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April 2024
67 Images
DCR's Cappagh liveried 60028 thuds through Clink with the late running '6Z60' the 10:40 from Willesden to Merehead empties for a reload of aggregates. Today the delay was a points failure at Southcote Junction just west of Reading.
..30 april 2024..
As yet the 59/0 fleet of 4 locomotives currently working for Freightliner remain in the 'AI' colours.For how much longer I wonder? Here is 59005 'Kenneth J Painter' with '6C31' the 10:14 from Theale to Whatley empty hoppers.Seen at Clink in a brief burst of sunlight.
..30 april 2024..
59205 in G&W-Orange passes Clink Road Junction with '6B12' the 11:43 from Merehead heading for Wootton Bassett.No mistaking it's now late Spring from the greeness of the lineside vegetation but the temperatures are still rather down.
..30 april 2024..
Network-Rail Test Train day today with '1Z22' the 07:47 from Derby-RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road via(amongst other places Weymouth).Here seen returning from Weymouth heading towards Westbury and Bristol.Colas's Ex-Arriva-XC 43357 leads with Ex-EMR 43274 now on the rear.Viewed at Berkley in between several nice patches of sunlight ????
..24 april 2024..
Freightliner's only 66/5 in a customers colours is the pink 'ONE' liveried66587 'AS ONE WE CAN'which in truth should be employed on Liner duties hauling containers away from Southampyon-MCT instead of hauling aggregates out of the Mendips! Here it is seen with 66554 on '7V50' the 14:21 from Wembley to Merehead empty stone at Berkley Marsh.
..23 april 2024..
Double FL-Green's 66598 &66606 lead '6V60' the 14:43 from Wembley Reception Sidings 1-7 bound for Whatley Quarry.Seen in nice low evening light at berkley nr Frome.
..23 april 2024..
'Paul A Hammond' 59004 rolls through Berkley Marsh with '6V26' the 15:37 from Woking Down Yard heading for Merehead.
..23 april 2024..
With 50% of this 59/1sub-Class now reliveried the days of these 'Hanson in the Sun' images are surely drawing to a close after well over 20 years or so! Here is a still very smart looking 59104 'Village of Great Elm' running through Clink with '6C48' the 12:49' from Appleford returning empty boxes to Whatley Quarry.
..23 april 2024..
The nicely restored and fully operational Class-108 DMU, M51909 & M56271 ((L231) sits in the old bituman sidings here at Cranmore. Interestingly the ES-Rly website make no mention of this classic immaculate DMU..Something of a marketing error methinks?
..20 april 2024..
Sitting next to a nicely restored 6-wheel ESSO tanker 165608 Sentinel 10218 which served on the Avonmouth Dock complex as P.B.A 39 basks in the nice warm afternoon sunlight.Despite its faded paintwork it is actually in full operating condition.Seen in the Shed area at Cranmore on the ES-Rly.
..20 april 2024..
Todays 'Engine in Steam' GWR-4110 is seen running round its train down at the end of the line on the East Somerset Rly at Mendip Vale.This loco is a tribute to the skills of the workshop staff here on the ES-Rly.A really superb restoration for sure!
..20 april 2024..
GWR 2-6-2 4110 is seen running round its train in readiness to haul the next service to Mendip Vale and return due off at 14:00.
..20 april 2024..
4110 was built at Swindon in 1936 and initially allocated in October of that year to Severn Tunnel Junction to undertake tunnel banking duties. Two months later it was moved to the Wolverhampton district where it stayed for most of the next 26 years. It operated on the intensive local passenger services from Birmingham Snow Hill and Moor Street stations to Leamington Spa, Stratford upon Avon and Warwickshire in general. In March 1942 until April 1943 it was based at Birkenhead before returning to the West Midlands area until 1962 when it was deployed at Taunton on the branch line to Minehead which is now the West Somerset Railway. It went briefly to Swindon and then on to Neath in July 1963 where it worked the Vale of Neath line to Pontypool Road until its last day of passenger services in June 1964. It was withdrawn in June 1965 during the conversion from steam to diesel haulage, having run over 730,000 miles in mainline service. It was sold for scrap to Woodham Brothers at Barry and entered the scrapyard in August 1965. It remained there until May 1979 following its purchase for preservation by the Great Western Preservation Group at Southall Railway Centre. It was the 100th locomotive to leave the Barry scrapyard. 4110 then moved to the Birmingham Railway Museum at Tyseley for contract restoration. Only a partial amount of restoration was completed before the owners decided to put the engine up for sale in order to release funds for the completion of work on 5700 class engine 9682. The West Somerset Railway put in a competitive tender and bought 4110 in 2015 and the locomotive was then moved to Minehead in June 2015. In 2016 it was estimated that it would take three to five years once the funds and resources to undertake the work were available. The plan was to return it to traffic in 2022. With no work having been done on the locomotive by May 2018 consideration was being given by the West Somerset Railway to a possible sale of the locomotive. Any sale would be conditional on the locomotive being hired back to the WSR once it was restored. It was later announced that the locomotive had been sold to the Paignton and Dartmouth Railway as this was the best bid and the WSR needed the funds. The locomotive was moved to the Dartmouth Steam Railway in February 2019. In September 2019 the East Somerset Railway completed a deal with the Dartmouth Steam Railway to restore the locomotive. which would then operate on the ESR for the first 3 years before being returned to the DSR. The locomotive moved to ESR at Cranmore in January 2020 and restoration work was planned to start straight away. The boiler was lifted off the frames in February 2020 following the removal of the tanks, cab and bunker. Unfortunately soon after this, the Covid pandemic hit and all work in the workshop had to pause. As soon as restrictions were eased, the team had safe procedures in place to enable the restoration to continue. The boiler had a fair amount of new steel platework replaced along with hundreds of stays and rivets. A new set of boiler tubes and flues were installed before the boiler could be refilled with water ready for testing. Whilst this boiler work was going on, brand new tanks and a new bunker were riveted and welded together. Being a survivor from Barry Scrapyard, the loco no longer had any copper pipes or bronze fittings so everything had to be made new. The frames, wheels, motion and axleboxes were all completely stripped down to their individual parts, cleaned, inspected, repaired or made new as required before reassembly. In August 2022 a fire was lit in the boiler of the locomotive for the first time since June 1965. In March 2023, 4110 returned to traffic and will be hauling the passenger service at the East Somerset Railway until 2026.
..20 april 2024..
The 'Cappagh' signature loco 60028 again visited Merehead today for a load of aggregates. Here viewed on its return working '6Z61' the 16:42 away from Merehead going back up to Willesden DC-Rail Sidings in London.Pictured at Berkley Marsh nr Frome.
..19 april 2024..
A rather grubby 66734 'Platinum Jubilee' speeds up through Old Dilton with a lightly loaded '5O31' made up of HOBC-Bits.with HOBC-Bits. It departed Westbury at 17:30 heading for Eastleigh East Yard.This loco directly replaced the original 66734(66402) which was dismantled on the lineside after a derailment which proved an impossible situation to recover the loco fully intact at Lock Treig in June-2012.Interestingly the 'plasic stick-on nameplate from 2022 has not been replaced with a cast version as was promised?
..18 april 2024..
A further wider view of 47749 passing Southampton-MCT. GBRf's 47749 'City of Truro' passes the Maritime Depot in Southampton with a Unit-drag from Marchwood up to Wimbledon Park Depot as part of the rotation proceedure for these 'warm storage' new EMU's.The EMU today is the yet to be introduced 701029.The service is '6Q78' the 13:19 from Marchwood to Wimbledon Park.
..18 april 2024..
GBRf's 47749 'City of Truro' passes the Maritime Depot in Southampton with a Unit-drag from Marchwood up to Wimbledon Park Depot as part of the rotation proceedure for these 'warm storage' new EMU's.The EMU today is the yet to be introduced 701029.The service is '6Q78' the 13:19 from Marchwood to Wimbledon Park.
..18 april 2024..
Another pairing of SW-Rly's.This time it's 450049 & 444022 passing the extensive shrubbery at Southampton's MCT-Depot.The train being 1W18' the 12:59 from Bournemouth to London-Waterloo.
..18 april 2024..
Currently Class-70's seem to be dominating Freightliner workings to Southampton-MCT from the Midlands.Here are Powerhaul-Pairing 70003 &70020 that have just arrived here from Crewe-Basford Hall (06:41 off) as '4O14'.
..18 april 2024..
A pretty overgrown Southampton-Maritime sets the scene as a pair of Arriva-XC Voyagers 220028 & 220033 pass by with '1M50' the 12:45 from Bournemouth going to Manchester-Piccadilly.
..18 april 2024..
SW-Rly's Pairing 444036&444017 run through Eastleigh with '1W63' the 11:05 away from London-Waterloo going down to Weymouth.
..18 april 2024..
66774 rounds the curve on the approach to Eastleigh Station with '4M19' the 11:47 from Southampton Western Docks going up to the East Midlands Gateway with a nicely loaded train.
..18 april 2024..
This loco 66734 'Platinum Jubilee' was on the rear of '6O39' the 10:14 from Westbury to Eastleigh East Yard emgineering working led by 66703.Seen on the curve on the approach to Eastleigh East Junction.
..18 april 2024..
GBRf's 66703 'Colchester Power Signalbox' with an unseen 66734 on the rear sandwiches a CWR-Set running as '6O39' the 10:14 from Westbury to Eastleigh East Yard engineers.This particular working goes via the Romsey to Eastleigh line through Chandlers Ford.Viewed in Eastleigh nr the East-Junction at Eastleigh Station.
..18 april 2024..
GBRf have been so keen to get these rebuilt-56's as Class-69's into revenue earning service that a few were put to work in their base matt green undercoat paint.Currently only 69010 is still around like that..Here it is working '6Y48' the 09:01 from Eastleigh East Yard to Hoo Junction Up Yard engineering tripper. Thankfully today it had a nice long loading on the hook.
..18 april 2024..
GBRf's 66703 'Doncaster PSB 1981-2002' works '6M26' the daily 08:50 from Eastleigh East Yard to Mountsorell. NR-Yellow boxes going for a ballast reload.Seen at Worting Junction.
..18 april 2024..
66305 still wears the base DRS-Blue livery even though it is now operated by GBRf.Here approaching Worting Junction with '4O46' the 03:10 from Trafford Park heading for Southampton Western Docks.
..18 april 2024..
450049 and 450019 which is decorated with 'Pride' decals at each end form '1B24' the 07:20 from Poole to Waterloo.Viewed at Worting Junction nr Basingstoke.
..18 april 2024..
The now nameless 66728 runs through Worting Junction with '4M32' the 05:24 from Southampton Western Docks to Hams Hall.No boxes on this today but these container flats are obviously very new.
..18 april 2024..
159108,one of the additional Class 159/1's created in 2007 using surplus Class-158's transferred from the'Trans-Pennine Express' franchise is still in the old South-West Trains livery as it is seen at Worting Junction with '2Z22' a VSTP 08:05 working between Andover and Basingstoke due to the line between Andover and Salisbury being temporarily closed due to lineside gas leak!
..18 april 2024..
59102,G&W's latest local repaint into tango colours slows for Clink Junction with '6T53' the 15:29 from Westbury-Tarmac Sidings shortly after it arrived there as '6c28' the 12:48 from Exeter Riverside-Hanson.
..16 april 2024..
With the change from GMT to BST a couple of weks ago the few workings towards the quarries in the early evening are now a possibility if there is a chance of a bit of sunlight...Here is '6C54' the 16:42 from Oxford Banbury Road to Whatley passing Berkley marsh in nice low evening lighting.Power being provided by Plain-Jane FL-66517 on this occasion hauling a set of mixed coloured JNA boxes.
..15 april 2024..
59101 the Heidelburg Materials branded locomotive is now being dubbed as 'Kermit' by some people approaches Clink Junction with '6T53' the booked 'tripper' from Westbury-Tarmac' to Whatley.It arrived there a few hours earlier as '6C28' the 12:48 fromExeter-Riverside Yard.The policy now being a change of reporting number after the reversal to continue on down to the Quarry.
..15 april 2024..
'Hanson in the Sun' 59104 soon to be smothered in shiny new orange paint passes Frome going to Whatley as '6C31' the 10:14 from Theale.
..15 april 2024..
FL'S Heavy-Haul 66606 joins the mainline at Clink with the 12:24 from Whatley to West Drayton-Freys Sdg's running as '6A61'.
..15 april 2024..
Doyen of all things 'GM' that now infest the UK freight network and mainland Europe is 59001 'Yeoman Endeavour'.Here this notable icon with its Presentation Bell-End leading passes Berkley Marsh working '7A60' the 10:50 from merehead to Colnbrook-FY. Happily there is still a shot available here despite the new installation of a set of ridiculously unnecessary overkill oversized access steps...
..15 april 2024..
What an utter waste of money here at Berkley Marsh. NR are forever bleating on about lack of cash resources when they squander serious money on things like these unnecessary track access steps when there is a perfectly serviceable newish set on the other side of the bridge.Their priority should be removing all the rampant lineside vegetation that is forever causing service delays at best and maybe even possible derailments..A perfect example of a 'tick in the box' exercise----What an abject Joke!--- Anyway here is a dual IET 800021/800035 speeding past this needless outrage with '1A78' the 07:10 from Penzance to Paddington.
..15 april 2024..
Plain-Jane FL 66549 powers up through Berkley Marsh with '6A50' the 10:26 from Whatley Quarry to Hanwell Bridge Loop where this loading will be marshalled into formations ready to proceed to their final destinations.Sadly because of this proceedure the definitive arrival points are now unknown?
..15 april 2024..
FL's-66606 worked an inter quarry tripper today comprising of just ten hoppers.It ran as 6Z77' the 15:40 from Merehead to Whatley via Westbury.Its not often you see loaded hoppers going into Whatley!Seen at a now shadowy Clink Cutting.
..12 april 2024..
G&W-Tango 59202 runs under the A361 road on the Frome Bypass with '6C48' the 12:49 from Appleford to Whatley Quarry.The abandoned 'Bothy' here has been here now for about 25 years,being glass0fibre it'll probably last forever!
..12 april 2024..
Although slated for a repaint shortly into G&W-Orange 59204 still looks pretty smart in its 24Yr old+ Hanson colours.Here it run '6T53' the 15:29 tripper from Westbury-Tarmac Sdgs to Whatley.Seen approaching Clink Junction.
..12 april 2024..
66587 the 'ONE' one carries the name 'AS ONE WE CAN' is the only Freightliner '66' running around in a non-standard livery so nice see to grab it here at Clink in full sun albeit looking rather grimy! So here it is working '6V18' the 13:38 from Oxford Banbury Road to Whatley Quarry empty JNA's.
..12 april 2024..
59101 in its distinctive 'Heidelberg Materials' colours slows for Clink with '6C68' the11:38 from Avonmouth returning empty JNA's to Whatley Quarry.
..12 april 2024..
GM -regeared variant 66614 with the 10:14 from Thealr to Whatley Quarry empty hoppers '7C31' slows for Clink Junction in the now heavily overgrown cutting there.
..12 april 2024..
59103 comes across Clink Road Junction with '6A61' the 12:25 from Whatley going to West Drayton-Freys.
..12 april 2024..
'AI' 59004 draws '6V31' the 09:06 from Wembley Reception Sdg's1-7 through Clink heading for Merehead.How long before the Tango Livery begins to make inroads into the 4 'AI' Class 59/0's.
..12 april 2023..
A pair of FL-Green GM's 66620 and 66532 'P&O Nedlloyd Atlas' power towards Westbury passing Berkley with 6A50' the 10:26 from Whatley Quarry going to Hanwell Bridge Loop where no doubt this wagon formation will be prepared into maybe two seperate trains to carry on to their final destinations.All because DB refuses to allow Freightliner to use Acton Yard without having to pay expensive yard access fee's.
..12 april 2024..
This is a Plasser&Theurer09-4x4 Unimat Tamper owned and operated by Colas.This one, DR75010 carries the name 'Roger Nicholas'.Here seen travelling as '6Q58' the 09/;30 from castle cary to Weston-S Mare.Viewed at Berkley Marsh nr Frome.
..12 april 2024..
Class-60 'Cappagh' 60028 was again in charge od '6Z60' the 10:40 from Willesden DR-Sdgs to Merehead empties going for a loading of Mendip aggregates.So well looked after and a pleasant change from the endless GM's we usually see.Such a pity DB have given up on these locomotives.At least a couple of the other freight companies appreciate them as a viable valuable asset?
..11 april 2024..
'Hanson in the weak Sun' 59103 slows in the inceasingly overgrown cutting on the approach to Clink Road Junction with '6C31' the 10:14 from Theale to Whatley empty hoppers.Just two of the 59/1 sub-class are still in the old Hanson livery.Considering its been over 24 years since this repaint the paint quality is still in remarkably good shape!
..11 april 2024..
Just 24 hrs ago this loco 59206 failed completely just beyond the overbridge in the distance.It blocked the mainline for 2 hours before it was rescued by a fellow class member 59203.However it was back into service almost immediately so whatever caused the problem was obviously very minor. Here it is passing Clink with '6T53' the 15:29 from Westbury-Tarmac Sidings going down to Whatley.The working actually started as '6V62' from Southampton-Up Yard but the reporting number was changed prior to its departure from there to Whatley.
..9 april 2024..
Ahh! A good old 'Hanson in the Sun'. But probably for not much longer with 50% of the sub-class now reliveried....This is 59103 'Village of Mells' slowing for Clink Junction with '6C48' the 12:49 from Appleford to Whatley empty jna's.
..9 april 2024..
'AI'-59005 hauls a rather dusty '7A77' the 12:26 from Whatley to Theale slowly up through Berkley.The rear of '6C31' can been seen waiting for the road into Frome after this train has cleared the junction at Clink.
..9 april 2024..
Its been 4 long winter months since this loco 59101 re-appeared in the currently unique 'Heidelburg Materials' livery.This is the first shot for me of it in service in something approaching reasonable lighting! So here is 59101 working '6C31' the 10:14 from Theale bound for Whatley Quarry.Seen at Berkley Marsh,a short one mile cycle ride from my home.
..9 april 2024..
As a consequence of '6C31' failing here blocking the Down Main for 2 hours the following '6Z60' 10:40 from Willesden Sidings to Merehead empties was held in Westbury and eventually passed here at Clink just about a hour later than booked.No harm done as it departed Merehead on its return journey pretty much to time. So here is the 'Cappagh' Flagship 60028 powering through Clink under bright but albeit cloudy skies. Nice to see a rake of wagons that are not totally crapped up with brainless/needless grafitti!
..8 april 2024..
Now this was an interest few hours here at Clink! The '6C31' 10:14 from Theale to Whatley Quarry failed completely as it approached Clink Road Junction.G&W-Tango 59206 being the culprit.It didn't finally get going for about 2 hours after a rescue loco 59203 was called upon as '1Z99' from Whatley.Interestingly it had to travel all the way the Blatchbridge Junction to gain the 'down' line to couple up to the dead 59206. So here it is with 59203 making a fairly smoky departure from a standing start with 40 hoppers and a dead 59/2 on the hook being rescued.Pictured at Clink.
..8 april 2024..
Having only been back from Eastleigh for just a few days 59102 'Village of Chantry' still looks completely immaculate here at Clink as it passes with '7B12' the 11:43 from Merehead going up to Wootton-Bassett with its load of aggregates.Viewed as is passes over Clink Road Junction in Frome.
..8 april 2024..
This loco 59102 only came back from Eastleigh yesterday after its repaint into G&W-Orange from the Hanson-Blue Livery.It was put to work immediately and this is it returning from its first trip out.It is '6V31' the 09:20 from Wembley Reception Sidings 1-7 to Merehead empties.Note that there is now a cluster of three running numbers '59102' altogether on the front n/s.Pictured in miracle sunlight at Clink nr Frome.
..6 april 2024..
SWRly's 159002 passes Clink with a Frome to Southampton Central working '1O40' the 11:30 from Frome to Southampton Central running as a 'VAR' due to the total lack of GWR-Trains today because of yet another day a strike action.It must be quite tough as a train driver having to survive on only 50K a year?????????????
..6 april 2024..
The preserved Hastings-DEMU 1001 with S60118 'Tunbridge Wells' leading speeds down through a miraculously sunny Clink with a Railtour '1Z14' the 06:30 from Hastings going down to Exeter-Central.It was carry the headboard 'The Cogload Climber' on the front of the 7-carriage formation..
..6 april 2024..
Todays '4O57' the 13:29 from Cardiff-Wentloog to Southampton-MCT was pretty heavily loaded from end to end (Nice to see!).Here seen climbing the steep incline on the approach to the crest of the Upton-Scudamore Incline nr Westbury.Bog Standard Freightliner-Green 66543 was the sole power and it was moving very slowly as it passed me here.
..4 april 2024..
Barely 15 minutes after '1Q23' the 05:56 from Reading to Salisbury had passed going to Westbury it had swiftly reversed and re-appeared at Arn Hill nr Warminster heading for its final destination for today of Salisbury.Now ex-LNER 43257 was leading and the purple 43274 was on the rear.Sadly in those brief 15 minutes the bright skies had well and truly gone!
..4 april 2024..
The unique ex-EMR Power-Car 43274 in purple colours has fouind regular work with Colas since EMR disposed of it a few years ago.Here it is working with 43257,an ex-LNER P/C working a Test-Train '1Q23' the 05:56 from Reading to Salisbury via Exeter and the Wylye Valley to Westbury. Thankfully it was recorded in a brief spot of weak sunlight at Arn Hill nr Warminster during the Salisbury to Westbury leg.
..4 april 2024..
With 50% (2 locos) of the 59/1 Sub Class now wearing newly liveried colours suddenly the old 'Hanson-Blue colours have become an endangered species! It will probably be extinct before the end of 2024? Here is 59104 at Clink with '6C31' the 10:14 from Theale going to Whatley Quarry in a lucky patch of sunniness.
..4 april 2024..
'Turbo' 166202 was until fairly recently still running around in the old FGW-Blue colours but has now gained the characterless GWR-Sludge Green livery.Anyway here it is on the approach to Clink Road Junction with '2O76' the 11:10 from Gloucester going down to Weymouth.Note Spring has started to make its appearance here in the copious lineside vegetation.
..4 april 2024..
59202 in the inceasingly common G&W-Orange colours runs through Clink with '6V09' the 13:41 from Chichester-Sdg's to Merehead empties.It's now 3 months or so since the revised Mendip Stone timetables were introduced and these days there are long gaps during the day now with barely any freight activity......A Pity!
..3 april 2024..
66589 hauls a complete HOBC-Set from Westbury Dn-TC to Taunton's Fairwater Yard as '6C73' the 12:18 from Westbury..This had probably remained at Westbury overnight after being used all day in and around Frome Station and the associated track layout yesterday.Also no '6C72' ran this morning so it certainly didn't travel up from Taunton this morning.