Today’s update is something a little more unusual and not planned in the slightest. My actual plan was to head over to Cholsey to photograph the 6C23 Hayes – Westbury stone empties in the hands of 66248, however upon arrival I noticed a message to say the train was running roughly half an hour early and I thought I had probably missed it. I decided to wait around anyway in case it was held to its booked time at Reading.
I’m glad I did as shortly after arrival I heard a horn toot from the Cholsey – Wallingford preserved line and out of the trees appeared one the ex Guinness 08s on a short works train. I quickly grabbed the camera and slapped on the telephoto lens and fired off a couple of shots as the 08 propelled the train back down the line to Wallingford. 
I was on leave this week and finally after 4 days of rain and gloom the sun decided to come out to play again! Not to be wasted I decided to head out for a number of workings heading through the Vale of White Horse today. My first target was the 4O51 Wentloog – Southampton liner which I attempted at Bourton but was scuppered by the clouds!
Next up I knew my favourite working the Avon Binliner was running today so I wanted to get a shot however after my post a few weeks ago I decided to hunt out a new location for the shot after using the same few places over and over. I knew of a lineside shot near Uffington but had never been able to find the footpath but today spent a little more time and found the shot. Running bang on time 66951 powered past on the 4V60 Calvert – Bath/Bristol Bins. I also knew 59005 was working the 6C54 Oxford Banbury Road – Westbury which I was keen to photograph as it had been re liveried recently but as I was en route to my next location I noticed it passing by in the distance running earlier than scheduled!
I nearly called it a day as the cloud was building again but opted to head over to Cholsey to see what was about. It has been some time since I have spent an afternoon East of Didcot and probably should have checked before hand but I didn’t realise how little freight was about mid to late afternoon. I arrived just after 15:00 and had to wait 1 hour 40 minutes before the first freight turned up! Again running bang on time 66558 eased the 4M68 Southampton – Birch Coppice past Cholsey Manor Farm. I decided to call it a day as despite the temperature being positive the wind was horrendous and I was losing the feeling in my fingers so wanted to get back in the warm.
I’m back again for a rather unusual Sunday update. Traffic is normally pretty much non existent on a Sunday but I recieved word that a 6Z35 Hereford – Acton yard was running today and as the weather was clearing up I decided to have a pop at the working.
The only timing point I had was Bath at 12:57 so I guestimated it would be due in the Didcot area around 14:30 so I head over to Cholsey for a shot I haven’t attempted for a few years. Although overcast on arrival a large block of blue sky appeared shortly after and virtually as I predicted 66060 heading the train of JNAs through Cholsey at 14:24, cracking!
