Viewed from the derelict signal box, 60076 Suliven passes Aynho Junction on 27 July 1993 with the 7V85 13:00 Barrow Hill to Didcot Power Station MGR coal train. Obviously more effort was put into loco cleaning at this time, because the 60s on these trains invariably looked clean. Perhaps it was the case that BR, their then owners treated them like most people treat a new car, and kept them looking good and well maintained, in contrast to DB Schenker's present attitude to the surviving members of the fleet!

60076 passes Rossett with the 6J70 09:15 Warrington Arpley to Chirk Kronospan 'Enterprise' timber train on 10 July 1999. At the time Class 37s or 56s were the more usual motive power for this train. If the single line here appears to be on an exceptionally wide track formation it is hardly surprising, as not only was this formally a double track main line, but there were goods loops here as well. Four tracks down to one is rationalisation in a big way! The road in the background is the A483 from Wrexham to Chester, which is effectively a much needed new bypass for the villages of Gresford and Rossett.

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!

Less than a week after its return to traffic after a repaint into DBS red, 60079 still looks pristine as it passes South Moreton on 8 February 2012 with the 6O26 10:19 Hinksey Yard to Eastleigh Yard sleepers. A freezing cold day and atrocious light usually mean that I would stay at home, but the prospect of a Class 60 on something other than oil tanks in the Thames Valley was worth the effort. At least this livery is probably about the best colour scheme you could wish for in such miserable conditions.

60079 passes Bourton on 29 March 2012 with the 6B33 13:35 Theale to Robeston empty Murco oil tanks. Taken from a conveniently placed mound of spoil, which helps to give a little extra height in a flat landscape, this view shows the recently completed embankment strengthening work. The embankment from here to the other side of Acorn Bridge has been a constant source of problems for the civil engineers, and in the time that I have been taking photos, it has had had several major sessions of subsidence prevention work.

60080 Kinder Scout passes a field or ripening wheat at Winwick on 28 July 1992, as it heads southwards with the 6H63 Appleby Bridge to Northenden Binliner empties. Surprisingly, Trainload Construction is the correct sub-sector for a train full of refuse, although quite what is 'constructed' by putting rubbish in a hole in the ground is unclear!

60080 Kinder Scout could certainly do with a front end wash on 1 October 1994, as it passes the site of Finedon station with the 6D31 13:09 Radlett to Mountsorrel Redland stone empties. I'm not quite sure what has caused such localised marking, as the rest of the locomotive seems reasonably clean. As you can tell from this rural view, Finedon station was not exactly convenient for the local population. Finedon village being over a mile away and in fact the larger village of Burton Latimer was slightly closer (but not much)!

With rust coloured stains on the roof giving clear evidence of its recent use on the Port Talbot to Llanwern iron ore workings, 60081 Bleaklow Hill passes Portskewett with the 6B13 05:40 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks on 27 February 1996. A little more than a decade later this location is hardly recognisable, with large tress now shading the line.

One of only two pictures that I have of 60081 Isambard Kingdom Brunel in its green livery (and the other was taken on the same day!). I am not too bothered, as 47484 is the real IKB and 60081 is just an imposter! I expect I will now get emails from people saying the real one is GWR Castle Class 5069! 60081 is pictured here passing some vintage semaphore signals at Cuxton with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z86 14:15 Folkestone Harbour to Crewe 'Hop'n'Stop' railtour on 11 May 2002. The cranes in the background are for the construction of the Channel Tunnel high speed rail link. Interestingly, the signalman here had no idea that this train was coming, and only after I explained what it was going to be did he ring control to confirm it. Amazingly this is not the only time this has happened when I have been out photographing specials!

60081 Isambard Kingdom Brunel approaches Nutfield on 11 May 2002 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z86 14:15 Folkestone Harbour to Crewe 'Hop'n'Stop' railtour. With the extremley limited depth of field here you might be forgiven for thinking that this is taken using my Pentax 6x7. However, the light was way too poor for that, and this is the result of a reasonably close up view taken on a Canon FD 100mm lens wide open at f2. At least the front is pin sharp thanks to the 100mm's excellent optics.

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! 

Not another one off livery! 60083 Shining Tor approaches Wolvercote Junction on 13 June 1994 with just one small section of its Trainload Construction livery on an otherwise plain bodyside. It is working the 6E81 18:55 Didcot Power Station to Worksop MGR empties. It is almost as if it was returned to traffic before the painters had finished. Coincidentally it was seen the following day the other way round at Overthorpe, which at least proves the logo was complete on one side!

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 the 6E05 17:39 Didcot Power Station to Barrow Hill MGR coal empties.

60083 Shining Tor passes Heyford on 13 March 1995 with a Toton to Didcot Power Station MGR coal train. This location still offers a good view of southbound trains, but the vegetation in the background has certainly changed in the last few years. Although from a slightly different viewpoint, this view from 2007 shows a full grown wood behind the train.

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.

60084 Cross Fell passes Denchworth in the gloom on 16 September 2010 with the 6B33 13:33 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Although the weather was very iffy, I ventured out for this, as I wasn't going to miss a picture of yet another reprieved Class 60 on the tanks, especially as it wasn't an EWS liveried one!

60084 Cross Fell passes Baulking with the 6B33 13:33 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 16 September 2010. After seeing the train heading along the relief line at Denchworth, I thought there would be easily enough time to get to this location, as two HSTs would be passing it at Challow. However, I didn't anticipate being held up first by a delivery van, and then worse still by a tractor and trailer, which I had to follow at 35mph for some considerable distance. Why do these things always happen when you're trying to get somewhere quickly? As you can see I did make it, and although there was no sun, the dark clouds in the background show that at least I wasn't getting rained on!

60085 Mini - Pride of Oxford approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth with the 6B33 13:33 Theale to Robeston empty Murco oil tanks on 24 July 2008, running an hour early as it usually does! Being a typical summer day with high pressure settled over the country, the early sunny start had by midday given way to large cloudy periods. Luckily the use of a 200mm has just caught the loco in a small patch of sun between the clouds. 60085 is easily recognisable at a distance, as both the EWS lettering and number are white instead of red.

60085 Mini Pride of Oxford passes Churchdown with the 6E41 11:18 Westerleigh to Lindsey oil empties on 2 June 2009. Gloucester Cathedral can just be seen hiding behind the electricity pylon on the right. There were formerly four tracks here, as can be seen by the extra wide formation.

60086 Schiehallion slowly leaves Didcot Power Station and approaches Foxhall Junction on the 13 March 1997 with the 6C67 09:43 Didcot Power Station to Avonmouth MGR empties. Time keeping was often a little fluid with these trains, with some notable early running. However, on this occasion the departure from the power station was exactly on time.

60086 Schiehallion passes the none too vertical Medge Hall signal box on 6 September 1999 with the late running 6D15 06:26 Lindsey to Doncaster & Knottingley fuel oil tanks. A ridiculous load for a Class 60, but obviously a last minute substitute for some miscreant loco.

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.

60087 Slioch arrives at Didcot with 6A65 09:03 Avonmouth to Didcot Power Station MGR coal train on 29 February 1996. The train is approaching Foxhall Junction, and will shortly run round its train before heading into the power station, which is just out of sight to the right. In fact the reception lines will take it round a large loop situated behind the earth bank to the right of the train.

60087 Slioch ambles along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 29 February 1996 with the 6C65 13:30 Didcot Power Station to Avonmouth MGR coal empties. The loco is named after the 3218 feet high mountain in Wester Ross, near Kinlochewe.

60088 Buachaille Etive Mor approaches Wolvercote Junction on 14 June 1994 with the 6M23 15:54 Fawley to Longport tank train. As can be seen from the two types of wagons, this conveys both LPG (in the white bogie tanks) and bitumen (in the bitumen encrusted four wheel tanks). After over two years in traffic the loco's paintwork still looks in excellent condition, although there appears to be a long scratch under the grille at the far end. This loco spent the first few months in traffic with an incorrectly spelt nameplate (Buachaille Etive More), for although the Scottish mountain after which it is named is one of the most well known of the Highland Munros, its correct spelling obviously isn't so well known!

A pathetic load for a Class 60! 60089 The Railway Horse passes Badgeworth on 16 July 2002 with the 6V70 10:00 Cliffe Vale to St Blazey china clay empties. The clean condition of the loco is explained by the fact that it was only just over a week previously that it had received the name The Railway Horse at the Severn Valley Railway's 'Heavy Horse Power' weekend, celebrating the railway work of our equine friends in days past.

Gleaming in its fresh coat of paint, 60089 The Railway Horse passes Brocklesby on 10 May 2003 with the 6C72 09:40 Scunthorpe to Immingham MGR empties. The loco had received the name The Railway Horse at the Severn Valley Railway the previous year, in recognition of the real horse power that was employed on the railways in years gone by for such duties as road deliveries and even shunting at certain locations.

60090 approaches Hatfield & Stainforth station on 15 March 2007 with the 6M07 10:33 Roxby to Pendleton GMC Binliner empties. Typically, after being sunny for much of the morning, at the very time the 60 was due it decided to cloud up! However, despite the gloom the fact that it is a 60 rather than a 66 makes the shot worthwhile.

On a dull 17 August 1992, 60091 An Teallach passes Wolvercote with the 6M07 08:55 Didcot Power Station to Washwood Heath MGR empties. The spires of Oxford can just be seen in the background, while on the right is one corner of the vast Port Meadow, which serves as common grazing for horses and cattle, and is a popular recreational area for Oxford residents.

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.

In the golden light of a late autumn afternoon, 60091 passes Uffington with the 6B33 13:33 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 23 November 2010. Note the mark on the bodyside where the  An Teallach nameplate was formerly fixed. If you think the dark clouds in the background form an impressive backdrop, that's nothing compared to what they looked like 15 minutes later. Even this late in the season the oak trees have still got virtually all their leaves. At this location there is a small copse next to the line, which would make a splendid background. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem any way to get in a position to include more than the one on the end!

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.

The signalman at Brocklesby has got a good fire going on 12 March 1999 to stave off the bitter cold, as 60093 Jack Stirk comes off the Immingham line with the 7G06 12:04 Immingham to Scunthorpe MGR coal. Brocklesby station closed in 1993 and the station building is now a private residence.

Cattle graze in the lush Vale of White Horse meadows as 60094 Tryfan passes Compton Beauchamp with the 6A68 16:56 Avonmouth to Didcot Power Station loaded coat train on 25 June 1996. This is one of the few locations between Swindon and Didcot where it is possible to take pictures of eastbound trains on a summer evening, albeit nicely backlit. Unfortunately uncontrolled lineside vegetation means that it would not now be possible to get an unobstructed view of a train of this length without a considerable change of position.

60095 Crib Goch crawls into Hinckley station and prepares to stop at a red signal as it works the 6D18 04:59 Stanlow to Toton fuel oil tanks on 7 September 1996. It was running right behind a passenger service and had to wait for that to clear the section in front. Although somewhat marred by the modern industrial unit in the background, Hinckley station retains much steam age infrastructure, including the original station building and distinctive canopy and the 1894 built LNWR signal box, which can be seen in the distance.

With Llwynhendy in the background, 60096 Ben Macdui moves slowly forward towards Genwen Junction on 15 April 1995 with the 6B16 15:35 Trostre to Margam steel empties. The train has just emerged from the British Steel plant at Trostre and will travel the short distance up the Central Wales line as far as Morlais Junction, where it will take the freight line to Court Sart Junction. It would be impossible to take this picture today as the A484 Llanelli bypass completely blocks this view, passing over the line just where the Class 60 is!

60096 Ben Macdui passes Ashchurch on 11 August 1995 with the 6V05 10:15 Round Oak to Margam steel empties. As Ben Macdui is the UK's second highest mountain, the loco's name is a little inappropriate travelling through this flat landscape!

60096 ambles along the down relief line at Denchworth with the 6B33 13:33 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 8 October 2009. I had deliberately chosen this spot as its low angle shows off the sky to best effect. Picturesque the clouds may be, but one of them drifted in front of the sun just as the train had passed, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if the photographers waiting at the much more frequented Circourt Bridge, a little distance to the west, missed out on a sunny shot because of it.

60096 passes Lower Wick on 25 September 2010 with the 6E41 11:41 Westerleigh to Lindsey oil empties. The line the train is traveling on has recently been re-laid, and it looks like work on the other line is eminent.

60096 emerges from the fog at Gossington on 13 December 2010 with the 6B13 05:05 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. It was full sun when I left home, and in fact in was full sun virtually all the way there (45 miles). However, just after I had passed through Stroud, I suddenly entered a world of fog and dark clouds. Believe it or not, this is actually a considerable improvement from when I first arrived at the location. Photo taken from the stile of a public footpath crossing.

60096 pulls slowly out of the loop at Steventon and approaches Stocks Lane Level Crossing on 8 March 2011, whilst working the 6B33 13:35 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. The bridge in the background marks the site of Steventon station, at one time during its construction, a temporary terminus of the Great Western Mainline.

60096 passes Minsterworth on 6 April 2011 with the 6B13 05:05 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. I had been meaning to investigate this location in Vale of Gloucester for some time, but had been put off by the long walk from the nearest road. However, in my never ending quest to find different photographic spots and a sunny day meaning the long trek wouldn't be thwarted by cloud, it has been duly ticked off. Note the former farm crossing gate being engulfed by the brambles in the foreground.

Somebody has obviously made a half hearted attempt to clean the filthy paintwork of 60096, unfortunately only making it look worse! It is seen here approaching the site of Ashbury Crossing near Shrivenham on 28 April 2011 with the 6B33 13:35 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties.

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.

Making its second appearance on the 6E41 11:41 Westerleigh to Lindsey oil empties since being repainted silver, TATA Steel liveried 66099 passes Gossington on 13 December 2010. The train was running very late, which at least allowed the fog to lift, although there was still no chance of any sun. I suppose the plus point is that it did actually run unaided, as the following day it failed and had to be rescued by 60074. The northbound departure was therefore even later and no doubt the weather even darker!

The 6E41 11:41 Westerleigh to Lindsey oil empties ran very late on 8 February 2011. This meant that it would be less backlit when it passed me at Wadborough. However, 'less' is a relative term, as with such a bright day and a silver locomotive the contrast range was always going to be massive. But some good use of Photoshop layers has resulted in this reasonably natural looking record shot of 60099 heading northwards.

With 60099 booked to work the 6B33 13:35 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties on 31 May 2011, I thought I would pop out to Baulking for a picture of the 'silver machine', despite the fact that the sun would be very high in the sky and therefore the lighting wouldn't be up to much. I needn't have worried, as of course the sun was hiding behind the rapidly building clouds when it came! Anyway, purely for the record here it is passing Baulking in the gloom.

With Matthew Arnold's 'dreaming spires' of Oxford visible in the background, 60099 passes Wolvercote on 21 October 2011 with the 6E55 13:35 Theale to Lindsey oil empties. I had chosen this location as it is one of the few spots where a good proportion of Oxford's spires can be included in a railway photograph. Unfortunately it needs a dull day, as it is looking due south.

60100 Boar Of Badenoch passes Coedkernew on a slightly misty 3 September 1999 with the 6V08 05:30 Wolverhampton to Margam steel empties. Judging by the pink stain on the cab roof it has also been up and down this line a short time previously on the Port Talbot to Llanwern iron ore trains.