In early 2008 Cotswold Rail acquired two Class 57s from Freightliner, and on 22 January 57005 made the second appearance for the class over the Cotswold Line (the first appearance being the previous day, which was unfortunately in appalling weather). In a welcome bit of sunshine 57005 arrives at Long Marston with the 0Z98 09:10 Gloucester to Long Marston light engine which had come to collect the rake of TDA tankers on the left of the large collection of stock visible in the yard. A member of the Motorail Logistics staff has just opened the gate, so unlike previous occasions the loco crew were not kept waiting at the gate until someone came to let them in!

Complete with 'Advenza Freight' headboard, 57005 waits in the yard at Long Marston while the TDA wagons are given a final check before working the 6Z98 12:30 Long Marston to Bescot on 22 January 2008. This long lens picture certainly emphasises the amount of freight stock stored here, and also highlights the almost lawn like grass growing around and between the tracks, which I am told is not as smooth at it looks thanks to the local rabbit population!

57005 leaves Long Marston with the 6Z98 12:30 Long Marston to Bescot on 22 January 2008, conveying a rake of fifteen TDA tanks. Note the unsightly patch on the loco's bodywork at the far end showing where the Freightliner Excellence nameplate has been removed, prior to the loco's sale to Cotswold Rail. Fortunately the sun, which had been disappearing into cloud while the train was in the yard, decided to come out at the critical time. Over the years I have noted the sign on the left gradually deteriorating, one wonders if it will survive for much longer.

57005 arrives at Honeybourne with the 6Z98 12:30 Long Marston to Bescot on 22 January 2008. It had to wait a short while for the Cotswold Line to be clear, before proceeding on towards Evesham. The bright start to the day hadn't lasted, and now there was only a trace of sun, which had gone completely by the time the train moved across onto the main line.

57005 shines in the morning sunshine as it approaches Wickwar with the 5Z69 Gloucester to Yeovil Junction ECS move conveying Mk 2 coaches 1211 & 5797 on 30 January 2008. It was originally envisaged that this train would go to Meldon conveying the rake of seven Mk 2 coaches that 31454 brought out of Long Marston the previous day. That consist would just about have fitted in this sunlit stretch of track perfectly, instead five of the coaches were left behind at Gloucester.

57006 Freightliner Reliance emerges from the bushes at Baulking with the 4O51 10:08 Wentloog to Millbrook freightliner on 12 October 2006. At first sight not much of a location, and definitely a grab shot as I was waiting for 6B33 coming the other way. However, this is the whole train, just nine containers followed by the customary long rake of flats. This picture is taken from a footpath that parallels the Great Western Mainline.

57006 passes Claydon with the 6Z72 10:25 Stockton-on-Tees to Cardiff Tidal Advenza Freight scrap train on 13 May 2008. Luckily it was running 30 minutes early, which meant that the sun was still just on the front of the loco. Plenty of may blossom in the picture along with the fresh greens of spring enhance the photo. All too soon the countryside takes on the all over drab green of June - possibly the worst month for photography. Two hours later the balancing working passed the same location heading north.

Before the footbridge was built over the Oxford to Banbury line near Yarnton, there was a footpath crossing from which there was a reasonable view of northbound trains. On 10 April 2002, 57010 Freightliner Crusader heads north with the 4S59 15:12 Southampton to Coatbridge freightliner. Note the clamp on the broken rail in the foreground.

Running nearly an hour late, Virgin 'Thunderbird' 57303 Alan Tracy climbs out of Patchway Tunnel, near Bristol with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z64 06:18 Worcester Foregate Street to Penzance 'Virgin Territorial' railtour on 16 September 2006. 57303 is the former 47705. Patchway Tunnels are two single bores at different levels, the lines diverging at Cattybrook, coming together again near Patchway station.

57311 Parker passes Brock with the 6J37 13:27 Carlisle to Chirk timber train on 8 May 2008. This was a rush shot, as I saw the train coming in the distance as I was walking across the field, this being necessary as a large radio mast has been positioned next to the road bridge. I quickly dropped the camera bag and stepladder and ran across the field getting to the fence just in time, although with hindsight it might have been a good idea to keep hold of the ladder. At least the camera was set to the correct settings, as there was no time to alter anything!

57315 The Mole approaches Heyford with the 1Z57 09:55 Kensington Olympia to Chester private charter on 14 September 2007. Sister loco 57316 FAB 1 was on the rear of the train. The coaching stock is the 'Queen of Scots' rake, which includes various vintage coaches, the most notable of which is the 1891 built observation car, seem here coupled directly behind the loco.