On 28th October 2016, amid Autumn colours and evidence of advancing electrification work, 66956 makes steady progress up the 1 in 100 ascent towards Patchway from the Severn Tunnel with 4O51, 09.56 Cardiff Wentloog to Southampton Freightliner. The different gradient profiles of the up and down lines between Pilning and Patchway are of interest. The down line on the left follows approximately the profile of the original 1863 single-track branch to New Passage Pier, whereas when the route was doubled with the opening of the Severn Tunnel in 1886, the up line was laid on a longer but less severe gradient for traffic climbing away from the tunnel. Image credit: Stewart Jolly