Fastline 56303 passes Elford on May 6, 2008.

During 2008 and 2009 I regularly had Mondays off from work, as I was employed as a bus driver at the time.

I made the effort to go out and photograph Fastline Freight’s 4O90 from Doncaster to Grain, running via Derby, the West Midlands, and the West Coast

Main Line.

Locomotives used by Fastline for this service were 56301 and 56302, both owned by Fastline, and RVEL’S 56303, which was also painted in Fastline colours but hired to the operator alongside its own Class 56 duo. Whenever I went out to see this train working, 56303 always seemed to be working it and here the locomotive is passing Elford, near Tamworth, in good, sunny conditions working 4O90 on May 6, 2008.

The Class 56s always sounded powerful when they were working hard and you could often hear them long before they came into view. Again, as part of my current job with UK Rail Leasing, I regularly get to work with Class 56s.