An early afternoon gen call brought the unexpected but welcome news that 86501 was today employed on 4M81, 07:45 Felixstowe - Ditton. Hell! A hasty departure and a relative lack of traffic saw me at Cathiron with but five minutes to spare before this fine machine stormed past.

Freightliner's finest charges past, all-out, making good speed with a fairly heavy load.

Another unexpected surprise (perhaps less welcome....!) was 66201 heading south on 4A10, 12:01 Trafford Park - Wembley. This is a 92 diagram - and they're plenty rare enough as it is without 66s appearing!

1/800th second on the shutter has only just stopped 66412 as it heads south past Attleborough with 4M44, 08:21 Mossend - Daventry.

Another 'Ying', this time of GBRf ownership, in the shape of 66726, heading north and ultimately bound for Hams Hall with 4M23, 10:59 ex Felixstowe.

Wot no skodas? Perhaps Freightliner were a bit short today.... whatever the reason, 57011 is seen in charge of 4M88, 08:49 Felixstowe - Basford Hall. Never before have I seen this turn hauled by anything other than AC power; it's usually a solid 90 turn.

Shot of the day: 86637+86610 make a lovely sight as they accelerate south with 4L92, 14:03 Ditton - Felixstowe. This is one Freightliner service which usually seems to be given the Up Fast from Nuneaton (and deservedly so....!) but today it was relegated to the Up Slow; shortly afterwards, a Pendo rushed past on the Fast.

The turnout onto the Down Slow at Attleborough Junction (by the bridge in the background) is at a guess fit for 70mph; 90046 had scarcely slowed as it passed me in charge of 4M87, Felixstowe - Trafford Park.

Whatever next - the NR Tram is back out and about, seen here thrashing south towards Bulkington.

Trundling along the Up Slow, light engine, is 92030 'Ashford', probably bound for Daventry and the evening turn to Mossend.

"And thus did Caledonian smile, for verily should this be a bostin' shot of ye venerable AL7. And then did a Pendo pass northward. And did the sun begin to set in ye West. And verily did another Pendo pass northward. And did the sun set yet further in ye West. And, too, did Caledonian utter unholy words of Anglo-Saxon. And verily did yet another &*&%$£ (insert expletive of your own choosing) Pendo pass northward. And verily did the sun sink lower. And verily did Caledonian utter a good many very unholy words of Anglo-Saxon." Having taken 34 minutes (looped at Brinklow, I'd guess) to cover the 13 miles from Rugby, 87022 passes with 1S96. This could've - should've - been a lovely shot but plainly it's crap. I was not happy. At all. :-(

Barely enough sun left to catch the number on the side of Cock o' the North.......