Major lineside clearances on the Bicester branch has gave way for quite a few new locations. I'm up a tree again for this shot as 56303 rounds the curve on the approach to Mill Lane crossing, hauling the 6Z91 Calvert - Didcot Power Station, empty Flyash. (01-05-2013)
56091 powers away after being looped to allow a unit to pass which was good as it gave time for a big floater to pass, and thankfully being put back onto the main. The Ex Fertis Grid passes the last rays of sunlight pictured at 18:32 passing Hinksey Yard with the 6Z92 Didcot Power Station - Calvert, loaded Flyash. (05-04-2013)
56303 passes South Moreton, Didcot with the 6Z56 14:30 Eastleigh - Chaddesden. (05-04-2013)
56311 iis seen at Oxford with the 6Z91 Calvert - Didcot PS, empty Flyash. (19-02-2013)
No liner bowling me today, just a bloody cloud instead! 56303 is seen passing Hinksey with the 6Z91 Calvert - Didcot PS. (31-01-2013)
Blue skies, Grid running on time what can go wrong?! See for yourself... 56303 passes Hinksey with the 6Z91 Calvert - Didcot Power Station, empty flyash. (09-01-2013)
You couldn't make it up! The first floater of the day came as the Grids came into view making the gallery here flap. Luckily the locos lit up and the pair 56301 and 56312 are seen at Hinksey hauling the 6Z91 Calvert - Didcot PS, empty Flyash. 56312 failed the previous day which resulted in the train to be cancelled. Once the train arrived at it's destination, 31601 was scrambled to collect the disgraced Grid and take her back to Washwood Heath. The ex Fastline beast is a welcome sight on this train now.
After hauling 'Tornado' from Southall to Didcot, 56312 is seen stabled inside the Great Western Society at Didcot. The DCR driver also told me that the Grid will remain on the Flyash until March. We shall see. (25-11-2012)
I travelled here for this working expecting to just get a record shot after the Met Office had predicted full dull. It turned out that all trains i photoed was in sun. It made the walk from the station worth while. 56312 passes Hinksey in lovely Autumn sun at 12:25 with the 6Z91 10:55 Calvert - Didcot Power Station, empty Flyash. (07-11-2012)
56303 makes a tremendous racket and horns blazing as it passes Wootton Bassett Junction with the 6Z93 12:30 Cardiff Tidal - Rotherham Steel Terminal running some 2 hours late. (20-08-2012)
Just what a Grid was built for, not! 56312 hauls the 5Z56 Wembley LMD - Bristol Barton Hill and is seen passing Baulking. The coach is to be painted into Chiltern trains livery. (21-05-2012)
56312 & 56302 is seen passing Badgeworth running just over an hour late with the 6Z69 12:00 Burton Wetmore Sidings - Cardiff Tidal, loaded scrap. (26-03-2012)
This time not wanting the sun to be out as this shot would have been totally backlit, there was still quite alot of light coming out from the gaps in the clouds surrounding the sun but the end result aint too bad considering. 56312 & 47375 haul the 6Z23 10:00 Burngullow - Burton WS, empty bullets on the appraoch to Cheltenham Spa station. A similar working took place last year and look what happened today, but i think it's safe to say with no more bullets in Cornwall now that should be the end of the fun. (08-03-2012)
Another top working pops up and not suprisingly more dire weather! 56302 is seen at Shrivenham with the 6Z56 Wembley - Cardiff Canton, conveying empty scrap wagons. (27-02-2012)
56311 is pictured in the best possible light considering that if the sun had been out then the shot would be too backlit. The Grid is pictured at Callow Hill, Brinkworth just West of Swindon with the 6Z56 Cardiff Tidal - Hoo Junction. The train was slowing down at this point so i tried my luck at the possibility of a 2nd shot and headed out to the east of Swindon hoping it would be held at Swindon. Luck would have it, it was and i made it to South Marston with 5 minutes to spare. (16-07-2011)
Grid action on freight through Swindon once again. I wonder when the last time that happened!?!. Here 56311 screams passed the Keypoint Rail Freight Termianal at South Marston, Swindon with the 6Z56 Cardiff Tidal - Hoo Junction, empty scrap wagons. With the train being held at Swindon it enabled me to get from Brinkworth to here for a 2nd stab at it, just! (16-07-2011)
Although in dire light i thought a trip to capture a Grid on freight was not to be missed. 56311 is seen powering through Ashchurch on the 6Z56 Grimsby Docks - Cardiff Tidal, loaded scrap train. A sign of things to come maybe!!? Lets hope so! (12-07-2011)
56311 & 56303 head the 16:00 Ruddington - East Leake - Loughborough service on the Great Central Railway. 56097 can be seen on the left. (15-05-2011)
56311 & 56312 arrive at journeys end with the 1Z80 Tame Bridge Parkway - Penzance, Pathfinder Railtour in conjunction with Mazey Day. (26-06-2010)