 8 May 2008 with the 4E31 06:34 Taunton Fairwater Yard to Peterborough scrap concrete sleepers. The buildings in the background are the industrial units at Cothrop, part of the semi-urban sprawl stretching out from Thatcham.

With horn blaring, 66727 Andrew Scott CBE speeds past Little Bedwyn with the 4E31 06:25 Taunton Fairwater to Whitemoor scrap sleepers on Friday 25 June 2010. Presumably the fact that the driver was leaning on the horn adds weight to the rumour that this is the last working of this train via this route and with GBRf traction.

The bright blue livery of 66727 Maritime One really stands out, despite the severe backlighting, as it passes Didcot North Junction on 16 February 2018 with the 6M26 08:50 Eastleigh East Yard to Mountsorrel ballast empties.

66727 Maritime One takes the up relief line at Wolvercote on 11 August 2020 with the 6M04 13:22 Kineton to Bicester MoD stores. This is the nearest modern equivalent to the old style short mixed freight train.

66728 Institution of Railway Operators passes Thorpe Grange with the 4L78 11:43 Selby Potter Group to Felixstowe intermodal on 17 June 2010. It just goes to show how many non essential jobs the railway industrial now contains, when there is a perceived need for an Institution of Railway Operators!

66728 Institution of Railway Operators approaches Collingham on 10 March 2011 with the 4L78 11:43 Selby to Felixstowe intermodal service. Not perfect lighting, as the sun was now getting quite head on, but I was amazed that on this occasion I managed to get pictures of all trains at this location in the sun, given the amount of cloud there was in the sky.

66728 Institution of Railway Operators crosses over the A614 road at Thorne North on 25 June 2014 with the 6E88 12:39 Middleton Towers to Goole Glassworks sand train. Not the Class 47 I was hoping for, but a record shot nonetheless.

In near darkness, and with the setting sun tingeing the sky pink, 66728 Institution of Railway Operators takes the Guardian glass factory line at Potters Grange Junction, Goole on 25 June 2014 with the 6E88 12:39 Middleton Towers to Goole Glassworks sand train. A much more interesting pair of 47s worked this service two days earlier, and I was extremely disappointed to see a 66, but as I was in Goole anyway, I thought I might as well take this record shot.

66728 Institution of Railway Operators passes Yarnton on 12 May 2015 with the 6M26 08:50 Eastleigh to Stud Farm ballast empties. Despite the fact that three different footpaths converge on this footbridge from the direction of Yarnton village, and it being easily visible from the nearby main road on the opposite side, this was the first occasion that I have met any walkers actually using this bridge for its intended purpose, rather than as a location for railway photography!

66728 Institution of Railway Operators passes Compton Beauchamp on 10 July 2018 with the 6Z83 15:21 Warminster MoD to Pengam, conveying a selection of army vehicles from a recent exercise on Salisbury Plain, The train would work forward the following day as the 6Z84 05:44 Pengam to Donnington, where the vehicles would go back into store.

The 1,960 megawatt Eggborough Power Station dominates the background of this view at Whitley Bridge Junction on 13 March 2014, as 66729 Derby County slowly negotiates the junction with the 4D21 14:35 Eggborough Power Station to Doncaster Decoy GBRf coal empties. An early departure from the power station had seen the train held at the junction for 20 minutes.

66729 Derby County passes Shrivenham on 18 February 2015 with the 6B11 12:20 Colnbrook Lafarge to Pengam stone empties. This had left Colnbrook over half an hour late, and was delayed even further in the Hayes area, running over an hour late at one point. So it was doing well to be only five minutes late here, and even better to arrive at its destination nine minutes early!

66729 Derby County runs along the up relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 16 April 2015 with the late running 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. It would be soon be back on time again, by not spending so long at the end of the relief line at Wantage Road.

66729 Derby County passes Braybrooke on 30 March 2021 with the 6F93 11:06 St Pancras (Churchyard Sidings) to Ketton cement empties. This was running 90 minutes late, but had actually left nearly two hours late. There was a steady but slow reduction in this lateness, and it arrived just under an hour behind time.

66729 Derby County approaches Tackley on 5 May 2021 with the 6O45 08:00 Kineton to Marchwood MoD intermodal flats, just as the 1M26 06:30 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly CrossCountry service gets in the way!

An empty coal train passing a colliery, but there the connection ends! 66730 passes Kellingley Colliery on 17 June 2010 with the 4N20 12:44 Drax Power Station to Redcar coal empties. The train is just negotiating the hump that takes the line over the Aire and Calder Navigation.

Running at its normal time (i.e. almost an hour early), 66730 Whitemoor passes Thrupp on 11 August 2020 with the 6X01 11:02 Doncaster Belmont Down Yard to Eastleigh East Yard long welded rails. As this train seems to be nearly always an hour early at this point, I wasn't too worried about the encroaching shadows, which you clearly be much more of a problem at the booked time.

Running over an hour late, 66731 passes Stenson Junction with the 8X23 09:30 Derby Litchurch Lane to Old Dalby special conveying brand new London Underground unit 1001 for testing. The apparent excess of wagons are there to provide the necessary brake force. A number of these trains are scheduled to operate at intervals over the next few years as the new 'S' stock is built at Derby and then delivered to London Underground's Neasden depot by way of the Old Dalby test track.

Running over 20 minutes early, after missing out its booked layover at Abbotswood, 66731 InterhubGB passes Ashchurch on 22 April 2015 with the 6V80 03:56 West Burton Power Station to Portbury Coal Terminal gypsum. When approaching in the distance, there was a considerable cloud of the load blowing off into the fields. Luckily for the residents of the houses, this had largely stopped as it passed me.

In golden late afternoon light on 24 February 2016, 66731 InterhubGB passes Uffington with the 6V79 11:56 Angerstein Wharf to Pengam stone empties. A public footpath crosses the line by the tree next to the third wagon. Surprisingly, this has been reopened after having been closed for over a year. As it is little used, and bearing in mind Network Rail's attitude to foot crossing, I really thought this would not reopen, and be a case of closure by stealth.

66731 Capt. Tom Moore A True British Inspiration looks superb in its special 'Thank You NHS' livery, as it passes Yarnton on 19 April 2021 with the 6X01 10:18 Scunthorpe to Eastleigh steel rails. As is usual with this train once it gets to the Oxford area, it was running early, nearly an hour early in this case.

Heading for weekend engineering work in the Gloucester area, 66731 Capt. Tom Moore A True British Inspiration passes South Marston on 28 September 2024 with the 6G71 08:27 Hinksey to Gloucester Yard Junction. Bringing up the rear of the train of ballast and new concrete sleepers is 66758 The Pavior.

66732 GBRF The First Decade 1999 - 2009 John Smith MD approaches the signal controlling the Swinderby Road level crossing at Collingham on 10 March 2011, whilst working the 4M82 10:45 Drax Power Station to Hotchley Hill containerised gypsum. I was having a lucky day with the sun, with virtually all trains passing me in the not too frequent sunny spells.

66732 GBRF The First Decade 1999 - 2009 John Smith MD passes the blackthorn blossom at Stoke Orchard, as it works the 6Z88 11:12 Peterborough to Cardiff Tidal scarp empties on 6 May 2013. Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) would normally have finished flowering by May, but the weather in the early part of 2013 was so cold, that spring was effectively delayed by several weeks.

66732 GBRF The First Decade 1999 - 2009 John Smith MD passes Cashes Green on 30 June 2018 with the diverted 6V32 10:10 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. The train's normal route via the Severn Tunnel was closed for engineering works, so the train was re-routed via Gloucester. This section of line through the Stroud Valley does not normally see a lot of freight traffic.

66732 GBRF The First Decade 1999 - 2009 John Smith MD runs slowly along the down relief line at Challow on 11 July 2018 with the 6V32 10:48 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. After a completely sunny morning, the cloud was now building up big time, but this was one of those lucky days when every train came during a sunny spell.

66732 GBRF The First Decade 1999 - 2009 John Smith MD passes Thrupp on 11 August 2020 with the 4O69 13:27 Hams Hall to Southampton Western Docks intermodal. I should have visited this location a couple of weeks earlier, when the Rosebay Willowherb in the foreground would have been at its best.

66733 slowly approaches Shafholme Junction on 12 March 2012 with the 6H12 Tyne Dock to Cottam Power Station coal train, utilising a rake of ex Fastline hoppers. Even though the Knottingley to Doncaster is virtually straight, there is still a 40mph restriction at this end of the line.

Running nearly two hours late, 66733 Cambridge PSB passes through Heyford station on 27 July 2015 with the 6M26 08:50 Eastleigh to Mountsorrel ballast empties. The 'bus shelter' on the right is poor substitute for the fine stone station building that used to grace the platform until 1986.

66733 Cambridge PSB passes Yarnton on 15 April 2022 with the 4E34 05:27 Southampton Western Docks to Doncaster Iport intermodal. Unusually this was more or less on time, rather than the usual 50 minutes early running, as it usually misses out its booked stop at Hinksey.

66733 Cambridge PSB passes through Tackley station on 18 July 2023 with the 6M26 08:50 Eastleigh East Yard to Mountsorrel ballast empties. Note the 'Clean Me' and '10F' written in the dirt on the front end. The first is obvious, and presumably the 10F relates to the former Rose Grove depot.

66733 Cambridge PSB passes Claydon on 19 July 2024 with the 6G99 06:46 Tunstead to Banbury Reservoir Tarmac stone train. Because Fenny Compton up loop was out of use, this train had just crossed over to the down loop for its booked stop, then crossed back over again.

66733 Cambridge PSB runs round its train at Banbury Reservoir Tarmac stone terminal on 19 July 2024, after having just arrived with the 6G99 06:46 loaded stone train from Tunstead. Due to Network Rail's lack of vegetation clearance, the bushes on the left are now touching the wagons.

My first picture of one of the several locos (both steam and diesel) that have been painted purple to commemorate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. 66734 Platinum Jubilee passes Brimscombe on 4 July 2022 with the diverted 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. Typically, having chosen one of the few spots in the Golden Valley that is clear of vegetation, and would have the ideal sun angle, the sun decided to disappear! This is the second loco to carry the number 66734, the first having been cut up after the Loch Treig derailment.

Running 73 minutes late, 66734 Platinum Jubilee passes Baulking on 28 July 2022 with the 5Q55 10:38 Stewarts Lane to Newport Docks (Sims Group), conveying former Southern EMUs 455833 & 455834 for scrap. Just 17 minutes earlier, Railfreight Construction liveried 66793 had passed by with the 4B77 10:45 Colnbrook Lafarge to Avonmouth West Wharf stone empties.

66734 Platinum Jubilee passes Uffington on 8 March 2024 with the 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. Although there was a lot of cloud around, I thought it was worth the short drive and long walk for a picture of this purple loco. A good decision, as virtually all of the cloud melted away, to leave a perfect early spring afternoon.

The blackthorn is in full bloom at Didcot North Junction on 20 March 2024, as 66734 Platinum Jubilee passes by with the 6Z59 02:25 Tytherington to Appleford Sidings stone train. Terrible lighting, but it's always worth getting a picture of these 'one off' liveried locos.

66735 heads south through Glen Falloch on 24 June 2013 with the 6E45 08:07 Fort William to North Blyth Alcan alumina empties. Naturally the sun only made its one brief appearance just after the train had passed!

Unfortunately with empty flats at the head of the train, but at least in the last remnants of the afternoon's sunshine, 66735 passes Frisby-on-the-Wreake on 30 September 2017 with the 4L20 12:44 Hams Hall to Parkeston intermodal.

An appropriately named locomotive for a train that started from Peterborough! 66735 Peterborough United passes Aldington on 23 June 2020 with the 6Z84 05:32 Peterborough to Long Marston, conveying wagons for storage, The train looks especially unusual with the two barrier coaches included in the consist. It was originally booked to start from March at 04:26.

66736 Wolverhampton Wanderers runs slowly along the up relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 1 October 2015 with the 6A30 06:00 Pengam to Colnbrook Lafarge stone hoppers. A bit of a novelty for me, as I'm more used to seeing the empties heading westwards.

66736 Wolverhampton Wanderers arrives at Crianlarich on 31 August 2016 with the 6E45 08:07 Fort William Alcan to North Blyth Alcan alumina empties. Although obviously never a freight hotspot, the West Highland line has seen a dramatic downturn in freight in recent years. This was the only booked freight train on this particular day.

66736 Wolverhampton Wanderers passes Charlton-on-Otmoor on 27 June 2019 with the 6O45 07:38 Bicester MoD to Marchwood MoD container flats. Not something I would go out specifically to photograph, but as I was already here, why not.

66736 Wolverhampton Wanderers passes Cossington on 15 September 2020 with the 4E27 12.55 Hotchley Hill (East Leake) to Middlesbrough gypsum empties. This was running 19 minutes early, and I had only just arrived in time.

After a gap of a few weeks, the 4V94 10:12 Doncaster to Portbury biomass empties ran again on 24 July 2012, with 66737 Lesia in charge. It is pictured here passing Badgeworth. Note the extra large final two digits of the loco number. Unfortunately due to poor weather earlier in the year, I never managed to get a picture of this train when it was double headed. The use of a single loco now is because the loaded train travels via Oxford, rather than up the Lickey Incline.

On 7 September 2012, 66737 Lesia was used to move LMS inspection saloon 6320 from Butterley to Bristol, in preparation for the following day's director's trip to Bishops Lydeard. To match the saloon's immaculate condition, 66737 was specially prepared with white wheel rims. The pristine duo are pictured at Ashchurch, running as the 5V01 13:15 Butterley to Bristol Barton Hill. Because it was running early, the train was put into the loop, where it is pictured running slowly up to the stop signal, with the slope of Bredon Hill in the background.

66737 Lesia runs along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 6 March 2015 with the 6V43 11:56 Angerstein Wharf to Pengam stone empties. After a sunny afternoon, the sun had disappeared into a bank of high cloud as this was due, but luckily just managed to come out again weakly, as the train came into view.

66737 Lesia approaches Tackley on 15 February 2019, running as the 0M04 13:22 Kineton to Eastleigh light engine. With no load, I wasn't going to bother photographing this, but noticed how the gap in the bushes by the gate was just long enough for a single locomotive.

66737 Lesia stands in Fort William station on 7 March 2023, having just arrived as the 0Z49 14:30 Fort William Alcan to Upper Tyndrum light engine. After a few minutes it would depart, and later in the evening would return as the 0Z52 19:52 Rannoch to Fort William Alcan.

66738 passes a very hazy Frisby-on-the-Wreake on 22 March 2012 with the 6L28 04:42 Carlisle to Whitemoor ballast. Still yet to succumb to its new owner's paintbrush, this GBRf loco looks a little plain in unbranded Freightliner green. In its former life it was numbered 66578.

The blackthorn is in full bloom at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 15 April 2014, as 66738 passes by with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. This is my first picture of this train since GBRf took over the service from Freightliner a few weeks previously.

I have hardly ever seen a train stopped at the large signal gantry spanning the tracks at Denchworth, as trains traveling along the up relief line normally carry on to Wantage Road, unless of course there is another train ahead of it. Therefore I was surprised to see 66738 Huddersfield Town stopped at the signal on 20 August 2014 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. I had just arrived at the bridge, and an unexpected 'ying ying' noise as I walked up the road warned me what was happening. The train is pictured just as it starts to move away.

The shadows are lengthening at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 24 November 2023, as 66738 Huddersfield Town heads west with the 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. With no lineside bushes, the only thing that shades the line here is unfortunately the ones on the road embankment!

66738 Huddersfield Town passes Worting Junction in miserable light on 12 August 2024 with the 5X81 09:41 Eastleigh Works to Reading, taking LNER EMU 801230 on the first leg of its journey back home to Ferme Park, after repairs. Unfortunately this was running over an hour late. At the booked time the light would have been perfect!

66739 Bluebell Railway passes Yarnton on 15 March 2021 with the 4M46 14:24 Southampton Western Docks to Trafford Park intermodal. This was running 50 minutes early, having missed out its booked stop at Hinksey. It would soon get even earlier, as it would miss out another booked stop at Fenny Compton.

66740 Sarah passes Minety on 9 June 2023 with the diverted 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. The train's usual route via the Severn Tunnel was closed for engineering works. The trees on the right were much smaller in the 1980s, and a much wider view was possible. However, for some reason I didn't take a picture looking this way until quite recently.

66740 Sarah passes Burbage Common on 19 July 2023 with the 4M07 04:36 Felixstowe North to Birch Coppice intermodal. This was a dull and intermittently rainy day, but due to the lineside trees, a picture would not be possible here had the sun been out.

66740 Sarah passes Baulking on 23 August 2023 with the 3F03 12:18 Marchwood MoD to Kineton MoD. If it wasn't for the couple of VGA vans in the consist, this might be mistaken for an ordinary intermodal train. This was supposed to be hauled by the much more interesting white liveried 66721 Harry Beck, but that clearly wasn't going to happen, as that loco was at this moment working the 4Z38 13:56 Kineton MoD to Ashchurch MoD.

66741 Swanage Railway passes Kings Sutton in lovely evening light on 11 June 2018 with the 6Z71 16:01 Swindon EMR to Aldwarke scrap metal train. Tis is yet another traffic flow that GBRf have pinched from DB Cargo. Some tree clearance by the road bridge has enabled a slightly wider view than previously, no doubt making this location even more popular with photographers!

66741 Swanage Railway brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z53 07:17 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour 'Solent & Sussex Explorer' railtour at Gatcombe on 21 July 2018, Definitely not as interesting as the booked Class 73!

66741 Swanage Railway passes Husborne Crawley on 2 October 2019 with the 4H03 10:03 Bletchley Cemex to Peak Forest stone empties. This one of those locations that has been on my 'to do' list for some time!

66741 Swanage Railway passes Yarnton on 30 May 2020 with the 4E34 05:48 Southampton Western Docks to Doncaster Iport intermodal. This was running 50 minutes early, and I had anticipated that this expected early running would be enough for the sun to still be on the front. Not quite! The filthy state of the front end doesn't help either.

66742 Port of Immingham Centenary 1912 - 2012 passes Wolvercote Junction on 28 June 2019 with the 4O69 13:22 Hams Hall to Southampton Western Docks intermodal. Anyone contemplating visiting this location should be aware that for the first time since I have been photographing here, the view is now being restricted by a tree growing in the foreground. Either this short telephoto view from the side, or a very head on angle are the only ones now possible.

66742 Port of Immingham Centenary 1912 - 2012 passes Yarnton on 20 July 2020 with the 6Z15 15:55 Eastleigh to Chaddesden Sidings, conveying barrier vehicles that had been used earlier in the day on a Derby to Eastleigh EMU move. 66770 is bringing up the rear.

66743 passes Wolvercote on 12 July 2016 with the 5Z81 18:05 Oxford to Oxford Up Carriage Sidings Royal Scotsman ECS. 66746 is on the rear of the train. This was in connection with the Belmond Royal Scotsman mammoth eight day 'Grand Tour of Great Britain' luxury charter, a snip at £9,660 per person! Earlier in the day the train had worked the 1Z79 04:35 Gloucester to Bath (via Newton Abbot), and the 1Z81 13:30 Bath to Oxford (via Southampton). Initially I hadn't noticed that this train would pass this location, as obviously Oxford station and Oxford carriage sidings are next to each other. It was only when I looked at the timings that I realised that the train was travelling via Banbury! Nearly an extra 50 miles, just to reverse!

A humble duty for Royal Scotsman liveried 66743 on 24 November 2017. Instead of its more usual luxury land cruise, it is pictured here running slowly along the down loop at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, with the 6V78 09:50 Grain to Llanwern steel empties.

66743 stands under the immaculately painted canopy at Aviemore station on 30 August 2018, prior to working the 1H90 12:08 Belmond Royal Scotsman charter to Dundee. This was part of a five day tour from Edinburgh to Kyle of Lochalsh. 720 miles of luxury travel for £4,605.

A glimpse through the lineside bushes at 66744 Crossrail, as it runs slowly underneath Denchworth road bridge on 9 October 2015 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. An old style ganger would have a heart attack if he saw the disgraceful condition that Network Rail lets the lineside get into.

66744 Crossrail passes Braybrooke on 23 April 2021 with the 6M79 12:01 Angerstein Wharf to Bardon Hill stone empties. As preparatory work is under way here for the electrification of the line to Market Harborough (surely an odd place to stop?), I have only just visited this location in time, before the view is ruined.

66744 Crossrail runs along the down relief line at Grove on 8 September 2021 with the 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. A couple of weeks later this train took the main line, which gives a much better angle.

66745 Modern Railways The First 50 Years passes Tackley on 23 June 2020 with the 4M51 14:24 Southampton Western Docks to Trafford Park intermodal. Just like the earlier southbound GBRf working, this was running nearly an hour early, which hasn't helped the lighting angle at all.

66745 Modern Railways The First 50 Years passes Yarnton on 21 July 2020 with the 4O69 13:27 Hams Hall to Southampton Western Docks intermodal. A pity that all the boxes are right at the back! Note the strange area of discolouration on the front and side of the cab.

66745 Modern Railways The First 50 Years passes approaches Collins Lane level crossing, Purton, on 15 December 2020 with the 6X32 09:01 Old Oak Common EMU Depot to Newport Docks (Sims Group), conveying Heathrow Express EMUs 332003 & 332002 for scrapping. 66739 Bluebell Railway is bringing up the rear. Unfortunately this passed by just as the sun had disappeared behind a large cloud, so some extensive Photoshop restoration has had to come to the rescue. This rouge cloud was particularly annoying, as the drive to the location was in virtually unbroken sunshine, as was the drive home!

66745 Modern Railways The First 50 Years passes Uffington on 23 February 2021 with the 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. Not only is the loco far from clean, but the much more photogenic 66780 The Cemex Express is out of sight on the rear.

66745 runs along the up relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 13 November 2024 with the 6F05 03:00 Heywood Road Junction to Hinksey, conveying recovered ballast from an engineering possession. This had actually left at 04:51, but was nearly back on time here.

66746 passes through Crowle station on 28 November 2012 with the 6C09 08:48 Immingham to Eggborough Power Station imported coal. At least the miserably dull weather allowed this viewpoint from the north side of the line, showing the railway following the Stainforth & Keadby Canal in the background.

66746 passes Wolvercote in atrocious light on 12 July 2016 with the 5Z81 18:05 Oxford to Oxford Up Carriage Sidings Royal Scotsman ECS, having just been to Banbury to reverse! 66743 can just be seen on the rear of the train. This was in connection with the Belmond Royal Scotsman mammoth eight day 'Grand Tour of Great Britain' luxury charter, which had earlier in the day worked the 1Z79 04:35 Gloucester to Bath (via Newton Abbot), and the 1Z81 13:30 Bath to Oxford (via Southampton). Admittedly the weather was grim, but I was surprised to be the only photographer present to record this very unusual working.

66746 & 66743 pass Didcot North Junction on 9 July 2019 with the 1Z82 13:30 Bath Spa to Banbury Royal Scotsman luxury charter. This was day five of the 'Grand Tour of Britain', an eight day tour that would cost you an unbelievable £11,000 per person!

Vale of White Horse Royal Scotsman. Running 34 minutes early, having missed out its booked stop at Challow, 66746 passes Uffington on 1 June 2020 with the 6V34 10:30 Neasden to Pengam stone empties. The Belmond Royal Scotsman claret livery certainly makes a nice contrast with the predominantly green landscape, but the patch painted wagons are perhaps less photogenic.

66747 passes Hinksey Yard on 11 February 2016 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties, while on the right 66055 shunts a short train of new concrete sleepers. The tower of the  famous Norman church at Iffley can just be glimpsed amid the trees directly above the rear of 66747.

66747 stands at Peak Forest on 9 June 2018. This being a Saturday, the train would presumably not move until the following Monday. The Oxeye Daises in the foreground, and the rural location are at odds with the signs of heavy industry in the background.

66747 Made in Sheffield approaches the site of Littleton & Badsey station on 5 February 2020 with the 6Z84 07:44 March Up Yard to Long Marston, conveying 16 JNA wagons for storage. This is my first picture of this locomotive in its striking Newell and Wright Transport livery. This train was originally supposed to have run the previous day. The greenhouses on the right are just a tiny part of the vast Zenith Nurseries complex.

One of GBRf's grey Class 66/7s, 66748 passes Steventon on 29 September 2015 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. 66747, 66748 & 66749 were imported from the Netherlands in 2012. They retained their former Dutch operator's livery, with suitable GBRf branding.

The track workers, who had been working on the down line, stand aside as 66748 passes Baulking on 30 September 2015 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. A standard feature of the Great Western Mainline in 2015 is these tubular steel piles partly driven into the ground.

66748 runs slowly along the up relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 1 October 2015 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. At the same time, 57306 was approaching almost equally slowly from the opposite direction with the 1Z31 11:55 Paddington to Cardiff Central rugby special!

66748 West Burton 50 passes Bretforton on 13 April 2021 with the 0V20 08:48 Burton upon Trent Wetmore Sidings to Long Marston, conveying former GWR power cars 43086 & 43196. It was only a few months earlier that these two power cars (along with two others) were hauled in the opposite direction!

Running 47 minutes late, 66748 West Burton 50 approaches Honeybourne on 13 April 2021 with the 0C20 12:41 Long Marston to Laira, conveying former GWR power cars 43056, 43087, 43193 & 43197. Originally this was to have run as 5C20, and to have included a coach. The delay was caused by having to leave the coach behind, as after the run round at Worcester, the power cars would have been behind the loco, which apparently is not allowed.

The blackthorn is in full bloom, but the oilseed rape crop has completely failed in this corner of the field at Uffington. 66748 West Burton 50 heads westwards on 24 April 2021 with the 6V32 09:31 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. This was running 57 minutes early.

66748 West Burton 50 approaches Banbury on 19 July 2024 with the 6X01 10:18 Scunthorpe Trent Traffic Centre to Eastleigh East Yard rail train. On the left the 6G99 06:46 Tunstead to Banbury Reservoir Tarmac stone train has just started to be unloaded.

66749 passes Sandy on 2 October 2019 with the 6O65 13:35 Ferme Park to Peterborough ballast empties. In the background, 700043 slows down as it prepares to call at Sandy with the 9J39 13:54 Peterborough to Horsham Govia Thameslink Railway service.

66749 Christopher Hopcroft MBE 60 Years Railway Service approaches Kemble in the fog on 25 September 2021 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z52 05:58 Eastleigh to Kingswear 'Champion Torbay Express' railtour. The train is just emerging from the very short Kemble Tunnel. I only took this picture because it was actually on my route to the location where I would later photograph the same train with the much more interesting pair of Class 50s on the front.

66750 Bristol Panel Signal Box runs alongside the Kennet & Avon Canal near Crofton on 23 August 2016 with the late running 6V42 08:13 Wellingborough to Whatley Quarry stone empties. Until recently Foster Yeoman and ARC (latterly Mendip Rail) had a monopoly of the Somerset stone traffic, now there is this GBRf interloper!

66750 Bristol Panel Signal Box passes Fiddington on 28 June 2018 with the 6V35 09:36 Clitheroe Castle Cement to Avonmouth Hansons Siding cement tanks. Bredon Hill in the background is surprisingly clearly visible. The long period of settled high pressure usually results in very hazy conditions.

66750 Bristol Panel Signal Box passes Kilby Bridge on 22 April 2021, running as the 0Z51 13:11 Wellingborough Up Sidings to Wellingborough Up Sidings (via Toton) driver training run. I wouldn't normally bother with a light engine move, but why not in such superb spring light.

66751 Inspiration Delivered - Hitachi Rail Europe is coupled to 800101, the first of the Hitachi built nine car bi-mode IEP units, at the Asfordby Depot, Old Dalby Test Track, on 28 August 2015. Also in the picture is one of the resident shunters (08834) and several rakes of brand new underground stock.

66751 Inspiration Delivered - Hitachi Rail Europe stands at the Asfordby Depot, Old Dalby Test Track, on 28 August 2015, coupled to 800101, the first of the mew Hitachi built nine car bi-mode IEP units. Unfortunately there was no way to a more detailed picture of 800101.

66751 Inspiration Delivered - Hitachi Rail Europe passes Badgeworth on 2 February 2018 with the 6Z78 11:09 Long Marston to Cardiff Docks Greenergy, conveying four TEA oil tanks. Getting in the way in the background is the New Measurement Train HST, led by 43014 The Railway Observer, and with 43062 John Armitt at the rear.

A temporary footbridge was opened at the north end of Tackley station in April 2020, replacing a former foot crossing at the south end of the station. This seems a complete waste of money, as Network Rail have claimed for years that they wanted to replace the foot crossing with a subway, and still claim that is the plan. Why not just do that, and keep the foot crossing until then? Now walkers who want to cross the line have to walk the full length of both platforms! 66751 Inspiration Delivered - Hitachi Rail Europe passes by on 23 June 2020 with the 6X01 1005 Doncaster Up Decoy to Eastleigh East Yard long welded rails. This was running an hour early.

Brand new 66752 The Hoosier State passes through the remains of Shrivenham station on 4 September 2014 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. Less than two months in traffic, 66752 arrived at Newport Docks from the USA on 10 July 2014, along with classmates 66753, 66754, 66755 & 66756.

Viewed from the new roadbridge at Shrivenham, 66752 The Hoosier State passes through the remains of the old station (closed in 1964) with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties on 20 April 2016. Apart from vegetation clearance, there is still little evidence of the forthcoming Great Western Mainline electrification.

66753 EMD Roberts Road passes Souldern Wharf on 7 August 2020 with the 4M19 11:50 Southampton Western Docks to East Midlands Gateway intermodal. The day had been sunny up until this point, but this would have been impossibly shady and backlit, had the sun still been out.

66753 EMD Roberts Road passes South Marston on 13 January 2022 with the 4B77 10:45 Colnbrook Lafarge to Avonmouth West Wharf stone empties. The loco was named in 2014, in recognition of GBRf's Doncaster maintenance depot.

66754 Northampton Saints passes Uffington on 19 September 2019 with the 6V32 10:13 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. The light green backing to the nameplate echoes the rugby union team's colours.

Running half an hour early, 66754 Northampton Saints runs along the down relief line at Potbridge on 8 March 2020 with the 6G16 09:10 Haslemere to Eastleigh East Yard departmental working. 66789 British Rail 1948-1997 is bringing up the rear.

66754 Northampton Saints slowly passes through Goole station on 6 July 2020 with the 6D09 09:53 Hull Coal Terminal to Ferrybridge gypsum. This pictures clearly illustrates Network Rail's very poor standard of maintenance. Not just the weeds growing on the track in front of the loco, but more importantly the massive bush that it almost touching the train in the background. Close inspection of the hi-res version of this picture seems to confirm that it has been trimmed into shape by the passage of trains!

66755 Tony Berkeley OBE RFG Chairman 1997-2018 passes South Marston on 26 September 2018 with the 4V30 09:30 Tonbridge West Yard to Pengam Reception Sidings stone empties. Luckily this passed during a short sunny period, on what was turning out to be a largely cloudy afternoon. Both the Met Office and the BBC insisted that it was going to be a completely sunny day!

66755 Tony Berkeley OBE RFG Chairman 1997-2018 approaches Wantage Road on 11 November 2019 with the 6V32 10:13 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. This was running 25 minutes late, after having sat in the loop at Milton for much longer than booked.

With the shadows lengthening, 66755 Tony Berkeley OBE RFG Chairman 1997-2018 approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham, on 19 November 2019 with the 6V32 10:13 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. Full sun here, but obviously considerably more cloudy not far to the east!

66755 Tony Berkeley OBE RFG Chairman 1997-2018 passes a field of oilseed rape in full flower at Pandy, as it heads down the Welsh Marches line on 3 May 2023 with the early running 6V75 09:31 Dee Marsh to Margam steel empties.

Running exactly on time, 66755 Tony Berkeley OBE RFG Chairman 1997-2018 passes Uffington on 26 May 2023 with the 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. Horrible overhead lighting, but I was passing this spot on the way to somewhere else, so worth a record shot.

66755 Tony Berkeley OBE RFG Chairman 1997-2018 passes Uffington on 13 June 2023 with the 6V32 10:12 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. The footbridge in the background is mostly used by railway photographers accessing this field. I hardly ever see anybody else!

66755 Tony Berkeley OBE RFG Chairman 1997-2018 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 3 October 2024 with the 4B77 10:45 Colnbrook Lafarge to Avonmouth West Wharf stone empties. I really didn't think I was going to get this in the sun. As the loco passed underneath the footbridge, the foreground was still in shadow. Luckily the sunny patch was keeping pace with the train, although only just, as can be seen from the dark vegetation in the foreground!

66756 Royal Corps of Signals & 66782 round the curve near Steeple Aston on 2 October 2018 with the 6M26 08:50 Eastleigh to Mountsorrel ballast empties. This was running nearly an hour late, which presumably explains the double heading. It had actually left Eastleigh 91 minutes late, but such is the slackness of the timings, that by the time it reached Nuneaton it was back on time.

66756 Royal Corps of Signals passes Up Hatherley on 13 July 2019 with the 6V84 05:46 Clitheroe Castle Cement to Avonmouth cement tanks. The houses on the right mark the present limit of Cheltenham's urban sprawl, but it can't be long before the fields to the west succumbs, possibly threatening the tiny but import Badgeworth Nature Reserve, reputedly the smallest in the world.

66756 Royal Corps of Signals passes Fiddington on 24 August 2019 with the 6V84 05:46 Clitheroe Castle Cement to Avonmouth cement tanks. Extremely head on lighting, but I was already on the bridge, so decided on this record shot.

66756 Royal Corps of Signals passes Thrupp on 14 May 2020 with the 4O69 13:27 Hams Hall to Southampton Western Docks intermodal. Hampton Gay church, which stands apart from the few houses that make up the village, can be seen in the background.

Running almost a hour late, which has improved the light angle noticeably, 66756 Royal Corps of Signals passes Kilby Bridge on 31 July 2020 with the 6M32 09:47 Neasden Charrington to Bardon Hill stone empties. It did a good job of recovering time, as it left 80 minutes late, but was only 37 minutes down upon arrival.

66756 Royal Corps of Signals approaches Wickwar Tunnel on 26 July 2023 with the 6M42 09:20 Avonmouth Hanson Sidings to Penyffordd cement tanks. This was just as the sun started to fade out into high cloud, for once exactly as the weather forecast had predicted!

66756 Royal Corps of Signals passes Blanchworth on 16 August 2023 with the 6M42 09:20 Avonmouth Hanson Sidings to Penyffordd cement tanks. Photo taken from what appears to be a very little used public footpath crossing.

66756 Royal Corps of Signals passes Spetchley on 13 September 2023 with the 6M42 09:20 Avonmouth Hanson Sidings to Penyffordd cement tanks. This working usually keeps the same loco for many weeks.

Yet another picture of 66756 Royal Corps of Signals on the 6M42 09:20 Avonmouth Hanson Sidings to Penyffordd cement tanks! It is pictured passing Gossington on 15 September 2023, unfortunately during a period of high cloud covering the sun.

66757 passes Uffington on 28 October 2014 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. The Met Office had correctly predicted that it would be a sunny morning, with a bank of cloud coming in from the west in the early afternoon. The mass of dark cloud can be clearly seen in this picture. However, at this stage the edge of it was directly overhead, so the view in the opposite direction was completely different. The white object in the ballast marks the location of one of the soon to be installed overhead electrification masts.

Bringing the diesel traction story up to date during the Nene Valley Railway's 2015 Diesel Gala was 66757, borrowed from GBRf. It is seen here passing Castor on 11 April 2015 with the 2E53 15:22 Wansford to Peterborough service.

An impressive Class 66/50/46/40/31 combination at Standish Junction on 30 April 2016. 66757 West Somerset Railway works the 0Z69 10:29 Kidderminster to Bristol St Philips Marsh loco convoy, comprising 50035 Ark Royal, D182 (46045), D213 (40013) Andania & 5580 (31162). This was in connection with the St Philips Marsh Open Day. For once I made the correct choice of location, as on a day with a large amount of slow moving clouds, every single train passed in full sun!

66758 The Pavior passes Froxfield on 1 October 2018 with the 6V42 07:50 Wellingborough to Whatley Quarry stone empties. Not the most scenic location, but a picture of a GBRf stone train working is always worth having.

Although it almost looks like a light engine at first glance, this is in fact the 4O69 13:24 Hams Hall to Southampton Western Docks intermodal, pictured passing through Tackley station at high speed on 7 February 2019, led by 66758 The Pavior.

What a waste! 66758 The Pavior hauls Heathrow Express EMUs 332012 & 332005 past Churcham on 8 December 2020, taking them on their final journey to be scrapped, after a life of barely two decades. 66748 West Burton 50 is out of sight on the rear of the train. This was running as the 6X33 07:40 Old Oak Common EMU Depot to Newport Docks (Sims Group), but had actually left over two hours late. It was still 95 minutes late here, but thankfully passed in sunshine, despite a large mass of cloud rapidly approaching from the west.

66758 The Pavior passes underneath the East Coast Mainline at Heck Ings on 15 March 2022 with the 6H12 06:24 Tyne Coal Terminal to Drax Power Station biomass. What is unfortunately not apparent from this view is the fact that the entire train is visible here. Instead of the usual lengthy train, this was loaded to just ten wagons. The partially stripped turbine hall and chimney of Eggborough Power Station can be seen on the right. The plant's cooling towers had already been demolished.

With just five wagons in tow, 66758 The Pavior passes Gossington on 2 August 2024 with the 6M42 09:20 Avonmouth Hanson Sidings to Penyffordd Cement Works empty cement tanks, running exactly on time.

66758 The Pavior brings up the rear of the 6G71 08:27 Hinksey to Gloucester Yard Junction concrete sleeper and ballast train at South Marston on 28 September 2024. Hidden by the bushes at the front o f the train is 66731 Capt. Tom Moore A True British Inspiration. Note the bank of cloud in the background. This is why I didn't travel further to the west to photograph 56105 on the 6C21 06:25 Hinksey to Gloucester Yard Junction!

Dramatic lighting at Denchworth on 9 October 2015, as 66759 Chippy runs along the down relief line with the 6B11 Colnbrook Lafarge to Cardiff Docks stone empties. The name Chippy does not refer to the local town of Chipping Norton, but commemorates GBRf train manager Clive Chippington, who passed away earlier in the year. It was named on 19 September 2016, ironically just a few days after 60044 Dowlow on the previous freight train was also named.

66759 Chippy catches the very last few seconds of weak light at Challow, as the sun disappears into a bank of cloud in the west on 17 January 2019. The train is the 6V32 10:48 Tilbury to Trostre steel empties. This had left two hours late, and was still over an hour late here. The train was terminated at Pengam. Obviously it would have been in full sun if it had been running on time (it was virtually full sun just a few minutes earlier!), but I wouldn't have seen it, as I was at Crofton at the booked time.

The low winter sun is starting to accentuated the red leaves of the silver birch trees, as 66759 Chippy passes Steventon on 9 December 2022 with the late running 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre steel empties. Note the non-standard BR double arrow logo near the loco's bodyside number.

66759 Chippy passes Silchester on 6 June 2024 with the 4M32 05:24 Southampton Western Docks to Hams Hall intermodal. On this occasion it didn't matter that most of the train was hidden by bushes, as the three boxes at the front were the only ones on the train!

66759 Chippy passes Callow Hill on 19 September 2024 with the 4B58 11:43 Colnbrook Lafarge to Avonmouth West Wharf stone empties. Although this left Colnbrook on time, it got progressively later en-route, and was running 65 minutes behind time here. The artificial hill in the background is the Crapper & Sons landfill site.

66760 David Gordon Harris passes Kemble on 31 July 2016 with the GBRf Charity Railtours 1Z19 11:05 Crewe to Eastleigh 'The Crystal Maze Part 2' railtour. This makes an interesting comparison to another railtour photographed at this location two years earlier, when this was the point where the double track gave way to a long single track section towards Swindon.

66760 David Gordon Harris passes Frisby-on-the-Wreake on 30 September 2017 with the 4M23 10:34 Felixstowe North to Hams Hall intermodal. As the weather had now deteriorated, I took the opportunity to photograph this from the north side of the level crossing.

66760 David Gordon Harris & 66750 Bristol Panel Signal Box pass Ashchurch in weak early morning sunshine on 17 July 2018 with the 6M78 06:00 Pengam to Washwood Heath loaded sand train, using a rake of redundant coal hoppers. The double heading was required due to routing via the Lickey Incline.

66760 David Gordon Harris approaches Collins Lane level crossing, Purton, on 6 November 2020 with the diverted 6V32 10:23 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. This was being worked top'n'tail with 66779 Evening Star, but unfortunately that was on the rear of the train!

66760 David Gordon Harris heads west at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 25 November 2022 with the 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. The footbridge in the background is hardly ever used, except by a few photographers!

66760 David Gordon Harris passes Mortimer on 25 May 2024 with the 4M16 05:44 Southampton Western Docks to Ditton (O'Connor) intermodal. The sun, which had been out all the time on the drive to this location, disappeared shortly before this arrived!

66761 Wensleydale Railway Association 25 Years 1990-2015 passes Baulking on 28 March 2019 with the 6V32 10:48 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. The lack of clouds in the background of this picture is misleading, as there were a lot more behind me, and indeed the sun only just reappeared after a lengthy dull period, Fortunately the train was running two minutes late!

66761 Wensleydale Railway Association 25 Years 1990-2015 passes Thrupp on 2 April 2021 with the 6X01 10:18 Scunthorpe to Eastleigh steel rails. As this was Good Friday, this was one of the few freights still running.

66761 Wensleydale Railway Association 25 Years 1990-2015 passes Uffington on 18 March 2022 with the 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. Although this was running nearly half an hour early in Acton area, and again once it entered Wales, it was just a mere 4 minutes early here.

66762 has just crossed over the M18 motorway at Bessacarr on 14 March 2015, as it heads eastwards with the 4D39 13:34 Doncaster Down Decoy to Immingham Mineral Quay coal empties. The foreground shows evidence of extensive recent tree clearance, which has opened up the view considerably.

With the Humber Bridge dominating the background, 66762 approaches Melton on 3 October 2017 with the 6D09 10:15 Hull Coal Terminal to Ferrybridge Power Station gypsum. Clearly there is going to be a lot less gypsum in the wagons by the time the train gets to its destination!

66762 passes Burn on 17 September 2019 with the 4D08 09:38 Tees Dock to Doncaster Iport intermodal. This was the start of a week of virtually unbroken sunshine and unseasonably warm temperatures. Global warming!

Plenty of evidence of recent tree clearance at Yarnton on 24 June 2020. 66762 passes underneath the little used footbridge with the 4O69 13:27 Hams Hall to Southampton Western Docks intermodal. Unfortunately the front half of the train is completely empty, and the boxes on the back are totally hidden by the trees. This had left Hams Hall 40 minutes early, but that all changed at Tyseley, and it left the Birmingham area over 50 minutes late. Missing out the booked stop at Banbury meant it was only 11 minutes late here.

An appropriate choice of locomotive! 66763 Severn Valley Railway emerges from Foley Park Tunnel on 2 June 2018 with the 13:35 Kidderminster to Highley freight, during the Severn Valley Railway's Goods Gala. The loco had been named at the railway two years earlier.

66763 Severn Valley Railway passes Uffington on 6 September 2021 with the 6V59 10:10 Tonbridge West Yard to Portbury Auto Terminal stone empties. Unlike a lot of locations that I visit, this required no effort at all to get to, as it is taken by standing right next to my car, in a roadside layby.

66764 has just passed underneath the East Coat Mainline at Heck Ings on 7 April 2015 with the 6H12 06:25 Tyne Coal Terminal to Drax Power Station coal hoppers. I hope that the loco is just in need of a wash, otherwise the paintwork of the cab roof isn't holding up too well, considering 66764 is only six months old!

66765 passes Chipping Sodbury on 15 April 2015 with the 6B11 12:20 Colnbrook Lafarge to Pengam stone empties. This was running 70 minutes late, which hasn't helped the angle of the light at all. The houses of Old Sodbury can be seen in the distance, with the church standing on its own by the trees to the left of the village.

66765 passes Bourton on 20 April 2015 with the 6V43 11:56 Angerstein Wharf to Pengam stone empties. Note the fresh ballast on the up line. This had been relaid over the previous weekend, and lowered 150mm in order to accommodate the forthcoming overhead wires. Both the bridge I am standing on, and the one in the background are listed structures and cannot be altered. The blue covered rolls of material on the right are for use when the down line is lowered next weekend.

66765 passes a field of oilseed rape near Uffington on 22 April 2015 with the 6B11 12:20 Colnbrook Lafarge to Pengam stone empties. There was no damage to the crop (or getting myself covered in pollen!), as I was standing in one of the 'tramlines' used by farm machinery for spraying.

Running 25 minutes early, 66765 moves slowly along the down relief line at Challow on 8 February 2020 with the 6V32 10:07 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. The early running just resulted in a much longer stay at the end of the loop, a few hundred yards further on.

A surprise for the sheep in the field at Dunstall Bridge, Moreton-in-Marsh, on 5 September 2021, as 66765 brings up the rear of the late running GBRf 1Z35 16:00 Bescot Up And Down Goods to Paddington 'This Time It's Personal' railtour. The much more interesting 69002 Bob Tiller CM&EE & 69001 Mayflower were at the front of the train.

66765 passes Thrupp on 10 December 2021 with the 6G85 09:57 Crewe Basford Hall to Eastleigh MoD stores. This had originally started out the previous day as the 6G85 17:21 Donnington to Bescot, but due to leaving Donnington over three hours late, was terminated at Crewe. A pity about the missing container at the front of the train, but as this was running over half an hour late, at least the lighting angle had improved slightly.

66766 passes Tredington on 6 June 2018 with the 6V35 09:36 Clitheroe Castle Cement to Avonmouth Hansons Siding cement tanks. GBRf had taken over this working from DBS a couple of weeks earlier. The bridge in the background is a farm occupation bridge near Fiddington, while the red brick bridge at Claydon can just be seen in the far distance.

66766 passes Uffington on 19 September 2019 with the 4V03 09:16 Tonbridge West Yard to Cardiff Docks stone empties. Like a lot of stone trains nowadays, this is making use of redundant former coal hoppers.

66766 passes a remnant of the abandoned Didcot to Oxford electrification scheme, as it heads north at Culham on 12 July 2021 with the 4M19 11:50 Southampton Western Docks to East Midlands Gateway intermodal.

66766 Gail Richardson rounds the curve near Tackley on 26 July 2022 with the 4M46 14:24 Southampton Western Docks to Trafford Park intermodal. The loco was named a few weeks earlier, during a GBRf private charter.

Newly named 66766 Gail Richardson passes Hinksey Yard on 10 August 2022 with the 4O46 03:10 Trafford Park to Southampton Western Docks intermodal. Unfortunately the few containers were towards the rear of the train, hidden by the bushes.

66766 Gail Richardson passes Oddington on 23 May 2023 with the 6M16 12:20 Bicester MoD to Kineton MoD, conveying 25 newly converted JNA ballast wagons. These have been converted by Loram from former MRA side tippers. Two freightliner flats are bringing up the rear. The new wagons would be left at Hinksey Yard, leaving the two freightliner flats to be taken on to Kineton, for use as barriers with that evening's 6C01 19:20 Kineton MoD to Carlisle munitions train.

After having deposited most of its train in Hinksey Yard, 66766 Gail Richardson heads north at Yarnton on 23 May 2023 with the 6M16 12:20 Bicester MoD to Kineton MoD, now comprising just two freightliner flats for use as barriers with that evening's 6C01 19:20 Kineton MoD to Carlisle munitions train.

66766 Gail Richardson passes South Marston on 19 January 2024 with the 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. This is just the right length of train to fit in the gap between the masts at this location!

66767 takes the Long Marston line at Honeybourne on 18 October 2016 with the 6E33 07:41 Cardiff Docks Greenergy to Long Marston, conveying 24 TEA oil tanks for storage. Annoyingly this was just before the sun came out. Even more annoying was the fact that the sun stayed out while the train was stopped a few yards further on, in an unphotographable position!

66767 King's Cross PSB 1971 - 2021 overtakes a cyclist, as it passes Kennington on 9 June 2021 with the 4O46 03:10 Trafford Park to Southampton Western Docks intermodal. As this was at a time when many people were going to work, it is a bit of a surprise that only one cyclist features in this picture!

66768 passes Worting Junction on 12 August 2024 with the 4M37 07:43 Southampton Western Docks to Hams Hall intermodal. This was running 61 minutes late, after a 73 minute late departure. It didn't make any difference, as it arrived at its destination five minutes early!

An unusual daylight working for the Cardiff Docks to Port Clarence Greenergy empty oil tanks. 66769 is pictured passing Burn in the very last of the weak sunlight on Sunday 13 March 2016 with the 6E35 09:30 Cardiff to Port Clarence.

66769 coasts along the down relief line at Challow on 4 January 2019 with the 6V30 09:49 Grain Thamesport to Margam steel empties. This was running exactly to time, and stopped here for the booked 18 minutes. However, in South Wales it didn't stop at Llanwern as booked, and consequently passed Cardiff 87 minutes early!

Conveying just two bogie oil tanks for cleaning, 66769 passes Badgeworth on 9 January 2019 with the 6Z31 07:56 Cardiff Docks Greenergy to Long Marston. I had intended to photograph this further down the line towards Lydney, but the late running 6Z01 05:29 Derby RTC to Okehampton rail grinder move, meant I didn't have time to travel any further west.

Black liveried 66769 LMA League Managers Association passes Lower Wick on 16 August 2023 with the 6V84 07:38 Clitheroe Castle Cement to Avonmouth Hanson Siding cement tanks. The bridge in the background is the M5 motorway.

66770 passes Whitley Bridge Junction on 13 February 2019 with he 6M36 09:40 Drax Power Station to Liverpool biomass empties. Because it was a very dull day, I decided to take this from the north side of the line, which gives a much better view of the rusting lines curving away to the disused Eggborough Power Station. The distinctive tall thin brick tower of Hensall church can just be seen (at least on the hi-res version!) in the distance, above the third wagon.

Having just passed by its ultimate destination, the 6M23 12:57 Doncaster Decoy to Mountsorrel ballast empties passes Cossington on 21 February 2019, led by 66770. The loco would shortly run round its train at Leicester Humberstone Road.

66770 brings up the rear of the 6Z15 15:55 Eastleigh to Chaddesden Sidings at Yarnton on 20 July 2020. The barrier vehicles had been used earlier in the day on a Derby to Eastleigh EMU move. 66742 Port of Immingham Centenary 1912 - 2012 is at the head of the train.

66770 heads north past Wormleighton Crossing on 7 February 2023 with the 4M19 11:50 Southampton Western Docks to East Midlands Gateway intermodal. This was running 17 minutes late, but after Dorridge it was running 23 minutes early. It then all went wrong in the Kingsbury area, becoming over an hour late!

66772 passes through the site of Shrivenham station on 13 March 2017 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. This view is a lot clearer than it was a few years ago, when a wide view like this would not have been possible due to bushes growing on the old platform. However, a completely over the top fence on the new roadbridge now makes photography quite difficult.

Lovely soft early morning light at Spetchley on 29 June 2019. 66772 heads north with the 6M90 04:57 Avonmouth Hansons Siding to Clitheroe Castle Cement empty cement tanks. It has just passed underneath the footbridge that has been a well known vantage point for generations of photographers, and has so far managed to avoid being replaced by the more modern photographer unfriendly type.

66772 passes Churchdown on 5 July 2019 with the 4M75 08:19 Avonmouth Hansons Siding to Clitheroe Castle Cement empty cement tanks. Very high overhead midday lighting, but worth photographing because of the distinctive silver tanks.

66772 Maria passes Yarnton on 29 October 2019 with the 4E34 05:28 Southampton Western Docks to Doncaster Iport intermodal. Note the evidence of recent lineside vegetation clearance, as yet on one side of the line only.

66773 approaches Stocks Lane level crossing, Steventon, on 8 November 2017 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. Villagers I have spoken to are not at all happy with Network Rail, concerning the amount of time these barriers are left down. For instance, after the passage of a couple of HSTs, the barriers were left down for this train, even though it was still stopped in the loop at Wantage Road nearly four miles away! Although this is only a minor road, just serving the village, there was now naturally a lengthy queue of traffic building up.

66774 passes Hungerford Common on 24 September 2018 with the diverted 6V32 10:48 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. This was diverted via the Berks & Hants line due to electfrication work at Bristol Parkway. Needles to say, with this unusual routing, a recently cleared location, and a perfect sunny day, there were lots of photographers at this location, which caused some amusement to some passers by!

66774 passes Hungerford Common on 27 September 2018 with the diverted 6V32 10:48 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. This train was photographed here, with the same loco, four days earlier. Note than in the meantime the last few bushes by the fence on the right have disappeared!

66774 passes Up Hatherley on 2 August 2021 with the 6M42 09:20 Avonmouth Hanson Sidings to Penyffordd Cement Works empty cement tanks. Once a particular loco gets onto this train, it can stay on it for weeks, much to the displeasure of the local photographers!

66775 brings up the rear of the 0X66 10:45 Newport Docks to Doncaster Roberts Road at Broken Cross on 15 February 2016. The rest of the convoy consists of 66773, 66774, 66778, 66779 (sheeted), 66776 & 66777, with 66708 Jayne providing the power at the front end. The reason that 66779 is covered is to hide its unique green livery, which will be revealed when it is named Evening Star, marking the end of Class 66 production, and echoing the naming of 9F 2-10-0 92220 Evening Star in 1960.

66775 just manages to catch a brief patch of sunshine, as it passes South Marston on 28 March 2017 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. It is passing the junction for the disused (at present) line into the South Marston Industrial Estate. Note that there is still a complete absence of any overhead electfrication infrastructure at this location.

66775 passes through Appleford station on 29 March 2017 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. This is not a very pleasant place to stand, as the bridge has no footpath, and the visibility for cars approaching on the busy road is not good.

66775 HMS Argyll passes Cliffe on 22 February 2019 with the 6D72 11:32 Hull Dairycoates to Rylstone Tilcon stone empties. Note that the loco also carries the Royal Navy's F231 number underneath the HMS Argyll nameplate.

66775 HMS Argyll just manages to avoid the shadows, as it approaches Didcot North Junction on 29 July 2021 with the 4E34 05:27 Southampton Western Docks to Doncaster Iport intermodal. This was running seven minutes early, but by missing out its booked stop in Hinksey Yard (a common occurrence) it would soon be running nearly an hour early.

66776 Joanne slowly rolls to a signal stop at Standish Junction on 26 March 2019 with the 6A36 14:23 Ashchurch to Bicester MoD train. The previous night it had worked the 6X34 20:42 Marchwood to Ashchurch, conveying armoured vehicles, but I hadn't been keen enough to get up well before dawn to go out for this, despite it being the first train into Ashchurch for some considerable time. This train is of course the returning empty wagons. Note the tractor in the field, who's driver seems to be watching proceedings!

66776 Joanne approaches Didcot North Junction on 20 July 2021 with the 4E34 05:27 Southampton Western Docks to Doncaster Iport intermodal. This is a fairly intermittent working, with it being cancelled on two days during this particular week.

66776 Joanne passes Wormleighton Crossing on 7 February 2023 with the 6G99 06:45 Tunstead Sidings to Banbury Reservoir Tarmac, conveying another load of stone for HS2. This had missed out its booked stop at Dorridge, and consequently arrived at nearby Leamington Spa 72 minutes early. It then proceeded to wait until its booked time, while the sun gradually faded out!

66777 Annette heads north past Heyford on 31 July 2020 with the 4E34 05:13 Southampton Western Docks to Doncaster Iport intermodal. This was running 54 minutes early, having gone straight past Hinksey Yard, rather than waiting there for over 50 minutes, as booked.

The penultimate Class 66, 66778, approaches Steventon on 5 January 2017 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. The rusty abandoned electfrication mast base lying in the foreground seems to sum up the whole mismanaged project!

66779 Evening Star passes Hinksey Yard at speed on 12 September 2016 with the 5Z15 11:22 Eastleigh to Burton upon Trent Wetmore Sidings ECS. This was the stock that had been used on the mammoth GBRf fifteenth anniversary four day tour of Britain, the highlight of which was undoubtedly the use of 20118 & 20132. 66779 is the final member of the extensive Class 66 fleet, and GBRf very commendably chose to mark this by echoing the livery and name of the final steam locomotive built by British Railways, 9F 2-10-0 92220 Evening Star. The result certainly looks very smart, even in this very poor light.

66779 Evening Star passes Little Haresfield on 22 September 2016 with the 6V80 19:53 Gascoigne Wood to Portbury Coal Terminal gypsum, a working which had been working for a couple of weeks. I seem to have got an unintentional and slightly distorted reflection of myself and the bridge parapet in the loco's windscreens! Note that Network Rail's abandoned lineside vegetation now includes a crop of apples (immediate foreground)!

66779 Evening Star passes Barby Nortoft on 2 June 2020 with the 4M46 12:05 London Gateway to Hams Hall intermodal. I wouldn't normally do a 110 mile round trip just to photograph a Class 66 under the wires, but as this loco has managed to elude me for several years, and as it was guaranteed to be completely sunny, it was definitely worth the effort. The green liveried last built 'Shed' certain looks smart in the sunshine, and the orange and yellow containers add some nice colour contrast to the scene.

66779 Evening Star runs along the down relief line at Challow on 19 October 2020 with the 6V32 10:23 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. Out of sight on the rear is 66755 Tony Berkeley OBE RFG Chairman 1997-2018. I was extremely lucky with the light here, as the sun was on the very edge of a large mass of cloud, and by the time the train had rolled to a stop at the red signal a few hundred yards further on, the sun had completely disappeared!

After waiting in Challow loop for 25 minutes, 66779 Evening Star gets underway again, and passes Baulking on 19 October 2020 with the 6V32 10:23 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. The train would later encounter nearly an hour's delay at Bristol Parkway.

66779 Evening Star passes Uffington on 7 March 2021 with the 6G70 08:00 Castle Cary to Hinksey engineer's train, comprising just six wagons, albeit of three different types. This was running 55 minutes early, as is often the case with departmental trains returning from weekend engineering possessions. In this case it was because it missed out its booked stops at both Bristol Parson Street and Swindon Stratton Green. Not only was it sunny further west, but also around this area around its booked time, and for the rest of the day! At least the short train just fits in the gap here.

A green loco in an almost totally green landscape. 66779 Evening Star passes Up Hatherley on 29 June 2022 with the 6V84 07:38 Clitheroe Castle Cement to Avonmouth cement tanks. The train comprises three JPA bogie tanks and 11 PCA four wheel vehicles.

Cemex liveried 66780 runs alongside the North Soak Drain at Crowle on 5 November 2018 with the 4R15 09:40 Drax Power Station to Immingham coal empties. This is another location that I had been meaning to visit for some time, but it needed a dull day such as this, due to being on the north side of the line.

66780 The Cemex Express passes Souldern Wharf on 16 September 2020 with the 4O69 13:27 Hams Hall to Southampton Western Docks intermodal. Another one of the GBRf one-offs that has largely eluded me, up until now, although I did see it once prior to its naming.

66780 The Cemex Express & 66786 pass Yarnton in superb late afternoon light on 15 March 2021 with the 6X01 10:18 Scunthorpe to Eastleigh steel rails. By the time this train gets to the Oxford area it is normally running well ahead of schedule, but on this occasion it sat in Aynho loop as booked, and so was on time here. This was a bonus, as at the earlier time it was still mostly cloudy.

Dominated by a huge pile of crushed stone, 66781 runs slowly past the quarry sidings at Peak Forest on 9 June 2018. A road runs parallel with the line here, offering a number of easily accessible photographic vantage points.

A stone train on the Cotswold Line? Not quite, as this lengthy rake of stone hoppers is heading for storage at Long Marston. The working is the 6Z42 07:00 Mantle Lane to Long Marston, pictured approaching the site of Littleton & Badsey station on 17 September 2020, behind 66781.

Biffa the Red Engine! With a livery this garish, you almost expect to see a smiley face on the front! 66783 The Flying Dustman passes Yarnton in the rain on 4 April 2018 with the 6E45 12:05 Theale to Immingham empty oil tanks. The bright orangey red body, with orange cabs certainly shows up well in the dull light, and despite the poor weather I thought it worth going out to record this working, as the loco is still in ex-works condition, after having been named just a week earlier.

66784 Keighley & Worth Valley Railway passes Melton Ross on 2 December 2019 with the late running 6M81 13:45 Immingham to Ratcliffe Power Station imported coal. Although some of the wagons have had their EWS branding painted out, others still bear witness to their former owner.

66784 Keighley & Worth Valley Railway passes Crowle on 4 December 2019 with the 4R79 10:04 Doncaster Down Decoy to Immingham coal empties. Note the wind farm in the background, one of many in the area, and the reason why there are many less coal trains, such as this.

66785 moves onto the relief line at Kilby Bridge with the 6F93 11:06 Churchyard Sidings to Ketton cement empties on 31 July 2020, just as the 1B48 13:45 Nottingham to St Pancras International East Midlands Railway HST passes by in the background.

66786 passes the site of Bletchingdon station on 19 April 2019 with the 6X01 10:17 Scunthorpe to Eastleigh rails. The ash tree in the foreground has severely compromised this view, compared to the much wider view available in the 1980s.

66786 passes Crabley Creek on 3 December 2019 with the 6D72 11:32 Hull Dairycoates to Rylstone Tilcon stone empties. As unfortunately now seems to be commonplace, most of the wagons are covered in graffiti.

66787 runs alongside the recently dredged North Soak Drain at Crowle on 5 November 2018 with the 4R70 09:00 Cottam Power Station to Immingham coal empties. Note the use of ex EWS hoppers. On the right is my 456,000 mile Honda Accord.

66787 & 66711 Sense head north at Hambleton on 12 November 2022, running as the 0S15 14:12 Doncaster Down Decoy to Tyne Yard light engine. A little earlier 66711 had travelled down from the north as the 0D08 10:54 Tees Dock to Doncaster Down Decoy, in lieu of the 4D08 09:33 Tees Dock to Doncaster Iport intermodal.

66788 passes Hensall in the rain on 12 March 2019 with the 4R15 09:40 Drax Power Station to Immingham coal empties. This picture is taken from the site of the former Eggborough Ings level crossing, and so I could sit in the car parked just feet away, out of the rain until the very last moment!

66788 Locomotion 15 emerges from Crick Tunnel on 31 July 2020 with the 4M23 10:36 Felixstowe North to Hams Hall intermodal. Crick Tunnel, on the Northampton loop, is only 595 yards long, compared with the 2,432 yard long Kilsby Tunnel on the adjacent main London to Birmingham line.

66789 British Rail 1948-1997 approaches Culham on 28 March 2018 with the 6E45 12:05 Theale to Immingham empty oil tanks. It was raining when I arrived at this location, but this train was running half an hour late, and by that time some unexpected sunshine was occasionally breaking through the clouds, hence the less than ideal backlighting. Even with the late running, there was still plenty of time for another picture the other side of Oxford.

66789 British Rail 1948-1997 passes Wolvercote on 28 March 2018 with the 6E45 12:05 Theale to Immingham empty oil tanks. I had already photographed this train at Culham, but its booked stop at Oxford North Junction easily allowed a second picture. There are numerous 'what if' scenarios, both in model form, and on the internet, showing what various vintage locos would look like if they had lasted long enough to receive modern liveries. GBRf have chosen the other route, showing what a Class 66 would have looked like if built thirty years earlier, and it certainly looks very smart!

66789 British Rail 1948-1997 passes Whitley Bridge Junction in superb light on 22 February 2019 with the 4R21 15:33 Drax Power Station to Immingham coal empties. This was running 12 minutes early, passing me exactly at its booked departure time from Drax. This picture highlights what an excellent livery the large logo colour scheme was, even making a Class 66 look interesting! Given the fine weather, and notable traction, I was surprised to be the only photographer present at this exceedingly well known location.

66789 British Rail 1948-1997 looks superb in the spring sunshine, as it rounds the curve at Hatton North Junction on 25 March 2019 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. The pride of GBRf's fleet had been involved with the Class 50 railtour to the West Country at the weekend, which it explains its somewhat rare visit to the south. The prospect of a perfect sunny picture of this train was too good to resist, especially as the working is due to be handed over to Colas in a few week's time.

In a few seconds worth of sunshine, amid the clouds, 66789 British Rail 1948-1997 passes Baulking on 27 April 2019 with the 6V32 10:07 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. This train was diverted via Gloucester, as the Severn Tunnel route was closed for engineering works, and so I should really have photographed it on the Swindon to Gloucester line. However, most of that line would have either been backlit, or quite possibly under a blanket of cloud. At least the dramatic lighting here makes up for the clutter of 25kV overhead catenary in the background!

66789 British Rail 1948-1997 approaches Bredon on 2 May 2019 with the 6V35 09:44 Clitheroe Castle Cement to Avonmouth cement tanks. This is definitely the only 'Shed' that I would go out specifically to photograph, especially in weather like this! It was actually reasonably fine when I left home, but a little way into the journey the heavy rain set in, and when I arrived at Bredon, I sat in the car for a while, as the rain poured down. Then, amazingly, just as the trains I had intended to photograph were due, it almost stopped raining, only to start again, as I drove home!

66789 British Rail 1948-1997 passes Spetchley on 16 May 2019 with the 6V35 09:44 Clitheroe Castle Cement to Avonmouth cement tanks. This was running just two minutes late, but that was enough for it to miss a short and very unexpected sunny spell. At least it had only just started to go into thin cloud, and there is still a trace of a shadow, unlike the overall gloom of the previous couple of hours! The loco was specifically selected to work this train on this occasion, in order for it to be in the south, so that it could be used at the following weekend's Severn Valley Diesel Gala.

66789 British Rail 1948-1997 passes Hambleton on 1 July 2019 with the 4D08 09:38 Tees Dock to Doncaster Iport intermodal. This picture is taken from Field Lane, which has become virtually traffic free, since the Selby bypass cut it in half, and turned it into a no through road.

66789 British Rail 1948-1997 brings up the rear of the 6G16 09:10 Haslemere to Eastleigh East Yard departmental working at Potbridge on 8 March 2020. 66754 Northampton Saints is doing the work at the front of the train.

Running an hour early (as usual!), 66789 British Rail 1948-1997 passes Yarnton on 21 July 2020 with the 6X01 10:17 Scunthorpe to Eastleigh long welded rails. The bridge in the background is the A44 Oxford to Woodstock road.

This was welcome surprise. The booked loco for the 4O69 13:27 Hams Hall to Southampton Western Docks intermodal on 21 September 2020 was 66744, so I got a shock when this appeared round the corner. 66789 British Rail 1948-1997 approaches Wormleighton Crossing, running nearly an hour late. Presumably the late running is explained by the failure of 66744. The red signal in the background indicates that 60017 has only just got out of the way with the 6E45 13:05 Theale to Humber Oil Refinery oil empties.

66789 British Rail 1948-1997 passes Yarnton on 15 April 2022 with the 6O01 10:05 Doncaster Up Decoy to Eastleigh East Yard rails. As is often the case, this had missed out its booked stop in Aynho Up Goods Loop, and was consequently running 55 minutes early. Unfortunately the sun was on the very edge of a large cloud. Had it been about 30 seconds later, or had I been stood in the next field, it would have been in full sun!

Large logo liveried 66789 British Rail 1948-1997 passes through Tackley station on 21 September 2023 with the 4M46 14:24 Southampton Western Docks to Trafford Park intermodal. The loco has just passed over the former public footpath crossing. This has now been closed on safety grounds, and pedestrians now have to walk along the platform, cross the footbridge, and then walk the entire length of the other platform.

The 6O01 10:18 Scunthorpe Trent Traffic Centre to Eastleigh East Yard rail train was worth photographing on 19 September 2023, not so much for the train's loco, 66790 Louise, but for the fact that newly converted 69010 (the former 56060) was hitching a lift to Eastleigh in green undercoat, ready for its new coat of paint. It is pictured passing Tackley, running 16 minutes early.

66791 brings up the rear of the 6X32 09:05 Old Oak Common EMU Depot to Newport Docks (Sims Group) at Shrivenham on 10 February 2021.  The train was conveying Heathrow Express EMUs 332011 & 332009 for scrapping, and was being led by 66726 Sheffield Wednesday. This shows just how hopeless the view looking west from the footbridge at the site of Ashbury Crossing now is.

66791 rounds the curve at Braybrooke on 30 March 2021 with the 6M54 12:20 Colnbrook Lafarge to Bardon Hill stone empties. Sometimes the simplest liveries are the best (the blue loco, not the first two wagons)!

66791 passes Yarnton on 3 May 2022 with the 4M19 11:50 Southampton Western Docks to East Midlands Gateway Terminal intermodal. This is one of the few locations in the Oxford area that is actually better for photography now compared with the 1980s, both because of the erection of a footbridge, and because of recent tree clearance.

Running 28 minutes early, 66791 passes Fiddington on 6 February 2023 with the 6V84 07:38 Clitheroe Castle Cement to Avonmouth cement tanks. The loco, which was imported from Sweden, wears Beacon Rail Leasing livery.

66791 slowly approaches Ashchurch station on 12 August 2023 with the 4Z36 10:40 Kineton MoD to Ashchurch MoD, conveying a lengthy rake of freightliner flats, which would used for the following day's loaded train. It was just about to stop to pick up two railmen, who would later be required for the propelling move along the MoD line seen on the left. The exchange sidings can be seen underneath the bridge in the background. Note how rusty the track on the left is, having not seen a train for several years.

After having run round its train at Worcester, 66791 passes through Ashchurch station for the second time on 12 August 2023 with the 4Z36 10:40 Kineton MoD to Ashchurch MoD freightliner flats. The train would shortly come to a stand and then reverse along the rusty track into the army depot. Vegetation had recently been cleared along the branch, in preparation for this train.

66791 very slowly propels the 4Z36 10:40 Kineton MoD to Ashchurch MoD round the sharp curve into the army depot at Ashchurch on 12 August 2023. Two men were walking in front of the train, as there are a couple of footpath crossings around the corner. Even with a couple of men on the ground, propelling such a lengthy train of freightliner flats round such a tight curve, with no visibility, is something you don't really expect to see in today's ultra safety conscious railway!

66791 passes Kemble on 13 August 2023 with the 6Z35 14:21 Ashchurch MoD to Marchwood MoD, conveying 54 containers. This left Ashchurch nearly an hour early, but was held at Gloucester, and was only 9 minutes early here. Apart from the slight colour variation, MoD stores trains don't look a lot different nowadays to a revenue earning freightliner train. I chose this location, not only for the elevated viewpoint, but also because the light angle would be ideal. Unfortunately the intermittent sunshine disappeared as soon as I arrived, and just before the train was due it became extremely dark, and then started to rain!

66792 passes Uffington on 2 December 2021 with the 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. This picture gives a false impression of just how cloudy it was. Although it was sunny for most of the day, by this time there was a huge sheet of cloud extending from directly above me, almost to the horizon in the west, with just a few gaps, so I was very lucky to get this in the sun.

With a toot from the driver, 66792 Collaboration passes Uffington on 23 August 2023 with the diverted 6V70 23:48 Liverpool Euro Metal to Swindon Cocklebury scrap empties. This was diverted via Oxford due to the Gloucester to Swindon line being closed for engineering works. I shouldn't really have been able take this picture, as it was booked past here in the dark at 05:35. However, it was running a staggering 219 minutes late.

66793 & 47749 City of Truro pass Yarnton on 26 March 2021 with the 5E02 12:34 Eastleigh Works to Doncaster Down Decoy, conveying barrier vehicles 64707 Labezerin & 64664 Liwet (both former Class 508 EMU vehicles). This was 66793's first outing, after being painted into the 1987 style Railfreight Construction livery. It seems that GBRf are determined to have at least one example of all previous diesel loco liveries! The loco is a former Beacon Rail loco, recently imported from Germany.

66793 passes Uffington on 17 May 2022 with the 5Q55 10:38 Stewarts Lane to Newport Docks (Sims Group), conveying former Southern EMUs 455809 & 455816 for scrap. The Trainload Construction logo isn't weathering very well. It doesn't seem to be sticking to the lower parts of the corrugated bodyside, and several sections have already peeled off.

66793 passes Baulking on 28 July 2022 with the 4B77 10:45 Colnbrook Lafarge to Avonmouth West Wharf stone empties. Amazingly, this was followed just 17 minutes later by another of GBRf's celebrity repaints - 66734 Platinum Jubilee with the very late running 5Q55 10:38 Stewarts Lane to Newport Docks (Sims Group) withdrawn EMUs.

66793 passes Uffington on 28 October 2022 with the 6V32 10:22 Tilbury to Trostre Works steel empties. The smart Railfreight Construction liveried loco is in marked contrast to the weather beaten and vandalised wagons!

Railfreight Petroleum liveried 66794 Steve Hannam passes Minety on 5 July 2022 with the diverted 5Q55 08:57 Stewarts Lane to Newport Docks (Sims Group), conveying former Southern EMUs 455840 & 455815 on their final journey to the breaker's yard. The barrier vehicles are 64707 Labezerin & 64664 Liwet. Surprisingly, although this location is only a short distance from home, this is the first time I have ever taken a picture looking in this direction from the bridge near the site of Minety and Ashton Keynes station.

66794 Steve Hannam, 69008 & 66774 pass Tackley on 21 September 2023 with the 6O01 10:18 Scunthorpe Trent Traffic Centre to Eastleigh East Yard, which on this occasion included a Balfour Beatty crane, and eight wagons loaded with concrete sleepers. Just two days earlier I had photographed this same train, at this same location, again with a Class 69 hitching a ride in the consist.

Running nearly an hour late, the 0M69 08:18 Eastleigh East Yard to Longport light engine move passes Tackley on 5 May 2021, with 66704 Colchester Power Signalbox hauling freshly painted 69002 & 66798. Note that 66798 has still to be fitted with all three light clusters. I was extremely lucky to get this in the sun, as even as the train passed through Tackley station, just a short distance to the south, the sun was still behind a very large slow moving cloud. Luckily at the very last minute the sun came out.

66798 passes Little Haresfield on 24 March 2023 with the 6M42 09:20 Avonmouth Hanson Sidings to Penyffordd cement tanks. This was running 75 minutes early, having actually left Avonmouth at 08:38. This loco is the former Dutch Railways 561-03.

Not only is the lighting grim, but I nearly got bowled by a HST! 66843 slowly passes Compton Beauchamp on 17 April 2011 with the 6Z78 14:05 Margam to Dollands Moor steel. I saw it appear in the distance underneath the Ashbury Crossing footbridge before I could even hear the HST from behind me. I was just on the point of moving to the other side of the bridge (which isn't quite as good as a viewpoint), when I realised that due to the massive difference in speeds, the HST would just get out of the way in time.

66844 dodges the rapidly lengthening shadows, as it arrives at Kemble on 9 January 2011 with the diverted 6O55 13:20 Llanwern to Dollands Moor steel train. With the Severn Tunnel closed for signaling work, the train was routed via Gloucester and the 'Golden Valley' line. It is pictured here slowly approaching the station, where it had to wait for the 13:30 Paddington to Swansea train to clear the single track section from Swindon. Unfortunately, the trees and deep cutting the other side of the station effectively ruled out another picture.

66845 passes Kemble Wick on 23 January 2011 with the diverted 6O55 13:20 Llanwern to Dollands Moor steel train. Despite the fact that the lighting was abysmal, I ventured out for this picture, as the sight of any freight train on the Gloucester to Swindon line is noteworthy. The train is diverted via Gloucester for a number of Sundays in the early part of the year due to the closure of the Severn Tunnel. I chose this location as a dull day is required due to the depth of the cutting. Also, it shows the entrance to Kemble Tunnel and the spire of Kemble church in the background.

Owing to 66844 slipping to a stand whilst climbing Sapperton Bank two weeks previously, the diverted 6O55 13:20 Llanwern to Dollands Moor steel train was double headed on 30 January 2011. Nearly half of Colas Rail's Class 66 fleet is pictured here, as 66845 & 66844 pass Standish Junction, unfortunately in a cloudy spell. The train is on the 'Golden Valley' route, having diverged from the Birmingham to Bristol line at Standish Junction, just out of sight around the corner.

Colas Railfreight took over the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train from DBS on Monday 21 October 2013. For the first two days the weather was terrible, so I didn't bother to venture out. Wednesday 23 October looked like it might be a better day, so I went to Circourt Bridge at Denchworth. Unfortunately it seemed like the weather would again be hopeless, as the clouds started to build up rapidly. However, just at the critical moment the clouds parted. Running exactly on time, 66846 runs along the up relief line in stunning light.

On the fourth day of being operated by Colas, and the second day on which the sun decided to make an appearance, 66846 passes Uffington on 24 October 2013 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. This is the site of Uffington loops, hence the wide track formation, and the redundant signals in the background. The loops were removed after the section from Challow to Wantage Road was quadrupled in the early 1990s.

66846 passes Bourton on 30 October 2013 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. This was running fifteen minutes early, which was extremely fortunate, as by the correct time the large black cloud visible in the background had caught up with the sun! I am being quite lucky with this working since it was acquired by Colas, having seen it in similar light the previous week.

With the cooling towers and chimney of the redundant Didcot Power Station in the background, 66846 runs slowly along the down relief line at Milton on 8 March 2014 with the 6V62 11:12 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties.

66846 piles on the power, and spews put some uncharacteristic sooty black smoke, as it leaves the loop at Steventon on 8 March 2014 with the 6V62 11:12 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. This view has now changed, with the demolition of Didcot A Power Station's cooling towers. Didcot B's gas fired plant (on the left) remains.

Running 35 minutes early, by virtue of missing out its booked layover at Steventon, 66846 passes the site Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham on 15 March 2014 with the 6V62 11:12 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties.

66846 leads the 3S31 13:14 Gloucester Horton Road to Worcester Shrub Hill Rail Head Treatment Train past Bredon on 26 October 2017. Classmate 66848 is on the rear. Note that the train is not spraying, as a fault had developed with the equipment. This resulted in the train being put in the loop at Eckington, just over a mile further north, and then sent back to Gloucester via a reversal at Worcester, missing out the bulk of its diagram via Hereford and Craven Arms.

This is one of those situations where the conventional viewpoint is so hopelessly backlit that the only sensible option is to take the going away shot. So here is 66846 bringing up the rear of the 3S31 13:14 Gloucester Horton Road to Worcester Shrub Hill Rail Head Treatment Train at Fiddington on 30 October 2017. 66848 is leading the train.

66846 brings up the rear of the 6C97 07:20 Worle Junction to Hinksey rail carriers at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 3 February 2019. This train, which was being hauled by 70812, was running 89 minutes early, which is nothing unusual for a Sunday engineer's train.

66846 approaches Didcot North Junction on 12 February 2020 with the 6O26 10:48 Hinksey to Eastleigh departmental working. This is my first picture of this train since it was taken over by Colas. It was previously worked by Freightliner, and before that DB Schenker.

Viewed from the footbridge in the fields near Yarnton, 66846 heads north with a single wagon on the 6M28 17:54 Hinksey to Bescot departmental working on 20 July 2020. It was running just 26 minutes early here. That would become 63 minutes early by Leamington Spa, 94 minutes at Tyseley, and final arrival at Bescot was 102 minutes early!

66846 passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 7 September 2021 with the featherweight 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot engineer's train. Note the huge rust patch on the relatively new bridge in the background. As Network Rail do not understand the concept of repainting metal structures, this will presumably just get worse, until it has to be replaced.

66846 brings up the rear of the 3S59 21:03 Swindon Transfer to Swindon Transfer (via Bristol, the Welsh Valleys and Hereford) Rail Head Treatment Train at Pandy on 30 October 2021. 66848 is leading. Considering the locos have been on these RHTT duties for some time, it's surprising they are not wearing the usual 'RHTT brown' livery!

66846 approaches Chaddington Lane, Wootton Bassett, on 19 November 2022 with the early running 3S59 09:00 Hereford to Swindon Transfer Rail Head Treatment Train. Hired in West Coast Railways 37668 is bringing up the rear.

66846 approaches Didcot North Junction on 30 August  2023 with the 6O24 09:39 Hinksey to Eastleigh ballast empties. The masts for the abandoned Didcot to Oxford line electrification can be seen in the background.

66846 approaches Didcot North Junction in heavy rain on 26 September 2023 with the 6O24 09:39 Hinksey to Eastleigh empty ballast hoppers. The rain only lasted a few minutes, but that was enough for me to get completely soaked!

66846 brings up the rear of the 3S32 11:07 Cheltenham Lansdown Loop to Swindon Transfer Rail Head Treatment Train at Kemble Wick on 16 November 2023, with 56078 leading. This view clearly shows why these trains are needed, although because Network Rail no longer control the lineside vegetation, the wheel slip problem is largely of their own making!

A meeting of diverted Colas powered trains at Standish Junction on 30 July 2024. 66846 heads north with the 6M40 11:42 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties, just as 37116 heads in the opposite direction with the 3Z01 11:11 Derby RTC to Canton Taff Vale Sidings Network Rail test train. In theory these trains should have passed at Cheltenham, but the 37 was running 10 minutes early, and the 66 38 minutes late. The 37 was diverted because the Chepstow line was closed, and the 66 was rerouted because the Banbury line was shut.

66847 passes Denchworth on 8 January 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Luckily this was running 25 minutes early, as this lovely early morning light did not last long, and had it ran at the correct time, it would have been totally cloudy. This was not forecast, although admittedly the sun did return an hour later, but only weakly, through a veil of high cloud.

66847 brings up the rear of the 3S59 19:47 Bristol Barton Hill to Bristol Barton Hill (via South Wales) Rail Head Treatment Train at Purton on 20 October 2018. 66850 David Maidment OBE is the lead locomotive. Photo taken from a public footpath crossing.

Smoking profusely, 66847 Terry Baker passes Yarnton on 24 June 2020 with the 6M28 Hinksey to Bescot departmental working. As seems to be normal practice in summer 2020, this was running very early, in this case 160 minutes early! Instead of its booked departure time of 17:54, it had left Hinksey at 15:38, and then proceeded to miss out its booked stop at Oxford North Junction.

66847 Terry Baker passes Wormleighton Crossing on 21 September 2020 with the 6M40 11:42 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. This location offers a good view in both directions, albeit with the train emerging from the vegetation in both cases.

66847 Terry Baker passes Compton Beauchamp on 23 August 2021 with the 16:42 Hinksey to Mountain Ash ballast. 66848 is bringing up the rear. Another year's growth of the bush on the left will probably mean that yet another Great Western Mainline location becomes unusable.

With 66847 Terry Baker at the rear, and 66849 Wylam Dilly leading, the 3S15 14:05 Masborough to York Thrall Europa Rail Head Treatment Train passes through Church Fenton station on 17 October 2023. This was running 87 minutes late.

66848 passes North Stafford Junction on 12 November 2013 with the 4V30 08:09 Ratcliffe Power Station to Avonmouth coal empties. The bridge in the background is the extremely well known photographic location of Stenson Junction.

66848 passes Yarnton on 20 January 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. I definitely would not normally take a picture of a Class 66 with the sun right behind the train, and virtually shining into the lens (thank goodness for a deep lens hood!). In this case however, a couple of points made it worthwhile. Firstly the inclusion of the RHTT tanks in the train, and secondly the floods in the field are neatly showing up the remains of the medieval ridge and furrow field system.

Running an hour early, 66848 passes Baulking on 29 March 2014 with the 6V62 11:12 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. With its two large signal gantries, this location is getting me used to the kind of photographic problems that the forthcoming Great Western Mainline electrification is going to pose!

66848 ambles along the up relief line at Denchworth on 10 June 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. I never thought I would be glad to see the return of a Class 66, but after three months of Class 70 haulage, it almost makes it worthwhile going out for the picture again, although not as worthwhile as when some more interesting traction was in charge! The bridge in the background is the well known Circourt Bridge. Notice how the long lens has exaggerated the slightly worrying track alignment on the down relief line, although thankfully not on the main lines.

Wearing standard 'RHTT brown' livery, Colas 66848 leads the 3S31 13:14 Gloucester Horton Road to Worcester Shrub Hill Rail Head Treatment Train past Defford on 25 October 2017. Only marginally cleaner 66846 is bringing up the rear.

A location that I had been meaning to visit for some time is Ley Court, between Oakle Street and Grange Court. As 2 November 2018 was a completely sunny day, I decided to go there for the 3S33 11:08 Cheltenham Lansdown Loop to Gloucester Horton Road (via Newport) Rail Head Treatment Train. As the train's earlier working, the 3S32 22:37 Gloucester Horton Road to Cheltenham Lansdown Loop, was on time when I left home, I was surprised that it was now running 78 minutes early. Sure enough, a glance up the line revealed an approaching headlight, so I had literally less than a minute to get ready for this picture after arriving at the location! 66848 is leading, with 56096 on the rear.

With a partially inserted steel pile for the abandoned Didcot to Oxford electfrication project in the foreground, 66848 passes Culham on 5 June 2020 with the 6V27 13:27 Eastleigh East Yard to Hinksey Yard ballast.

Running 156 minutes early, 66848 & 66850 David Maidment OBE pass Thrupp on 2 April 2021, running as the 0M28 17:54 (15:25 actual) Hinksey to Bescot. Earlier in the day they had arrived at Hinksey as the 0V27 13:27 Eastleigh to Hinksey.

An amazing piece of luck at South Marston on 24 August 2021. In no more than 20 seconds of sunshine, 66848 heads east along the Great Western Mainline with the 6Y47 05:15 Mountain Ash to Hinksey ballast empties, with 66847 Terry Baker bringing up the rear. As soon as the lead loco had passed me, the sun disappeared again. Although it was a fairly sunny day later on, at this time in the morning the whole area was under a mass of dark cloud, so this was a real bonus.

66848 passes Pandy on 30 October 2021 with the 3S59 21:03 Swindon Transfer to Swindon Transfer (via Bristol, the Welsh Valleys and Hereford) Rail Head Treatment Train. 66846 is bringing up the rear. As can be guessed from the dark clouds in the background, the sun had only just come out, and in fact I had driven through some quite heavy rain to get here, so this superb lighting was a definite bonus.

Various shades of yellow and orange, both in the train, and the landscape at Uffington on 18 November 2021. The Colas livery of 66848 compliments the autumn colours, as it works the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. The early morning sunshine was not forecast, but I had correctly guessed that there might be a couple of hours of good light before the clouds that can be seen in the background arrived.

66848 & 70801 pass the flooded fields at Kings Sutton on 16 January 2023 with the 6M50 08:01 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Luckily the sun was only very weakly trying to break through the clouds at this point. Full sun at just after midday would have been very backlit.

With a toot from the driver, 66848 & 59003 Yeoman Highlander pass Yarnton on 25 April 2024 with the 6M50 07:13 Westbury to Bescot departmental working. 59003 is on long term hire to Colas, and has had its GBRf lettering removed, to be replaced by a Colas logo.

66849 Wylam Dilly brings up the rear of the 6T99 09:31 Bicester London Road to Hinksey ballast empties at Islip on 11 September 2013. Just out of sight around the corner is 47727. The loaded train brings in ballast for the construction of the new link line at Bicester, joined the Oxford route to the Chiltern Line.

66849 Wylam Dilly approaches the site of Challow station on 19 November 2013 with the very lightly loaded 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. This train varies enormously in length, and while ideally I would have like it to have had a few more wagons, this does at least provide inspiration for modern image railway modellers with limited space!

Fantastic lighting at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 14 December 2013. What could be better than full winter sun, with really dark clouds in the background just as the train you have been waiting for is due! 66849 Wylam Dilly heads westwards with the 6Z63 11:00 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. This superb lighting was not expected, as the forecast had predicted a cloudy afternoon. Consequently I was at Denchworth Bridge (just visible in the background), which is not ideal in the winter if the sun is out. However, I could see the blue sky approaching, so made a quick dash to this spot, arriving as the sun appeared, although clearly to the east it is still just a little dark!

Viewed from the little used footbridge in the fields near Uffington, 66849 Wylam Dilly heads east along the Great Western Mainline on 19 September 2019 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties.

66849 Wylam Dilly passes Yarnton on 5 April 2021 with the 6X28 17:54 Hinksey to Bescot departmental working. This would ordinarily run as 6M28, but the inclusion of the very long IFA tilting point carriers changes it to an 'X' headcode.

66849 Wylam Dilly takes the up relief line at Challow on 8 March 2022 with the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. This spot marks the approximate eastern end of Challow station's former platforms, which extended underneath the road bridge.

66849 Wylam Dilly & 66847 Terry Baker approach Uffington on 9 March 2022 with the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Photo taken from a public footpath which links the villages of Uffington and Longcot.

66849 Wylam Dilly approaches Didcot North Junction on 12 August 2022 with the 6O26 10:48 Hinksey to Eastleigh East Yard departmental working, just as 165127 disappears into the distance with the 2L26 11:04 Didcot Parkway to Oxford GWR service.

66849 Wylam Dilly passes Wormleighton Crossing on 7 February 2023 with the 6M40 11:42 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. Just visible in the background are the abutments of the bridge that carried the Stratford-upon-Avon & Midland Junction Railway's Stratford to Towcester line over the mainline.

Neatly framed by a hawthorn bush and a dead tree, 66849 Wylam Dilly passes Baulking on 23 August 2023 with the late running 6M40 11:42 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. The original Wylam Dilly is the world's second oldest surviving steam locomotive, built in 1815.

66849 Wylam Dilly passes Yarnton on 4 March 2024 with the 6M40 11:34 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties, just as the 4O21 09:20 Trafford Park to Southampton Western Docks intermodal heads in the opposite direction, hauled by 66099.

66850 David Maidment OBE passes Challow with the lengthy 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot on 2 January 2014. It has just moved across onto the up relief line, and will wait at Wantage Road, while the 1A10 09:00 Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington First Great Western HST overtakes it. The bridge in the background is living on borrowed time, as the forthcoming Great Western Mainline electrification will see its demolition.

66850 David Maidment OBE passes the remains of Shrivenham station on 12 June 2014 with the 0Z27 09:03 Cardiff Canton to West Ealing Plasser Sidings. I don't often bother to take pictures of light engines, but as 6M50 was completely blocked out by a HST, and 4L31 passed under a really dark cloud, this will have to serve as a poor substitute. I suppose it does give a clear view of Shrivenham station's long disused platform. The bridge has only a few months to live, to be replaced no doubt by some hideous eyesore as part of the Great Western electrification scheme.

66850 David Maidment OBE passes Compton Beauchamp on 21 June 2014 with the 6V62 11:00 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. The longest day is certainly not the best time to be taking pictures in the early afternoon. Note the dense shadows created by the very high sun.

Sometimes the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train runs with either a minimal load, or no load at all. The later was the case on 7 July 2014. 66850 David Maidment OBE & 70802 pass Compton Beauchamp with what would obviously now be the 0M50.

Ominous signs of the forthcoming electrification at the site of Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham, on 18 February 2016. 66850 David Maidment OBE passes by, running as the 0A28 11:22 Westbury to Hinksey light engine.

66850 David Maidment OBE passes Purton on 20 October 2018 with the 3S59 19:47 Bristol Barton Hill to Bristol Barton Hill Rail Head Treatment Train. 66847 is bringing up the rear. This train had spent the night spaying various Welsh locations, including: Abercynon, Merthyr Tydfil, Mountain Ash & Ebbw Vale. It had been sat in Lydney loop for a long time, and as soon as I noticed that it had left, I set out for this location, despite it still being foggy at home. I thought this was going to be hopeless, as I didn't drive out of the fog until less than a mile from this spot! You can still see it in the background. Also, I only just arrived in time, as instead of keeping to its booked path, they surprisingly let it ahead of the passenger train, and it was running 36 minutes early.

66850 David Maidment OBE passes South Marston on 24 August 2021 with the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot engineer's train. Unfortunately the lighting was nothing like as good as when classmate 66848 passed by an hour earlier.

66850 David Maidment OBE brings up the rear of the 6C97 07:30 Honeybourne to Westbury recovered rails at Chilson on 20 August 2023. 70811 is leading. This was running 71 minutes early, passing me 38 minutes before its booked departure time from Honeybourne! This train had also traversed the Cotswold Line the previous day (albeit in darkness), as the 6C97 19:34 Westbury to Honeybourne, which reversed at Worcester.

66850 David Maidment OBE passes the oil depot on the site of Bremell Sidings, on 29 July 2024 with the diverted 6M28 13:49 Eastleigh East Yard to Bescot Up Engineer's Sidings ballast. The train's normal route via Banbury was closed for engineering works.

66951 passes Acton Turville the 6B11 12:30 Thorney Mill to Pengam empty JGA hoppers on 27 March 2007. Branded Freightliner Heavy Haul, and also showing the company's website address, these new wagons emphasis how the Freightliner company has slowly branched out from its core business of moving containers.

66951 heads west past Uffington on 12 February 2008 with the 6V60 10:31 Angerstein to Cardiff Pengam stone empties. There is some evidence of embankment strengthening on the right, with piles of rock added to stabilise the bank.

Surely Freightliner is not making a bid for road transport operations as well! 66951 carries a car registration number plate (SB55 CSX) on its front end as it passes Oddington with the 4V60 10:55 Calvert to Bristol binliner empties on 27 February 2008. As can be seen the cloud was building up rapidly, and a large cloud was approaching the sun as the train came into view in the distance. Luckily it just missed the sun, but note how close it came to being a ruined shot, with the bushes in the background in shadow.

66951 passes Uffington on 2 April 2011 with the 6V60 11:56 Angerstein Wharf to Stoke Gifford stone empties. Ironically, there is some recent work using non local stone visible in this picture. The area of white material in front of the tree is an attempt to build up the road surface underneath the farm occupation bridge (and public footpath) that passes under the railway here. Notorious for flooding, a good depth of granite boulders have been laid down to provide a stable surface.

66951 approaches Didcot North Junction on 3 September 2014 with the 4M18 09:20 Fairwater Yard to Washwood Heath concrete sleepers. The train is traversing Didcot's west curve, which connects the Swindon line at Foxhall Junction, with the route to Oxford. The loco is definitely in need of repaint. Just look at those huge rusty patches on the front of the yellow front end.

66951 & 66606 run along the down relief line at Denchworth on 8 September 2014 with the 11:56 Neasden Charrington to Stoke Gifford light engine move. I wouldn't normally bother to photograph something like this, but with perfect lighting, and just the right size clear gap under the signal gantry, why not! It is also interesting in that it is a pair of Freightliner locos from two different sub-classes, both of which only contain a relatively small number of locos. 66/9 (7 locos) and 66/6 (25 locos).

66951 snakes around the curves at Kings Sutton on 11 June 2018 with the 4M99 17:00 Southampton Maritime to Trafford Park freightliner. Numerically the first of Freightliner's small batch of low emission 66/9s, 66951 was the second to be delivered, arriving in the UK in October 2004.

66951 approaches Micheldever station on 14 June 2022 with the 4O35 09:31 Crewe Basfprd Hall to Southampton Maritime freightliner. In the background, just below the chalk cutting, is the huge concrete World War Two oil storage depot. On the right, a row of withdrawn WIA articulated car carriers occupies one of the former oil depot sidings.

The retimed and diverted 7A09 05:38 Merehead Quarry to Acton Mendip Rail 'Jumbo' stone train should have passed Uffington at 08:51 on 28 February 2023. In reality it passed at 14:43, nearly six hours late. The train was held at Westbury for most of that time. After I noticed it was on the move near Chippenham, I decided to go to Uffington, as the weather was improving. As soon as I got there all trace of the sun disappeared, so 66951 & 59204 are pictured here in atrocious light. The train was terminated at Milton Siding (near Didcot), and continued on it way the following day.

66952 passes Bromsgrove on 9 July 2013 with the 4V06 08:52 Rugeley Power Station to Stoke Gifford coal empties, passing the overgrown trackwork that marks the site of the former oil depot. Bromsgrove station is just out of sight around the corner.

You get plenty of stone trains here, but not many freightliners! 66952 passes Hungerford Common on 21 September 2018 with the diverted 4L31 09:03 Bristol to Felixstowe North freightliner. This was a definite bonus, as I had gone here purely with the intention of photographing some HSTs, before they all disappear. It was only after I arrived that a problem with an axle counter at Challow started sending trains via the Berks & Hants, instead of via Swindon. This meant twice as many HSTs, as well as this!

66952 passes underneath the footbridge near Yarnton on 29 October 2019 with the 4O05 07:15 Birch Coppice to Southampton Maritime freightliner. This was running exactly on time here, but it would later encounter delays in the Reading area, finally arriving at Southampton 24 minutes late.

66952 passes Great Bedwyn on 25 June 2020 with the 0Y10 16:04 Reading to Westbury Fugro Raildata track survey working. The survey equipment can clearly be seen clamped to the loco's buffers. Unlike everything else I saw at this location, this was running roughly to time.

66952 passes Uffington on 4 June 2021 with the late running 4L36 07:39 Wentloog to Felixstowe North freightliner. I had gone here specifically to photograph the 5Q11 07:51 Maidenhead to Swindon, and 5Q12 09:49 Swindon to Maidenhead Class 769 EMU test runs. I had made sure that 5Q11 had actually left before I set off, but when I got to Uffington, I discovered that after running 52 minutes late, it was terminated at Reading. Rather than go home without taking a picture, I therefore waited for yet another picture of 4L36, albeit this time from a different angle.

The diversion of a diversion! With the closure of its normal route due to the landslip at Hatfield Colliery in early 2013, the 6E06 07:45 Bredbury to Scunthorpe Roxby Gullet Binliner was booked to take the circuitous route via Gainsborough and Lincoln. However, once at Gainsborough the much more direct route via Brigg is the obvious choice. So, here on 12 March 2013, 66953 passes through Brigg station with the off route 'Bins'. Brigg station only has a Saturday train service, and as can be seen here, nearly half the platform length has been fenced off and left to nature.

So that's why it's an hour late! 66953 with failed 66558 passes Grove on 28 September 2015 with the 4L31 09:03 Bristol to Felixstowe North freightliner. Photo taken from a public footpath crossing. In the background is Denchworth road bridge, with the well known Circourt Bridge in the far distance.

Not one single container! 66953 passes Yarnton on 17 January 2022 with the completely empty 4O03 10:50 Lawley Street to Southampton Maritime freightliner. Thankfully the following 4O21 09:15 Trafford Park to Southampton Western Docks intermodal had a much better load.

With the clouds rapidly building up all around, 66954 still manages to find a sunny patch (just!) as it passes Compton Beauchamp on 7 July 2014 with the 4L31 09:03 Bristol to Felixstowe North freightliner. Coincidentally, I saw the next highest numbered loco of this small sub-class on this same working, a couple of months later.

66954 runs along the up relief line through Sonning cutting on 26 April 20126 with the 4L31 09:03 Bristol to Felixstowe North freightliner. The elegant brick bridge in the background carries the Reading to Maidenhead road over the line. It now carries westbound traffic only, with a new concrete bridge (thankfully mostly hidden in this view) carrying the eastbound traffic.

66954 passes Rodbourne on 19 July 2016 with the 4O70 09:56 Wentloog to Southampton Maritime freightliner. Apart from the fact that the bridge at this location has been rebuilt, there are still no signs of the massively delayed Great Western Mainline electrification here.

66954 runs along the up relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 10 October 2016 with the 4L31 09:03 Bristol to Felixstowe North freightliner. Network Rail have conveniently not yet installed the electrification mast next to the bridge, thus still allowing an uninterrupted view of sorts!

66954 just manages to avoid the early morning shadows, as it passes Kennington on 9 September 2017 with the 4O18 05:03 Lawley Street to Southampton Maritime freightliner. The rear of the train is just passing over Kennington Junction, where the freight only branch to Morris Cowley diverges to the right.

66955 approaches Walton Well Road, Oxford, on 23 May 2009 with the 4O27 05:29 Garston to Southampton freightliner. The extra bodyside door which distinguishes a Class 66/9 low emission variant from a standard 'Shed' can clearly be seen in this picture. Note also the recently relaid and upgraded bi-directional line on the right, which allows traffic for the Bicester line (which diverges at Oxford North Junction, just beyond the footbridge in the background) to keep clear of the main running lines.

66955 swings round the curve at Chelmscote on 27 March 2012 with the late running 4L93 10:08 Lawley Street to Felixstowe South freightliner. The bridge in the background formerly carried the A4146 Milton Keynes to Leighton Buzzard road (now bypassed).

66955 passes Moulsford on 4 September 2013 with the 4M62 14:50 Southampton to Hams Hall freightliner. This is the site of the Great Western Railway's original Moulsford station, which closed at the end of the nineteenth century, being replaced by the nearby Cholsey & Moulsford station.

66955 passes Compton Beauchamp on 11 September 2014 with the 4L31 09:03 Bristol to Felixstowe North freightliner. The Met Office's forecast had been slightly out on this particular morning, as the bank of cloud that was predicted to arrive towards midday had in fact reached here well before this train was due. By the time it actually appeared under the bridge in the background (20 minutes late) it was really quite dull. I was therefore surprised when the sun briefly reappeared as it got nearer, and then disappeared as it had passed by. Result! As the 66/9 sub-class is so small, the chances of getting one on this working are slim, so it is therefore noteworthy that I saw 66954 on this same working, in similar transient lighting, just a couple of months previously.

A million to one lucky photo opportunity at South Moreton (Didcot East) on 19 December 2014. Getting two freight trains running parallel right in front of your lens is unusual enough, and getting two Freightliner locos more unusual. However, when there are only seven locos in total in the 66/9 subclass, getting two of those is a miracle! To cap it all, they are consecutively numbered - amazing! 66955 with the 4L31 09:03 Bristol to Felixstowe North freightliner is rapidly overtaking 66956, which is working the 6X26 10:19 Hinksey to Eastleigh point carriers. Obviously I took a number of shots here as the trains passed each other, and whilst a slightly earlier picture where the shadow of 66955 does not obscure the wheels of 66956 is possibly better, I prefer this one, where the locos are very briefly running exactly parallel to each other.

For many years the classic viewpoint of northbound trains approaching the A415 roadbridge at Culham has been ruined by lineside vegetation. However, the impending electrification of the route has resulted in an unprecedented clearance of trackside bushes, opening up the view to early 1980s standards. 66955 passes by the newly cleared site on 11 June 2015 with the 4M98 17:30 Southampton Maritime to Hams Hall freightliner.

66955 passes Compton Beauchamp on 17 October 2016 with the 4O51 08:42 Wentloog to Southampton Maritime freightliner. Due to the six week closure of the Severn Tunnel for electrification works, this had travelled via Gloucester.

66955 passes the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham, on 15 December 2017 with the extremely lightly loaded 4V31 08:05 London Gateway to Bristol freightliner. It is almost as if they have deliberately loaded the two boxes as widely spaced as possible along the line of flats!

66956 passes Washwood Heath on 22 November 2008 with the 4O02 11:12 Lawley Street to Southampton freightliner, which is barely a few minutes into its long journey south. A little glimmer of brightness, but lots of black clouds approaching!

Looking slightly ridiculous with most of the containers hidden by the bushes, 66956 passes the flooded fields next to the River Cherwell near Tackley on 17 December 2008 whilst working the 4O27 07:12 Ditton to Southampton freightliner. Its a pity there wasn't just a little more water which might have resulted in a nice reflection shot!

Viewed from the footpath that links the village of Uffington with Moor Mill Farm, near the site of Uffington station, 66956 heads east on the fine autumnal morning of 30 October 2012, with the 4L31 09:03 Bristol to Felixstowe North freightliner. The footpath is easy going across the stubble in the background, but hard work once you get onto the ploughed section. Each step you takes gets more difficult as you accumulate what seems like half the field on your boots!

66956 passes Uffington on the gloriously sunny morning of 28 October 2014 with the 4L31 09:03 Bristol to Felixstowe North freightliner. As Network Rail have seemingly now permanently closed the useful footpath crossing near this location, I had a much longer, but very pleasant, walk from Uffington village.

Not quite as bad as it could have been! The 1E36 10:40 Reading to Newcastle CrossCountry Voyager does its best to get in the way, as 66956 passes Cholsey on 2 January 2015 with the 6X26 10:19 Hinksey to Eastleigh track panels and point carriers. Ironically the same problem was encountered with this train (with the same loco) a couple of weeks earlier, only on that occasion it resulted in a much better picture.

66956 passes Baulking on 15 November 2019 with the 4L36 07:45 Wentloog to Felixstowe North freightliner. An exceedingly dull day has enabled a picture to be taken from the north side of the line, although  with all the 25kV wires in the way, it's not much of a viewpoint!

66957 Stephenson Locomotive Society 1909-2009 worked the 4V47 11:15 Rugeley to Stoke Gifford coal empties on 24 July 2012. It is seen here passing Badgeworth under a clear blue sky, which has been something of a rarity during the early part of the summer of 2012.

Trains don't come much shorter than this! 66957 Stephenson Locomotive Society 1909-2009 passes Wolvercote on 28 August 2017 with the 6M28 18:25 Hinksey to Bescot engineer's working. This had left Hinksey 17 minutes early, and then sat at Oxford North Junction until the booked time.

66957 Stephenson Locomotive Society 1909-2009 passes Didcot North Junction on 12 February 2020 with the 6C58 11:45 Oxford Banbury Road to Whatley Quarry stone empties. Extremely unflattering head on lighting, but just marginally better than it should have been, as this was running eight minutes early, as it was quite rightly let out in front of the late running 1O12 09:27 Manchester Piccadilly to Bournemouth CrossCountry Voyager.

A pathetic load of just two wagons for 66957 Stephenson Locomotive Society 1909-2009, seen here passing Challow on 11 April 2021 with the 08:15 (06:38 actual) Filton Abbey Wood to Hinksey departmental working.

66957 Stephenson Locomotive Society 1909-2009 approaches Culham on 14 January 2022 with the 7C58 12:10 Oxford Banbury Road to Whatley Quarry Mendip Rail stone empties. Unfortunately this was running 34 minutes early, which has resulted in very head on lighting.