Double headed Freightliner Class 57s were never particularly common, but here we see both the first and the last of the original batch on the same train. 57001 Freightliner Pioneer & 57012 Freightliner Envoy pass Kings Sutton with the late running 4S59 15:12 Southampton to Coatbridge freightliner on 20 June 2003. Presumably 57012 had failed prior to departure, as it was certainly noted running with both locos at Eastleigh.

In superb evening light on 21 April 2010, 57003 & 57009 pull slowly out of the Daventry International Railfreight Terminal (DIRFT) with the 4S47 18:49 Daventry to Coatbridge 'sugarliner' and pass Barby Nortoft. A welcome improvement on a Class 66 for this train! The huge white building in the background is part of the DIRFT complex.

57005 Freightliner Excellence approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing at Shrivenham on 8 August 2006 with the 4O51 10:02 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner. Although this train appears to be lightly loaded, this is in fact quite a good load for this service! Within a few months Class 57s would be replaced on this train by the ubiquitous 66s.

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.

57008 Freightliner Explorer passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 9 October 2003 with the 4O51 10:08 Wentloog to Southampton freightliner. This train held out for a long time with Class 57 haulage in a sea of 'Freds', and was still regularly hauled by the class right up to the time that Freightliner finally dispensed with their services.

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.

57302 Virgil Tracy climbs out of the Severn Tunnel and approaches Pilning on 27 April 2010 with the 2C79 14:00 Cardiff Central to Taunton First Great Western service. Classmate 57309 Brains brings up the rear. Recent major trackwork here has seen the removal of the signal gantry that always seemed to get in photographer's way.

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.

57309 Brains speeds past Pilning on 27 April 2010 with the 2U14 11:02 Taunton to Cardiff Central service, with 57302 Virgil Tracy just visible on the rear. To the non enthusiast (and observant passenger!) this must be a conundrum. A First Great Western service operated by Virgin locomotives with former Anglia Railways coaching stock!

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!

57313 passes non-stop through Hereford station with the 1W91 16:15 Cardiff Central to Holyhead Welsh Assembly sponsored Arriva Trains Wales service on 2 June 2009. This set operates just one train each direction per day.

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.

57601 shows off its bizarre Porterbrook livery as it approaches Thingley Junction with the 1A45 08:20 Penzance to Paddington First Great Western service on 20 June 2001. This was a prototype conversion with ETH which was being evaluated by FGW. Eventually they ordered four of their own locomotives and returned this hired in locomotive back to Porterbrook Leasing.