Viewed from the derelict signal box, 60076 Suilven passes Aynho Junction on 22 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 Suilven rounds the curve at Kibworth Harcourt (Wistow Road) on 25 April 1996 with the 6M74 12:23 Temple Mills to Mountsorrel Redland stone empties. The loco is named after the very distinctive 2,398 ft mountain, which rises above the lochan studded moorland of west Sutherland. The nameplates were removed a year after this picture was taken.

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.

60076 passes through the woodland at Coalbrookdale on a very gloomy 12 January 2002 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z27 07:00 Swindon to Ironbridge 'Grid Iron Grinder' railtour. Out of sight on the rear of the train is 56100, which would later bring the tour back from Ironbridge.

60076 passes Brimslade on 8 April 2015 with the diverted 6V62 10:44 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. Unfortunately this was running 15 minutes late. Had it come at the correct time, it would have been in full sun, instead a small cloud just took the edge off the light. Naturally it was full sun again afterwards! Normally routed via Swindon, this train was diverted via the Berks & Hants due to resignalling work in the Reading area.

60076 passes the site of Chipping Sodbury station on 15 April 2015 with the 6V62 10:44 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. The entrance to Chipping Sodbury Tunnel can just be seen in the background, with one of the tunnel's ventilation shafts next to the tree covered spoil mound on the hillside above. I particularly wanted a picture of this train at this location, as of course this lofty vantage point will be of no use whatsoever once the wires go up and disfigure the scene forever.

60076 runs alongside the River Avon at Avoncliff on 18 April 2015 with the diverted 6V62 11:22 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. The train's normal route via Swindon was closed for engineering works, with track being relaid at Bourton.

Shades of yellow and orange! The Colas livery mirrors the oilseed rape at Uffington on 22 April 2015, as 60076 runs along the Great Western Mainline with the  6V62 10:44 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. The Met Office had predicted a cloudy afternoon after a bright start. However, the cloud was later than forecast, but even so by the time this was due there was plenty of cloud building up both to the north, and the south. Luckily I was in a clear patch, but it didn't last long afterwards. Clouds starting crossing the sun as I was on the long walk back to the car, and by the time I had driven home (15 miles) it was virtually full cloud.

60077 Canisp, 56114 Maltby Colliery & 37887 Castell Caerffili / Caerphilly Castle take part in gauging tests at the brand new Avonmouth baulk handling terminal on 25 June 1993. You don't often get to photograph three different classes of loco this close together, especially with two on one line!

60077 glints in the setting sun, as it weaves across from the up main to the up relief line at South Moreton on 26 July 2001. It is working the 6M17 16:38 Newport Alexandra Dock Junction to Wembley Enterprise service, a regular Class 60 working at the time, and one that would usually have a bit more of a load than this, which is hardly very taxing for a 'Tug'.

60077 passes through Severn Tunnel Junction station on 22 February 2003 with the 6B33 13:42 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. This used to be an excellent location for photography, with interesting views in both directions. The wide road over the bridge was a no through road, so there was virtually no traffic. The replacement bridge has parapets so high that the view of the now wire obstructed railway is much more difficult.

60078 Stac Pollaidh approaches Heyford station on the frosty morning of 13 March 1995 with the 7V32 03:35 Barrow Hill to Didcot Power Station MGR. Note that some wag has carefully painted a yellow hi-vis vest onto the figure on the 'Passengers must not cross the line' sign in the lower right corner of the picture!

60078 approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham, on 26 February 1997 with the 6A65 09:03 Avonmouth to Didcot Power Station MGR. In 1997 I was still chasing all over the country in search of classic traction, so have relatively few pictures of the Avonmouth to Didcot coal trains when they were Class 60 hauled, and very few of Mainline blue liveried locos.

60079 Foinaven passes Didcot North Junction on 20 May 1992 with the 6M23 15:54 Fawley to Longport bitumen tanks. The loco already looks work stained, after only four months in traffic. The loco's Foinaven plates had been temporarily removed in November 1991, before the loco had entered traffic, and were replaced for one day only with Pudsey Bear plates, in connection with that year's BBC Children In Need appeal!

60079 Foinaven passes South Marston on 25 July 1995 with an unidentified Didcot Power Station to Avonmouth MGR empties. This was quite a rural location in 1995. Two decades later, an industrial estate off to the left of this picture, and the new Swindon Police headquarters behind the trees on the right, have changed all that.

60079 Foinaven heads north past Barton-under-Needwood on 15 July 1996 with MGR empties. In the background is the extensive gravel works near Wychnor Junction, which despite being right next to the railway, lost its rail connection many years ago.

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.

60079 ambles through the cutting at South Moreton on 8 September 2012 with the 6B33 12:12 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. Unfortunately this train runs in an earlier path on a Saturday, so at most locations in the Thames Valley the sun is not on the nose.

Now retimed for a later afternoon departure, and consequently offering much better photographic opportunities, the 6M00 14:40 Humber Oil Refinery to Kingsbury oil tanks approaches Wychnor Junction on 3 June 2015, with 60079 in charge.

60079 brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z74 15:45 Doncaster to Bristol Temple Meads 'Don and Went' railtour at Walden Stubbs on 6 June 2015. 66177 is the lead locomotive. I was initially going to go to Featherstone for another picture of this train, this time with 60079 leading, but as it seemed obvious that the whole of the Ferrybridge and Featherstone area was under a large mass of dark clouds, and this was a considerable deviation away from my route home to Oxfordshire, I opted for just this one sunlit picture instead.

60080 Kinder Scout runs along the up relief line at Breadsall on 27 February 1992 with the 6M14 13:15 Peak Forest to Washwood Heath RMC stone hoppers. This loco was originally going to carry the name Ben Lui, but for some reason that was allocated to 60031 instead.

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 heads north past Winwick on 25 March 1993. I don't often photograph light engines, but this just fits neatly between the posts, and although the roof isn't clean, the rest of the loco has recently had a wash.

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)!

Some autumnal backlighting at Woofferton on 26 October 1996. 60080 Kinder Scout slowly runs along the relief line with the 6M88 08:52 Llanwern to Dee Marsh steel coils. Woofferton signal box can just be seen in the background, behind the remains of a former farm occupation bridge. Consecutively numbered 60081 Bleaklow Hill had passed by 15 minutes earlier with the 6V75 09:14 Dee Marsh to Margam steel empties

60080 Kinder Scout passes through Althorpe station on 12 March 1998 with the 6E35 10:00 Etruria to Lackenby steel empties. Note the large mural on the right. This was painted on the one surviving face of a bridge that originally carried a short siding down to the River Trent. This has subsequently been removed, and the embankment behind it cleared away.

60080 Kinder Scout passes through Crowle station in the rain on 12 March 1998 with the 6M99 15:53 Immingham to Wolverhampton Steel Terminal Enterprise service. As can be guessed by the train's destination, this was effectively a metals service, in fact there is just a single van on the back of what is otherwise a train of steel carriers. This picture was deliberately taken a little early, so as to give a clear view of Crowle signal box, which was subsequently demolished.

60080 Kinder Scout passes Cossington on 11 May 2001 with the 6E38 13:35 Colnbrook to Lindsey aviation fuel empties. Over five years after the acquisition of all three shadow freight franchises by EWS, there is still no hurry to apply the company's red livery to all of their fleet.

60081 Bleaklow Hill passes Standish Junction on 16 March 1993 with the 6B13 04:40 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. The burnt area on the left is where workmen using welding equipment on the bridge set fire to the embankment! One of them fetched the fire brigade and police, who eventually had the trains stopped, although only after the fire was nearly out!

60081 Bleaklow Hill passes Aberthaw in the rain on 22 April 1995 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z60 11:18 Cardiff Central to Bridgend Ford Works 'Scrummager 3.1' railtour. 37408 Loch Rannoch can be seen on the rear of the train. The tour had just completed a circuit of Aberthaw Power Station, with 37408 leading, and is seen here leaving the reception sidings to regain the mainline.

60081 Bleaklow Hill crosses the main A48 road near Bridgend on 22 April 1995 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z60 11:18 Cardiff Central to Bridgend Ford Works 'Scrummager 3.1' railtour, and heads into the Ford engine plant. This is naturally extremely rare track for a passenger train, and the whole point of the tour. 37408 can just be seen on the rear of the train. There was a very necessary police presence in attendance for this ungated crossing, but after the train had entered the works, they all disappeared, and there was some delay before they reappeared, finally allowing the train to re-cross the road!

60081 Bleaklow Hill passes Bridgend Cowbridge Road on 22 April 1995 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z60 13:27 Bridgend Ford Works to Cardiff Central 'Scrummager 3.1' railtour. It is approaching Bridgend East Junction on the Vale of Glamorgan Line, which at this time was a freight only route. Judging by the colour of the track in front of 60081, there hasn't been much traffic on the down line recently. Believe it or nor the diminutive brown and white building near the rear of the train is Cowbridge Road Signal Box. This closed in 2013. Although the white building in the background survives, the gas holder has gone, and the wasteland is now an industrial estate.

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 trees now shading the line.

60081 Bleaklow Hill passes underneath the Paddington to South Wales mainline near the village of Westerleigh, as it nears its destination on 27 February 1996 with the 6B13 05:40 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. Unfortunately the lighting is completely wrong for this train at this location, with the sun being virtually head on. However, I wanted a record of the train passing through the arches, and two decades later the Transrail liveried locomotive now seems quite historic!

60081 Bleaklow Hill passes Woofferton on 27 October 1996 with the 6V75 09:14 Dee Marsh to Margam steel empties. Very poor lighting, but this is one of the very few times that I saw these distinctive round topped wagons. Just 15 minutes later, and in much better light, 60080 Kinder Scout passed in the opposite direction with the 6M88 08:52 Llanwern to Dee Marsh steel coils.

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.

What a waste! Nearly a quarter of the entire Class 60 fleet is pictured in this sad view at Toton on 9 June 2018. 60081 (the former Isambard Kingdom Brunel) heads up this sorry line up, which also includes: 60006, 60083, 60093, 60004, 60089, 60023, 60078, 60053, 60005, 60031, 60025, 60014, 60097, 60042, 60037, 60027, 60018, 60088, 60050, 60086, 60060, 60032 & 60067. Note how the algae covered windscreens of 60081 almost match the faded green paintwork! Lovely evening light, but that doesn't compensate for the sheer wanton neglect of some valuable machinery.

60082 Mam Tor passes Clay Cross on 9 April 1992 with the 6E34 09:58 Etruria to Lackenby steel empties. The loco was only a few months old at the time, but is already making a mockery of its Trainload Construction decals, by working a steel sector train!

60082 Mam Tor passes through Craven Arms station on 27 May 1996 with the 6V75 09:14 Dee Marsh to Margam steel empties. The photographers behind the loco are waiting for 37521 on the much more interesting diverted 6Z92 05:40 Llanwern to Margam steel coils.

The local farmer makes some adjustments to his tractor, as 60082 Mam Tor passes Marlbrook (near Leominster) with the 6M30 10:17 Margam to Dee Marsh steel coils on 1 September 1996. The woods in the background cover Dinmore Hill, though which the railway passes by way of the twin single bore 1,054 yard long Dinmore Tunnels.

Not much of a load for a Class 60! 60082 Mam Tor passes Magor on 14 March 1997 with the featherweight  6C20 13:45 Newport Alexandra Dock Junction to St Blazey Enterprise service. This is the site of Magor station, which closed in 1964. There is strong local support for reopening the station.

60082 Mam Tor passes Elsham Carrs on 10 February 2003 with the late running 6K23 11:40 Santon to Immingham iron ore empties. I only visited this location once, the long rough private track leading to the crossing not being conducive to a return visit!

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 the 7V49 04:08 Barrow Hill 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.

Looking smart after a recent repaint, 60083 passes Tupton on 10 March 1997 with the diverted 6E54 10:37 Kingsbury to Humber empty oil tanks. Even though there is a misty background, North Wingfield church can still clearly be seen in the distance.

60083 Mountsorrel passes through Crowle station on 28 October 2002, en-route to Immingham. The boarded up signal box at the end of the platform has since been demolished. Hard to believe, but the truncated road where the van is parked once went underneath the railway at this point.

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 brings up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z46 13:40 Preston to Preston (via Padiham and Colne) 'Lancastrian Mini Excursion' at Reedley on 23 May 1993. 26003 & 26005 were the lead locomotives. The fixed distant signal is for the level crossing at Brierfield station, half a mile to the north.

60084 Cross Fell approaches Hapton on 23 May 1993 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z46 13:40 Preston to Preston (via Padiham and Colne) 'Lancastrian Mini Excursion' railtour. This view has changed beyond all recognition. The small conifers between the railway and the M65 motorway are now very large conifers! The William Blythe chemical works in the background has closed, with the landmark chimney being demolished in 2009.  In the immediate foreground, the field on the right has now succumbed to yet more housing development.

60084 runs alongside the Kennet & Avon Canal at Crofton on 17 February 2001 with the diverted 6D13 07:21 Avonmouth to Didcot Power Station imported coal. It's normal route via Swindon was closed for engineering works. 60084 seems to be temporarily without its Cross Fell nameplates (at least on this side). It was not a case of being de-named, as it had reappeared by 2010.

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 Axe Edge heads north past Clay Cross on 9 April 1992 with RMC stone empties heading for Peak Forest. A sunny day, but with very poor visibility. At least the mist has helped to softened the backlighting.

60085 Axe Edge & 60082 Mam Tor pass Widnes on 17 September 1994 with the Pathfinder Tours 1T70 16:16 Latchford Sidings to Liverpool Lime Street 'Lancastrian' railtour. This was just one part of one of those sadly missed multi traction tours that were so popular in the 1980s & 1990s. Impossible today of course, because there is no multi traction! Fiddler's Ferry Power Station dominates the background, with the Albright & Wilson phosphate works on the right.

60085 catches the evening sun as it rounds the curve through Stamford station 20 September 1997 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z66 14:04 Felixstowe to Crewe 'Marching Cat' railtour. Despite the fact that the curve hides most of the train, I thought this was the obvious place to photograph the tour, as it includes not only Stamford's disused signal box in the picture, but also St. Martin's church in the background.

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.

60085 passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 24 January 2015 with the 6V62 11:20 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. There had just been a brief burst of sunshine, but unfortunately it didn't quite last long enough! Normally I wouldn't bother to take a picture in such grim conditions, but bearing in mind the imminent electrification of this line, I may not get another chance of this particular loco at this spot, so this is purely one for the record.

Running in an earlier path than previously, 60085 passes the site of Ashbury Crossing near Shrivenham on 28 January 2015 with the 6V62 10:56 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. At least some things improve on the railway, as less than a year ago this train was often Class 66 hauled.

During 2015 the same loco stayed on the 6V62 10:56 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties for a considerable time, so therefore it was no surprise that 60085 was yet again rostered for the train on Friday 20 March 2015. It is pictured here passing Baulking.

60085 slowly approaches Godnow Bridge on 4 June 2015 with the 6E32 08:55 Preston Docks to Lindsey Oil Refinery empty bitumen tanks. There was a severe speed restriction in place, following recent track work. The line between Thorne and Althorpe closely follows the north bank of the Stainforth & Keadby Canal (which can just be glimpsed to the left of the train), which explains the reverse curves at this location.

Running 82 minutes early, 60085 Adept passes Carlton on 20 July 2019 with the 6N20 18:03 (16:35 actual) Drax Power Station to Tyne Dock biomass empties. This was a grab shot, as the level crossing barriers were already going down as I drove up the road. Hardly surprising, as it was leaving Drax as I drove by the power station. In the circumstances a picture from the shady side of the line was the only possible option.

60085 Adept arrives at Drax Power Station on 17 March 2020 with the 6E10 11:15 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax Power Station biomass. 18:15 on a dull early spring day is not the ideal time for photography, and it was almost dark. Unfortunately however, it was the only daylight (just!) Class 60 working to Drax on this particular day, and as I was in the area, I thought it worth an attempt. The terrible conditions required an exposure of 1/250sec f2 at ISO3200! The ambient light level is so low, that the glow from the light in the engine room can clearly be seen through the grill.

60086 Schiehallion passes Kings Sutton on 31 May 1994 with the 6M23 14:12 Fawley to Longport tanks. The first six wagons containing liquid petroleum gas will travel all the way to Longport, whilst the bitumen tanks will be detached at Washwood Heath, for the nearby Esso terminal at Bromford Bridge.

60086 Schiehallion approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing at Shrivenham on 12 July 1995 with one of the daily Didcot Power Station to Avonmouth MGR empties. Until the 1990s Didcot had been largely supplied from the Midlands coalfields. However, for the last two decades of the station's life it mainly used imported coal traveling via the Vale of White Horse Line. At least at the time this photo was taken it was only the coal that was imported, not the loco!

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.

Weak spring sunshine at Wolvercote Junction on 8 April 1997, as 60086 Schiehallion heads northwards with a loaded coal train. Something strange is going on here, as it would usually be empties returning from Didcot Power Station going in this direction. In fact this is running in the path of the 6M58 17:25 Didcot Power Station to Toton MGR empties. Information anyone? By this date most of Didcot's coal was coming from the new import facility at Avonmouth.

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 passes South Moreton on 6 October 2000 with the 6B33 13:41 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. This is a location that I will never visit again, ever since the view disappeared underneath a mass of masts and wires. That is if you could see it over the new ridiculously high sided bridge.

60086 Schiehallion finds a small patch of weak winter sunshine at Portway on 28 January 2002, as it heads south with the 6V36 08:18 Lackenby to Llanwern steel slabs. Note the non-standard Thornaby (TE) depot allocation marking just above the front coupling.

60086 Schiehallion slogs up the I in 37 Lickey Incline with the 6E05 05:30 Llanwern to Lackenby steel empties on 26 July 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.

Brand new 60087 Slioch heads north past Aldercar on 27 February 1992 with MGR empties. The immaculately clean loco makes up for the drabness of a dull February morning. Photo taken from the A610 Aldercar bypass.

60087 Slioch passes Berkley on 12 October 1994 with the 6V16 10:50 Fareham to Merehead Foster Yeoman stone empties. A class 60 was a little unusual on Westbury area stone trains at this time, with the majority of the workings naturally being in the very capable hands of the resident Class 59s.

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.

The first working of a Colas Class 60 on the 6V62 11:13 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties took place on Wednesday 23 July 2014. Immaculate 60087 CLIC Sargent runs along the down relief line at Denchworth, prior to an all too brief stop at Challow. Despite only remaining at Challow for just a few minutes, instead of the booked 48 minutes, I did manage to get a second picture of the train at Baulking, despite not particularly hurrying to get there! Unfortunately 60087 failed at Hullavington, and had to be rescued by 70804. Oh the shame!

60087 CLIC Sargent passes Baulking on 23 July 2014 with the first ever Colas Class 60 hauled 6V62 11:13 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. I had only just arrived at the bridge when it came into view, having chased it from Denchworth. If I had realised it would only spend a few minutes in the loop at Challow, instead of its booked long wait of 48 minutes, I would have put my foot down a bit! At least with two pictures of it, I did a lot better than anyone waiting for it to the west of Hullavington, as it failed there and after a four hour wait, was dragged away by 70804!

Running exactly to time, 60087 CLIC Sargent passes the site of Uffington station on 27 August 2014 with the 6V62 11:22 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. Initially I wasn't going to bother going out for this, as despite the bright start to the day, my mid morning it was already totally cloudy. However, it occurred to me that this may be my last chance to get a picture of a train passing Uffington's former station hotel, before the overhead wires ruin the view. As this picture is taken from the north side of the line (you haven't been able to get a clear view from the other side since the early 1990s), a dull day is required. At least the Colas livery brightens up the scene!

60087 CLIC Sargent passes the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham on 30 August 2014 with the 6V62 11:20 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. Note the brand new fence (three days old), which replaces the rustic wooden fence that looked ancient even in 1986!

60087 CLIC Sargent runs along the down relief line at South Moreton (Didcot East) on 3 September 2014 with the  6V62 11:22 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. This view has recently been transformed by the installation of a gantry, carrying water and power to the large construction site in the background. This large area was formerly the wartime Moreton Sidings, and has now found a second use as an electrification depot for the Great Western Mainline. Piles of masts ready to ruin all our favourite photographic locations can be seen stacked in the background. I hoped that I would be able to 'stop' the 60 centrally between the signal and the gantry, and amazingly, given the limited space, managed to get it exactly right!

60087 CLIC Sargent emerges from Chipping Sodbury Tunnel on Wednesday 10 September 2014 with the 6V62 11:22 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. This superb light was by no means guaranteed, as up until about 10 minutes before the train was due it had been largely cloudy. There was a huge sigh of relief from the many photographers present!

60087 CLIC Sargent passes Bourton on 17 September 2014 with the 6V62 11:22 Tilbury Riverside to Llanwern steel empties. The earlier sunshine had unfortunately given way to high cloud at the time this was due, but luckily just as it came into view the sun reappeared weakly, giving just a hint of shadows. Ever since taking over from Class 56s earlier in the summer, this seems to have become 60087's regular (and virtually only!) job.

60087 Bountiful approaches Hensall in the pouring rain on 12 March 2019 with the 6H12 06:24 Tyne Coal Terminal to Drax Power Station biomass. Less than a minute earlier I had photographed 60047 Faithful travelling in the opposite direction with the 6M36 09:54 Drax Power Station to Liverpool biomass empties, the rear of which can be seen disappearing into the distance.

Ragwort and Rosebay Willowherb dominate the trackside, as 60087 passes Heck Ings on 16 July 2022 with the 6E10 09:51 Liverpool Biomass to Drax Power Station biomass. The chimney of the partially demolished Eggborough Power Station is on the right. It was demolished a week after this picture was taken.

60088 Buachaille Etive Mor leaves Didcot Power Station on 8 December 1992 with the 6E13 12:15 MGR empties to Barrow Hill. The cooling towers have now been demolished, and this viewpoint has been completely obliterated by strategically planted conifers.

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!

60088 Buachaille Etive Mor passes Kings Sutton on 28 July 1994 with the 6E05 17:39 Didcot Power Station to Barrow Hill MGR empties. By this date the new flow of imported coal from Avonmouth to Didcot had started, and supplies from the north were declining as a result.

60088 Buachaille Etive Mor passes Aynho on 2 November 1994 with the 6M38 Didcot Power Station to Toton MGR empties. By this date Didcot was receiving most of its coal from Avonmouth, with just a couple of paths left for trains from the Midlands.

60088 Buachaille Etive Mor glints in the evening sun, as it passes Compton Beauchamp on 3 May 1995 with the 6A68 16:56 Avonmouth to Didcot Power Station MGR. This is one of my most missed photographic location, as it was one of the least backlit locations for eastbound trains in the evening between Swindon and Didcot, and was on a very quiet country road. A very pleasant place to spend a summer evening.

A very grubby 60088 Buachaille Etive Mor passes Burton Salmon on 12 March 1997, whilst en-route from Lackenby to Margam with a short train of steel slabs. When Burton Salmon station was open, there was a fifth track passing under the bridge, as evidenced by the grassy area on the right.

The last of the weak winter afternoon sunshine illuminates 60089 Arcuil, as it passes South Moreton (Didcot East) on 29 January 1992 with the 6V13 12:18 Furzebrook to Hallen Marsh LPG tanks. The loco had been in service for just three weeks when this picture was taken.

60089 Arcuil passes Bathpool on 16 March 1996 with the 6B19 14:40 Exeter to Cardiff Tidal scrap train. Obviously all is not well here, as smoke is pouring from one of the wheels on the third wagon. Clearly either a hot box or dragging brakes. I seem to remember frantically waving at the driver, but he probably just thought I was being friendly! In a pre-mobile phone era there was not much else I could do, and also no way of finding out how far it got in this condition.

60089 Arcuil passes South Marston on 5 May 2000 with the 6M17 16:48 Alexandra Dock Junction to Wembley Enterprise. The new pointwork for the much delayed railfreight depot can be seen in the foreground. The mainline connection was installed long before the trackwork into the site was laid.

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 Quinag approaches Micklefield on 4 September 1999 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z91 14:55 York to York (via Hunslet East) 'Hunslet Hoover' railtour. The eponymous Hoovers (50031 & D444) are completely hidden by the bushes on the rear of the train.

60090 Quinag approaches Gascoigne Wood on 4 September 1999 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z91 14:55 York to York (via Hunslet East) 'Hunslet Hoover' railtour. The train had already passed this location, and is now heading back to York after a reversal at Selby.

Still wearing extremely faded Trainload Coal markings, 60090 Quinag passes through Ashchurch station on 16 July 2002 with the 6V07 14:00 Round Oak to Llanwern steel empties. This train had a clear run through the station, unlike the following 6V40, which was looped.

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 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 passes Hinksey on 16 October 2005 with the diverted 6E48 10:10 Llanwern to Lackenby steel empties. This was running 87 minutes late, which has marginally improved the lighting angle, although it is obviously still heavily backlit. However, steel trains through the Oxford area are certainly far from common, so worth recording.

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!

60091 Barry Needham passes Compton Beauchamp on 14 April 2015 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. With the Great Western Electrification plan well over a year behind schedule, there is still very little evidence of it at this location - yet!

Running a staggering 160 minutes late, 60091 Barry Needham passes Avoncliff on 18 April 2015 with the diverted 6B33 11:11 (actually 13:05) Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. Although a small group of photographers had originally been waiting for this, by the time it actually turned up, I was the only one left!

Signs of impending electrification at Baulking on 23 April 2015. Ranks of new signal cabinets line both sides of the line, and a plastic covered new replacement signal for the nearby Uffington crossovers is in position next to its antiquated predecessor. This old gantry signal  has been in a rusty state for years, not having seen a lick of paint for decades! 60091 Barry Needham passes by with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties.

60091 Barry Needham passes Bourton on 17 March 2016 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. This had actually left Theale over an hour late, but by missing out a couple of booked layovers, had managed to reduced the deficit to just 20 minutes. Note the capped steel pile in the immediate foreground - a sign that this viewpoint will soon disappear.

With masses of dark clouds around, but still managing to find a sunny spell, 60091 Barry Needham passes Standish Junction on 30 April 2016 with the 6B13 04:43 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. Unfortunately the photographers on the farm bridge at Little Haresfield (just visible in the background) were not so lucky with the light!

Running 80 minutes late, 60091 Barry Needham passes Baulking on 23 August 2016 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. I had not intended to take this here, but after waiting at Denchworth for some time, gave up when there report of it leaving Theale, and went to Hungerford Common, only to see my intended stone train pass by as I was approaching, running an hour early! A quick change of plan saw me head back from whence I came, arriving here with only about five minutes to spare. More mileage on the Honda!

With the Little Langford Farmhouse bed & breakfast sign prominent in the foreground, there is no mistaking where this is! As 5 October 2016 turned out to be a perfect sunny day (after some early local cloud), and 60091 Barry Needham was booked for the 7V16 13:03 Fareham to Whatley Quarry Mendip Rail stone empties, a special journey was made down to Wylye Valley, just for this one picture. It was certainly worth the effort. It is pictured passing Little Langford running a mere six minutes late.

Running exactly to time (for a change!) 60091 Barry Needham passes Stocks Lane, Steventon, on 6 April 2017 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. The rustic wall and slightly decrepit greenhouse make an interesting foreground.

60091 Barry Needham passes Ley Court (between Grange Court and Oakle Street) on 26 February 2019 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. Not did the uninterrupted blue sky last all day, but it turned out to be the hottest February day on record, with the temperature exceeding 20ºC in some parts of the country.

60091 Barry Needham passes through Cam & Dursley station on 26 March 2019 with the 6B41 11:35 Westerleigh to Robeston empty oil tanks. Consecutively numbered 60092 had passed by in the opposite direction just eight minutes earlier.

60091 Barry Needham passes Baulking on 27 April 2019 with the 6B33 11:25 Theale to Margam Murco empty oil tanks. This would shortly deviate from its usual route, and travel via Gloucester to get to South Wales, rather than via the Severn Tunnel. I should really have photographed this in the Stroud area, but on the plus side, there was certainly more sunshine where I was.

60092 Reginald Munns passes Ebbw Junction on 24 July 1996 with the 6B25 13:15 Westerleigh to Robeston empty oil tanks. The striking red, white and blue livery of the Murco tanks certainly made an eye catching train in the mid 1990s.

60092 Reginald Munns passes New Barnetby on 12 March 1998 with the 6T24 11:00 Immingham to Santon iron ore. This was just a couple of months before the first Class 66 arrived in the UK, and all the photographers that thought that Transrail grey liveried Class 60s were boring would soon have their opinions revised by the mass introduction of the 'Red Death'.

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.

This is not quite what it appears. It looks as if 60092 is in desperate need of some works attention, but in fact it has just emerged from a major rebuild as part of the Class 60 refurbishment programme. Unlike all the previous rebuilds it has not yet been given a coat of DBS red, but was instead let out in this partially rubbed down Trainload grey livery, complete with primer green roof panel, and an EWS red rear cab door! Note the former location of the Reginald Munns nameplate. It is pictured here passing Castle Donington on 29 November 2012 with the 6E54 10:40 Kingsbury to Humber empty oil tanks.

60092 passes Steventon on 29 September 2015 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco empty oil tanks. Various locations along the Great Western Mainline have been decorated with these two tone steel tubes. Some people say they are for the forthcoming electrification, but the various heights of the structures, to say nothing of the ones that are lying down, surely means they have been installed as a sort of modern art lineside decoration to take the train traveller's mind off the First Great Western rebranding!

60092 passes Standish Junction on 24 September 2016 with the 6B41 11:18 Westerleigh to Robeston Murco oil empties. This is a very unusual working for a Saturday, and concluded an interesting 40 minutes of photography, that saw both Class 57 & Class 68 hauled railtours, as well as the southbound oil tanks pass this spot. The bridge in the background carries the B4008 Stonehouse to Gloucester road. Photo taken from a public footpath crossing.

60092 emerges from Kemble Tunnel on 27 September 2016 with the diverted 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. In the background construction work is taking place, building yet more new houses, this time on the other side of the A429 road.

With a toot from the driver for the small gallery of photographers, 60092 passes Steventon on 5 January 2017 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. The steam rising in the background is from the gas fired Didcot B Power Station, while the tall chimney from the disused Didcot A coal fired plant still dominates the scene.

60092 passes Churcham on 19 February 2019 with the 6B41 11:35 Westerleigh to Robeston empty oil tanks. The residents of Hygrove Rehabilitation Centre on the hill in the background have certainly got a good panoramic view of the railway!

60092 approaches Cam & Dursley station on 26 March 2019 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. A numerical coincidence saw 60091 Barry Needham arriving from the other direction just eight minutes later. There has been a tremendous amount of spoil dumped in the field on the left, raising its height considerably.

Most of the photographic locations on the Great Western Mainline have been completely ruined by the installation of the 25kV wires, but this spot at Baulking has been less effected than most. There always were a couple of huge signal gantries in the picture, now there is just a bit more ironmongery! 60092 heads west on 28 March 2019 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. A convenient public footpath runs by the side of the line here.

Just a few seconds before the sun disappeared behind a cloud, 60092 approaches Steventon on 30 March 2019 with the 6B33 11:50 Theale to Margam Murco oil empties. Luckily the palisade fence seen in the background has not yet been installed on the south side of the line here.

60092 passes Uffington on 19 September 2019 with the 6B33 13:20 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. After several hours of photographing Class 66s, this was a welcome change to some more photogenic motive power, and also the signal to go home, as there was nothing else of interest due for several hours, by which time the sun would be head on.

60092 passes a rather scrappy looking field, with what appears to be a few self sown oilseed rape plants in the previous year's stubble. The location is just south of Temple Hirst Junction, and the train is the 6N31 07:46 Scunthorpe to Lackenby steel slabs. 14 March 2022.

Running 40 minutes late, 60092 passes Heck Ings on 15 March 2022 with the 6N31 07:46 Scunthorpe to Lackenby steel slabs. In the foreground is the Knottingley to Drax line, and in the background the partially dismantled Eggborough Power Station.

A perfect combination of train and lighting occurred during a day of mixed weather on 31 October 1994. 60093 Jack Stirk passes underneath the signal at Denchworth with the 6B33 12:35 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties, just as a rainbow appears in the background.

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.

The four daffodils growing on the bank on the right, and the loco's yellow front end are very nearly the only colour in this scene at Ulceby South Junction on 27 March 1999. 60093 Jack Stirk passes the signal box with the 6E54 11:37 Kingsbury to Humber oil empties.

60093 Jack Stirk passes Milford Junction on 13 July 2002 with the 6E35 13:12 Llanwern to Lackenby steel empties. The loco is named after the BR manager who was largely responsible for establishing the MGR concept of coal movement in the late 1960s.

60093 Jack Stirk passes Pencoed on 15 July 2002 with the 6E09 10:27 Margam to Lackenby steel empties. The double bridge in the background carries the large roundabout on the A473. This forms a junction with the road from Brynna, which formerly crossed the bridge from which I took this picture, which has now been reduced to a secluded footpath.

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.

60094 Tryfan passes Magor on 3 September 1999 with the 6B13 05:40 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. Unfortunately 60094 lost its Welsh mountain name shortly afterwards in favour of the far less memorable Rugby Flyer.

60095 Crib Goch passes the cars parked on the estuary shoreline at Arnside on 25 April 1992, as it works the 2C45 14:48 Manchester Victoria to Barrow-in-Furness Regional Railways special. This slightly unusual viewpoint was caused by having no time to go anywhere else after seeing the 2N42 15:32 Barrow-in-Furness to Preston cross the viaduct just a few minutes earlier.

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.

60095 passes Didcot North Junction on 22 April 2002 with the 6M65 15:19 Eastleigh to Carlisle Enterprise, conveying mainly MoD stores. Since this picture was taken the footbridge has been replaced, but surprisingly not with a high sided or fenced in vandal proof design, but with a virtually like for like replacement.

60095 passes the rear of Honeybourne station on 20 March 2018 with the 6Z56 09:30 Colas Ribble Rail (Preston) to Long Marston, conveying five ICA bogie oil tanks for maintenance. This was booked to pass here at virtually the same time as a the 5Q66 13:30 Reading Traincare Depot to Long Marston Class 165/166 ECS. Clearly that was impossible, and it makes you wonder how Network Rail managed to put two conflicting movements in the system. In the event the ECS was recessed at Moreton-in-Marsh, and went forward the next morning.

60095 slowly approaches Honeybourne on 20 March 2018 with the 6Z57 16:00 Long Marston to Toton empty oil tanks. After 60095 had arrived a little earlier with the 6Z56 09:30 Colas Ribble Rail (Preston) to Long Marston, the original plan was for the loco to stay at Long Marston overnight, and then work this train the next morning as the 6Z57 06:40 Long Marston to Lindsey Oil Refinery. However, the welcome decision to send the loco back the same day meant I was able to get two shots for the price of one, albeit with a long wait in between. This was already running over an hour late, but luckily it approached Honeybourne just as the setting sun approached a small gap in the otherwise more or less solid cloud. This was just enough to give a hint of brightness to the image.

60095 brings up the rear of the 09:35 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster service, as it arrives at is destination on 16 May 2019, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala. The signal box is hiding the lead locomotive, 47749 City of Truro. Note the use of the prototype HST's Mk3 stock. Although only the position of the signal arm makes it look any different, I would ideally have photographed the train leaving shortly afterwards, but that picture was spoiled by a rogue cloud. 50007 Hercules, another recent GBRf repaint, can be seen in the background, on the right.

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 Ben Macdui passes Spetchley shortly before sunset on 4 June 1996 with the 6V18 19:10 Kingsbury to Cardiff Tidal scarp. The up goods loop looks well used, but as can be seen from the bits of rail and loose sleepers on the right, the down loop had just been lifted.

60096 Ben Macdui passes Coedkernew on 14 March 1997 with the 7B52 11:04 Port Talbot to Llanwern iron ore. Considering the state that some locos got into whilst on the iron ore circuit, this one seems remarkably clean.

60096 Ben Macdui passes through Oxford station on 27 June 1998 with the 6V53 04:20 Lindsey to Langley aviation fuel tanks. Note the change of gradient. On the right a new station car park is under construction, on the site of the former scrapyard.

60096 passes St Paul's church, Scropton, on 17 April 2004 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z86 07:13 Birmingham International to York 'Minstering Monk' railtour. Despite appearances, this photo is taken from a public footpath crossing.

The change of gradient on the freight only Pye Bridge Junction to Kirkby-in-Ashfield line is clearly evident here, as 60096 approaches Pinxton on 17 April 2004 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z86 07:13 Birmingham International to York 'Minstering Monk' railtour. 66612 & 66618 are out of sight on the rear of the train.

60096 passes Walton, en-route for Monk Bretton, with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z86 07:13 Birmingham International to York 'Minstering Monk' railtour on 17 April 2004. Unfortunately, any earlier sunny spells had long since disappeared.

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.

60096 rounds the sharp curve between Stansfield Hall and Hall Royd Junctions on 16 November 2015 with the 6E32 08:55 Preston Docks to Lindsey Oil Refinery empty bitumen tanks. On a day with lots of cloud, I was very pleased to get this picture in the sun, especially with the light at the perfect angle, just glancing across the front of the loco.

60096 passes Barnby Dun on 2 October 2017 with the 6E32 08:55 Preston Docks to Lindsey Oil Refinery bitumen empties. Just six wagons on this occasion, and hardly a very taxing load for a Class 60. Note how someone has just cleared around the front number, rather than washing the whole front end!

The horses in the field receive some attention, as 60096 accelerates away from Barnetby on 6 November 2017 with the 6E32 08:55 Preston Docks to Lindsey Oil Refinery bitumen empties. Photo taken from the public footpath at the top of Knab's Hill.

60096 Impetus passes Whitley Bridge on 20 January 2020 with the early running 6H12 06:24 Tyne Coal Terminal to Drax Power Station biomass. The wagons may have GBRf branding, but the loco has yet to receive its new operator's colours, instead just having the word Colas removed from its former owner's colour scheme.

60096 Impetus passes through Hensall station in the rain on 18 March 2020 with the 6E09 08:10 Tuebrook Sidings to Drax Power Station biomass. This was running half an hour early, having missed out its booked stop at Sudforth Lane.

Only just over a mile into its journey, 60096 Impetus passes Carlton on 17 August 2021 with the 6M36 09:54 Drax Power Station to Liverpool biomass empties. Despite being owned by GBRf, this loco still carries debranded Colas livery.

You don't see many steel coil trains in the Thames Valley! 60097 Pillar passes through Appleford station on 5 June 1997 with an unidentified northbound working. I had seen the train parked in the loop at Milton as I drove to this spot, so it has clearly come from South Wales. Surely this can't be the diverted 6M76 00:40 Margam to Dee Marsh, re-routed via Oxford. If for some reason the Hereford line was closed, it would probably come this way to avoid the Lickey Incline.

60097 ABP Port of Immingham & Grimsby passes Ebbw Junction on 15 February 2003 with the 6V40 05:08 Lackenby to Margam steel slabs, running exactly on time. 66135 & 66241 do their best to spoil the picture in the background!

60098 Charles Francis Brush appropriately passes the Brush Works at Loughborough on 2 April 1994 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z46 'Sector Swansong' railtour. The tour had started out from Bristol at 06:15, and by the time it arrived back at 23:02 had utilised locos from Classes 47, 86, 31, 33, 58, 60, 56, 20 & 37. They don't (can't) do tour like that nowadays!

60098 Charles Francis Brush passes Stenson Junction on 25 April 1996 with a southbound MGR. At this time coal trains were commonplace here, and on this occasion another train was also approaching from the opposite direction, hauled by 60006 Great Gable.

60098 Charles Francis Brush rounds the curve at Althorpe on 12 March 1998 with the 6E06 09:40 Bredbury to Roxby GMC Binliner. There seems to be just as much grass growing on the 'live' section of the platforms, as there is on the fenced off parts!

A bitterly cold day at the site of Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham, on 28 December 1995. Frost is still on the ground as 60099 Ben More Assynt heads eastwards with an Avonmouth to Didcot Power Station MGR. This view clearly shows the location of the former up goods loop.

60099 Ben More Assynt takes the line towards Dr Days Junction, at Feeder Bridge Junction, Bristol on 10 April 1997 with the 6V13 13:20 Furzebrook to Hallen Marsh LPG tanks. The lengthening shadows clearly indicates that I am the only photographer standing on the A4320 bridge!

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.

60099 Ben More Assynt passes Croome on 15 July 2002 with the 6M96 05:34 Llanwern to Corby steel coils. Ben More Assynt is the highest mountain in Sutherland. It is situated in a remote location between Lairg and Ullapool.

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.

60099 passes Uffington in atrocious light on 19 December 2013 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. The day had started sunny, and up until mid afternoon was still bright. However, it then rapidly went down hill with a bank of cloud coming in from the west. If it wasn't for the fact that it was a silver 60 on this train, I would definitely have gone home, as the light level was so poor. I suppose it does give one final chance to get a picture of a train passing the former station hotel, before the wires go up and ruin the scene forever.

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.

60100 Boar Of Badenoch passes Compton Beauchamp on 29 May 2002 with the 6M17 16:38 Newport Alexandra Dock Junction to Wembley Enterprise. Boar Of Badenoch (also known as An Torc) is actually one of the very few mountains featuring in a Class 60 name that is near to a railway, in this case at the Pass of Drumochter. However, 60100 would not have ventured that far north.

60100 catches the late afternoon sun as it approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham on 18 November 2014 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. Note the new signals (covered with black plastic), next to the old signal gantry.

60100 passes Wychnor Junction on 3 June 2015 with the 6E68 17:39 Kingsbury to Lindsey Oil Refinery empty oil tanks. One of the very few occasions when a head on picture is appropriate, as the curve of the tanks on the rear of the train reflects the opposite curve of the diverging single track line to Lichfield.

60100 emerges from Chipping Sodbury Tunnel on 7 April 2017 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. As is often the case, this was late leaving, but due to the very slack timings, with several layovers, it had made up time, and passed me running exactly to time. Surprisingly, given the completely sunny day, I was the only photographer at this location.

Viewed from Stocks Lane level crossing, 60100 hauls the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties underneath the doomed roadbridge at Steventon on 8 November 2017. This was running five minutes early. The next time this train ran, two days later, it was over two hours late here, and in the dark, after failing at Didcot. The train had arrived at Didcot on time, but then the original loco, 60007, was removed and dumped in the yard, and 66136 summoned to take the train forward.

60100 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 24 November 2017 with the 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston Murco oil empties. As the 1C17 14:00 Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads HST, which is booked to overtake this at Challow, was running nearly half an hour late, there was no need for 6B33 to use the relief line, so it is running on the mainline. The splash of orange just visible in the background is the Colas 0C22 13:45 Westbury to Hinksey light engine convoy, comprising 70813, 70812, 70802 & 70805.

60100 Midland Railway - Butterley passes Standish Junction on 2 January 2019 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. This was running 12 minutes early, having missed out its booked short layover in Haresfield Loop. This was very fortunate, as it passed in a brief patch of weak sunshine, on what was rapidly becoming a very cloudy day.

60100 Midland Railway - Butterley passes Kemble Wick in the rain on 4 June 2019 with the 6V15 20:18 Boston Sleaford Sidings to Swindon Stores covered steel carriers. After years of only occasional freights, and then mostly unfortunately 'Shed' hauled, the Golden Valley route is having something of a very temporary heritage traction renaissance, with 56087 photographed the previous day, just around the corner, and it has to be said, in much better weather!

60100 Midland Railway - Butterley passes Kemble on 11 June 2019 with the 6V15 20:18 Boston Sleaford Sidings to Swindon Stores covered steel carriers. The previous week, the forecast was for a dull but dry morning, although it was actually raining, but on this occasion the reverse happened, with the predicted heavy rain having already stopped.

60100 Midland Railway - Butterley passes Churcham on 29 November 2019 with the 6B13 05:00 Robeston to Westerleigh Murco oil tanks. The rear of the 6V05 09:15 Round Oak to Margam steel empties can just been seen disappearing under Oakle Street bridge in the background.