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Colas to Reduce Class 56 Usage

L

l3mm

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56078 is probably one of my favourite 56s, i saw it thrashing like crazy at llanfairfechan in october of 2025

sad to see it go

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i guess thats it for 56s on the north wales rhtt
 
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RailUK Forums

xotGD

xotGD

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l3mm said:
56078 is probably one of my favourite 56s, i saw it thrashing like crazy at llanfairfechan in october of 2025

sad to see it go
Click to expand...
One of the original Gateshead batch. A regular sight for me while spotting at the Central Station.
 
Rail Quest

Rail Quest

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Sad to hear the five locos are getting exported. Yet another fun loco to go out and see lost from the UK freight scene. At least two locos are going to SRPS, which is great news! I have my fingers crossed that work can be found for the other locos.

I've updated the original post's table with the above information. Is the below correct?
LocomotiveStatus
56049In Service, Destined for Ghana
56051In Service, Destined for Ghana
56078Destined for Ghana
56087Off lease
56090SRPS
56094Destined for Ghana
56096Off lease
56105SRPS
56113Off lease
56302Destined for Ghana
 
XCTurbostar

XCTurbostar

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Great that SRPS has secured the 56s, those two were always regulars at Bo'ness.
 
D

DGH 1

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l3mm said:
i cant believe 56s are now going to africa

long journey for me as a grid fan

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any status updates on 071?
Click to expand...
It's a bummer, that's the last well see of them once the Africans get their hands on them, I wonder how much a cheap day return cost
 
E

ExRes

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Back in Sussex
DGH 1 said:
It's a bummer, that's the last well see of them once the Africans get their hands on them, I wonder how much a cheap day return cost
Click to expand...

It's going to be a long day with 6 to 7 hours each way between Heathrow and Accra :D
 
D365

D365

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At the risk of overlapping into Speculative territory, I would hazard that 087 (which had been stopped and robbed of parts for at least the last 2 years) will be the first to be shredded.
 
CDM Transport

CDM Transport

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D365 said:
At the risk of overlapping into Speculative territory, I would hazard that 087 (which had been stopped and robbed of parts for at least the last 2 years) will be the first to be shredded.
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I have been told by an individual that 56087 is going to the ELR as a spares donor for 56006. This has not been mentioned elsewhere at the minute.
 
Jacob Porrett

Jacob Porrett

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Rail Quest said:
There was a previous speculative thread about the future of Colas 56 fleet: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/colas-class-56-issues-possible-future.270021/

However, after already withdrawing a few members of the fleet, Rail Magazine are reporting that Colas have now confirmed that:

Source: https://www.railmagazine.com/news/f...ention-to-reduce-use-of-class-56s-during-2025
[Link directs to Rail Magazine article discussing running down of Class 56 fleet]

This thread can be for tracking the status of the fleet as their usage declines and, presumably, further withdrawals take place.
LocomotiveStatus
56049In Service, Destined for Ghana
56051In Service, Destined for Ghana
56078Destined for Ghana
56087Off lease
56090SRPS
56094Destined for Ghana
56096Off lease
56105SRPS
56113Off lease
56302Destined for Ghana
Click to expand...
56113 is currently sitting Shrewsbury end of Coleham Lmd. Has been there since the end of last years RHTT season.
 
J

jus363

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27 Apr 2023
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Location
Halifax
Rail Quest said:
Sad to hear the five locos are getting exported. Yet another fun loco to go out and see lost from the UK freight scene. At least two locos are going to SRPS, which is great news! I have my fingers crossed that work can be found for the other locos.

I've updated the original post's table with the above information. Is the below correct?
LocomotiveStatus
56049In Service, Destined for Ghana
56051In Service, Destined for Ghana
56078Destined for Ghana
56087Off lease
56090SRPS
56094Destined for Ghana
56096Off lease
56105SRPS
56113Off lease
56302Destined for Ghana
Click to expand...
No
Only 56094 and 56302 of to Ghana at the moment according to WNXX
 
LUYMun

LUYMun

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Cancelled
56049 is expected to operate at the Severn Valley Railway’s Spring Diesel Festival between Thursday 14th and Sunday 17th May, what is quoted to be the loco’s first passenger service in many years, as has been announced on the SVR’s Facebook page.
 
L

l3mm

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manchester
LUYMun said:
56049 is expected to operate at the Severn Valley Railway’s Spring Diesel Festival between Thursday 14th and Sunday 17th May, what is quoted to be the loco’s first passenger service in many years, as has been announced on the SVR’s Facebook page.
LUYMun said:
56049 is expected to operate at the Severn Valley Railway’s Spring Diesel Festival between Thursday 14th and Sunday 17th May, what is quoted to be the loco’s first passenger service in many years, as has been announced on the SVR’s Facebook page.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
are there any light locos towards the SVR from doncaster?
 
3

31160

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l3mm said:
are there any light locos towards the SVR from doncaster?
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Oh now there's some nice type 5s at donny looking for job opportunities, maybe one might pop along with
 
Y

yorkshirerail

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Leeds
Anyone know which of these 3 services the 56s are going to work tonight/ tomorrow
6C81 Toton North Yard to Aldwarke Junction
0C82/6C82 Doncaster to Swinton then Goldthorpe to Belmont down Yard
6C87 Doncaster to Scunthorpe

Thanks
 
L

l3mm

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Messages
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Location
manchester
yorkshirerail said:
Anyone know which of these 3 services the 56s are going to work tonight/ tomorrow
6C81 Toton North Yard to Aldwarke Junction
0C82/6C82 Doncaster to Swinton then Goldthorpe to Belmont down Yard
6C87 Doncaster to Scunthorpe

Thanks
Click to expand...
i believe 6c81 is 70803
not sure
 
T

trainmad091

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10 May 2026
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Location
=
Current locations of the Colas Class 56's as of 07:35 10/05/26 - no work allocated to any of them
56049 COFS DONSDGCLS DONSDGCLS
56051 COFS DONSDGCLS DONSDGCLS
56078 COFS RECTRYJCR RECTRYJCR
56087 COFS NOTTM CMD RECTRYJCR
56090 COFS BONESSRPS BONESSRPS
56094 COFS RECTRYJCR RECTRYJCR
56096 COFS RECTRYJCR RECTRYJCR
56105 COFS BONESSRPS BONESSRPS
56113 COFS COLHAMLMD COLHAMLMD
56302 COFS RECTRYJCR RECTRYJCR
 
Y

yorkshirerail

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Messages
419
Location
Leeds
trainmad091 said:
Current locations of the Colas Class 56's as of 07:35 10/05/26 - no work allocated to any of them
56049 COFS DONSDGCLS DONSDGCLS
56051 COFS DONSDGCLS DONSDGCLS
56078 COFS RECTRYJCR RECTRYJCR
56087 COFS NOTTM CMD RECTRYJCR
56090 COFS BONESSRPS BONESSRPS
56094 COFS RECTRYJCR RECTRYJCR
56096 COFS RECTRYJCR RECTRYJCR
56105 COFS BONESSRPS BONESSRPS
56113 COFS COLHAMLMD COLHAMLMD
56302 COFS RECTRYJCR RECTRYJCR
Click to expand...
Thanks @trainmad091 interesting where they all are

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56049 is heading to Coleham LMD today after attending the SVR gala. Anyone know why and also is 56051 still at Newark.

Thanks
 
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