69001 Mayflower passes Potbridge on 11 July 2022 with the 4Y19 12:30 Mountfield to Southampton Western Docks gypsum empties. This train often uses the relief line, so I was really pleased that it was running on the main, producing a much better picture. Perfect weather, and one of the few reasonable locations in the area, but I was the only photographer present. Perhaps the fact that it often runs on the relief line has put people off coming here!

69001 Mayflower passes Challow on 16 August 2022 with the 5Q55 10:38 Stewarts Lane to Newport Docks (Sims Group). This train was noteworthy for two reasons. Firstly, it was the first time GBRf had entrusted this working to a Cass 69, and secondly it was conveying the final two ex Southern Class 455 EMUs for scrap. The train comprises: Barrier vehicle 64664 Liwet, 455819, 455804 & barrier vehicle 64707 Labezerin. This train had left Stewarts Lane over an hour late, but was only 37 minutes late here.

The second Class 69 to be converted from a former Class 56 loco (69002) was towed south for repainting on 15 March 2021 behind 66706 Nene Valley. It is pictured here passing Yarnton, running an hour late as the 0O69 13:00 (14:32 actual) Longport to Eastleigh Works. 69002 was formerly 56311, and before that 56057. Apart from the new lights on the front end, the most noticeable difference of the conversion is the altered roofline, fans and silencer installed in connection with new EMD 710 engine.

A close up view of the stunning paint job applied to 69002, pictured as it passes Tackley on 5 May 2021, as part of the late running 0M69 08:18 Eastleigh East Yard to Longport light engine move, sandwiched between 66704 Colchester Power Signalbox and 66798. I'm not sure if it's a trick of the light, but the shade of blue looks a little bright, but it certainly looks impressive.

69002 Bob Tiller CM&EE & 69001 Mayflower pass Moreton-in-Marsh on 5 September 2021 with the GBRf 1Z35 16:00 Bescot Up And Down Goods to Paddington 'This Time It's Personal' railtour. This was part of a mammoth four day nationwide tour. The train, which was already running late, had further problems near Honeybourne, when 69002 lost power, resulting in the train being 48 minutes late here. At least it passed in some nice soft evening light, which certainly wasn't the case at many other locations only a little further north. 66765 is bringing up the rear.

69002 Bob Tiller CM&EE passes Oaksey on 20 June 2022 with the 5Z31 10:29 Doncaster Down Decoy to Long Marston, conveying EMU 321344, for display at the Rail Live event. Doncaster to Long Marston via London and Swindon seems a very long way round! The Class 321 unit has been converted for parcels use, and is branded 'Swift Express Freight'.

Running 36 minutes late, 69002 Bob Tiller CM&EE & 69005 Eastleigh pass Chalford on 4 July 2022 with the 5Q22 09:40 Long Marston to Doncaster Royal Mail Terminal, conveying EMU 321344, which had been displayed at the Long Marston Rail Live event over a week earlier. The green vehicle between 69005 and the unit is Arlington Fleet Services EMU translator 975978 Perpetiel. Identical 975974 Paschar is out of sight ion the rear of the train. This train was originally scheduled to run over a week earlier, so clearly GBRf were is no hurry to get their locos back!

69004 looks very smart in its pseudo BR Research Department livery, as it passes Popham on 27 May 2022 with the 4Y19 12:30 Mountfield to Southampton Western Docks gypsum empties. As it was a completely sunny afternoon, it was no surprise that this was an extremely well photographed train, with some locations apparently seeing large crowds of photographers.

69004 passes Micheldever at speed on 14 June 2022 with the 4Y19 12:30 Mountfield to Southampton Western Docks gypsum empties. It looks like a 56, but it doesn't sound like one, in fact it is so quiet that it barely seemed to be making any more noise than the EMUs that pass here several times an hour. As the weather was so good, I was a little surprised that no other photographers turned up at this location.

69004 is completely dwarfed by the electricity pylon, and the tree in the middle of the field, as it passes Water End on 12 August 2022 with the 4Y19 12:30 Mountfield to Southampton Western Docks gypsum empties. I had been meaning to visit this location for some time, but discovered that the wider view was now spoiled by long grass growing next to the track, so instead I opted for this 'train in the landscape' type picture. Luckily the bright red and blue loco really stands out in the parched summer countryside.

Work stained 69004 passes Worting Junction on 12 August 2024 with a uniform rake of empty JNA ballast wagons, as it works the 6Y48 09:01 Eastleigh East Yard to Hoo Junction Up Yard departmental working.

The highlight of the Severn Valley Railway's Spring 2022 Diesel Gala were two very different, but almost identically liveried visiting locomotives. GBRf's newly converted 69005 Eastleigh & the Swanage Railway's D6515 (33012) Lt Jenny Lewis RN pass Eardington on 21 May 2022 with the 09:00 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth service.

69005 Eastleigh & D6515 (33012) Lt Jenny Lewis RN pass Eardington on 21 May 2022 with the 11:30 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. Both these visiting locos were the stars of the gala, although for sheer novelty the newly converted Class 69 would probably top most people's lists.

69005 Eastleigh & D6515 (33012) Lt Jenny Lewis RN leave Bewdley on 21 May 2022 with the 11:30 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. The pairing of GBRf's newly converted Class 69 with the Class 33 was inspired, especially as formerly 33008 also carried the name Eastleigh, whilst sporting this livery in the late 1980s. We were extremely lucky with the sun here, as can be seen from the dark clouds in the background.

69005 Eastleigh & 69002 Bob Tiller CM&EE pass Micheldever on 8 August 2022 with the 4Y19 12:30 Mountfield to Southampton Western Docks gypsum empties, passing Network Rail's buddleia garden, and a line of withdrawn WIA articulated car carrier wagons.

69005 Eastleigh & newly named 69006 Pathfinder Railtours approach Cheltenham on 23 June 2023, running as the 0Z69 13:30 Gloucester to Burton on Trent Wetmore Sidings light engines. 69006 had just been named at Gloucester station.

69005 Eastleigh & 69006 Pathfinder Railtours pass Standish Junction on 24 June 2023 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z69 05:44 Tame Bridge Parkway to Penzance 'Mazey Day Special' railtour. The train had just pilled out of Haresfield loop, where it was booked to stop to allow the 1V42 06:10 Derby to Plymouth CrossCountry Voyager to pass, and the 2G03 07:29 Swindon to Cheltenham Spa GWR IET to cross over the junction.

Having just been named Pathfinder Railtours a little earlier at Gloucester station, 69006 approaches Cheltenham on 23 June 2023 in the company of 69005 Eastleigh, running as the 0Z69 13:30 Gloucester to Burton on Trent Wetmore Sidings light engines.

69006 Pathfinder Railtours runs along the up relief line at Potbridge on 16 September 2024 with the 6Y48 09:01 Eastleigh East Yard to Hoo Junction Up Yard departmental working. Not much of a load, but at least it wasn't running light engine as 0Y48!

69008 passes Islip on 1 February 2024 with the 5Q75 09:25 Eastleigh to Bicester MoD, taking brand new South Western Railway EMU 701526 for storage. This was running 53 minutes late, which hasn't improved the already very backlit lighting, but at least it made up some time after its 87 minute late departure.

69008 Richard Howe passes Aldington on 3 June 2024 with the 5Q88 05:00 Eastleigh to Long Marston, conveying South Western Railway EMU 701058 for storage. This was running 35 minutes early, as due to GWR's usual poor service, the previous up passenger train had been cancelled, and the next down train was running 13 minutes late, therefore allowing this train's earlier departure from Worcester. The noise of the train has obviously disturbed a Wood Pigeon, which can be seen flying out from the lineside bushes.

69008 Richard Howe passes Kemble on 17 July 2024 with the late running 5Q86 12:30 Long Marston to Eastleigh, taking South Western Railway EMU 701025 back to south of England, after its 15 month stay at Long Marston. A large number of these units are in still in store, nearly five years after they should have been in service. This one had travelled to Long Marston on 13 April 2023 behind 47749 City of Truro.

69008 Richard Howe passes South Marston on 13 August 2024 with the 5Q85 09:30 Eastleigh to Long Marston, taking South Western Railway EMUs 701512 & 701509 for short term storage. This was running 49 minutes late, which meant that the sun was just starting to light the front of the loco. I resisted the temptation to travel to the Worcester area for the 5Q86 15:41 Long Marston to Eastleigh return working, as I guessed that the delay would only get worse, and cloud was predicted for later in the day. In the event 5Q86 left 88 minutes late, by which time it was definitely cloudy.

69009 Western Consort approaches Highley on 19 May 2024 with the 16:45 Kidderminster to Highley service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. Unfortunately this corresponded with a cloud blocking out the sun. A real pity as not only would the light have been prefect, but the staff at the 'Engine House' visitor centre had very kindly agreed to leave the area accessible until the late running train had appeared. Needless to say the sun was out again by the time the rear of the train, with 37409 Loch Awe had passed!

The 0Z55 09:09 Kidderminster Severn Valley Railway to Wembley Receptions 1-7 light engine move passes Ascott-under-Wychwood Signal Box on 20 May 2024. 69009 Western Consort is hauling 73119 Paul Taylor, both locos having taken part in the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala.

A Western on the Southern - sort of! 69009 Western Consort hauls barrier vehicles 64707 Labezerin & 64664 Liwet ( former Class 508 EMU coaches) past Potbridge on 16 September 2024, running 40 minutes late as the 5O55 09:18 Eastleigh to Leicester. It may only be a very short train, but it is certainly colourful!

Running 43 minutes late, but luckily after the rain had stopped, 69010 approaches Black Dog Bridge, near Minety, on 25 July 2024 with the 5Q86 12:30 (13:33 actual) Long Marston to Eastleigh, taking South Western Railway EMU 701030 back home, after its 15 months in storage. This should have run two days earlier, but coupling problems caused the train to be cancelled.

69010 passes Baulking on 31 July 2024 with the 5Q85 09:30 Eastleigh to Long Marston, taking South Western Railway EMU 701059 for storage. In the mad world that the railway seems to now operate in, the loco was then booked to take another pair of units back in the opposite direction! In the event the train left Long Marston over two hours late, and so was terminated at Worcester. It then ran the following day.

Running 42 minutes early, 69010 passes South Marston on 1 August 2024 with the 5Q86 12:24 Worcester to Eastleigh, conveying South Western Railway EMUs 701524 & 701518, which had been in storage. This should have run the day before as the 5Q86 15:39 Long Marston to Eastleigh, but that left Long Marston over two hours late, and so was terminated at Worcester. These Class 701s are getting plenty of 'off the juice' haulage, as 69010 had taken a ten car set to Long Marston the day before, prior to bringing these two five car sets out!

69011 passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 21 May 2024 with the 5Q88 04:30 Eastleigh to Long Marston, conveying South Western Railway EMU 701005 for storage. Unlike a lot of these previous workings, this isn't a brand new unused unit. 701005 has already been used on various test workings on the third rail network. Originally I wasn't going to bother with this, but as it left Eastleigh 192 minutes late, and this spot was on my route to Hungerford, it just involved a wait of a few minutes. It was 144 minutes late when it passed me.

69011 brings up the rear of the Branch Line Society 1Z19 08:52 Derby to Belmont Down Yard 'The Cooling Tower Choppers' railtour, as it traverses Melton Mowbray Up Loop in 17 August 2024. 20132 & 20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea are at the front of the train. The earthworks visible in the distance are for the forthcoming Melton Mowbray bypass.

Running 25 minutes late, 69011 passes Walton on 17 August 2024, after having just reversed at Monk Bretton with the Branch Line Society 1Z20 14:07 Belmont Down Yard to Sudforth Lane Down 'The Cooling Tower Choppers' railtour. Out of sight on the rear of the train are 20132 & 20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea.

Running over two hours late, 69011 passes Claydon on 22 August 2024 with the 5Q88 15:35 Long Marston to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings, conveying South Western Railway EMU 701048, which had arrived at Long Marston on 6 April 2023. Earlier in the day 69011 had taken 701057 from Eastleigh to Long Marston for storage.

69012 (the former 56077) passes Tackley on 4 June 2024, running in undercoat as the 0O69 08:58 Longport to Eastleigh Works. The green primer on the loco is almost the same shade of green as the surrounding vegetation!