GBRF confirms conversion of Class 56s to Class 69s

[Wyrleybart]

It would be interesting to know who actually makes or has made decisions on 303, the loco is not owned by DCR as regularly claimed but was leased by them, I believe the actual owner is UKRL

Or is it an insurance write off ?

 

[axl88]

Nobody ever owned up to hitting 56303

 

[cj_1985]

Nobody ever owned up to hitting 56303

So it's like every insurance claim ever?

 

[Herefordian]

My records show 69008 as the latest conversion. Is this still the case, please?

Thanks.

 

[XCTurbostar]

My records show 69008 as the latest conversion. Is this still the case, please?

Thanks.

Correct, it’s currently unpainted. 69009 is still being built.

 

[Herefordian]

Correct, it’s currently unpainted. 69009 is still being built.

Much obliged.

 

[ExRes]

Todays update on WNXX

56009 (due to be 69015) is on accomodation bogies for transfer to Marcroft Engineering for body preparation

56065 (69010) is complete and ready for loadbank testing

56060 (69009) conversion overtaken by 56065

 

[Rail Quest]

Todays update on WNXX

56009 (due to be 69015) is on accomodation bogies for transfer to Marcroft Engineering for body preparation

56065 (69010) is complete and ready for loadbank testing

56060 (69009) conversion overtaken by 56065

Thanks for this info.

Out of interest, have any cab improvements actually been made yet to these new builds or existing locos does anyone know? I remember reports a few months ago stating several improvements were needed to said cabs

 

[scarby]

Todays update on WNXX

56009 (due to be 69015) is on accomodation bogies for transfer to Marcroft Engineering for body preparation

This is what became 56201, painted in bright blue and used as a test bed at Loughborough, before being stored in the open for many years. Quite a "survival" as it must have seemed likely to be cut up more than once.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Presumably there aren't many 56s left outside of the ones already 69ed or earmarked to be? Obviously there's the Wembley casualty mentioned upthread, but are there any still overseas like the 58s?

 

[_toommm_]

Presumably there aren't many 56s left outside of the ones already 69ed or earmarked to be? Obviously there's the Wembley casualty mentioned upthread, but are there any still overseas like the 58s?

There's the Colas ones that you normally find on the service from Longport to Crewe Basford Hall. In my experience it's a solid stay for a Class 56, such as this service:

Realtime Trains | 6K37 0601 Crewe Bas Hall S.S.M. to Longport Lr Colas | 11/05/2023

Real-time train running information for 6K37 0601 departure from Crewe Bas Hall S.S.M. to Longport Lr Colas on 11/05/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

(I'm not sure whether this particular service operated with a Class 56, but whenever I've seen them in the past they've always been a Class 56)

 

[sprinterguy]

Presumably there aren't many 56s left outside of the ones already 69ed or earmarked to be? Obviously there's the Wembley casualty mentioned upthread, but are there any still overseas like the 58s?

Operational with Colas Railfreight (10 locos):
56049/051/078/087/090/094/096/105/113/302

Owned by GB Railfreight, not allocated numbers in the class 69 programme as far as I know (2 locos):
56081/303
(56081 was allocated as 69015, but it seems this has been replaced by 56009/201)

Stored with DC Rail (2 locos):
56091/103

Operational with FLOYD Hungary (3 locos):
56101/115/117

Preserved by Class 56 Group (2 locos):
56006/301

All the ex-Fertis locos were repatriated from France some years ago.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 May 2023 ==

There's the Colas ones that you normally find on the service from Longport to Crewe Basford Hall. In my experience it's a solid stay for a Class 56, such as this service:

Realtime Trains | 6K37 0601 Crewe Bas Hall S.S.M. to Longport Lr Colas | 11/05/2023

Real-time train running information for 6K37 0601 departure from Crewe Bas Hall S.S.M. to Longport Lr Colas on 11/05/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

(I'm not sure whether this particular service operated with a Class 56, but whenever I've seen them in the past they've always been a Class 56)

Yeah that's commonly a class 56 working, though I've seen class 70s appearing at Longport in the morning more often over the past couple of weeks.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Thanks both. Are any of the survivors or 69s from the group that were parked in Healey Mills for years, or were those all scrapped?

 

[sprinterguy]

Thanks both. Are any of the survivors or 69s from the group that were parked in Healey Mills for years, or were those all scrapped?

I believe the fifteen at Healey Mills were:
56033/041/048/053/055/056/068/072/079/093/099/110/116/119/134

I think, having cross-referenced with the class 69 former identities, that they were all scrapped.

 

[ExRes]

Owned by GB Railfreight, not allocated numbers in the class 69 programme as far as I know (2 locos):
56081/303


Stored with DC Rail (2 locos):
56091/103

Minor points, is 303 actually owned by GBRf? it's usually said to be owned by UKRL

56103 is stored, 56091 is alive and kicking and in service

 

[sprinterguy]

Minor points, is 303 actually owned by GBRf? it's usually said to be owned by UKRL

56103 is stored, 56091 is alive and kicking and in service

Must admit, I'm not entirely sure with 56303 so I'm happy to be corrected. Pleased to hear that 56091 is still running!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I believe the fifteen at Healey Mills were:
56033/041/048/053/055/056/068/072/079/093/099/110/116/119/134

I think, having cross-referenced with the class 69 former identities, that they were all scrapped.

I knew 056 was one of them, it was a favourite of mine as my brother and I had it in model form. I'd forgotten just how many has been dumped there, despite driving past them regularly on the way up the hill to Ossett.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Must admit, I'm not entirely sure with 56303 so I'm happy to be corrected. Pleased to hear that 56091 is still running!

Was 56303 the subject of an insuramce claim after it was run into ?
If so was it written off ?

 

[cj_1985]

Does anyone know... are we any further forward with a fate for 56081 and 098?

 

[The_Train]

Does anyone know... are we any further forward with a fate for 56081 and 098?

Wasn't the last update that they are not going to be used on the Class 69 project and so would remain as 56s?

 

[8A Rail]

Wasn't the last update that they are not going to be used on the Class 69 project and so would remain as 56s?

Yes.

 

[D365]

Operational with Colas Railfreight (10 locos):
56049/051/078/087/090/094/096/105/113/302

Owned by GB Railfreight, not allocated numbers in the class 69 programme as far as I know (2 locos):
56081/303
(56081 was allocated as 69015, but it seems this has been replaced by 56009/201)

Stored with DC Rail (2 locos):
56091/103

Operational with FLOYD Hungary (3 locos):
56101/115/117

Preserved by Class 56 Group (2 locos):
56006/301

All the ex-Fertis locos were repatriated from France some years ago.

Other than 091, that’s a very good post I’m none the wiser on 303.

Is 098 still allocated? It hasn’t been clear if 097 is/is not replacing it.

 

[The_Train]

Other than 091, that’s a very good post I’m none the wiser on 303.

Is 098 still allocated? It hasn’t been clear if 097 is/is not replacing it.

098 is still showing in normal operating status on TOPS today and in an active GB pool

 

[Sm5]

It would seem odd to retain a fleet of two class 56’s.
maybe their turn will come.

 

[D365]

It would seem odd to retain a fleet of two class 56’s.

Why? They're in full working order. GBRf was able to acquire a few more non-runners for conversion instead. And Leicester has good working knowledge of the Class 56s.

 

[fgwrich]

Why? They're in full working order. GBRf was able to acquire a few more non-runners for conversion instead. And Leicester has good working knowledge of the Class 56s.

I think it helps that GBRf are quite a savvy and knowledgeable business - in a land where 56s are becoming less and less common (with only 2 in pres now), why chop up a perfectly useable 56 when you can acquire some cheap non runners? The broken ones end up in the conversion program, the running ones can later, potentially, go to pres in the future.

 

[The Ghoul]

Does anyone know... are we any further forward with a fate for 56081 and 098?

Staying as they are.....for now at least

 

[ExRes]

Reported on WNXX, 69004 worked yesterdays 2245 0Z69 Tonbridge West Yard to Abbey Wood (Crossrail) and 0440 0Z70 return trial run, the trial in anticipation of a 69 being outstationed at Abbey Wood for Crossrail cover and stock movements once the additional stock equipment fitted locos are available

 

[fgwrich]

One for the moves you’d never expect to see in your lifetime list!

Had a bit of a crank moment and headed down to Canary Wharf last night after my shift at Paddington to see the rare sight of a Class 69 light loco passing through. This was part of a trial run to… | Donnie Pinder ACIRO | 15 comments

Had a bit of a crank moment and headed down to Canary Wharf last night after my shift at Paddington to see the rare sight of a Class 69 light loco passing through. This was part of a trial run to verify operation of the loco for potential purposes such as rescuing a failed Class 345 and hauling...

www.linkedin.com

 

[D365]

One for the move’s you’d never expect to see in your lifetime list!

Had a bit of a crank moment and headed down to Canary Wharf last night after my shift at Paddington to see the rare sight of a Class 69 light loco passing through. This was part of a trial run to… | Donnie Pinder ACIRO | 15 comments

Had a bit of a crank moment and headed down to Canary Wharf last night after my shift at Paddington to see the rare sight of a Class 69 light loco passing through. This was part of a trial run to verify operation of the loco for potential purposes such as rescuing a failed Class 345 and hauling...

www.linkedin.com

Nice!