60004 accelerates away from a signal check at Shrivenham with the 6B33 13:30 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 8 August 2006. All down trains were being stopped at the signal pictured here due to a signaling fault a mile further up the line at Bourton. An excellent excuse to use a slow shutter speed of 1/250sec to gain extra depth of field on a 200mm lens! During my three hour visit, one HST actually ran wrong line using the up line. The Great Western main line has been signaled for bi-directional working for many years, as can be seen from the two signals on the gantry in the background. However, it gets very little use.

60005 BP Gas Avonmouth passes Little Haresfield with the 6B47 16:10 Westerleigh to Robeston empty Murco oil tanks on 4 July 2008. It is slowing down on the approach to a red signal, just prior to being looped to allow a northbound Cross Country service to overtake it. Note the evidence of recent tree removal by Network Rail on the side of the cutting. Just visible in the background is the signal that controls Standish Junction, where the Swindon line diverges from the Bristol route.

60007 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth with the 6B33 13:30 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 2 November 2006. The original Loadhaul livery has been defaced by the crude application of the EWS "three beasties" logo on top of the "Load" part of the Loadhaul branding. As the train was on the relief line, and was obviously going to be stopped just up the line at Challow to allow the passage of at least one HST, I decided to try for a second picture further along the line.

After chasing it from Denchworth, and initially heading for the bridge at Baulking, which was unfortunately completely in the shade, I wasn't sure that I would make it in time to the footpath crossing at Uffington to see 60007 with the 6B33 13:30 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 2 November 2006. Leaving the car in the farmyard, and sprinting across the field, I was glad to see a HST coming from the east, which meant 60007 hadn't gone yet. A few minutes later after I was in position on the right side of the line, 60007 passed heading west in glorious autumnal light. This is the site of Uffington loops, lifted shortly after the installation of the Challow to Wantage Road relief lines.

60008 Gypsum Queen II approaches the site of Crosby Garrett station on the Settle to Carlisle line with the 6E13 13:00 Newbiggin to Knottingley empty gypsum containers on 30 October 2003. For once an appropriately named locomotive for the traffic carried! Even on a typical dull S&C day (note the clouds over the fells in the background) the autumn colours of the silver birch trees really stand out.

With Ashchurch station just visible in the background, 60010 powers past Natton with the 6V07 13:21 Round Oak to Margam steel empties on 3 November 2006. Admittedly emphasised by the long lens, but the appalling state of the track is clearly visible here. Considering this is a main line carrying passenger trains at high speed the switch-back nature of the track would not have been tolerated years ago. Hopefully the engineering work scheduled for the following day will see some improvement in track standards here.

In crisp early morning light, 60013 Robert Boyle approaches Heck with the 6N81 06:10 Scunthorpe to Redcar coke empties on 14 March 2008. The train is approaching the site of the horrific accident of 2001, which is now commemorated by a memorial garden at the foot of the embankment on which I was standing to take this picture.

Running several hours late, and therefore affording an unexpected daytime picture on the Berks & Hants line, 60015 Bow Fell passes Crofton with the 6A11 21:33 Robeston to Theale oil train on 21 July 2006. note that the original triple grey livery has been adapted yet again, this time with the EWS "three beasties" logo on a yellow patch. 

The isolated church of St. Giles at Hampton Gay (between Oxford and Banbury) stands next to the railway line, with a derelict manor house nearby. Otherwise the area is quite deserted, as no trace of the village survives, and as there is no road access a walk across the fields is required to get to the location. This was the site of a terrible railway accident on Christmas Eve 1874, when a crowded express derailed and ended up in the nearby Oxford Canal. 60017 Arenig Fawr passes the site with the 6M23 14:12 Fawley to Longport LPG tanks on 4 May 1995.

60018 rolls downhill past Triley Mill, near Abergavenny with the 6V75 09:29 Dee Marsh to Margam steel empties on 25 February 2006. A bright but very cold day, fortunately this position was sheltered from the biting wind, but note the snow on the Black Mountains in the background above the locomotive.

Although somewhat ruined by that modern scourge of the railway photographer - palisade fencing, this is a location I had not previously visited. Over the years I have taken numerous pictures from the roadbridge near the site of Shrivenham station, seen in the background here, but had never ventured to this spot. 60018 passes the site of the long closed station with the 6B33 13:30 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 15 November 2007.

A very grubby 60020 emerges from Wickwar Tunnel with the 6B13 05:10 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks on 9 August 2007. I only just got this one in sun, as can be seen from shadows in the background! The bridge in the distance is a combined footpath and aqueduct.

60020 approaches Wickwar on 30 January 2008 with the 6B13 05:10 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. I wasn't too impressed with this choice of traction, as it was on the train the last time I photographed this working just over a mile south of this spot! The long lens has compressed the perspective here, bringing up the houses at Charfield and the Cotswold Hills in the distance.

60021 passes through Ninian Park station with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z42 13:50 Margam to Crewe 'Valley Vostock' railtour returning from a reversal at Radyr on 7 February 2004. Eventually the sun decides to shine at the critical moment, after a day of largely cloudy skies. 

60021 Pen-y-Ghent approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth with the 6C23 10:29 Hayes to East Usk empty hoppers on 2 November 2006. The train is traveling on the down relief line, which means it will stop at Challow to allow a passenger to overtake. The fenced area on the right is a road access constructed a few years ago to field used for keeping horses. Luckily the original crushed stone surface as now become overgrown, once more blending into the scene.

60022 Ingleborough in a almost complete state at Brush's works at Loughborough on 11 August 1990.  Note that although the loco has already been named, it does not yet carry any bodyside numbers or sector branding on the triple grey livery. It was finally handed over to BR at the beginning of the following year. It is seen here in the company of 60026 William Caxton.

60025 Caledonian Paper passes Broken Cross (between Lydney and Gloucester) with the 6B13 05:10 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks on 18 February 2008. Note the crude patch painting of the yellow front end, which certainly needs some attention. Luckily the sun is still just glancing across the front end, but the lighting is not as good as when 60071 passed a little earlier, especially as the frost has now disappeared from the ballast.

60026 approaches Shrivenham with the 6B33 13:30 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 1 November 2007. As the light was very poor, the opportunity was taken to photograph the train from the north side of the line, which when the sun is out is only possible late on summer evenings. In the background is Chapelwick Farm, which takes its name from the former chapel which was situated near the tall trees visible in the background on the right.

60026 passes Kibworth Harcourt with the 6V92 10:10 Corby to Margam steel empties on 25 June 2008, traveling via the Midland Mainline rather than its usual route via Melton Mowbray. The scatter of orange plastic visible in the ballast is an all too common sight nowadays, plastic track components spilled during track maintenance works and just abandoned. All kinds of discarded materials can bee seen on the lineside, and certainly money could be saved with better stock control.

Corus silver liveried 60033 Tees Steel Express passes Melton Ross on 26 July 2003 with 7C78 14:45 Immingham to Scunthorpe MGR imported coal. This locomotive previously carried the British Steel light blue livery. Note the amount of coal dust blowing off the load. A significant amount of this finely ground coal never gets to the power stations, as witnessed by the state of the ballast at some locations on this intensively used route, which can be quite black in places. The footbridge in the background is next to the New Barnetby level crossing.

A very piece of track for a loco-hauled passenger train. 60034 approaches Rawcliffe (on the Knottingley to Goole line) with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z55 07:13 Gloucester to Hull  'Humber Haulier' railtour on 18 March 2006. Needless to say the sunshine earlier in the day had now vanished! The loco carries the former Railfreight triple grey livery with the original markings replaced by a large EWS 'three beasties' logo.

With Goole's 'Salt and Pepper Pot' water towers dominating the background, 60034 pulls away from the station stop with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z55 'Humber Haulier' railtour on 18 March 2006. Apparently one passenger elected to visit Goole, rather than carry on to Hull! 66125 can be seen waiting in the loop to follow the railtour out with the 6H93 17:08 Goole to Peterborough empty sand hoppers (from the nearby glass factory). By this point in the day the weather had really deteriorated, and it was now getting dark.

60034 Carnedd Llewelyn approaches Tredington on 13 February 2008 with the 6V92 10:10 Corby to Margam steel empties. The use of a long lens not only reveals the change of gradient under the farm bridge at Fiddington, but compresses the perspective, making the red brick bridge at Claydon, and (just visible in the haze) the bridge at Ashchurch appear relatively close.

60035 passes Baulking (between Didcot and Swindon) with the 6B33 13:30 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 26 April 2007. The EWS paintwork doesn't look to be in too good condition, with sections on the roof and the number peeling off to reveal the colour underneath. A large mass of cloud was approaching from the south, and a few minutes after this train had passed the sun went in for the rest of the day. Usually with my luck this happens before the train had gone out specifically to photograph arrives. At least I win sometimes!

60038 AvestaPolarit approaches Claydon with the 6V92 10:10 Corby to Margam steel empties on 5 April 2007. The new road bridge near Ashchurch station can be seen in the background, and the tower of Ashchurch church is visible on the right. The use of a long lens also means that the bridge at Bredon can just be seen in the distance.

60038 AvestaPolarit departs from Onllwyn with the Pathfinder Tours 'Principality Railtour' on 14 April 2007. Five minutes before it was running as the 1Z37 06:19 Birmingham International to Onllwyn, now after the briefest of stops it is running as 1Z74 13:33 Onllwyn to Birmingham International. Unfortunately the tour only went as far as the Network Rail limit, and nowhere near the colliery, which can be seen in the background.

60038 AvestaPolarit brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z74 13:33 Onllwyn to Birmingham International 'Principality freighter' railtour on 14 April 2007 as it passes Tonna on the Cwmgwrach branch. 37422 Cardiff Canton & 37410 Aluminium 100 can just be seen at the head of the train.

60039 heads south along the East Coast Mainline at Fenwick (between Selby and Doncaster) with the 6D43 14:12 Jarrow to Lindsey empty oil tanks on 13 September 2003. It is something of a challenge finding decent photographic locations on lines with overhead catenary, in fact I try to avoid them if at all possible, as what would otherwise be a useable location is often spoilt by a badly positioned mast. However this turned out to be a reasonable location to spend a few hours in the autumn sunshine.

60041 passes Steventon with the 6B33 13:30 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 22 May 2007, running 20 minutes early. Didcot Power Station dominates the background and the A34 road bridge can be seen crossing the line in the distance. 

60044 leans into the curve at Kintbury with the 6Z20 09:45 Whatley to St. Pancras stone train on 2 April 2007. A very odd combination of liveries, with an EWS branded Mainline blue loco hauling a rake of ex National Power hoppers! This was one of those infuriating situations when a freight train was approaching from both directions and a snap decision had to be made as to which one to photograph. It was touch an go as to whether I was going to get blocked out on this shot. As I pressed the shutter the Class 59 on the westbound stone empties was just about level with me!

60052 Glofa Twr - The last deep mine in Wales - Tower Colliery passes Shrivenham with the 6C23 10:29 Hayes to East Usk empty hoppers on 9 November 2006. Unfortunately the cloud that can be seen bubbling up in the distance spoilt the picture of the next Class 60 on the 6B33 Theale to Robeston tanks a short while later. Despite the fact that this picture is taken well into November, there seems very little sign of autumn colour on the bushes and trees.

60054 Charles Babbage passes Claydon with the 6V07 13:21 Round Oak to Margam steel empties on 5 April 2007. I do not normally swap lenses at a location, believing that each viewpoint has a "right" focal length. However, after taking several shots here with a long lens in order to bring up the church in the background and produce a better perspective, I decided to switch to a wider view to include the overhanging Black Poplar branches with catkins in full bloom. Also, I knew that 60054 was on this train, and as it is the only Class 60 to retain Railfreight sub sector livery (in this case petroleum), I wanted a wider shot so that the livery was more visible.

60054 Charles Babbage passes Stoke Orchard with the 6V92 10:10 Corby to Margam steel empties on 1 July 2008. I suppose nowadays two decades is quite a long time for a particular locomotive livery to survive in traffic. In 2008 this is the only Class 60 to carry a variant of the Trainload Freight livery, in this case showing the decals of the petroleum sub sector. Originally the entire class was introduced in one form or other of this livery.

Still sporting its original Trainload Coal livery, 60057 has just passed under the WCML at Warrington, and is about to enter Arpley Yard on 25 March 1993 with a train of MGR empties from Fiddlers Ferry Power Station. The massive Lever Brothers plant dominates the background. Unfortunately I never went to this classic location when pairs of Class 20s worked these trains, but at least a clean triple grey 60 is infinitely preferable to a 'Shed'!

I was particularly glad to see 60059 Swinden Dalesman on the 6V92 10:10 Corby to Margam steel empties on 18 February 2008, as I had been unable to get to the Berks & Hants line two days previously when it worked the diverted 6B33 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. It is pictured here passing Fiddington (near Ashchurch) in nice winter afternoon light, even if the haze in the background means that Ashchurch church can barely be seen.

60062 passes Stoke Orchard with the 6V07 13:21 Round Oak to Margam steel empties on 1 July 2008. I had gone to this location to see 60054 on 6V92, but despite the strong winds bringing in large banks of clouds from the south west, it seemed possible that I might get another picture in the sun, and so it proved! Note the variety of wagon types in this short train. Although a fairly good location for southbound trains, the northbound shot from this bridge is severely restricted, and it is not a pleasant spot to wait for any length of time due to the constant stream of vehicles going to the nearby recycling centre.

60063 James Murray approaches Baulking with the 6B33 13:30 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 12 October 2006. The bi-directional signal gantries were erected at the same time as the relief lines to the east were relayed between Wantage Road and Challow in the mid 1990s, and the signal on the left displays a flashing amber as the first indication to up train drivers that they are going to be looped at Challow, Two miles distant. Note how the white underside of the leaves of the White Poplar  trees in the background really stand out at this time of year.

60071 Ribblehead Viaduct passes Cossington with the 6Z87 08:10 Doncaster Decoy to Stud Farm departmental working on 28 January 2008. This was a day of variable weather. I had started out from Yorkshire in cloud, came through a sunny patch near Doncaster, back into cloud again, and then through thick fog on the M1. It was sunny for a good while at Cossington, but as soon as I headed towards Leicester, I was back into the cloud again, which persisted for the rest of the day.

60071 Ribblehead Viaduct passes Broken Cross (between Lydney and Gloucester) with the 6M96 05:48 Margam to Corby steel coils on 18 February 2008. It was bitterly cold, with frost still on the ballast and the low early morning sunshine providing perfect illumination, despite the hazy conditions. Indeed the visibility in the distance was so poor that the line of the hills in the background can only just be seen in the gloom. This was the first of what turned out to be three Class 60 hauled trains seen during the day.

60073 with the 6C23 11:17 Hayes to East Usk approaches Knighton with a mixed consist of vintage Gunnel wagons and new EWS hoppers on 1 May 2007. This location is approximately  200 yards east of the now completely overgrown location at the site of Knighton Crossing, where I photographed 56038 in 1980.

60073 passes Oakley with the 6B42 07:00 Toton to Forders departmental working on 16 August 2007. Another day when it was sunny virtually all the way whilst driving to the location, only for the clouds to roll in from the west as soon as I got out of the car!

60074 and its train catch the last rays of the setting sun with the 6M17 16:48 Newport Alexandra Dock Junction to Wembley Enterprise service on 6 April 2000. The location is Bourton, on the Great Western Mainline, just to the east of Swindon, which can just be seen in the distance. This train can often be fairly lengthy, although like on this occasion, usually has a number of empty flats in the consist.

Catching the last rays of the setting sun, 60079 passes Spetchley on 16 June 2004 with the 6E30 17:38 Margam to Hartlepool steel coil. A rather depressing few hours was spent here on this evening, as this was the only freight I saw. This is in marked contrast to the procession of freights that used to traverse this line in the evenings only a few years ago - such is the state of our railways today! This is an excellent spot for evening photography, as nothing at shades the line, although at times you do wish that the footbridge extended into the field a little to give a bit more width to the shot!

With the setting sun giving a golden tint to the winter countryside, 60082 rounds the curve at Hatton North Junction with the 6E48 13:31 Didcot Power Station to Lindsey oil empties on 19 February 2008. So ended just over an hour by the lineside at this location, with two freights, a 'bubble car' route learner, as well as the normal passengers services. All this in perfect light - this is just how railway photography ought to be all the time! 

An excellent location for photographing northbound trains in the evening on the Oxford to Banbury line is next to the M40 motorway near Overthorpe. Unfortunately it involves a long walk either from Overthorpe, where parking is difficult, or from Bodicote to the south. Somewhat ironic that when you are sat waiting for a train to appear, cars are racing by on the M40 just behind your back!. On 14 June 1994, an immaculate 60083 Shining Tor passes under the farm occupation bridge with MGR empties returning to Toton from Didcot Power Station.

60084 Cross Fell passes Rose Grove station on 23 May 1993 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z46 13:40 Preston to Preston (via Padiham and Colne) 'Lancastrian Mini Excursion' railtour. 26003 & 26005 can just be seen on the rear of the train. Rose Grove will for ever be associated with the dying days of steam on BR in 1968. There was a huge railway presence here, as not only was the wasteland on the right of this picture occupied by sidings, but also most of the area under the M65 motorway in the background.

60086 Schiehallion slogs up the I in 37 Lickey Incline with the 6E05 05:30 Llanwern to Lackenby steel empties on 26 June 2003. This loco is wearing the hybrid Mainline branded Trainload grey livery. The original Trainload sector's decals were removed and the Mainline name and their curious "rolling wheels" logo applied without any repainting.

60091 An Teallach is pictured passing East Dean (between Salisbury & Romsey) with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z37 05:04 Derby to Weymouth 'Solent Syphons' railtour on 9 April 2005. 57005 can be just be seen on the rear of the train. This loco was actually due an exam and was taken by in error by the Southampton driver, so it was swapped for 57002 at Southampton, delaying the tour slightly, which up until that point had been running exactly to time.

60091 An Teallach was slightly unusual motive power for the 6M28 18:10 Hinksey Yard to Bescot engineers train on 24 May 2007, as the train is usually Class 66 hauled. It is seen here in nice evening light at Yarnton. The EWS 'three beasties' logo on the yellow square is an economy form of rebranding, saving the cost of a repaint from the original Trainload Coal livery.

60091 An Teallach approaches Tredington with the 6V07 13:21 Round Oak to Margam steel empties on 13 February 2008, with some unprintable comments written in the bodyside dirt! This was a lucky shot, as I had decided on a change of location from the nearby level crossing, and noticing a low spot in the hedge, ventured into the field. At this point I heard the crossing operating, so quickly climbed onto the stepladder in what turned out to be the ideal spot, just as the loco was appearing under the bridge! The same loco was on the train the previous day, although note the addition of a couple of ex-works wagons in today's consist.

60092 Reginald Munns passes Acton Turville with the 6B33 13:30 Theale to Robeston empty oil tanks on 27 March 2007. In addition to the EWS logo having been applied to the Trainload Grey liveried loco, this loco also sports non-standard slightly larger cab front numbers. Although a mainly sunny day, certain areas were fogbound all day, and even here there was a blue haze in the distance. However the view from the farm occupation bridge approach is pleasant enough, with the signal gantry and tree adding a touch of framing to the picture.

60099 Ben More Assynt heads up the Wylye Valley at Hanging Langford with the 6V13 13:20 Furzebrook to Hallen Marsh LPG tanks on 15 April 1997. A fine panoramic view with the Langford Lakes Nature Reserve on the left and on the extreme right the bridge over the line at Little Langford. Between the two, Little Langford church can just be seen.