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.

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.

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.