I am back again with my another update for February 2005. I had a TOPS report come through this morning which showed 59201/202 both at Swindon with their next allocated working being 6W10. Any headcode with a W in is usually an engineers train. As the line is shut from Didcot – Swindon I guessed it was something to do with this. A friend had recieved a list of local engineers trains for this weekend and a quick look showed 6W10 being 15.00 Didcot East Junction – Westbury. I don’t have many phots of Class 59s so even though the weather was heavily overcast I decided to see if I could grab a shot of this working.
I know the works on previous weekends had been happening around Steventon so I called in here first to see if anything was happening. Not this weekend as it was clear as far as you could see in either direction. I decided to head down the footpath to see what shots were possible along here. I think there would be a number of shots along here at first light during the height of Summer for trains heading Up and is something I hope to try later in the year. I was just scouting out shot shots when I noticed a light apear under Steventon road bridge so I figured this was the 59s coming out of the posession. I grabbed a shot of 59201 as it crawled past and it was only just gone 14.00 so there was plenty of time before it was due off Didcot. I head off back to the car and aimed at Didcot to see if they were still there.
As I pulled into the carpark I could see the rear loco 59202 sat the rear of the train on the mainline obviously waiting the road. I quickly drove round to the other carpark and grabbed a few shots of 59201 sitting at the signal awaiting its departure time and it left bang on 15.00 with its train for Westbury.
I recieved a message on Wednesday night saying that an EWS special was running from Euston – Cardiff on Thursday morning due through Didcot mid morning so I decided to head over to Didcot to see what turned up. The gen in the morning was for Top and Tail class 67’s. It weather outside was freezing and doing its best impression of trying to snow so I wrapped up warm.
Luckily the train was running to time as it passed Didcot. It was hauled solely by 67025 in the end with a real mixture of stock. I was quite impressed at how well the photo came considering the lighting conditions, try doing that on film.
I have hardly been out photographing the railways in the past few months mainly due to the poor weather and lack of oppurtunity to get out when something interesting is happening. The forecast during the week was for plenty of sunshine this weekend so I set the alarm for 8am and head out for some photography. When I woke up it was clear blue skies which was good so I headed off for Didcot. The main objective for the morning was to photograph a GBRF 66. They are not that common around Didcot and for the next few weeks the Hams Hall – Felixstowe trains are diverted via Didcot on a Saturday morning. The nothbound train is useless for photgraphy around the Thames valley due to the position of the sun in the morning, however it is perfect for the southbound working. I had two locations on mind mind for the shot so I decided to head for the one I have not shown you here before. I decided to go to Didcot North Junction for the shot.
Let me tell you although it was sunny it was ice cold out. The temperature was only a few degrees over 0C and the wind was blowing a gale, BRRRR!! While I was awaiting the GB liner an EWS 66 appeared around the corner on an engineers working. It was 66127 which had come from Hinksey and was heading out onto the GWML between Didcot and Swindon where they were carrying out engineering works over the weekend.
It was not long until the GB liner put in an appearance, as 66716 rounded the corner I saw the first container and then nothing, I thought it was running with empty flats. As it got closer I could see there were some more towards the rear. Its a shame there is a big gap at the front of the train as it could do with some colour in there but at least I got a shot of what I had come out for. I stayed on to get a shot of the the freightliner that was following close behind but I won’t bore you with a 3rd shot from the same location. Instead I’ll bore you with a shot of a Freightliner at one of my favourites spots.
I decided to move the short distance to Moreton cutting for our final shot and also complete the trio of 66 liveries. There are plenty of liners which run to Southampton on a Saturday but nowadays they all run in the morning bar one late afternoon train. This limits the number of locations for photography on the weekend. 66568 turned up pretty much on time with its train and was shifting well as it passed through the cutting, not a bad mornings work and it was time to head home.
