Just as the setting sun sinks into high cloud near the horizon, 70001 Powerhaul passes Barby Nortoft with the 4M93 14:13 Felixstowe North to Lawley Street freightliner on 21 April 2010. A regular working for this aesthetically challenged loco class, with 70001 being used virtually exclusively.

The low evening sun illuminates 70001 Powerhaul as it passes Moulsford on 27 April 2011 with the late running 4M99 17:04 Southampton to Trafford Park freightliner. The rear half of the train is crossing Moulsford Viaduct, which spans the River Thames, while the use of a long lens has accentuated the slope of the Chiltern Hills in the background.

70001 Powerhaul speeds past Kings Sutton on 3 June 2011 with the 4M68 14:50 Southampton to Birch Coppice freightliner. Although they are not going to win any design awards (unless there was one for the worst looking loco!), the 70s do make quite an impressive noise when working a well loaded train, such as this.

Shortly before coming to a stand at adverse signals at Wantage Road, 70001 Powerhaul very slowly passes Grove on 31 March 2014 with the 4O51 09:58 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner. As it was a dull day, the opportunity was taken to photograph this from the north side of the line, just for a change!

70001 Powerhaul rounds the curve near Steeple Aston on 27 July 2015 with 4M28 09:32 Southampton Maritime to Ditton freightliner. Typically the sun appeared here when it wasn't wanted, on what supposed to be a totally cloudy day!

Running 13 minutes late, after a delay incurred in the Oxford area, 70001 Powerhaul approaches Didcot North Junction on 12 February 2020 with the 4O05 07:15 Birch Coppice to Southampton Maritime freightliner. Note the short section of abandoned electfrication masts in the background.

70001 Powerhaul passes Wolvercote on 27 March 2023 with the 0Z74 12:59 Banbury to Southampton Maritime route learner. A light engine doesn't make a very inspiring photo, but I couldn't resist this, as the lighting and cloudscape was so good.

A frosty morning at Heyford on 30 November 2023. 70001 Powerhaul heads south with the 4O14 06:41 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton Maritime freightliner. I had hoped for some early morning sun, but that didn't happen for another hour. At least there was no fog here, although there was only a few miles away.

An extremely colourful foreground at Hinksey Yard on 2 November 2016, as 70002 passes by with the 4O49 09.22 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton freightliner. The new footbridge in the background replaces one that I used to frequent in the 1980s. The shadows around it shows why this picture was taken from an alternative footbridge!

70002 rounds the reverse curves near Tackley on 8 September 2021 with the 4O14 05:36 Garston to Southampton Maritime freightliner. Even before I got to this location I knew that the conventional viewpoint in the cutting would still be partially in shade, so the only option was this extreme telephoto view, which does show the winding nature of the line at this point.

70002 runs through the tree lined cutting on the approach to Bramley on 12 October 2024 with the 4O90 06:05 Leeds to Southampton Maritime freightliner. There aren't many spots on the Reading to Basingstoke line that are free of trees!

70003 passes Gossington on 5 March 2010 with the 4Z70 08:53 Rugeley Power Station to Stoke Gifford coal empties. Running on time and sounding impressive, 70003 is obviously in much better health here than its classmate 70002 was three days previously when it failed on the same working. On that occasion it had to be rescued by 66585. Unfortunately these much vaunted locomotives have so far not proved to be as stunningly reliable as promised. Let's hope things improve soon!

Marking the class's regular Tuesdays and Thursday's appearance on the 4O51 09:58 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner, 70003 passes South Moreton on 8 March 2011, just four minutes behind some much more interesting traction - 37682 & 37409 on the 5Z47 Crewe to Eastleigh ECS.

70003 passes Compton Beauchamp on 11 September 2015 with the 4O70 09:58 Wentloog to Southampton Maritime freightliner. After a bright start, by midday the sun had unfortunately almost completely disappeared into high cloud.

70003 passes Yarnton on 23 March 2021 with the 4M55 08:57 Southampton Western Docks to Lawley Street freightliner. Although one tree has been left, this location has been considerably improved by a massive amount of lineside vegetation clearance.

Running pretty much bang on time, 70004 passes Claydon on 17 February 2015 with the 4V09 07:29 Rugeley Power Station to Stoke Gifford empty coal hoppers. Ashchurch station can just be seen beyond the bridge in the background.

After a period when most of Freightliner's unreliable Class 70s were in store, early 2021 sees some of them back in use again. 70004 The Coal Industry Society passes Wormleighton Crossing on 30 March 2021 with the 4M28 09:25 Southampton Maritime to Garston freightliner. The loco's name is slightly inappropriate, as virtually no coal is now moved by rail!

70004 The Coal Industry Society passes Engine Common on 7 July 2022 with the diverted 4Z57 13:29 Wentloog to Southampton Maritime freightliner. This was a last minute replacement for the train that should have run via the other diversionary route via Kemble. It had left 72 minutes late, and was still over an hour late here.

70004 The Coal Industry Society & 66419 approach Didcot North Junction on 10 October 2022 with the 4O90 06:04 Leeds to Southampton Maritime freightliner. Note that 66419 is on its way to be named, and has covered up nameplates, although by the way the black plastic is flapping about, they could very well be uncovered nameplates by the time the train gets to Southampton!

70004 The Coal Industry Society & 66525 pass Wolvercote Junction on 26 November 2024 with the 4O90 06:04 Leeds to Southampton Maritime freightliner. Without resorting to a long lens, this location is only relatively shadow free for a very short period around midday at this time of year.

70005 passes Chelmscote in the warm spring sunshine on 27 March 2012 with the 4M88 09:20 Felixstowe to Crewe Basford Hall freightliner. A mix of container heights, but as usual no boxes next to the locomotive!

70005 passes Castle Donington on 29 November 2012 with the 4Z68 11:49 Ratcliffe Power Station to Crewe Basford Hall coal empties. The unusual composition is deliberate, so as to include the huge plume of condensation rising from the cooling towers at the train's point of origin.

70005 emerges from Wickwar Tunnel on 15 April 2015 with the 4V09 07:28 Rugeley Power Station to Stoke Gifford coal empties. The bridge just in front of the tunnel mouth is a combined footpath and aqueduct, carrying a very small steam over the railway.

70005 passes the well filled Hinksey Yard on 23 July 2018 with the 4M99 17:00 Southampton Maritime to Trafford Park freightliner. Note the Wood Pigeon watching the proceedings from the second wagon full of sleepers.

Is this how Santa delivers his presents in 2015! 70006 ambles along the up relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 23 December 2015 with the early running 4O70 09:58 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner. I initially wasn't going to bother uploading this picture, being just another mundane Class 70 hauled freightliner, until I noticed the driver dressed as Father Christmas, complete with red hat, and large white beard!

70006 passes Churchill Heath (just south of Kingham) in some unexpected, but very welcome spring sunshine on 21 April 2016 with the 6O33 12:06 Honeybourne Sidings (actually Long Marston) to Southampton Maritime, conveying just two freightliner flats. This was running 18 minutes early, which was very fortunate, as it was a lot cloudier at its booked time. In the old days a much smaller class of loco would have been used for such a featherweight train, but of course now there is only a very limited choice of motive power, so it has to be a 3,000+ bhp loco. It still seems a bit over the top, especially for the light engine move earlier in the day from Southampton to Long Marston! As far I know, this is the first visit of a Freightliner Class 70 to the Cotswold Line.

70006 passes Worting Junction on 14 May 2016 with the 4M55 10:00 Southampton Maritime to Daventry freightliner. This location hasn't changed a great deal in quarter of a century, but the traction certainly has!

70006 approaches Walton Well Road, Oxford, on 2 February 2019 with the 4O27 05:21 Garston to Southampton Maritime freightliner. A pity the front half of the train is empty, although I suppose it does reveal some more of the snow covered landscape!

70006 passes Kings Sutton on 6 October 2021 with the 4M61 12:56 Southampton Maritime to Trafford Park freightliner. Note the small flood in the field on the right, and indication that the area is often a lake in winter time!

70006 has 66952 dead in tow, as it passes Tackley on 20 April 2024 with the 4O27 06:49 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton Maritime freightliner. I was investigating new locations, and this turned out to be quite a poor one!

High noon freightliner. At exactly midday on 23 July 2012, 70007 passes Uffington with the 4O51 09:58 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner. As I was already at this location to photograph 47245 on 5Z94, I decided to wait for this, and I suppose I was lucky that it didn't either fail or catch fire, two tricks which Class 70s are particularly good at!

Running ten minutes early, 70007 passes Thrupp (near Kidlington) on 9 January 2013 with the 4O27 05:40 Garston to Southampton freightliner. The oak leaves to the right of the loco give an autumnal look to an otherwise desolate winter scene.

70007 passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 1 October 2015 with the 4O51 09:58 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner. By keeping to the up main, rather than the relief (which it often does), it was back on time by Didcot, after some earlier late running.

70007 passes Bourton on 26 August 2016 with the 4O70 09:56 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner. Although the clouds in the background were as yet nowhere near the sun, it is not quite the 100% blue sky as predicted by the Met Office!

After waiting at the signal by the bridge in the background for 45 minutes, 70007 slowly gets back underway again with the 4M62 04:31 Southampton Maritime to Lawley Street freightliner on 20 May 2017. The location is Oxford North Junction. Note the truncated remains of pointwork left over after the recent remodeling of the tracks in the area.

70007 passes Yarnton on 22 March 2024 with the 4M55 08:57 Southampton Maritime to Lawley Street freightliner. The willow trees on the right are partly hiding the slightly confusingly named Oxford Pioneer Park. More prosaically Yarnton Industrial Estate!

In bright sun, which sadly wasn't going to last, 70007 passes Worting Junction on 12 August 2024 with the 4M55 08:32 Southampton Maritime to Lawley Street freightliner. The pink 'One' liveried boxes certainly brighten up modern freightliner workings!

The evening shadows are lengthening at Kings Sutton on 3 June 2011 as 70008 heads northwards with the 4M99 16:57 Southampton to Trafford Park freightliner. Its classmate 70001 had already passed this way two hours previously.

70008 passes Wootton Bassett on 18 July 2013 with the 4O51 09:58 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner. After being checked at the junction, it is slowly accelerating past the site of the station, now being developed for housing. The very end of the train is still on the Bristol Parkway line, whilst the bridge in the background is on the GWR's original Bristol route.

70008 passes the site of Challow station on 10 October 2013 with the 4O51 09:58 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner. Unlike the freightliners that run earlier in the day, this train invariably has no need of the relief line, and continues along the up main, as here.

70008 approaches Walton Well Road, Oxford, on 30 January 2015 with the 4O54 06:12 Leeds to Southampton freightliner. The 2L44 11:45 Oxford to Banbury First Great Western DMU can be seen disappearing into the distance.

With the spire of Kings Sutton church dominating the background, 70008 approaches Aynho Junction on 16 May 2015 with the 4O27 05:21 Garston to Southampton freightliner. The bridge in the background carries the B4100 Adderbury to Aynho road over the railway and the Oxford Canal (the arch on the left, partly hidden by bushes).

The jogger on the cycle track takes no notice, as 70008 passes Kennington on 3 April 2017 with the 4O18 07:24 Lawley Street to Southampton Maritime freightliner. As this was running eight minutes early, it was almost catching up with 66561 on the 4O14 07:43 Hams Hall to Southampton Maritime, which had passed by three minutes earlier.

70008 passes Tackley on 27 June 2018 with the late running 4M99 17:00 Southampton Maritime to Trafford Park freightliner. A new Network Rail grey box has appeared where the footpath turns right just past the garage. Strangely it is not within the boundary fence, but just behind three bollards.

70008 approaches Wormleighton Crossing on 21 September 2020 with the 4M61 13:00 Southampton Maritime to Trafford Park freightliner. The tall trees in the background mark the course of the former Stratford-upon-Avon to Towcester railway, which crossed over the line, after running parallel with this line from Fenny Compton.

70008 passes Appleford on 25 March 2022 with the 4O14 05:36 Garston to Southampton Maritime freightliner. The flowering willow tree on the right adds to the picture, the white bags lying along the edge of the ballast less so!

The story of the unlucky Class 70s continues. 70009 approaches Standish Junction on 30 January 2011 with the 0Z25 Stoke Gifford to Crewe Basford Hall, hauling 66548. 70009 could not be moved north from Newport after being unloaded from the ship in early January due to a seized traction motor. The bogies were removed from 70005 and installed under 70009, eventually allowing its delayed move north, as seen here. I suppose it was lucky that they didn't drop it whilst being unloaded like 70012!

In a very small gap between two clouds (note the background), 70009 passes Radley on 30 January 2013 with the 4O49 09:23 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton. The very head on lighting is not ideal, but then nothing is going to improve the looks of this class of loco!

70009 passes Radley in the last of the evening light on 23 April 2013, with the 4M99 16:57 Southampton to Trafford Park freightliner. Nice light, shame about the loco. It certainly doesn't compare with the traction on this service from two decades before.

70009 passes Steeple Aston in the drizzle on 21 September 2013 with the totally unremunerative 4M55 10:00 Southampton to Lawley Street freightliner. Not one single box, not even out of sight around the corner. Totally empty, nothing, zero. I don't know why it was making so much noise!

A Class 70 is commonplace on the 6M50 07:13 Westbury to Bescot departmental working, although it is usually a yellow and orange Colas loco, not a green Freightliner one! 70009 is on hire to Colas, and worked the train on 18 January 2024. It was running half an hour early, and I had only just got to Uffington in time.

70010 approaches Tackley on 6 June 2016 with the late running 4M99 16:57 Southampton Maritime to Trafford Park freightliner. Although this appears to be a perfect sunny evening, this picture was in fact taken during a fortunate clear gap between several large clouds, which were rapidly moving in from the west.

Running 45 minutes late, 70010 passes Hinksey Yard on 7 February 2018 with the 4O54 06:12 Leeds to Southampton Maritime freightliner. Note the new signal gantry in the background, in front of the equally new footbridge.

70010 passes Thrupp on 6 February 2020 with the 4O49 09:21 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton Maritime freightliner. The use of a very long lens has compressed the perspective, making the isolated church at Hampton Gay seem much nearer than it really is.

A 'Fresh Air Express' at Challow on 6 July 2015. There is not a single box on the 4O59 08:00 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner, as it passes Challow on 6 July 2015, with 70011 in charge. It was a poor morning for freightliner traffic, as the regular 4L31 09:03 Bristol to Felixstowe North was cancelled. Whilst I don't normally like photographing very lightly loaded freightliners, with just a few widely spaced boxes, the sheer novelty of this completely empty train was worth recording. The Met Office had been quite correct with their forecast on this occasion. They had predicted a sunny morning, giving way to clouds by 10:00, to be followed later by rain. It is three minutes after ten, and just look at that mass of dark clouds rolling in from the west!

70011 passes Uffington on 29 March 2017 with the early running 4O70 09:56 Wentloog to Southampton Maritime freightliner. I have included this extremely untidy view as it shows the depressing amount of clutter that electfrication entails. However, it also shows a welcome new addition. The footpath which crosses the line in the background has now acquired a footbridge. This is a pleasant but surprising development, as I had come to the conclusion that I was the only person that ever used the footpath! I have certainly never seen another person using it.

The buddleia bushes growing in the ballast make photography challenging at Wolvercote on 17 August 2023, as 70011 takes the up relief line with the 4O49 09:36 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton Maritime freightliner.

70013 passes South Moreton (Didcot East) on 3 September 2014 with the 4O51 10:58 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner. This view is most interesting for what isn't there. Compare this picture of 66504 on the equivalent train, four years earlier. Didcot Power Station's cooling towers, which formerly stood behind the pylon have been demolished.

70013 keeps company with the Oxford Canal, as it passes through Heyford station on 13 December 2014 with the 4O54 05:27 Leeds to Southampton freightliner. Although not obvious from this angle, but the clipped hedging behind the milepost spells out the station's name.

70013 runs slowly along the up relief line at Wolvercote on 16 December 2014 with the 4O49 09:22 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton freightliner. On the left is the northern end of the new Oxford to Wolvercote relief line, which still only extends a short way to the south of this spot.

Running 37 minutes late, 70013 approaches Steventon on 9 December 2015 with the 4O70 09:58 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner. It was approaching an amber signal and 'feathers' at Causeway Crossing, which would see it move onto the up relief line.

70013 is glimpsed through the dead riverside vegetation as it approaches Heyford on 20 April 2016 with the 4O14 05:36 Garston to Southampton Maritime freightliner. This kind of arty shot would obviously only work in winter or spring.

70013 approaches Radley on 5 May 2016 with the 4O54 06:12 Leeds to Southampton Maritime freightliner. This is not a location that many photographers would venture to, as it does involve quite a lengthy walk from the nearest road.

70014 passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 22 September 2014 with the 4O51 09:58 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner. This should really have been diverted onto the relief line, as there were a couple of HSTs directly behind it, which were consequently held up, and crept by at little more than walking speed!

70014 passes Lower Basildon on 30 March 2015 with the 4O51 09:58 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner, while in the background the 1L51 10:55 Cardiff Central to Paddington First Great Western HST is about to overtake it.

70014 passes through Tackley station at high speed on 14 June 2017 with the 4O15 07:21 Lawley Street to Southampton Maritime freightliner. The low angle certainly emphasises the height of the 9' 6" box directly behind the loco's rear cab.

70014 passes one of the instantly recognisable Southern Railway concrete platelayer's huts at Oakley on 9 June 2021, as it heads east with the 4M55 08:45 Southampton Maritime to Lawley Street freightliner.

Unfortunately just as the sun fades out into high cloud, 70014 passes Yarnton on 4 March 2024 with the 4O27 05:08 Garston to Southampton Maritime freightliner. The bridge in the background is the A44 Oxford to Woodstock road.

70014 passes Wolvercote Junction on 26 November 2024 with the 4O49 0932 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton Maritime freightliner. Although not obvious from this picture, recent heavy rain had flooded most of the fields in the vicinity.

70015 passes Compton Beauchamp on 20 April 2015 with the 4O59 08:01 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner. Monday is a good day for morning freightliner activity at this location, as just 15 minutes later, 66414 passed by with the 4L31 09:03 Bristol to Felixstowe North.

70015 has full power applied, as it slowly builds up speed after pulling out of Aynho loop on 21 April 2015 with the 4O09 11:52 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton freightliner. The location is Souldern Wharf, a short distance south of Aynho Junction.

70015 approaches Didcot North Junction on 12 August 2019 with the 4O90 06:08 Leeds to Southampton Maritime freightliner. Tree growth, and the buddleia bushes now restrict the viewpoint here, but at least the abandoned electfrication masts didn't reach this far!

70015 passes underneath the A44 roadbridge at Yarnton on a dull 3 May 2022 with the 4O03 10:59 Lawley Street to Southampton Maritime freightliner. Note the rabbit in the field on the right watching proceedings!

70015 passes Tackley on 18 July 2023 with the 4O90 06:04 Leeds to Southampton Maritime freightliner. It looks like this is a completely rural location, but the trees on the left hide the houses of Balliol Close from view. Another housing estate has also been recently built towards the rear of the train.

70016 passes Compton Beauchamp on 24 March 2014 with the 4O57 08:13 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner. The biggest change in freight traffic that I have seen over the Swindon to Didcot line since I have been taking photos, is the massive increase in freightliner traffic. Not difficult, as in the 1980s there was virtually none!

70016 passes the well filled Hinksey Yard on 11 February 2016 with the 4O49 09:22 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton Maritime freightliner. The two cranes in the background are working on the redevelopment of Oxford's Westgate Shopping Centre. Just visible behind the train is 31452, waiting in the loop, running as the 0Y57 09:00 Derby to Eastleigh light engine.

70016 passes Yarnton on 30 June 2023 with the 4O49 09:36 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton Maritime freightliner. This location is not quite as rural as it appears, as the trees on the left are hiding the buildings of the slightly misnamed Oxford Business Park.

70016 passes Yarnton on 8 December 2023 with the 4O49 09:36 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton Maritime freightliner. The fence along the A44 road in the background is in connection with the so called 'North Oxford Corridor' road improvements.

70016 passes underneath Aynho Flyover on 10 May 2024 with the slightly early running 4O14 06:41 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton Maritime freightliner. The flyover carries the down Chiltern line over the Oxford to Banbury line.

An easy load for 70017 at Denchworth on 3 September 2012, as it heads east with the 4O59 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner. It was followed just over an hour later by a much more substantial load on 4L30, behind 66501. The absence of wagons on the front of the train reveals the last of the summer's Rosebay Willowherb, while the hawthorn berries on the bushes on the right herald the approach of autumn.

With Rosebay Willowherb and Buddleia still in flower on the trackside, 70017 approaches Didcot North Junction on 8 September 2012 with the 4O27 05:26 Garston to Southampton freightliner. There has been plenty of tree growth at this location in the last quarter of a century!

Running nearly an hour late, 70017 approaches Kennington 6 June 2013 with the 4M99 16:57 Southampton to Trafford Park freightliner. This late running resulted in a mere 11 minutes wait for consecutively numbered 70018 to appear on the 4M98 18:00 Southampton to Garston.

A lucky break in the clouds at South Moreton on 19 August 2013, as 70017 heads eastwards with the 4O51 09:58 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner. For the time being, the disused Didcot Power Station still dominates the skyline.

70017 passes Uffington on 24 October 2013 with the 4O51 09:58 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner. After a sunny and surprisingly fog free morning, only now, at midday, was the cloud starting to build up. For once the weather was better than forecast!

Lots of clouds in the background, but thankfully still plenty of sun in the foreground, as 70017 approches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 26 February 2014 with the 4O51 09:58 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner.

70017 passes between the blackthorn and gorse blossom at Baulking on 16 April 2014 with the 4O51 09:58 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner, running at reduced speed due to a temporary speed restriction in force after recent track relaying (not the fresh ballast near the middle of the train).

70017 passes through Tackley station on 16 February 2022 with the 4M61 12:24 Southampton Maritime to Trafford Park freightliner. The station may only have a couple of basic 'bus shelters', but it certainly has an impressive display of vintage style station lights!

Running 46 minutes late, 70017 passes Appleford on 5 August 2022 with the 4O14 05:36 Garston to Southampton Maritime freightliner. The rear of the train is crossing the River Thames. This is the third bridge over the river at this location. The original timber structure was replaced by a wrought iron bridge in the 1850s. The present steel bridge dates from 1927.

70011 failed on 7 February 2023, whilst working the 4M55 08:23 Southampton Maritime to Lawley Street freightliner. The train was delayed for some considerable time in the Micheldever area, before 70017 was sent to assist. The pair (70017 powering and 70011 dead in tow) are pictured at Wormleighton Crossing, running 198 minutes late! Note the bank of cloud in the background. This was totally unforecast, but in the event helped soften the lighting on what would otherwise have been quite a harshly backlit picture.

70017 approaches Didcot North Junction on 30 August 2023 with the 4O14 06:41 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton Maritime freightliner. The posts of the abandoned project to electrify the Didcot to Oxford line can be seen in the background.

70018 approaches Kennington on 6 June 2013 with the 4M98 18:00 Southampton to Garston freightliner. Despite the fine evening light, I wouldn't normally have bothered to hang on for another Class 70, but as this was right behind 70017 on the delayed 4M99, I made an exception.

Superb early morning light at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 23 February 2015, although the dark clouds in the background shows that it isn't going to last very long. 70018 runs slowly along the up relief line with the 4O59 07:04 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner.

70018 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 8 June 2015 with the 4O59 08:00 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner. Coincidentally I had photographed this same loco, on the same working (albeit on a slightly different schedule), at this very spot a few months earlier. I will leave you to decide which time of year provides the better lighting conditions!

Stop! I'd like to see someone try to cross here with a vehicle, seeing as the footpath crossing has a palisade fence gate at either end! 70018 passes Grove on 28 September 2015 with the 4O51 09:58 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner.

70019 passes Acton Turville on 18 July 2013 with the 4V50 10:32 Millbrook to Wentloog freightliner. It was doing well to make up for lost time, after an 85 minute late departure from Millbrook. Just 20 minutes down here, and it reached its destination within a few minutes of the booked time.

70019 passes South Moreton (Didcot East) on 19 December 2014 with the 4O54 06:13 Leeds to Southampton freightliner. The chimneys of both the disused Didcot A (the tall one), and the still in use gas fired Didcot B Power Stations can be seen in the background.

Around the longest day is an ideal time to spend an evening at this location just to the south of Tackley station. Here we see 70019 heading north with the 4M99 16:57 Southampton Maritime to Trafford Park freightliner on 29 June 2015. With nothing apart from a few small bushes to shade the track, photography can be carried out until the sun sets.

70019 runs along the up relief line at Banbury on 22 August 2015 with the 4O27 05:21 Garston to Southampton Maritime freightliner, passing a couple of soon to be made redundant upper quadrant semaphore signals.

Ironically pictured on the day that the Turkish Class 70 (70099) arrived at Newport Docks, 70020 was still the highest numbered operational member of the class on 16 October 2012, when pictured passing Circourt Bridge, Denchworth with the 4O51 09:58 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner.

The evening shadows are lengthening as 70020 approaches Moulsford on 4 September 2013 with the 4M99 16:57 Southampton to Trafford Park freightliner. A very long lens had become necessary due to encroaching shadows in the foreground. Coincidentally, whilst this is the highest numbered Class 70, two years earlier I had photographed the lowest numbered member of the class at the same spot, on exactly the same working.

70020 speeds through Kings Sutton station on 18 September 2013 with the 4O09 10:18 Trafford Park to Southampton freightliner. Despite it being only a freight train, I still used 1/2000sec to make sure I froze all movement in this close up picture, because it certainly wasn't hanging about!

Not long after sunrise, and just a few minutes after the sun finally appeared from behind a large bank of dark clouds, 70020 passes Cholsey on 8 July 2014 with the 4O22 01:47 Trafford Park to Southampton freightliner. I had been intending to do this shot for some time, but with the demolition of three of Didcot Power Station's cooling towers less than three weeks away, there was now a degree of urgency! Luckily the forecast of a little early sunshine was correct, although I did travel through some really dense fog en-route.

70020 approaches Culham on 30 June 2015 with the 4M98 17:30 Southampton Maritime to Hams Hall freightliner. The Met Office had predicted a completely cloudless day. While that had been true up until the evening, an unforecast bank of cloud can be seen in the background approaching from the south.

70020 approaches Culham on 9 July 2015 with the 4M99 16:57 Southampton Maritime to Trafford Park freightliner. I chose a wider view for this picture, although I suppose once electrification takes place, this will be the only view possible.

It always was difficult to photograph up trains on the relief line at Spring Farm, Goring, in the morning. Now it is nearly impossible! 70020 passes the disfigured location on 6 July 2015 with the 4O15 03:32 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton freightliner.

70020 passes Hinksey Yard on 20 January 2016 with the 4O49 09:22 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton Maritime freightliner. The cranes behind the trees in the background are working on the redevelopment of Oxford's Westgate Shopping Centre.

You wouldn't be very happy if your six year old car smoked as badly as this, would you?  Exhibiting the typical General Electric sooty black exhaust of these supposed environmentally friendly locos, 70020 passes Wolvercote on 25 June 2018 with the 4M98 17:24 Southampton Maritime to Garston freightliner.

70020 passes Claydon (Oxfordshire) on 13 April 2019 with the 4O05 07:03 Birch Coppice to Southampton freightliner. Photo taken from Claydon Crossing, formerly the site of a signal box, and both up and down refuge sidings.

70020 passes slowly through Tackley station on 7 December 2021 with the 4M55 08:45 Southampton Maritime to Lawley Street freightliner. It was following closely behind the 1M34 10:15 Reading to Manchester Piccadilly CrossCountry Voyager, which had been held for a while at a red signal, and then had crept through the station at little more than walking speed.

70020 passes Tackley on 20 April 2024 with the 4O90 06:05 Leeds to Southampton Maritime freightliner. This location is approximately half a mile south of Tackley station, where a rough track passes underneath the line.

Brand new (at least in this guise!) 70801 & 56078 slowly run along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 26 February 2014 with the 6V62 11:00 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. I suppose it's newsworthy, but I would still have preferred to have had the Grid on the front!

At little more than walking speed, 70801 & 56078 approach Challow on 26 February 2014 with the 6V62 11:00 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. They would be held here for half an hour to allow several HSTs to pass.

After a lengthy sojourn in the loop at Challow, 70801 & 56078 carry on with their journey to the west on 26 February 2014 with the 6V62 11:00 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. They are pictured here passing Uffington.

Almost a complete Colas liveried train! With only the two flat wagons at the rear of the train not in the startling Colas orange and yellow livery, 70801 presents a bright spectacle at Grove on 14 July 2014, as it heads eastwards with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Already running 27 minutes early, the fact that it is running main line, and not being held on the relief line at nearby Wantage Road, means it will soon be even further ahead of schedule. It would however be held at Didcot until nearly right time.

70801 emerges from the fog at Chippenham on 10 September 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Naturally the journey along the M4 to Chippenham was in sunshine, but unfortunately the sun was a lot more reluctant to burn off the fog than the Met Office had suggested. At least the bright Colas livery shows up well in these 'atmospheric' conditions!

Running over an hour late, 70801 passes Uffington on 28 October 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. This is just over a year since Colas took over this working, which originally was worked by Class 66s.

With the spires of Oxford visible in the background, 70801 passes Wolvercote on 19 January 2015 with the 6X50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot point carriers. The new relief line, on which very little visible work has been done during the last year, can be seen on the right.

70801 & 66846 pass Bourton in slightly hazy light on 9 April 2015 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineer's train. A contrast in the aesthesis (or otherwise!) of General Electric and General Motors heavy freight locomotive designs.

70801 speeds past Compton Beauchamp on 14 April 2015, running as the 0F75 11:51 Hinksey to Westbury. I wouldn't normally bother taking a picture of a light engine, but as it is a clean loco in perfect light, and just clears the shadow of the tree in the background, why not!

Just a single wagon away from being 0M50! 70801 passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 1 October 2015 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. The early morning fog was only just clearing, with just a brief patch of sunshine illuminating the train.

70801 passes through a scene dominated by hawthorn blossom, as it passes Evenlode on 28 May 2016 with the 6C22 05:40 Hinksey to Standish Junction engineer's train, conveying wagons for use in a major Bank Holiday track possession. It could clearly be heard approaching from several miles away, in the still morning air. This was the third of six departmental workings over the Cotswold Line on this morning, and while the preceding one was theoretically photographable, the first one definitely wasn't, as it passed this spot just after midnight, running over 90 minutes early!

70801 passes Compton Beauchamp on 13 September 2016 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineer's train. Typically this was running exactly to time, on a day when I had to be elsewhere very shortly afterwards, and yet the last time I went for it, it ran 30 minutes early, and passed by just as I was getting out of the car!

70801 runs along the up relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 5 January 2017 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Note the not yet installed electfrication mast in the foreground, which has given photographers at this location a reprieve for many months.

70801 & 70806 run slowly along the up relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 25 May 2017 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train, which in the event only got as far as Hinksey Yard. It usually recesses there for an hour and a half to either pick up or drop off wagons.

70801 approaches Uffington in a few seconds worth of sunshine amid the clouds on 8 June 2020. The train is the 6M40 11:42 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. This is the second train of the day to bring a Colas Class 70 to the Vale of White Horse. The first is being the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot engineer's working, which on this occasion was 70802 running light engine as 0M50 (a common occurrence), and which in any case was long gone even before I left home.

70801 passes Grove on 25 November 2021 with the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot engineers train, with the short train just fitting in the gap between the bushes. This location may be completely transformed, if one of the options for a new Grove station ever gets past the consultation stage.

70801 passes Challow on 29 November 2021 with the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot engineers train, which on this occasion terminated at Hinksey. There was a good covering of snow at home, but when I learned that there wasn't any at Swindon, I realised that the previous evening's snowfall had been very localised, and I was quite prepared for there not being any at Challow. However, after a slightly slippery drive, I was pleased to see that not only was there some snow, but the sun was gradually breaking through the high cloud!

A venerable oak tree provides a perfect frame for 70801, as it passes Baulking on 5 January 2022 with the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot departmental working. On this occasion the wagons were left at Hinksey Yard, and the loco continued on to Bescot light engine.

Running 89 minutes early, 70801 passes Baulking on 20 March 2022 with the 6C20 10:50 Gloucester Yard Junction to Hinksey spoil. Just nine minutes later another train returning from an overnight engineering possession passed by, this time with Freightliner motive power.

With engine shut down, 70802 stands on the new trackwork at Gavray Junction, Bicester, on 19 June 2014 with a train of ballast hoppers. The point for the new junction, which will link the Oxford to Bletchley line (on the left), with the Marylebone to Banbury line (across the bridge), is right underneath the loco. Photo taken from a recently installed (an locally controversial) footbridge.

A miniscule load for 70802 at Bourton on 1 July 2014, as it heads eastwards with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. A train of variable length, as this picture of 66846 at the same location in much better quality light proves.

Oh dear, plenty of locos, but no load! 70802, 70803 & 70809 pass Compton Beauchamp on 20 April 2015 with the 0M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot. This train (as 6M50) often has a interesting and varied departmental load, but no such luck today!

70802 comes to a halt in Challow loop on 21 March 2016 with the 6Z90 10:33 Didcot to Toton, conveying Kirow crane DRK81624. Didcot to Toton is a fair distance, but it shouldn't take all day. However, when it is booked to travel via the Severn Tunnel, Hereford, and Shrewsbury, with numerous layovers, its not surprising that the booked arrival time is 21:24!

The horse in the field next to Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, watches 70802 as it ambles along the up relief line on 27 April 2016 with the well loaded 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Like some railways photographers I could mention, the horse seems absorbed by the ugly Class 70, but ignores the classic lines of the HSTs passing his field!

What an eyesore! The Class 70 is ugly enough, but the hideous blot on the landscape that is the Great Western Mainline electfrication is much worse. The disfigurement of the Vale of White Horse is all too evident in this picture of 70802 passing Bourton on 13 March 2017 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train.

70802 passes Steventon on 25 April 2017 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot, conveying just six JNA wagons loaded with ballast. This is one of the few remaining sections of line between Didcot and Swindon without any electfrication masts. However, they're only a few yards away!

The local wildlife takes to the air, as 70802 approaches Crowle on 5 November 2018 with the 6E32 08:55 Preston Docks to Lindsey Oil Refinery bitumen empties. As Colas have disposed of all their Class 60s, and this is now Class 70 hauled, I wasn't initially going to bother photographing it, but relented, as I was in the area anyway!

70802 passes Oaksey on 25 March 2019 with the 6L39 05:00 Bridgend Ford Sidings to Dagenham vans, containing automotive engines. This was running exactly to time, despite starting out from Bridgend 76 minutes late! Note how the short train neatly fits the location.

Typical, after waiting for 20 minutes at a red signal just the other side of the bridge in the background, 70802 moves off with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train, just as the late running 1C07 09:00 Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads GWR service does its best to get in the way! The location is Denchworth, on 15 April 2019.

On hire to Freightliner, Colas 70803 brings a splash of colour to the 4O51 09:58 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner on 18 August 2014. It is seen here passing South Marston at surprisingly slow speed. The moribund line to South Marston Euro Terminal can be seen curving away behind the locomotive.

Bringing the welcome opportunity to photograph a freight train on the Cotswold Line, 70803 passes Lyneham on 9 February 2015 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. This train was held at Didcot for some considerable time, and was 92 minutes late approaching Oxford. However, by completely missing out its normal layover in Hinksey Yard, it converted that mega late running into being 47 minutes early when it actually passed through Oxford station! Plenty of mole activity, but the other residents of the foreground field were elsewhere on this occasion!

70803 passes Hinksey Yard on 6 May 2021 with the 6M40 11:42 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. Note the gull just about to take off from the yard light on the right. There are always lots of gulls around this area, attracted by the large lake which is just behind the bushes.

70803 approaches Didcot North Junction on 17 March 2022 with the 6O26 10:48 Hinksey to Eastleigh ballast. To the left and the rear of the loco are a couple of steel piles for the abandoned Oxford line electfrication project. After a completely sunny start to the day, the clouds were building up much more quickly than the forecast had predicted, as can be seen in the background!

Inter-company cooperation! DB Cargo 66012 hitches a lift on the Colas operated 6O26 10:48 Hinksey to Eastleigh departmental working, see here passing Appleford on 25 March 2022, behind 70803. Recent vegetation clearance has opened up this view considerably.

70803, 70810 & 70809 pass Yarnton on 3 May 2022 with the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot departmental working. Obviously this short train does not require three locos. The rear two locos are dead in tow, heading back north after Bank Holiday weekend engineering work in the south west.

A large patch of Cow Parsley serves as a hedge between two fields at Uffington, as 70803 passes by on 17 May 2022 with the 6M40 11:37 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. It's difficult to imagine, but the Wilts & Berks Canal formerly crossed this field.

70803 passes Yarnton in the gloom on 10 November 2022 with the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot departmental working. This location is just north of Wolvercote Junction, and trains on the Cotswold Line can occasionally be glimpsed through the trees in the background.

70803 passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 10 August 2023 with the 6M50 08:01 Westbury to Bescot departmental working. The fact that it had moved onto the up relief line at Challow seemed a bit pointless, as it rejoined the main line at Wantage Road without stopping. It was running 43 minutes early, which was not totally unexpected, and which I was prepared for. However, I had only just arrived in time, as the footpath from Denchworth village had been illegally obstructed by a crop of beans, and the already long walk took even longer!

70803 approaches Uffington on 23 August 2023 with the 6M50 08:01 Westbury to Bescot departmental working. It's hard to believe, but I am standing on the course of what was once the Wilts & Berks Canal. It closed in 1914, and all trace of it has disappeared at this location.

70803 passes Grove on 5 November 2023 with the 6C21 21:10 Wootton Bassett Junction to Westbury spent ballast. I am used to trains returning from a works site running late, but this was exceptional, as it was almost 12 hours late! The other trains from this possession were also late: 6Y44 106 minutes, 6C22 418 minutes, 6Y45 477 minutes, 6Y47 384 minutes & 6Y48 280 minutes!

Overpowered? 70804 passes Bourton on 4 March 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. This was the second day of Class 70 operation on this service. Such is this class's poor reliability, that 70804 managed only two days of trouble free running on this working, before failing at Hinksey the day after this picture was taken. Terrible performance for a new loco! Just visible underneath the bridge in the background is a track worker waving his chequered flag as a warning of this train's approach to fellow workers.

A dazzling study in shades of yellow and orange at Compton Beauchamp on 24 March 2014. 70804 runs along the Great Western Mainline with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. This train has attracted considerable interest since its take over by Colas in October 2013. Unfortunately the loco's sparkling condition is not matched by it reliability. Two days after this picture was taken it failed on this service for the second time, on this occasion having to be rescued by a Class 67! Totally unacceptable for a new locomotive.

70804 passes Shrivenham on 14 April 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Even as early as 09:00 on what was supposed to be a sunny day, the clouds were already starting to build. Note the shadows in the background.

70804 passes Baulking on 12 May 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Note the recently relaid track in the background. I'm not sure when the track was last relaid, but the down line between here and the bridge in the background was replaced 1993.

Running nearly an hour late, and therefore unfortunately missing the best of the weather, 70804 passes Grove on 14 July 2014 with the 6Z27 06:16 Cardiff Canton to Tyne HOBC train. It was definitely a Colas themed morning, with both 70801, and for more interestingly, 56113 & 56087 passing this spot within a few hours.

70804 has 66169 in tow, as it approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham on 24 November 2014 with the 6M50 11:00 Westbury to Bescot engineers train, retimed from its usual 07:55 departure. Soon after leaving home the sun completely disappeared, despite the forecast, so I opted for Shrivenham instead of Uffington, which had been my original choice. As it was dull, at least there were no shadows from the trees on the left of the picture, so I suppose it was a lucky last minute decision. Also, the last of the autumn leaves on the right add colour to the picture.

70804 & 70801 pass some signs of impending electrification, as they head east past Baulking on 4 May 2016 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Some vegetation clearance has allowed a slightly wider view since the last time I saw 70804 here on this train.

The horses in the field turn their back on 70804, as it passes Compton Beauchamp on 17 October 2016 with the very lightly loaded 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Although this working is often quite short (just a light engine sometimes), at least the wagons show some variety day to day.

A new footbridge replaced the former footpath crossing at Uffington in early 2017, creating a new viewpoint, albeit already partly ruined by electfrication masts. 70804 heads eastwards on 11 April 2017 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. As is often the case, this was running half an hour early, after missing out its booked stop at Swindon.

70804 ambles along the up relief line near Grove on 22 October 2018 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train, which contains Kirow KRC1200UK 125 tonne diesel hydraulic crane DRK81623. This train had spent nearly an hour sat at a red signal in the far distance. As the train was so short, I decided to include some of the local railway infrastructure. The train's slow speed enabled the use of an aperture of f16 to get the whole lot in focus.

70804 passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 29 April 2019 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. The lengthy train is made up of 20 bogie ballast wagons, mostly JNAs, but also a couple of IEAs (including the fourth wagon), and several very similar MLAs.

70804 passes Appleford level crossing on 11 October 2022 with the 7O26 10:42 Hinksey to Eastleigh departmental working. This crossing is now normally closed to road traffic (such as it is), and anyone wanting to cross has to press a button to notify the signalman. The wait that follows can be quite long, and a couple of drivers gave up and turned around while I was there!

70805 rounds the curve near Steeple Aston on 17 March 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Monday seems to be a good day to see a lengthy load on this train, which on other days can be just a single wagon!

70805 heads along the Great Western Mainline near Grove on 31 March 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Not much of a load today, but at least on this occasion it did manage to get to its destination, something which has been by no means certain since the Class 70s took over!

At least with a pair of the not very reliable Class 70s on the front the train should actually be able to reach its destination! In perfect crisp early morning light, 70805 & 70803 swing onto the up relief line at Challow on 8 April 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train.

70805 passes underneath the roadbridge by the site of Challow station on 9 April 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Unfortunately this corresponded with a cloudy spell, but as the bridge was due to be replaced shortly afterwards, this will do as a record shot.

70805 approaches the site of Uffington station on 16 April 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Two things were threatening to spoil this picture. A rogue cloud that the Met Office had not predicted (look in the background!) was just about to cover the sun, and a HST was also approaching from the opposite direction.

70805 runs along the up relief line near Grove on 8 September 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. As seems to be the practice now, it had just spent 20 minutes waiting at the signal near the bridge in the background, rather than at the end of the loop at Wantage Road, a short distance behind me.

Two locos for two wagons! 70805 & 70801 pass Compton Beauchamp on 11 September 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Not only has the 1C05 08:00 Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads First Great Western HST only just got out of the way in time, but so too has a small cloud that was completely blocking the sun when the train came into view!

With the three remaining cooling towers of the disused Didcot Power Station visible in the background, 70805 runs along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 3 December 2014 with the 6V62 11:22 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. There had been considerable cloud at this location during the previous hour, and I really didn't think this would be in sun. However, at the last minute the clouds parted enough for some decent light. This is the first occasion that a Class 70 has worked this train throughout. The two previous occasions both involved a second loco, with the 70 added for part of the journey. In the case of 60087's first outing this was unfortunately due to the loco's failure!

70805 passes the site of Challow station on 8 December 2014 with the late running 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Yet another signalling problem in the London area was causing many First Great Western trains to be cancelled, including the 1A11 09:30 Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington, which should have been passing at this very moment. Therefore this train was routed along the mainline, rather than its usual route along the up relief, as pictured exactly eight months earlier, again headed by 70805, although on that occasion partnered by 70803.

70805 passes Cassington on 10 February 2015 with the diverted 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. This is on the long single track section of the Cotswold Line between Wolvercote Junction and Charlbury.

70805 passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 23 February 2015 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot (via the Cotswold Line) engineers train. Unfortunately the dark clouds in the background soon put an end to this excellent lighting.

70805 brings up the rear of the 19:52 Hinksey to Claydon LNE Junction long welded rail train at Culham on 30 June 2015. The unusual routing was because the Oxford to Bicester line was closed for complete rebuilding.

70805 passes Bourton on 23 September 2015 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. The track was lowered here in April in order to accommodate the forthcoming electrification without demolishing the bridges. The dip is noticeable near the bridge in the background.

70805 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 20 January 2016 with the late running 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. I was very surprised to be the only photographer present at what is now a very well know location, especially so given the sunny and frosty morning.

70805 passes Challow on 21 March 2016 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Unfortunately this corresponded with the start of half an hour's worth of unforecast cloud. The sun was just disappearing as the train came into view, although had it passed at the correct time, rather than 19 minutes early, it would have been much darker!

70805 passes underneath the new footbridge at Kingham station on 11 September 2016 with the 6C24 09:30 Standish Junction to Westbury spoil. As is completely normal with trains returning from an engineering possession, this was not running anywhere near its booked time. In fact at only 86 minutes late, this was one of the better timekeeping trains from this possession!

An orange and yellow convoy adds a splash of colour to the green summer landscape at Purton on 17 June 2017. 70805, 70814, 70813, 70812 & 70803 run alongside the River Severn with the 0Z98 07:30 Cardiff Canton to Bescot, taking the locos to their weekend engineering duties.

70805 passes Challow on 28 November 2017 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. This short train is the ideal length to fit between the masts at this location! I was extremely lucky with the sun here, as the foreground was still in cloud when I saw it appear in the distance, and the sun only finally came out from behind the cloud just as it passed underneath the bridge!

70805 passes Popham on 4 August 2019 with the 08:35 Ripple Lane Renwick Road Junction to Eastleigh East Yard spent ballast. 70813 can just be seen on the rear of the train. This was running just three minutes late. It is not unusual for a Sunday engineering train to be three hours later, or more often three hours early!

Passing between two Second World War concrete pillboxes, 70805 passes Potbridge on 8 March 2020 with the 08:08 Shalford Junction to Eastleigh East Yard ballast. This was running very nearly to time - not that common for departmental trains!

70805 passes Challow on 1 December 2020 with the 07:59 Westbury to Bescot engineers train, which on this occasion was running as 6X50, rather than 6M50, due to the inclusion of the two sets of point carriers. Unfortunately the sun decided to disappear behind some high cloud when this appeared!

A small load for the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot engineers train on 23 June 2021, seen here passing Uffington behind 70805. At least on this occasion it has a load, as quite often this runs light engine as 0M50!

70805 passes Culham on 12 July 2021 with the 6M40 11:42 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. Note the tubular steel pile amid the foliage in the foreground. This is a remnant of the abandoned plan to electrify the Didcot to Oxford line.

Brand new, and presumably not yet familiar with a fire extinguisher, 70806 passes Blagrove (near Swindon) on 14 May 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. This location is not quite as rural as it appears, as Blagrove Industrial Estate is behind the trees, and the M4 motorway a short distance away to the left.

After waiting at the signal in order to allow the 1L34 07:28 Swansea to Paddington First Great Western HST to pass, 70806 slowly gets underway again at Denchworth on 4 November 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Mid morning, and the fog still hasn't cleared in places. The well known photographic location of Circourt Bridge (which would normally be visible in the background of this picture) is still enveloped in thick fog.

70806 stands underneath the bridge that carries the Chiltern Line over the Oxford to Bletchley route at Bicester on 19 January 2015. The brand new Gavray Junction is in the foreground, with the new line linking the two routes curving off to the right.

An impressive cavalcade passes slowly through Shipton station on 5 February 2015. 70806, 70808, 70805 & 59201 head the 6Z50 12:46 Hinksey to Bescot engineers train through the diminutive Cotswold Line station, bringing the welcome opportunity to photograph something other than a HST or DMU at this location. The landslip at Harbury resulted in this train being diverted via the Cotswold Line, this section of which does not normally see any freight trains. This is one of those occasions when a dull day, with no chance of the sun peeking out unexpectedly is required, as this picture is taken from the north side of the line. I particularly wanted to take the picture from this angle, to include the station nameboard.

70806 moves onto the up relief line at Challow on 6 July 2015 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. This was running nearly half an hour early, and I had only just arrived at the location when I saw it appear around the corner. I had checked its progress a few minutes earlier, and it was on time at Swindon. I shouldn't really have been surprised, as the layover at Swindon is sometimes ignored for the sake of a longer layover at Wantage Road. However, on this occasion it carried straight on to Hinksey Yard.

70806 passes Compton Beauchamp on 16 May 2016 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. The Met Office been a little optimistic by forecasting full sun until mid morning. In fact the clouds had started to build up quite early on, and this passed in a very transient sunny spell, with clouds both in front and behind.

The peace of a spring morning on the Cotswold Line is shattered, as 70806 passes Daylesford on 28 May 2016 with the 6C23 04:46 Westbury to Standish Junction engineer's train. This had been delayed by the preceding late running HST, and was running 20 minutes late. It could clearly be heard from several miles away, and appeared to be working hard, despite the lack of a load! There was major engineering works over the Bank Holiday weekend near Standish Junction, and this was one of six departmental working to traverse the Cotswold Line on this morning.

70806 passes underneath the roadbridge on the approach to Charlbury station on 30 November 2016 with the 0C08 07:22 Westbury to Westbury (via Worcester Shrub Hill) Fugro Raildata track survey working. The Rail Infrastructure Alignment Acquisition System can be seen mounted on the front of the locomotive. This was booked to wait in Charlbury station for 15 minutes, but it arrived 10 minutes early, and the DMU coming the other way was slightly late, so the wait was more like 25 minutes. Note the white painted patch on the bridge. This was a sighting aid for the former semaphore signals (removed in 1971).

70806 passes Challow on 17 May 2018 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train, which on this occasion includes Volker Rail Kirow KRC1200UK 125 tonne diesel hydraulic crane DRK81613. This is the start of the four track section to Wantage Road.

70806 brings up the rear of the 3S33 11:08 Cheltenham Lansdown Loop to Gloucester Horton Road (via Severn Tunnel Junction) Rail Head Treatment Train at Badgeworth on 4 December 2018. 56078 is the lead locomotive. Note the dark sly in the background. The sun was already starting to fade out into this, and it would be fully dull very shortly.

Diverted via the Berks & Hants line due to signalling issues at Westbury, 70806 passes Hungerford Common on 17 January 2019 with the late running 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. The early morning shadows are slightly intrusive, but at least most of the luckily very short train is properly lit. The 1847 built Hungerford Workhouse Chapel (now a private residence) can be seen in the distance.

70806 passes a field of oilseed rape at Uffington on 22 April 2021 with the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. This was a very easy picture to take, as I was merely stood on the side of the Uffington to Fernham road.

How much yellow can you get in one picture? The oilseed rape field dominates the foreground at Uffington on 18 May 2021, as 70806 & 70815 head eastwards with the 6X50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot departmental working. Luckily the gap between the posts was just sufficient for an uninterrupted view of both locomotives.

70807 moves onto the up relief line at Challow on 8 July 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. I certainly wouldn't normally bother photographing a Class 70 in these less than ideal lighting conditions, but I was passing this spot anyway, and as it involved no extra mileage at all, and only a few minutes wait, why not!

The fact that there are three locos on this train unfortunately hasn't helped with its timekeeping! Running 90 minutes late, 70807, 70806 & 70801 passes Hay Lane (near Swindon) on 10 July 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. 70806 & 70801 would be being moved dead in tow in readiness for weekend engineering duties.

70807 passes underneath the new road bridge at Challow on 18 February 2015 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train, running on the up main, rather than the up relief line, as booked. The A417 was closed for several months in late 2014 to allow Network Rail to rebuild Challow bridge, as part of the Great Western Mainline electrification programme.

70807 passes through Ascott-under-Wychwood station on 18 February 2015 with the diverted 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. The severe landslip at Harbury has caused this train to be routed via the Cotswold Line, allowing the very rare opportunity to photograph a freight train on the southern section of the route. Amongst all the modern signage and station furniture, there is a nod to the line's former owner, with the provision of GWR style station seats, one of which can just be seen to the left of the loco.

The 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train sometimes runs with no load for all or part of its journey. This was the case on 24 February 2015, when 70807 was pictured having just passed through Hanborough station, running as 0M50. I wouldn't normally bother taking a light engine move, but as this is off its usual route due to the Harbury landslip, it has added interest. Also, the fact that there is nothing behind the loco gives a clear view of the station, with its abandoned down platform now clearly visible after recent tree clearance. In the background is the Oxford Bus Museum. A solitary passenger waits for the 1P47 12:06 Worcester Foregate Street to Paddington Class 180 unit.

70807 runs parallel with the River Avon at Avoncliff on 18 April 2015, as it heads westwards with the 6C22 12:19 Westbury to Leckwith North Junction engineer's train. Not really the best viewpoint for a train of low wagons!

70807 runs along the up relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 8 June 2015 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers working. Luckily the Great Western Mainline electrification is proceeding at a snail's pace, so there is still a possibility for unobstructed pictures here. The only change in the last few months has been the hammering down of the piles on the left that were still many feet in the air during February.

70807 passes underneath the road bridge at Heyford on 27 July 2015 with the 6M50 12:09 Hinksey to Bescot engineers train. This train normally starts from Westbury. The road bridge was reconstructed a few years ago, but is already starting to look very weathered.

70807 approaches Steventon on 9 December 2015 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Note the inclusion of the Rail Head Treatment Train tanks, presumably en-route back to York after the end of the RHTT season. As is often the case, this was running half an hour early, having missed out its booked stop at Wantage Road.

70807 restarts the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train at Denchworth on 18 February 2016, after making its booked stop on the up relief line to allow couple of HSTs to pass. The first four wagons, along with the rake of hoppers at the rear would be left at Hinksey, leaving a very short train to continue on to Bescot.

70807 passes Uffington on 25 February 2016 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. This train runs at an ideal time lighting wise, and always makes an interesting picture, or at least on the occasions when it actually has a load! it is however unfortunately now virtually always Class 70 worked.

A stranger at Kingham! 70807 speeds through Kingham station on 28 May 2016 with the 6C24 08:24 Hinksey to Standish Junction engineer's train - the last of six such workings over the Cotswold Line in connection with some major engineering work taking place near Standish Junction over the Bank Holiday weekend.

'Please stand clear. The next train is not scheduled to stop at this platform'. The Tackley station information sign is of course quite correct, as 70807 passes through the station on 7 September 2016 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train, running over an hour late.

Say goodbye to the well known view from Circourt Bridge, Denchworth! Although the overhead catenary is now partially complete, the missing post near the bridge sill allowed this view on 14 September 2016. 70807 heads eastwards with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train.

Running 84 minutes late, 70807 passes Bourton on 3 November 2016 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. The uniform rake of red DB Cargo MXA wagons certainly show up well in the weak autumn sunshine.

70807 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on the frosty morning of 1 December 2016 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. This makes an interesting comparison to the scene just over two months earlier, when the same loco worked the same train. The seasons change much faster than Network Rail works, as the landscape looks completely different, but only minimal work has been carried out on the massively over budget and badly mismanaged electfrication scheme.

70807 passes Grove on 25 February 2019 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Just half an hour earlier, classmate 70812 had passed by with the 6L39 05:00 Bridgend Ford Sidings to Dagenham vans.

Two locos, two wagons! 70807 & 70805 pass Challow on 1 April 2019 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Strangely, they were not sent down the relief line, as booked. Especially odd, as they were following just four minutes behind the 6L39 05:00 Bridgend Ford Sidings to Dagenham vans.

70807 passes a field of ripening wheat near Uffington on 27 June 2019, as it heads west with the 6Z30 15:35 Dagenham Dock to Bridgend Ford Sidings empty vans. Note the open door on the first wagon. When I realised it was running early, it was a mad dash to find something to add foreground interest to the otherwise rather bland picture, hence the inclusion of the fence.

70807 slowly picks up speed, as it gets its huge load of ballast underway again at South Marston on 10 September 2020, after spending 20 minutes in the loop at Stratton Green. The train is the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot departmental working, which on this occasion left the entire train at Hinksey Yard, and carried on to Bescot light engine.

70807 runs slowly along the up relief line at Denchworth, as it approaches a red signal on 23 January 2023, whilst working the 6M50 08:01 Westbury to Bescot departmental train. The load on this train varies enormously, sometimes with only a few wagons, but on this occasion it is a lengthy train of 32 spoil wagons, comprising 22 MHA/MPA four wheelers, and 10 MXA bogie wagons.

70807 passes Uffington on 26 January 2023 with the lengthy 6M50 08:01 Westbury to Bescot departmental working. It was sunny when I left home, and when I got back, but at the lineside it was almost constantly cloudy!

70808 passes Avoncliff on 18 April 2015 with the 6C23 15:26 Westbury to Leckwith North Junction ballast train. This was one of those rare days when you are not always looking over your shoulder to see if a cloud is going to block the sun out just as a train is coming!

70808 passes South Marston on 30 June 2015 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. The line in the background curving away into the Keypoint Industrial Estate hasn't seen a train for so long that weeds are starting to invade the track.

A final look at the famous location of Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, before the view is ruined forever by the Great Western Mainline electrification scheme. Running 25 minutes early, 70808 passes by with the 6X50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train on 7 March 2016. I have been photographing at this location regularly since 1978, and even before I had a decent camera I made several visits. In 1973 I saw an endless procession of Westerns, 47s, 31s (both blue and green), and the odd newly arrived Class 50. With the massively engineered catenary needed to span the four track section, this angle is obviously going to be hopeless for photography, with only a much more side on view possible, so it looks like my visits will be a lot less frequent in the future.

The driver of 70808 reapplies power, as the signal in front of him changes from amber to green at Grove on 14 May 2018. The train is the 6X50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot point carriers. Photo taken from a public footpath crossing.

Running 39 minutes early, 70808 passes Cassington on 28 March 2021 with the 6C98 08:13 (06:28 actual) Norton Junction to Hinksey engineer's train, returning from overnight track relaying. Classmate 70811 can just be seen bringing up the rear.

70808 passes Uffington on 20 April 2021 with the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot departmental working. The blackthorn blossom is a welcome addition to the picture, in a spring landscape that is rapidly changing to the monotone green of May and June.

70808 passes through a lush spring green landscape at Yarnton on 3 May 2022 with the 6M40 11:42 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. As this would be looking straight into the midday sun, it was a good job that this was a cloudy day!

70808 passes Uffington on 6 February 2023 with the 6X50 08:01 Westbury to Bescot departmental working. This was running as 6X50, rather than 6M50, due to the inclusion of the point carriers. Note the recently renewed section of rail in the foreground, with the weld marked out by blue paint.

70809 passes the site of Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham on 7 August 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Sometimes this train can be quite short (or even just a light engine!) but on this occasion there is a healthy load, with three wagons of particularly photogenic brand new track panels directly behind the locomotive.

With such a short train, I opted for a tightly cropped side view of 70809, as it passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 22 September 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. The train is running along the up relief line prior to stopping at signals at Denchworth road bridge, rather than Wantage Road, as always used to be the case.

With 66176 tucked inside, 70809 passes Shorthampton on 3 February 2015 with the diverted 6Z50 12:25 Hinksey to Bescot departmental working. Due to a severe landslip at Harbury, the normal route via Banbury was impossible, so a detour via the Cotswold Line was the easiest option. The train has just passed Charlbury (part of which is visible in the distance), and the signal behind the loco has just changed to green, allowing the 1P47 12:06 Worcester Foregate Street service to enter the single track section south of Charlbury. Although I had suspected they might divert this train via the Cotswold Line, there was no indication on Realtime Trains in the morning, so many thanks to Pete Tandy for altering me to it, giving me just enough time to reach this location.

The only load on the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineer's train is a single track panel, as it is pictured passing Compton Beauchamp on 30 March 2015, hauled by 70809. After a month of excitement when this train was routed via the Cotswold Line, the reopening of the line at Harbury has made sure it has reverted to its normal route.

70809 passes Daylesford on 11 September 2016 with the 6C25 10:05 Standish Junction to Westbury ballast empties (except for a few wagons!). Annoyingly this was just a matter of seconds before the sun came out, with the field off to the left of the picture already bathed in sunshine!

As the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train was running light engine as 0M50 on 28 January 2019, I wasn't going to bother taking a picture. But as the early morning light was so photogenic, I decided to use one of the catenary spans at Uffington to frame 70809 as it passed by. With the shadow in the grass on the left balancing the composition, I think the picture works quite well.

70809 runs slowly along the up relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 15 October 2020 with the 6M40 11:42 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. This was running nearly half an hour late, a delay which didn't really matter, as it was booked to stay in the loop for a while anyway.

No load today, at least not until Hinksey Yard. 70809 passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 19 April 2021, running as the 0Z50 07:50 Westbury to Bescot light engine. Despite the road bridge being just a short distance away, this location requires a very long walk across the fields from Denchworth village.

70809, 70801 & 56078 pass Uffington on 17 January 2022 with the 6X50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot departmental working. A perfect sunny morning, the right sun angle, and three locos. The only thing that would have improved it would be to have the Class 56 leading, but of course that was never going to happen!

70809 passes Yarnton on 24 January 2022 with the 6X50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot departmental working. An extremely dull day, but had the sun been out this picture would have been impossible, as it would be looking straight into the light.

70809 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 27 May 2022 with the 6M40 11:42 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. Horrible midday overhead lighting, and a wire in the way, but a record shot, as I just happened to be at the location anyway.

A very unusual working at Spetchley on 13 September 2023. 70809 heads south with the 6Z99 08:00 Whitacre Down Arley Loop to Westbury ballast. This was running 77 minutes late, as it hadn't actually left Whitacre until 09:54. It should have passed here just after midnight as the 6Z14 21:35 Cliffe Hill Stud Farm to Westbury, but there was no relief driver available. I was very lucky with the sun here, but the photographers on the bridge in the background weren't quite so fortunate!

70810 passes South Marston on 30 July 2014 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. This meagre load would been would be augmented by a lengthy rake of ballast wagons at Hinksey Yard, where 70808 would also be added to the train.

During early 2015, the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train was diverted via the Cotswold Line, due to the massive landslip at Harbury. As always, it often ran light engine as 0M50. Such was the case on 5 March 2015. 70810 is pictured here about to pass under the very tall Grintleyhill Bridge, near Combe.

70810 passes Uffington on 10 March 2015 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Luckily this was a lengthy train, with a crane at the front of the consist. Sometimes it is a very short train, and that would have looked a bit 'lost' in this wide open landscape picture. 

70810 passes Whitehill (between Combe and Finstock) on 12 March 2015 with the diverted 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. This should in theory be the last time that this train is routed via the Cotswold Line, as the train's normal route via Harbury will have reopened by the time of its next booked working. In the field just to the right of the railway is North Leigh Roman Villa, famous for its well preserved third century mosaic floor.

Unfortunately the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train often runs as a light engine. Such was the case on 16 April 2015, when 70810 had just 66850 David Maidment OBE in tow, seen here passing Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, running as 0M50.

70810 arrives at it destination on 18 April 2015 with the 6C20 12:30 Leckwith North Junction to Westbury spoil train. The train is passing Westbury power signal box, which controls a large area, replacing many manual signal boxes when it opened in 1984.

70810 passes Steventon on 29 September 2010, running as the 0F75 13:52 Hinksey to Westbury light engine. The absence of a train does reveal one of the remaining cooling towers of the disused Didcot Power Station in the background.

70810 passes Bourton on 28 January 2016 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Often an unpredictable load (or none at all!), but a nice uniform rake of MHA wagons loaded with spent ballast on this occasion.

70810 passes Challow on 11 February 2016 with the lengthy 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train, running 23 minutes early, and routed along the main, which would make it even earlier by the time it got to Didcot. This is not at all unusual!

70810 & 70811 pass the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham, on 15 June 2017 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. With the pressure off, now that all GWR's new trains are going to be bi-modes (at massive additional cost), electfrication progress has slowed down (if that is possible!), with nothing happening here for months.

Running 74 minutes early, 70810, 70812 & 70811 pass Yarnton on 15 March 2021 with the 6M28 17:54 Hinksey to Bescot departmental working. I wasn't really in the ideal spot to photograph this, as I was waiting for the 6X01 10:18 Scunthorpe to Eastleigh coming from the other direction.

70810 passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 24 March 2022 with the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. This was booked to wait at Wantage Road for 20 minutes, but as can be seen here, it didn't move onto the relief line at Challow. It also missed out another couple of booked stops, and so arrived at Hinksey Yard nearly an hour ahead of time.

70811 approaches Steventon on 25 January 2018 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. This was running 26 minutes early, as it had taken the up main line between Challow and Wantage Road, rather than being held on the relief line at Wantage Road, as booked.

70811, 70812, 70803 & 66849 Wylam Dilly pass Challow on 14 May 2018, running as the 12:30 Hinksey to Tavistock Junction. The rear three locos were dropped off at Westbury, and although that operation didn't take long, it somehow managed to turn the 24 minutes late running here into being well over two hours late when it arrived at Tavistock Junction!

Just a few minutes after sunrise, the orange glow of the rising sun illuminates 70811, as it passes Uffington on 28 January 2019 with the 6L39 05:00 Bridgend Ford Sidings to Dagenham vans, containing Ford automotive engines. This had been running over an hour early at one point, but luckily was just 42 minutes early here, enabling a picture, of sorts, to be taken.

70811 passes Uffington on 20 May 2020 with the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot departmental working. This is always worth photographing, as the load varies considerably, although sometimes unfortunately it runs without any load at all!

70811 brings up the rear of the early running 6C98 08:13 (06:28 actual) Norton Junction to Hinksey engineer's train at Cassington on 28 March 2021. Classmate 70808 is leading. The lineside vegetation was completely removed here in early 2018, but already a jungle of brambles and young saplings has started to colonise the trackside again.

70811 passes Baulking in superb light on 23 March 2023 with the 6M50 08:01 Westbury to Bescot departmental train. This train is always worth photographing, due to its varied load. Today it is formed entirely of a lengthy rake of DB 'Red Lobster' MXA wagons.

70811 brings up the rear of the 0Z28 13:26 Westbury to Hinksey light engine convoy at South Marston on 28 July 2023. The other locos are: 70803, 66849 Wylam Dilly & 70809. The locos would be used on engineering trains over the weekend. The brief burst of sunshine was very well timed!

70811 passes Chilson on 20 August 2023 with the 6C97 07:30 Honeybourne to Westbury recovered rails, returning from an overnight engineering possession. 66850 David Maidment OBE is bringing up the rear. As with many such trains, this was running very early. It had actually left Honeybourne 70 minutes early at 06:20, although this hadn't been reported when I left home. However, I was prepared for some early running and had left home early, but when I arrived and checked where it was, I was still surprised to find that it was approaching Kingham, just a few miles away. It's always worth photographing an engineering train on the Cotswold Line, but I much prefer the traction that I saw being used on a similar train at this spot 35 years earlier!

Usually when the 6M50 08:01 Westbury to Bescot departmental working runs with a 6X50 headcode, it is conveying a rake of point carriers. However, on 21 August 2023, 70811 hauled just a single Railvac unit. It is seen here passing South Marston in a very lucky patch of sunshine. The Railvac unit was left at Hinksey, and the loco carried on as 0M50 to Bescot.

70812 & 70801 pass Steeple Aston on 2 October 2018 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. I wouldn't normally bother to photograph this very mundane working in such poor light, but I had visited this location to photograph the much more interesting 5Q32 09:41 Portbury Automotive Terminal to Longsight ECS, and this was following right behind.

Running 89 minutes early, 70812 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 3 February 2019, returning from a weekend engineering possession with the 6C97 07:20 Worle Junction to Hinksey rail carriers. 66846 is bringing up the rear.

70812 passes Challow on 11 February 2019 with the 6L39 05:00 Bridgend Ford Sidings to Dagenham vans, containing Ford engines. It was almost a cloudless morning when I left home, but as can be seen here, only a short time later it was virtually 100% cloud. Even more annoying was that it was sunny again before I got home! I had chosen this spot, as I knew that the short train would neatly fit in the gap between the catenary posts.

70812 passes Grove on 25 February 2019 with the 6L39 05:00 Bridgend Ford Sidings to Dagenham vans, containing Ford automotive engines. Half an hour later I photographed a second Colas Class 70, as 70807 passed by with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. Had I been at Challow, just over two miles away, these trains would have been running just four minutes apart, but 6M50 sat in the loop for nearly half an hour, as booked.

Viewed from the little used (except by photographers!) footbridge in the fields near Uffington, 70812 heads east along the Great Western Mainline on 19 September 2019 with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train.

The 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot departmental working often runs light engine as 0M50, at least as far as Hinksey Yard. Such was the case on 12 February 2020, and as I knew this beforehand, I decided to go to Didcot North Junction, rather than the Swindon to Didcot line, as with no load behind this, there would only be one mid morning freight train to photograph on that route. Of course 6M50/0M50 passes Didcot anyway, so I took this picture of 70812 surrounded by abandoned electfrication infrastructure, as it headed north, running 51 minutes early. In the event the loco didn't go any further than Hinksey.

70812 & 70801 pass Uffington on 4 November 2021 with the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot engineers train. This morning was nothing like as sunny as forecast, and although there is clearly a big blue patch to the west, this train unfortunately passed under a dark cloud.

After spending 25 minutes sat at a red signal half way along the up relief line between Challow and Wantage Road (as booked), 70813 gets under way again with the 6M50 07:55 Westbury to Bescot engineers train on 30 November 2017. It is pictured here near Grove.

70813 comes to the end of its five minute journey, as it pulls into Hinksey Yard on 7 February 2018 with the 14:46 Oxford Up Carriage Sidings to Hinksey departmental working, with 70803 bringing up the rear. Luckily this was running an hour early. At the correct time the line of red MXA ballast wagons in the foreground would either have been mostly in shadow, or more likely, the sun would have vanished into the high cloud that was approaching from the west.

70813 brings up the rear of the 08:35 Ripple Lane Renwick Road Junction to Eastleigh East Yard spent ballast at Popham on 4 August 2019. The lead loco, 70805, is just about to enter the first of the two Micheldever Tunnels. As it has just passed the signal, the banner repeater next to 70813 has just flipped back to danger.

70813 passes Uffington on 22 September 2021 with the 6M40 11:42 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. This was a day when nothing was going right. Firstly, I had just missed blue liveried 66051 on the Severnside binliner, as unusually it missed out its booked stop at Challow, and was 18 minutes early here, passing just as I was crossing the footbridge. Secondly, the 9U54 12:12 Paddington to Bristol Parkway GWR EMU (which I was hoping might be a red one) was cancelled at Reading, and thirdly, 37884 with the 5Q42 09:50 Ely Papworth Sidings to Newport Docks (Sims Group) was stuck at Finsbury Park. On top of all this, the sun had disappeared!

70813 passes Grove on 26 April 2022 with the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot Departmental working. The two sets of autoballaster wagons would be left at Hinksey Yard. This loco has obviously just had a good wash, as it looks considerably cleaner than many Class 70s that I have seen recently.

70813 passes Baulking on 11 October 2022 with the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot departmental working. This was running 42 minutes early, and almost caught be surprise as it was roughly on time when I left home. There was a horse in the field when I arrived, but instead of coming closer and adding an interesting foreground to the scene, it just walked off out of the picture!

70814 passes Scotston on 16 September 2019 with the 6A65 05:55 Oxwellmains to Aberdeen Craiginches cement. Not a particularly long train admittedly, but considering this is the loaded working, I was surprised at just how fast it was going.

On 21 November 2023, the 6X50 08:01 Westbury to Bescot consisted of 70814 hauling a single Railway unit, but also with 56078 dead in tow. The yellow an orange ensemble is pictured passing Knighton, running 26 minutes early. I had suspected that it might miss out its booked stop at Swindon Stratton Green, so luckily I had arrived at the public footpath crossing just in time.

70815 has 56302 Peco The Railway Modeller 2016 70 Years dead in tow, as it passes Grove on 26 July 2021 with the 6X50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot departmental working, conveying a couple of point carriers and other assorted engineer's vehicles.

70815 runs along the up relief line at Denchworth on 7 August 2022 with the 6C21 09:00 Severn Tunnel Junction to Hinksey spent ballast, returning from overnight engineering work. Unlike Circourt Bridge in the background, this is not a very well used photographic location, mainly due to the lengthy walk across the fields to access the footbridge.

Running 54 minutes early. 70817 approaches Causeway level crossing, Steventon, on 29 July 2021 with the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot engineer's working. It had been a completely sunny start to the day, but the cloud was now building up much faster than forecast.

70817 passes Baulking on 23 March 2022 with the 6M50 07:59 Westbury to Bescot engineer's working. The horses which normally occupy this field seemed to be absent on this morning. Photo taken from the Baulking to Kingston Lisle road.