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GBRf Class 99 - 30 locomotives now ordered
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contrex
Established Member
What is an 'ice cream'? Is that a nickname?
Tracked
Established Member
Noticed 5 and 8 at Peterborough on Sunday morning, looked like they were still parked up in the same place yesterday evening when I came by, had they moved at all in the week?
The class number is 99, an ice cream commonly bought is known as a '99'.
zwk500
Veteran Member
Similar to the 'Flake' nickname (I can't remember the last time a flake ice cream was actually 99p from the van but that's off-topic).
IMO either nickname is a bit forced as people were trying to give the class a nickname before they'd even been delivered to develop any characteristics. But each to their own.
contrex
Established Member
I was never one for calling locos 'Duffs', 'Bones', 'Hoovers', 'Toffee Apples', etc. The class number will do fine. Optionally preceded by the word 'class'. Mind you, I still call 47s 'Brush Type 4s'.
tumbles
Member
Think GBRf started the flake name, when the first loco arrived the had ice cream vans etc for the press reveal.
zwk500
Veteran Member
I definitely saw posts on the forums trying to propose flake as the nickname well before the first loco was delivered.
Blimey. I never made the connection between 'flake' and a 99 cone until now. I genuinely thought the name 'flake' came from the blue and yellow colour scheme.....just like the confectionery packaging!
I've never been one for loco nicknames anyway, (I leave them to the the platform neds) and I'll continue to call them 99s.
I've never been one for loco nicknames anyway, (I leave them to the the platform neds) and I'll continue to call them 99s.
Peter Sarf
Established Member
It is a nickname for a nickname.
99 => flake (as in ice cream cone with a Cadbury flake in it) => "ice cream".
So all very confused as it is a specific ice cream not just any ice cream.
99 seems easier as it is meaningful and short anyway.
99009
Member
As far as I'm aware (so if anyone knows otherwise please let me know), 99005 hasn't moved at all since arriving back at Peterborough on 4H33 on Thursday 9th July 2026. Likewise, 99008 also hasn't moved at all since heading over to Peterborough from Leicester on 0E71 on Friday 10th July 2026.
Small update about 0M50 Avonmouth - Leicester, there's quite a bit of pathing allowance in the schedule, so I wouldn't be surprised if 57306+99011 runs early in some places.
47286Dan
Established Member
- Joined
- 27 Dec 2018
- Messages
- 2,037
Today’s collection of 99011
57306 GBBS LESTER SD 590V501G17 F AVONMWWGB N
57306 GBBS AVONMWWGB 590V501G17 F LESTER SD
N
99011 MBEL AVONMWWGB 810M501R17 F LESTER SD N
Dan
57306 GBBS LESTER SD 590V501G17 F AVONMWWGB N
57306 GBBS AVONMWWGB 590V501G17 F LESTER SD
N
99011 MBEL AVONMWWGB 810M501R17 F LESTER SD N
Dan
99009
Member
I'm very pleased and excited to share that the Class 99 is expected to run on its first diagram next week. 
Sunday night/early hours of Monday morning, a 99 heads light engine from Leicester depot to Wembley yard.
0A47 Leicester - Wembley: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R53426/2026-07-19/detailed
To work 4L47/4M47 possibly all week.
4L47 Wembley - London Gateway (Monday only)
4M47 London Gateway - Hams Hall (Monday - Friday)
4L47 Hams Hall - London Gateway (Monday - Thursday ex Hams Hall, Tuesday - Friday arriving at London Gateway)
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
A couple of things concerning 99001:
Firstly, despite what RTT claims, I'm now thinking that 99001 never actually went to the biomass terminal at Liverpool on 4Z36 from Drax PS. I'm now thinking that 4Z36 actually ran to Tuebrook sidings and that 99001 hasn't worked anything since arriving at Tuebrook on 4Z36. Can anyone please confirm that?
Secondly, 99001 is returning to base at Leicester this afternoon.
0J03 Tuebrook - Leicester:
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
For any other railway historians/record keepers out there, 4L47 Wembley - London Gateway was 99001 hauling 51 containers. The containers arrived at Wembley yesterday behind 66307 as 4A47 from Hams Hall.
Also, based off the previous pattern, 99011 will be going to Peterborough later this morning on 0D30 and then to Doncaster Decoy and back on 4D32/4H33 this afternoon.
Sunday night/early hours of Monday morning, a 99 heads light engine from Leicester depot to Wembley yard.
0A47 Leicester - Wembley: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R53426/2026-07-19/detailed
To work 4L47/4M47 possibly all week.
4L47 Wembley - London Gateway (Monday only)
4M47 London Gateway - Hams Hall (Monday - Friday)
4L47 Hams Hall - London Gateway (Monday - Thursday ex Hams Hall, Tuesday - Friday arriving at London Gateway)
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
A couple of things concerning 99001:
Firstly, despite what RTT claims, I'm now thinking that 99001 never actually went to the biomass terminal at Liverpool on 4Z36 from Drax PS. I'm now thinking that 4Z36 actually ran to Tuebrook sidings and that 99001 hasn't worked anything since arriving at Tuebrook on 4Z36. Can anyone please confirm that?
Secondly, 99001 is returning to base at Leicester this afternoon.
0J03 Tuebrook - Leicester:
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
For any other railway historians/record keepers out there, 4L47 Wembley - London Gateway was 99001 hauling 51 containers. The containers arrived at Wembley yesterday behind 66307 as 4A47 from Hams Hall.
Also, based off the previous pattern, 99011 will be going to Peterborough later this morning on 0D30 and then to Doncaster Decoy and back on 4D32/4H33 this afternoon.
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norbitonflyer
Established Member
It's in the manifesto of one of the candidates in the Clacton byelection.....
Unobrow
Member
99 003 sat in Wembley yard this morning.
Tobytrain10
Member
99011 and 99008 are on 4D32
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ac6000cw
Established Member
The '99' ice cream (a cone of whipped soft ice cream with a short chocolate flake bar inserted into it, for those unaware) was commonplace decades before the 1971 decimalisation of the UK currency - the origins of the name are lost in the mists of time.
Yep, filmed it at Saxilby. Frame grab from video.
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Tobytrain10
Member
99011 has pressumable had a traction issue this evening on one of its tests and got to peterborough 160m late
Wyrleybart
Established Member
And to railway staff in the West Midlands (I became one in 1980) they were known as "four and a half"
I suspect that nickname is long dead now though.
Tobytrain10
Member
Due to 99011 having a traction failure yesturday evening, 99010 was sent to haul the peterborough doncaster test trains in its place
99009
Member
Right then, lots of movements involving 99's yesterday and more taking place today. Here's what happened yesterday, what I know or what might be of interest going in numerical order.
99001 - Worked 0A47 Leicester - Wembley (with 99003), 4L47 Wembley - London Gateway with 51 containers, 4M47 London Gateway - Hams Hall with 41 containers, 4L47 Hams Hall - London Gateway (while working this it became the first Class 99 to go WCML Wembley - Camden Jn and Camden Jn - Camden Road Jn via Primrose Hill) and is working 4M47 London Gateway - Hams Hall again today.
99002 - At Leicester depot and has been at Leicester depot since Friday 10th July 2026.
99003 - Worked 0A47 Leicester - Wembley (with 99001) and is now at Wembley yard. Hasn't worked anything since arriving at Wembley yard as far as I know.
99004 - Worked 0Z80 Leicester - Toton TMD and will probably remain at Toton TMD until tomorrow evening when it will work this back to Leicester depot. Not the first 99 to visit the DB depot at Toton as 99002 did this back in October 2025.
0Z80 Toton TMD - Leicester (tomorrow):
99005 - Worked 4D30 Peterborough - Doncaster Decoy (with 99010) today and is currently working 4H31 Doncaster Decoy - Peterborough (with 99010).
99006 - Worked 0Z40 Leicester - Bedford and 0Z41 Bedford - Leicester yesterday. 0Z42 and 0Z43 were cancelled.
99007 - At Old Dalby and has been at Old Dalby since Monday 13th July 2026.
99008 - Worked 4D32 Peterborough - Doncaster Decoy (with 99011) and 4H33 Doncaster Decoy - Peterborough (with 99011) yesterday.
99009 - At Old Dalby and has been at Old Dalby since Thursday 2nd July 2026.
99010 - Worked 0Z30 Leicester - Peterborough yesterday and then 4D30 Peterborough - Doncaster Decoy (with 99005) today and is currently working 4H31 Doncaster Decoy - Peterborough (with 99005).
99011 - Worked 0D30 Leicester - Peterborough yesterday and then worked 4D32 Peterborough - Doncaster Decoy (with 99008) and 4H33 Doncaster Decoy - Peterborough (with 99008) yesterday. Failed near Newark Northgate on 4H33. Needs to return to Leicester with another loco hauling it. Will return to Leicester this afternoon on this working:
0G99 Peterborough - Leicester (this afternoon):
As I said, there was a lot to catch up on as the only 99's that haven't moved either yesterday or today are 99002, 99007 and 99009!
99001 - Worked 0A47 Leicester - Wembley (with 99003), 4L47 Wembley - London Gateway with 51 containers, 4M47 London Gateway - Hams Hall with 41 containers, 4L47 Hams Hall - London Gateway (while working this it became the first Class 99 to go WCML Wembley - Camden Jn and Camden Jn - Camden Road Jn via Primrose Hill) and is working 4M47 London Gateway - Hams Hall again today.
99002 - At Leicester depot and has been at Leicester depot since Friday 10th July 2026.
99003 - Worked 0A47 Leicester - Wembley (with 99001) and is now at Wembley yard. Hasn't worked anything since arriving at Wembley yard as far as I know.
99004 - Worked 0Z80 Leicester - Toton TMD and will probably remain at Toton TMD until tomorrow evening when it will work this back to Leicester depot. Not the first 99 to visit the DB depot at Toton as 99002 did this back in October 2025.
0Z80 Toton TMD - Leicester (tomorrow):
99005 - Worked 4D30 Peterborough - Doncaster Decoy (with 99010) today and is currently working 4H31 Doncaster Decoy - Peterborough (with 99010).
99006 - Worked 0Z40 Leicester - Bedford and 0Z41 Bedford - Leicester yesterday. 0Z42 and 0Z43 were cancelled.
99007 - At Old Dalby and has been at Old Dalby since Monday 13th July 2026.
99008 - Worked 4D32 Peterborough - Doncaster Decoy (with 99011) and 4H33 Doncaster Decoy - Peterborough (with 99011) yesterday.
99009 - At Old Dalby and has been at Old Dalby since Thursday 2nd July 2026.
99010 - Worked 0Z30 Leicester - Peterborough yesterday and then 4D30 Peterborough - Doncaster Decoy (with 99005) today and is currently working 4H31 Doncaster Decoy - Peterborough (with 99005).
99011 - Worked 0D30 Leicester - Peterborough yesterday and then worked 4D32 Peterborough - Doncaster Decoy (with 99008) and 4H33 Doncaster Decoy - Peterborough (with 99008) yesterday. Failed near Newark Northgate on 4H33. Needs to return to Leicester with another loco hauling it. Will return to Leicester this afternoon on this working:
0G99 Peterborough - Leicester (this afternoon):
As I said, there was a lot to catch up on as the only 99's that haven't moved either yesterday or today are 99002, 99007 and 99009!
Unobrow
Member
003 is still sat at Wembley shut down.
Tobytrain10
Member
Possibly, maybe still 99, its a 'real' 99 path now so its not easy to tell when they will switch locos, pressumably it will stay on or switch with 99003 i would personally guess
Thanks mate. Will be in Watford for the metropolitan tours. Will keep an eye out for allocations on that working