66601 The Hope Valley approaches Melton Ross on 26 July 2003 with the 6E55 10:35 Kingsbury to Humber oil empties. This loco was named prior to entering service in November 2000, and although not obvious from this angle, the 'o' of Hope Valley name is painted in Blue Circle blue to mark the connection of Freightliner with the Hope to Dewsbury cement traffic.

66601 The Hope Valley passes through the exceedingly overgrown cutting between Uffington and Baulking with the 6U72 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties on 30 April 2009. Luckily the HST working the 1B31 12:15 Paddington to Cardiff First Great Western service has just got out of the way in time! There was plenty of warning that a freight train was approaching as the up line signal was flashing amber indicating that the next train would be looped a few miles further on at Challow.

66601 The Hope Valley passes the site of Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham on 31 August 2010 with the 6Z60 Theale to Stoke Gifford stone empties. With a booked departure time of 15:30 it has done very well to get here by 15:48! It's a good job passenger trains don't run with that kind of flexibility!

66601 The Hope Valley passes the site of Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham, on 5 October 2019 with the 6C48 13:10 Appleford to Swindon Cocklebury stone empties. An interesting VSTP working, that in order to access Cocklebury Sidings, ran straight through Swindon, reversed at Bristol Parkway, then came back to Swindon.

66601 The Hope Valley finds a brief patch of sunshine, as it pulls away from its booked stop at Wantage Road on 11 November 2019 with the 6A10 07:29 East Usk Yard to Hayes & Harlington stone hoppers. The loco seems to have disturbed a large flock of rooks, who were no doubt feeding on the stubble fields near the line.

66601 The Hope Valley passes Grove on 14 November 2019 with the 6A85 05:26 Moreton-on-Lugg to Hayes & Harlington stone hoppers. The awful weather at least meant I was able to take the picture from the north side of the line - purely for a change of viewpoint!

An odd location for a Freightliner Class 66! On 13 July 2002, 66602 rests amongst the buddleia and assorted weeds in the siding to the south of Oxford station (known locally as the West Midland siding). Apparently it was there for several days, but quite why it got to be abandoned amongst the shrubbery is unclear.

66602 swings round the reverse curves at Greenholme on 19 June 2006 with a southbound loaded ballast train. The split level M6 motorway can be seen in the background. The real reason for waiting here was the imminent arrival of a pair of Class 50s, returning from Scotland.

66602 approaches Circourt Bridge, near Denchworth on 12 May 2009 with the 6U72 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. As often happens during the late spring and summer, it had clouded up somewhat during the middle of day, but luckily this cleared away later in the day. The same loco worked this train the previous day, as seen here at Hatton.

66602 weaves slowly across the pointwork at Milford Junction on 15 September 2012 with a loaded coal train, while 66531 waits to follow it light engine from the York direction. The compressed perspective of a long telephoto lens (needed to clear the shadows in the foreground)  certainly emphasis the snaking of the wagons across the junction.

The view from the relatively new, and very little used (except by photographers!) footbridge at Uffington. 66602 passes by with the 6A10 08:39 East Usk Yard to Hayes & Harlington stone hoppers on 19 September 2019. This was running 35 minutes late, which is not bad considering it left East Usk Yard 116 minutes late! It shows how slack some freight timings are, if it can make up over an hour en-route. Its arrival at Hayes was exactly on time!

With a varied selection of different coloured wagons, 66602 runs slowly along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 14 September 2022 with the 6C48 12:49 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties.

66602 passes my car, and crosses over the Kingston Lisle road at Baulking on 9 October 2023, as it heads west with the late running 6B11 12:13 Radlett Redland Roadstone to East Usk Yard stone empties. Unfortunately the vandalised wagons are now ubiquitous on these trains.

66603 brings up the rear of a very mixed engineer's train at Shrivenham on 9 June 2006, as it heads east along the Great Western Mainline, obviously in preparation for some weekend engineering work. 66609 is at the front of the train. This long telephoto view clearly highlights the reverse curves between the site of Ashbury Crossing and the bridge near Compton Beauchamp.

Unusually given a run along the mainline, rather than the loop, 66603 passes Denchworth on 24 March 2011 with the 6M22 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. Although sunny, the high pressure had ensured that thin high cloud was taking the edge of the light, probably an advantage in a backlit picture like this.

66603 passes underneath the roadbridge at Challow on 19 December 2013, as it heads eastwards with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. Note the bank of cloud in the background. Unfortunately it wasn't long before this obliterated the sun for the rest of the day.

66603 passes through Goole on 15 May 2021 with the 6E56 05:33 Tunstead to Hull Dairycoates loaded stone hoppers. Although this had left Tunstead 44 minutes late, and was 90 minutes late at Grindleford, there is so much slack built into the schedule that it managed to be 38 minutes early here! 170454 can just be seen in the background, calling at Goole station with the 1J43 09:25 Hull to Sheffield Northern service.

66603 approaches Goole in miserable light on 15 May 2021 with the 6Z57 16:50 Hull Dairycoates to Tunstead stone empties. The train could clearly be heard crossing the bridge over the River Ouse, nearly a mile away. The steel swing bridge resonates when a train crosses it, making a very distinctive noise.

66603 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 7 October 2023 with the 6B91 12:15 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk Yard stone empties. This was running 62 minutes early, but very shortly it would be running 98 minutes early, as it is on the down main line, rather than the relief, where it was booked to stop at Challow. This was very much a last resort picture, as the two trains that I had intended to photograph (Blue Pullman HST railtour and RHTT) were both cancelled! It is almost exactly 50 years since I cycled to this location (unfortunately without a decent camera), and saw a procession of Class 47s and 52s, along with some 31s and 50s.

66604 passes underneath the A423 Oxford ring-toad, and approaches Hinksey Yard on 12 April 2013 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. The stream on the right is a constant source of flooding at thus point.

Since the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties went over to GBRf operation in 2014, Class 66/6s have been rare visitors to the Oxford area, Therefore I was particularly pleased to see 66604 at Wolvercote Junction on 31 October 2018, especially as it passed during a brief sunny period, amidst dark clouds. The train is the 6C61 12:11 Banbury Reservoir to Bristol East stone empties. The loaded train had worked north overnight as the 04:05 Bristol East to Banbury Reservoir. Freightliner is working these trains on behalf of DB Cargo.

Strange goings on at Challow on 21 March 2020. Instead of slowing down, prior to coming to a stop at signals just behind me, 66604 is pictured travelling at speed along the down relief line with the 6B91 12:34 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk Yard stone empties. It went into the loop at Wantage Road, and straight out again at Challow. With far fewer GWR passengers trains operating, due to the Coronavirus crisis, there was no need to do this, as nothing passed it while it was on the relief line. This naturally converted its 17 minutes early running to 52 minutes!

Two symbols of late spring at Uffington on 29 May 2021. Cow Parsley and Rapeseed provide the foreground for this view of 66604, as it runs along the Great Western Mainline with the 6A27 05:52 East Usk Yard to Hayes & Harlington stone hoppers.

66604 slowly approaches Haresfield on 1 June 2021 with the 6V54 12:51 Radlett Redland Roadstone to Stoke Gifford stone empties. This was running 25 minutes early, and consequently was about to enter Haresfield Loop. This gave me the opportunity for a second picture as it left the loop.

66604 leaves Haresfield Loop on 1 June 2021 with the 6V54 12:51 Radlett Redland Roadstone to Stoke Gifford stone empties. The weak sun was a blessing here, as full sun would have revealed just how shadowy the location was getting, despite the recent extensive lineside vegetation clearance.

The grazing sheep take notice, as 66604 approaches Hungerford Common on 12 January 2022 with the 7C58 12:10 Oxford Banbury Road to Whatley Quarry Mendip Rail stone empties. This was running 28 minutes late. The short train of 18 wagons just fits in the gap before the annoyingly positioned bush!

66604 passes the south end of Hinksey Yard on 19 January 2022 with the 7C58 12:10 Oxford Banbury Road to Whatley Quarry Mendip Rail stone empties. I had gone to this spot as the sun angle would be perfect at this time of day. By the time this arrived, the earlier sunshine had disappeared, it had got extremely dark, and it had started to drizzle with rain!

With the overhanging branches of an oak tree providing a perfect frame for the picture, 66604 passes Uffington on 28 October 2022 with the 6C48 12:49 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties. This was on time here, but had arrived at Challow half an hour early.

66604 passes Steventon on 9 December 2022 with the 6C48 12:49 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties. This is the site of several former exchange sidings, which served a large storage depot behind the silver birch trees in the background.

66604 catches the last of the afternoon light, as it passes South Marston on 19 January 2023 with the 6B11 12:28 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk Yard stone empties. 800011 is heading in the opposite direction in the background with the 1L23 14:54 Cardiff Central to Paddington GWR service.

66604 runs slowly along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 16 January 2024 with the 6C48 12:49 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties. This was not my first choice of location on this particular day. The plan was to go to the Crofton area on the Berks & Hants line for the morning stone trains, and then to Evesham in the afternoon for the 5Q94 08:57 Longsight to Long Marston TransPennine Express stock move. However, it was mostly cloudy in the morning, and I guessed (correctly) that the Crofton area would be in cloud, and then 5Q94 was cancelled! It became sunny later in the day, so I went out for this, although more unforecast cloud soon rolled in from the west.

66605 passes Swarkestone on 9 May 2003 with the 6E54 10:38 Kingsbury to Humber empty oil tanks. Just five minutes later, classmate 66610 appeared from the opposite direction with the 6M57 07:15 Lindsey to Kingsbury loaded tanks.

With a rake of ex Fastline hoppers in tow, 66605 is bound for Drax Power Station on 11 March 2011, as it passes England Lane, Knottingley in some welcome spring sunshine. The photo is taken from a footbridge that spans a level crossing whose gates are normally set against the road traffic.

Smoking profusely, 66605 passes Eckington on 21 May 2020 with the 6V55 12:55 Radlett Redland Roadstone to East Usk Yard stone empties. The speed restriction sign in the foreground is for trains entering Eckington loop.

Looking smart in its recently applied coat of orange paint, 66605 passes Bredon on 8 July 2022 with the 6V54 13:41 Elstow Redland Sidings to East Usk Yard stone empties. The loco may be smart, but virtually every wagon seems to have been vandalised with graffiti.

Wildflowers grow in abundance on the edge of the field at Knighton on 9 August 2022, as 66605 heads west along the Great Western Mainline with the 6C48 12:49 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties.

66605 & 59002 Alan J Day pass Hungerford Common on 12 August 2022 with the 6C76 14:09 Wembley Reception Sidings to Whatley Quarry stone empties. This was an extremely hot day, in what has been a record breaking summer. This explains the parched condition of the common on the right.

66605 passes Little Bedwyn on 26 May 2023 with the 6V18 11:17 Allington to Whatley Quarry stone empties. This was an unexpected bonus. I hadn't checked up on its progress when I arrived at the location, as I assumed it would be long gone. Just as I arrived on the bridge I heard a hoot, and then it came into view, running nearly an hour late.

In perfect winter light, 66607 approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing at Shrivenham with the 6V60 10:31 Angerstein Wharf to Cardiff Pengam Freightliner Heavy Haul stone empties on 3 December 2008. The relatively clean loco contrasts strongly with the wagons which are now looking very work stained.

66607 passes Milford Junction on 15 September 2012 with the 6R15 14:52 Immingham to Sudforth Lane coal hoppers. As this is a Saturday, the sidings in the background are full to capacity with rakes of wagons.

66607 passes the site of Wootton Bassett station on 18 July 2013 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. It had been held for a few minutes just beyond the bridge in the background, to allow a South Wales HST to cross in front of it. The builder's site office on the right must be unbearably hot on what is one of the hottest days of the year. Imagine working in a windowless box standing in full sun. No wonder the door is open!

66607 passes Little Fenton on 12 November 2013 with the 4S15 12:57 Drax Power Station to Hunterston coal empties. Photo taken from a public footpath crossing midway between Church Fenton and Sherburn-in-Elmet.

66607 passes Melton Ross on 6 November 2017 with the 6T25 13:34 Immingham to Scunthorpe iron ore. I particularly like the contrast between Freightliner's bright green livery, and the rusty brown of the ore hoppers.

66607 passes Kilby Bridge in perfect spring light on 22 April 2021 with the 6M91 11:10 Theale Lafarge to Hope (Earles Sidings) cement empties. Despite this leaving 75 minutes early, it was running exactly on time here.

66607 passes Braybrooke in superb evening light on 23 April 2021 with the 6M84 13:06 Dagenham Down Yard to Hope (Earles Sidings) cement empties. This view will soon disappear under a mass of overhead electfrication wires and masts.

66607 passes Normanton on Soar on 14 May 2021 with the 6Z31 15:54 Elstow Redland Sidings to Tunstead stone empties. By 2021 standards, a very clean rake of wagons, with only two having suffered the attentions of graffiti vandals.

66608 rounds the curve on the approach to Kings Sutton station with the 6M22 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties on 28 May 2010. The trees and hawthorn bushes behind the locomotive hide the spot where the Banbury & Cheltenham Direct Railway diverged for the start of its journey across the Oxfordshire Hills and the Cotswolds, to meet up with the Midland & South Western Junction Railway at Andoversford. The line closed as a through route in 1951, but the section of line from Kings Sutton to the first station (Adderbury) remained open for freight until 1969, when the final customer, Bibby & Sons ceased using rail. A short spur survived near this spot for a further two years.

66609 passes North Killingholme on 8 November 2003 with the 6E55 10:03 Kingsbury to Humber empty oil tanks. At the time this was the only booked Freightliner working in the area on a Saturday, amid a sea of EWS red. How things have changed!

On 15 June 2004, 66609 gives a helping hand to 66546 with the 4V60 10:55 Calvert to Bristol Avon Binliner. The ensemble is pictured passing Circourt Bridge, Denchworth. Unfortunately, two green locomotives, with a rake of green containers passing through a landscape that at this particular time of year is virtually all one shade of green, does not make for a very good picture.

The last rays of the setting sun highlight this Class 66/6 top'n'tail formation of assorted Network Rail track machines and permanent way vehicles passing Shrivenham on 9 June 2006, en-route from South Wales to Didcot. 66609 leads the ensemble, while 66603 can just be seen on the back. The intensity of the headlight is obvious in these conditions.

66609 passes Potters Grange Junction, Goole on 8 May 2007 with the 6Y56 14:45 Hull Docks to Ferrybridge Power Station imported coal. Unfortunately the foreground bushes between the Knottingley and Doncaster lines have grown up considerably since this picture was taken, severely limiting the viewpoint. Just visible in the background is 66230, which has missed its correct departure time with the 6H93 17:04 Goole to Peterborough Yard sand empties, and would be stuck there for another half an hour.

66610 passes Swarkestone on 9 May 2003 with the 6M57 07:15 Lindsey to Kingsbury loaded oil tanks. Just five minutes earlier, the 6E54 10:38 empties from Kingsbury to Humber had passed by hauled by 66605.

Although it is something of a challenge, I am always looking for slightly different photographic viewpoints on the Didcot to Swindon line. Here's one I hadn't tried before, between the two footpath crossings at South Marston. The hawthorn bush on the right provides a frame for 66610 as it heads west with the 4V60 10:55 Calvert to Bristol binliner empties on 11 December 2007.

66610 passes a snowy Baulking on 14 January 2010 with the 6M22 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. An interesting comparison can be made with the same working (albeit running with a different headcode) taken at the same spot in very different seasonal conditions. Unfortunately most of the snow had already disappeared from the lineside trees and bushes at this location, although ironically further from the railway there was still a fair covering on most trees.

66610 passes Compton Beauchamp on 30 June 2011 with the 6M22 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. For a slightly different angle on a mundane subject I decided to included the lichen encrusted bridge parapet and the abundant sycamore saplings, which have always been such a particular feature of this bridge.

66610 slowly approaches Steventon on 19 February 2013 with the 6M22 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. All trains were coming to a stand at the village's level crossing, as it had just been damaged by an van. This caused considerable delays while trains were hand signaled across.

Work stained 66610 runs along the down relief line at Grove on 23 August 2019 with the 6C48 17:10 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties. It would spend the best part of the next hour sat at Challow, waiting for its booked path.

66610 passes Hungerford Common on 20 May 2020 with the 6C58 11:45 Oxford Banbury Road to Whatley Quarry stone empties. This was running 79 minutes early, but would sit in Woodborough loop for over an hour and a half, putting it virtually back on time.

66610 rounds the curve at Braybrooke on 30 March 2021 with the 6M91 11:10 Theale Lafarge to Hope (Earles Sidings) cement empties. This was running 29 minutes early, which has not helped with the sun angle.

A superb cloudless spring afternoon at Rushton on 23 April 2021. Work stained 66610 heads westwards along the Midland Mainline with the 6M91 11:10 Theale Lafarge to Hope (Earles Sidings) cement empties.

The setting sun accentuates the red of the autumnal leaves on the oak tree, as 66610 heads west past Uffington on 2 December 2021 with the 6B11 12:21 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk Yard stone empties. Most other trees in the area had lost their remaining leaves in the previous weekend's storms, but oak trees are more resilient.

66612 brings up the rear of an empty ballast train heading back to Beechbrook Farm along the partially completed Channel Tunnel Rail Link at Calehill Heath (near Charing) on 19 July 2002. 66554 is the lead locomotive, and in a remarkable example of parallel running, it can just been seen keeping pace with Class 20 D8188 on a wiring train, whilst in front of that is a tamper unit. This was just a selection of a whole series of trains that were all heading home after a day's work on the new line.

66612 Forth Raider & 66618 Railways Illustrated Annual Photographic Awards - Ian Lothian pass Pinxton signal box, as they bring up the rear of the Pathfinder Tours 1Z86 07:13 Birmingham International to York 'Minstering Monk' railtour on 17 April 2004. 60096 was the lead locomotive.

66612 Forth Raider & 66618 Railways Illustrated Annual Photographic Awards - Ian Lothian pass Walton, as they return from Monk Bretton on 17 April 2004 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z86 07:13 Birmingham International to York 'Minstering Monk' railtour.

At just after 15:00 on 28 November 2006, the last rays of the setting sun illuminate 66612 Forth Raider as it approaches Heck Ings with an empty coal train from Drax Power Station. Hensall Junction is just behind the rear of the train, with the little used line to Goole carrying straight on into the distance. The Drax line curves in from the left, and consequently the train is pulling away from the speed restricted curve.

66612 Forth Raider rolls down the grade at Souldrop on 21 April 2010 with the 6L88 Bardon Hill to Bow Olympic stone. Unfortunately not corresponding with a sunny spell, but worth recording anyway, as this is obviously a (relatively) short term flow in connection with the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The unmistakable landmark of St Peter & St Paul's church at Kings Sutton on the left gives away the location of this picture. 66612 Forth Raider heads north on 24 November 2010 with the 6M22 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. Kings Sutton station is just out of sight behind the bushes.

66613 runs light engine past Crofton on 21 November 2006. There is a coming together of rail, road and canal at this point. Note the road on the left, and the brick built bridge over the adjacent Kennet & Avon Canal.

66613 manages to find a tiny patch of sunshine as it heads eastwards past Compton Beauchamp on 23 February 2012 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury Virtual Quarry to Stud Farm ballast empties. This brief sunny interlude seemed to follow the train along all the way from the Ashbury Crossing footbridge, which can just be seen in the background.

66613 passes Walden Stubbs on 22 June 2013 with the 4E15 08:31 Ratcliffe Power Station to Kellingley Colliery coal empties. Kellingley Colliery closed two years later, marking the end of deep coal mining in the UK.

Long shadows, low afternoon light, and varied autumn tints at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 19 November 2013. 66613 heads westwards with the 6V33 11:56 Neasden Charrington to Stoke Gifford stone empties. I was hoping to get a nice sunny shot of the Class 60 hauled 6B33 13:00 Theale to Robeston empty oil tanks, but that was cancelled, so this is a less interesting substitute.

66613 passes Melton Ross on 6 November 2017 with the 6K23 11:42 Scunthorpe to Immingham iron ore empties. Notice the small areas of patch painting. At least some attempt has been made to repair any damage. Some Freightliner 66s have quite large rust patches.

A slightly different viewpoint at Uffington on 19 September 2019, as 66613 heads westwards with the 6B35 11:10 Hayes & Harlington to Stoke Gifford stone empties. As this train would still be backlit, I decided to go for a more scenic approach, with the isolated tree dominant in the foreground.

A dramatic close up study of 66613, as it runs along the down relief line near Grove on 11 November 2019 with the 6B35 11:10 Hayes & Harlington to Moreton-on-Lugg stone empties. Photo taken from a public footpath crossing.

Unlike a lot of freights, which use the relief line to get out of the way of the 125mph passenger trains, 66613 takes the main line at Grove on 14 November 2019 with the 6B35 11:10 Hayes & Harlington to Moreton-on-Lugg stone empties.

66613 slowly traverses the down relief line at Challow on 16 November 2019 with the 6B91 12:27 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk Yard stone empties. It had been running early, so after coming to a stop a few yards further on, it would spend longer than its booked 40 minutes at Challow.

66613 approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham, on 18 November 2019 with the 6B35 11:10 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk stone empties. Unfortunately, a sign of the times is that every single wagon has been vandalised!

The early morning sun breaks through the clouds for a few minutes, just as 66613 passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 1 February 2020 with the 6A85 04:30 Moreton-on-Lugg to Hayes & Harlington stone. Well worth the half mile walk across the muddy fields from the village!

66613 approaches Hungerford Common on 21 April 2021 with the 6V18 11:20 Allington to Whatley Quarry Mendip Rail stone empties. It had been mostly sunny on the way here, but of course that disappeared as soon as the trains appeared!

66613 passes milepost 66, between Little and Great Bedwyn, with the 6C62 15:43 Oxford Banbury Road to Whatley Quarry Mendip Rail stone empties on 26 April 2021. This train sits for over an hour and a half in Towney Loop (near Theale), which explains the lengthening evening shadows here.

66614 passes Pengam on 7 February 2004 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z70 06:26 Crewe to Margam 'Valley Vostock' railtour. Although this loco was only a few months old at the time, and therefore something of a novelty, a much more interesting loco had already worked an earlier part of the tour.

66614 weaves off the Sheet Stores line at Stenson Junction on 4 November 2009 with the 4Z98 06:45 Sudforth Lane to Daw Mill coal empties. Note the all too common vandal graffiti attacks on several of the wagons.

66614 1916 Poppy 2016 catches the very last of the winter afternoon light, as it passes Steventon on 9 December 2022 with the 6Z11 13:14 Paddington Yard Marcon Topmix to East Usk Yard stone empties. This train left Paddington 38 minutes early, but was 24 minutes late here. Things would get worse, and it arrived at its destination 68 minutes behind time.

Viewed from the footbridge at the site of Ashbury Crossing, 66614 1916 Poppy 2016 passes Shrivenham on 10 June 2023 with the 6Z92 09:15 Theale to Stoke Gifford stone empties. Unfortunately the vandalised wagons are now a very common sight.

66614 1916 Poppy 2016 passes Wolfhall on 26 January 2024 with the 6A50 10:26 Whatley Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop stone train. It looks like the field on the right has been planted with young trees, so this will be a very different few in a few years time.

66614 1916 Poppy 2016 passes through Hungerford station on 6 March 2024 with the 6A50 10:26 Whatley Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop stone train. Midday, and the last of the fog has finally disappeared - two hours later than forecast!

66615 passes Baulking on 4 March 2011 with the 6M22 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. The Armco barrier behind the loco is next to the Stanford-in-the-Vale to Baulking road, which was diverted to run next to the railway in the late 1970s, when a large fullers earth quarry was opened up in the field through which the original road ran.

The solitary tree standing in the field next to the line at Uffington is just crying out to be used photographically. So, on a cloudless 29 September 2011, by standing next to the overgrown remains of the Wilts & Berks Canal, I was able to try this broadside view. 66615 passes by with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury Virtual Quarry to Stud Farm ballast empties.

66615 passes Cossington on 21 February 2019 with the 6M91 11:13 Theale Lafarge to Hope (Earles Sidings) cement empties. It would have been a lot better photographically if it had been on the relief line, but at least the fast line is still more or less free of shadows.

2019 has seen a very welcome increase in Freightliner workings along the Vale of White Horse line, with the company taking over the former DB Cargo operated stone workings. Unfortunately the 25kV catenary now limits the photographic possibilities. 66615 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 15 July 2019 with the 6A10 08:39 East Usk Yard to Hayes & Harlington stone hoppers.

66615 approaches Didcot North Junction on 29 July 2019 with the 6A15 03:54 Whatley Quarry to Appleford stone train. This was running 12 minutes early, which was slightly unfortunate, as the shadows might have been a bit less intrusive at the booked time.

Almost a bit of very weak sunshine at Loughborough on 14 May 2021, as 66615 passes through the station with the 6M91 11:10 Theale Lafarge to Hope (Earles Sidings) cement empties. The large building in the background is the famous Brush Works, birthplace of such classics as the Class 47s and 60s.

Work stained 66615 runs along the down relief line at Grove on 18 January 2024 with the 6B11 12:21 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk Yard stone empties. Just over two miles further on, at Challow, it would wait for 20 minutes, as booked.

66615 passes Compton Beauchamp on 7 March 2024 with the 6A16 07:44 Whatley Quarry to Oxford Banbury Road stone train. Unfortunately this once excellent photographic location is now totally ruined by the overhead wiring and masts. However, because the masts are only on the south side of the line at this point, there is a reasonable shot from the other side, if there is no sun. As this was forecast to be a completely dull day, I was in position on the other side of the bridge, waiting for this train. Just as it came into view the sun came out (almost the only time it appeared all day!), and so I had to rush across the bridge, to get this properly lit, but untidy picture.

With the chimney of the disused Eggborough Power Station dominating the background, 66616 passes Heck Ings on 14 September 2020 with the 6E45 08:27 Hope ( Earles Sidings) to Drax Power Station flyash empties. This was running 23 minutes early, after missing out its booked stop at Knottingley.

Running exactly to time, 66616 passes Whitley Bridge Junction on 14 September 2020 with the 6M45 16:50 Drax Power Station to Hope (Earles Sidings) loaded flyash. The PCA wagons were originally built to carry cement.

66616 passes Uffington on 6 September 2021 with the 6B11 12:21 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk Yard stone empties. Hopefully it will be a few years before vegetation starts to colonise the embankment above the steel piling.

66616 passes South Marston on 13 January 2022 with the 6C48 12:49 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties. This had left over an hour early, but sat at Challow until almost its booked time, so was a mere 4 minutes early here. Delays later on in the Westbury area, saw it arrive at its destination over 100 minutes behind time!

66616 slowly pulls out of Woodborough loop on 18 April 2024 with the 6A18 09:18 Whatley Quarry to Oxford Banbury Road stone train. Shortly before this a Network Rail worker had spent some considerable time taking pictures and video of the bushes on the left!

Although not as clear as it once was, there is still a reasonable view of northbound trains from the occupation bridge near Kings Sutton station. On 23 April 2009, 66617 is pictured heading north with the 6U72 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties.

66617 passes Bourton on 31 August 2010 with the 6M22 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. It is lucky that this was only traveling relatively slowly and HSTs travel at 125mph, because on this occasion they both came into view from opposite directions at the same time. The HST can just be seen exiting stage left.

66617 passes Compton Beauchamp on 7 July 2014 with the 6L35 05:36 Cardiff Tidal to Dagenham scrap empties. A fine sunny morning, that as predicted started to cloud up by mid morning, followed by rain in the afternoon - a typical British summer's day!

66617 passes the site of Shrivenham station on 11 August 2014 with the 6L35 05:36 Cardiff Tidal to Dagenham scrap empties. Obviously a regular on this train, I had photographed it on the same working just over a month previously. Network Rail have recently cleared the old platforms here of all vegetation, in readiness for the forthcoming electrification, therefore I was keen to get a picture before the masts get in the way. Unfortunately, the light is still very head on when this train runs, but luckily the weak sun between rain showers provided the ideal lighting, with Swindon presumably getting a heavy downpour under the dark clouds in the background. Luckily the train was running exactly on time, as the rain was coming my way! In view of the dodgy weather I didn't wait for the two next freights, which was just as well, as the 6M50 Westbury to Bescot was cancelled, and the 4L31 Bristol to Felixstowe freightliner ran two hours late!

Things do not always go to plan with railway photography! On Sunday 2 August 2015, the 6V82 13:54 Tunstead to Westbury Lafarge cement tanks was diverted via Oxford and the Vale of White Horse, due to the line being closed at Bath for electrification works. Passing Shrivenham in the late evening, this would allow a sunlit picture with the sun on the front from the footbridge on the site of Ashbury Crossing. However, not only did the sun disappear into a large bank of cloud, but more importantly the train was over 40 minutes late. Admittedly this was an improvement on being over an hour late at Oxford, but it still meant that it was nearly dark when it passed me. So purely for the record, as cement trains through the Vale of White Horse are something of a novelty, here is 66617 passing Ashbury Crossing at 21:05, taken at 1/500 sec f2.8 at ISO3200.

66617 passes Uffington on 23 February 2021 with the 6B11 12:21 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk Yard stone empties. This was running 23 minutes early, which was very fortunate, as it corresponded with about 15 minutes of sunshine, which was a real surprise on an otherwise very cloudy afternoon. I had been at Baulking, but noted a blue hole appearing in the cloud, so came here in order to avoid the shadows that would be inevitable at Baulking.

A busy freight moment at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 15 November 2021. 66617 & 66606 head west with the 6C48 12:49 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties, passing the late running 6M40 11:42 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties, hauled by 70816. With a pair of 66s being unusual on the Appleford working, and the light being so good, I was initially a little annoyed that the yellow wagons of 6M40 got in the way in the background, but I suppose a couple of freights passing each other on the two relief lines is noteworthy.

66618 Railways Illustrated Annual Photographic Awards - Alan Barnes heads east along the Great Western Mainline near the site of Wantage Road station on 2 February 2012 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury Virtual Quarry to Stud Farm ballast empties. Alan Barnes is the latest of three names to adorn this loco (on a smaller plate below the main nameplate). Previous recipients being Ian Lothian and David Gorton.

66618 Railways Illustrated Annual Photographic Awards - Alan Barnes passes South Marston on 11 April 2019 with the 13:13 Hayes & Harlington to Stoke Gifford stone empties. This had been running early, but then sat at Challow until its booked time, which was a pity, as the light was getting slightly head on.

66618 Railways Illustrated Annual Photographic Awards - Alan Barnes approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 12 April 2019 with the 6C96 07:46 Banbury Reservoir to Bristol East stone empties. This was not booked to use the relief line, but it was a bonus that it did, as it makes the overhead wires less intrusive.

66618 Railways Illustrated Annual Photographic Awards - Alan Barnes passes Compton Beauchamp on 10 July 2019 with the 6C48 17:10 Appleford to Tytherington stone empties. Naturally the pleasant evening sunshine had all but disappeared shortly after I left home!

66618 Railways Illustrated Annual Photographic Awards - Alan Barnes approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham, on 12 July 2019 with the 6C48 17:10 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties. More by luck than design, there is just enough room to get the entire train in the picture at this location.

66618 Railways Illustrated Annual Photographic Awards - Alan Barnes approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham, on 2 June 2020 with the 4L36 07:45 Wentloog to Felixstowe North freightliner. In two decades of photographing Freightliner's Class 66s, this is the first time that I have seen one of the low geared 66/6s working a container train. Theoretically their 65 mph top speed is not sufficient for the train's booked 75 mph timings, although in practice it probably wouldn't make much difference. It certainly didn't here, as the train left Wentloog 23 minutes late, but arrived at its destination nine minutes ahead of time!

66618 Railways Illustrated Annual Photographic Awards - Alan Barnes passes Great Bowden on 22 April 2021 with the 6M92 13:18 West Thurrock to Tunstead cement empties. There were once four tracks here, originally two pairs of lines operated by the London & North Western Railway and the Midland Railway.

66618 Railways Illustrated Annual Photographic Awards - Alan Barnes approaches the site of Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham, on 7 April 2022 with the 6C48 12:49 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties, featuring an unusually graffiti free set of wagons.

66618 Railways Illustrated Annual Photographic Awards - Alan Barnes passes Marsh Benham on 27 May 2022 with the 6C76 14:37 Acton to Whatley Quarry Mendip Rail stone empties. This is a location that I had been meaning to visit for many years, but one which will soon become a bit more restricted, once the recently planted trees on the right start getting bigger.

You can tell which of these two locomotives has spent the most time working these stone trains! 66618 Railways Illustrated Annual Photographic Awards - Alan Barnes & 66558 pass Little Bedwyn on 3 April 2023 with the 6L21 13:21 Whatley Quarry to Dagenham Dock stone train. This was running over an hour late.

66618 Railways Illustrated Annual Photographic Awards - Alan Barnes passes Minety on 5 June 2023 with the diverted 6B11 12:21 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk Yard stone empties. The train's normal route via the Severn Tunnel was closed for engineering works. A more side on view is possible here, but unfortunately that shows less of the train!

66619 Derek W. Johnson MBE passes Compton Beauchamp on 21 June 2014 with the 6V33 11:56 Neasden Charrington to Pengam stone empties. Being the longest day doesn't of course guarantee any sunshine at the critical moment!

66619 Derek W. Johnson MBE passes the site of Ashbury Crossing, near Shrivenham, on 30 July 2020 with the 6B91 12:21 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk Yard stone empties. Horrible harsh overhead lighting, but I just happened to be passing anyway.

66619 Derek W. Johnson MBE passes Uffington on 24 March 2021 with the 6B11 12:21 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk Yard stone empties. The footbridge in the background gets very little use, apart from by photographers getting to this spot!

As the afternoon sun starts to fade out into thin high cloud, 66619 Derek W. Johnson MBE passes Uffington on 25 November 2021 with the 6B11 12:21 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk Yard stone empties. The 'Road liable to flooding' sign applies specifically to the rail underbridge. The road dips noticeably under the bridge, and consequently after heavy rain a small lake often forms. Luckily this is a very quiet road, as this picture could easily have been completely ruined by a passing car, or even worse, a tractor!

66619 Derek W. Johnson MBE approaches Baulking on 12 January 2022 with the 6C42 09:21 Theale to East Usk stone empties. With nothing but an empty field in the foreground, I decided to include the recently cut roadside hedge to balance the composition.

66619 Derek W. Johnson MBE passes Bourton on 6 September 2023 with the 6B11 12:21 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk Yard stone empties. The same loco and wagons worked the same train the following day.

66619 Derek W. Johnson MBE approaches Baulking on 7 September 2023 with the 6B11 12:21 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk Yard stone empties. The same loco and wagons had worked this train the previous day.

66620 rounds the curve on the approach to Wellingborough on 23 April 2010 with the 6M91 11:24 Theale to Earles Sidings cement empties. This is one of the very few locations on the Midland Mainline where the sun is on the front of the loco for this train.

With Ferrybridge Power Station dominating the background, 66620 passes England Lane, Knottingley, on 11 March 2011 with a loaded coal train destined for Drax Power Station. This was one of those days when there was lots of cloud about, but most of the trains luckily came during the sunny periods.

A picture that you cannot normally take, as the roadside barrier at Melton Ross is where all the photographers stand, taking their pictures of eastbound trains. As they had all gone home, I decided to use the barrier and tree as a frame for 66620, as it works the 4C75 13:39 Scunthorpe to Immingham coal empties on 6 November 2017.

66620 passes Braybrooke on 23 April 2021 with the 6Z31 15:54 Elstow Redland Sidings to Tunstead stone empties. As this is such a good photographic location, and the light was just about perfect, I was surprised to be the only photographer here.

66620 passes the site of Ashbury Crossing, Shrivenham, on 26 February 2022 with the 6B91 12:25 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk Yard stone empties. As is often the case, this had left very early, 147 minutes early in this case, but it then sat in Hanwell Bridge Loop until the right time. After Didcot it started getting ahead of time again, and passed me running 54 minutes early.

This was a bit of a surprise, and it took a while to work out what it was. 66620 passes Appleford on 25 March 2022 with the diverted 06:27 Wigston South Junction to East Usk Yard stone empties. Its booked route was via Cheltenham, but instead it was diverted via Oxford.

66620 runs along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 27 May 2022 with the 6C58 12:49 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties. This was booked to stop at Challow (a mile further on) for 20 minutes, but on this occasion it was there for nearly an hour.

66620 passes Eckington on 8 June 2023 with the 6V54 13:41 Elstow Redland Siding to Stoke Gifford stone empties. Note the unusual variation in rail types within a short distance in the foreground section of the freight loop.

66621 is just about to cross Stocks Lane Level Crossing in Steventon with the 6M22 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties on 29 September 2009. Steventon has two level crossings, Stocks Lane and Causeway, the latter is approximately where the rear end of this train is. Luckily both are on minor roads in the village, and through traffic has makes use of a overbridge.

66621 passes Uffington on 13 October 2009 with the 4V60 10:55 Calvert to Bristol Avon binliner. The signal gantry that it is approaching presumably dates from the introduction of colour lights in the mid 1960s. This would obviously explain its terrible condition. What might at first sight appear to be brown paint is in fact rust, with only a few flecks of the original silver paint remaining!

66621 runs along the down relief line at Denchworth on 16 August 2010 with the 6V60 11:56 Angerstein Wharf to Newton Abbot Hackney Yard empty Bardon stone hoppers. I had only just taken this picture when a FGW HST appeared under the bridge in the background, showing just how useful these relief lines between Wantage Road and Challow can be.

In a brief patch of weak sunshine on an otherwise largely dull day, 66621 passes Barrow upon Trent on 17 March 2015 with the 6M49 07:45 Immingham to Rugeley Power Station imported coal. The sunny patch was only very localised, as can be seen by the dark clouds in the background.

Just prior to coming to a stand at a red signal, 66621 passes Clay Cross on 9 June 2018 with the 6M91 11:11 Theale Lafarge to Hope (Earles Sidings) empty cement tanks. I hadn't visited this location for many years, so I shouldn't really have been surprised at how overgrown it has now become!

What happens when you deliberately seek out one of the few local spots that is not plagued by shadows on an early January afternoon? Yes, that's right, a few minutes before the train arrives, the sun goes in! 66621 passes Thrupp on 9 January 2019 with the 6C96 12:40 Banbury Reservoir to Bristol East stone empties. A nice clean set of wagons, but note how the rear cab of 66621 is completely covered in white dust.

66621 moves onto the up relief line at Wolvercote on 11 January 2019 with the 6C96 12:40 Banbury Reservoir to Bristol East stone empties. This train is a bit random, and whilst it always runs to time, it only seems to run on about half of the booked days. Note the new livery for the MWA wagons, which includes a yellow stripe along the base, and over the lip of each wagon. Also, the new yellow and orange Freightliner logo, part of the company's rebranding after being acquired by Genesee & Wyoming Inc.

With a fanfare of horns from the driver who probably didn't expect anyone to be stood in a remote field near Tackley, 66621 crosses over the River Cherwell, as it heads south on 15 February 2019 with the 6C96 12:40 Banbury Reservoir to Bristol East stone empties. Already some moron has defaced several of the newly painted wagons.

66621 pulls away from a brief signal check at Wolvercote Junction on 27 March 2019 with the 6C96 12:40 Banbury Reservoir to Bristol East stone empties. Unfortunately the vandalised wagon at the front of the train is an all too common occurrence nowadays. Note the recent replacement of several small sections of rail.

66621 approaches Bredon on 2 May 2019 with the 6V55 12:51 Radlett Redland Roadstone to East Usk Yard stone empties. This was just five minutes behind the much more interesting 66789, so it was worth the short wait in the gloom and drizzle.

66621 passes Uffington on 24 April 2021 with the 6B91 12:34 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk Yard stone empties. Although this had left Hayes exactly on time, it was a staggering 91 minutes early here. It was 53 minutes early at Wantage Road, where it went into the loop as booked, but after traversing the entire length of the down relief line, rejoined the mainline at Challow without stopping! This pointless move may have been to do with testing the points, as the relief line had been out of action for some time. I particularly like the composition of this picture, with the curving track through the oilseed rape in the foreground.

66621 passes Hungerford Common on 20 July 2021 with the 6M20 10:38 Whatley Quarry to Churchyard Sidings loaded stone hoppers. Although it seemed to be running alright here, there was clearly something wrong, as in addition to being pointlessly looped at Woodborough, it had stood at a red signal for a while near Bedwyn, and was now 21 minutes late. Things would get worse, as after further delays, it passed Reading 91 minutes down, and at one point near Acton was 109 minutes late.

66621 runs along the down relief line at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 1 August 2022 with the 6C48 13:10 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties. As usual, this left Appleford very early, but then sat in the loop at Steventon until the booked time.

66622 passes Baulking in the rain on 22 February 2020 with the 6A86 01:45 Port Talbot Grange Sidings to Hayes & Harlington stone hoppers. The road visible on the right is where I took a photo of 37401 Mary Queen of Scots coming from the other direction, just two days earlier in equally grim conditions.

Running 28 minutes early, 66622 passes Uffington on 18 May 2020 with the 6B91 11:10 Hayes & Harlington to Stoke Gifford stone empties. It's hard to believe, but the Wilts & Berks Canal formerly ran through the field in the foreground, passing quite close to the railway boundary approximately where the loco is, before moving off to the right. The canal was abandoned in 1914.

66622 negotiates the reverse curves near Tackley on 20 March 2021, as it heads down the Cherwell Valley with the 6C51 11:30 Banbury Reservoir Tarmac to Bristol Freightliner Terminal stone empties. This was running 12 minutes earlier, and by the time it got to Didcot it was 35 minutes ahead of time. However, that all stopped at Foxhall Junction, where it was held until right time.

66622 passes Yarnton in the gloom on 26 March 2021 with the 6Z18 10:55 Bristol Freightliner Terminal to Banbury Reservoir Tarmac loaded stone. The moles have certainly been busy in the field in the foreground, as have the vandals on the wagons!

66622 approaches the public footpath crossing at Grove on 8 September 2021 with the 6B11 12:21 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk Yard stone empties. It's odd that the former palisade fence has been replaced by this much less intrusive wooden structure. Usually the reverse happens!

66622 passes Uffington on 23 September 2021 with the 6B11 12:21 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk Yard stone empties. After a largely cloudy afternoon, the sun was finally coming out, and it was lucky that the train's earlier running had been curtailed, as otherwise it might still have been in cloud. It was running exactly to time here.

66622 slowly approaches Challow on 6 October 2021 with the very early running 6C48 12:49 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties. I was waiting for the red Class 387 on the 9U54 12:12 Paddington to Bristol Parkway GWR service, and as 66622's train was now in the way, I had to run up the field to the back of the train, just making it in time for a picture of the EMU!

Running nearly four hours early, 66622 passes Uffington on 25 November 2023 with the 6V28 13:06 (10:30 actual) West Drayton Frays Sidings to Whatley Quarry stone empties. Shortly after this the up line just to the west of here at Bourton was closed, and single line working was instigated. This was after local residents had contacted Network Rail about a noise that had been going on all night, and turned out to be a broken rail. The fact that members of the public have to inform Network Rail about a broken rail is extremely worrying!

Freightliner's unique Bardon Aggregates blue liveried 66623 Bill Bolsover passes South Marston on 22 June 2010 with the 6M22 11:56 Westbury to Stud Farm ballast empties. Not ideal lighting, with the sun no longer on the front end, but as I was in the area and knew that the loco was on the train, I decided it was worth waiting to get this picture, especially as I had not seen this particular locomotive before. The standard Freightliner green roof does give the impression this repaint was done on the cheap!

Bardon Aggregates blue liveried 66623 Bill Bolsover just manages to keep ahead of the encroaching clouds, as it passes Circourt Bridge, Denchworth on 18 October 2011 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury Virtual Quarry to Stud Farm ballast empties.

66623 Bill Bolsover passes Hinksey Yard on 19 October 2011 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury Virtual Quarry to Stud Farm ballast empties. Note the island of vegetation that has grown up where the sidings curve away from the mainline.

Running approximately 45 minutes late, 66623 Bill Bolsover heads north from Oxford on 21 October 2011 with the 6M40 11:56 Westbury Virtual Quarry to Stud Farm ballast empties. It is passing the first of the autumn colours near the village of Wolvercote.

2019 sees Freightliner gaining more traffic at the expense of DB Cargo, with the acquisition of the Mendip area stone traffic. This also includes the trains from the recently reopened Tytherington Quarry. Running 21 minutes early, 66623 passes Didcot North Junction on 9 July 2019 with the 6C48 17:10 Appleford to Tytherington stone empties. At least the immaculate bright orange loco helps to compensate for the miserable weather!

66623 passes Uffington on 15 July 2019 with the 6A85 02:40 Moreton-on-Lugg to Hayes & Harlington stone hoppers. As this was forecast to be a sunny morning, I decided to see if there would be any early morning shadows from either the footbridge, or the lineside bushes when taking a picture from the north side of the bridge at Uffington. The sun was just about to rise as I approached Uffington, then some fog rolled in, and then a huge bank of cloud appeared from the east, meaning that this picture was taken in atrocious light. Not exactly what I was expecting!

66623 approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 15 July 2019 with the 6B35 11:10 Hayes & Harlington to Stoke Gifford stone empties. Freightliner's new bright orange Genesee & Wyoming livery certainty stands out amid the greens of mid summer.

66623 passes Bredon on 16 July 2019 with the 6V55 13:26 Radlett Redland Roadstone to East Usk Yard stone empties. Another occasion when it was mostly sunny when I left home, but totally cloudy when I arrived at the lineside!

66623 runs along the up relief line at Cossington on 20 January 2020 with the 6Z89 11:48 Tunstead to Thorney Mill stone. 66602 is brining up the rear. This was running 18 minutes early. Both locos have a good dusting of the load on their roofs.

66623 leads failed 66547 past Uffington on 28 January 2020 with the retimed 6A15 08:30 Whatley Quarry to Appleford Mendip Rail stone train. As it was a sunny morning, I had checked to see if anything interesting was running, and noticed this had just been activated as a VSTP working. The train normally leaves Whatley at 03:54, so this was a rare chance to photograph this on the Swindon to Didcot line. I was doubly lucky with this picture, as an annoying cloud which was blotting out the sun as the train passed the wood in the background, had just cleared out of the way a couple of seconds earlier, and the 1C11 11:02 Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads EMU was rapidly approaching from the other direction.

66623 passes South Marston on 1 February 2020 with the 6C48 13:09 Appleford to Stoke Gifford stone empties. Unfortunately the sun dipped slightly on this, but it could have been worse, as at this time there was a still a lot of really dark clouds scudding across the sun.

66623 slows down prior to entering the down loop at Woodborough on 26 March 2020. It is working the 6V18 11:25 Allington to Whatley Quarry Mendip Rail stone empties, and would wait in the loop to allow the 1C85 14:36 Paddington to Castle Cary DMU to pass by.

With a toot from the driver, 66623 passes Uffington on 8 June 2020 with the 6C48 12:50 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties. This train had left Appleford 68 minutes early, and by the time it go to Challow it was 96 minutes ahead of time. It then sat there for over an hour and a half, so was only 14 minutes early here.

Running 44 minutes early, 66623 passes Uffington on 19 September 2020 with the 6B91 12:34 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk Yard stone empties. This had actually left 81 minutes early, but was soon checked, as was running more or less to time until it missed out its booked stops at Foxhall Junction and Challow.

The golden colour of the oak leaves, lit by the late afternoon sun, match the orange Genesee & Wyoming livery of 66623, as it approaches Collins Lane level crossing, Purton, on 6 November 2020 with the diverted 6B11 12:21 Hayes & Harlington to East Usk Yard stone empties. This was travelling this way because its normal route via the Severn Tunnel was closed for bridge reconstruction at Patchway. Although there is plenty of autumn foliage in this picture, there would be a lot more further north, when the train reached the aptly named 'Golden Valley' near Stroud. However, this late in the afternoon, virtually the entire valley would be in shade.

I suppose it could have been worse! 220030 & 221141, working the 1S55 14:27 Plymouth to Edinburgh CrossCountry service do their best to get in the way of 66623, as it passes Bredon on 1 July 2021 with the 6V54 12:51 Radlett Redland Roadstone to East Usk Yard stone empties.

A variation in Freightliner's new Genesee & Wyoming livery at Grove on 8 September 2021. 66623 & 66413 Lest We Forget run along the up relief line with the 4E18 09:42 Fairwater Yard to Doncaster Wood Yard concrete sleepers. The difference in the shade of orange is clearly visible. The train was just moving off, after being held at a red signal near the bridge in the background for over an hour. It had arrived there 85 minutes early, but was still running 36 minutes early when it departed.

After the downpour! 66623 passes Burbage Common on 19 July 2023 with the 6Z40 06:51 Crewe Basford Hall to Elstow Redland Siding stone train. I was already at the location, so it was just a case of sheltering from the rain in the car 15 minutes, then nipping back out again to record this VSTP working.

One of Freightliner's 'Super Sheds', 66624 passes Harrowden Junction on 21 April 2010 with the 6M54 12:30 Thorney Mill to Bardon Hill stone empties. With a maximum tractive effort of 105,080 lbf, the Class 66/6s are not quite a match for the Class 59s (113,550 lbf), but considerably better than a standard 66s paltry 92,000 lbf.