GBRF confirms conversion of Class 56s to Class 69s

[60159]

Many thanks. I think I’m safe enough to take it.

 

[Trainman40083]

Many thanks. I think I’m safe enough to take it.

I'd agree

 

[60159]

I'd agree

Cheers.

 

[Rhysdabeast]

69015 outside at Longport this afternoon, with numbers and decals now applied.

View attachment S1940008.JPG

 

[ExRes]

69015 outside at Longport this afternoon, with numbers and decals now applied.

View attachment 183238

Reported on midlands trains gen site that 69015 is out today with 66721 for company

0812 0Z69 Longport FD to Bescot Up Engineers Sidings and 1100 0Z70 return

 

[scarby]

As the donor 56009 was I believe withdrawn in August 1996 this must be the first time what remains of the original has run under its own power for going on 29 years!

 

[train_lover]

As the donor 56009 was I believe withdrawn in August 1996 this must be the first time what remains of the original has run under its own power for going on 29 years!

It's a bit of a mash up. It has the bogies off 56081

 

[D365]

It's a bit of a mash up. It has the bogies off 56081

That’s good to know. Has 56303 lost its bogies to a 69 too?

 

[Yorkshire09876]

That’s good to know. Has 56303 lost its bogies to a 69 too?

It lost its bogies before 56081, so that would seem likely.

I wonder what the future holds for 56081 and 56303 now that the project is finished?

 

[train_lover]

It lost its bogies before 56081, so that would seem likely.

I wonder what the future holds for 56081 and 56303 now that the project is finished?

There's a plan for 081, and who says the project is over

 

[Yorkshire09876]

There's a plan for 081, and who says the project is over

Is it not over then?

 

[D365]

There's a plan for 081, and who says the project is over

The project as we know it.

A plan you say... any bets on 081 becoming an ETCS ”first in class” locomotive? (ducks for cover)

 

[train_lover]

Is it not over then?

There's no current orders for anymore as it stands but there's a potential customer..

 

[Trainman40083]

There's no current orders for anymore as it stands but there's a potential customer..

Surprised Colas have not gone for 69s. The 56s won't last for ever.

 

[Yorkshire09876]

There's no current orders for anymore as it stands but there's a potential customer..

Presumably that is Colas, as they have most of the remaining 56s now?

 

[train_lover]

I'm surprised that nobody is jumping on the stored DB 66s. You'd think that Colas and DCR would be all over them!

 

[ExRes]

I'm surprised that nobody is jumping on the stored DB 66s. You'd think that Colas and DCR would be all over them!

DB would have to be prepared to release them first

 

[Yorkshire09876]

DB would have to be prepared to release them first

They might be prepared to put some up for sale / long lease if asked - it's happened before (66s bought by GBRF, 67s bought by Colas, 66s leased to DRS).

 

[D365]

They might be prepared to put some up for sale / long lease if asked - it's happened before (66s bought by GBRF, 67s bought by Colas, 66s leased to DRS).

The two Class 67s - plus at least some of the 66s - were purchased by Beacon Rail, which leases locomotives to GBRf and Colas. But that’s only me being pernickety.

 

[43096]

The two Class 67s - plus at least some of the 66s - were purchased by Beacon Rail, which leases locomotives to GBRf and Colas. But that’s only me being pernickety.

To be even more pernickety, they weren’t sold to Beacon by DB. They were sold to Colas who then did a sale-and-lease back deal with Beacon.

 

[Yorkshire09876]

The two Class 67s - plus at least some of the 66s - were purchased by Beacon Rail, which leases locomotives to GBRf and Colas. But that’s only me being pernickety.

The 67s were purchased by Colas and were subsequently part of a sale-and-leaseback arrangement with Beacon Rail, along with most of Colas' loco fleet.

GBRF's fleet is a mixture of owners. From articles in the rail press I think those bought from DB are owned outright - if anyone has access to the latest Platform 5 book it should be easy to confirm one way or the other. One of the locos is 66783.

 

[43096]

The 67s were purchased by Colas and were subsequently part of a sale-and-leaseback arrangement with Beacon Rail, along with most of Colas' loco fleet.

GBRF's fleet is a mixture of owners. From articles in the rail press I think those bought from DB are owned outright - if anyone has access to the latest Platform 5 book it should be easy to confirm one way or the other. One of the locos is 66783.

Correct. The 10 GBRf locos that are ex-DB are owned by GBRf.

GBRf’s fleet is variously leased from Akiem, Beacon, Eversholt and Porterbrook, plus of course locos owned by GBRf.

 

[317362]

As the donor 56009 was I believe withdrawn in August 1996 this must be the first time what remains of the original has run under its own power for going on 29 years!

Maybe it could come back in the odd light blue it wore out the back of Brush when i used to see it ervy week all those years ago.

 

[D365]

To be even more pernickety, they weren’t sold to Beacon by DB. They were sold to Colas who then did a sale-and-lease back deal with Beacon.

The 67s were purchased by Colas and were subsequently part of a sale-and-leaseback arrangement with Beacon Rail, along with most of Colas' loco fleet.

Thanks both. I couldn’t remember the timescales of the 2 off Class 67.

On the topic of Beacon Rail. They own 5 off Class 56. Given that Colas has indicated that they will be withdrawing their Class 56 fleet from traffic - perhaps the interest in further Class 69s is coming from Beacon Rail?

 

[The_Train]

Reported on midlands trains gen site that 69015 is out today with 66721 for company

0812 0Z69 Longport FD to Bescot Up Engineers Sidings and 1100 0Z70 return

Can we start to get excited about paint again then?

 

[ExRes]

Can we start to get excited about paint again then?

Nah no need for that, my informers say that it's going to stay in green undercoat for some time to keep all livery spotters in suspense, until it gets painted into ..........

 

[birchesgreen]

Nah no need for that, my informers say that it's going to stay in green undercoat for some time to keep all livery spotters in suspense, until it gets painted into ..........

Mr Blobby livery

 

[The_Train]

Nah no need for that, my informers say that it's going to stay in green undercoat for some time to keep all livery spotters in suspense, until it gets painted into ..........

I'm hearing that 015 is going to be painted into black and white horizontal stripes to mimic the classic cartoon convict outfit so they can have 016 chasing it around.........

 

[ExRes]

I'm hearing that 015 is going to be painted into black and white horizontal stripes to mimic the classic cartoon convict outfit so they can have 016 chasing it around.........

very good, make a good youtube watch that, I like the black and white stripes suggestion but personally I'd prefer it to be named either 'Parallel Lines' or 'Debbie Harry'

 

[ac6000cw]

Just come across a recent Don Coffey video of a cab ride in 69001, light engine down to Bootle docks then working as the 'drag' (assisting) loco on a loaded biomass train from the docks to Tuebrook sidings (69001 leading with a 66 at the rear, at Tuebrook the train reverses with the 66 taking the train solo from that point).

At 26:20 in the video (I think when it's climbing the steepest gradient), there is a shot of the EM2000 traction control display. I assume 'MG' => Main Generator, so 1712A x 731V = 1251kW, engine running in Throttle Position 7 at 829 RPM, speed 19mph: