Stuart's Railway Photography

DRS 66302 passes through Gossington on the 16th of February 2014 with the diverted 4V38 Daventry - Cardiff Wentlooge Tesco express, due to weekend engineering work this service was diverted via Bristol Parkway and Pilning vice its usual route of Lydney

66302 + 66426 pair up to work the diverted 4S43 Daventry - Mossend on the 25th of May 2013, seen here passing Stenson Junction away from their normal route under the wires of the WCML

66303 leads the Tesco Express just south of Lydney on the 5th of December 2012, thankfully at this point the train was running over 45 minutes late allowing the long winter shadows to recede from the track

66303 leads the 4V38 Daventry - Cardiff Wentloog 'Tesco Express' through Undy on the 11th of November 2012, after a couple of attempts at this working at this location finally it appears running on the main and in sunshine and as a bonus the Autumn colour is just about at its peak

Thankfully running slightly early therefore avoiding a pretty cloudy period, 66303 heads through Wandel with 4M82 Coatbridge - Daventry on the 27th of April 2012, in little less than 2 miles this service will be looped at Abington to allow a series of other working to pass before continuing on its way and grind its way south towards Beatock Summit

The working I had been perched up on the top of a precariously positioned step ladder appeared running around 60 minutes late but boy was it worth the wait! 66303 in the now obselete Fastline livery passes Abington at the head of DRS's fully loaded 4M44 Mossend - Daventry on the 27th of April 2011, even the grass land of the usually rain soaked Scotland is showing signs of the current continuing dry spell

Recently painted 66304 heads DRS's 4M34 Coatbridge - Daventry near Cranberry on the 15th of September 2011, a fully loaded train made for a very pleasing sight. The blue sky is a bit of a misguiding feature as behind me the sky was full of cloud and within a couple of hours the cloud built rapidly to take over the majority of what blue sky remained

66304 speeds through Saltford on the 30th of June 2011 with 4L30 Bristol Freightliner Terminal - Felixstowe, at the current time this loco is sporting the now obselete Fastline livery but is on long term hire to Direct Rail Services, but is seen here now on short term hire to Freightliner! The consist on this working is quite eye catching and not the 'usual' 40ft dominated Freightliner rakes, infact only one 40ft box is being transported today and with the majority of the rest of the 20ft containers displaying 'Warning Bulk Liquid'

During a period of terrible Class 57 availability for the GBRf operated loco hauled set, unbranded 66402 leads 2U24 Taunton - Cardiff Central through Pilning on the 24th of June 2010, there was already talk of the contract for this service being handed to DB Schenker to complete following a catalogue of failures, and indeed the following week pairs of 67's took over the diagrams until the end of the contract

66403 heads a recently introduced service at the time in the form of 6Z97 Beeston - Cardiff Tidal loaded scrap through Portway on the 7th of March 2011, this working is just a small part of the ever increasing levels of traffic that Europorte are currently working

Looking rather stylish in debranded DRS Malcolm livery 66412 now on long term hire to Freightliner hauls 4O49 Birch Coppice - Southampton through South Moreton on the 3rd of October 2011, maybe the first candidate for a 66 to receive 'Powerhaul' livery?

Former Direct Rail Services engine 66413 leads a rake of its current operator's branded wagons through Acton Turville on the 29th of September 2012 while working 6V60 Angerstein - Cardiff Pengam

66416 departs Bristol Freightliner Terminal on the 2nd of May 2013 with 4L31 to Felixstowe, having lived only 100 yards from this shot for nearly a year I finally have a shot from this vantage point! Seen to the right of the picture is the start of the Portbury branch which at the time this picture was taken has quite a variety of traffic that uses it including, coal, biomass and vehicles travelling up and down the branch on a daily basis, once you get south of the Freightliner terminal you enter something of a freight desert with very little activity

Long term Freightliner hire in 66416 leads 4O59 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton through Pilning on the 23rd of July 2012, visible in the background is the unmistakeable second severn crossing

Hired help 66417 speeds towards South Moreton on the relief with Freightliner's 4L32 Bristol Freightliner Terminal - Tilbury on the 2nd of September 2011

Former DRS fleet member 66418 heads 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton through Pilning on the 30th of November 2011, of note is that 143621 that can be seen in the background suffered damage no more than 30 seconds after this photo was taken after hitting an object on entry to the Severn Tunnel, which forced the portal to close for a couple of hours and forcing diversions via Gloucester, the unit was later recovered to St Phillips Marsh

Former Direct Rail Service machine 66419 passes through Parson Street with a mixture of spoil wagons while working 6C72 Taunton Fairwater - Westbury on the 23rd of April 2013, this workings usual route via Castle Cary was undergoing major engineering work so for a short period the southern side of Bristol received a temporary freight boost

Recent Freightliner recruit 66419 rounds the curve at Gossington with 4V06 Rugeley - Stoke Gifford on the 5th of December 2011

66420 slowly departs Bristol Freightliner Terminal on the 7th of June 2013 with 4L31 to Felixstowe, I only actually spent 30 seconds on the bridge waiting for this as when I arrived it was already departing, probably the shortest amount of time I have ever spent at a location!

Looking very clean and still in a rather good external condition 66420 passes through Farleaze on the 7th of May 2013 with Freightliner's 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton

66423 heads a fully loaded 4M82 Coatbridge - Daventry through Wandel on the 28th of April 2011, looking back at the photo i'm glad that the lorry in the background wasn't a second earlier!

66424 heads the 4V38 Daventry - Cardiff Wentloog Tesco Express past the rather overgrown loop at Ashchurch on the 13th of June 2014

66424 leads the 4V38 Daventry - Cardiff Wentloog Tesco service through Undy on the 10th of November 2013, normally I would not attempt this working here but due to the relief lines being shut all services were using the main lines ensuring that if the sun was shining then the shot was on!

66427 leads 4M71 Purfleet - Daventry through the increasingly overgrown Chelmscote on the 9th of July 2013

DRS 66427 passes through Abington in the Clyde Valley on the morning of the 26th of June 2013 with 4M44 Mossend - Daventry

66427 storms through Portkewett on the 27th of July 2012 with 4V38 Daventry - Cardiff wentloog 'Tesco Express'

66427 shines in the super early evening light of the 27th of April 2011 while passing through Wandel with 4M82 Coatbridge - Daventry, this view will soon be ruined when part of a massive 152 turbine wind farm ruins the hill sides forever, behind the last wagons in view a temporary car park can be seen for construction workers, we may have a energy issue for the future but is this really the best sollution?

66428 powers 4V38 Daventry - Cardiff Wentloog seen here just to the south of Lydney on the 6th of March 2012, the containers on this service are bound eventually for the Tesco disribution centre at Magor which this train will virtually pass on its way to Cardiff, from there the containers will be roaded back on a lorry shuttle service, thats progress!

On my summer hit list for 2011 were two main workings and after nailing the first earlier in the week in the shape of the clay i was more than happy to bag the second, 66428 passes just to the south of Lydney with the then friday only 6Z90 Stockton - Cardiff Tidal loaded scrap on the 3rd of June 2011, this was at the time DRS's only revenue earning working that ventured into South Wales

66429 leads the attractive looking 4L48 Daventry - Tilbury Tesco service through Stoke Hammond on the 16th of January 2012

66429 passes Cranberry on the WCML with 4M34 Coatbridge - Daventry on the 30th of September 2011, this service carries a variety of goods as can be seen from the second wagon with a Morrisons refrigerated container on board, rail is now an increasingly important player in the thoughts of the major supermarkets with most major chains now moving a considerable amount of goods by rail

Freightliner hire in 66429 passes the superb location of Cholsey Manor Farm on the 3rd of May 2011 with 4M61 Southampton - Trafford Park, by the looks of one of the light clusters on the front its recieved a replacement painted in the very pale yellow which adorns certain members of the DRS Class 66 fleet

Such a shame that this used the relief rather than the main but still just about acceptable for a record shot! 66430 leads the TESCO express 4V38 Daventry - Cardiff Wentloog through Undy on the 14th of October 2012

A clean 66430 passes through Stoke Hammond on the 31st of March 2011 with a fully loaded 4M71 Tilbury - Daventry, the weight of the cargo is clear by the fact there is only one container on each half of the megefret's and also the visible bow under the weight!

Direct Rail Services 66432 heads 4V38 Daventry - Cardiff Wentloog Tesco service near Lydney on the 13th of October 2013

DRS's 66433 leads its fully loaded consist through Abington on the 27th of April 2012 with 4M44 Mossend - Daventry, thankfully the cloud bank rolling in from the east held on just long enough for this to pass

In the stunning evening light 66433 hammers down the incline towards Abington with 4S44 Daventry - Coatbridge on the 28th of April 2011, a great end to a truly superb 3 days

Looking rather smart in its new Malcolm livery 66434 passes Portskewett on the 5th of March 2012 with the relatively new Daventry - Cardiff Wentloog 'Tesco Express' service, 66434 becomes the 3rd loco to be adorned in a Malcolm dedicated livery following in the footsteps of 66405 and 66412 and with each application the variations of livery seem to be getting more colourful

Shortly after the re-opening of the Bristol Freightliner Terminal the Saturday only 4V30 from Ipswich was routed via Bristol Parkway, on the 3rd of July 2010 66501 is seen providing the power for the service as it passes Filton Abbey Wood, this working is quite unique, mainly made up of MSC containers and with a maximum of 2 x 20ft containers on each wagon the weight of the cargo is clear to see! Each container is also adorned with a sticker which states 'WARNING - Bulk Liquid'

66502 shines brightly at the head of 4O49 Crewe Basford Hall - Southampton near Cranberry on the 15th of September 2011

66502 heads south through Stoke Hammond with 4O35 Crewe Basford Hall - Southampton on the 31st of March 2011

66502 pairs up with 66537 though Elford, seen in the early morning light of the 28th of June 2010 with a fully loaded 4E01 Southampton - Leeds service

66503 heads a good length and very well loaded 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton seen winding its way over the Bishton flyover on the 8th of November 2012

66504 passes Somerton near Newport on the 3rd of February 2012 with a fully laiden 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton, just about visible on the tops of a couple of containers is the remains of the morning frost on this bitterly cold winters day

66504 works very hard at the head of 4M68 Southampton - Birch Coppice through Kings Sutton on the 8th of April 2011

66505 leads 4O51 Cardiff Central - Southampton through Magor on the 9th of January 2013

66505 heads a lightweight 4O09 Trafford Park - Southampton through Hinksey on the 3rd of October 2011, within a hour or so of this photo being taken the Indian summer that had graced England for nearly a week came to an abrupt end, while driving home along the M4 a thick wall of fog and cloud was rapidly heading East, back to normality!

66508 sweeps through Gossington on the 12th of November 2013 with 4V06 Rugeley - Stoke Gifford empty coal hoppers

By the looks of how well loaded the wagons behind 66508 are not many rails were dropped in the possesion it occupied! Seen here passing Claverton on the 18th of November 2012 with 6Y97 Llandeilo Junction - Westbury

66508 powers 6V87 Purley Yard - Bristol Barrow Road through Shrivenham on the 29th of September 2011, since the Bristol Binliner ceased operating in the Spring of 2011 Freightliner have been making use of the sidings near Lawrence Hill at Bristol Barrow Road to stable a rake of stone hoppers before later being forwarded to either Avonmouth, Neath or Cardiff Docks for loading for their next working to the Eastern side of England

In a very small sunny patch 66510 leads 4F07 Ironbridge - Crewe Basford Hall through Slindon on the 19th of August 2011, out of view on the rear of the train is 70011 clinging on for dear life

66510 traverses the River Clyde over the Crawford Viaduct on the 27th of April 2011 while woking 4S41 Fiddlers Ferry - Hunterston

As the early morning fog burns back 66510 departs Pilning loop with 6A21 Cardiff Pengam - Theale on the 16th of November 2010

With different liveried rakes of autoballasters in tow 66511 works 6Y35 Westbury - Lydney via East Usk through Filton Abbey Wood on the morning of the 23rd of April 2011

As the shadows dash across the field 66512 just manages to evade them while working 6M51 Immingham - Rugeley on the 12th of April 2011, heading in the opposite direction is 66141 out of sight working 6D36 Milford - Immingham loaded coal

With 6M00 Humber - Kingsbury in the loop at Elford, 66513 passes the berry laiden bushes with 6M49 Hull - Rugeley on the 11th of October 2010

66515 passes Wandel on the 27th of April 2011 with 6E71 Ravenstruther (pronounced Renstrie) - Drax loaded coal, in recent times the green team have become completley dominant in moving coal on the Scotland - England stretch of the WCML

As the morning mist slowly lifts from the surrounding fields at Elford on the 28th of October 2011, 66518 powers through with 4O54 Leeds - Southampton

66518 powers 4O54 Leeds - Southampton on the 3rd of October 2011 on the approach to South Moreton, quite happy with this one as not only was the HST bearing down rather rapidly but being a Monday the load is normally next to nothing on this particular working

66519 slowly works its way up Pilning loop with 6C38 Cardiff Pengam - Avonmouth stone empties on the 25th of October 2011, once arriving at Avonmouth the wagons will be loaded with grit stone for onward movement to Theale the same day

66520 heads through Pilning with 6Z21 Cardiff Docks - Theale on the 28th of September 2010, this working was a short term flow of imported grit stone bound for Berkshire

With the clouds building from the north 66520 passes Newton St Loe with 4V60 Calvert - Bristol Barrow Road on the 21st of September 2010

Filthy unique Shanks liveried 66522 provides the power for 4V60 Calvert - Bristol Barrow Road seen passing Shrivenham on the 8th of March 2011

With the Bristol binliner due to stop running in the spring of 2011 a trip was made to Hinksey north to capture 66522 heading 4V60 Calvert - Bristol Barrow Road on the 4th of March 2011

66523 heads 4V47 Rugeley - Stoke Gifford in the final miles of its journey on the 20th of January 2011 seen passing Ram Hill near Coalpit Heath

66524 powers off of the Sheet Stores branch and rejoins the main Derby - Birmingham line at Stenson Junction with 6M49 Barrow Hill - Rugeley loaded coal on the 28th of October 2011, the area to the extreme right of the photo is where track used to lay to allow numerous coal workings to serve Willington Power Station which is just over my right shoulder, although now no longer in use the sky line dominating cooling towers still exist

Freightliner Heavy Haul locomotive 66525 is seen making a guest appearance on 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton, seen here as it passes through Magor on the 17th of October 2012

66527 glints in the low afternoon light as it passes Portway while working 6M51 Barrow Hill - Rugeley on the 11th of October 2010, with the shadows stretching a huge distance in the fields behind from the tree line the sun was only minutes from the horizon

Curving around from Ulceby and about to pass under the A180 dual carriageway 66528 leads 6R18 Immingham - Ferrybridge in the low evening sun on the 11th of April 2011

66529 passes Elford on the main on the 6th of May 2013 while in charge of 6M49 Hull - Rugeley

Since Scottish coal went into administration workings from Ravenstuther have ceased, but on the afternoon of the 26th of June 2013 66531 is seen passing through Wandel with 6E71 Ravenstuther - Immingham loaded coal, whether this is just to clear a stockpile is not clear, at this point the coal was spilling freely over the tops of the MJA wagons, I dont think I have seen a coal train this well loaded for 15+ years!

After a resurrection of coal services from Portbury to Rugeley power station just a couple of days previous, 66531 storms through Gossington with 4V06 Rugeley - Stoke Gifford returning a rake of empties that originated at Portbury the night before, 17th of November 2011

66532 heads the Bristol 'Wineliner' through Bourton on the 29th of September 2011, the majority of this traffic has originated from the biggest wine warehouse in Europe which is situated in Avonmouth near Bristol, the containers are then tripped between Avonmouth and the Bristol Freightliner Terminal near Parson Street in Bristol and vice versa by road and can regularly be seen using the busy A4 route between the two sites, on this day the reporting code was 4L32 Bristol Freightliner Terminal - Tilbury

66534 heads a very well loaded 4L32 Bristol Freightliner Terminal - Tilbury on the 8th of October 2010 through Cholsey Manor Farm

66535 powers through Bathampton with the monday only 4L30 Bristol Freightliner Terminal - Felixstowe on the 23rd of July 2012

66535 powers through Bourton near Swindon with 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton on the 29th of September 2011, this working is now easily identifiable by the consist made up of low liner and pocket wagons to allow 9 feet 6 inch containers to be loaded throughout the train if needed

66535 glides through Cranberry with a well loaded 4O49 Crewe Basford Hall - Southampton on the 30th of September 2011

Seen in the late afternoon sun 66537 leads a fully loaded 4M61 Southampton - Trafford Park towards Lichfield on the 12th of October 2012

66537 passes Cholsey Manor Farm in beautiful spring light while hauling 4M68 Southampton - Birch Coppice on the 4th of March 2011

With part of the Didcot Power Station complex visable in the background 66539 heads through South Moreton with Freightliners 4O27 Garston - Southampton on the 2nd of September 2011, at this location now you need a 2 step stepladder just to be able to see whats coming

66541 passes South Moreton on the 16th of October 2012 at the sharp end of 4O54 Leeds - Southampton, recently it was announced that Didcot Power Station will be shut down in the spring of 2013, so maybe this iconic view will soon be a thing of the past

Rusty 66548 is seen as it passes Wandel on the morning of the 26th of June 2013 while fronting 4S34 Leeds - Hunterston

After joining the Great Western Mainline at Westerleigh Junction 66548 nears journey end with 4V47 Rugeley - Stoke Gifford as it eases through Ram Hill on the 23rd of March 2011

Rusty 66548 heads 6M49 Hull - Rugeley through Portway on the 7th of March 2011 with its uniform rake of HXA's in tow

66549 powers through Blanchworth on the 18th of December 2011 with the lengthy 6Y33 Abbotswood Junction - Taunton Fairwater, with only around a third of the train visible from this spot 66598 on the rear of the train is a long way out of view, with no passenger trains due to pass this spot due to the possession this working was occupying the sign that this was on the approach was not from the noise of the loco, but from a flock of crows that were sat on the line being disturbed

Once a 100% EWS stranglehold Barnetby is far from this now with GBRf and Freightliner providing variety (If not excitement) and on the 16th of September 2010 66549 heads 4R12 Barrow Hill - Immingham

66550 accelerates away from Westerleigh Junction as it passes Ram Hill with 4V47 Rugeley - Stoke Gifford on the 20th of January 2011

After two whole days in the area the sun finally showed its face for more than 1 minute at a time on the 16th of September 2010, And with the sun just high enough to clear a rake of HHA's in the reception sidings at Barnetby 66550 hauls 4R10 Ferrybridge - Immingham under the iconic and unmistakeable semaphores

After waiting on the Viaduct at Crawford for a northbound freight which never showed up I attempted to get to Abington for 6M65 Ravenstruther - Ratcliffe, literally as I was walking up the field 66551 could be seen restarting its journey after a short stop in the loop, after quickly wedging the step ladder against the wall and grabbing the camera out of the bag the first sunny freight of the trip had been bagged! 23rd of April 2012

66551 hauls the fairly hefty 6Y33 Haresfield - Taunton Fairwater through Parson Street on the outskirts of Bristol on the 13th of November 2011, this working had travelled down via Lydney to East Usk behind 66597 before 66551 took over the honours to lead for the remainder of the journey south

66551 heads its rake of loaded PCA's while working 6V23 Crewe Basford Hall - Aberthaw Cement Works, the 4 wheel tanks contain Fly ash which originates from Drax Power Station, seen here passing Ponthir on the 12th of September 2011

On a stretch of line that is pretty devoid of freight 66551 hauls the lengthy 6Y33 Gloucester - Taunton Fairwater through Brent Knoll on the 24th of April 2011, this was one of three engineering workings that passed this spot within a hour

66552 heads 6E71 Ravenstruther - Drax seen while passing through Wandel on the 28th of April 2011

66553 passes through Cossington on the 6th of May 2013 with 6L45 Earles - West Thurrock loaded cement tanks

66554 heads through New Barnetby on its way to Immingham on the 13th of April 2011 from Barrow Hill with 4R12 to be loaded with its next load of coal destined for Rugeley, the volume of coal that leaves Immingham is clear by the amount of coal residue / dust on the tracks that has been blown off of loaded trains!

With the village of Pill dominating the scene 66554 approaches its destination of Portbury with a empty rake of HXA's forming 4C09 from Stoke Gifford on the 12th of July 2010, this photo is taken from the vantage point of the M5 Avonmouth bridge and really is a cracking spot, just a shame that so little enters the docks during the afternoon and evening to make good use of this location

Another flow which Freightliner Heavy Haul have taken over from DB Schenker is the service to provide coal to Uskmouth power station, Here 66555 heads 4Z51 off of the Bishton Flyover and back to Stoke Gifford on the 24th of November 2010

66556 passes the classic location of Kings Sutton on the 11th of May 2012 with 4M99 Southampton - Trafford Park, as can be seen in the frame the fields have not yet recovered from the wettest April on record, just out of shot on the right is the usually sedate paced River Cherwell flowing at full flow more than a week after the heavy rain had stopped

66558 works 4V50 Southampton - Cardiff Wentloog through Shrivenham on the 29th of September 2011, a recent surge in container traffic can see upto 4 different Freightliner diagrams at present per day grace this stretch of the GWML between Didcot and Swindon

Rust patched 66558 passes Coedkernew on the 12th of May 2011 with 6A21 Cardiff Pengam - Theale loaded grit stone, due to major signalling work to enable the transfer of power from Newport Panel to Cardiff Signalling Centre both relief lines were out of use meaning that freight was guaranteed to use the main line

Rust stained 66560 leads 6C72 Taunton Fairwater - Westbury through Berkley Marsh on the 24th of June 2014, this working comprises part of the HOBC set based in Taunton heading to Wiltshire for a refill before heading back later in the day

66563 leads a rather sporadically loaded 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton in a lovely patch of light through Pilning on the 17th of December 2011

66563 at the head of 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton passes South Moreton on the 3rd of May 2011, after passing under the road bridge it will cross onto the relief line in front of the stationary DB Schenker operated 4O23 seen in the background

Shortly after passing through Cholsey station 66564 heads through the ever popular Cholsey Manor Farm location with 4M68 Southampton - Birch Coppice, 28th of August 2012

66565 heads 4O02 Lawley Street - Southampton towards South Moreton on the 15th of October 2011, even though we are now well into Autumn there seems to be little evidence of life at Didcot Power Station in the background

66565 heads towards Wychnor Junction at Catholme with 4O55 Leeds - Southampton on the 14th of July 2011, this service was recently introduced to cope with increased demand for container movement between the major South coast port and the Yorkshire terminal, and as can be seen its certainly a well used service with not a single empty flat!

A very busy scene at Magor on the 18th of February 2016 with 1B15 just clearing the scene and 2C71 bearing down on 66566 which is working 4O70 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton

66566 shines in the afternoon winter sun at Hinksey on the 29th of November 2012 at the head of 4O27 Garston - Southampton

Ex HeavyHaul division loco 66566 heads 4O27 Garston - Southampton through Hinksey north on the 4th of March 2011. Of note are the 9' 6" boxes on standard flat wagons in the consist due to recent guage clearance work, good news indeed!

66566 speeds through Cholsey Manor Farm and its fields of wheat with 4O27 Garston - Southampton on the 22nd of July 2010

On the 22nd of October 2011 Freightliner workhorse 66567 powers a healthy 4O14 Birch Coppice - Southampton towards South Moreton

66567 is seen passing Kings Sutton on the 16th of June 2011 with 4O09 Trafford Park - Southampton, the high tree line here means that there is a short window of opportunity when the sun is far enough around but not casting shadows on the train

66568 exits the Bishton Flyover with a fully loaded 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton on the 24th of November 2011 with the start of the autumn colour starting to shine bright in the background

66569 is seen shortly after entering Challow loop with 4L31 Bristol Freightliner Terminal - Felixstowe on the 24th of February 2016

66570 approaches South Moreton at the sharp end of 4O54 Leeds - Southampton on the 2nd of September 2011

66570 roars through Stoke Hammond with a very well loaded 4M58 Southampton - Crewe on the 19th of July 2010, of note is that this service no longer operates due to recent guage upgrades on the Southampton - Oxford route it now runs via Didcot and recoded 4M28

66571 rounds the curve through Acton Turville with the when required 4V50 Southampton - Cardiff Wentloog additional Freightliner, more often than not now this working contains very few boxes so on this occasion I was more than happy with the load being conveyed, 1st of February 2012

66571 is about to head under Campbell Road Bridge Eastleigh with a very well loaded 4O18 Lawley Street - Southampton Millbrook, with the trees above the loco taking on a brownish tinge already you would never think it was only September the 1st

66572 is a poor substitute for unavailable electric traction at Chelmscote on the 9th of July 2013, seen here working 4M88 Felixstowe - Crewe Basford Hall

66572 leads a fully laiden 4L32 Bristol Freightliner Terminal - Tilbury through Bathampton on the clear blue day of the 23rd of July 2012

66572 heads through Severn Tunnel Junction on the 28th of September 2011 with 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton Freightliner service

While working 4M68 Southampton - Birch Coppice 66572 crosses paths with a London Paddington bound First Great western HST, seen here at Lower Basildon on the 2nd of September 2011

Another recent addition to the Colas fleet is 66575, now sporting unbranded Freightliner green with just the addition of a small Colas badge it is seen about to pass through Patchway on the 19th of June 2011 with 6Z78 Margam - Dollands Moor loaded steel

Due to a loco shortage on the 16th of November 2010 the usual 4V50/4O51 Southampton - Cardiff Wentloog freightliner was cancelled and rescheduled for an afternoon run, 66576 heads 4Z50 Southampton - Cardiff Wentloog through Pilning in the low winter sun

66577 passes the location of Elford with 4O54 Leeds - Southampton on the 30th of September 2010

On the 15th of November 2010 66587 is seen in charge of 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton through Bishton, such a pity it was a poor load on this day

66588 heads south through Hinksey on the 29th of November 2012 with 4O49 Crewe Basford Hall - Southampton, at this point this service was crawling along as all trains were being regulated due to flooding just south of the yard

66588 grinds towards Pilning station with what is now currently the norm in the shape of a fully loaded 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton formed of a complete rake of lowliner and pocket style wagons, unusually today on the 17th of September 2011 this working was allowed to pass a pair of 153's while submerged in the darkest wet depths of the Severn Tunnel, which must mean there were no dangerous goods on board as on a typical day the signal on the gantry which the train is passing under will turn from green to amber to prevent anything entering the tunnel until this has exited

66588 speeds South through Slindon with 4O09 Trafford Park - Southampton on the 15th of September 2011, not an ideal location or indeed vantage point which sees you trying not to scewer yourself on the disease of the WCML that is palisade fencing

66588 heads through Lower Basildon with a late running 4M61 Southampton - Trafford Park on the 2nd of September 2011, again another fully loaded working, how long until yet more services from the South Coast port are needed?

66589 speeds through Denchworth on the 29th of November 2012 with 4L31 Bristol Freightliner Terminal - Felixstowe

66589 heads a healthy 4O14 Birch Coppice - Southampton towards Didcot North Junction on the 16th of October 2012

Running bang on time 66589 powers through Somerton near Newport with 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton on the 25th of November 2011

66589 slowly works its way towards Pilning on the 1st of October 2011 with 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton, the heat haze can be seen towards the rear of the train in this telephoto shot on a day where temperature records were broken in Gravesend, Kent for the warmest October day on record

66590 hauls 4O51 Cardiff Wentloog - Southampton up the gradient on the approach to Pilning on the 17th of November 2011

66591 is seen at the front of 4O27 Garston - Southampton as it heads through the lovely location of Cholsey Manor Farm on the 8th of October 2010

66592 heads the earlier running on a Saturday 4O27 Garston - Southampton on the approach to Didcot North Junction, the rather unsightly pile of sleepers that inhabit this location have now been here so long that a Buddleia plant has started growing through the heap. 15th of October 2011

66593 approaches Pilning with the ever more frequent and normally well loaded 4V52 Southampton - Cardiff Wentloog on the 13th of September 2011

66594 passes through Old Linslade on the 9th of July 2013 with 4O88 Lawley street - Grain, thankfully the correct half of the train is loaded to make it an acceptable picture

With only one of the three visible towers of Didcot Power Station lightly steaming 66594 powers 4O49 Crewe - Southampton towards South Moreton on the 2nd of September 2011

66595 with its mixed rake of HHA's and HXA's heads through Pilning on the 6th of April 2013 with 4F56 Uskmouth - Stoke Gifford

66597 trundles through Severn Tunnel Junction with 4F56 Uskmouth Power Station - Stoke Gifford on the 13th of September 2011 a recent upsurge in coal for the power station was clear as i was quite lucky to get this working because pulling away from the signal behind me was the second Uskmouth coal of the day with 66598 at the helm

66598 traverses the point work on departing East Usk yard with 4F56 Uskmouth - Stoke Gifford on the 25th of November 2011, not 15 minutes before the same working had passed under the bridge heading into the yard from the opposite direction to perform a run round that was needed for it to continue on its journey east, an impressive quick operation indeed!

66601 leads 6Y11 Cheltenham - Taunton Fairwater through Lympsham on the 7th of July 2013, as can be seen some of the recently overhauled HOBC wagons are already mixed up in the consist of this working

66601 powers north through wandel in some lovely morning light on the 27th of April 2012 with a mixture of HHA's and HXA's in tow while working 4S34 Leeds Hunslet - Killoch

66602 makes its way slowly up from the single bore tunnels at Patchway with 6L33 Cardiff Tidal - Dagenham on the 4th of October 2012, despite the wagons being empty it took this service nearly 15 minutes to make it the short distance from Pilning to this point!

Work stained 66604 leads 6C72 Taunton Fairwater - Westbury through Parson Street on the 29th of April 2013, conveying half of the Taunton based HOBC set for a refill at the Wiltshire virtual quarry

66605 heads a colourful rake of HIA's while forming 6Z21 Cardiff Docks - Theale through Patchway on the 7th of September 2010

66606 is seen on the freight only stretch of line between Ulceby and Brocklesby Junction while working 6R18 Immingham - Ferrybridge on the 12th of April 2011

With the cloud rappidly building from the west 66606 finds a bright spot while heading through Melton Ross with 4R14 Drax - Immingham on the 29th of June 2010

66607 passes through Pilning and the ever encrouching buddleia bushes with 6M36 Westbury - Earles empty cement tanks on the 2nd of August 2010

66610 is seen passing through Patchway on the 25th of February 2012 with 6L33 Cardiff Tidal - Dagenham scrap empties, this flow runs between the two locations up to three times a week but this is the only diagram that can be captured in daylight

66613 is seen on the approach to Parson Street station on the 3rd of July 2011 with 6Y11 Aschurch - Taunton Fairwater, due to an engineering possesion this working had to go via East Usk to run around before making its way through the Severn tunnel for its onward journey to Taunton, a splash of colour is in evidence with thanks to the huge amount of Buddleia bushes, only problem is with their growth rate they could render this location useless in a matter of years without substantial pruning!

With another train full of imported coal 66616 passes Catholme on the 6th of May 2013 with 6M51 Immingham - Rugeley

Seen crossing onto the relief line 66617 heads 6Y34 Taunton Fairwater - Gloucester on the 23rd of April 2011, the rear of the train is still passing through Parson Street station on the south side of Bristol, with 100 concrete sleepers on each wagon and 24 wagons in tow thats a hell of a lot of sleepers!

On a easter weekend of major engineering work near Cheltenham 66618 is seen passing Brent Knoll with the huge HOBC set while working 6Y11 Barnt Green - Taunton Fairwater on the 24th of April 2011

66619 heads through Pilning on the 21st of June 2014 with 6V33 Neasden - Cardiff Pengam, although a local shot to me and probably done far too often once the dreaded wires go up this shot will be gone for good

66619 passes Lympsham on the 31st of March 2013 leading the huge 6Y11 Abbotswood Junction - Taunton Fairwater HOBC set

With a trailing load of over 2000 feet behind it in the form of the High Output Ballast Cleaner set 66620 winds its way through Claverton on the 18th of November 2012, this was 6Y11 Alston Level Crossing - Taunton Fairwater via Westbury

66620 departs Pilning loop on the 9th of April 2011 with 6V60 Angerstein - Cardiff Pengam empty HIA's, after standing on the station waiting for this it was looped so a quick dash to the road bridge was needed! Nothing actually passed it while it was in the loop so i guess it was just to retain its path after it left the Severn Tunnel

66621 hauls an impressive length of assorted JNA style boxes through Newton St Loe while forming 6Y12 Alston Level Crossing - Westbury on the 18th of November 2012

66621 trundles through Patchway on the 3rd of March 2012 with its long assorted rake of empty scrap wagons, this is the 6L33 Cardiff Tidal - Dagenham service and out of the several diagrams that run between the two destinations during any given week this is the only working that can be normally captured in daylight

Running around 300 minutes late 66622 hauls 4V04 Crewe - Portbury through Pilning on the 16th of February 2012, due to the massive amount of time this working had lost on the Marches due to an 'incident' this working was terminated at Stoke Gifford and never made it to Portbury to be filled with black gold

66622 makes its way slowly down Elford loop with 6M66 Immingham - Rugeley on the 30th of September 2010, some of the FLHH pool of locos are suffering from peeling paint, I wonder what they will look like in 10 years time?

66623 pulls away from a signal check at Patchway on the 11th of February 2012 while working 6L33 Cardiff Tidal - Dagenham scrap empties

Unique liveried 66623 heads 6C58 Stoke Gifford - Burngullow formed of a rake of MJA box wagons through Worle on the 27th of June 2010, at the point while passing the station this was going at walking speed on the approach to a red signal, but as it got closer the signal pulled off for it to take the unusual route of going via Weston Super Mare station rather than the more direct station avoider

With its fully loaded rake of giant IOA's 66703 makes light work of 6O96 Mountsorrel - Eastleigh through Cholsey Manor Farm on the 3rd of May 2011

66704 catches a very welcome burst of sunshine as it heads South towards Leicester through Cossington on the 18th of October 2011 while working 4E88 Hotchley Hill - Drax empty gypsum containers

On the 31st of March 2011 66704 is seen heading 4M23 Felixstowe - Hams Hall through Stoke Hammond

66707 pauses at Barnetby for a crew change on the evening of the 13th of September 2010 with 6R48 Maltby - Immingham loaded coal for blending, If you look closely you can see just how well loaded this was

66707 works hard through Melton Ross on the 30th of June 2010 with 6R45 Maltby - Immingham loaded coal boxes, on arrival at Immingham the coal will be unloaded and blended with imported coal before again being loaded into hoppers and distributed to various power stations in the Aire Valley

Despite being recently taken over by Europorte and most of the companies fleet of Class 66's being stripped of their First branding, 66710 is seen on the 28th of June 2010 still sporting its old logo while passing Elford with 4N67 Doncaster - Daw Mill coal empties

Now sporting Aggregate Industries livery GBRf's recently released 66711 heads through Henbury on the Avonmouth branch with 6A40 Avonmouth West Wharf - Cardiff Pengam loaded stone on the 31st of March 2015, this loco has been painted in this livery to celebrate GBRf securing a 5 year contract to run services just like this one on behalf of Aggregate Industries

With the trees and bushes already showing slight hints of Autumn, original liveried GBRf 66713 shines superbly in the sunshine as it leads a very impressive 23 fully loaded IOA's through Hinksey on the 3rd of October 2011 while working 6O96 Mountsorrel - Eastleigh

66714 glints in the super evening light of the 6th of April 2011 while passing just south of Lydney with 6Z97 Beeston - Cardiff Tidal loaded scrap

66715 slows on the approach to Parson Street on the 10th of September 2014 before crossing onto the Portbury branch with 6V80 West Burton Power Station - Portbury loaded Gypsum, when it reaches its final destination it will be turned into plasterboard by Siniat (Formerly LaFarge Plasterboard)

66715 is seen getting back into its stride just outside of Lydney on the 25th of May 2012 with the very well loaded 6Z30 Handsworth - Cardiff Tidal scrap

On the 29th of June 2010 66716 catches a bright patch while at the head of 4R41 Drax - Immingham, seen passing Melton Ross just to the east of Barnetby

66717 hammers through Melton Ross with 4R51 Drax - Immingham on the 14th of September 2010, The consist of this working was made up of a rake of coal hoppers bearing the name of the short lived freight operator Fastline

66718 makes a welcome and rare appearance for GBRf at Pilning on the 1st of April 2012 with a 6Z33 Cardiff Tidal - Hexthorpe wagon move

Metronet branded 66719 heads a fully laiden 4M23 Felixstowe - Hams Hall through Stoke Hammond on the 19th of July 2010

'Metronet. Renewing the Tube' branded 66721 heads 6E10 Appleford - Ferme Park spoil empties on the 22nd of October 2011, only a short distance into its journey the coulourful combination are seen here at South Moreton

After just departing Appleford smart GBRf 'Metronet' example 66721 approaches Didcot North Junction on the 15th of October 2011 with 6M10 to Acton Lane, Willesden with a rake of spoil empties, the inward working would have been loaded with spoil from the Bluebell Railway for processing at the Oxfordshire tip

66725 catches some nice autumn sunshine at the head of 4V94 Ironbridge - Portbury empty biomass seen here at Gossington on the 12th of November 2013

66725 + 66709 make a colourful combination at the head of 4V94 Doncaster - Portbury empty biomass, seen here passing Huntingford on the 29th of February 2012, all is not quite as it seems as the clear skies to the north were not a true indication of the cloud threatening to blot out the sun overhead, that coupled to the 153 speeding in the opposite direction certainly made for a heart stopping few moments as the train approached

66728 departs Pilning loop with 6V60 Harlow Mill - Cardiff Pengam empty stone boxes on the 21st of April 2015, GBRf are currently using Cardiff Pengam as a staging point for it's empty and loaded stone trains which has at present opened up more photo chances in the Bristol area

Wearing in my opinion the most stylish 'shed' livery to date GBRf's 66728 heads a fully loaded 4M23 Felixstowe - Hams Hall through Chelmscote on the 9th of July 2013

The 8th of July 2010 produced one of the moves of the year with 66728 hauling 7 off lease First Great Western buffet cars from Laira - Eastleigh via Bristol and running under the headcode 5O66 seen here passing Flax Bourton, the really unusual part of the move was the fact that 2 class 73's were provided purely for the use as barrier vehicles, 73206 is seen tucked in behind the 66 and 73212 brings up the rear

66731 passes through the Gloucestershire countryside on the approach to Upper Wick with 6V80 West Burton - Portbury loaded Gypsum on the 21st of April 2015, as can be seen from the first two wagons the rebranding into GB Railfreight colours has begun from the debranded Freightliner green that makes up the rest of the consist

On Sunday the 21st of August 2011 66731 worked 6V35 Ferme Park - Cardiff Tidal, seen here exiting Chipping Sodbury Tunnel with a rake of empty box wagons, the new GBRf livery is certainly smart and shows up nicely on a day of late summer sunshine

After standing around for around 4 hours in pure cloud a few bright patches started to appear but to get this in sun required a whole heap of luck! 66731 newly named 'InterhubGB' approaches Lower Basildon on the 4th of April 2011 with 6O96 Mountsorrel - Eastleigh loaded JNA's and MLA's as a northbound Voyager passes through

66737 nears journeys end on the 27th of July 2012 as it passes through Pill with 4V94 Doncaster - Portbury empty biomass

66737 approaches the stop board at Portbury Docks on the 25th of July 2012 with 4V94 Doncaster - Portbury empty biomass, its clear to see that this loco worked the train the day before by the amount of biomass dust adorning the roof of the GBRf shed

66737 leads 4V94 Doncaster - Portbury empty biomass hoppers through Charfield on the 24th of July 2012, when this working started earlier in the year it was always double headed but the need for this has now stopped due to the loaded train to Drax being routed via Oxford and not the infamous Lickey incline

Now a regular GB Railfreight working 6Z97 Beeston - Cardiff Tidal loaded scrap passes through Undy on the 13th of June 2011, at the head of the train is recently re-branded and re-numbered 66737 complete with it's oversized '37' number, seen on the skyline just above the front of the loco is the second severn crossing which was opened in June 1996 to ease traffic flow between England and Wales

66745 + 66742 pair up to make a pretty rare afternoon Westbound trip through Pilning forming 6Z78 Dollands Moor - Llanwern on the 13th of September 2011, at the current time the steel flows operated to the Continent by Colas are very unpredictable at best with often no movement for over a week, so to capture this inward working in such good light was certainly a bonus

66747 pulls away from Hallen Marsh Junction with 6A40 Avonmouth West Wharf - Cardiff Pengam on the 30th of April 2015, the loaded stone would later be forwarded from Cardiff Pengam to Colnbrook for unloading

66752 leads 6V80 West Burton - Portbury loaded Gypsum towards Parson Street on the 17th of February 2015

66755 passes between Cattybrook and Pilning on the 29th of April 2015 with 6B11 Colnbrook - Cardiff Pengam stone empties

66757 heads towards Pilning station on the 29th of April 2015 with 6C44 Cardiff Pengam - Avonmouth stone empties

66759 heads the empty 6B11 Colnbrook - Cardiff Pengam through Pilning on the 31st of July 2015

Narrowly avoiding a dull patch 66762 leads 6V80 West Burton - Portbury loaded Gypsum through Damery on the 4th of March 2015

66765 passes through Henbury at the head of 6A40 Avonmouth West Wharf - Cardiff Pengam loaded stone on the 21st of April 2015, since my last visit 3 weeks previously the sun has risen in height considerably, think I will leave this until later in the year before I come back for another go!

66841 dodges the late afternoon shadows as it passes Patchway with 6O78 Margam - Dollands Moor on the 24th of May 2011, with the entire Colas fleet due to pass over to GBRf in the near future it really is a case of get them while you can

Looking like new as its so clean 66841 passes Patchway on the 23rd of April 2011 with 6V78 Dollands Moor - Margam empty steel

With a DB Schenker coal working in the loop 66841 climbs the incline in the opposite direction at Pilning with 6O55 Llanwern - Dollands Moor on the 11th of January 2011

66842 passes Brondesbury with 7Z98 Dollands Moor - Dagenham 'Transfesa blue train' on the 26th of February 2010, this working is now back in the hands of DB Schenker operation

66843 approaches Patchway with 6Z78 Margam - Dollands Moor loaded steel on the 11th of April 2011, this is the first revenue earning service operated by Colas Rail to leave Margam after several training runs with a light engine in the week previous

66844 powers its way through Pilning with 6O78 Llanwern - Dollands Moor loaded steel on the 10th of March 2011

After many failed attempts at this working I finally have one in the bag! 66846 rolls down the hill through Pilning on the 30th of August 2012 with the weekly 6Z53 Teigngrace - Chirk loaded logs

66846 Passes Huntingford on the 26th of February 2012 with the diverted 6O78 Margam - Dollands Moor Steel, due to engineering work near the Severn Tunnel this working was diverted via the scenic route of Lydney, Gloucester and Charfield onwards to Bristol Parkway where the loco ran around its consist before continuing along its regular route to its destination

Another recent addition to the portfolio of Colas Rail Freight is the supply of coal from Portbury Dock to Ratcliffe, after a overnight layover in Gloucester Yard 66848 heads 4V30 Gloucester Yard - Portbury coal empties through Lower Wick on the 4th of October 2013

In the final mile of its journey Colas Rail Freight 66849 rolls through the centre of the village of Pill with 4V30 Gloucester Yard - Portbury on the 12th of June 2014

66850 leads a short 6V62 Tilbury - Llanwern through Pilning on the longest day of the year the 21st of June 2014

With its rake of loaded HXA's in tow 66951 passes Crawford and struggles up the climb towards Beattock summit on the 28th of April 2011 with 6E65 Ravenstruther - Drax

66954 is seen on the approach to Didcot North Junction on the 3rd of May 2011 with one of the numerous container diagrams that pass this spot every day, this one being 4O14 Birch Coppice - Southampton

66955 powers through Cholsey Manor Farm on the 3rd of May 2011 with 4O24 Bristol Freightliner Terminal - Thamesport

66955 heads a very well laiden 4M61 Southampton - Trafford Park though Cholsey Manor Farm on the 4th of March 2011

66956 hauls the Saturday only 4O29 Crewe Basford Hall - Southampton towards South Moreton on the 15th of October 2011

66957 gathers pace as it departs Pilning loop in its booked path with 4F56 Uskmouth - Stoke Gifford on the 17th of September 2011

66957 makes a pleasing sight passing under the semaphores of Barnetby with 4R33 Eggborough - Immingham on the 12th of April 2011, maybe not quite as interesting as a grid on HAA's but still plenty of freight passes by this always popular location