diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/translog/BaseTranslogReader.java b/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/translog/BaseTranslogReader.java
index 49e8249e9d370..bf61febb741eb 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/translog/BaseTranslogReader.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/translog/BaseTranslogReader.java
@@ -58,34 +58,21 @@ public final long getFirstOperationOffset() {
         return firstOperationOffset;
     }
 
-    public Translog.Operation read(Translog.Location location) throws IOException {
-        assert location.generation == generation : "read location's translog generation [" + location.generation + "] is not [" + generation + "]";
-        ByteBuffer buffer = ByteBuffer.allocate(location.size);
-        try (BufferedChecksumStreamInput checksumStreamInput = checksummedStream(buffer, location.translogLocation, location.size, null)) {
-            return read(checksumStreamInput);
-        }
-    }
-
     /** read the size of the op (i.e., number of bytes, including the op size) written at the given position */
-    protected final int readSize(ByteBuffer reusableBuffer, long position) {
+    protected final int readSize(ByteBuffer reusableBuffer, long position) throws IOException {
         // read op size from disk
         assert reusableBuffer.capacity() >= 4 : "reusable buffer must have capacity >=4 when reading opSize. got [" + reusableBuffer.capacity() + "]";
-        try {
-            reusableBuffer.clear();
-            reusableBuffer.limit(4);
-            readBytes(reusableBuffer, position);
-            reusableBuffer.flip();
-            // Add an extra 4 to account for the operation size integer itself
-            final int size = reusableBuffer.getInt() + 4;
-            final long maxSize = sizeInBytes() - position;
-            if (size < 0 || size > maxSize) {
-                throw new TranslogCorruptedException("operation size is corrupted must be [0.." + maxSize + "] but was: " + size);
-            }
-
-            return size;
-        } catch (IOException e) {
-            throw new ElasticsearchException("unexpected exception reading from translog snapshot of " + this.path, e);
+        reusableBuffer.clear();
+        reusableBuffer.limit(4);
+        readBytes(reusableBuffer, position);
+        reusableBuffer.flip();
+        // Add an extra 4 to account for the operation size integer itself
+        final int size = reusableBuffer.getInt() + 4;
+        final long maxSize = sizeInBytes() - position;
+        if (size < 0 || size > maxSize) {
+            throw new TranslogCorruptedException("operation size is corrupted must be [0.." + maxSize + "] but was: " + size);
         }
+        return size;
     }
 
     public Translog.Snapshot newSnapshot() {
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/translog/Translog.java b/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/translog/Translog.java
index 198d9b4cd4508..056716a29bd9a 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/translog/Translog.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/translog/Translog.java
@@ -384,31 +384,6 @@ TranslogWriter createWriter(long fileGeneration) throws IOException {
         return newFile;
     }
 
-
-    /**
-     * Read the Operation object from the given location. This method will try to read the given location from
-     * the current or from the currently committing translog file. If the location is in a file that has already
-     * been closed or even removed the method will return <code>null</code> instead.
-     */
-    Translog.Operation read(Location location) { // TODO this is only here for testing - we can remove it?
-        try (ReleasableLock lock = readLock.acquire()) {
-            final BaseTranslogReader reader;
-            final long currentGeneration = current.getGeneration();
-            if (currentGeneration == location.generation) {
-                reader = current;
-            } else if (readers.isEmpty() == false && readers.get(readers.size() - 1).getGeneration() == location.generation) {
-                reader = readers.get(readers.size() - 1);
-            } else if (currentGeneration < location.generation) {
-                throw new IllegalStateException("location generation [" + location.generation + "] is greater than the current generation [" + currentGeneration + "]");
-            } else {
-                return null;
-            }
-            return reader.read(location);
-        } catch (IOException e) {
-            throw new ElasticsearchException("failed to read source from translog location " + location, e);
-        }
-    }
-
     /**
      * Adds a delete / index operations to the transaction log.
      *
@@ -432,7 +407,6 @@ public Location add(Operation operation) throws IOException {
             try (ReleasableLock lock = readLock.acquire()) {
                 ensureOpen();
                 Location location = current.add(bytes);
-                assert assertBytesAtLocation(location, bytes);
                 return location;
             }
         } catch (AlreadyClosedException | IOException ex) {
@@ -469,12 +443,6 @@ public Location getLastWriteLocation() {
         }
     }
 
-    boolean assertBytesAtLocation(Translog.Location location, BytesReference expectedBytes) throws IOException {
-        // tests can override this
-        ByteBuffer buffer = ByteBuffer.allocate(location.size);
-        current.readBytes(buffer, location.translogLocation);
-        return new BytesArray(buffer.array()).equals(expectedBytes);
-    }
 
     /**
      * Snapshots the current transaction log allowing to safely iterate over the snapshot.
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/translog/TranslogSnapshot.java b/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/translog/TranslogSnapshot.java
index f33ec1bd60702..a08259ef32dc7 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/translog/TranslogSnapshot.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/translog/TranslogSnapshot.java
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 import java.nio.channels.FileChannel;
 import java.nio.file.Path;
 
-public class TranslogSnapshot extends BaseTranslogReader implements Translog.Snapshot {
+final class TranslogSnapshot extends BaseTranslogReader implements Translog.Snapshot {
 
     private final int totalOperations;
     protected final long length;
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ public TranslogSnapshot(long generation, FileChannel channel, Path path, long fi
     }
 
     @Override
-    public final int totalOperations() {
+    public int totalOperations() {
         return totalOperations;
     }
 
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ public Translog.Operation next() throws IOException {
         }
     }
 
-    protected final Translog.Operation readOperation() throws IOException {
+    protected Translog.Operation readOperation() throws IOException {
         final int opSize = readSize(reusableBuffer, position);
         reuse = checksummedStream(reusableBuffer, position, opSize, reuse);
         Translog.Operation op = read(reuse);
diff --git a/core/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/index/translog/TranslogTests.java b/core/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/index/translog/TranslogTests.java
index 9961637c32362..cb76763363e91 100644
--- a/core/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/index/translog/TranslogTests.java
+++ b/core/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/index/translog/TranslogTests.java
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@
 import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicInteger;
 import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicLong;
 import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicReference;
+import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 
 import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.equalTo;
 import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.greaterThan;
@@ -206,53 +207,6 @@ private String randomNonTranslogPatternString(int min, int max) {
         return string;
     }
 
-    public void testRead() throws IOException {
-        Location loc0 = translog.getLastWriteLocation();
-        assertNotNull(loc0);
-
-        Translog.Location loc1 = translog.add(new Translog.Index("test", "1", new byte[]{1}));
-        assertThat(loc1, greaterThan(loc0));
-        assertThat(translog.getLastWriteLocation(), greaterThan(loc1));
-        Translog.Location loc2 = translog.add(new Translog.Index("test", "2", new byte[]{2}));
-        assertThat(loc2, greaterThan(loc1));
-        assertThat(translog.getLastWriteLocation(), greaterThan(loc2));
-        assertThat(translog.read(loc1).getSource().source, equalTo(new BytesArray(new byte[]{1})));
-        assertThat(translog.read(loc2).getSource().source, equalTo(new BytesArray(new byte[]{2})));
-
-        Translog.Location lastLocBeforeSync = translog.getLastWriteLocation();
-        translog.sync();
-        assertEquals(lastLocBeforeSync, translog.getLastWriteLocation());
-        assertThat(translog.read(loc1).getSource().source, equalTo(new BytesArray(new byte[]{1})));
-        assertThat(translog.read(loc2).getSource().source, equalTo(new BytesArray(new byte[]{2})));
-
-        Translog.Location loc3 = translog.add(new Translog.Index("test", "2", new byte[]{3}));
-        assertThat(loc3, greaterThan(loc2));
-        assertThat(translog.getLastWriteLocation(), greaterThan(loc3));
-        assertThat(translog.read(loc3).getSource().source, equalTo(new BytesArray(new byte[]{3})));
-
-        lastLocBeforeSync = translog.getLastWriteLocation();
-        translog.sync();
-        assertEquals(lastLocBeforeSync, translog.getLastWriteLocation());
-        assertThat(translog.read(loc3).getSource().source, equalTo(new BytesArray(new byte[]{3})));
-        translog.prepareCommit();
-        /*
-         * The commit adds to the lastWriteLocation even though is isn't really a write. This is just an implementation artifact but it can
-         * safely be ignored because the lastWriteLocation continues to be greater than the Location returned from the last write operation
-         * and less than the location of the next write operation.
-         */
-        assertThat(translog.getLastWriteLocation(), greaterThan(lastLocBeforeSync));
-        assertThat(translog.read(loc3).getSource().source, equalTo(new BytesArray(new byte[]{3})));
-        translog.commit();
-        assertNull(translog.read(loc1));
-        assertNull(translog.read(loc2));
-        assertNull(translog.read(loc3));
-        try {
-            translog.read(new Translog.Location(translog.currentFileGeneration() + 1, 17, 35));
-            fail("generation is greater than the current");
-        } catch (IllegalStateException ex) {
-            // expected
-        }
-    }
 
     public void testSimpleOperations() throws IOException {
         ArrayList<Translog.Operation> ops = new ArrayList<>();
@@ -441,7 +395,7 @@ public void assertFileDeleted(Translog translog, long id) {
         assertFalse("translog [" + id + "] still exists", Files.exists(translog.location().resolve(Translog.getFilename(id))));
     }
 
-    static class LocationOperation {
+    static class LocationOperation implements Comparable<LocationOperation> {
         final Translog.Operation operation;
         final Translog.Location location;
 
@@ -450,6 +404,10 @@ public LocationOperation(Translog.Operation operation, Translog.Location locatio
             this.location = location;
         }
 
+        @Override
+        public int compareTo(LocationOperation o) {
+            return location.compareTo(o.location);
+        }
     }
 
     public void testConcurrentWritesWithVaryingSize() throws Throwable {
@@ -478,8 +436,12 @@ public void testConcurrentWritesWithVaryingSize() throws Throwable {
             threads[i].join(60 * 1000);
         }
 
-        for (LocationOperation locationOperation : writtenOperations) {
-            Translog.Operation op = translog.read(locationOperation.location);
+        List<LocationOperation> collect = writtenOperations.stream().collect(Collectors.toList());
+        Collections.sort(collect);
+        Translog.Snapshot snapshot = translog.newSnapshot();
+        for (LocationOperation locationOperation : collect) {
+            Translog.Operation op = snapshot.next();
+            assertNotNull(op);
             Translog.Operation expectedOp = locationOperation.operation;
             assertEquals(expectedOp.opType(), op.opType());
             switch (op.opType()) {
@@ -505,6 +467,7 @@ public void testConcurrentWritesWithVaryingSize() throws Throwable {
             }
 
         }
+        assertNull(snapshot.next());
 
     }
 
@@ -521,13 +484,16 @@ public void testTranslogChecksums() throws Exception {
         corruptTranslogs(translogDir);
 
         AtomicInteger corruptionsCaught = new AtomicInteger(0);
+        Translog.Snapshot snapshot = translog.newSnapshot();
         for (Translog.Location location : locations) {
             try {
-                translog.read(location);
+                Translog.Operation next = snapshot.next();
+                assertNotNull(next);
             } catch (TranslogCorruptedException e) {
                 corruptionsCaught.incrementAndGet();
             }
         }
+        expectThrows(TranslogCorruptedException.class, () -> snapshot.next());
         assertThat("at least one corruption was caused and caught", corruptionsCaught.get(), greaterThanOrEqualTo(1));
     }
 
@@ -544,15 +510,12 @@ public void testTruncatedTranslogs() throws Exception {
         truncateTranslogs(translogDir);
 
         AtomicInteger truncations = new AtomicInteger(0);
+        Translog.Snapshot snap = translog.newSnapshot();
         for (Translog.Location location : locations) {
             try {
-                translog.read(location);
-            } catch (ElasticsearchException e) {
-                if (e.getCause() instanceof EOFException) {
-                    truncations.incrementAndGet();
-                } else {
-                    throw e;
-                }
+                assertNotNull(snap.next());
+            } catch (EOFException e) {
+                truncations.incrementAndGet();
             }
         }
         assertThat("at least one truncation was caused and caught", truncations.get(), greaterThanOrEqualTo(1));
@@ -860,8 +823,14 @@ public void testLocationComparison() throws IOException {
         }
 
         assertEquals(max.generation, translog.currentFileGeneration());
-        final Translog.Operation read = translog.read(max);
-        assertEquals(read.getSource().source.utf8ToString(), Integer.toString(count));
+        Translog.Snapshot snap = translog.newSnapshot();
+        Translog.Operation next;
+        Translog.Operation maxOp = null;
+        while ((next = snap.next()) != null) {
+            maxOp = next;
+        }
+        assertNotNull(maxOp);
+        assertEquals(maxOp.getSource().source.utf8ToString(), Integer.toString(count));
     }
 
     public static Translog.Location max(Translog.Location a, Translog.Location b) {
@@ -884,30 +853,24 @@ public void testBasicCheckpoint() throws IOException {
             }
         }
         assertEquals(translogOperations, translog.totalOperations());
-        final Translog.Location lastLocation = translog.add(new Translog.Index("test", "" + translogOperations, Integer.toString(translogOperations).getBytes(Charset.forName("UTF-8"))));
+        translog.add(new Translog.Index("test", "" + translogOperations, Integer.toString(translogOperations).getBytes(Charset.forName("UTF-8"))));
 
         final Checkpoint checkpoint = Checkpoint.read(translog.location().resolve(Translog.CHECKPOINT_FILE_NAME));
         try (final TranslogReader reader = translog.openReader(translog.location().resolve(Translog.getFilename(translog.currentFileGeneration())), checkpoint)) {
             assertEquals(lastSynced + 1, reader.totalOperations());
+            Translog.Snapshot snapshot = reader.newSnapshot();
+
             for (int op = 0; op < translogOperations; op++) {
-                Translog.Location location = locations.get(op);
                 if (op <= lastSynced) {
-                    final Translog.Operation read = reader.read(location);
+                    final Translog.Operation read = snapshot.next();
                     assertEquals(Integer.toString(op), read.getSource().source.utf8ToString());
                 } else {
-                    try {
-                        reader.read(location);
-                        fail("read past checkpoint");
-                    } catch (EOFException ex) {
-
-                    }
+                    Translog.Operation next = snapshot.next();
+                    assertNull(next);
                 }
             }
-            try {
-                reader.read(lastLocation);
-                fail("read past checkpoint");
-            } catch (EOFException ex) {
-            }
+            Translog.Operation next = snapshot.next();
+            assertNull(next);
         }
         assertEquals(translogOperations + 1, translog.totalOperations());
         translog.close();
@@ -1618,11 +1581,6 @@ ChannelFactory getChannelFactory() {
                     }
                 };
             }
-
-            @Override
-            protected boolean assertBytesAtLocation(Location location, BytesReference expectedBytes) throws IOException {
-                return true; // we don't wanna fail in the assert
-            }
         };
     }