Something I maybe should have started a year ago (!) and perhaps not great timing as we approach dark mornings and evenings... but I'll post notable sightings here from my regular commute. Large concentrations of plant or new stuff etc. May be of use to people planning trips.

Obviously I can't always ID everything at speed but do try to add sightings of what I do see.

However I don't add sightings of everything every day at places where it doesn't change much like Reading MDU.

Currently most plant is at Iver and Maidenhead with 8 Holyrail at the latter and 4 others at Coalmans Way.

Of course vehicles move around a LOT and often morning and evening are very different so I can't be held responsible for anything that has moved!

And a general update on the project - currently the wires are in situ and live between Reading and Didcot on all four lines. This is being used for tests of the new stock.

Between Reading and Hayes it varies between full masts and brackets to no masts at all!

I can't comment further west of Didcot but I don't see Van Elle machines much now so assume these are piling further west...

A lot of plant currently at Pangbourne, Twyford, Maidenhead yard, Burnham Coalmans Way and Iver compounds.

A new temporary compound is also nearly finished at Waingels Copse between Twyford and Reading on south side near the old AP.

Quiet at a lot of the usual locations this week. Some vehicles at Iver Maidenhead Taplow and Slough but West Drayton completely empty.

Quite busy at the moment. Large collections of vehicles currently at the following locations:

Maidenhead yard

Iver Dog Kennel North

Slough Berwick Avenue

West Drayton

Still a lot at Maidenhead yard today and Iver north side - a lot of access platforms here including an SPL machine which is unusual. FR673 still lingering at Maidenhead station car park and TRS1028 at the Reading flyover compound.

Quite a few opposite Acton Mainline too.

The two new Unac machines at TXM Langley have moved from the place they have been for last couple of weeks.

The relatively new access point at Berwick Avenue, Slough is currently full of machines and trailers - so full it is overflowing into the nearby industrial estate! Mainly TRS and Pod Trak access platforms.

Three more at Iver and seven more at West Drayton.

Looks like the new sidings being laid adjacent to Plasser might be for stabling units which could obstruct mainline views, especially at weekends.

An access point that often isn't reported is behind Sainsbury's at Ladbroke Grove. Vehicles frequently seen here but I don't think it is visible from any public vantage points...

Very quiet this week although still about 7 vehicles - mainly Pod Trak - in Maidenhead station car park. One was on low loader so may have begun moving out although this is difficult to access with the weekday cars blocking them in. I've not had a chance to stop off there this week...

The newish compound at Ruscombe has become quite busy lately. Two Webb lorries and I think the Network Rail GWML Neotecs are here now too.

Couple of TRS machines in the new compound at Waingels Copse near Twyford.

Maidenhead yard has a few lorries and unimog. The station car park compound is quite full again with TRS access platforms.

A lot of the Holyrail fleet at East end of Slough station plus a new SRS Icon lorry.

A fair few access platforms in Iver south compound.

Nothing at Twyford, Coalmans Way, Stranraer Gardens, West Drayton (except one lightweight trailer which has been here a while - possibly PTL430.)

I guess plant may start arriving next week for the Christmas blockade between Ealing and Paddington but my last commute is on Wednesday. I will update if anything interesting pops up.

A lot of plant at Maidenhead yard, Slough Berwick Avenue and Slough west yard this morning.

I believe there may also be two new Holyrail machines at Iver north - rear is unbranded on both but one may have been HR15. Will try to confirm.

Also quite a lot of vehicles now at Hayes Dawley Road. A fair few (if not all) the Colas PEMs and LEMs at Hayes stone terminal.

One of the new Readypower Doosans at Southall.

All four Rail Op machines on track in the new sidings outside Plasser.

Still a lot of plant at Maidenhead yard and Coalmans Way this morning. Some Holyrail machines at Slough Berwick Avenue too.

A few machines left at Maidenhead yard and Coalmans Way this morning plus a few at Slough Berwick Avenue and about 6 Pod Trak machines at Iver north side. There are approx. 10 Holyrail machines at West Drayton including newly arrived HR16 which is the only one I've managed to see at speed - currently on its own at the country end of the row.

In terms of Holyrail fleet - currently 8 at Maidenhead yard, one at Slough Berwick Avenue and about 6 at West Drayton so there must be some new ones in there somewhere. HR13 & 14 not been noted yet but HR15 & 16 have.

Developments at Maidenhead yard - large earth moving vehicles have arrived and areas cleared - not sure if more EMU stabling sidings will be laid here but seems likely. It does mean that RRVs are now mostly in a tight compound further away from mainline and almost impossible to view now - even from park opposite I imagine. Still lots of Holyrail and Pod Trak MEWPs here.

Quite a few machines on North side at Iver and Slough Berwick Avenue again.

A few at West Drayton.

As per previous message - the latest Holyrail machines are tucked away in a compound that is difficult to view (but not impossible - as proved by Nick and Paul this week!) Nick was lucky in that he saw some of them later in the day as they were being on-tracked for the evening shift. Just in case anyone was planning a trip this weekend to see them. Of course they could be out working, which would make it easier!

Quite a few also at Iver on the north side - which would be more visible from train or access road.

Well I've not seen the GWML so quiet for plant in many months! I have barely seen a single item on north side of the line today. It may be that it has all shifted to fast lines on south side but I can't confirm...

Twyford Waingels Copse new yard was quite busy today with a RRC present and 4 APWebb lorries. Adjacent AP had an EGO4 which I assume will be a TRS vehicle.

Approx 6 Pod Trak vehicles at Slough Stranraer Gardens AP.

A lot of MEWPs also at East end of Slough station on south side. Mainly TRS and Holyrail.

Still very quiet on north side access points.

Yes the wagons at Plasser are two of the Alliance ones last seen near Stoke.

RL008 is correct - saw that this morning.

I've added what I noted at Pangbourne but not seen them all. There was four Readypower two Aspin and two Morgan ones plus a TRS Doosan. Some of the Readypower ones had gone by today.

The Iveco at Reading currently is the one ending HXN.

Believe Roger H has been down here today but would again be cautious of copying sightings as things move around a lot - within the same day sometimes.

Just to update the situation at West Ealing - new EMUs are currently being parked adjacent to Plasser making the view of works almost impossible now. As more come into service this may change...

The two Alliance wagons are still around the back and I'm making enquiries which two they are.

Probably about 8 MEWPs at Slough Berwick Avenue this morning including the two new Balfour ones. One looked like 912277 but not sure. Rest were Holyrail here I think.

Another 8 or so in the yard west of Slough - Holyrail and TRS MEWPs.

About 10 on the north side at Iver and 4 at West Drayton. Able to note more than usual at these two places today due to congestion on the line...

RL011 has been swapped in to Westbourne Park since yesterday.

Unimogs 1 2 and 3 all at Crossrail yard now.

The two Balfour Beatty Manitous were moved to the east end of Slough car park during the course of today (they were at Slough west when I passed this morning) and so I could finally identify them:

XOM7160 is 912276

XOM7161 is 912277

Still quite a lot of vehicles at Waingels Road near Charvil / Twyford this morning.

Taplow station car park - probably around 15 MEWPs here plus TRS Doosan on low loader arriving or departing. May try to look here tonight.

Quite a lot of the Holyrail fleet at Iver south side yard - perhaps 10. No large machines at north side AP.

Slough Berwick Avenue, West Drayton, Slough East, Slough West, Twyford station and Coalmans Way all notably empty.

Still quite a lot of vehicles at Waingels Road near Charvil / Twyford this morning.

Taplow station car park - probably around 15 MEWPs here plus TRS Doosan on low loader arriving or departing. May try to look here tonight.

Quite a lot of the Holyrail fleet at Iver south side yard - perhaps 10. No large machines at north side AP.

Slough Berwick Avenue, West Drayton, Slough East, Twyford station and Coalmans Way all notably empty.

Another new Balfour Manitou has appeared - 912278 is XOM7162.

All three were in Taplow station car park this evening so I was able to confirm a few more details. The works plate on XOM7160 is in a more accessible position than usual - at the front rather than under the body at the rear.

Coalmans Way was packed yesterday but empty this morning!

Chris the baton is being passed to you and Vince now! Think there's more going on down that end than here...

Fairly quiet this morning although didn't get a great view of many places. The Balfour Manitous seem to have disappeared - not at Slough or Taplow.

I think they will almost certainly be SPL014 and 015. I don't think anyone else has this type of machine now.

As per my photo comment, a Shovlin EVO has appeared at Twyford. It's been a while since Shovlin have been seen on GWML.

Very busy at Taplow station car park this morning.

The new sidings at Maidenhead are pretty much complete and Volker tamper 51022 has arrived this week. The portacabins are being removed here too.

The compound at Ipswich Road in Slough is now full of new cars so is probably not in use as an access point currently.

A few MEWPs at Iver north side and West Drayton but elsewhere fairly quiet.

This morning I think I saw three Balfour Beatty Manitous at West Drayton and another two at Iver.

Majority of the Holyrail fleet appears to be parked up in Maidenhead yard but difficult to see any from train.

Thanks to Yorkshire Puddings who has confirmed the machines at each this morning. The next two XOM7163 and 7164 are at Iver.

Looking at the photos he uploaded, there also appears to be at least one new trailer with them at Iver. Will approve idc

Looks like you still did well Roger!

When I was at Moulsford last weekend it appeared the clear-out process had definitely begun. The compounds all still have temporary fencing but security huts and most equipment had gone.

I thought it might be useful to note here for reference the access points I visited between Didcot and Swindon last August.

The first is where the A417 crosses the line near Challow.

There is another compound off Station Road near Uffington – near the premises of “Oxford Exhibition Services” on Google maps.

Finally – Station Road south of Shrivenham.

There is also an area west of Swindon station on south side which I believe is used for plant but was empty when I passed a few weeks ago.

Over to someone else for Swindon – Bristol and beyond! :)

Main concentrations of plant this week are at Maidenhead yard compound, Slough east end and Iver south side.

The yard at West Drayton has been radically tidied and levelled out this week. Not sure if it is planned to lay more sidings here but at the moment it is completely empty.

In terms of infrastructure I think all wires are now finished between London and Didcot but I don't think all live yet - just Reading to Didcot.

...I've just noticed there's still no wires on the eastern approaches to Reading on fast lines so we're still a little way off...

Fairly quiet again this week although still activity around Maidenhead yard, Slough, Taplow and Waingels yard near Twyford.

The new fence at West Drayton yard is continuous parallel with the line - no gates have been installed - meaning it's now unlikely that we'll see any more plant stabled here as there's no vehicle access!

This morning's concentrations of plant:

A few at Tilehurst and Pangbourne

Twyford station car park

Ruscombe north side

A few in Maidenhead yard

Iver north side

Westbourne Park area

Well it's all changed since this morning! Iver is now empty on both sides... a few now at Slough west and Coalmans Way has filled up more since this morning - including unusual appearance from a Balfour - XED7032.

The people shifting this lot around daily must be rubbing their hands...

Hi Chris

The Crossrail trailers mostly have CTx fleet numbers in the middle of the underframe stencilled in white. A couple don't seem to carry them though.

A quick update on what's going on lately.

Still RRVs present frequently in the Reading - Twyford - Ruscombe areas as they finish the wiring here. Twyford station car park full of machines this morning. Unusually there is currently a Bradshaw machine at Reading flyover.

Maidenhead yard is now pretty much complete although some vehicles still here. 72211 has also turned up here on its own - not sure if it has been returned to DTS use... the sidings here will no doubt be full of units soon as I believe EMUs are now able to run from Paddington to Maidenhead.

Iver still seems to be a MEWP hotspot on the north side. South side had some TRS Doosans yesterday too.

The Rail Op machines seem to be finding work in West Ealing area.

The Crossrail depot at Old Oak is advancing. Still one of the Trackwork PW160s here but not been able to identify it for last 2-3 weeks.

Westbourne Park also a hotspot although I'm told the Crossrail yard will probably start being cleared out soon as this part of the project completes.

So still things to see but surely not long before it all starts to disappear sadly!

I might also add that as an almost daily user of the line in the last two years it has been good that a service has generally been able to continue to run during these works, switching between fast and slow lines etc. However the amount of time it has taken as a result cannot possibly be efficient! It's getting to the stage where it's almost embarrassing how long it is taking to finish this off in some areas. Obviously I'm just an observer but I also know that time = money... I work in construction and understand there are complications that cause delays but the difficult parts of this job were completed months ago. It seems to have taken a year to finish the brackets and wires and I don't understand it! Perhaps someone can enlighten me - I would love to know how my taxes are being spent!

...I'm also glad we didn't relocate to Pangbourne as originally planned - the number of times I would have had to get on an evening rail replacement bus (lack of four platforms) would have driven me insane by now! :)

Quite a collection of machines lineside east of Slough this evening plus new TRS Doosan crane to the west. Looks like a possible track replacement job this weekend.

A few vehicles dotted around at North Pole West Ealing Iver Taplow Maidenhead and a lot still at Ruscombe yard.

Twyford station was empty this evening. Waingels yard had a solitary Quattro PW160.

The access road at Airport Junction Hayes has been dug up. Once a haven for RRVs.

First units have started using Maidenhead yard this week which obscures views of any plant although vehicles are now being parked closer to station end.

Following Nick's trail earlier in the week, I also visited the access points between Swindon and Didcot this morning.

Shrivenham AP off station road had some Van Elle machines and trailers including VER016 which was at Rail Live.

Uffington AP had a fair few machines including Network Rail Skyrailers 912227 & 912228 which have been shuffled from Manchester and the GEML area! Interestingly Nick saw a different one here on Wednesday evening - one of the original GWML pair (912225 but also with 912228.)

Challow AP had a Murphy machine plus two trailers.

Finally there is another access point near Wantage which is near the A338 overbridge. Two Readypower machines here but not identified due to time...

The line into London is fairly quiet although still machines around the Slough area.

Unusually, two Aspin piling machines also turned up at Reading Napier Road this week.

Hi Dan

On 16th June the Trackwork machine was with trailer RR163 but there is at least one other trailer here working with RR104.

The rest I'm not going to be able to say for certain as they move around so much but the Rail Op at Westbourne Park you mentioned in your OTPgen are 005 and 006. The TXM behind are likely to be 7015 and 7050 as they all appeared to move across from North Pole at the same time last week.

Ah - 910085 with RR114 this morning.

I think all 10 Balfour Manitous are now on the GWML. Six just noted at Hayes Iron Bridge Road AP plus another 4 at Slough west.

Quite a lot of vehicles at Twyford this morning.

Ruscombe also still busy and the new Sonic Rail machine still here.

Balfour Manitous at Maidenhead (4) Burnham (2) Iver (3) and Slough west (1)

A few at Ealing Longfield Avenue AP.

Not a lot else about on the north side of line...

The three that were at Iver this morning have now moved to Slough west.

Another invoice!

Not much present at the usual places today.

Exceptions being

Ruscombe

Taplow

Slough Stranraer Gardens

Ealing Longfield Avenue

The BB Manitous are still generally at Maidenhead, Burnham and Slough west.

It appears there is major work going on next week between Swindon and Chippenham. Closure this weekend and trains on diversion next week.

22nd - 29th I believe there is also a full closure (including weekdays) between Didcot and Oxford.

As ever things have changed during today...

The Slough west and Burnham machines have all gone. However there were some BB Manitous at Iver north.

Just one remains at Maidenhead.

Also quite a few Neotecs in Paddington station car park.

And some machines have turned up at Waingels near Twyford.

A collection at Reading flyover compound too including a Railway Drainage branded Bradshaw 988.

Relatively quiet lately although still the odd machine scattered around.

Of note is that I don't think I've seen any Holyrail machines at all for several weeks. Appears some now in Scotland and maybe some on Great Eastern?

Some track replacement going on throughout the past week outside Paddington.

Quick update:

Quite a lot of machines have arrived at the eastern end of North Pole depot (opposite Sainsburys) during the course of today so I expect there must be something happening near here this weekend.

Likewise a lot of MEWPs have been congregating at Cannon Lane west of Maidenhead.

Ruscombe still quite busy and a few at Waingels Road compound too.

Two RRVs opposite Southall station this evening.

Slough area generally quiet at the moment although some BB Manitous have moved here during course of today. The RRV merry go round continues...

Some closures advertised in mid September for Reading area while they test wires.

Quite a few machines collecting at Westbourne Park in the last few days. Otherwise fairly quiet at most locations now.

Of interest though is that several APWebb machines have appeared this week outside the GWR depot at Old Oak Common - perhaps already lifting track but not sure.

I think one is RTEM004 but not sure yet...

Just by way of a (possible final) update on my regular GWML commute - most of the former access points between London and Didcot are now pretty much empty with just the occasional items of plant present. West Ealing, Hayes and Southall still producing some bits n bobs of vague interest...

The compound at Iver on south side has been returned back to a field within the last week or so. The compound at Ruscombe on north side also appears to be packing up as does the one at Waingels Road near Twyford. Moulsford was vacated some time ago.

The only site I haven't been past for a while is Moreton Cutting - suspect this is still in situ but can't confirm. The size of the site and number of temporary offices here makes me think this could remain as a main operating base for some time?

There are still overhead lorries in the Reading area and the Crossrail works are continuing to re-lay the tracks at Westbourne Park. A collection of RRVs present here again this evening for weekend works.

Another collection of plant at Westbourne Park this morning including several LEMs and a Rosenquist clipper.

A Geismar lorry has appeared at Burnham Coalmans Way AP this week from Swindon. Unsure if this will remain out based in this area.

A few Webb lorries have reappeared at Ruscombe.

Thanks Roger yes that is useful. May head down that way again when I next get a free day...

Sat on south side of train this morning and it revealed a few hotspots of plant.

Waingels Road had a number of mewps - Torrent Aspin and Crana and a Quattro PW160 as sightings on here from yesterday.

Lineside at Ruscombe - probably seven here including a Torrent mewp and various Aspin machines and trailers.

Two Balfour mewps at Taplow.

Three at Archie Close West Drayton including a Trac Neotec which I missed again...

A few around the West end of Southall yard including Rail Op.

Finally - still quite a lot at Old Oak and also at east end of North Pole (opposite Sainsburys) including the Unacs.

As widely publicised, the line from Paddington to Slough is generally shut after today. There were a fair few machines gathering at Westbourne Park again and approx. 10 in Acton yard.

Some mewps in West Ealing Waitrose and some Webb machines again in the yard east of Southall.

Elsewhere fairly quiet except for 3 Webb lorries at Ruscombe and about 5 at Waingels Road.

I haven't been past since the 22nd but will keep a look out next week. However I think a couple of our regulars have been past today...

Think they are now connected yes.

A few mewps in the sidings at WPk but numbers of plant reducing every week. Even the mewps at Old Oak appear to have left but the unimog remains.

Sightings yesterday at Padworth near Aldermaston prompts me to ask if anyone has established the access points between Reading and Newbury?

I believe there are some long blockades coming up on this section between now and June (including weekdays) so it may be a hotspot for plant.

Thanks Pete that is very useful...

A few notable things - McCulloch unimog at Burnham Coalmans Way today and some Van Elle machines back at Southall. Not seen any VE on this stretch for a long time.

I believe one of the Newbury line week-long blockades is coming up next week.

Thanks Pete. Any updates appreciated although not sure I'm going to get an opportunity to go down there this weekend.

Probably the four that were at Goring on Wed and Thu this week... two Morgan a Torrent and an Aspin... 912408 was being loaded early yesterday morning.

Incidentally they were likely being used on the job that woke us up at 0030 - multiple chainsaws trimming branches!

No problem- yes it was just one night. It must have been emergency work as we have previously got advance letters from Network Rail about noisy work when they were doing the piling works.

Newbury closure for next three weeks so I stopped by a few locations yesterday afternoon. Quite a few vehicles at Newbury Racecourse but other locations further east not much about at all. Frouds Lane and Theale empty, Padworth just two. Wires do look generally complete though now. There may be another AP West of Newbury but not sure?

There were two BB mewps in the yard this morning but couldn't see either because of the new fence. Nothing else there sorry! I think even the two trailers that have been resident for months may have gone...

I was wrong about Maidenhead trailers. There is still one here and it appears to have a longer fleet number on yellow label. Still not able to confirm but strongly suspect this is Balfour 2468 not officially seen since December!

The yard here has had many portacabins and a lot of the junk removed in recent days.

Further clear-out this week at Maidenhead and I'm now almost certain that the last trailer has now finally left.

The temporary compound at Ruscombe has now been returned to agricultural land but some works vehicles remain to clear the huge piles of broken concrete.

The compound at Waingels Road near Twyford is still there but very much vacated.

Moulsford is much reduced in size but the AP does seem to have still been used over the last couple of months.

Moreton Cutting is much reduced but shows no sign of being vacated just yet.

Both Mules are unusually together at Pangbourne at the moment.

Thanks Nick.

I also looked at old APs between Swindon and Wantage a couple of weeks ago.

Station road compound outside Shrivenham has been closed but not returned to farmland. I don't think there was still access to the line though as a new fence has been erected.

Uffington - still an AP but no plant present.

Challow - still an AP but nothing present.

Wantage - still an AP with a couple of Webb lorries still present.

I didn't get a chance to look at Milton Park Didcot as it got dark but I have seen plant here relatively recently.