Steadfast

A few recent class 59s Cold War Competitors by Steadfast Fotography, on Flickr Both designs dating from the tail end of the Cold War and capable of shifting the heaviest trains in the UK, 59002 'Alan J Day' and 60039 'Dove Holes' sit alongside one another in Westbury Up Yard. The two locos are wildly different designs, the 59s proving rugged, reliable and a simple machine, though a little agricultural and noisy at times. Class 60s would also move the earth, though their 1980s electronics could leave them susceptible to having a funny five minutes and various issues on introduction but they are an altogether far more refined design, quiet with a smooth ride and solid doors that close first time! Network SouthMendip by Steadfast Fotography, on Flickr 59101 'Village of Whatley' is seen in the headshunt of Westbury Down Yard complete with Network SouthEast sticker on its number one end. Taken two weeks after Freightliner took over the Mendip work, judging by the time of day I think this had come from either Southampton or Exeter and was running round to head back to Whatley 6 Class 59s for sale, 2 careful owners... by Steadfast Fotography, on Flickr The loss of the Mendip contract saw DB put the six class 59/2s up for sale. Here they are on siding number 12 Down at Westbury, positioned for viewing by potential new owners. The locos arrived in three pairs, 59206 and 59202 at the far end, then 59203 and 59204 with 59201 and 59205 the last to be parked up, with 205 closest to the camera. In the event, Freightliner purchased all six locos and at the time of writing (Dec 2019) all are still running round in DB red but with the branding roughly painted out. Jo

I've uploaded a few red 60s too now, so here we go. 60039 Westbury Yard Pilot by SteadfastFotography, on Flickr On a gorgeous September morning, 60039 'Dove Holes' sits in the spoil offload siding in Westbury's New Sidings with a heavy load of two Coalfish wagons for offload. Over the final summer of Mendip operations for DB, a trio of tugs made it to the area (024, 039 and 044) to cover for class 59s out on maintenance Fareham bound Tug 44 by SteadfastFotography, on Flickr 60044 'Dowlow' is sat in Westbury Down Yard waiting its 05:00 departure with 7O35 to Fareham. The 16 boxes won't challenge the 60, but it was a regular turn that the trio of 60s took on whilst in the area during summer 2019. Cold War Competitors by SteadfastFotography, on Flickr Both designs dating from the tail end of the Cold War and capable of shifting the heaviest trains in the UK, 59002 'Alan J Day' and 60039 'Dove Holes' sit alongside one another in Westbury Up Yard. The two locos are wildly different designs, the 59s proving rugged, reliable and a simple machine, though a little agricultural and noisy at times. Class 60s would also move the earth, though their 1980s electronics could leave them susceptible to having a funny five minutes and various issues on introduction but they are an altogether far more refined design, quiet with a smooth ride and solid doors that close first time! Posing for a portrait by SteadfastFotography, on Flickr Looking powerful from the low angle, 60039 'Dove Holes' sits in Westbury Up Yard awaiting its next duty. A purposeful looking design, where thought has gone into the aesthetics and practical aspects, this thirty year old loco is still looking smart. The end of the Mendip contract looked like the end of class 60s in Westbury, but in December DCR brought 60055 in for a few loads of recycled ballast. Jo

70001 passed through Westbury one evening this week just gone by, think it was Thursday, Southampton bound ex Wentloog. First time I've seen a 70 on that working. Doesn't the bell go off when you switch cabs too? Seems to ring a heck of a lot! Is it just my cackhanded clumsiness, or does anyone else find 70s awkward to get on and off of? Jo

A couple of pics of 055 at Westbury this week. Always had a bit of a soft spot for 'Thomas Barnardo' since dad got me a Lima model of it in coal sector livery as a kid. This is a bit of a test, linking pics from my Flickr for the first time sussing out how it works! DC Rail's 60055 'Thomas Barnardo' has just arrived at Westbury with 6Z90 from Southampton Up Yard. The engine has been run round and is ready to begin the shunt to get the wagons into the New Sidings for loading. The loco was only a week or two out from it's overhaul by DB at Toton and the wagons have been in the UK less than a month, so all very box fresh! 60055 Westbury 6Z90 by SteadfastFotography, on Flickr A day later, the weather had turned! The blue wagons add some colour to a very grey shot as 60055 'Thomas Barnardo' sits in the New Sidings at Westbury, where the wagons will be loaded with recycled ballast for use as Type 1 aggregate. Spoil from worksites is unloaded here and put through a screening machine to create the recycled aggregate. The loco was only a week or two out from it's overhaul by DB at Toton and the wagons have been in the UK less than a month, so all very box fresh! 60055 Westbury 6Z91 by SteadfastFotography, on Flickr Jo

A nice touch, makes a change from all the permanent marker written unofficial names in the cabs of class 66s! Jo

Display case model only Rob, 799 was the first real loco I worked with and also happened to share a name with my grandad Jo

Thanks Dave, will check it out! Jo

It's not just the shade though, it should be a vibrant metallic blue

I've heard several call 37s coal Deltics or Welsh Deltics. I on the other hand, won't have anything to do with 37s being compared to nasty boat engined things :-P Jo

The light blue is a long way, it's slightly darker, glossy and metallic, not the Matt sky blue Dapol used Jo

Nice traaaa'ter David. Very nice. Do you have a layout or workbench thread on here? Jo

Cracking work on the Bedford Rob, not a design I was ever keen on but perfect for the era and lovely attention to detail with the conversion Jo

That's excellent news, cheers for the update! Jo

All vehicles must display their TOPS registered number in the cab but I don't believe it has to be visible externally. Steam and preserved diesels for example display their number in the cab, but have no need to display the same number externally Jo

By production batch I was differentiating between 201 and the other 5. Perhaps I should've said main batch. 201 as you say was a standalone order and has several differences to 202-206 Jo