Welcome back to an unexpected weekeday update! I very rarely get chance to phot during the week unless I’m on leave but today I had the chance to phot one of the rarest workings I have seen for a few years and we got the Sun and some Snow thrown in for free! 
Late Sunday night a rumour appeared on the gen lists that the 0722 London Paddington – Oxford and the 0901 Oxford – London Paddington would be top and tail 57s on sleeper stock vice HST due to shortages. It is rather rare and I did doubt whether it would work but once the down working was eyeballed I set off for Didcot North. I have to say I did panic slightly when at the booked time a HST rolled in sight but I held on and 5 mins later 57602 leading with 57605 on the tail rolled around the curve, cracking!
Welcome back to another Sunny albeit chilly Saturday afternoon down in the Vale. My target today was again the 6B33 Theale – Margam tanks mainly due the fact that it was practically the only local freight running due the line closures in the Banbury area causing all Freightliner workings to be diverted via the WCML.
I wanted to try a shot across the fields in the Uffington area but I have mysteriously misplaced my walking boots so didn’t fancy the trudge across muddy fields in normal shoes so opted for the fail safe at Shrivenham again. (Must try harder! ) Running bang on time 66140/126 eased the empty 6B33 Theale – Margam tanks past my location.
Hello and welcome to 2010, it only seems like yesterday everyone was going mad for the Millennium! I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and wish you all a Happy New Year. I have been quite busy at work with the run up to Christmas so finally the combination of a break and some fine winter sun I was tempted out to get my first shot of 2010.
I recieved word that the Theale tanks were running today however things have changed since that last time I photographed this working. Unfortunately the Class 60s have been all but binned bar half a dozen examples meaning all the tank trains out of South Wales have now switched to double headed Class 66s. Although I’m a bit of a GM fan it is still nice to have some variety in traction so this is a disappointing news! 
I decided to head to one of my favourite local spots on the GWML out near Grove, although a glorious day it was still rather chilly and as the train had departed 20 mins early I thought my luck was in. However it was held to time at Reading West Curve which meant I was rather cold by the time 66207/083 powered the empty 6B33 Theale – Margam tanks past my location. It is a shame this pair were rather grubby as it would have improved the shot if clean and I’m not sure what has happened to the secondmans cab window!
